Examine Our Picks
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Others Examined
Pillow Dice Facet Dice for $66: This isn’t technically a physique pillow, nevertheless it’s particularly designed for aspect sleepers (and I adore it), so it’s included on this listing. This cuboid pillow is designed for the aspect sleeper, and goals to assist with complications and again and shoulder pains by means of its distinctive form and smooth, but structured, filling. It has a breathable, soft-and-stretchy quilted aspect case that is detachable with a zipper, and the AeroPluff foam core is cozy, regulating temperature to maintain you sleeping coolly. I can sleep solely on my aspect, and one of many issues I often have is a sore neck from the hole between my shoulder and my head. This sq., 90-degree-angled pillow completely fills that hole and sits at a manageable head pillow dimension of 24 inches lengthy, 12 inches huge, and 5 inches deep. The breathable cowl and smooth density even helped with ear strain.
Leacho Snoogle for $50: Although out of inventory in the intervening time, this versatile physique pillow is marketed for pregnant individuals due to its versatility and stomach, hip, and knee assist. Because of its distinctive form, it may be contorted into many figures. With a detachable cowl manufactured from a polyester/cotton mix and a polyester filling, this pillow is much more breathable than comparable massive physique pillows on the listing. Due to its distinctive form for a lot of positions, the pillow isn’t overstuffed, and I discovered that the fill tended to sink to the decrease foot portion of the pillow when sleeping on it. General, this pillow is breathable and very customizable in form, though I might’ve most popular one thing with a bit extra filling.
White Noise Reminiscence Foam Physique Pillow With Hypoallergenic Zippered Protector for $50: I completely love the fill of this 50 x 14-inch pillow—the shredded foam is the right mixture of construction and softness. If it have been wider, 20 or so inches relatively than 14 inches, this pillow could be good. However as a result of I’m a side-only sleeper, I like to carry the physique pillow and wrap my legs and arms round it. Since it’s so slim, my knees knock collectively on the opposite aspect. I could possibly overlook the flaw of its narrowness as a result of the pillow has a super-comfy fill, however I wouldn’t suggest it for greater individuals with longer limbs.
Eli & Elm Reminiscence Foam Physique Pillow for $130: In my dwelling, we name this one “the 7 pillow” as a result of … effectively, take a guess. This lengthy, L/7-shaped pillow is marketed as a being pregnant pillow, nevertheless it’s nice for anybody who sleeps on their aspect. The quick part matches neatly beneath your head, whereas the lengthy finish can attain down to suit between your legs. It comes with its personal customized pillow case, which is nice, as a result of it isn’t such as you’ll have a ton of spares on this form in your linen closet. —Eric Ravenscraft
Eli & Elm Facet Sleeper for $116: The Eli & Elm Facet Sleeper pillow is without doubt one of the firmest pillows proper out of the field of any we have examined. You’ll be able to take away among the extra fill if you wish to scale back that firmness, however if you happen to’re the kind of one that likes feeling like they’re sleeping on a really smooth rock, that is the pillow for you. It is not fairly large enough for a number of individuals to cuddle up with, like our Honeydew choose, however for a single individual, it is an incredible possibility. —Eric Ravenscraft
Bearaby Cuddler for $229: Bearaby is finest identified for its weighted blankets, eye masks, and stuffed animals, nevertheless it makes different sleep merchandise like heated pads, throw blankets, and the physique pillow I examined, the Cuddler. At 75 inches lengthy and eight inches in diameter, with a filling of plant-based Melofoam, an all-natural foam created from rubber-tree sap, it is not like some other pillow fill I’ve slept on. It is heavier than a stuffed pillow however lighter than reminiscence foam and has a rubbery, bouncy high quality. Its springy fill, skinny physique, and extraordinary size made it match awkwardly on the mattress, however its bouncy high quality and talent to adapt into many shapes might make this a lovely choose for some aspect sleepers.
Not Really useful
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Alwyn Dwelling Butcher Fiber Plush Pillow for $56: This 90 x 19-inch pillow disappoints. It’s egregiously lengthy, which may very well be useful for people who find themselves taller or those that like extra all-around physique assist. Nevertheless, it simply doesn’t have sufficient stuffing to fill 90 inches. The batting inside seems like typical fluffy batting present in selfmade pillows, nevertheless it bunches all through the pillow in clumps, leaving gaps the place no filling reaches. These gaps typically occur the place your limbs relaxation, thus defeating the aim of getting a physique pillow for assist. The pillow is simply about 2 inches deep and didn’t appear to ever spring up after I took it out of the field. I needed to shake and knead the fiber to assist make it extra uniform all through the within of the pillow, nevertheless it did little to assist.
As a aspect sleeper, you’ll need a pillow that’s lengthy sufficient to offer assist between your arms and strain factors like between the knees. Whereas firmness and softness are a matter of non-public desire, you typically need a physique pillow that strikes the correct steadiness, to offer assist with out being too heavy or agency for the limbs that relaxation beneath the pillow. In the event you’re simply searching for a pillow to hug when you sleep, one thing lighter and softer is finest. However if in case you have joint or spinal ache, one thing a bit extra agency with extra assist is finest. You’ll additionally need to take into consideration which pillow form will assist which a part of your physique finest, relying in your wants. I’m a strict aspect sleeper, however I toss and switch between either side, so pillows with assist on both aspect have been examined too. I additionally have a tendency to curve right into a extra fetal place, so I needed one thing that had sufficient width to completely wrap my legs and arms round.
Whereas many head pillows and mattresses favor reminiscence foam, relying on the froth’s denseness, it could actually really feel too heavy for a aspect sleeper whose limbs go beneath the pillow. Polyester or different artificial filling is usually essentially the most plush and malleable however might not present sufficient assist. Many have a combination of each or shredded reminiscence foam, which might present construction whereas nonetheless being smooth sufficient to sink into. This depends upon private desire and wish, however fill kind is one thing to concentrate on when searching for the right side-sleeper physique pillow.
A regular physique pillow that is lengthy sufficient to offer full-length assist for the physique is right, giving sufficient room to stretch out or cuddle in numerous positions. Physique pillows in U or C shapes can present extra general assist and are perfect for pregnant individuals or these with again or leg points, however can typically make the sleeper run scorching due to the entire surrounding materials. However in the end, the popular form is basically depending on what components of the physique you need most supported within the side-sleeping place.
I examined (slept with) every of the pillows for not less than every week whereas sleeping, lounging, and sitting to see how the fill modified and moved over time. I contorted them in lots of shapes, and measured how supported I felt in several positions. I eliminated and added fill if I used to be in a position, and eliminated and washed covers to see how they have been affected by cleansing and examined the variations with or and not using a cowl.
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