Best Pillows of 2020

With getting quality sleep being such an important factor in living a healthy life, bedding is constantly reinvented and improved. Still, knowing what products work best for your needs is a challenge. Especially, when it comes to pillows.

New pillows come out every year. So, what is the best and newest pillow out there? Unlike the ‘80’s traditional pillow, pillows now come in different shapes, thicknesses, materials, and firmness levels. We have become more educated in sleep patterns and what comforts we need to enhance our rest at night.

Here at Savvy Sleeper, we hope to be a resourceful guide on the best quality bedding available. So, without further ado, here is all you need to know about what types of pillows are available and our top pillow suggestions.

Below you’ll find our 10 Best Pillows of 2020. We will go into depth to give you greater insight into these pillows. We will also talk about the different pillow filling technologies that are available.

Pillows filled with this stuffing are comfortably soft, while still providing a good amount of support. Coming from the backs and wings of geese and ducks, these pillows contain small and curled feathers work to keep its shape and structure after extended use. This type of pillow tends to be on the firmer side. Due to the insulating nature of the feathers, there is an increased risk of feather pillows sleeping hot. This pillow may not work if you don’t want to have to fluff your pillow throughout the night or if you are concerned about allergies.

True down is from the undercoating of a bird. Located under the feathers near the skin in the chest region of geese, ducks, and swans these soft fibers, a make a lightweight pillow. More cushy than firm.

The nature of this natural fiber makes this pillow hard to clean and, like feathers, increase the risk of allergy concerns. Down pillows will also need fluffing as it tends to fall flat.

If you want something a little more cost effective and easily managed, consider Synthetic Down. In this pillow, fluffy polyester mimics true down pillows. Making it a better choice for those with allergies. It’s also better on the budget and much easier to keep clean.

Be sure to keep a look out for the true down to feature ratio in this pillow. To drive down the price, many manufacturers add features. This means a true down pillow can be very pricey.

Memory foam pillows revolutionized the pillow industry in how they material contoured to the sleeper’s head. They can bounce back with varying speeds and come in various shapes. Memory foam holds a constant shape. There is no need for fluffing and there are no issues with the pillow lumping. This material is durable, meant to last for years. It’s fantastic for relieving back and neck pain and addressing other sleep issues.

The downsides are that this pillow can smell of the chemicals it’s made from. This pillow is also way too firm for those who sleep on their stomachs.

If you’re a traveler, you probably familiar with this type of pillow filling. Microbeads are typically in travel neck pillows. The pillow is on the firm side but the beads to have a squishy-slippery feel to them.

This pillow is very supportive and, like memory foam, molds to the curves of your neck and head. The beads allow air to flow through the pillow.

For those who are looking for environmentally friendly options, you should know that there are tons of pillows that are available to you. The following pillows are some of the more common natural fiber pillows.

Buckwheat pillows have been in use in Asia for generations. They’re filled with husks of buckwheat seeds. Although it may not seem like the most ideal choice for bedding, it does have many qualities that modern bedding possesses. Husks provide breathability. They are hypoallergenic and they conform to your head and neck. This is important to achieve an aligned spine during sleep.

On the flip side, the seed husks are noisy from rubbing together. This will also mean the pillow will ‘crunch’ when you lay down on it. The buckwheat pillow is too hard for stomach sleepers and is much heavier than other pillows.

Kapok Fiber is another option for those looking for natural fibers in their pillows. Kapok is a fluffy material that comes from the inside of a seed pod from the Ceiba tree. Kapok is hypoallergenic and mold and mildew resistant.

For those of you who love the feel of down, this is a great replacement due to its buoyant nature. Although, just with all natural fibers, this filling needs fluffing. This filling is on the more costly side.

Cotton bedding is practical. When thinking of cotton bedding, we usually think of the cotton pillowcase that keeps the filling inside or of bed sheets. Even though this option isn’t the most popular, it still has beneficial qualities. Cotton filling is mostly good for those with allergies. It is firmer than down. SO, this option would be best for side and back sleepers.

On the other hand, cotton needs cleaning on a frequent schedule. It will get lumpy eventually and does not do a good job of supporting your head and neck while you sleep.

Gel fillings keep the pillow cool as a sleeper sleeps all night long. The filling keeps the pillow from flattening out; however, it can mold into any shape the sleeper finds will give them more comfort. This pillow is another one you can count among the hypoallergenic. Gel is often combined with other fillings such as memory foam to give a sleeper more stability.

This pillow is not a good fit for all sleepers. It is best for side or back sleepers.

Now that you have a general idea of what you are looking for in a pillow, you can make an informed decision and hopefully start sleeping better sooner rather than later. If interested in other sleep health topics, we have dozens of other articles, including an article on finding the best mattress protector and an article on finding the best mattress for you.