If you have issues with getting a good night’s sleep, you’ll be aware that having the best pillow for your favorite sleep position is an important part of being comfortable. But what if you want to hedge your bets? What if you are still unsure? What is the right pillow for combination sleepers? One that allows you to adopt several positions, possibly even during the same night?
Lets evaluate all the options.
Shape options
For the main shapes of pillow, these are some of the key characteristics:
Traditional – shaped like a lozenge or a soft-edged rectangle. Can be filled with memory foam, polyester, latex foam, filled with feathers, down etc. A very popular shape.
Contour – has raised and rounded edges to support your neck and a depression in the middle for your head. Tend to be quite firm, often use memory foam.
Cervical – shaped a little like a bed you would buy for a pet: a hollow in the center surrounded by higher sides. Usually filled with hollow fiber polyester to add bulk.
Bolster – longer and more cylindrical, tend to be more rounded. Use latex foam very often to retain shape..
Material Options
When it comes to what a pillow is made from, or more importantly, what it is filled with, there is another series of alternatives to think about. Make sure to always go with the best ones! Quality of the material is important for support and durability. Some common filling materials include:
Latex Foam – think of a sponge-like substance only with more strength and solidity. They tend to offer firmer pillows than average with less flex and give.
Hollowfibre Polyester – results in a pillow which is soft and light but may sleep hot for some people.
Microfiber – it comes in many shapes and sizes from thin tubes to larger pieces. Seen as a modern alternative to polyester.
Memory foam – softer than latex foam with a little more give. It too can retain heat too much for some.
Feathers – one of the traditional pillow fillings with feathers from ducks or geese being popular. There is a significant minority of people who suffer allergic reactions to feathers.
Down – duck or goose down is common. Down is the undercoating of the bird which is fluffier, softer and warmer than feathers. Again, beware of allergic reactions and avoid if you are an animal-lover.
Wood, stone, moss, leaves – OK, these are not very common in the western world. And you would probably have difficulty sourcing one like this from your everyday bedding linen store! But for the wild camper, they may be all that is available!
What to Look for when Keeping your Options Open
In terms of shape, you probably don’t want to settle for anything other than a traditional pillow. Any of the other shapes will introduce specific issues which you may think of as being unwelcome.
When it comes to materials involved in making the pillow, you can now purchase pillows which are made up of a combination of materials – hybrid solutions. These allow you to get the benefits of a range of properties all in one package: latex foam for support and strength, memory foam for softness and comfort, microfibers for comfort and cooling. You can also find “adjustable” pillows which you can add fillings to in order to customize the shape and size for your own comfort.
Another option is to think about using more than one pillow. Think about, for example, a thin pillow of latex foam used underneath a pillow filled with hollowfibre polyester and covered with microfiber fabric. This will give you the best of several worlds. Feel free to check out an interesting article on InsideBedroom blog regarding whether is it a good idea to sleep with or without a pillow. To learn more now be sure to click on the link!
1 comment
Thank you, very helpful information. I often get neck pain in the morning. It is really better to choose a pillow based on the position in which we usually sleep. If it’s mostly on your side, it’s better to get a tall pillow. I found a great selection of side sleeper pillows. I think my sleep will finally improve.