Not all memory foam pillows feel like a rock — these are the ones to try

When you hear "memory foam," the following thought is almost always "Ooh, comfy." Watching someone's handprint disappear very slowly is admittedly mesmerizing, and automatically makes you want to lay your head on that same material.

But that handprint phenomenon in a pillow isn't always a recipe for the comfiest sleep of your life.

When it's cheaply-made, memory foam isn't as soft as you think it is. The crappy stuff usually falls on two ends of the spectrum: Being so slow to respond to pressure that you might as well be sleeping on a rock, or a squish that resembles that of a dish sponge. Older memory foam designs also have the tendency to trap heat and make you really, really sweaty. Read more...

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IMAGE: Layla Sleep

BEST SHREDDED MEMORY FOAM

Layla Kapok Pillow

There's nothing like this mix of shredded foam and kapok, which molds to your head with a little bit of fluff.

• Trial period: 120 nights
• Loft: 8 inches
• Sizes: Queen, king
• Adjustable fill: Yes

$99 from Layla Sleep

IMAGE: Bear Mattress

BEST COOLING PILLOW

Bear Pillow

This blue and white pillow is as cooling as it looks and has a latex-y bounce along with conforming foam.

• Trial period: 100 nights
• Loft height: 5 to 5.5 inches
• Sizes: Queen, king
• Adjustable fill: No

$95 from Bear Mattress

IMAGE: Casper

BEST FOR BACK SLEEPERS

Casper Foam Pillow

Three layers of high and low-density foam were combined to create a huggable cloud that works for back and side sleeping.

• Trial period: 100 nights
• Loft height: 5 inches
• Sizes: Standard, king
• Adjustable fill: No

$89 from Casper

IMAGE: Tempur-Pedic

BEST FOR SIDE SLEEPERS

Tempur-Cloud Breeze

Experience Tempur-Pedic's famous NASA-designed foam and cooling pads with a loft higher than most gel pillows.

• Trial period: 90 nights
• Loft height: 6.4 inches
• Sizes: Queen, king
• Adjustable fill: No

$169 from Tempur-Pedic

IMAGE: Coop Home Goods

BEST BODY PILLOW

Coop Home Goods Body Pillow

Your whole body will stay afloat all night on this cuddly balance of cross-cut foam, fluff, and a bamboo cover.

• Trial period: 100 nights
• Loft height: 7 inches
• Size: Standard (20'' x 54'')
• Adjustable fill: Yes

$69.99 from Coop Home Goods

IMAGE: Brooklyn Bedding

BEST FOR STOMACH SLEEPERS

Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow

Brooklyn Bedding has achieved a cool combo (literally) of low-loft, fast-acting foam and chilly phase change material.

• Trial period: 30 nights
• Loft height: 3 to 4 inches
• Sizes: Queen, king
• Adjustable fill: No

$129 from Brooklyn Bedding

IMAGE: Purple

BEST MEMORY FOAM ALTERNATIVE

Purple Pillow

Experience a new kind of squish with Purple's hyper-elastic polymer: responsive like memory foam, but faster and resilient.

• Trial period: 100 nights
• Loft height: 3.25 inches
• Sizes: Standard
• Adjustable fill: No

$89 from Purple

via Tingle Tech