A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
Updated on Mar. 04, 2025
The right sleeping arrangement can take years of pain off your neck and back. Learn why our editors love these position-affirming Coop pillows for side, back and stomach sleepers.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
Learn more.
Achieving a restful night’s sleep isn’t just about eliminating distractions and turning in on time; finding the right bedding products is crucial. Discovering the best pillow for your preferred sleeping position (back, side or stomach) can make a world of difference to nightly routines. Unlike normal pillows, Coop Sleep Goods pillows utilize a unique blend of cross-cut memory foam and microfiber. The filling can be easily adjusted to your preference, ensuring a fully customizable experience.
Better yet, several different shapes and materials mean that there’s a Coop pillow for every position and sleep concern. Four editors with very different sleep styles took Coop’s perfect pillow quiz and received different results. Then, to see whether these pillows live up to their stellar reputation, we spent a month testing out our top recommendations. Here’s what we learned throughout the process.
READER'S DIGEST
Four editors tried a Coop pillow and loved their cushy comfort and customization. There's a pillow for every type of sleeper!
Coop pillows aren’t your run-of-the-mill memory foam pillow. Instead of a single insert, each Coop pillow comes with a combination filling made from cross-cut memory foam mixed with fluffy filling. This not only allows for more airflow (hello, hot sleepers!) but also a near-perfect balance between comfort and support.
Where Coop pillows really shine is in their distinctive shapes and customizable fill. Three shapes—normal rectangle, crescent and cutout—offer a range of options for all sleep styles and positions. Additionally, each pillow arrives with additional fill, allowing anyone to customize the loft to their preferences.
Pillows are subjective. After all, everyone has different environments, positions, and bedding preferences for achieving a good night’s sleep. To fully evaluate Coop pillows, we sent four options to four different product testers based on the results of the Coop perfect pillow quiz.
MARY HENN FOR READER'S DIGEST
Pros:
Cons:
Whether you’re seeking the best pillows for side sleepers, stomach sleepers, back sleepers or all of the above, Coop’s original adjustable pillow is the perfect place to start. The hypoallergenic, nontoxic blend of cross-cut memory foam and microfiber has great sinkability and the bounceback is slow, much like a memory foam mattress. Like the rest of the pillows we tested, the original pillow arrives with an extra half pound of fill, a separate pillow cover and instructions.
“We lost our pillows during the move, so I originally replaced them with cheap pillows. They weren’t overly comfortable, but they did the job. However, since having a baby, I frequently wake up with stiffness and soreness in my neck and back,” says tester Mary Henn. “I was worried that the Coop pillow might be too soft for me, but it’s been really nice. I feel like I sink into it, but it also provides an ample amount of neck and head support.”
While Mary often sleeps on her side, she also shifts to her back throughout the night. Overall, she finds that both positions feel equally supportive with this all-around option. Additionally, while the pillow arrives with extra fill and instructions on finding the right loft, she notes that it arrived with just the right amount of filling for her liking.
“I might add some additional filling after the pillow wears down a bit with more use,” says Mary. “I fluffed my pillow up in the dryer after opening as recommended, and that worked nicely! The pillow looked and felt much fuller after tumbling in the dryer on low heat for about 10 minutes.” While it gave an unpleasant off-gassing smell at first, Mary notes that this only lasted through the first night she used it.
NICOLE DOSTER FOR READER'S DIGEST
Pros:
Cons:
Finding the right cooling pillow for your bed means more than just securing a breathable pillowcase. The Eden adjustable pillow offers two distinct cooling features that work to make it the best pillow for hot sleepers. First, the cooling pillowcase is cool to the touch and always feels like you’re on the “cold side” of the pillow. Second, the memory foam design is noticeably more breathable than other foam pillows. But according to tester Nicole Doster, that’s not the only thing to love about the Eden pillow.
“I sleep on my side and stomach,” she says. “Oftentimes, my pillows are too fluffy for me to sleep on my stomach. The Eden Cool+ has a firmer side with a gel insert and a softer side (no gel insert), which I thought was nice. I go back and forth between which I like better.”
Additionally, like other Coop pillows, the Eden pillow includes a zippered inner lining inside the cover that holds the fill, so the filling doesn’t spill out everywhere when you open the pillow to adjust. And, just like the others, adjusting the fill is a matter of personal preference.
“It took me about a week of sleeping on the pillow to gauge the fill I needed,” notes Nicole. “Lots of trial and error, which is nice because I didn’t have to go return a pillow to get a new one or wait until it was broken in. I just removed the filling as needed. Because I usually opt for thinner pillows. I think I have enough extra fill to create a whole new pillow from, which I might try given how expensive the pillow is. Two for one!”
“Being real, I feel like there are a lot of bedding products we’ve tested that claim they have cooling properties, but this pillow has a very noticeable cooling effect when you use the case directly,” Nicole concludes. “I was very impressed.”
KATIE BANDURSKI FOR READER'S DIGEST
Pros:
Cons:
The best pillow for side sleepers might just be Coop’s original adjustable cutout pillow, according to tester Katie Bandurski. Crafted with a clever cutout, the original Coop cutout pillow contours to the body, perfectly aligning the neck and spine. According to Katie, she and her neck are not friends, so she normally struggles to maintain a position that keeps her supported throughout the night.
“As a side sleeper, the neck support I need doesn’t always fit in the gap between my head and shoulders,” says Katie. “I’ve bought so many pillows over the years, and I’ve never found the perfect fit. I love that the Coop Pillow allows me to customize every inch of stuffing for the perfect amount of support. While the cutout is a little big, it makes it much easier to supply support without strain.”
At first, Katie was surprised at how thin and flimsy the pillow felt. However, after a spin in the dryer as per the instructions, it puffed up perfectly—almost too perfectly. “When I first laid down on the first night, the pillow felt very soft and supportive. But as the night went on, I could tell there was too much stuffing for my liking,” she says. It took some trial and error for her to find the right loft. When she did, though, it was game-changing.
“Depending on how my neck is feeling on a given day, I want more or less support. I love knowing that I can make adjustments in real time,” raves Katie. “I’ve bought probably a dozen cheap pillows in the past five years, and while this one from Coop is an investment, you can’t put a price on customization. The cutout is a little deep for me, but being able to support my head as a side sleeper without putting all the pressure on my shoulder is a huge bonus. And, when I occasionally shift to my back or stomach, it’s still very comfy.”
EMILY WAY FOR READER'S DIGEST
Pros:
Cons:
Cutout pillows (like the editor-loved ear pillow) provide the perfect contour for side sleepers. Much like the cutout shape that Coop offers, their crescent-shaped Cool+ pillow offers a little extra room for side sleepers’ shoulders and neck. I used my Coop pillow for about a month, and I can say with certainty that this is the best pillow I’ve ever used—especially considering my chaotic sleep style.
As a side sleeper who often rotates to her stomach and her back, finding a pillow that works for all positions isn’t easy. Normal rectangular pillows tend to offer too much loft for me, making my neck hurt when I wake up. The wide crescent cutout helps with this by shrinking down the surface area of the pillow, which reduces the spread of the fill. Not only can it accommodate my shoulders when I’m on my side, but it also gives me room to rotate around in my sleep.
The fact that it’s adjustable is another bonus. For my first night with the pillow, I opted to try it with the standard fill. While this was excellent for side sleeping, it was a little too much for my usual stomach position. Taking out about 25% of the fill offered the perfect balance for both positions. Interestingly, the fill for the Cool+ pillow comes in these little “plus sign” shapes rather than the shreds found in the other options. This does make it a bit easier to add and remove filling, and I believe it also offers a bit more support.
As a hot sleeper I was also curious how the Cool+ pillow holds up to my furnace-like body heat. My verdict? Impressively! When I lay down at night the pillow feels genuinely cold, as if its filled with ice cubes. Throughout the night it does heat up a smidge, but only enough to be comfortable. It doesn’t trap heat like my previous pillow, which I attribute to its remarkably breathable materials.
According to former radiologist and current Mattress Firm Sleep Expert KD Houseman, pillows are one of the most important parts of a good night’s sleep—second only to finding the best mattress. “A pillow supports 25% of your overall body, making a pillow the bed for your head,” she says. “Due to this, it is vital that your pillow be the perfect combination of height/shape/material to ensure that your head and c-spine are properly supported while you sleep.”
Houseman notes that when it comes to shape and size, what works for person A does not always work for person B, so it is important to keep in mind what position you sleep in for the ideal pillow. “In the bedding industry, we call the height of a pillow loft, and the position you sleep in will impact what loft will work best for you. Back sleepers can range from a low-medium loft pillow, stomach sleepers will be low loft pillows, and depending on where your arm is as a side sleeper will determine if a low, medium or high loft is more ideal for you,” she says.
The material of a pillow could make or break the way a pillow feels overall to you, according to Houseman. “The bedding industry uses a few different materials like cotton, down, down alternative, fiber, gel, memory foam, latex and Tempur Material to construct pillows,” she says. “If you prefer a squishy feel to your pillow the materials of cotton, down, down alternative and/or fiber are going to be what you will enjoy. If you prefer a firmer feel to your pillow, the materials of memory foam, latex and/or Tempur Material are going to be what you will enjoy.”
Dr. Kin Yuen, sleep medicine specialist at the University of California San Francisco and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, notes that there are several considerations based on sleep position as well:
There are also additional considerations for side sleepers, leading to innovations like the editor-loved Pillow Cube. “With side sleeping positions you want to keep in mind not only the length of your collar bone, but where your arm is placed. Men normally have a longer collar bone, resulting in more medium-high loft pillows,” says Houseman. “Women normally have a shorter collar bone, resulting in more low-medium loft pillows.”
Body position also matters. “Some folks will sleep with their arm in front of them, some folks will sleep with their hand under the pillow, and some folks sleep with their arm under the pillow. Having the arm in front of the body will result in needing a thicker loft, having a hand under the pillow will result in needing a medium loft pillow, and having the arm under the pillow will result in needing a thinner loft pillow,” Houseman notes.
The last thing you will want to consider when shopping for a pillow is whether you’re a hot sleeper. Just like cooling sheets, blankets and comforters, lot of pillows offer breathability, including cooling within the material and/or cover. Some pillows also offer firmer materials with ventilation holes.
According to feedback from our testers, yes, Coop pillows are worth it if you’re tired of restless nights and floppy filling. While they’re on the pricey side, their fully customizable fill means there’s no need to replace your pillow after heavy use, meaning more years of restful sleep. This also ensures that you can always adjust your pillow as-needed—no trial and error purchases required!
READER'S DIGEST
This way to better sleep! No matter your sleep style, a Coop adjustable pillow provides the perfect fit.
Customers can snag their own Coop pillow from the Coop website or Amazon. We highly recommend purchasing directly through the Coop website to take advantage of their 100-sleep guarantee. Plus, purchasers receive points towards the Coop Rewards program, which translates to savings or exclusive products.
After testing four of Coop’s offerings, our editors agree that the Coop pillow is indeed worth the price. It is highly favored by side sleepers, back sleepers and stomach sleepers alike—there’s even a camping pillow that works well for travel. Although its visual appearance may not be groundbreaking, as the saying goes, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Not only are the Coop pillows customizable to every sleep style, but they also come with an extra half-pound bag of fill. This ensures that it’s always just the right height.
Coop pillows come with a cross-cut memory foam and microfiber fill. It’s cozy, customizable and sustainable. In fact, the Coop pillow holds CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certifications, ensuring the absence of harmful chemicals. Its case incorporates a proprietary Lulltra fabric that combines viscose rayon and polyester for a breathable experience. Plus, each pillow incorporates repurposed materials, further promoting sustainable living.
As a shopping editor for Reader’s Digest, Emily has covered everything from the coziest pajamas to skincare and bedding. A high school trip to Western Europe sparked her interest in travel. Now, she’s always interested in exploring new ways to pack her (normally bursting) suitcase. She has written for Family Handyman, Taste of Home and Reader’s Digest. Previously a sales and deals editor, Emily is passionate about locating the best products at prices that readers can afford. Her expertise lies in product testing and exploring viral products from Tiktok and Instagram.
For this piece, we spoke to Dr. Kin Yuen, a sleep medicine specialist at the University of California San Francisco and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. We also spoke to Mattress Firm Sleep Expert KD Houseman. Houseman has been a Mattress Firm sleep expert that has been part of the bedding industry for 11 years. She also has a background in radiology, giving her insight into specific parts of the skeletal system.
