Best pillow for 2021 – CNET [CNET]

Parachute Home

Available in comfortable soft, medium and firm densities, this pillow is filled with superfine microfiber that emulates the best qualities of a regular down pillow — just without the allergies. For added allergy protection, you can also buy Parachute’s washable cotton pillow protector. Fluffy, soft and pleasantly warm (due to its downlike filling), this pillow has been praised by side, stomach and back sleepers alike for its lightweight feel and downlike “squishiness.” Like a regular down pillow, Parachute’s pillow can be fluffed into a comfortable shape for each sleeping position.

“Soft and comfortable,” one reviewer wrote. “I cannot believe it’s not down.” One even compared it to sleeping on a cloud (which certainly paints a picture of how soft it is), while another said it quickly and easily fluffs back up after a night’s sleep. If you’ve been considering making the switch from feathers to synthetic fills, Parachute’s soft down alternative may convert you. A stomach sleeper who prefers soft pillows will find the best value here, as you’ll pay a little extra for a medium or firm version of the pillow.

Snowe Home

Snowe’s down alternative offering is also a hypoallergenic pillow that is ultraplush. It’s available in three density options and comes with a washable sateen cover. According to an enthusiastic reviewer, the fill is beyond convincing in how it replicates the feel of a regular down pillow: “The alternative down used in these pillows is like magic. Maximum compression but they always puff back up. Auto-fluffing pillows!”

Snowe’s site helpfully notes that the softer version will be more comfortable for stomach sleepers, while side sleepers will often prefer something firmer for a good night’s rest. And if you’re unsure which density to select, go firmer rather than softer. Where many reviewers appreciated the height and density of these bed pillows, others noted that they may be on the thin pillow side: “Great texture, but could be a little more fully stuffed/firmer. Would prefer to use one, but find myself using two.”

Brooklinen

Not only is this plush pillow vegan, allergen-free and available in a variety of pillow size options and densities, it also has the longest trial period (365 days) of any product on this list. So if you take a while to adjust to a change or just believe that a pillow must be “broken in” to show its true strengths, you have plenty of time to make your final decision. And, if you aren’t a firm pillow fanatic, that extra-long trial period may come in handy.

According to some, there’s a chance that this pillow may be a little too firm: “I went back and forth between plush and the next firmer style. The plush is more than firm enough. If your [sic] on the fence, you might want to take that into consideration.” Others said that their pillows softened up after a few weeks of use, while self-described side-sleepers said they took to the pillow’s firmness right away. You can purchase a pack of two corresponding pillow cases separately, for $42.

DreamNorth

Sold on Amazon in packs of two with a machine washable pillow cover, DreamNorth’s soft pillows are easily the most cost-effective choice on this list. That said, their breathability, down-free fluffiness and supportive gel pillow fiber fill could keep them from feeling “cheap.” Described as “ultrasoft,” this softer pillow option is probably not the right choice if you’re looking for something particularly firm, but their softness may make their ability to retain their shape more impressive.

“They came vacuum-sealed and squished flat but as soon as you take it out of the package they fluff up like marshmallows and stay that way. I’ve only noticed some slight, very slight flattening in the four months I’ve had them,” one reviewer wrote. Others noted the pillows’ fluffiness but added that they didn’t have to sacrifice any amount of neck support for how soft they were, either: “I highly recommend these pillows if you are [prone] to waking up with neck aches or headaches, because the pillow conforms nicely to give you the support you need while being soft enough to make you comfortable.”

Luxe Pillow

It’s right there in the name. This $129 pillow filled with high-quality, sustainably sourced goose down and waterfowl feathers is undoubtedly luxurious. Where the goose down offers fluff, the waterfowl feathers provide support — and both materials are hypoallergenic and Responsible Down Standard-certified. This combination means the pillows are made with any sleeping position in mind, which some customers have put to the test. “I love this pillow,” one reviewer wrote. “It helps me sleep in any position, on my back, stomach or side.”

Providing that you like a down pillow and the squishiness that tends to accompany that variety of fill (much like what many higher-end hotels outfit their beds with), this pillow could very well be worth the price (the fact that it comes with a washable cotton damask case helps somewhat). Or, as one reviewer put it: “Honestly, if you are debating on paying for an expensive pillow, just answer this question: Which is more expensive, a chiropractor, masseuse, and a quarterly doctor visit for a monthly prescription medication to treat tension headaches, or this pillow?”