A memory foam pillow is just the ticket for the best night’s sleep.
We all know that a comfortable mattress can make or break a good night’s sleep, and can play a significant role in matters of general health. But what about your pillow?
While it’s important to have a good mattress and duvet, a high quality pillow is also absolutely key to a restful and revitalizing sleep.
There are many different pillows out there, but not all are made equal. Memory foam pillows are some of the best, combining sheer luxe comfort with robust support for a healthy and happy sleep.
We’ve compiled this complete guide to the best memory foam pillow reviews — as well as why (or why not!) you should buy one.
Let’s take it away…
Contents
What is Memory Foam?
Before we get into the ins and outs of our favorite pillows, it’s probably best to go back to basics.
What is memory foam, exactly?
It’s one of those terms thrown around willy-nilly in the sleep industry but not everyone can point to an exact definition of the material.
Here’s a great video primer on how it works:
Although memory foam seems like a relatively new phenomenon, it was actually developed in 1966 by NASA. While ‘memory foam’ is its street name, as it were, it’s known as viscoelastic polyurethane foam and low-resilience polyurethane foam in scientific circles.
So, why is it called memory foam?
While the major benefit of memory foam is that it can mold quickly to the shape and weight of your body , it will also bounce back to its original shape once you move your body away . Hence, the foam has a ‘memory’ of what it used to be like, and what it can return to.
Benefits of Memory Foam
Should I Buy a Memory Foam Pillow?
Memory foam pillows are suitable for anyone, at any age.
However if you are one of the millions of people who regularly suffer from neck pain they can be particularly beneficial.
Memory foam pillows can also be of benefit to migraine sufferers , as they ease muscle tension in the neck and head.
Is a Memory Foam Pillow Good for Bad Backs?
Yes!
Because a memory foam pillow cradles the neck and head to maintain the optimum alignment, this encourages the rest of your spine to take on the correct position whilst sleeping too.
When combined with a memory foam mattress, a memory foam pillow gives all over spine protection throughout the night.
Best Memory Foam Pillow Reviews
We’ve selected our favorite products on the market right now to help you choose from some of the best memory foam pillows.
Here are our top picks…
This ultra high-rated bamboo memory foam pillow is really the whole package: supremely comfortable, highly supportive and adjustable to your own thickness preferences.
It also has a patented Kool-Flow breathable cooling cover which is soft even for sensitive skins and is completely hypoallergenic. This cover is removable making it a practical choice when it comes to keeping your pillow fresh, and the fact that it’s also breathable means that you will stay cool all night long.
The memory foam in the Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo memory foam pillow is shredded, giving it a similar soft feel to a traditional feather or fibre pillow, and because the shredded foam is removable you can adjust the thickness to just how you like it.
Pros
- Available in three different sizes
- Adjustable thickness
- Works with any sleeping position
- Feels very comfortable
- Never goes flat
- Both cover and pillow are machine washable
- Quality materials
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- The initial memory foam odor takes a couple of days to completely dissipate
- May be too soft for some sleepers
Here we’ve got another premium bamboo and shredded memory foam pillow that’s certainly popular among sleep hackers.
It sports a fully breathable bamboo and polyester cover that allows air to circulate to keep at an optimal temperature — this is a great feature as memory foam is usually prone to run hot during the night.
Both the cover and the shredded visco memory foam pillow are washable and hypoallergenic, and the amount of shredded foam inside the pillow can be tailored to your individual preference. What more could you want?!
Pros
- Made from only premium materials
- Durable with 5 year warranty
- Adjustable thickness
- Fully washable
- Hypoallergenic
- Available in three different sizes
- Regulates temperature
- Suitable even for larger frames
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Pillow may require regular fluffing to keep its shape
- Foam can give off an initial odor
Yet another shredded bamboo memory foam pillow! This is clearly a winning combination.
The Sleep Whale pillow, derived from bamboo, feels super luxurious. It consists of an inner pillow stuffed with shredded memory foam fibers and a removable outer cover woven from a cool and breathable and hypoallergenic bamboo / polyester mix fabric which is machine washable.
The position of the memory foam fibers can be modified to provide a tailor made sleeping solution that gives maximum support to the cervical spine whilst retaining optimum comfort for side, back or front sleepers.
As an additional bonus, the cover is machine washable and dryer safe.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant
- Also resistant to mold and bacteria
- Quality, durable product
- Soft and comfortable cover ideal for sensitive skin
- Cover can be washed and dried in the machine
- Works for any sleeping position
- Lifetime replacement guarantee
Cons
- Internal pillow has no zipper to allow adjustment of foam level
- It’s not quite as durable as the top two memory foam pillows on this list and is likely to flatten over time
Sleep Innovations are famous throughout the sleep industry for their high quality, reasonably priced products and this contour memory foam pillow is no different.
It’s cleverly contoured to give maximum comfort and keep the neck and head correctly aligned as you sleep.
The two heights of the Sleep Innovations Contour Memory Foam Pillow mean you can choose either the high or low side to rest your neck according to your comfort needs, and the foam and cover are made from anti-allergy material for maximum hygiene.
The soft terry 100% cotton cover can be easily removed for washing, and the memory foam promises to stays cool throughout the night.
Pros
- Durable foam doesn’t go flat
- Keeps spine aligned and cushions pressure points
- 2 sizes available to choose from
- 100% cotton cover
- Made in the USA
- Comes with a five year warranty
- Particularly comfortable for back sleepers
- Heat resistant
- Excellent price
Cons
- The standard size seems a little on the small side — we’d recommend going for the Queen
If you’re looking for a memory foam pillow that combines luxury comfort with excellent value, you can’t go wrong with the Beckham Hotel Collection ones. They actually sell in a two pack — a great money saver.
These soft pillows are filled with memory foam fibers plus they have the added advantage of being gel filled which makes it feel just like real down yet remain aerated and cool, provide plenty of neck and head support despite the plushness, and are even engineered for all sleeping positions.
The Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillows are also 100% hypoallergenic and free from nasty chemicals.
Pros
- Extremely soft and comfortable
- Provide good support
- Chic design
- Good for neck pain sufferers
- Stay cool to the touch
- Excellent value two-pack
- Resistant to dust mites, mold and mildew
- Allergen- and chemical-free
- Fade resistant and stain resistant
Cons
- Dry clean only
If you’re looking for a cheap memory foam pillow that’s still high quality, this Sleep Innovations pillow could be the one for you.
One of its biggest benefits is the inventive two sided design, which allows you to choose between a top class memory foam for supreme comfort or a gel infused memory foam with improved airflow for cool comfort on hot nights.
This memory foam pillow also comes with a removable machine washable cover and is hypoallergenic.
Pros
- Available in three different sizes
- Affordable
- Good quality
- 5 year warranty
- Cooling gel works well
- Made in the USA
- Especially beneficial for side and back sleepers
Cons
- There is some initial off-gassing from the memory foam
- On the firm side for stomach sleepers
Yet another Sleep Innovations memory foam pillow!
Similar to their Contour pillow above, the Cool Contour has some additional high tech benefits.
The comfortably contoured high / low shape for different neck sizes remains the same, but with the added advantage of a layer of special cooling foam that keeps the pillow ventilated. This is an especially good buy for people who love that ‘cool side of the pillow’ feeling!
It also has a soft and soothing polyester and cotton, soft microfiber cover that can be easily removed for machine washing. Like the other Sleep Innovations products, it’s extremely well priced.
Pros
- Hypoallergenic
- Comfortable with choice of heights
- Cooling foam layer keeps temperature comfortable whilst sleeping
- Quality foam maintains shape well
- No chemical odor
- Made in the USA
- Comes with a 5 year warranty
- Good price
Cons
- The two foam layers will occasionally separate within the pillow, especially if you tend to toss and turn during the night.
We hope you’ve found our Best Memory Foam Pillows post helpful. Looking for alternatives? Be sure to visit our pillow reviews section for other great options.
