The 9 Greatest Pillows (2025) Examined and Reviewed by WIRED
A wide range of filling supplies are used, and the kind of fill is a giant a part of how pillows are categorized. You’ve got heard of down pillows, for instance, which suggests the pillow is stuffed with down undercoating or feathers, and listening to the phrases “reminiscence foam” often invokes the sinking sensation that good reminiscence foam can provide. Here is a fast explainer of the principle kinds of pillow fill you may discover and the way they differ.
Down pillows: Down pillows, as I discussed above, are crammed with both down clusters (an undercoating on geese) or down feathers, or a mixture of each. It is a fill that is been round for ages, and it feels just like a comforter within the sense that it is smooth and squishy, and really malleable to form in any method you favor. (However it additionally does not retain its form nicely.) Since these are crammed with down clusters or feathers, you may wish to examine for certifications, just like the Accountable Down Commonplace (RDS), that verify if the down was ethically sourced.
Down different pillows: These pillows aren’t a set sort, however use different supplies to copy the down pillow expertise. Buffy, for instance, makes use of recycled plastic to create their pillow fill, whereas Saatva makes use of a mix of reminiscence foam and latex foam. You may have to have a look to see what makes up any down different pillow, because it is not constant. However what’s constant is the totally different really feel. In my exams, I’ve discovered down different pillows are often extra supportive and do a greater job holding their form than a basic down pillow.
Reminiscence foam pillows: Reminiscence foam is common since it will probably “bear in mind” its unique form, letting it return to its earlier type as soon as your head is off the pillow. Reminiscence foam does have a sinking sensation to it, which you would possibly like or dislike. You may additionally wish to examine if the reminiscence foam is a strong sheet or shredded; I’ve discovered shredded and reduce reminiscence foam to have extra bounce and assist and fewer sinkage than a reminiscence foam sheet.
Latex foam pillows: Latex foam is produced from rubber, giving it a a lot bouncier, supportive really feel than different foam choices. Latex foam is turning into a well-liked possibility because of that good assist, and it’s often discovered with a shredded sort of fill that provides loads of airflow.
Hybrid pillows: Hybrid pillows are one other class gaining in recognition. It may be a mixture of any of the above fills, however I usually discover it is a sheet of froth mixed with both shredded foam or another type of softer filling. Casper, for instance, makes use of each sheets of reminiscence foam after which has a core of shredded foam on the heart of its Hybrid Pillow to provide it its marshmallow-like really feel.
Cotton, kapok, and wool: These pillow fills are all pure fibers that take much less processing than foam, and may very well be utilized in a mix with different supplies above. Kapok and cotton are alleged to be on the fluffy finish, whereas wool is nice for temperature regulation. However none are as common as foam or down choices, although you would possibly see these as components in natural or hybrid pillows.