Best Firm Memory Foam Pillows – UK 2022

Choosing The Right Type Of Pillow

There are several key factors to consider when choosing a new pillow. If you do not have a pillow that suits your sleeping position, it can leave you feeling uncomfortable and may make your quality of sleep worse or even risk neck pain developing over time. Back sleepers ,generally, are best suited to a different pillow compared to side and stomach sleepers. This is because the natural curvature of the spine should not be extended too much and the head support should be high enough to support the natural contours of the neck and back.

The ideal pillow for back sleepers should offer an average amount of support. This will keep your spine well aligned and prevent you from feeling the need to rotate your neck and shoulders off the centre line.

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The Best Firm Memory Foam Pillows

1. Ecosafeter Memory Foam Pillow

2. Emma Pillow

3. Elviros Cervical Contour Pillow

4. Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Pillow

5. Misiki Ergonomic Orthopaedic Pillow

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Why Choose A Memory Foam Pillow?

The use of memory foam is a relatively new addition to the pillow market in comparison to its use in mattresses. It does make a lot of sense however and can be an excellent choice for those looking for a high level of firmer support.

A downside to memory foam pillows is that some people may find them too warm, especially in the summer months. It can also take some time to adjust to the firmer feel of these pillows as well. To keep memory foam pillows in the best possible shape, it is recommended to clean them every 3 months. Some cleaning instructions vary between different pillows so you should always check the information on your specific pillow before cleaning it.

Generally speaking, there are several reasons why a memory foam contour pillow may benefit you. One of these is that the improved blood flow from your neck is well supported. This is caused by the muscles being much more relaxed than with other types of pillows. The neck being well supported and aligned with the spine also bring two other main benefits. One of these is the reduced chance of waking up with aches and pains allowing you to start the day the right way. The other being a reduction in snoring or eliminating snoring completely. This happens because the airways are more open and less prone to being blocked.

Our Best Selections

1. Ecosafeter Memory Foam Pillow

The Ecosafeter memory pillow supports the head and neck by having a specific shape that allows you to sleep with the major joints being kept in alignment. The different levels allow for the neck and head to get the different levels of support they require. The Ecosafeter Memory Foam Pillow is highly rated among the vast majority of buyers. It has received over 4000 positive reviews on Amazon and ranks as the top-rated within its category. This alone is very telling. 

Construction, Features and Feel

The look of the Ecosafeter Memory foam pillow is relatively simple yet stylish. It is designed for a specific purpose and this is what gives it its shape. A noticeable feature is that it is smaller than a traditional pillow. One thing to note is the expected longevity of this pillow. Often, cheaper pillows use lower quality materials that lose their shape or begin to break down relatively quickly. This is not the case with this pillow and its expected lifespan is much higher than the average pillow and it also competes with much more expensive pillows very well. The construction of this pillow is also simple but effective, there is a memory foam core that makes up most of the pillow.

Probably the most important query about this pillow is whether it is effective at its purpose. The answer to this is a definite yes and will not leave you feeling as though you have wasted your money on another gadget or gimmick that does not do as described. One review stated a massively noticeable difference between this and a standard shop bought pillow is its size and feel. A smaller than average pillow that is much firmer may take some getting used to however.

Want to know more? Our Ecosafeter Memory pillow review can be viewed here.

2. Emma Pillow

The Emma Pillow is a product from the designers of the massively popular Emma mattress. It has also proved to be very successful and due to its innovative design, it is a great memory foam pillow suited to back sleepers. Proving popular yet affordable it is an extremely attractive choice that suits a wide range of people.

Construction, Features and Feel

The design of the Emma pillow is very modern and slick. The cover has a grey separating line around its edge and has visible pores that increase breathability. This fits in well with the general design of the pillow, making it a very stylish addition to the bedroom. Despite this, it is always recommended to use a pillow cover with it. The construction of this pillow is what sets it slightly apart from its competition. It features a three-layer memory foam build. Each of these is removable and changeable, however. This gives you plenty of different options to try out to find the one that suits you exactly. Everything from feeling to height can be changed to allow the pillow to suit the widest range of people possible.

Inside the middle of the pillow is the firm inner core. It is a cold foam layer designed to provide a great amount of support. It works well with the other softer layers and provides good balance that back sleepers require. As with all of the other layers, it can be removed if you prefer a softer pillow. The cold foam aspect of this layer works well to combat overheating and the difference can be felt when touched. Variable layers within this pillow mean that you can find a combination to suit your preferred firmness. One thing to be noted is the high-quality materials which are used within the pillow, they give a great feel and no combinations will give the uncomfortable feeling of sinking too far into the pillow and leave you feeling unsupported. The extended trial period that this pillow comes with allows you to extensively test out each layer of the pillow. If you feel it is too high or low then a layer can be changed to suit your needs. It can take some time to get used to this new height so you should give yourself at least a few nights to test it out. As you begin to get used to the pillow then the benefits will be felt. Giving you more restful, longer sleep. Allowing you to wake up feeling refreshed.

It seems as though Emma has developed a pillow that is both well made and fit for purpose. Its innovative modular design brings some much-needed change to the UK pillow market and hopefully it is the first of many like this. It does have a premium price tag, this is expected for with a well regarded brand like Emma though.

Read more about the Emma pillow in our review here.

3. Elviros Cervical Contour Pillow

The Elviros pillow is a cervical contour pillow providing orthopaedic support for neck and shoulder pain. It is designed to keep the head in a naturally supported position, required for good sleeping posture. The rest area for the head is ergonomic and has a removable cover. This pillow comprises high-density memory foam with a slow rebound. As a result of this, the pillow keeps its shape extremely well and you will only need one of these pillows to be well supported as you sleep.

With a 1.3 kilogram weight and available in two different sizes, the pillow is sure to suit a wide range of sleepers. The cover of the Elviros Cervical contour pillow comprises 38% ice silk and 62% polyester. This makes the fabric breathable, hypoallergenic and have a comfortable, soft touch. On Amazon, 5,267 people give it 4.2 stars and it is highly placed among the best sellers list of pillows.

4. Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Pillow

The Panda bamboo memory foam pillow is a well-produced and packaged product that certainly has a long list of claimed benefits. It consists of three different layers of moulded memory foam for an excellent balance of comfort and support. Making use of their 100% bamboo fibre inside the cover to maximise its soft, silky feel. It is a well regarded product from a highly rated company. An exciting product to say the least.

Construction, Features and Feel

The design of the Panda pillow is relatively simple, it is a basic white colour with a small panda company logo in the corner. It gives it a very professional look. Panda has put their memory pillow through a good selection of testing programs. It is pleasing to know that the Panda pillow is Oeko-Tex 100 certified. This demonstrates that the fabrics within the product have been tested and are free from harmful and potentially toxic chemicals. It shows that the pillow is naturally hypoallergenic as some pillows are treated to become hypoallergenic instead. The material worth paying attention to in the construction of this pillow is the bamboo within the cover. So good that pandas have built their entire company around it.

It provides an excellent soft finish and is naturally hypoallergenic. In addition to this, it is highly ecologically friendly and something that Panda London aims to do with their products. The cover of the Panda Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow is probably the pillows main selling point. It is made from a blend of 60% polyester and 40% bamboo fibre. Not the typical polyester-elastane mix. The polyester gives this cover a flexible, durable finish while keeping the cover fitting tightly. The main part of this pillow is the three-layer memory foam core. It is made from Visco memory foam. A type of memory foam used in the vast majority of memory foam products. It is well known for its heat-activated moulding and contouring effects. The three cores allow a softer feel on the outside while still being very supportive due to the firmer inner core. As with all memory foam pillows, this is slightly firmer than the more common hollowfibre pillow.

This gives a great level of support and the softer outer layer of memory foam still gives it a forgiving moulding feel. The firmness gives great neck support which eases the strain on the neck and back. Allowing you to sleep through the night without aches and pains developing over time. The soft finish also greatly adds to the comfort while giving it a luxury feel. If you are used to a softer down or hollowfibre pillow a memory foam pillow may take some getting used to. The memory foam does adapt well to the demands of back sleeping and provides a good overall balance between comfort and support.

Read more about the Panda Bamboo Pillow here.

5. Misiki Ergonomic Orthopaedic Pillow

The unique Misiki orthopaedic pillow is a butterfly-shaped cervical pillow. The pillow is  designed to give a high level of support to the neck and back. Inside of the pillow is exclusively memory foam and gives a firm feel. Misiki’s primary design goal from this ergonomic, orthopaedic pillow is to promote good spinal alignment and help prevent the development of neck pain. An interesting feature in the design of this pillow is that it features a specific spot for the arms to rest. Collecting over 500 reviews on Amazon it ranks among their best selling pillows.

Construction, Features and Feel

In terms of firmness for the Misiki Ergonomic Orthopaedic pillow, the high-quality memory foam used gives it a firm rating. Providing a high level of support and can help ease neck and shoulder pain. Memory foam is temperature-sensitive so it moulds and adapts to your needs. 

The butterfly design of the Misiki Orthopaedic pillow lets you use it in two different ways. If you have narrow or average width shoulders it can be positioned in the normal sleeping position. If your shoulders are wider than average then this may not give you the support needed. The pillow can be rotated 180 degrees if this is the case and it will provide support much wider.

Back sleepers should be well suited to this pillow. It offers a contouring effect around the head and shoulders to ensure that you are well supported as you sleep. The firmness also adds to the high level of support experienced in this sleeping position. It is slightly higher in price than the average pillow but memory foam is very durable and lasts longer than other fill materials. You will only need one of these pillows as well due to its height and unique design. 

One of the downsides of contouring orthopaedic pillows is that each one differs slightly. Due to how much personal preference affects our optimal sleeping conditions. This can be seen with a few of the negative reviews this has on Amazon. Some people may love this pillow while others may be better suited to an alternative.

Read more about the Misiki Orthopaedic pillow here.

Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API