Pillows are the Unsung Heroes of Great Sleep

Think about where you rest your head at night

Mar 09, 2025

a laptop on a bed — Literal pillow talk. Photo by Megan Lee on Unsplash

Happy Sunday — and Happy Daylight Saving Time if you’re celebrating today! Welcome to the latest edition of More Than Mattresses.

Let’s talk about pillows.

I think pillows are the unsung heroes of a good night’s sleep. So much emphasis is placed on finding the right mattress (and rightfully so), but why not put that same energy into what you’re resting your head on at night?

Before I started reviewing sleep products, I didn’t care about the pillows I used. I’d pick up some cheap down-alternative pillows from Kohl’s or TJMaxx. They’d flatten like a pancake within months, to which my response would be to pile them on top of one another, creating an undesirable shortstack of pain and depression.

I once purchased an ergonomic pillow from a no-name brand after waking up with a serious crick in my upper back. It seemed to help, but I admittedly didn’t put much thought into my decision. I just found the highest-rated odd-shaped pillow on Amazon and hoped for the best. I got lucky.

So what changed?

Testing some of the best pillows on the market, and speaking to medical experts from around the world, have given me a better idea of what I want and need from a pillow.

A few years ago, I wrote a piece for TechRadar about how to know if you’re sleeping on the right pillow. My expert source for the piece was Dr. Verena Senn, neurobiologist and Head of Sleep Research at Emma Sleep. She shared the following:

Sleep on your side? Look for a firmer pillow that is as thick as the distance between your shoulder and ear.
Sleep on your back? Find a lower, thinner pillow to align the neck with the spine.
Sleep on your stomach? You can probably go without a pillow under your head, but a soft pillow underneath your pelvis may help with alignment.

I’ve written several more stories about pillows since then and the advice has been fairly consistent among other experts I’ve interviewed. I rely on those guidelines to help me gauge the comfort of my pillows.

These are a few of my favorite pillows

No, I don’t sleep on all four of these pillows at once. My poor neck!

Years ago, I would have 4-5 pillows on my bed for aesthetics — and because I’d eventually have to stack 2-3 of them at night. Now, I have a collection of pillows I use on a rotating basis as a (mostly) side sleeper.

Note: These pillows were given to me by the brands for review purposes for various publications. All opinions are my own.

My favorite pillow at the moment: Tempur-Pedic ProAdjust Pillow

I find myself reaching for this pillow the most. Tempur Material is squishy yet supportive so my neck and head aren’t sinking too low. It also keeps its shape well so I only have to fluff it occasionally.

Surprisingly, it doesn’t sleep warm for me. (I had the opposite experience with a Tempur-Adapt mattress.) It could be due to the Tempur Material being shredded and blended with polyester fibers, allowing air to flow more freely. The cooling cover seems to pull its weight, as well.

Read my full review of the Tempur-Pedic ProAdjust Pillow at Tom’s Guide.

The runner-up: Pluto Pillow

This is a custom-made pillow built using Pluto’s algorithm and human engineers. Unlike the other pillows in my rotation, it doesn’t have shredded fill so it’s a nice change of pace for when I want to rest my head upon a flatter, more uniform surface. (Plus, I barely have to fluff it.) It’s not quite as dense as the ProAdapt, but it still has a tall loft that neatly fits the crook between my ear and shoulder.

Read my full review of the Pluto Pillow at Tom’s Guide.

The bronze medal: Coop Sleep EdenCool+ Adjustable Pillow

The EdenCool+ is the cooling version of Coop Sleep’s famous Original Adjustable Pillow. It got me through a hot summer — it’s remarkably soothing. However, it’s on the softer side and requires more fluffing than my other pillows, so I reserve it for nights when I’m feeling flushed.

Read my full review of the Coop Sleep EdenCool+ Adjustable Pillow at HGTV.

Currently testing: Coop Sleep Adjustable Latex Pillow

For those who eschew memory foam, this Coop Sleep pillow with natural Talalay latex could be for you. I don’t want to divulge too much before my full review goes live. If you want to read it as soon as it’s published, give me a follow here or on LinkedIn!

Grateful to have a much better phone camera now.

Gone but never forgotten: Sleep Number TrueTemp Pillow

I recently had to part ways with my Sleep Number pillow because the foam inserts started to deteriorate, but for the most part it was fantastic. The ergonomic design relieved pressure in my jaw so I wasn’t clenching my teeth at night. (That made my orthodontist very happy.) The cover was cool to touch, although it did start to pill after multiple washes.

Despite its shortcomings, I’m strongly considering buying a replacement. Maybe with better care on my part, I can get even more out of it this time.

Read my full review of the Sleep Number TrueTemp Pillow at Mashable.

This week’s poll…

After years of sleeping on a mountain of pillows, I now limit myself to one pillow per night. How about you, dear readers? Are you a 1-or-2-pillows-per-night person, or are you the average British Gen Z’er? Share your thoughts and tell me what pillow(s) you’re sleeping on in the comments.