About this deal
It comes with a built-in protector and a hypoallergenic bamboo cover for softness and breathability, which can also be washed at 40°C. Bamboo is often lauded for its eco-friendly qualities (being one of the world’s fastest-growing plants), and while true to an extent, it’s a claim that’s often prone to exaggeration. That said, Panda is a brand that prides itself on its stance on sustainability, and has introduced an initiative to ensure all of its memory foam products are eventually disposed of responsibly. For instance, taking the height of a pillow into consideration is necessary when recommending a pillow for side sleepers, who might want a firmer, more lofty pillow to support their shoulder. How warm a temperature can feel during the night will vary depending on what it’s made from: all-foam pillows, for example, will retain heat more than non-foam ones, making them a less viable option for those prone to overheating. The pillow’s two polyester microfibre layers are encased in a soft padded pillowcase. With both layers inserted, the pillow has a good amount of loft, which is a good thing for side sleepers who need to support their head and shoulder (though we also found the pillow to be comfortable and supportive with just the one insert). While most of the pillows on our roundup have a machine washable cover, you might also be pleased to hear that this pillow – inserts and all – can be popped in the washing machine at a temperature up to 60°C.
The thing is, memory foam has become ubiquitous in today’s mattress and bedding market, with almost every brand under the sun seeming to offer its own foam products. So how is the discerning bedding buyer expected to separate the wheat from the chaff? Combined feather and down pillows are good for comfort and support, eliminating pressure points and avoiding face squashing. But if you suffer from allergies, they’re a no-no. Powered by multi-award-winning Octaspring ® Aerospace technology, the OCTAsmart ® pillow is the smartest pillow we have ever created. Key specs – Filling: 24 memory foam springs, ecocell foam, Wellsleep fibre; Cover: Polyester (machine washable); Sizes: Standard size onlyIt’s worth adding that you should always take any claims of “cooling” properties with a bit of a pinch of salt. While some bedding undoubtedly offers better heat regulation, no pillow we’ve ever tested will actively cool you down. Another appealing feature is the amount of choice you get when it comes to size and feel. It’s available in soft, soft/medium and medium/firm variants, as well as standard (50 x 75cm), superking (50 x 90cm) and square (65 x 65cm) sizes. It’s a little bit firmer than the Otty Deluxe, but it’s not so firm that it feels clinical, instead landing somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. It comes with an inbuilt protector, plus a soft, breathable and hypoallergenic bamboo cover (which can be washed at 40°C), which helps you to keep things fresher than washing your pillowcase alone .
Key specs – Filling: Memory foam; Cover: 45% Ice Yarn, 55% polyester (machine washable); Sizes: Standard size only We also focus on other key factors including trial periods and washable covers, plus adjustable and ergonomic designs – all of which help us build a clear picture of the product. The best memory foam pillows to buy 1. Panda Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow: Best value memory foam pillowThe best pillows you can buy in 2023 1. Silentnight Just Like Down Microfibre Pillow: Best value pillow
Our clean and fresh mattress and bedding care kit contains everything you need to mop up spills and keep your pillows, mattress, duvet, and bedding as good as new.
For instance, if you sleep on your side, you may want something with a bit more loft. And if you’re someone who is prone to overheating at night, it’s important to be aware that some pillows – particularly memory foam ones – may feel warmer than others. Different sleepers will get on better with different pillows, and it’s important to bear that in mind when testing.
Where relevant, we also take into account other aspects including trial periods, washable covers and extra features – such as adjustable and ergonomic designs – all of which can play a part in our recommendations. Key features – Filling: Goose down and feathers; Cover: 100% cotton cover (machine washable) Sizes: Standard size and king size The only significant caveat is that to keep the pillow feeling its best, you’ll need to plump it up daily – something that’s not necessary with the foam pillows in this list. Dormeo uses its unique “octaspring” technology across its range of mattresses, toppers and pillows. As such, the Octasmart Pillow is more than a little reminiscent of, and just as impressive as, the fabulous Octasmart Deluxe topper that appears in our roundup of best memory foam mattress toppers. Key features – Filling: Memory foam; Cover: Quilted scuba (neoprene) (machine washable); Sizes: 1 (60 x 35cm, 11/6cm height)
Are memory foam pillows good for posture?
Powered by multi-award winning Octaspring® Aerospace technology, the Octasmart® pillow is a smart pillow, featuring our special memory foam springs for optimised support and smart performance cover for the dreamiest cloud-like feel. Key features – Filling: Goose down and feathers; Cover: 100% cotton cover (machine washable) Sizes: Standard, superking, square Just like Nectar’s A Whole Night Sleep pillow, the loft (or height) of the Emma Premium Microfibre Pillow can be adjusted by adding or removing one of its layers. The difference with Emma’s pillow is that it’s made from microfibre rather than memory foam. We found it much more “squishy” than most of its foam counterparts, so we’d argue it’s best suited to sleepers who prefer a softer pillow. Even if you did put time and effort into getting the right pillow the last time around, chances are it needs replacing. Even the best pillows don’t tend to last more than a few years, eventually failing to provide the level of support they used to – and that’s before you even think about the hygiene factor. You probably won’t want to hear this, but within two years of use, a third of a pillow’s weight is made up of dead skin, dirt, oil, dust mites and their droppings. Pure feather pillows – as luxurious as the idea of pure feathers may sound, we’d avoid this type as those pesky feather quills seem to have a way of escaping and stabbing you in the face. It’s also worth noting they don’t offer the support and height needed for side sleepers. Plus, they can be noisy and don’t suit allergy sufferers.