I’ve Tested Tons of Pillows for Combination Sleepers, and This Is Hands-Down the Best

I’ve lived in quite a few not-so-ideal places since I moved to New York City. My first one was a tiny dorm room with five other roommates. (Enough said.) My next dorm room wasn’t much better — and it’s worth mentioning that the twin XL mattresses were abysmal. Luckily, I moved out of on-campus housing the next year, but my studio apartment was so cramped that I hardly had any breathing room. I tried roommates again last year, but that situation spiraled, and we lived above the loudest bar. Hearing people yelling from outside your window every night doesn’t make for the most hospitable environment.

Where am I going with this, you might be wondering? Well, during that time, I’ve realized the importance of having a truly comfy bed. When everything else is uncomfortable and stressful and loud, having a soft, plush bed that I can sink and snuggle into has been a source of relief. That’s why I know that investing in bedding, whether it’s a mattress or sheets, is a must. My latest source of comfort is my pillow from Parallel Sleep, which has been so perfect for me as a side-stomach-and-back sleeper that I find myself reaching for it more than others that I’ve tested. Read on to find out more about this under-the-radar gem.

You might not have heard of Parallel Sleep yet, but believe me when I say it should get on everyone’s radar stat. The brand, backed by a team with over 50 years of sleep experience, set out on a mission to create the perfect pillow for every type of sleeper, so that the shopping process is totally easy. Out of it came the High Profile pillow, which is suited for side sleepers and those with larger frames, and the Low Profile, which is meant for stomach sleepers, back sleepers, and those with smaller frames. 

As someone who goes back and forth between all three positions throughout the night, I was unsure which would be the best fit, but I ended up going with the Low Profile. It’s for those who don’t need too much head support (though I found it offered plenty). The pillow boasts a soft (and washable!) TENCEL outer cover, as well as the brand’s natural self-cleaning technology, which claims to keep germs, spores, and dust mites away. The fill, as opposed to down, is air flow-promoting Blutech Fusion. It also keeps it fluffed throughout, preventing any areas from going flat.

To top it all off, for every pillow sold, Parallel donates one to a person in need, which is an enormous bonus. The brand even uses a “low-impact manufacturing facility” and recycles the plastic from up to 23 bottles into the downy component of the pillow’s fill.

The Low Profile pillow came into my life at just the right moment: while I was packing up my entire apartment in boxes and moving, which is an especially tiresome process in NYC. Through it all, this pillow ensured that I got the best night of sleep possible. Even though the brand says that Low Profile is designed for those who need less head support, it ended up being just the right amount of bolster and fluff for me. Since I spend all day looking down at my laptop — I know, a monitor is on my shopping list — I found the pillow to be a major relief at the end of the day.

I’ve never needed to punch it to redistribute the fill, unlike some of my other options I own, and during the summer months, it’s maintained an even temperature throughout, neither hot nor cold. I can hug it on my stomach, curl up on my side, or lay flat on my back and remain equally as cozy. Really, it’s the perfect in-between pillow, taking the guesswork entirely out of ordering one online. Do yourself a favor and don’t sleep on this brand!

Buy: Parallel Sleep Low Profile Pillow, $109.99