How to Choose the Right Pillow - Foam vs. Fiber

By: Brian Acton

Anyone who’s slept on both a high quality pillow and a low quality pillow knows the difference a well-made pillow makes for a good night’s rest. Good pillows provide comfort that enhances relaxation and sleep, but also provide the right level of support and alignment to keep your neck mobile and pain-free during your waking hours. Memory foam and fiber pillows are highly regarded for their comfort and support – much more so than cotton, wool, and other materials. So how do you choose which is right for you? The differences depend on how you sleep and what sort of pros and cons you want from your pillow.

Foam Pillows Foam pillows are currently very popular for a number of reasons. Memory foam pillows are firm but contour to the shape of your body, and even adjust as you shift or move during sleep. For these reasons, foam pillows are popular with people who have neck and back problems. On the downside, foam pillows retain heat, and if you tend to get hot as you sleep, these pillows can exacerbate the problem and make you sweat. Foam pillows also sometimes need a brief “adjustment” period as you wear them in. In addition, memory foam pillows may release gases and a chemical-like odor initially – this is nothing to worry about and it will stop after some time.

Fiber Pillows High quality fiber pillows are also very supportive, and were designed to emulate down pillows. Known for being extremely comfortable, fiber pillows are resilient, providing consistent support levels across the entire pillow. Fiber pillows tend to sleep cooler than memory foam, as they don’t retain as much heat. Fiber pillows don’t contour to your body like memory foam pillows, and also generally offer more support.

Picking the Right Pillow When picking out your pillow, you should go by more than price. Bargain hunting is fine, but if you end up with a poorly made pillow, you’ll quickly wish you had sprung a little more for a better night’s sleep. If you can, try out the pillow in the store. Ordering online is convenient, but you won’t have a solid idea of what the pillow actually feels like until it arrives. Also, consider your specific sleeping position. If you sleep on your stomach (which we don’t necessarily recommend) you don’t need much more than a flat, soft pillow. If you sleep on your back, medium thickness and support will suffice. If you sleep on your side, you will want a thicker, and possibly firmer pillow to support your neck. Of course, for people with neck and back issues, there are additional considerations based on their specific symptoms. In this case, you can consult a health professional to see what sort of pillows they may be able to recommend. And, if you’re looking for advice from product experts, you can always give us a call at Core Products – where we’re always happy to talk shop when it comes to pillows!