Saatva Latex Pillow
The Saatva pillow features a pillow-on-pillow design that enables users to easily adjust the height to their needs, leading to a great night’s sleep.
Best Pillows for Combination Sleepers
Written by Becca Fair, Certified Sleep Science Coach
Combination sleepers are a rare breed with a unique sleep style. You don’t just settle on sleeping in one position; you spend your night switching from back, to stomach, to side, which can make for an unusual sleep experience. While combination sleeping can make it difficult to find comfort, there are ways to help, such as finding the right pillow.
We understand the difficulties in finding the right pillow. Luckily, we’ve managed to narrow down different pillows in various categories such as best in cooling, best pillow for neck pain, best memory foam, and more. Read on to see our top choices for the best pillows for combination sleepers. Once you’ve found the right pillow for you, take a look at our best mattresses for combination sleepers article.
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Best Pillows for Combination Sleepers
- Saatva Pillow – Nerd’s Pick
- TEMPUR-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow – Best Pillow for Combination Sleepers with Neck Pain
- Cozy Earth Silk Pillow – Best Cooling Pillow for Combination Sleepers
- Lagoon Otter Pillow – Best Soft Pillow for Combination Sleepers
- Nolah Squishy Pillow – Best Pillow for Back and Side Combination Sleepers
- Layla Pillow – Best Memory Foam Pillow for Combination Sleepers
- Birch Pillow –Best Organic Pillow for Combination Sleepers
Combo Sleepers Pillows: Video Review
Saatva Pillow
Nerd’s Pick
4.80 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur top pick for combination sleepers absolutely has to be the Saatva Latex pillow. This pillow features a shredded Talalay latex core, a material known for its responsiveness. The bouncy nature of latex prevents combination sleepers from getting stuck in the material and makes it easy for them to change sleeping positions.
You’ll also enjoy the 100% organic cotton sateen cover that will wick away moisture and heat and promote cooling at night, and the down-like microfiber fill that doesn’t flatten or lose its shape over time. The only downside of this pillow is that it starts at $145, which can be pretty steep for some, but we believe that a quality, long-lasting pillow is invaluable.
TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow
Best Pillow for Combination Sleepers with Neck Pain
TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow
The Tempur-Cloud is a great pillow for achieving proper spinal alignment— especially if you're a stomach or back sleeper.
Mattress Nerd Score
4.50 / 5
Read Full Review
If you’re looking to resolve constant neck pain, or you want to prevent it from happening in the first place, we recommend TEMPUR-Pedic’s TEMPUR-Cloud. It’s made with the company’s trademark TEMPUR material, featuring an open cellular structure that adapts to your weight, shape, and body temperature. This gives a customized experience for each individual sleeper. It’s this customizability that helps ensure proper spinal alignment for each individual and pinpoint the right comfort for neck pain.
Unlike traditional memory foam, TEMPUR material doesn’t create that hugging sensation that may cause you to feel trapped and unable to roll over at night, making it truly ideal for combination sleepers who need to change positions while they rest. The TEMPUR-Cloud compresses easily, so you can pack it up and take it with you for comfortable sleeping on the go. With a $89 starting price tag, you’re getting a fair value with this pillow option.
Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
Best Cooling Pillow for Combination Sleepers
Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
Luxury meets support and functionality with the Cozy Earth Silk pillow. Filled with 100% long-strand mulberry silk and shelled in bamboo viscose, this splurge-worthy pillow will elevate your sleeping experience night after night.
Mattress Nerd Score
4.90 / 5
As a combo sleeper, you may spend your fair share of sleep-time searching for the perfect position. All that tossing and turning from back to side to stomach can get tiring, and you might find yourself working up a sweat. Thankfully, the cooling abilities of the luxurious Cozy Earth Silk pillow can help you stay comfortably frosty throughout the night.
Made with long strand mulberry silk and bamboo viscose (two materials that promote breathability and temperature regulation) the Cozy Earth Silk pillow has a lot to love for you combination sleepers. Not only will it keep you cool, but it also has a middle-of-the-road loft that isn’t too dense, so it works well for all sleeping positions. At $279, this pillow is a bit pricey, but for the quality you receive we think that it’s worth every penny.
Lagoon Otter Pillow
Best Soft Pillow for Combination Sleepers
Lagoon Otter Pillow
The Lagoon Otter pillow is one of eight pillows offered by the Minnesota-based pillow company, Lagoon Sleep. The Otter, marketed as a “cooling and supportive” pillow, is an adjustable fill model made with gel-infused memory foam and microfibers. Hot sleepers and those with neck pain may find it to be their perfect match.
Mattress Nerd Score
4.80 / 5
Read Full Review
Combination sleepers require a bouncier pillow that helps you stay on top of the pillow rather than sinking into the material. But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort for support. The Lagoon Otter pillow uses CertiPUR-US certified shredded memory foam that allows you to sink in just the right amount. You should get some excellent contouring and also receive the support to keep the neck and spine well-aligned.
Perhaps the best feature of the Lagoon Otter pillow is its adjustability. It doesn’t matter what kind of combination sleeper you are; simply add or remove the memory foam fill to achieve the proper loft for you. Starting at $119, the Lagoon Otter is full of quality materials and is suitable for just about everyone. Plus, the shredded memory foam is gel infused to keep hot sleepers cool and comfortable while sleeping.
Nolah Squishy Pillow
Best Pillow for Back and Side Combination Sleepers
Nolah Squishy Pillow
The Nolah Squishy pillow is just as huggable as it sounds. It comes overstuffed with gel memory foam and poly-fiber fill, and can be adjusted to match your preferred feel and loft level. We recommend it to everyone except for down lovers, combination sleepers, and those with budget constraints.
Mattress Nerd Score
4.50 / 5
Read Full Review
Side sleepers require a higher lofted pillow, while back sleepers often prefer something a little bit lower. If you’re a combination sleeper who switches between both of these positions, you should find exactly what you need in the Nolah Squishy pillow. Since you can customize the fill level, which is made out of cooling memory foam cubes, you’ll be able to find an ideal loft that works for both of these sleeping positions.
The materials in this pillow are OEKO-TEX certified and CertiPUR-US certified, so it’s free of harmful toxins and chemicals. This pillow is $198, which may seem like a lot upfront, but Nolah often has discounts that can chop this price in half. When it comes to your comfort and sleep quality, these investments are often worth the higher cost.
Layla Memory Foam Pillow
Best Memory Foam Pillow for Combination Sleepers
Layla Memory Foam Pillow
Mattress Nerd Score
4.50 / 5
Read Full Review
The fluffy and supportive Layla Memory Foam pillow features a special blend of open-cell memory foam and polyfiber fill, giving it a pliable structure that will mold to the unique shape of your head and neck and offer excellent cradling and contouring.
Although it’s more breathable than other memory foam pillows, and its price tag starts at only $75, combination sleepers need to remember that memory foam is known to hug you while you sleep, so you may find it a little awkward when changing positions at night. This may be a negative, but it can also be beneficial if you’re training yourself to sleep in one position. If you are primarily a back sleeper, see the best pillows for back sleepers.
Birch Pillow
Best Organic Pillow for Combination Sleepers
Birch Organic Pillow
The Birch pillow is a Greenguard Gold certified product that supports your head and neck effectively!
Mattress Nerd Score
4.10 / 5
Read Full Review
The Birch pillow earns its spot as the top organic pillow for a variety of reasons. Made of organic cotton, natural Talalay latex, and cruelty-free wool, this plush and breathable pillow wicks away moisture and heat from your head and neck, ensuring you stay cool at night. The Birch pillow is GREENGUARD Gold and GOTS certified, due to the fact that it’s free of any polyurethane-based foams and other harsh chemicals, and also produced in a safe working environment where employees are treated properly and ethically.
You can sleep easily on this pillow knowing that it will benefit you, the environment, and the people who made it. Starting at $99, you’ll find that this pillow is also much more affordable than other organic options on the market, but if you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly, there may be better choices for you out there.
Finding the Perfect Pillow
Picking the perfect pillow is difficult, especially as a combination sleeper, because you need something that will accommodate a variety of sleep postures. As you shop for pillows, you’ll want to look at factors such as cooling, loft, warranty length, firmness, and materials to ensure you’re getting the right option for you. Below, we review some of these important factors and discuss how they impact your sleep experience.
Firmness
Just like with your mattress, your pillow’s firmness matters if you want a good night’s sleep. Combination sleepers present the unique challenge of finding a pillow that will keep their head supported in any sleep position. We recommend a pillow that’s on the medium-firm level to best suit your needs. While sleeping on your sides, this will keep your head and neck level with your spine, and when sleeping on your back, it can keep your tongue from falling into the back of your throat, a known trigger for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. If you sleep on your stomach, you typically want a flat pillow (or no pillow at all) to assist with neck support. A medium-firm pillow is a good compromise to give you enough comfort as you sleep in any position.
Cooling Properties
Another common issue faced by many sleepers is overheating. If you’re a hot sleeper, you’ll want a pillow that will wick away heat from your head and instead channel cool air to blow on you. Some pillows are constructed with open-cell designs and breathable cotton covers that manage to filter hot air into cool air, keeping you nice and refreshed all night long.
Materials
There are numerous options when it comes to pillow materials. Take a look at our brief overview of each material and find out all about these different types of pillows.
Latex
Latex pillows, made from rubber trees, are biodegradable, 100% natural, breathable, and dust-mite resistant. However, these organic options are also heavier than their memory foam counterparts, and their high manufacturing costs mean that they can be pretty expensive. For our top picks, see the best latex pillows.
Down
Down pillows are similar to feather pillows in that they are soft, long-lasting, and very breathable, making them excellent options for people who value durable pillows. On the negative side, they can be very expensive, and in order for them to maintain their shapes, you’ll need to give them a good shake and fluff every now and then. Otherwise, they will remain flat or with an indentation of your head until they get a good fluffing.
Synthetic Down
Synthetic down pillows, also occasionally referred to as down alternative pillows, are cooler and more breathable, vegan-friendly, hypoallergenic, and more affordable than traditional down pillows. However, they are also prone to short lifespans (roughly one or two years), they’re not as soft as regular down pillows, and they may not be as eco-friendly.
Memory Foam
Memory foam pillows are excellent sleep options for people suffering from constant neck pain or back pain. They also revert to their original position when pressure is released, meaning they won’t lose their shape or structure for a long time. Unfortunately, memory foam can trap heat and cause you to sweat at night. Also, some memory foam is produced with certain chemicals that may give off a strong odor. If you suffer from neck pain, see the best memory foam pillows.
Summary
It can be tricky finding a high-quality pillow for yourself if you’re a combo sleeper. Since you’re switching up sleep positions all night long, you’ll want to use something that will keep your head and neck properly supported no matter how you toss and turn. With our recommendations, we believe you’ll be on the right track to finding the perfect pillow to provide a good night’s sleep.
If you’re still having issues with your hunt for a new pillow, you should stop and ask yourself the right questions to find out exactly what you want. Do you need a cooling pillow? Do you want a pillow that will alleviate neck pain? Are you shopping on a budget? By answering these questions, you’ll find your pillow shopping experience to go much more smoothly so that you’ll be on track to getting a restful sleep.
FAQ
What is the best pillow for all sleeping positions?
The best types of pillows for all sleeping positions are likely adjustable pillows. This way, sleepers can adjust the loft to their own preferences.
Are memory foam pillows good for side sleepers?
Side sleepers require a higher loft, so if you're partial to memory foam, it's important to find one that will maintain its height throughout the night. We recommend pillows with a firmer foam core, such as the Lagoon Hippo Pillow.
What is the best pillow material for combination sleepers?
Combination sleepers require a pillow that's responsive to movement, so it's easier to switch sleeping positions throughout the night. Often, latex pillows help combination sleepers achieve this level of mobility.
