Is there even such a thing as a BEST pillow for side sleepers? Probably not, TBH. Like most things, a pillow is incredibly personal and it has to fit YOUR body. But, in the name of trying to find a better swap for my old memory foam pillow that caters to side sleepers, I’ve tested more pillows than I can count—and I’m breaking down alllll the details on what I loved, what I hated and what pillow has been keeping my neck comfy for almost 6 months.
Some of the pillows that I tested for this post.
By: Lisa Fennessy
IN THIS POST:
For years now, I’ve been on a mission to find a better swap for my memory foam pillow. I’ve put my neck through the ringer trying kapok pillows, shredded latex pillows, molded latex pillows, bamboo pillows, silk pillows, wool pillows, buckwheat pillows…a dragon chrysalis stuffed with 5 leaf clovers…jk, lol. But I’ve seriously tried it all.
I still don’t know if I’ve found THE ONE, but I got pretty close so I’m rounding up all the pillows I tried to give you a place to start if you’re looking for the best pillow for side sleepers. BUT FIRST, let’s talk about the issues I was struggling with when trying to land the perfect pillow.
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Lisa sleeps on her side on a replacement memory foam pillow.
Problem 1: I’m a side sleeper so…
I’m a side sleeper so my ultimate goal is to perfectly fill that space between where my shoulder hits the mattress to where my head is—in a way that keeps my body aligned. Anything too soft won’t cut it. Anything too high is a recipe for a sore neck the next day. Anything too lumpy is a NO. Anything with not enough support is out.
What I tend to look for first is a “low loft” pillow. The loft is the thickness of the pillow and my ideal is around 3.5 inches, which is basically impossible to find. Some brands don’t even list the loft at all while other brands will call a pillow “low loft” and it’s 6” thick. NO! Just no.
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Problem 2: Finding the right materials, aka more natural than memory foam pillows
And this turns into a bit of a Princess and the Pea saga because not only am I looking for a low loft, supportive side sleeper pillow, I also hate the way most natural materials feel when I sleep on them. 
Molded latex tends to be way too bouncy. I rest my head down on it and my head is thrust forward like it’s been shot out of a cannon.
Shredded latex can take a hike. It’s lump city.
And if shredded latex is lump city, kapok is lump nation.
And while I’m at it, don’t sell me a pillow that I have to “take out material” to “adjust to my liking”—that’s not a pro! I also don’t want a pillow that weighs 900 pounds or have something flatten out over time so much that it becomes unusable. Skip, skip, SKIP.
Basically I just want my Tempurpedic memory foam pillow I bought from Bed Bath and Beyond 10 years ago…sub natural. Is that too much to ask???
Is there such a thing as “better for you” memory foam?
Here’s a quick foam comparison take from Savvy Rest on how natural latex compares to conventional options:
Turns out there’s not a perfect memory foam swap—it all comes down to certifications (could we have guessed this? Probs, as we’ve seen it before).
Certifications to look for in a pillow
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“Natural” memory foam pillows I tried and liked…and the ones I hated
Lisa holds the Essentia pillow.
The loft of the Essentia pillow.
Essentia Natural Memory Foam Classic Pillow | $239
GOLS Certified, GOTS Certified, 
GreenGuard Gold Certified, eco-INSTITUT Certified, STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, USA Made, B Corp, Vegan
I found out about this brand from my friend Vinny who owns Natural Sleep here in Atlanta. I was skeptical per ush, but I started looking into this option and it seemed pretty legit.
I got the Classic Pillow which the customer service rep assured me felt “just like memory foam”…and SHE WAS RIGHT! When I got this pillow in the mail I started having heart palpitations because it looked and felt just like real memory foam.
I was sure this was going to be my top pick but in the end, this pillow is just a tiny bit too thick for me. I wish it was a half inch thinner because it would for sure be THE ONE. But my neck gap is not your neck gap so this could be the one for you!
*Just a note that this brand has an internal standard they are calling “Beyond Organic.” While I like the intention, this is just that—an internal standard that’s not regulated or overseen by a third party (kinda like retailer standards for beauty/personal care products). I wish they kept these ideals listed as their core values rather than making it look like it’s an additional certification. A little slippery, if you ask me.
Pros:
Comes with a washable organic cotton cover
Made in a GOTS + GOLS certified factory
And holds several additional certifications
Legit feels like memory foam
Supportive
Vegan + cruelty free
Free shipping
1 year warranty
Fully biodegradable over a 3-year period
3.5 to 4” loft (not listed, but I measured it!)
Cons:
Super heavy
A tiny bit too thick for me
Is this is king size pillow? It’s very long
Expensive, but FYI I grabbed this during one of their sales for $164
No returns
Side view of the Savvy Rest Organic Latex Soap-Shaped Pillow
Loft of the Savvy Rest Pillow.
Lisa holds the Savvy Rest Pillow.
Savvy Rest Organic Latex Soap-Shaped Pillow | $119
GOTS Certified, GOLS Certified, GreenGuard Gold Certified, eco-INSTITUT Certified, STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, USA Made, B Corp, Vegan
This one was recommended by a reader (shoutout and TY!), so I tried it. This one is technically called a “latex foam.” I didn’t have high hopes because I associated that with molded latex, which tends to be too bouncy for me, but it arrived and it was the right height (jet planes fly over in celebration 
), offered a lot of support and didn’t feel too bouncy at all.
Now, I wouldn’t go as far to say that this pillow is a true memory foam swap. It doesn’t feel like that, but it has everything else I’m looking for—so much so that I’ve been sleeping on it happily for the past 6 months. YEAH I JUST SAID THAT.
It allows me to sleep well. It does not give me additional neck pain. It’s supportive, lightweight and comfortable.
Is this THE ONE forever and ever amen?! I wouldn’t go that far, BUT I will say I’m loving it and it’s my favorite right now.
Pros:
Made of Dunlop latex
Comes with a washable organic cotton casing
Made in a GOTS certified factory
Is GreenGuard Gold Certified
Has materials third party tested (by eco-INSTITUT)
All lab tests / results have been posted publicly
Vegan
Lightweight
Supportive
3.5 inch loft (not listed, but I measured it!)
Cons:
No returns
One reader said this pillow flattens over time
SAVE: Use code FAVE20 for 20% off all Savvy Rest products
Lisa holds the Saatva memory foam pillow.
* This article was originally published here
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