Pillow Shopping 101: Finding the Perfect Pillow - extra firm pillows reviews and guide
Your pillow ought to be your best friend instead of your worst enemy. Give it some thought... one-third of your life is spent with your pillow. And, believe me, you pillow knows better than anybody when you're sleeping well and when you're sleeping poorly. Making the right choice for your pillow can certainly bring more comfort and better sleep for that large chunk of your life.
Most people don't give their pillow much more than a passing thought. But you really owe it to yourself to give your pillow choice careful consideration. But the pillow department at any decent sized store can be overwhelming. The dizzying array and surprising expense for a decent pillow can bring you many nights of great sleep. But, be a cheapskate and you'll pay for it with sleepless nights.
I draw a line between "sleeping pillows" and "looking good pillows." As for "looking good pillows" we may put those on the bed, but you better not sleep with them. You choose those for their sole purpose: to look good. Make sure that those good looking pillows will keep their shape and make sure it's the right length for your bed. That's really all that matters.
Sleeping pillows, on the other hand, have only one purpose: they are there to make sure you sleep your best.
There are several options that you should consider:
FIRMNESS - Your sleeping position will determine the firmness that you require. A pillow should always support your head and spine correctly. The biggest difference is whether you're a side sleeper or a back sleeper. Side sleepers require a pillow that is more firm to substantially support the head. Back sleepers require a flatter or softer pillow.
Your pillow should give you proper head and spine support. The shape and support that your pillow provides changes if you are a back sleeper or a side sleeper. If you're a back sleeper you will need a fairly flat or soft pillow. If you're a side sleeper, you might need a pillow that has some more substantial support that can support your head.
Pillow Firmness Selection Guidelines If you sleep on your:
Back - get a 'medium' pillow
Side - get a 'firm' pillow
Stomach - get a 'soft' pillow
SIZE - For size, your choices are Standard, King, and Queen. Standard is usually best for a sleeping pillow. King or Queen sized pillows are usually too long. Some people like a body-length pillow. But size is purely a matter of preference.
COVERING - Ticking is the cloth covering for your pillow. It serves a couple of purposes. It blocks the dust, dead skin, and mites from getting into your pillow and it should also block the filling from coming out. Now this may seem to be an obvious statement, but I've had way too many down pillows shed the feathers or stick me in the face in the middle of the night. If you're shopping for a down pillow, you'll want the ticking to have at least a 250 thread count (higher is better if you can find it). For any other fillings, a 200 thread count will be adequate.
FILLINGS - the pillow filling you choose will make a difference to your comfort, how long your pillow will last, and even the quality of the air you breathe.
Let's outline your filling choices:
Cotton - naturally allergy-resistant, but over time will clump up.
Down or down-blend - luxurious comfort, long-lived, and flexible enough to adjust to your needs. But allergy sufferers beware. If you're sensitive you may pay the price with a down pillow.
Hypoallergenic down - this is a decent alternative for allergy sufferers, but be aware that your mileage may vary. It all depends on your sensitivity.
Feather pillows - combine down and coarser feathers. Allergy sufferers should be careful here as well. Also be warned that coarser feathers have a tendency to poke through the ticking and can stick or scratch your face.
Polyester - regular grade polyester is fairly common but can compact and clump, similar to cotton.
Siliconized polyester - is much more like down will resist compacting.
Latex foam rubber - is designed to give good support and retains its shape well, but rubber will eventually deteriorate.
One thing is certain, no matter what your choice. Don't cheat yourself. Just one night of sleep with the right pillow for you, will be enough to convince you that it's worth the extra expense to find the right pillow.
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