Pillow Reviews and Comparison - Buckwheat, Memory Foam, Down and More

A wide variety of pillow types are available today. Which is best for you and your needs? The information below provides the main pros and cons of the various types.

Buckwheat
The advantages of buckwheat pillows are that they offer contoured support, adjustable loft and firmness, and air flow. They are also durable, usually have no smell and are typically affordable. The downsides are that they are too firm for some people and often need to be manually readjusted somewhat if you change position. They also can be heavy and make rustling noise which may annoy some people.

Memory foam
The advantages of memory foam pillows are that they provide contoured support, ease of care, and temperature sensitivity. They also won’t clump, shift or develop hollow areas unlike most other types of pillows. Disadvantages are that they tend to off gas, that is, give off a chemical-like odor when they are new, and they don't have good air flow which possibly can result in a heat trap.

Down
The advantages of down pillows are that they are soft, cuddly, and are well suited for back and stomach sleepers. They are also easily moldable, lightweight and long lasting. The bad news is that they can lack good contouring support for the neck, can be expensive and can cause allergies in some people.

Feather
Feather pillows are similar to down pillows. Their advantages are that they are soft, moldable, cuddly, lightweight and long lasting. Disadvantages include a lack of significant contouring support and the quills can poke through the cover. They also can make some noise, such as a crunching sound, when your head is on them. Also, they can cause allergies in some people.

Polyester
Pros of polyester pillows are that they are reasonably durable, easy to care for, have little or no smell and are usually affordable. Cons are that they provide average support and can clump and develop hollow areas.

Cotton
Advantages of cotton pillows are that they give good support and are allergy-free with natural properties. They are also easy to care for and maintain. Downsides are that they have average contouring support and tend to flatten and harden over the course of their lifespan.

Gel
The upside of gel pillows are that they have a down-like feel and good contouring. They are also lightweight, easy to care for, and have good value. Possible disadvantages include off gassing or odor and clumping.

Water
Water pillows, such as Mediflow, provide automatically contouring support and have adjustable height and firmness by adding or removing water. They don't off gas and won't clump, shift, or develop hollow areas. However, they tend to be too heavy for some people.

Microbead
Microbead pillows provide good contoured support and air flow, and they are softer than buckwheat pillows. They have, however, some possible off gassing and durability issues.

Wool
They provide good support and firmness. They are also mostly allergy-free, insulating and long lasting. The downside is that they can be somewhat hard to care for, are perhaps too firm for most people, and lack good contouring. They can also tend to flatten out over time.

Latex
Advantages are that they provide good contoured support and are hypoallergenic. They also have good air flow, are durable, and won’t clump or develop hollow areas. Downsides are that they can off gas and be expensive.

For detailed pillow reviews, ratings and analysis as well as a helpful comparison grid, visit Pillow Reviews.