There are plenty of reasons to toss and turn, but your pillow really shouldn’t be one. In fact, we live in a golden era of pillow choice, fuelled in part by the rise of mattress brands turning their expertise in full-body support to the particular needs of our heads and necks.

It is not, of course, a case of one pillow fits all. Hence the intrigue when you stay in someone’s guest room and, after a night of sleeping on what feels like a sack of ripped-up scraps from a gymnasium’s foam pit, wonder whether they A) hate you or B) find this sort of pillow comfortable—both plausible reasons to re-evaluate any relationship, surely.

To spare you a The Princess and the Pea situation, we’ve sleep-tested seven of the most popular pillows out there—although this process was a less a test of our lineage and more a reminder that our back isn’t as forgiving as it was in those days of sleepovers on the floor. We’re pretty sure there’s one that guarantees sweet dreams for your sleep style.

So prep the silk pillowcase, pop on a comfy pyjama set, throw on your new sheets fresh from the dryer, and let’s get ready to press snooze on sleepless nights.

 

Winner: Simba

The Simba Hybrid pillow, $179 (on sale from $199), queen size, simbasleep.ca. Photo: Simba Sleep
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The cost

$179 (on sale from $199), queen size

The composition

Nanocubes and cotton

The review

Great for stomach, side and back sleepers alike, the Hybrid pillow has a marshmallow-y give that makes one feel supported but not stifled, and compresses to a pleasingly slim profile—key to avoiding a cricked neck. It’s designed with breathable cotton and a mesh border to help to dissipate heat and allow for maximum airflow, which is key to waking up refreshed. Add or remove the foam Nanocube fill—which is free of dyes and heavy metals—to adjust the height and firmness of the pillow to your liking. It’s lightweight, customizable, perfectly fluffy and sure to give your favourite bedtime cushion a run for its money. 

 

Best pillow for hot sleepers: Sleep Country

Sleep Country 37.5 pillow, $69, standard size, sleepcountry.ca. Photo: Sleep Country
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The cost

$69

The composition

Loftelle down-alternative fibres and “37.5” particles

The review

Sure, flipping to the cool side of the pillow feels great, but when you’re moving around all night, you’re not getting the rest you need. Sleep uninterrupted with a temperature-regulating pillow that keeps your head cool, like this Canadian-made option from Sleep Country. It’s “37.5 Technology” helps the pillow regulate temperature to keep your body at its ideal core temperature of —you guessed it—37.5° C. The particles embedded in the fibre release moisture vapour to keep you from getting too sweaty on hot nights. When you’re feeling chilly, the same particles trap your body heat to keep you warm and cozy. How’s that for a smart pillow?

 

Best memory foam pillow: Polysleep

The Polysleep pillow, $119, standard size, polysleep.ca. Photo: Polysleep
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The cost

$119, standard size

The composition

Four layers of ventilated hybrid foam

The review

Love the weightless feeling that comes with using a pillow that perfectly cradles your neck and head? Consider this memory foam option from Polysleep, which strikes the perfect balance of firmness and support. It’s made with latex-free and antimicrobial microfoam, which is lovely if you’re sensitive to certain fabrics. Removable foam layers make adjusting the height of the pillow to your liking a breeze. Another plus is that this pillow is machine washable: Simply remove the foam layers and throw it in the wash and enjoy a fresh pillow every time you switch out your sheets.  

 

Best pillow for side-sleepers: Purple

Purple pillow, $189 (on sale from $259), standard size, purple.com. Photo: Purple
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The cost

$189 (on sale from $259), standard size

The composition

Proprietary Hyper-Elastic Polymer

The review

Lifting this pillow feels like an encounter with a toddler-sized Slinky. That’s because it’s made from the brand’s signature Purple Grid, the same material used in its mattresses. The result? A pillow that gives where you put pressure on it but maintains structure elsewhere—a formula that’s perfect for side sleepers, whose neck and spine tend to appreciate being “held” in place by their pillow. It also comes with boosters that allow the sleeper to adjust the pillow to precisely the right height.

 

Best pillow for back-sleepers: Ikea

Ikea Klubbesporre pillow, $70 (queen size), ikea.ca. Photo: Ikea
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The cost

$70, queen size

The composition

Memory foam topped with a “cooling” gel layer

The review

Substantial but still squishy, this ergonomic pillow cradles your neck without making you feel like you’re sleeping on a self-righteously supportive board. Also, that “cooling” layer isn’t a gimmick! It really does provide a refreshing respite from the flannel sweats.

 

Best pillow for people who aren’t sure what type of sleeper they are: Endy

The Endy pillow, $85, standard size, endy.com. Photo: Endy
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The cost

$85, standard size

The composition

Shredded memory foam and hypoallergenic microfibre

The review

This Canadian brand makes only one pillow (The Pillow) because its thesis on sleep styles is that we all fall on a spectrum, not neat little boxes of type. But it’s all about customization, so each pillow comes with a little pouch, designed for storing the fill you remove (or add—extra stuffing is available on request). This means you can tinker until you find the right combo of firmness and positioning—and it gives you flexibility down the road, should you need to add or subtract firmness as your needs change.

 

Best pillow for the feather-bed experience: Casper

Casper Down pillow, $189, standard size, casper.com. Photo: Casper
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The cost

$189, standard size

The composition

Responsible Down Standard certified down

The review

There’s a specific sensation of sinking into a feather bed—a bit like landing on a cloud in those old cream cheese commercials—that some sleepers seek. This pillow, filled with ethically sourced down, satisfies that craving. Thanks to a “five chamber construction” designed to keep some height but also squish, this one has the pure indulgence of five-star hotel pillows…but made machine washable.

 

Best pillow if you’re on a budget: Amazon

Amazon Basics Down Alternative pillows, $37 for two, standard size, amazon.ca. Photo: Amazon
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The cost

$37 for two, standard size

The composition

Polyester

The review

Simple, straightforward and surprisingly comfortable: This pillow might not be fancy, but it does exactly what you want a pillow to do, especially if you’re a side or back sleeper. It’s firmness (soft but not too soft) and height (neither flat nor chunky) make it a versatile guest-room option.

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