Bed Pillows buying guide

Bed Pillows

You spend a good portion of your life face down in it -- shouldn't you get yourself a quality bed pillow?

Proven Comfort

Many of these pillows are used by renown lodging companies like Ritz Carlton and The Hilton when maximum comfort is an absolute necessity. Pick up a set for yourself and see why these pillows are nothing less than exceptional.

Double Down Surround Pillow

Comforel Pillow

Down Etc Pillows

Pillow Materials

By far the most important aspect of any pillow is its filling.

Some materials offer firm support for the head and neck, others offer a soft cozy resting place.
The pillow that is right for you is the one that helps you get a good night's sleep.
Generally speaking, people who sleep on their sides (about 85% of the population) should use medium to firm pillows.
People who sleep on their stomachs do better with soft pillows. Back sleepers do well with medium pillows.

Down / Hypodown

Down pillows are soft and squashy. Some find this comfortable. Others do not. Those allergic to feathers, should stay away from this filling.
Hypodown is for the down-allergic. It is processed to remove allergens with a bit of milkweed fiber for good measure.
Be aware of the feather content of your down pillow. Some pillows are 100% down (goose is softer than duck). Others are down-feather blends.
Pure feather pillows are firmer than pure down pillows.

Synthetic Down

Primaloft makes a synthetic down that is as soft and squashy as the real thing but without the chance of allergic reactions.
Soft, lightweight, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, machine washable.
May not last as long as some other kinds of pillows.

Wool

Wool provides a firm pillow that doesn't squash down easily or lose its shape.
Available in medium and firm.
Hypoallergenic, resistant to dust mites and mold, warm on cool nights, long-lasting, wicks away moisture.
Alpaca pillows are not as firm as sheep's wool pillows -- generally available in soft to medium.
Harder to clean than some other fillings and can't be machine washed.

Cotton

The pillow is made of cotton batting, which is about as hypoallergenic as you can get.
Generally firm and can be compacted further over several years.
Cool, breathable, and mold-resistant.
Many companies manufacture all-cotton pillows that are additionally free of dyes and made from 100% organic, cruelty-free, environmentally and economically sensitive cotton.

Buckwheat Hulls

Especially popular for neck/travel pillows. Also available in standard sizes.
Provide excellent support.
Additional inserts allow you to mutate your pillow at your will.
Cool in summer, warm in winter -- some can also be warmed or cooled to use as compresses. (See the guide on therapeutic pillows .)
Buckwheat is a renewable resource, hypoallergenic (when properly processed), and resistant to breakage.
Also known as " makura pillows " (redundant as "makura" is the Japanese word for "pillow.")

Latex

Latex gives good support, but crumbles over time.
Look for natural latex -- it is hypoallergenic (unless you have a latex allergy, of course) and has no odor.
Synthetic rubber can give off unpleasant odors.
Latex can also be made into contoured shapes specifically designed for certain sleeping positions.
Latex is sometimes shredded -- shredded latex can be fluffed but provides a lot of support.

Foam

Memory foam is an intriguing idea and gives good support.
Foam can be very hot and some kinds of foam harbor dust and dust mites.
Some types of synthetic foams can give off gases, such as toluene (a liquid aromatic hydrocarbon that resembles benzene but is less volatile, flammable, and toxic and is used as a solvent, in organic synthesis, and as an antiknock agent for gasoline, according to Webster's). Do you really want to breathe that?

Loft

Loft refers to the pillow's thickness.
The thickness you prefer is up to you -- but keep in mind that a thick pillow made of a soft material will have a lot of give to it.

Pillow Shape and Size

Pillows are usually rectangles. Anything else is extraordinary.
Standard Size Pillows are 20x26 inches. Put one on a twin bed, two on a full or queen, and three on a king.
Queen Size Pillows are 20x30 inches. Same allocation, same pillow case size.
King Size Pillows are 20x36 inches. Lie one across your king size bed.
Euro Size Pillows are 26x26 inches. Nice and square.
Travel Size Pillows are 12x16 inches. Perfect to take with you anywhere.

Pillow Covers

The pillow cover should be at least 260-thread count for down and feather pillows. It keeps the feathers from escaping. For other fills, a thread count of at least 200 is recommended.

External Links

Achooallergy.com -- Offers a large selection of down, synthetic down and foam pillows.
Allergybuyersclub.com -- A comparison of several top, hypoallergenic pillows.
Thecompanystore.com -- FAQs for general linen and pillow softness.
Landsend.com -- Another pillow guide.
Backdesign.com -- a guide to properly fitting your pillow.