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Soft, yet supportive, memory foam is the only choice for serious sleep connoisseurs.

It can be hard to justify spending hundreds—even thousands—of dollars on your sleep setup. When you consider $1,000 or more for a premium mattress alone, plus a decent bed frame, nice sheets, pillows, and pillowcases, it all adds up. But it’s true that most of us spend at least one-third of our lives (ideally) sleeping. So, it’s worth investing in the best bedroom setup you can afford.

Pillows are one thing you don’t want to scrimp on. At some point in every man’s adult life, he realizes that those $14.99 foam-filled Target pillows just don’t cut it. If you’re ready to upgrade, we seriously recommend a memory foam pillow. They’re soft, yet supportive, and many are even height-adjustable making them a great choice for any sleep style. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve rounded up our picks for the best memory foam pillows of 2022

We’ve been fans of Nest’s bedding products for years now. Everything in the brand’s catalog strikes a perfect balance between luxury, comfort, and price. So, we weren’t surprised to find that our choice for the best overall memory foam pillow is the Easy Breather Pillow. The premium shredded foam fill is versatile enough for virtually any style of sleeper (side, back, or stomach). Nest ships every pillow overstuffed, so you can remove or add fill as necessary. The included cooling cover regulates temperature like a champ, so you’re never “chasing” the cool side of the pillow. Plus, the cover and foam fill are eco-friendly to minimize off-gassing and that weird “new memory foam” smell. The only downside we could find is the 30-night trial. That’s weak compared to most other brands we tested, but still more than enough for most to know whether the pillow will work for them.

Memory foam pillows can cost a fortune. But you don’t have to spend north of $150 for a decent one. Case in point: Weekender keeps it simple with its aptly named Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow. It’s essentially a rectangular memory foam brick that does exactly what it promises: Supports your neck and shoulders, making it a great, wallet-friendly option for side and back sleepers. If we have one quibble, it’s that this model isn’t quite as supportive as other memory foam pillows we’ve tested. But that could be a good thing if you find traditional memory foam pillows too stiff. It’s currently ranked as Amazon’s Choice in the Bed Pillows category, which isn’t surprising considering it’s among the cheapest and best-reviewed memory foam pillows we’ve seen anywhere.

Read more: Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

Anyone who struggles with neck and shoulder pain knows finding the right supportive sleep pillow can seem impossible. The Ecosa Pillow is the best contoured memory foam pillow we tested in 2022. With a soft, yet supportive design, it’s perfectly balanced for anyone dealing with chronic pain. Multiple included pads allow for dialing in the exact height that’s right for you. The company’s generous 100-night trial (with free shipping and returns) is generous and more than enough for most sleepers to decide if the pillow is right for them. Bonus: Every pillow includes a vacuum-sealable carry bag that’s perfect for travel.

Most pillows, even memory foam pillows, are designed for specific sleep styles (or just one style). Sealy’s Molded Memory Foam Pillows offers a “just right” design that’s comfortable for any sleep position. The adaptive memory foam fill offers a medium density firmness with a great balance of support and give, no matter whether you sleep on your side, stomach, or back. Like many of the best memory foam pillows we researched, the plush knit cover is removable and machine washable. But we especially love the price. At around $50, it’s the second cheapest pillow we tested.

Read more: Best Pillows for Neck Pain

Sleep Number makes more than great mattresses. Its True Temp Pillow is one of our favorite foam sleep pillows of 2022. The cool-touch cover and temperature-regulating fabrics ensure that the pillow stays comfortable throughout the night. Active-particle technology also works to waft away water vapor and humidity. Of the three available models, we recommend the Ultimate. This flagship version includes three removable foam inserts, so you can dial in your most comfortable height (with a 4”, 5”, or 6” contour) based on your sleep style. The only drawback is that the fill is not made with true memory foam. It is, however, CertiPUR-US certified foam, which guarantees fewer emissions, better durability, and more eco-conscious materials.

Side and back sleepers rely on targeted neck and shoulder support for a good night’s sleep. Juvea’s High Profile Pillow features a high-arched design that’s perfect for keeping your head and spine aligned and relieving neck pressure. Open-cell technology helps airflow and better temperature regulation. The 100% Talalay latex materials are OEKO-TEX certified, meaning they’re free from harmful chemicals and even baby-safe. This pillow is among the pricier models we tested and it has a slight, chemical odor when it first arrives (inherent in natural latex). But, after removing it from the packaging and leaving it out overnight, that quickly dissipates. We especially love that it’s made using animal-cruelty-free manufacturing processes. A low-profile version is also available for stomach sleepers.

Hot sleepers, rejoice! Saatva’s Memory Foam Pillow is our pick for the best cooling memory foam pillow. The combination of graphite-infused, shredded memory foam and a breathable, organic cotton cover ensure that you’re never flipping the pillow throughout the night to chase the cool side. The contour is ideal for side sleepers who need extra neck support and pressure point relief. With an adjustable fill level, it’s easy to remove or re-add the foam to switch up the height and comfort. The 45-day free trial should be enough for most sleepers, though it’s not quite as generous as other options on this list (especially considering the premium price tag).

Our thorough testing and research included more than two dozen memory foam pillows. We paid close attention to the materials used, the firmness level, the loft (height), pressure relief, price, and more. After countless hours of restful (and sometimes not-so-restful) sleep, the list above represents our honest picks of the best memory foam pillows of 2022.

Down may have been all the rage a few years ago, but memory foam is the choice for serious sleep connoisseurs these days. It’s firmer and more supportive than down and down alternatives and maintains its shape for years. All of that makes it a great choice for anyone struggling with neck, shoulder, and back pain, especially if those pains are sleep-related. They’re typically best for side and back sleepers who don’t find down and down alternative pillows to be comfortable or supportive enough. That’s because they tend to do a better job of keeping the neck and spine properly aligned. Another bonus is that they’re hypoallergenic, making them strongly resistant to dust mites and bacteria.

But memory foam isn’t perfect. It traps heat much more than down, down alternative, and most other traditional pillow types. For sleepers who toss and turn (especially side to back to side again), the slow response from memory—meaning it tends to get “stuck”—can also be annoying. Lastly, the materials inherent in manufacturing memory foam pillows often lead to off-gassing and strong chemical odors. This is especially true of cheaper models, so it’s best to do your research.

Memory foam pillows are available in two general styles: One-piece and shredded. As the name implies, one-piece pillows are made from a single block of specially treated polyurethane. They’re the firmest type of memory foam pillow and best for anyone who prefers a very supportive place to rest their head. These pillows typically retain their shape extremely well and bounce back quickly once your head is removed.

Shredded memory foam pillows are made from 100% memory foam or blended with other materials to help with things like temperature regulation, water vapor control, and odor management. They have more give than one-piece designs and can be adjusted by adding or removing bits of the shredded foam fill as necessary to dial in your preferred comfort level.