Pillow Talk

In this episode of The Wirecutter Show, hosts Kyra Blackwell and Rosie Garan interview Shaina Montanari, Wirecutter's pillow and sleep products expert, about selecting the right pillow. Montanari explains that pillows significantly impact sleep quality and should be replaced every 2-3 years depending on material, as they compress and lose support over time. She describes her testing methodology, which involves personally evaluating pillows for quality, off-gassing, and case construction before recruiting testers who sleep on them for at least three nights in their natural sleeping positions.

The conversation covers three main pillow categories. Memory foam pillows come in two varieties: single-piece foam (which is contoured and dense) and shredded foam (which is adjustable and mixed with polyester fill). Shredded foam offers more versatility for different sleep positions and body types. Down pillows are made from feathers of geese and ducks raised for food, with ethical certifications like the Responsible Down Standard ensuring no live plucking. Down pillows are naturally soft and best suited for stomach sleepers and some back sleepers, though some side sleepers enjoy them by stacking or molding them. Down alternative pillows use polyester fill and range dramatically in quality depending on fiber thickness, coating, and price point; Montanari notes that high-quality down alternatives typically cost $80 or more.

Montanari emphasizes that proper pillow selection depends on sleep position: side sleepers need height to fill the gap between shoulder and neck and benefit from memory foam or firm down alternatives; back sleepers work well with memory foam; stomach sleepers prefer lower-profile pillows and often like soft, moldable down. The goal is maintaining spinal alignment as if standing while lying down. She recommends allowing pillows several days to weeks to break in before determining fit, though ultimately the test is waking without thinking about the pillow or experiencing pain. Return policies are important since in-store testing is impractical.

Regarding maintenance, Montanari recommends washing pillows once yearly. Down and down alternative pillows can be machine washed and dried on appropriate heat settings to restore fluffiness. Memory foam pillows, particularly one-piece varieties, cannot be washed as they will never fully dry and risk mildew. She notes that disposing of pillows is challenging; textile recycling exists for some materials, but memory foam typically ends to landfills, making material choice relevant for environmental considerations.

The episode concludes with a lightning round matching pillow recommendations to specific sleeper profiles and preferences, with price points ranging from $30 to $200, and ends with Montanari sharing her recent purchase of a decorative Bagu shopping bag.