I remember my dad having a latex pillow when I was a kid. Every time we went on vacation or anywhere but home he brought it. I remember always thinking how amazing that pillow must be to never forget it. It was like his adult binky. If he forgot it, his sleep must’ve been ruined! (I honestly don’t know, I am making an adult educated guess) BUT…I am not joking when I tell you he just chunked it about a year ago. That’s at least 40 years of love that pillow got. Seriously! That is how much he loved it, and obviously how well it stood the test of time!
So, it got me thinking about pillows and how mine is just, meh. Anyone feel this? Well, I was determined to find the perfect pillow after years of buying random run-of-the-mill store pillows only to replace them fairly often because they lost their fluff, the filling got ruined, or or they just weren’t providing good sleep for me. Are you feeling this? Well fret no more! I have set out to find pillows with different fillings, firmness, and plushness and I have put them to the test for you. Whether you prefer squishy, firm, or somewhere in-between, I am here to spill the tea on the pros and cons of these pillows!
*This post contains affiliate links. That means, while it’s the same price for you, I get a very small commission out of it that helps me and my family. But most importantly, helps fund my art and coffee addiction.
Let’s dive in.
TALALAY LATEX ZONED pillow
First, I had to buy the Talalay Zoned Latex pillow. How did I pick this one? Well, last summer we visited Big Cedar Lodge—and if you haven’t been there this is your sign to definitely book a vacation there. It is worth every penny. They had these amazing latex pillows and I fell in love. After some digging, I found out what kind they were and what do you know, I found them on Amazon! Here are all the deets on it:
- SUPREME COMFORT – These medium density pillows provide perfectly soft, gentle yet firm lift you need as you sleep. Perfect for all sleeping styles – Back, Side & Stomach Sleeper.
- NATURAL CONSTRUCTION – Crafted using the highest quality talalay latex which comes naturally from the tropical rubber tree.
- NON TOXIC – These latex pillows are Okeo-Tex certified which means they been tested for harmful substances and the article is harmless for human health.
My review
- If you are an in-between super soft and a bit firm, this pillow is for you! Your head fits perfectly into it yet it doesn’t take a while to bounce back like memory foam. (I personally am not a fan of memory foam for this reason—no immediate bounceback)
- It is still very soft and comfy yet you don’t sink all the way into it like the Casper and down-alternative pillows. (If you prefer this…read on!)
- My neck feels very supported but not too high. You really want your neck in alignment when you sleep or that is where you can get headaches and neck stiffness/soreness.
- They don’t bunch up and lose their shape over time like stuffed pillows can/do.
- There was no odor (YAY!) it and it comes with a zipper case on it that is super soft.
- Yes, you can wash a latex pillow. But you don’t want to throw it in the washing machine or dryer. There are plenty of washing instructions online but the short of it is: remove the case, place a towel in a tub of lukewarm water and use a mild detergent and let it soak. Wring it out and blot out stains on the pillow with this. Let it air dry but not in direct sun.
- While these are the priciest of the bunch, I say they are well worth it. Comes in standard and king size. If taken care of properly, they can last for years. {See opening story 😉}
SHREDDED MEMORY FOAM pillow
I ordered this pillow because it had really high reviews across numerous websites and review sites. I was curious to review this one because it is “customizable”. It is filled with shredded (I’d call it cut up, not shredded, but my OCD gets the better of me with wording sometimes🤷🏼♀️) memory foam that you can take out as much or little as you like to get your desired softness or firmness. I didn’t mind the firmness, so I did not take any out, so I cannot speak to that. (sorry, what kind of review is this anyway??) I will say that when I opened it I was immediately taken aback by the odor. It did smell very chemical-ly (read more on that below). While their description says it is chemical free and odor free, I am here to offer my honest review. Here are some deets on it:
- QUTOOL MEMORY FOAM – molds to your head and neck and helps your body maintain the perfect head, neck, and spine alignment.
- ADJUSTABLE FIRMNESS – Too hard, too firm, too soft, no support? Unlike traditional down pillows, the shredded memory foam pillows features a zippered inner and outer cover, you can add or remove foam filling to suit your size, shape or sleep position, find the perfect comfort level and provide you with the ultimate sleeping experience. Perfect for side sleepers, back sleepers and stomach sleepers.
- INNOVATIVE COOLING TECHNOLOGY – Are you tired of waking up sweaty? This pillow is designed with a double-sided cover for cooling & soft touch. The cooling side is made of cooling silk fabric, and the soft side is made of 40% bamboo rayon & 60% polyester. So the bamboo side is built to keep your pillow in place, while the cooling side is ice cold and silky soft to the touch, reducing the heat your body produces during the night.
- SAFE & HIGH QUALITY MEMORY FOAM – Certified with CertiPUR-US, Qutool bed pillows for sleeping is non-toxic and odorless. Like, I said, the first time I used it there was an odor. I will say that it did dissipate after the first night.
- NEVER FLAT -The slow-rebound feature makes it so you don’t have to rearrange or flip it in the middle of the night and don’t have to worry it going flat.
My review
- I did like the cooling part, as I felt it wasn’t make me sweat. I don’t usually sweat, but the summers here can be brutally hot, so I’m all for anything that feels cool!
- While the odor bothered me a bit, it did go away quite a bit by the time I slept on it. (I opened it and aired it out for several hours)
- Like I said, I did not try removing any foam because the firmness was just right for me.
- If you prefer more bounceback, this one doesn’t bounceback quite as much as the Talalay. I think you could really customize this to your desired plushness/bounceback.
- I didn’t feel like my neck was as supported much on this one, but again, maybe if I removed some foam it would adjust.
- The price is super reasonable at $41 for a king size and $45 for a standard size pack of 2! (also comes in queen size)
Casper Sleep Essential Pillow
Well, if you are not already familiar with the Casper sleep brand, their “about us” statement goes like this:
We believe sleep is the superpower that charges everything we do.
We’ve spent years studying the magic and science of sleep. The more we learn, the more we’re sure: Great sleep changes everything. It makes us friendlier, faster, smarter… even warmer-and-fuzzier. If we all got great sleep, the world would be brighter.
With that being said, and over 3k 4½ star reviews on Amazon alone, I decided to give their pillow a try.
Here are the deets first:
- Outer Shell & Gusset: 100% Cotton
- Soft on the outside: Long silky fibers in the outer chambers create a light, plush feel
- Supportive on the inside: Short coated fibers in the inner chamber offer responsive support
- 3-Chamber pillow design for all sleep positions. Breathable weave keeps you cool night after night
- Suited for all sleepers
My review
- I absolutely was impressed with this pillow! Read on…
- It slept [no pun intended] like a dream. Yes, I said it. The bounceback is not much, you sink into it quite a bit. While I usually don’t prefer this, somehow this pillow felt amazing even without the bounceback.
- I love the “square” shape. I didn’t ever think about the shape of a pillow, but when I saw this and slept on it, I felt like those 2″ edges really made a difference. So the ends don’t squish up, but they are all even no matter where your head ends up. It may not matter to you, but I really liked it!
- I will say that I feel like the material inside would flatten over time, so keep that in mind. It is very down-like feeling and squishy.
- It kept me cool and didn’t feel like it would be too warm in the summer
- I would say this one is the most plush and has that hotel pillow feel more than the others
- The pricepoint is very reasonable at $60 for a king and $38 for a standard. Also comes in 2-packs.
Basics Down-Alternative Pillow
I also wanted to try a “run-of-the-mill”, if you will, pillow against these other brands and price points. Sometimes a good old fashioned pillow is all you need! And this one may just be the one for you. This pillow is great for those who like the plush, down alternative, not-a-lot-of-bounceback pillow.
Deets:
- Polyester Microfiber
- Imported (<— from??)
- Standard-size bed pillow (2-pack) offers exceptional comfort; soft density is ideal for stomach and back sleepers.
- Down alternative fill for a plush feel; a great option for allergy sufferers
- 100% polyester microfiber shell provides a smooth, soft surface; piping along the edge creates a neatly tailored look
- Machine wash warm and tumble dry low; ships in a vacuum-sealed pack; allow 24 hours to decompress, then fluff
My review
- This pillow was comfy. It does “flatten” somewhat when you sleep on it, but does fluff back up. I see this as maybe flattening quite a bit over time and losing it’s fluff and shape.
- It does easily conform to your head.
- It was warmer than the others and might be warmer than I’d like in the summer
- It is not recommended for side sleepers (first one in this list)
- It felt “cheaper” compared to the other brands in terms of quality
- At $32 for a king size 2-pack, it is a great deal if you are in the market for a basic pillow. (comes in standard size as well)
I hope you find the perfect pillow for you and your sleeping habits and this review was helpful in your hunt. I sure did enjoy sleeping on all these pillows! Which one do you think I chose to keep?
