REVIEW – I’m trying to get used to side sleeping, but it’s not easy to get into that habit! So I’ve got this fancy Eli & Elm Side Sleeper pillow to see if it helps. It’s designed to position you — and keep you — on your side at night. It’s also a premium pillow with some nice additional features. It’s sleepy time. To the review!
What is it?
The Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow is a pillow specifically designed for side sleeping.
What’s in the box?
My tester came with the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow and custom pillow case, which can be purchased as a package or individually.
Hardware specs
- 17″ by 29″
- 75% Latex and 25% Polyester fiber fill
- 37% Cotton, 2% Spandex, 61% Polyester fiber fabric cover
- Machine washable
- Pillow case is 100% cotton, 300 thread count sateen weave
Design and features
The first impression of the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow is all about quality parts and materials. The pillow itself feels nice and dense, weighing just over 5-1/2 pounds. The external shell is lightly padded, quilted, and well-assembled.
A closeup of the side shows a band of fabric around the middle that helps the pillow hold its shape.
Unzip the shell and you’ll find the interior case that holds the filling. You’ll see in the second pic below that this case is cut to match the shape of the external shell.
Opening up the internal case reveals a latex/polyester fill that’s antimicrobial and dust mite resistant. You can remove some filling for a less firm pillow, or order extra filling if you want a firmer feel.
You can choose to add the custom pillowcase to your purchase, which is also custom cut to the shape of the pillow and sports a 300 thread count sateen weave (which, I assume, is fancy).
I particularly like that the pillowcase has a pocket design. You insert the pillow at the middle of the case and pull the end over, resulting in a tight fight that keeps the pillow from sliding out.
Performance
The whole point of the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow design is that the scooped out center promotes side sleeping. Your shoulder falls into that scooped out area while your head rests in the middle of the pillow.
This is what it looks like when you settle in. It feels marvelous as you slowly sink into position and the filling distributes out towards the pillow’s ends. It’s still reasonably firm — my head doesn’t touch the mattress — but it doesn’t feel stiff and blocky like some memory foam pillows I’ve tried.
When you’re in a position with your head cradled in the center, you can comfortably tuck your arm under the pillow end. The stuffing on the back side also helps you stay in a side sleeping position.
You could also sleep on your back with this pillow, but I kind of think that defeats the purpose. It feels like your shoulders sit too high on the ends, which further promotes side sleeping.
It did take a few nights to get used to the Eli & Elm Side Sleeping Pillow because I’ve never had a dedicated pillow of this type before. I may never give it up now. The pillow is not only super-comfortable, but the style of filling and overall breathability of the pillow keeps it cool. That combination of design and comfort encourages repeat use.
I’m also seeing some of the benefits of side sleeping when it comes to snoring, which is a problem for me. I use an app to measure my snoring, and it seems like the use of the side sleeper has helped to reduce my scores. It also works well with my wedge pillow or on top of another pillow if I need some extra elevation because it’s not all that thick. That’s been my personal preference, however. I may actually buy some of the extra filling Eli & Elm sells to add some extra firmness.
I’d also recommend the purchase of the pillowcase. It’s a lovely accessory that (more importantly) is cut to match the pillow. That means no slipping or sliding around. It’s worth the extra 20 bucks or so.
What I like
- Quality build
- Extremely comfortable
- Fulfills its mission to encourage side sleeping
What I’d change
- Nothing I can see so far
Final thoughts
I quickly became a fan of the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow. It is on the premium end of the pricing spectrum, but I think the build quality and materials make it worth it compared to some other pillows in this category. And the design is excellent at doing its primary job to encourage side sleeping. I’m getting ready to buy several more of these for the family.
Price: $99.99 – $119.99
Where to buy: Eli & Elm website and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Eli & Elm.
