Head-to-head · Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

Layla Kapok Pillow vs Purelux Simply Cool Memory Foam Pillow

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Layla Kapok Pillow comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about Side sleepers who want an adjustable, traditional-shape pillow they can tune to the exact loft, with strong cooling, at the best value on this list. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

Layla Kapok Pillow

4.6

$114as of Jun 7

The Layla Kapok Pillow is the best-value side-sleeper pick, scoring 9.3/10 from Sleep Foundation. Its blend of kapok tree fiber and shredded memory foam is fully adjustable, you unzip and remove fill to set your ideal loft, which is exactly what side sleepers need to align the neck. A copper-infused cover and breathable fill keep it cool, and a 4.5/5 average across 3,300-plus reviews backs it up. For adjustability and cooling per dollar, it is hard to beat.

Strengths

— Sleep Foundation's Best Value side-sleeper pillow at 9.3/10, praised for cradling and supporting the neck and shoulders
— Fully adjustable fill, unzip and remove kapok-and-foam blend to set the exact loft side sleepers need
— Copper-infused cover plus open-cell foam and airy kapok fiber make it one of the better cooling memory-foam pillows

Watch-outs

— At just over $100 it is pricey for a foam-fill pillow
— Shredded fill can need fluffing and occasional redistribution to stay even
— Removing fill to adjust is a slightly messy, one-time hassle

$114 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

Purelux Simply Cool Memory Foam Pillow

4.4

$50

The Purelux Simply Cool is the budget cooling pick, around $50 yet genuinely focused on temperature. Its PureGel memory foam pulls heat away and the ActiveChill cover stays cool wash after wash, while tailored raised sides give the lift side sleepers need for neck support. It is solid molded foam, so it is not adjustable and is less plush than premium rivals, but for an affordable, cool, supportive side-sleeper pillow it punches well above its price.

Strengths

— Genuinely cooling: PureGel memory foam transfers heat away while the ActiveChill cover stays cool and never washes out
— Tailored, raised sides give extra lift to cradle the head and neck for side-sleeper spinal support
— Lab-reviewed by Consumer Reports and recommended as a strong cooling option for side sleepers

Watch-outs

— Solid one-piece foam is not adjustable, so loft and firmness are fixed
— Lower-profile and less plush than the high-loft Saatva Cloud or firm Tempur ProHi
— Lacks the premium materials and brand backing of the pricier picks

$50 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Layla Kapok Pillow

Like the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow it offers adjustable fill, but in a traditional shape closer to the Saatva Cloud Memory Foam Pillow. It is more adjustable than the fixed-loft Saatva Cloud Memory Foam Pillow and Tempur-Cloud ProHi Pillow, and cools better than most memory-foam rivals thanks to its copper-infused cover.

Purelux Simply Cool Memory Foam Pillow

The most affordable and most cooling-focused pillow here. It is less plush than the Saatva Cloud Memory Foam Pillow and Layla Kapok Pillow and not adjustable like the Layla Kapok Pillow or Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow, but it delivers active cooling the neutral Saatva Cloud Memory Foam Pillow does not.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Layla Kapok Pillow	Purelux Simply Cool Memory Foam Pillow
Fill	Kapok tree fiber + shredded memory foam	Molded PureGel cooling memory foam
Loft	Adjustable (high for side sleepers)	—
Firmness	Plush, adjustable	Medium, fixed
Cover	Copper-infused, breathable	ActiveChill cooling fabric, washable
Cooling	Copper cover + open-cell foam + airy kapok	Gel foam + woven cooling fibers
Best Sleepers	Side sleepers (esp. under 230 lbs)	Side, back, stomach
Adjustable	Yes (unzip and remove fill)	—
Buyer Rating	4.5/5 (3,300+ reviews)	—
Shape	—	Tailored raised sides for lift
Size	—	Queen 30 x 18 x 5 in
Certification	—	CertiPUR-US

← See the full ranking of best pillows for side sleepers