Many people struggle with getting a high quality, restful sleep. Do you wake up feeling tired? Do you have a hard time getting into your morning groove? In my experience, these issues often indicate underlying postural issues. Neck and back problems can cause you to toss and turn in your sleep, preventing you from waking up rejuvenated.
The best way to address this is with a memory foam pillow. Unlike the traditional pillow, these products are made from a unique polyurethane material that responds dynamically to your body. Instead of forcing your neck into an awkward angle, these pillows gently hold your head in a centered, neutral position. Since all of our bodies are different, these are not a “one size fits all” product. It is important to find a pillow that meets the specific needs of your body if you want to maximize the postural benefits you will receive.
Top Memory Foam Pillows on the Market
There are many competing products on the market. Each of them have their own unique ways of addressing some of the drawbacks to memory foam pillows. This can make selecting the best pillow for your needs an intimidating task. I’m going to walk you through some of the most popular products and discuss the pros and cons of each. With luck, I’ll be able to help you cut through the marketing nonsense and help you understand what to look for in a high quality memory foam pillow.
#1 Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow
- Dust resistant
- Comes with a 20 year warranty
- 90 days free trial
- Improves the quality of the sleep
- Eliminates the pain in the neck and back
- Comfortable
- Available in different sizes
- Natural bamboo cover
- Moisture wicking qualities
- Improved airflow
- Made in USA
- Uneven thickness
- Poor shaping
- Non-adjustable
What put me off about this pillow is the shape. Generally, memory foam pillows are purchased with a specific thickness in mind. The thicker your pillow is, the firmer the feel will be. Because this is not a uniform thickness, the tendency will be for your heat to roll in either direction. I’ll have to give this one a pass for that reason.
The Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow is an excellent choice for those of you who want to try out a memory foam pillow, but aren’t quite sure which model to get. Memory foam pillows are ideal for people who struggle to get a good night’s rest. If you find that you are waking up feeling tired, or you toss and turn in your sleep, improper head posture could be the cause.
Most traditional pillows do not provide the level of support most people need. This can force your head into an awkward position. By design, memory foam is soft where you touch it, yet firm on the outside. This helps to gently cradle your head into the correct sleeping position all night long, reducing the incentive to toss and turn in your sleep.
Sleeping in a proper position has benefits outside of the bedroom. By keeping your neck in the correct place all night, you will feel less tense and strained during the day. This can drastically improve your focus and quality of life.
No allergies
One of the best features of the Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow is that it’s hypoallergenic. This means that bacteria and allergens cannot survive on the surface of the pillow.
Even if you don’t suffer from allergies, this means that there will be less bacteria inside of your pillow, reducing the maintenance needed to keep it clean. That makes this pillow much safer than ones made from natural products.
Extremely Durable
The manufacturer of the Snuggle-Pedic Kool-Flow Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow claims that the pillow will keep its shape forever. Solid block memory foam pillows tend to wear in – they become softer where your head sits. Because this pillow is made from shredded memory foam, the little foam bits can move around inside.
This means that your head will always be resting on new foam, allowing it to wear evenly. In a world where manufacturers can make any claim, it’s nice to see Snuggle-Pedic stand behind their product. They warranty their pillow for a full 20 years, so even if something happens to go wrong, you are covered.
Disadvantages
Keep in mind that the Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow has been developed for people like me, who have problems getting a restful sleep. It is very comfortable, and it will keep your neck and back in perfect alignment. Unfortunately, there are a few disadvantages.
It is perfect for back sleepers, but stomach sleepers may want to avoid memory foam. The product is not very breathable, and sleeping with your head jarred to one side can be bad for your neck.
This particular pillow is much better for side sleepers, as you can adjust the memory foam to the correct level of support. However, if you are a very petite person, you may find this pillow too large for you.
Wrap Up. If you are looking for an excellent memory foam pillow, this is a perfect choice. The bamboo cover offers superior cooling to other options, and the shredded memory foam means that this pillow will last a very long time.
While this is a slightly expensive option, the 20-year warranty means that this is almost a lifetime investment. Cheaper pillows may only last 4-5 years, meaning this product is actually much cheaper over the course of it’s life.
#2 Restwel Hypoallergenic Shredded Memory Foam Body Pillow
- The best thing about this pillow is the guarantee that it comes with. Restwel guarantees that you will sleep better, with no headaches or neck pain. And if you don’t, they’ll give you your money back.
- Unfortunately, this pillow can be kind of expensive. Even at full price, it is definitely worth it.
I absolutely love that it comes with a long warranty because it makes me feel like there was really no risk at all when I purchased it. This memory foam pillow from Restwel is known to relieve headaches, migraines, and neck pain. You can go to sleep in a matter of minutes and wake up pain-free. Since this pillow is hypoallergenic, you don’t have to worry about your allergies ever flaring up, which is a huge relief, especially during allergy season.
#3 Sleep Innovations Contour Memory Foam Pillow
- Suitable for sleeping on both your back and your side
- Well shaped
- Excellent warranty
- Inexpensive
- Non-adjustable
- No additional cooling
There are no extras added on by the manufacturer to deal with cooling issues caused by a solid pillow, and there is no mechanism for adjusting the firmness. If you are looking for a basic model this one may suffice, but since I am on the hunt for the best memory foam pillow I will have to move on.
#4 PharMeDoc Memory Foam Pillow with Cooling Gel
Features of the PharMeDoc Memory Foam Pillow are here:
- Made in the United States
- No odor found in some memory foam pillows
- Hypoallergenic
- Very good at eliminating the neck pain
- Cooling gel is perfect for warm nights
- Reversible
- Properly Shaped
- Temporary relief for hot flashes
- Potential moisture issues
- No permanent cooling
While this is an excellent choice for those of you who suffer from hot flashes or rosacea, this is not a permanent solution. Cooling is more about air flow and moisture wicking. Cooling gel can actually make this worse as you are dealing with a semi-solid mass against your face. For this reason, I am going to have to move on.
While a shredded memory foam pillow works best for me, it may not be the best solution for all consumers. Shredded memory foam pillows may provide enough cooling for the average individual, but people who suffer from rosacea or hot flashes may need a little extra cooling that cannot be provided by the standard memory foam pillow. But is it possible to get all of the postural benefits of memory foam along with a cooler material? According to PharMeDoc, it’s simple, just add some cooling gel to the pillow!
If you find yourself constantly flipping the pillow over to get to the cool side, the PharMeDoc Memory Foam Pillow may be the perfect option for you. The gel on this pillow, while soft, is very heat resistant. Any time you feel a flare up coming, just flip the pillow over to the cool side and let the gel pull the heat from your face.
While the gel provides a very potent cooling sensation, it will eventually absorb the heat from your face. Since most hot flashes last under 30 minutes, this pillow is perfect for that purpose.
The Cooling Effect. The PharMeDoc Memory Foam Pillow is a bit different from other pillows on the market. Sleeping during warmer months is more pleasant and enjoyable when you have a way to beat the heat. The cooling effect of the PharMeDoc Memory Foam Pillow can be felt in just a few moments, which is essential to anyone who suffers from flare-ups seemingly out of nowhere.
While other memory foam products need to be aired out for 24-48 hours after unboxing, there is no smell nor any type of odor in this model, even when the pillow is brand new. Because the manufacturer airs out the pillow prior to shipping, the “out of the box” experience is vastly improved.
The PharMeDoc Memory Foam Pillow Eliminates Neck Pain. Even with the additional benefits of the cooling gel, this pillow still has the supportive nature of a traditional memory foam pillow. Memory foam responds to the heat of your body to determine what parts of the pillow should be soft, and which should remain firm.
By holding your head in the correct position all night, the desire to toss and turn is reduced. Postural issues are the biggest problem preventing adequate rest, and using a supportive memory foam pillow is the best way to address these concerns.
Hypoallergenic. When dealing with pillows made of a natural material, allergens, irritants and bacteria can be a large issue. A great feature to the PharMeDoc Memory Foam Pillow is the hypoallergenic material. This feature is not unique to this model, but it is still very important. Pillows that are prone to absorbing allergens need frequent and thorough washing. With this product, that need is gone.
The secret is in the material of the pillow. It is immune to bacteria and allergens. In other words, they cannot survive on the surface. This prevents skin irritation and improves breathing at night.
Disadvantages. Although the PharMeDoc Memory Foam Pillow is an excellent choice, it is particularly best suited for people with specific needs. The first one is the stiffness. Because this pillow is a solid block of foam, it’s a little firmer than the shredded varieties. Ideally, this pillow will work best for broad shouldered individuals who sleep on their side.
It could also work well for anyone who sleeps on their back, but does not have any severe neck problems. The cooling effect is great, but it is relatively short lasting. It’s ideal for people who suffer from hot flashes or flare-ups.
Wrap Up. The PharMeDoc Memory Foam Pillow is a very common choice on the market. The pillow seems to be enjoyed by everyone who purchases it. When you suffer from unique issues, you need a unique product. The PharMeDoc pillow is easily the best product on the market for those who suffer from hot flashes or rosacea. On the flip side, those of you who are looking for a more mild cooling sensation that lasts throughout the night may be better off looking for an alternative.
#5 Coop Home Goods Hypoallergenic Cross Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow
- Adjustable
- Superior cooling
- Moisture wicking qualities
- Replaceable
- Superior lifetime
- Less expensive over time
- Made in USA
- Not as firm as “block” style pillows
As for all those cooling problem we haven’t been able find a solution too? So far, every pillow I have looked at has been a solid block of foam. Shredding the foam is a very simple, unique improvement to a common design. Because memory foam softens by responding to warmth and pressure, laying your head down against this pillow will still provide you with adequate support. Meanwhile, the air filled spaces between the little pieces of memory foam allow natural airflow to keep you cool at night.
This unique offering is the best memory foam pillow for anyone seeking the superior support and pain relief qualities of a memory foam pillow without the restriction of sizing. By implementing a shaved design, users can take slices of memory foam out of the pillow as needed to adjust the height and firmness to their liking. This gives you the best of both worlds.
The firm shape of the memory foam will help maintain proper sleep posture at night, leading to a more restful sleep. The leading issue with memory foam pillows is that they don’t work for everyone, so the adjustable design means that you’ll be able to modify it to suit your unique needs.
Shredding of the foam also allows you to adjust this the same way you would a synthetic pillow: simply shift it around as desired. This pillow also has the bamboo cover I liked so much on the snuggle-pedic model. It seems that I have finally found a pillow that has addressed every issue I’ve found so far!
But there is one more thing that makes this the best memory foam pillow on the market – the foam is replaceable! Many memory foam pillows only last a few years. Repeatedly applying pressure to the same area of memory foam tends to cause the foam to lose its shape over time. Not only will the shredded model last longer (just give it a shake and you’re resting your head on a new pieces of the foam!), but bulk shredded foam is CHEAP on Amazon. Even if you have 4 of these pillows for your household, you’d be able to replace all of the foam at an affordable price.
Not only is this the best memory foam pillow out there, but over time it will cost you considerably less money than competing products. There is only one small downside, and that is the firmness. Individuals who have had a major neck injury will require a very firm pillow. The shredded style will remain a little fluffier, and you won’t get quite as firm as a solid block of foam. For 99% of consumers, this should work perfectly. If you are still unsure of which pillow will work best for you, be sure to check out my Perfect Pillow Buying Guide.
