Examine Our Picks
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Others Examined
Pillow Cube Side Cube for $66: This isn’t technically a physique pillow, however it’s particularly designed for facet sleepers (and I like it), so it’s included on this listing. This cuboid pillow is designed for the facet sleeper, and goals to assist with complications and again and shoulder pains via its distinctive form and tender, but structured, filling. It has a breathable, soft-and-stretchy quilted facet 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 facet, 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 large, and 5 inches deep. The breathable cowl and tender density even helped with ear stress.
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. Attributable to its distinctive form, it may be contorted into many figures. With a detachable cowl made 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. Total, this pillow is breathable and intensely customizable in form, though I’d’ve most well-liked one thing with a little bit extra filling.
White Noise Memory Foam Body Pillow With Hypoallergenic Zippered Protector for $50: I completely love the fill of this 50 x 14-inch pillow—the shredded foam is the proper mixture of construction and softness. If it had 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 facet. I might be able to overlook the flaw of its narrowness as a result of the pillow has a super-comfy fill, however I wouldn’t suggest it for larger individuals with longer limbs.
Eli & Elm Memory Foam Body Pillow for $130: In my house, we name this one “the 7 pillow” as a result of … properly, take a guess. This lengthy, L/7-shaped pillow is marketed as a pregnancy pillow, however it’s nice for anybody who sleeps on their facet. The quick part suits neatly below 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 is not such as you’ll have a ton of spares on this form in your linen closet. —Eric Ravenscraft
Eli & Elm Side Sleeper for $116: The Eli & Elm Aspect Sleeper pillow is likely one of the firmest pillows proper out of the field of any we have examined. You possibly can take away a few of the extra fill if you wish to cut back that firmness, however if you happen to’re the kind of one that likes feeling like they’re sleeping on a really tender rock, that is the pillow for you. It is not fairly sufficiently big for a number of individuals to cuddle up with, like our Honeydew pick, however for a single particular person, it is an awesome possibility. —Eric Ravenscraft
Bearaby Cuddler for $229: Bearaby is finest identified for its weighted blankets, eye masks, and stuffed animals, however 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 constituted of rubber-tree sap, it is in contrast to 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 evolve into many shapes could make this a pretty choose for some facet sleepers.
Not Really useful
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Alwyn Home Butcher Fiber Plush Pillow for $56: This 90 x 19-inch pillow disappoints. It’s egregiously lengthy, which could possibly be useful for people who find themselves taller or those that like extra all-around physique assist. Nonetheless, it simply doesn’t have sufficient stuffing to fill 90 inches. The batting inside seems like typical fluffy batting present in home made pillows, however it bunches all through the pillow in clumps, leaving gaps the place no filling reaches. These gaps usually 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, however it did little to assist.
As a facet sleeper, you’ll desire a pillow that’s lengthy sufficient to supply assist between your arms and stress factors like between the knees. Whereas firmness and softness are a matter of private choice, you usually desire a physique pillow that strikes the appropriate stability, to supply assist with out being too heavy or agency for the limbs that relaxation beneath the pillow. For those who’re simply on the lookout for a pillow to hug when you sleep, one thing lighter and softer is finest. However 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 facet sleeper, however I toss and switch between each side, so pillows with assist on both facet had been examined too. I additionally have a tendency to curve right into a extra fetal place, so I wished 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 really feel too heavy for a facet sleeper whose limbs go beneath the pillow. Polyester or different artificial filling is commonly probably the most plush and malleable however could not present sufficient assist. Many have a combination of each or shredded reminiscence foam, which may present construction whereas nonetheless being tender sufficient to sink into. This depends upon private choice and want, however fill kind is one thing to pay attention to when on the lookout for the proper side-sleeper physique pillow.
A regular physique pillow that is lengthy sufficient to supply 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 total assist and are perfect for pregnant individuals or these with again or leg points, however can usually make the sleeper run sizzling due to the entire surrounding materials. However in the end, the popular form is basically depending on what elements of the physique you need most supported within the side-sleeping place.
I examined (slept with) every of the pillows for a minimum of per 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 numerous positions. I eliminated and added fill if I used to be ready, and eliminated and washed covers to see how they had been affected by cleansing and examined the variations with or and not using a cowl.
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