So, I guess I will start by listing all the pillows I have. It is a reasonably long list, so I hope I am not boring.
More New Combinations: I have continued the exploration creating new pillows, experimenting with various materials. Recently, I purchased high-quality wool batting from Sonoma Wool Company, as well as several pounds of latex noodles( mostly from CozyPure), which I find preferable to shredded latex. The pillow covers I’ve chosen are made from wool quilting ( from bedrooms and more) and cotton quilting (purchased on Amazon), each contributing a unique feel and comfort to the pillows. The pillow covers are excellent, they dampen the the any unevenness of the pillow fill, while adding a bit of softening to the horsehair when it compresses, and add firmness to the noodles which can sometimes be too squishy.
What I’ve discovered is that slight adjustments in the amount of latex noodles, or in how I layer the wool batting around them—whether fully encasing or placing it on one side—can significantly alter the firmness and overall comfort of the pillow. Through this process, I’ve created several new pillow designs using combinations of latex noodles, wool batting, and even horsehair, each with carefully calibrated volumes of their respective components.
Another new combination that is working out great.
2- bioweave organic 100% cotton zipper pillow liners consisting of 2.75 lbs of @CozyPure latex noodles each, inserted into a Bedrooms and More quilted wool fill into cotton zippered pillow cover. Inserted into a 100% cotton pillow case.
This combination has proved to be much more comfortable than any solid latex pillow I have ever tried. 6/26/2004.
Each has proven to feel slightly and sometimes significantly different, but most all comfortable nonetheless. (6/2024)
Newer Pillow
1 Baa-Noodle Latex-Wool Pillow from Cozy Pure. Nice pillow. Way too soft for me. Waiting to get a quilted wool pillow cover from Bedrooms and More to see if it firms the pillow up, if not will add some wool batting inside the pillow, and/or more noodles. 5/2024
1 Newly Custom Created - 2 Chamber Pillow Horsehair/LaNoodle Latex Noodles (3/2024)
( Employing the same technique as described below.) 2 Zippered 100% Cotton Pillow Liners. One liner filled with 1.75lbs of Blonde Horsehair from Italy, 2nd Liner filled with 2lbs of LaNoodle Natural Latex Noodles transferred from a pillow. Both liners inserted into a BioSleepConcept Iris Cotton Quilted Pillow cover.
This combination is even better than the one below that used Brooklyn Bedding’s deconstructed shredded foam fill.
The latex LaNoodles, renowned for their plushness, blend seamlessly with the supportive horsehair, offering a unique balance without the typical resistance (push back) associated with pure all latex pillows.
This new creation has thus far has provided unparalleled comfort and support, free from the discomfort of headaches or neck and shoulder pain.
1 Custom Created 2- Chamber Pillow Horsehair/Shredded Premium foam (most recently)
1 Sleepez Shredded Latex Foam pillow (July 2024)
1 Queen Sized Blonde 100% Horsetail hair Pillow new September 2023
2 Tempur-pedic King Soft and Conforming
2 Tempur-pedic Contour Neck Pillows Plus 1 Original TP Neck Pillow from 1992/3
1 Tempur-pedic Dual Breeze Queen
1 Tempur-Pedic ProCloud Hi Queen
1 Tempur-Pedic ProCloud Mid Queen
1 Tempur-Pedic Symphony Standard
2 Enchante King 100% Wool Pillows
1 Malouf Gel Zoned Dough Queen Hi Loft
1 Brooklyn Bedding Premium Shredded Foam Pillow Queen
1 100% Natural Latex Talalay Pillow Queen
2 100% Natural Latex Dunlop Eluxury Standard Pillows
2 Brookstone Biosense Pillows
2 Pacific Coast Down/Feather Pillows
2 Serta Shredded Memory Foam Pillows
2 Cervical neck pillows, one with arm wings, one just the butterfly shape
several bamboo contour neck pillows and neck roll pillows.
I won’t even count the cheap polyfill pillows.
So, as you can see, I went a little crazy with the pillow thing. It took a while to settle on a combination that was comfortable for me. Which ended up with the TP King Soft and Conforming and the TP ProCloud Hi on top. My wife actually likes the TP King Soft and Conforming with the 100% Latex Talalay Pillow on top. I often swap and exchange pillows around to see if combination works better.
I do like the Brooklyn Bedding Pillow and The Malouf Pillow. The TP Dual Breeze is a solid pillow too. But the TP S&C with the TP PC Hi is my favorite. There are still pillows I would like to try, but I just haven’t figured out which ones I want to try first. There are just so many out there. Kapok, Buckwheat Hull, Horsehair (I wish I kept my horsehair pillows from when was a kid, who knew you weren’t supposed to throw them out).
I have found the 100% Talalay Latex too bouncy and pushes back to hard against my neck, The Malouf’s not bad, but when my head sinks into the pillow, it doesn’t stay stable throughout the night. The wool pillow compressed to the point of being too hard (I like firm, but it was a bit too much). The cervical pillows were actually really good. Kept my neck in position, kept me from snoring, they were just a little odd shaped and hard to keep my head center in the neck mold area.
What I like about the TP ProCloud is that my head sinks into the pillow about half way down and it holds me in place and I feel like I am sleeping on a cloud. Funny that my head likes that feel, but my body likes an ultra-firm/laying on top of the mattress feel. I find that if the shredded foam pillows are not stuffed enough, they feel lumpy against my head. At 6’ 220 with broader shoulders, and mostly a side sleeper, I need the two-pillow stack to keep my head aligned with the rest of my body. I don’t like when my head is pushed up too much or droops down below my shoulder when on my side.
It’s no wonder that so many people have issues sleeping. Finding the right mattress is hard enough. Then finding the right pillow/s to go along with it can be a real challenge. If you don’t get it right, it can be a rough night’s sleep. Ok, I guess I have rambled on enough. Any thoughts (other than to tell me to shut up).
I would welcome any suggestions too. I have heard of micro coil pillows, and other unique things, but haven’t seen fit to see what they have to offer. So, if any of our Our Manufacturer Memberships :: The Mattress Underground have anything unique and different, I am always game to give it the old college try. That’s my pillow story, what say you?
I’d like to add that I have personally used all the pillows mentioned, even if only for a short period. I have never received a pillow or mattress as part of any promotion, nor have I participated in any promotional activities (though I wouldn’t be opposed to it, hint hint
). As an eye healthcare professional and not an industry insider (yet, at the time of this writing), my passion for the mattress, bedding, and towel industry stems purely from personal interest.
Any evaluation or review I provide is based solely on my unique opinion and experience. If anyone wants to know my thoughts on each pillow or has any questions, I would be happy to share my experiences. My opinions are always transparent and unbiased, unaffected by external influences. My reviews are based purely on my own experience with a particular product—I call them as I see and feel them. So, if you have any questions about how any pillow in my collection feels or performs, I’m happy to discuss.