Sleep Number Pillows: A Choice for Everyone
The Sleep Number name is synonymous with personalized comfort for a reason; after all, they created the patented Sleep Number system that allows you to customize your sleep surface for an unparalleled rest. Through the years that have continued to approach the consumer with an eye towards further sleep comfort, and offer a variety of other helpful products. Temperature controlled surfaces, sheets, and even pillows have all become popular picks, and the Sleep Number pillow reviews found below help highlight what, exactly, they have to offer.
1. ComfortFit Pillows – Editor's Choice
- Series Choices: 3
- Fill Type: Shredded foam and polyfill blend
- Sleep Positions: All
- Case Material: Lyocell
- Adjustability Option: yes
2. In Balance Pillows
- Series Choices: 3
- Fill Type: foam and/or fiberfill
- Sleep Positions: All
- Case Material: 100% cotton Outlast cooling technology
- Adjustability Option: yes
3. PlushComfort Pillows
- Series Choices: 3
- Fill Type: microfiber polyfill
- Sleep Positions: All
- Case Material: 100% brushed cotton
- Adjustability Option: yes
4. VariaCool Pillows
- Series Choices: 3
- Fill Type: Gel infused memory foam
- Sleep Positions: all
- Case Material: OmniTemp fabric blend
- Adjustability Option: yes
5. AirFit Pillows
- Series Choices: 2
- Fill Type: Air chamber, memory foam
- Sleep Positions: all
- Case Material: Poly blend
- Adjustability Option: yes
6. DownComfort Pillows
- Series Choices: 3
- Fill Type: Down
- Sleep Positions: All
- Case Material: 100% cotton
- Adjustability Option: yes
7. Pillow[ology]
- Series Choices: 16 possibilities
- Fill Type: down, down alternative, shredded foam fiber, foam and foam contour availability
- Sleep Positions: All
- Case Material: Cotton
- Adjustability Option: yes
Table Of Contents
- Sleep Number Pillows: A Choice for Everyone
- 1. ComfortFit Pillows
- 2. In Balance Pillows
- 3. PlushComfort Pillows
- 4. VariaCool Pillows
- 5. AirFit Pillows
- 6. DownComfort Pillows
- 7. Pillow[ology]
- The Sleep Number Company
- Sleep Number Materials
- Sleep Number Pillow Series
- Specialty Pillows
- Pillows vs Sleep Positions
- Back Sleepers
- Stomach Sleepers
- Side Sleepers
- How to Choose the Best Sleep Number Pillow For You
- Sleep Number Pillow Warranties
- Conclusion
Sleep Number Pillows: A Choice for Everyone
1. ComfortFit Pillows – Editor's Choice
Highlights
- Series Choices: 3
- Fill Type: Shredded foam and polyfill blend
- Sleep Positions: All
- Case Material: Lyocell
- Adjustability Option: yes
Pros
- Adjustment available
- Contours nicely to the head and shoulders
- Very supportive of the neck
Cons
- May sleep slightly warm
- The only casing is washable
Available in standard/queen and king sizes, three various pillows are offered in this series to provide a more traditional pillow feel or adjustability depending on your choice. Each pillow is filled with a shredded memory foam and polyfill blend to provide a plush, supportive comfort that is malleable and contouring under your weight. A breathable Lyocell cover encompasses the pillow- providing a soft surface that also stretches and moves with you.
- Classic: Gentle support for the head and neck, preferred by stomach and back sleepers due to it being a softer, more thin choice. See our own review of this pillow here.
- Curved: The gentle inward contour of this pillow provides more support for back and side sleepers.
- Ultimate: Three thin, polyfill inserts provide adjustability for both support and height of the pillow depending on your needs. This is excellent for all sleep positions.
Who Should Consider These Pillows:
If you love a more traditional pillow feel that can be shaped and hugged, these are a great choice to consider. The fill does not clump and is very soft, yet supportive, plus the ability to adjust the Ultimate model makes it good for all sleep positions.
2. In Balance Pillows
Highlights
- Series Choices: 3
- Fill Type: foam and/or fiberfill
- Sleep Positions: All
- Case Material: 100% cotton Outlast cooling technology
- Adjustability Option: yes
Pros
- Neck rolls are highly supportive
- Good adjustability options
- Sleep cool
Cons
- The foam may be too firm for some
- The only case is washable
These pillows are defined by the use of temperature balancing material featuring the patented Outlast technology that helps pull excess heat from your body surface and dissipated it away. Available in standard/queen and king size pillow choices, these use a Climadry fiberfill and supportive foam to help create a sleep experience available for all sleep positions.
- Classic: Made for traditional pillow lovers, this provides a soft, gently support and has an overall thinner profile when in use for back and stomach sleepers.
- Contour: The contour of this pillow allows for two various sized neck rolls to support your head and neck in a back or side sleeping positions.
- Ultimate: This pillow boasts three foam insert layers, one of which provides two gentle neck roll heights. These can be used all together or in any combination to provide a soft foam contouring sleep experience in any sleep position.
Who Should Consider These Pillows:
Those who prefer a cooler sleep experience, and like the feel of contouring foam- as well as the option of additional neck roll support- may like to take a closer look at these pillows.
3. PlushComfort Pillows
Highlights
- Series Choices: 3
- Fill Type: microfiber polyfill
- Sleep Positions: All
- Case Material: 100% brushed cotton
- Adjustability Option: yes
Pros
- Machine washable
- Layered adjustment
- Soft, durable down alternative fill
Cons
- Maybe too soft for heavier sleepers
- Must put through dry cycle multiple times to get fluffed and dry
These silky, soft, and hypoallergenic choices are made from a polyester microfiber fill to provide an alternative down comfort that is soft, plush, and squishable for your comfort preferences. Fiber fills are popular choices as they are strong and durable and so not break down easily. They shape well to your weight all while providing a good underlying support. A 100% brushed cotton cover is soft and breathable and allows for a cooler nights sleep.
- Classic: Soft comfort for back and stomach sleepers. This provides a gentle support and is a thinner pillow overall.
- Curved: The inward curve of this pillow is to add support to back and side sleepers. The contour helps support the shoulder and neck in spinal alignment.
- Ultimate: Three thin microfiber filled layers can be removed or layered to create a personalized sleep experience. This is suggested for any sleep position with proper adjustment.
Who Should Consider These Pillows:
If a down and feather pillow choice is your go to, this is a great alternative for any sleep position. The fill is also washable and fluffs back up easily for shaping and comfort.
4. VariaCool Pillows
Highlights
- Series Choices: 3
- Fill Type: Gel infused memory foam
- Sleep Positions: all
- Case Material: OmniTemp fabric blend
- Adjustability Option: yes
Pros
- Gel infusion foam is cooling
- Air chambers provide excellent air flow
- Foam is very contouring and soft
Cons
- Maybe too firm or high for some people
- Only the cover can be washed
The three pillows that define the VariaCool series are made to take a cool sleep experience to a whole new level. Made with a gel-infused memory foam that can pull and redistribute heat from your skin surface, each foam pad also boasts a series of air chambers to ensure a free flow of air through the pillow. The OmniTemp technology also transfers to the fabric used to cover the pillow. This patented blend helps wick moisture and provides you will access the cooling technology within.
- Classic: Traditionally designed, this pillow is made for back and stomach sleepers and provides gentle support.
- Contour: With gentle neck rolls of various heights, this contoured pillow allows for a soft memory foam sink to cradle your head and neck inside and back sleeping positions.
- Ultimate: Three layers of foam are available to create your own personalized adjustments, with one also slightly contoured with neck rolls to help accommodate all sleep positions.
Who Should Consider These Pillows:
Made specifically to address hot sleepers and foam contour lovers, these pillows have excellent airflow and cooling features to provide you with support and comfort all night.
5. AirFit Pillows
Highlights
- Series Choices: 2
- Fill Type: Air chamber, memory foam
- Sleep Positions: all
- Case Material: Poly blend
- Adjustability Option: yes
Pros
- Adjustments for all sleep positions
- Memory foam is highly contouring
- Works with a CPAP as well
Cons
- May sleep a little warm
- The only cover is washable
The AirFit pillow series are classic Sleep Number design and are made to specifically adjust via a dial to influence built-in air chambers. Surrounded by soft, contoured memory foam, air helps soften or firm up the pillow to fit your specific needs. A cool, soft, poly blend cover encompasses the design and moves with your movements and pillow adjustments.
- Classic: Small adjustments are available in this pillow to provide the profile needed for back and stomach sleepers.
- Contour: This contoured pillow provides neck rolls for back and side sleepers, and can be adjusted for height and body weight.
Who Should Consider These Pillows:
A patented air chamber design allows you to adjust these pillows to fit your specific needs. If you love the idea of sleeping in a weightless chamber surrounded by soft memory foam, this is a great choice for you.
6. DownComfort Pillows
Highlights
- Series Choices: 3
- Fill Type: Down
- Sleep Positions: All
- Case Material: 100% cotton
- Adjustability Option: yes
Pros
- Easy soft adjustments
- Multiple body support uses
- Machine washable
Cons
- Maybe too soft for some
- Larger bodies may not have the support they need for head and neck alignment
Down pillow lovers can rejoice, as the company provides a true down pillow that offers a 650 fill power for long-lasting soft, malleable, supportive comfort. Down pillows are considered a quality standard and allow for a shapeable sleep experience no matter what your sleep position is. They also are excellent for the neck, hip, and knee support due to how you can manipulate the fill within for your specific needs.
- Classic: The thinnest design, this pillow is made for back and stomach sleepers, and can be used for other various body support needs.
- Curved: The contoured side allows for the ultimate head, neck, and shoulder support. This is designed for side and back sleeping needs.
- Ultimate: Three down layers allow you to customize your sleep height and firmness levels to provide a more personal experience, and is ideal for all sleep positions.
Who Should Consider These Pillows:
This is a pillow for down pillow lovers who want the huggable, shapeable, and malleable pillow experience. Easily fluffed back into shape, these pillows are also machine washable.
7. Pillow[ology]
Highlights
- Series Choices: 16 possibilities
- Fill Type: down, down alternative, shredded foam fiber, foam and foam contour availability
- Sleep Positions: All
- Case Material: Cotton
- Adjustability Option: yes
Pros
- Many comfort choices to pick from
- Supportive for all sleep positions
- Allows for even further customization if needed
Cons
- Many choices make it hard to pick what is best
- Not all are machine washable
Custom create this pillow within a pillow design to provide a wholly unique place to lay your head each night. This pillow allows you to choose your outer shell material fill, and then your inner core shape and design. Pick from a soft down, down alternative, shredded fiber foam, or dual foam and down the alternative outer casing to provide personalized surface comfort. The outer casing unzips to provide a pocket within which you can choose from a down, down alternative, shredded fiber foam, or contoured foam as your underlying support.
Who Should Consider These Pillows:
If you love the idea of mixing and matching materials and comfort, and basically getting a 3 in 1 layered design, this is a great choice for you.
The Sleep Number Company
Sleep Number was founded on the premise of getting a true, personalized sleep experience- one that did not embrace a one-size-fits-all mentality. The founders also wanted to address a true dual sleep system, and they did so with a new design that provided the ability to adjust the sleep surface through a series of air chambers.
Their advances in technology and application to this comfort has been applied to other products they have introduced. Although not all are adjustable, the wide variety of pillows are design to help keep the head in spinal alignment to provide the comfort you deserve.
Sleep Number Materials
Sleep Number is known for their advanced approaches to the materials and design of their products. Their patented foams are available both for comfort contouring as well as the movement of air- with some ability to help regulate body surface temperature. Others use a down alternative polyfill for a malleable, soft support. The dynamic designs are also supported for various sleep positions and covered in moisture wicking, cooling fabrics that move with you for an uninterrupted night’s sleep.
Sleep Number Pillow Series
There are six defined Sleep Number pillow series, all of which contain two to three various models (the detail of these can be found below). Their seventh type of pillow is a product that can be created through your own customized choices. These pillows all define the detail the company provides to products, and take into account the support needed by back, side, and stomach sleepers in order to help you find a pillow to allow you the rest you deserve.
Specialty Pillows
The company also provides a good selection of specialty pillows for further comfort support. To align your body properly as you sleep, you may find you need some additional aide in the way of other pillows, or products. Joint pressure relief and lower back support are a common need, and Sleep Number delivers. Lumbar support, knee spacers, no shift body pillows, wedges, snore reducer alternatives, and even CPAP supported designs are all made to help support the body when needed, and address issues such as respiration and injury.
Pillows vs Sleep Positions
When choosing a pillow it is just as important to consider your sleep position and personal preferences as you do with a mattress choice. Your head and neck position is highly influenced by a pillow in relation to your spinal alignment. You need to make sure that you have your head and neck in line with the rest of your body, or you run the risk of putting too much strain on other parts of your body- creating an uncomfortable night’s experience, no matter how comfortable your bed is.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers need a thinner, more responsive pillow to keep the head from falling too far back, or being lifted too high. The pillow also needs to be able to fill the gap left between the back of the head and shoulders for a true relaxation of the soft tissues.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers are never in full spinal alignment as they are forced to turn their heads to provide open airways. Because of this, a soft, thin pillow is preferred, with one that can also support the upper body to provide a more gentle slope and less severe strain on the lower back. Hip support is suggested in this position as well.
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers need a loftier pillow that provides the height needed to keep the head level between the shoulders, but also have enough fill to hold the neck level without placing a strain on it. Shaped, firm pillows, foams, or highly malleable pillows are often popular for this position.
How to Choose the Best Sleep Number Pillow For You
Like their other product choices, Sleep Number offers enough of a variety to allow you to find the perfect fit for your needs. Differing fills, shapes, and fabrics are used to create unique sleep experiences, and taking the time to review each set of models is worth the time it takes to find your best choice.
You will want to consider your preferences and needs first and foremost to help narrow down your choices. Each series has various pillows made for differing sleep positions, so if you are looking for a cooling pillow, foam pillow, or down like feel- you can look to those choices first and then narrow them down by the support they provide to your sleep position.
Sleep Number Pillow Warranties
All Sleep Number Pillows come with a 5-year limited warranty that covers any material or workmanship defects. This is a generous offer as many pillows only last 18 months to 3 years. As a quality item, if the company covers 5 years, you are assured that you should get about that many years out of your pillows.
They also offer a 30-day sleep trial, which allows you to return your pillow after 30 days, no questions asked, if you simply cannot get comfortable with it. They also will work with you to help troubleshoot adjustment issues.
You may want to read: What are the Best Sleep Number Adjustable Beds?
Conclusion
Popular brand names within the sleep industry often have a unique, and wide variety of product offers to help make your sleep even more comforting. The Sleep Number brand of pillows provides a wide variety of choices to help you find something that fits your own personal preferences, all while allowing you the support so important for your body to get the rest it deserves. Whether you love foam, down, or something in between, these pillows have something for everyone, and also allow for adjustability if that is a need you have as well.