The Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillow performed best in my tests.Scored the best value out of 15 pillows I tested best pillow reviews.
Buying cheap pillows comes with many risks. So I was happy to find that the Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillow wasn’t just budget-friendly, it was a great all-around pillow. At $16 per pillow, it’s the most affordable option we’ve tested to find the best pillow. Beyond its affordability, AmazonBasics was one of the most comfortable pillows in our tests. It was also one of the easiest to wash and dry. In addition, it is robust and resistant to heat and moisture. In a room full of other pillows, this was the one I kept coming back to for its balance of support and squeeze.
The Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillow was a hit with many despite being a fraction of the cost. … [+]
Cheaply made pillows often have fatal flaws that interfere with sleep. When your head compresses the material inside the pillow while you sleep, it can become flat or lumpy if it’s underfilled. Also, my research shows that even cheap pillows can have an unpleasant chemical smell if they’re made with shredded memory foam or feather replacement fill. That’s why it was all the more surprising that the Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillow shined in my testing.
AmazonBasics Down Alternative Pillow Features
Inexpensive pillows that don’t sacrifice comfort
The Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillow was the most affordable pillow I tried, but it was a surprise winner in our test batch. It’s my favorite pillow that my mother slept on, and it’s the one I’ve been sleeping on ever since I finished reviewing pillows. The polyester microfiber fill provides support without being stuffy and shows no signs of flattening out, even after weeks of sleeping on the pillow. It was easy to escape and I didn’t feel hot.
We tested the Amazon Basics Pillow not only against other feather alternative pillows, but against all types of filled pillows. It had the softness of a feather pillow without being too compressive and was just as supportive as a firmer shred memory pillow, plus you can choose between his two firmness levels, medium and soft.
The AmazonBasics down alternative pillow was just the right amount of firmness.that is … [+]
Among down alternative pillows, Amazon Basic was the best in class. In my testing, it retained less heat and humidity than the Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillow, despite costing about a third less. This is great news if you want affordable bedding that’s actually comfortable.At $32 for two pillows, one pillow averages under $20 and this is the other pillow I’ve tried It’s quite a bargain compared to
Amazon Basics’ pillow warranty isn’t as impressive as some others I’ve tested. You can return the pillow for up to 3 years. However, at this price point, buying a pillow is not a low-risk investment.
Need a wash?no problem
As we learned during testing, pillows are particularly difficult to wash and dry. It can take hours in the dryer. It tends to shrink, clump or lose its original shape with washing. Some of the ones I tested, including both the Brooklinen Down pillow and the Down Alternative pillow, were either dry or spot clean only. Taking pillows to the dry cleaners once or twice a year is an extra hassle and a lot of money.
The AmazonBasics pillow, on the other hand, was super easy to wash and dry in my home washing machine, and didn’t require any extra time in the dryer. It did better, but some of the other cheaper pillows we tested required more manipulation to clump together or return to their original shape. A great option for other scenarios where you need a soft pillow.
A Good Choice for Good Sleepers
During testing, we checked each pillow with a temperature gun before and after placing the hot water bottle on it to see if the pillow retained heat. lost heat to Feather pillows tend to retain heat better and cool slower. If you’re worried about sweating or waking up hot in the middle of the night, a down alternative pillow may be a better option.
Moderate hardness
I slept on the AmazonBasics Down Alternative Pillow and found it to be comfortable and supportive with a good balance of firmness and plushness. I slept on my side and found it hugged my neck without forcing it into an awkward position. And it wasn’t just me. When my parents stayed over while I was testing and slept on some of the pillows I was testing, the Amazon Basic Pillow was such a hit that they I immediately ordered one for my home.The memory foam pillow was too hard for my back sleeper and the down pillow was too soft for me, but this pillow was a hit. She started calling it a “good pillow.” She said “Keep a good pillow for the next time I visit”.
How does it compare to AmazonBasics down alternative pillows?
Other down alternative pillows I tested were Sobel Wetex Sahara Nights, Brooklinen Down Alternative, and Casper Down Alternative, which were generally easier to wash and dry than memory foam and down pillows. But AmazonBasics was the clear winner in the cleaning challenge, as it held its shape the best of the other down pillow alternatives without any fluffing or extra drying time. The Amazon Basics pillow retained more heat than the Brooklinen Down Alternative, but still less than the Down option. Ultimately, it outperformed the competition for its attractive price and ease of washing and drying.
my expertise
I am a journalist with over 10 years of experience in lifestyle, home and food.reported about new york magazine, food & wine, When vox among other publications. I’m also a lifelong insomniac, so getting a good night’s sleep is important to me. , a sleep neurologist, two luxury hotel pillow buyers, and a sleep reporter to find out what the best pillows are. To test, I called up her 14 different pillows, slept on each one for at least one night, and then tested them for temperature retention, loft resilience, and comfort in a variety of objective ways. (Unfortunately, you can’t take good notes while you sleep.)
How We Tested Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillows
Sleep, of course, is one of my top methods for testing pillows, and I slept on every candidate. .
To test loft, we approximated the weight of a human head by measuring how well each pillow bounced back to its original shape after laying down an 11-pound bowling ball for 30 minutes. I also tested how well each pillow held up to temperature and humidity after placing a hot water bottle of 99-degree water on the surface of the pillow for 30 minutes. I slept lying down on my pillow and had both my parents and my partner do the same.
I used a hot water bottle to test the heat retention and moisture retention.
For all pillows, we reviewed the manufacturer’s suggestions for pillow washing and care. For Amazon Basics Down Alternatives and most pillows, the manufacturer recommends washing on the warm, delicate cycle. The challenge I’ve found with pillows is usually drying rather than washing. You want to completely dry not only the cover, but the pillow insert as well, so it can take a number of times for the pillow to return to its original loft. I dried all the pillows in my machine at home using four wool dryer balls to help fluff the pillows. Did it take time, and after they came out, do you need to work on them to get them back in shape, or do they look somehow worse to wear was recorded. Their journey through the washer and dryer.
