The 12 best pillows for side sleepers, tested for support and comfort

Reviewed by Simon Lewis

Side sleepers often complain that pillows are too thin to support their necks. The answer would seem to be a thicker, firmer pillow – and that’s what we have here, in spades.

Panda’s hybrid pillow is five or six inches thick, which is just right for me but may be too much for smaller people or those with narrow shoulders, since there’s not much give in it. Being firm, it doesn’t lend itself well to sitting up in bed and reading, when you want to be able to fold your pillow.

The reason it won’t easily fold is a cell of charcoal-infused bamboo foam at its core, which wicks away moisture and heat and neutralises odours. It’s full of holes to improve breathability and to keep those holes open it needs to be fairly stiff.

I actually like the uncompromising firmness. I also like the sheer width: it covers a lot of space, which means you can change positions a lot and always find a cool spot to lay on. If you’ve never tried bamboo, it is beautifully soft: a bit like cashmere but less fluffy and with a soothing effect. You don’t need a pillowcase (not many will be big enough anyway): you just remove the cover and machine-wash it.

I sleep brilliantly on the Panda Hybrid, but it might be a good idea to try one out in-store to check it’s not too thick for you.

In the same range:

Panda’s standard memory foam pillow, which is a little thinner with more give, may be a better bet.

Key specifications

• Fill type: Charcoal-infused bamboo memory foam and bamboo and recycled polyester microfibre
• Firmness level: Firm
• Sizes available: Standard