Do you toss and turn a lot during sleep? Do you always struggle to find a mattress or a pillow that will fit you? Do you often wake up in strange positions in the morning? If so, you’re probably a combination sleeper.
When it comes to finding a pillow that won’t make you feel like you slept on rocks, for combination sleepers, the struggle is real. Today I’ll help you find the right one. Come with me as I review some of the best pillows for combination sleepers on offer right now! I’m sure there’ll be at least one that you’ll love.
- What is Combination Sleeping?
- The 4 Top Benefits of Pillows for Combination Sleepers
- Where to Buy a Pillow for Combination Sleepers Near Me?
- A Comparison of 2021’s Best Pillows for Combination Sleepers
- Top 17 Pillows for Combination Sleepers in 2020
- How to Find the Best Pillow as a Combination Sleeper – A Buying Guide
- Is Combination Sleeping Good or Bad for You?
- Pillows for Combination Sleepers – a FAQ
What is Combination Sleeping?
In short, combination sleeping is a phrase used to describe a way of sleeping that can’t fit into any other common category.
Combination sleepers are people who change position often during the night and rarely stay in any position for too long. No two are quite the same, which is why it’s difficult to make products designed to accommodate them specifically.
If you tend to fall asleep in one position and wake up in another, you’re most likely a combination sleeper. You probably also struggle to find a pillow or mattress that will fit you properly.
Depending on their most favored position, there are multiple different types of combination sleepers
Those that sleep mostly on their side, mostly on their back or mostly on their stomach. You can even divide them up by their most favored position for falling asleep in and the position in which they wake up most often.
Most combination sleepers tend to get pillows and mattresses designed for their most favored position, but that doesn’t always do the trick.
The best sleeping gear for combination sleepers is, in fact, one that can easily adjust to your position and allows you to easily shift positions without making you uncomfortable. This means light covers and moldable pillows and mattresses.
Next, I’ll talk about the benefits you get from finding and using the right pillow for combination sleepers.
The 4 Top Benefits of Pillows for Combination Sleepers
While most good pillows offer a lot of useful benefits, there are some benefits that you can’t quite get from regular pillows if you’re a combination sleeper. Here are some of the benefits that pillows specifically made for combination sleepers can offer. You can learn more at Sleep Areas
1Better Sleep Quality
One of the main benefits of having a pillow more suited to your sleeping style is, of course, improved sleep quality.
The best pillows for combination sleepers will allow you to change positions more easily and support your head properly in multiple different positions, thus helping you sleep better. It’s simple.
You might not see an improvement immediately, but after a few days or weeks, you’ll definitely see a difference.
2Less Pain in the Neck and Spine
When you’re changing positions constantly throughout the night, it’s easy to get into an awkward position that will twist your spine and neck into unnatural shapes.
You might not feel it at the moment, but you’ll definitely feel it when you’re awake. Constant muscle tension and pain in the neck, shoulders, back, lower back, or even the hips are common.
While getting the right pillow (and mattress) for a combination sleeper might not make these problems completely disappear, it will definitely mitigate them at least a little bit.
Having a pillow that can support you properly in multiple positions will help you feel less pain during the waking hours.
Sure, you might still get into some sort of pretzel position that no pillow or mattress can support properly, but at least you’ll be well-supported most of the time.
3You’ll Feel Less Fatigue
If you’re changing positions often during sleep, it will probably tire you out at least a bit. However, it gets even worse when it’s difficult to change positions, or it brings you additional discomfort.
You might even wake up feeling fatigued, like you did a lot of work during the night – because, in fact, you did.
With a pillow suited for combination sleepers, you’ll feel less fatigue after waking up since it will be easier for you to change positions during the night and you’ll feel more comfortable in every position.
4Improved Posture
Most people blame sitting or standing in bad positions for bad posture but a lot of them ignore sleeping – after all, we spend a lot of time in bed, and that’s what can affect our posture the most.
Combination sleepers have the largest risk when it comes to ruining their posture while sleeping since they can end up in some rather awkward positions.
Your spine can easily fall out of alignment and so can your neck, leading to a strange posture while standing or walking that you can’t quite explain.
When you get the right pillow and mattress for combination sleepers, you’ll definitely see a difference, and over the coming months and years, your posture can improve tremendously.
Of course, that’s not enough – you also need to exercise and keep your posture in check while awake, but it will help a lot.
Where to Buy a Pillow for Combination Sleepers Near Me?
Buying online can be quite a hassle sometimes, especially if you need your pillow as soon as possible or you want to test it out a bit before you commit to buying it.
In that case, it’s best to find a good pillow shop near you, and that used to be difficult. You had to ask around, find people who shopped there and so on.
Today it’s as easy as running a quick search with a few keywords like “best pillow shop near me” or “pillow shops in my neighborhood,” and you’ll get exactly what you need.
Or you could take a look at this handy map I’ve made for you!
On this map, you can easily see all of the shops near you that sell pillows, and you can click on each one to get some basic info about it like the address, business hours, the website, customer reviews and more.
While finding a pillow shop near you is no longer that difficult what’s still hard is finding a good shop – but I’ll help you out with that as well.
4 Questions to Ask When Looking for a Good Pillow Shop
While it’s not that difficult to find just any old shop that sells pillows near you, it’s significantly more difficult to find a good shop. Here are the 4 most important questions you need to ask yourself when you’re looking for the best shop around.
These days, it’s important to have a presence on the webs since most customers are connected to it, and that’s where they look for things to buy.
If you don’t have a website, you’re basically showing that you don’t care about a large portion of your potential customer base.
Smaller shops can afford not to have a website, but larger shops and chains should definitely have one.
However, it’s not just about having a website – it also needs to be good. It needs to have as much info as possible about products, prices, warranties, contact info, shop locations, and the like. The info should also be as up to date as possible.
If you walk into a shop after browsing the website and the prices are different – that’s already a bad sign. Who knows what else might be wrong?
Good shops will be as transparent as possible on their website, and all the info will be super-easy to access and find, allowing you to know what the shop is like before you even walk through the door.
I agree with the old adage that the best warranties are the ones you won’t ever have to use – but what if you do? Something unexpected can always happen, and having a good warranty to secure yourself is always a great idea.
Above everything else, though, a shop having an extremely generous warranty shows that they have confidence in their products. It demonstrates that their products are so good that most people won’t have to return them at all.
This is a big one, and for many people, it will be a deal breaker. If you want to buy a pillow, you want to be able to at least lie on it once before you spend money on it, just like you would when shopping for a mattress.
If a shop doesn’t let you test out their products, they’re probably trying to hide something, and it’s already a bad sign.
The best shops will have a free trial period included with the purchase. After all, the real test for a pillow is sleeping on it night after night, and all good shops know that, so they’ll offer a 30-day, a 60-day or even a 90-day trial.
This is the final and probably the most important test for a shop to pass – the customer satisfaction test.
If they mostly have bad reviews from customers, they’re clearly doing something wrong, and you should probably stay away. But what to do when the reviews are inconclusive overall?
Well, read them! Find out what are the most common praiseworthy points and what are the most common gripes that customers have with it. This is even more important when there are only a few reviews for a certain shop.
Even a shop with 4.5 out of 5 in average reviews might not be the right one for you, simply because it has that one bad point that’s a deal-breaker for you. The best way to find that out is by reading what other disgruntled customers have to say.
A Comparison of 2021’s Best Pillows for Combination Sleepers
I understand that not everyone has the time to read lengthy reviews. If you just want all the basic info about the best pillows for combination sleepers, this char is where you’ll find it.
Top 17 Pillows for Combination Sleepers in 2021
Here they are – the meat of this article. This is where you’ll learn about the combination pillow which interests you in detail!
WonderSleep Premium Adjustable Loft Shredded Memory Foam PillowA Great Pair of Affordable Pillows
Shredded memory foam has a bad rap, but this pair of pillows from WonderSleep aims to prove that stereotype wrong. For a start, these pillows are surprisingly cool, and they don’t seem to absorb a lot of body heat, even in the warmer months. This is probably due to the high-quality bamboo covers.
They’re also surprisingly durable and can keep their loft even after a lot of use. The bamboo covers are also machine-washable, so you’ll have no trouble maintaining them. The inner cover is washable, too, which is not all that common.
You can easily remove some of the fillings to adjust the firmness and thickness or add more, allowing you to customize this pillow to your liking. It can also easily conform to your body shape and be good for any sleeping position.
With all that said, these pillows still have some of the usual downsides associated with memory foam. The most important one is that chemical smell when you first unpack them.
The filling can also shift and be slightly uncomfortable at times, especially if the pillow is not filled to the brim with it. However, that can easily be adjusted so it’s not a huge con. Overall, this is a great pair of relatively inexpensive pillows that you ought to check out.
- Surprisingly durable
- Cool despite the materials used
- Washable outer and inner cover
- Provides good support
- Highly affordable price point
- There’s a chemical smell to it at first
- The filling can shift a lot
While certain materials do have a bad reputation, that doesn’t mean you should dismiss them out of hand. Each product can be a surprise, and you should treat each one individually.
The SNÜZ PillowTwo Pillows in One
As the name suggests, this is a pillow which should allow you to fall asleep with ease and just keep those z’s coming!
For a start, this isn’t one pillow even if it may look that way – it’s more like two pillows joined together. The dual-chamber design as they call it, allows this pillow to keep its ergonomic shape throughout the whole night, making it great for combination sleepers.
The shape is designed specifically to accommodate the curve of your neck and head, and it will stay that way even after extended use. The polyester microfiber filling stands up to repeated use better than you would expect.
The cover is made out of 100% cotton with a 300 thread count making it comfortable and breathable – and it’s also completely machine washable.
However, while it’s generally great for combination sleepers, this pillow is definitely not for everyone. The shape is rather rigid, and if you have a short neck, for example, you won’t find it comfortable at all.
You also won’t find it too comfortable if you want something a bit firmer – it’s definitely on the soft side. This pillow definitely does have some great pros, but you’ll need to consider if those few cons are deal-breakers for you. It definitely comes at a great price, so I still think it’s worth trying out.
- Great, breathable and washable cotton cover
- Comfortable ergonomic design
- Unique dual-chamber design
- Made to last long
- The price is definitely affordable
- Won’t fit you well if you have a short neck
- A little too soft for comfort
No matter how good a pillow is, you shouldn’t get it if it has that one flaw which you would consider to be a deal-breaker.
MARNUR Contour Memory Foam PillowA Unique Pillow for Combination Sleepers
This first thing you might notice about this pillow is its strange shape – it just looks uncomfortable at first glance. However, you shouldn’t judge a book by its covers, and this pillow is definitely more comfortable than it might seem.
The strange and unique shape is actually what makes it great for combination sleepers. It provides you with different surfaces, and it’s able to satisfy almost everyone. Each part has not only a slightly different shape but also different thickness and firmness.
It also conforms well to the shape of your body due to being made out of memory foam, and it can return to its regular shape fairly easily.
It comes with a great bamboo-polyester pillowcase that’s breathable and easy to wash – and durable too. That’s great because this pillow does have one common problem associated with memory foam and that’s high heat absorption. This pillow definitely won’t stay cool most of the time.
It’s also not the most durable pillow around, and I’d even venture to say that it’s a bit overpriced, but that’s just my opinion. If you like the shape, it will be great for you while it lasts so it might be worth the money.
- A great unique shape
- More than enough firmness and loft
- Supportive yet soft
- Conforms well to the shape of your body
- Comes with a breathable and well-made cover
- The durability is not that great
- It absorbs a lot of heat
Yes, pillows for combination sleepers can sometimes look a bit like torture devices – don’t let that scare you away from buying one. You might be surprised.
UTTU Sandwich PillowSoft and Adjustable
What the heck is up with that name? The sandwich pillow?
Those were probably your first thoughts when you laid your eyes upon this pillow from UTTU since it looks fairly inconspicuous. Well, behind that seemingly simple exterior hides a unique and interesting design.
You see, this pillow has three different layers of memory foam inside it, with one sandwiched between the other two, hence the name. However, this middle layer can be removed, allowing you to easily adjust the loft and thickness of this pillow.
The foam in this pillow conforms extremely well to the shape of your body, so it holds up no matter which loft you choose, and it depends only on your preferences. This is also what allows this pillow to be so great for combination sleepers.
The firmness is consistent as well no matter the temperature, allowing you to sleep well no matter the weather. In short, the entire pillow is made to be durable, both the memory foam layers and the bamboo-based cover.
However, it does suffer from one of the common memory foam problems, and that’s heat absorption. It also doesn’t offer enough support for most people, which is a shame. If you like a softer pillow, it will be fine for you, but if you need that extra firmness, this is not what you need to get.
- Unique, adjustable design
- Firm and conforms well to your body
- Durable and well-made
- Good, quality cover
- Contoured to fit the shape of your neck
- Unfortunately, it absorbs a lot of heat
- It doesn’t offer enough support
While people think that firmer pillows are a must for side and combination sleepers that’s not necessarily true and you should pick a pillow that fits you rather than going with what other people claim is a must.
OXA Spring Bed PillowsThe Best Spring Pillow Around
You’ve probably slept on a spring mattress at least once in your life but have you ever used a spring pillow? While the concept might seem a bit odd and uncomfortable, this is a unique pillow which offers some unique benefits that others do not.
For a start, the support it provides is almost unparalleled, and it will support you well no matter which position you sleep in. It’s also highly durable and firm, due to using metal springs, while still remaining comfortable because the springs are wrapped in cotton. There are a total of 40 coils inside of it.
It’s also an incredibly cool pillow due to the combination of the spring-based design and the highly breathable cover. Even during the summer months, it absorbs basically no moisture or heat.
If you’re hesitant to try it out since it sounds weird – don’t worry, it’s risk-free. You get a 90-day free trial when you get it, and it’s easy to return it.
So, what’s the catch?
Well, it doesn’t conform to well to the shape of your body, and if you’re one of those people who move around during the night, more than the average combination sleeper, you might start to feel the springs.
Still, it’s a nice idea that’s well-executed, and if you like your pillows firm and consistent, it will probably be your favorite pillow.
- A unique design that ensures firmness
- Cool no matter the time of year
- Durable and made to last
- Comes with a good-quality cover
- The price is more than decent
- Has a 90-day free trial
- Doesn’t conform well to your body
- You can feel the springs sometimes
Pillows with springs are not as uncommon as you may think – they’re just uncommon in the west, and I think it’s about time that changed. Don’t be afraid to try one out!
Core Products Tri-Core Cervical Support PillowAn Affordable Pillow with Orthopedic Support
One of the favorite shapes for pillows made for combination sleepers involves having a depression in the middle of the pillow. This one from Core Products features that exact design and I’ll explain why it works so well.
Most of us tend to place our heads in the middle of the pillow when sleeping on our back, and this shape supports your neck and head well in that position, allowing for good spinal alignment.
On the other hand, most of us tend to sleep on the edges of the pillow when sleeping on our side, and the sides of this pillow are made to accommodate that.
The support is great and consistent, and you’ll definitely feel an improvement after a short adjustment period. This pillow is cool as well, and you will never sleep hot on it no matter which time of year it is.
You can buy this pillow in many different sizes, and you can choose from various firmness options as well. While it’s not customizable, this still gives you a lot of control over how it will feel.
The main downside of this pillow is its durability. Both the cover and the filling are made mostly out of polyester and degrade quite quickly. The cover also doesn’t feel comfortable on the skin. I guess that’s why the price is so affordable.
Still, it’s definitely good while it lasts and the price is right so I’d still give it a chance.
- Comes in many different sizes and firmnesses
- Has a great orthopedic shape
- The price is good
- Provides good support
- Doesn’t get hot
- Sadly, it doesn’t last for long
- The cover doesn’t feel comfortable
Since you should change pillows at least once per year, getting a pillow that doesn’t last for long but is good while it lasts is still something worth considering.
Roscoe Cervical PillowThe Best Budget Orthopedic Pillow
This is another pillow which uses the true and tested shape with a depression in the middle for your head and elevated sides for neck support and side sleeping. It works well for combination sleepers.
However, while pillows like that usually cost quite a lot, this one is available at a bargain, and anyone can get it.
It’s a fairly firm pillow and if you like that it will be the ideal one for you. It keeps that firmness for quite a while too, even though it’s not the most durable pillow around – but for the price, it’s more than good enough.
It’s also lightweight and stays fairly cool no matter the time of year.
You might have some difficulty cleaning it though since it doesn’t come with a cover and it has an awkward shape so most covers won’t fit well. Overall, it’s a great pillow for the price, but it does have a few downsides, so consider everything carefully.
- Great, orthopedic shape
- The price is ridiculously affordable
- Quite firm and supportive
- Stays relatively cool all the time
- Not too hard or uncomfortable
- It has some durability problems
- Doesn’t come with any sort of cover
If you’re budget-minded, you’re probably able to suffer a few minor downsides to get a decent pillow but you don’t have to do that all the time – in my experience, you can almost always find a budget pillow without them so keep digging!
Arc4Life Cervical Neck Traction Pillow For SleepingA Great Improvement on the Classic Orthopedic Shape
This amazing pillow from Arc4Life is a variation on the classic shape for combination sleepers but with a few marked improvements that mean a lot.
For a start, it offers a more smooth transition between the side meant for side-sleeping and the center meant for back-sleeping, instead of a sharp change. The bottom part meant for neck support is also different from the top, mean to support the top of your head when sleeping on your back.
Overall, this gives this pillow a more comfortable feel without sacrificing the benefits of its shape, and there’s definitely a shorter adjustment period than with similar pillows. While it is made with polyester, it is surprisingly durable, and it stays cool most of the time.
You can choose from 3 different sizes for this pillow so you can get one that fits you no matter the shape and size of your body, neck, and head.
However, with all that said, I still do consider this pillow to be overpriced. It’s above what I consider to be acceptable and it might be above your pay grade as well. Make sure this pillow is exactly what you want before you buy it.
It also doesn’t offer as much support either, which is a shame. Still, the shape is great and if you like it enough, it might be worth it for you.
- More durable than you might expect
- Great shape with helps a lot
- Decently firm
- Comes in multiple size options
- Stays cool all the time
- The price is definitely high
- Doesn’t offer enough support
One good aspect can be enough to get a pillow despite it having multiple flaws if it’s something that’s massively important to you.
Mastertex SYNCHKG055551 Down Alternative PillowThe Best Pillow for Allergies
This pillow looks completely unassuming, but what you get here is a premium-feeling pillow at a bargain price. It features an incredibly soft, completely cotton cover with a 300 thread count. It’s completely hypoallergenic and amazingly breathable.
The filling is down-like microfiber which doesn’t retain heat and also doesn’t cause any allergies, making this a great pillow for those that have problems with them.
It’s incredibly soft, and it feels like sleeping on a cloud. Which does mean that it’s not incredibly firm and if you need firmness, this is not the right pillow for you but for those that prefer a soft feeling it’s amazing.
It does lose its loft easily, so you’ll need to fluff it up often, at least once before sleeping. It’s a hassle, but what can you do. You’ll also find that it’s quite moldable and can fit you no matter the position you’re sleeping in, allowing you to rest easy even if you toss and turn a lot.
Overall, this pillow felt incredible, and like it cost much more than it did. If you like your pillows to be soft and malleable, this will be your favorite.
- Soft and comfortable
- Great for people with allergies
- Durable despite what you might think
- The price is fairly affordable
- It stays cool all through the year
- Not firm or supportive enough for some
- You need to fluff it up all the time
Allergies don’t have to present as hives or redness – they can present as a consistent cough and a runny nose. You might not even know you have a down or latex allergy until you test yourself. That’s why pillows like this one are great.
Beckham Hotel Collection Gel PillowSoft and Cool like a Cloud
No, this company has nothing to do with the famous soccer player, they just share a name. Well, they have one thing in common – they’re good at what they do.
Their products are excellent, and these gel pillows are great proof of that. Yes, you do get two for the price which is already amazingly low!
The main material used to make them is poly gel fiber, which ensures coolness along with the high-quality cotton cover, but it also makes the pillow highly malleable. It’s easily able to adapt to your body as you shift during sleep, and that’s what makes it good for combination sleepers.
They are also completely free of allergens and resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew. Due to how they’re made, they stay cool as well, which is a great bonus.
While the comfort they provide is amazing, they do not provide much support I have to say, and they’re incredibly soft. If you need firmness, they’re probably not for you.
Besides that, though, I’d say there are no major cons to these pillows, and I’d heartily recommend them if you think a softer feel is what will fit you.
- Breathable and washable covers
- More than affordable
- Incredibly soft and comfortable
- Malleable and able to conform to your body
- Cool at all times
- Not firm enough for most
- A bit on the smaller side
Softer pillows don’t necessarily have to have bad support, but it’s common for a soft pillow not to be supportive enough. It’s difficult to find the right balance.
Comfort & Relax Ventilated Memory Foam Bed PillowThe Coolest Memory Foam Pillow
Memory foam has always had a problem with a lack of breathability and above-average heat absorption. It’s common to sweat when using memory foam pillows and mattresses.
This pillow from Comfort & Relax uses air cell technology and hole-filled memory foam to try and alleviate the issue – and I have to say that it mostly succeeds.
Here you’ll get all the benefits of memory foam without that one marked downside. This pillow sleeps quite cool, and the gel-infused hole-filled memory foam is the main reason for that, though the silky, polyester-based cover also helps a lot.
One of the two sides of the cover is made with what is called ‘ice fabric,’ and it’s extremely cool, no matter the time of year.
However, while this pillow does avoid that problem, it still has the smell issue that most memory foam pillows have. You’ll have to air it out for a while before you can use it comfortably.
The usual benefits of memory foam are still present, and this pillow conforms incredibly well to the shape of your body, allowing for good support in any position.
Overall, it’s a great pillow and probably the coolest memory foam pillow around. If you’re having problems with hot sleeping and like memory foam – go for it. The price is great, as well.
- No problems with heat absorption
- The cover is great, cold and silky smooth
- Conforms well to your body
- Provides decent support in all positions
- Well-made and durable
- The price is a steal
- Stinks a lot when you first get it
- Can be too firm for some
Memory foam has long been maligned for being too hot for comfort but in recent times that has changed and you should check out some memory foam mattresses and pillows even if you’re a hot sleeper.
Classic Brands Reversible Cool Gel and Memory Foam Double-Sided PillowReversible, Cool Memory Foam Pillow
This is certainly a unique pillow, and it’s made to be as cool as possible while still retaining the key benefits of memory foam. Let’s see if it succeeds at doing that!
For a start, it’s a double-sided pillow – one side is lined with beads of cool gel while the other side is pure memory foam, allowing you to choose which side you want to use.
That’s actually quite great since you might want some extra heat absorption during the colder months, but it does make the pillow less cool than it would otherwise be. Still, it manages to be much cooler than most, which is a great achievement.
It’s also quite comfortable and conforms to your body well, even when you’re sleeping on the gel side. It’s not quite as soft as you might expect and it has some nice firmness to it, offering great support, and it’s thick as well.
The cover is made out of washable mesh knit, and it’s easy to maintain, but the pillow itself is a bit more difficult to wash, and I would recommend even dabbing it with a wet cloth.
Overall, it’s a good pillow, and it’s definitely cool – but opinions might differ on how comfortable it is, and it has some issues. Keep that in mind before you get it.
- It offers good support
- The gel side is incredibly cool
- It’s definitely durable
- The cover you get with it is good
- Thick and able to conform to your body
- It’s heavier than most pillows
- Difficult to maintain
- Smells bad when you first get it
There have been a lot of attempts over the years to eliminate the smell of memory foam products, and not a lot of them have succeeded. It’s just something you will have to deal with I’m afraid.
MALOUF Z Gelled Microfiber Bed PillowThe Best Body Pillow for Combination Sleepers
Microfiber and polyester fiber is generally looked down upon as one of the most flimsy and cheap materials used for making pillows. This body pillow from MALOUF is aiming to change that perception.
Its gel-coated microfiber fill feels a lot like a traditional down filling, and it is more breathable and malleable than such fills while also being hypoallergenic. The filling is consistent as well and doesn’t shift around as most fiber fillings do.
The same fibers are used for the cover and casing too, giving the whole pillow a luxurious and soft feel.
It’s a large pillow, keep that in mind – it’s designed to be used for your whole body, and it’s malleable and easily able to adjust to different sleeping positions. Despite the softness, it’s also firm as well and able to provide proper support to your body.
If you’re worried about sleeping hot, don’t be – it stays pleasantly cool as well, no matter which season it is.
However, while it is comfortable, it’s also a bit too soft if you’re sleeping on your side a lot, be aware of that. It’s also not too thick, which contributes to the problem.
If you prefer to use body pillows as a combination sleeper, though, this is probably the best choice on the market right now, and you’ll probably be able to deal with those slight negatives.
- Soft and luxurious feeling
- Hypoallergenic materials
- Firm enough to give you proper support
- Stays pleasantly cool
- Definitely made to last
- Can be too soft for side sleeping
- Not thick enough
Body pillows are a bit of a novelty in the west, but they’re commonly used in the east and to great effect. They are great at relaxing you and helping you fall asleep easier while also supporting your entire body and eliminating the need for using multiple pillows.
Beans72 Organic Buckwheat PillowThe Best Budget Buckwheat Pillow
Buckwheat pillows are usually among the best pillows you can find on the market – and the most expensive too. This pillow, however, is an exception to the rule – but is it as good as more expensive buckwheat pillows? Let’s see.
For a start, this is a product made completely in the USA – which is a mark of quality these days, and it’s definitely durable. The filling is 100% buckwheat, and the cover is completely made out of cotton.
So far so good and it has the benefits that buckwheat pillows usually offer – it’s incredibly malleable, the whole thing is super-breathable, and it stays supportive and firm throughout the night.
However, if you’re allergic to noise while sleeping, you might not like it. Like most buckwheat pillows, this one makes a lot of noise when you change positions which can be annoying.
Luckily, if you’re allergic to anything else (besides buckwheat), this will be a great pillow for you as well.
Overall, it’s a great buckwheat pillow at an affordable price. The size is a bit small to be fair, but that’s a small hurdle to overcome unless your head is extremely large.
- Malleable and conform to your body
- Doesn’t flatten and stays supportive
- Lets the air flow freely
- Rugged and durable
- Affordable price
- Makes a lot of noise
- A bit on the smaller size
Buckwheat pillows are generally great no matter their price point, and even the cheaper ones will usually be great. Just make sure they use 100% buckwheat instead of replacement materials.
Customsleeping Cervical PillowA Memory Foam Pillow Without the Negatives
This pillow from TAMPOR is unique in a few different regards – from the materials used to the uncommon shape it has.
For a start, it uses memory foam made with bamboo and charcoal, giving it a black color – but it’s more than just cosmetic. This makes the pillow fresh, cool, and non-smelly when you’re sleeping on it.
The memory foam used here is also not temperature-sensitive. This means it doesn’t become flaccid when it’s hot or rock hard when it’s cold, and it reacts to pressure instead of heat.
It’s shaped to accommodate both back and side sleepers, and it’s great for combination sleepers because of it. The middle is slightly elevated and elongated in order to better support your neck and align your spine properly.
However, if you mostly sleep on your stomach, this pillow will feel uncomfortable for you, and the shape won’t be positive.
The shape also makes it difficult to find a good cover for it, but luckily you get two specialized covers included with it, which is a nice touch.
Overall, I’d say it’s quite a good pillow, and I like that it avoids most of the pitfalls of memory foam pillows. It’s not the most durable pillow around though, so plan on replacing it sooner rather than later, but it’s great otherwise.
- Stays relatively cold most of the time
- Doesn’t smell bad
- Ergonomic shape that works well for multiple positions
- You get two pillow covers with it
- Stay fairly firm most of the time
- Not good for stomach sleepers
- Some durability issues
Be wary of gimmicks that sound good but don’t actually provide anything good. Lots of products try to sell themselves on gimmicks and are just plain bad.
TAMPOR Bamboo Charcoal Contour Memory Foam PillowSoft and Cool like a Cloud
No, this company has nothing to do with the famous soccer player, they just share a name. Well, they have one thing in common – they’re good at what they do.
Their products are excellent, and these gel pillows are great proof of that. Yes, you do get two for the price which is already amazingly low!
The main material used to make them is poly gel fiber, which ensures coolness along with the high-quality cotton cover, but it also makes the pillow highly malleable. It’s easily able to adapt to your body as you shift during sleep, and that’s what makes it good for combination sleepers.
They are also completely free of allergens and resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew. Due to how they’re made, they stay cool as well, which is a great bonus.
While the comfort they provide is amazing, they do not provide much support I have to say, and they’re incredibly soft. If you need firmness, they’re probably not for you.
Besides that, though, I’d say there are no major cons to these pillows, and I’d heartily recommend them if you think a softer feel is what will fit you.
- Breathable and washable covers
- More than affordable
- Incredibly soft and comfortable
- Malleable and able to conform to your body
- Cool at all times
- Not firm enough for most
- A bit on the smaller side
Softer pillows don’t necessarily have to have bad support, but it’s common for a soft pillow not to be supportive enough. It’s difficult to find the right balance.
jiaao Contour Memory Foam Pillow A Uniquely-shaped and Comfortable Pillow
This pillow from jiaoo definitely has a unique shape to it – but does it work well? Let’s find that out.
The shape of this pillow is made with your entire body in mind, specifically when you’re sleeping on your side. The middle can easily support your head and neck, while the side allows you to place your hand on it without twisting your shoulder in unnatural ways.
So far, so good!
It also works when you’re sleeping on your back, and the middle section supports your neck perfectly, especially with the slight depression in the middle.
You’ll also find that it adapts well to the shape of your body since it’s made out of memory foam. However, that’s also what makes it a bit too hot in the summer months, despite the great cotton pillowcase that’s quite breathable.
However, this all works well only if you’re relatively average-shaped. Larger individuals won’t’ fit well to the shape of this pillow, and it will be uncomfortable for them. Luckily, you do get a 30-day free trial when you buy it so you can test it out.
If I were you, I’d give it a shot.
- A unique shape suited for almost every sleeping position
- Provides good support
- Good, breathable and washable cotton pillowcase
- Has a 30-day free trial
- Relatively affordable price
- There are some durability issues with it
- Not suitable for larger people
Chinese products have come a long way since the times of flimsy, cheap knockoffs and now they’re worth considering as much as products from other countries. Don’t just dismiss them out of hand!
How to Find the Best Pillow as a Combination Sleeper – A Buying Guide
When you’re a combination sleeper, it’s exceptionally difficult to find the right pillow – especially since you can’t always rely on the advice of others. Here, I’ll try to give you the best advice depending on what type of combination sleeper you are, and hopefully, it will help you find a pillow you’ll love.
1Find the Right Shape
Pillows come in lots of shapes and sizes, and it’s always an important factor when choosing a pillow. However, for combination sleepers, it’s definitely more important than for others.
This is because people sleeping in lots of different positions tend to have a lot of different needs during the night, and a pillow made for combination sleepers should be able to fulfill those needs.
As a result, pillows for combination sleepers come in some wild and unusual shapes, and not all of them are equally useful.
One of the most common variants you’ll find has a depression for your head in the middle intended for sleeping on your back, while the sides are designed to be thicker for sleeping on your side.
I personally find that this is the shape that works best for most combination sleepers since the majority sleep on their side or back for most of the night.
However, if you’re a combination sleeper who doesn’t quite fit the norm, some other shape might work better for you, and there are a ton of options here.
If you can, experiment a little bit and take advantage of those 30-day or 90-day free trials and see what fits you the best.
2Make Sure It’s Both Firm and Soft Enough
It’s well-known that side sleepers need mattresses and pillows that are firmer than those for back or stomach sleepers. That’s why a pillow for a combination sleeper needs to be a good combination of both.
Pillows that are relatively firm but still soft enough and made of a material that can mold to the shape of your body are among some of the best for combination sleepers.
Some pillows made for combination sleepers take the approach of having areas of different firmness in one pillow intended for different sleeping positions. For some people, this works well, but for some, it’s a disaster – you’ll have to try it out to find out which one you are.
3Choose the Materials that Fit
Many different materials are used for pillows nowadays, both for the covers and the filling – though the filling is a bit more important in this case.
All of these materials have different properties and their ups and downs. I’ll go over some of the most common ones and what they can offer to a combination sleeper.
Buckwheat
The main benefit of buckwheat pillows is how moldable and customizable they are. They’re also incredibly breathable and cool. However, they are also pricey and might be too firm for most people. They’re a good choice if you mostly sleep on your side.
Feather
Pillows using feather filling are usually quite malleable and breathable like buckwheat pillows but soft and lightweight. They are durable and have a high loft. Still, they can be expensive, and the feather quills can poke at you – especially if you toss and turn a lot which is why they’re bad for combination sleepers.
Memory Foam
The benefits and downsides of memory foam are already widely known. It’s an incredibly malleable mid-priced material that retains a lot of heat and usually smells bad. However, it is one of the best choices for most combination sleepers due to its ability to conform to your body shape.
Latex
Sometimes considered a better version of memory foam, latex pillows are incredibly durable, conform to your body, and don’t retain too much heat. However, they are expensive and can trigger allergies in certain people. They have been known as being good for pain relief, though.
Down
These pillows are incredibly lightweight and relatively cool while also being fairly durable. However, they are expensive, thin, and usually quite soft. If you’re relatively lightweight, they might be a good, comfortable choice.
Down Alternative
Mostly the same as down, but cheaper and with a lower risk of causing allergies. However, they’re also less durable than genuine down pillows and might lose any supportive qualities quickly.
Polyester
This is one of the cheapest options out there. These are relatively odorless and don’t cause allergies, but they do absorb a lot of heat and don’t offer too much support. They are also notoriously flimsy. If you’re on an extremely limited budget, though, this is your best option.
4Pick the Correct Thickness
The loft of a pillow or, more simply, its thickness, is incredibly important for combination sleepers, just like it is for side sleepers.
This is because thicker pillows are more easily able to withstand constant turning and tossing without losing their loft and slumping down too much. They can also support you well when you’re sleeping on your back or your side.
The ideal thickness is probably somewhere between 5 and 8 inches, though pillows with a thickness of more than 8 inches are also a decent choice.
The things you need to consider when picking the right thickness are your weight, your head size, and your shoulder width – the higher all those things are, the thicker your pillow needs to be.
5Fit it Into Your Budget
Last, but definitely not the least important aspect, is the price. Not everyone has hundreds of dollars to spend on a pillow, and I understand that –, and you can definitely get a great pillow for less than that.
As far as I’m concerned, going over a hundred dollars for a pillow is not worth it in any case, but that’s just what I think. Definitely, set your own budget before going out shopping and stick to it.
The most important thing to consider here is to avoid just jumping on the first pillow that looks good – find a few different options and weight their benefits and compare them to the prices. You don’t need a perfect pillow, just one that is good enough.
Be more cautious when buying lower-priced pillows for sure, and look at user reviews in detail. However, don’t relax and think that a pillow is good just because it’s expensive – stay vigilant.
Is Combination Sleeping Good or Bad for You?
Since this is the question I get the most about combination sleeping and the one that I never seem to be able to give a concise answer to since it’s quite a complicated matter, I decided to give it its own section. Buckle up; this might be a long ride!
For starters, this is not a ‘yes or no’ question
Since every combination sleeper is different, it’s difficult to give a generalized answer. In truth, most people are combination sleepers just to a lesser degree than true combination sleepers. It’s natural to change positions during the night, and it would be strange if you didn’t move when you find yourself in an uncomfortable one.
If you start snoring or losing feeling in a certain limb, you’re more likely to shift into a better position which will stop those things from happening.
However, the downside to that is that all that shifting will tire you out and is bound to land you in awkward positions from time to time. You’re also more likely to hit yourself on something or fall out of bed.
You also need to factor in which position you find yourself in the most when you’re sleeping.
If you’re a combination sleeper who mostly sleeps on their stomach, you’ll probably be worse off than those that mostly shift between sleeping on their back and their side.
Still, no matter which position you sleep in the most, if you’re stuck on a smaller bed as a combination sleeper, you won’t have a good time, and you’ll probably sleep poorly. If you’re sleeping on a bunk bed, being a combination sleeper can be disastrous.
On a larger bed, you’ll sleep better since you will have more space to change positions, but if you’re sleeping with someone, they might suffer a lot because of it.
You also need to think about when you started sleeping like that and is it natural or a result of something else – stress, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, excessive drinking of alcohol and so on. If it might be, try to find a way to eliminate the possible cause and see if there’s any change.
So, overall, is combination sleeping good or bad for you?
Well, I know it’s a bit of a cop-out, but my answer has to be – it depends. There are way too many factors to just boil it down to yes or no.
You have to weight all the positives and negatives, see how they apply to you and make the decision to either continue sleeping like you do or decide that you’re breaking the habit tonight.
Pillows for Combination Sleepers – a FAQ
The Final Word
I think I’ve said as much as I can about pillows for side sleepers and all these excellent products, but if you still can’t decide, I’ll help you out a little bit more by giving you my thoughts on what the absolute best pillow for side sleepers is.
It was tough to decide since all of these pillows are good in their own way, but in the end, my absolute favorite did end up being the Beans72 Organic Buckwheat Pillow. It’s not the flashiest choice, but it’s dependable, affordable and it does the job as most buckwheat pillows do.
If that one doesn’t do it for you, my close second was the OXA Spring Bed Pillows – which is a flashy choice. Yes, you might feel doubtful about getting a spring pillow but I do think it’s one of the best out there and it performs amazingly in my experience.
While these two pillows are good, I recognize that they might be a bit too expensive for some people, but don’t worry – I thought about you as well. If you want a more budget-minded pick, you can go for the Roscoe Cervical Pillow. It’s got a great shape, it works well and it costs next to nothing.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my picks? Tell me all about it in the comments below and ask me any question you might have – I’ll answer them to the best of my ability.
Until next time, sleep well!
References:
- Bader GG, Engdal S (2000) The influence of bed firmness on sleep quality [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11059462 (Accessed May 12, 2021)
- Fan-Zhe L, Matthew CHC, Pan-Yin L, Chen-Hua Y (2017) Effects of Mattress Material on Body Pressure Profiles in Different Sleeping Postures [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5310954/ (Accessed May 10, 2021)
- Skarpsno ES, Mork PJ, Nilsen TIL, Holtermann A (2017) Sleep positions and nocturnal body movements based on free-living accelerometer recordings: association with demographics, lifestyle, and insomnia symptoms [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5677378/ (Accessed May 12, 2021)
- Susan JG, Karen GS (2011) Your Pillow May Not Guarantee a Good Night’s Sleep or Symptom-Free Waking [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3076923/ (Accessed, 2021)
- Michael T (2000) Instinctive sleeping and resting postures: an anthropological and zoological approach to treatment of low back and joint pain [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1119282/ (Accessed May 13, 2021)
- Kompier MA, Taris TW, van Veldhoven M (2012) Tossing and turning–insomnia in relation to occupational stress, rumination, fatigue, and well-being [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22138930 (Accessed , 2021)
- Paulo DN, Miriam KF, and Andrea ME (2014) Sleep disorders: A review of the interface between restless legs syndrome and iron metabolism [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4608891/ (Accessed , 2021)
- Park SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, Kim HG, Lee WJ, Lee JH, Lim JT, Kim JY (2015) The Effects of Alcohol on Quality of Sleep [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4666864/ (Accessed , 2021)
- Kotagal S, Pianosi P (2006) Sleep disorders in children and adolescents [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1432166/ (Accessed , 2021)