Best Reading Pillows 2021

Intro

Whether reading, watching T.V. or working on a laptop, sitting upright in bed is something that most of us do. However, it is quite challenging and painful to sit upright for a long time, without proper support.

Most of us turn to our regular pillows and try scrunching them behind our backs for support and comfort. But these pillows keep on constantly shifting causing interruptions time and time again.

It’s no wonder most people invest in a reading pillow, otherwise known as a husband pillow. This pillow’s main function is to help us sit upright in bed while providing proper support and comfort.

But how does one go about purchasing one?

In this guide, we look at factors to consider when buying husband pillows and their benefits. We also go through some of the best reading pillows in the market.

#1 Husband Pillow Reading Pillow

# 2 AllSett Health Wedge Reading pillow

#3 WOWMAX Triangular Reading Pillow

# 4 Moonlight Slumber U Pillow

# 5 Milliard Reading Pillow

Husband Pillow Reading Pillow

( Best Overall )

Best Overall

Built with a big backrest, arms, and a ton of extra-functional features, the Husband Pillow is our best overall. It adorns a micro plush cover, filled with adjustable shredded memory foam.

It also has a detachable neck pillow, handle, a zipped removable cover, and pockets.

This pillow pays great attention to detail to offer you great support and comfort as you read. It also comes in a variety of colors to fit any space décor perfectly.

Features

Big backrest with arms
Soft memory foam fill
Micro plush covers in a variety of colors
Removable cover
Detachable neck pillow
Zipped case
Adjustable loft
Side and back pockets
100-day-trial
3-year warranty

AllSett Health Wedge Reading pillow

( Best Wedge Pillow )

Best Wedge Pillow

Allsett’s wedge pillow provides raised support for reading or sitting upright in bed. This foldable wedge pillow can be adjusted to inclinations of 30 or 60 degrees.

Apart from being a great reading pillow, it can help with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, snoring, and acid reflux.

Allsett’s wedge pillow is multipurpose, it can be used as an elevated footrest or book and laptop surface.

It’s filled with a dense memory foam that molds and contours to your shape perfectly, providing the support you need.

As such, it is the best wedge pillow we tried for reading in bed.

Features

Foldable memory foam
Adjustable incline
Handle
Removable machine washable cover

WOWMAX Triangular Reading Pillow

( Best Triangular )

Best Triangular

WOWMAX’s raised triangular pillow offers great back support with its high backrest. It is the best triangular reading pillow we tried.

Designed to cover the full width and length of a headboard, WOWMAX’s triangular pillow acts as a headboard for many beds such as bunk beds, college beds, and RV trailer beds.

It features a removable corduroy cover with buttons that makes it a very attractive piece to add to a bedroom. Besides, it comes in all bed sizes, making it easy to find the right size for any bed.

Features

Made in the USA
100% polyester corduroy cover
Easy to clean comes with a removable cover
Polyester filling
Multipurpose: supports stomach and back reading

Moonlight Slumber U Pillow

( Best U Shaped Pillow )

Best U Shaped Pillow

Other than offering full-body support while sleeping, Moonlight’s U shaped body pillow is a great reading pillow. It can be folded to provide ample backrest when reading in bed.

Made with an organic cotton cover and revolutionary fusion fiber filling, this U shaped pillow offers great support and comfort. It is the best U shaped reading pillow we tried.

Besides, the organic cotton cover is hypoallergenic, thus you can say goodbye to dust mites.

Moonlight slumber pillows are made in the USA using safe materials and procedures.

This pillow is easy to clean and machine washable.

Features

The organic cotton pillow cover that is odorless and hypoallergenic
Stuffed with Fusion Fiber -Fill, a revolutionary material that allows air to flow more freely
Easy to clean. The pillow is machine washable
Made in the USA

Milliard Reading Pillow

( Best Budget )

Best Budget

At just a fraction of the cost of some of the pillows on this list, we found the Milliard reading pillow a very budget-friendly option. Designed like traditional husband pillows, this pillow comes with a wedge-like backrest and arms.

It’s filled with adjustable shredded foam encased in a plush velour cover that is easy to clean. The cover has a zipper so that you can remove or add foam for your desired firmness. The cover is also removable, for easy cleaning. The milliard reading pillow comes in three sizes, Large, Standard, and Petite sizes. It has a handle so it’s easy to carry around.

Features

Shredded memory foam fill
Zipped Velour cover that is removable
Machine washable cover
Has a handle for easy carrying
CertiPUR certified
Comes in various sizes

Reading Pillow Buying Guide

What Is A Reading Pillow?

A reading pillow just as the name suggests is a pillow that helps one sit upright on flat surfaces like beds or floors, for the purposes of reading.

Husband Pillows

Reading pillows are sometimes known as husband pillows. They are large pillows with high backrests and arms. The name “husband pillow” is attributed to the pillow’s features.

The high back and side armrests are used to cradle and wrap around the user. Providing great lumbar and upper back area support. This is likened to leaning back on a husband for support and comfort.

Wedge and Triangular

There are other types of reading pillows. These are wedge, triangular, and pyramid-shaped reading pillows. Whatever the shape, these pillows feature a sloping design, to offer proper spine support.

Reading pillows are mostly made from memory foam or polyester filling. Depending on the filling, a reading pillow can offer excellent support for your head, neck, and back.

Of course, memory foam offers superior support to poly-fiber filling. Pillows made with memory foam can contain either shredded or a solid piece of foam.

Shredded foam is usually fluffier and airier than solid foam. It’s used especially in pillows built with customization in mind.

The outer covers are mainly made of plush, shiny fabrics like velvet. We will go into the reasons for this later on in this guide.

Reading pillows are multifunctional. Not only do they offer support and comfort when sitting upright, but they are also used to alleviate certain medical conditions and to hold up nursing babies and things like laptops and books.

How To Shop For The Best Reading pillows And What To Look For?

There are many reading pillows in the market but not all reading pillows are equal.

A lot is involved in the making of a good pillow. Things like shape, material, added features, return policy, and warranties are crucial in picking the right pillow.

To determine the best reading pillow, one also has to consider lifestyle needs, usage, tastes, and preferences.

\In this guide, we look at factors that make up the best reading pillow. These factors will help you choose the right pillow for your needs.

1- Shape Of The Reading Pillow

As mentioned earlier in this guide, there are various types of reading pillows.

These are distinguished by their different shapes and features. The first and most common pillow type is the Husband Pillow.

Husband Pillows

These traditional reading pillows feature a high backrest with arms.

They resemble the upper part of an armchair. Husband pillows were and still are very popular with pregnant and nursing moms. They earned the name “Husband” for their ability to cradle, support, and wrap around new moms as they sat upright in bed.

But people quickly found other uses for them, such as reading books in bed.

Today they are highly customized and feature pockets, neck rolls, cup holders, and even massage functions.

They are great at supporting the head, neck, and lower back area.

Wedge reading pillows

Wedge reading pillows are designed in an elevated sloping shape. These types of pillows are usually multifunctional.

You can use them to sit upright in bed, to elevate your feet, or read lying on the stomach.

Wedge pillows help ease head and backaches. They promote better blood circulation and are used to relieve various medical conditions such as snoring, acid reflux, and sleep apnea.

In some cases, you can adjust the pillow’s incline like in the case of the Alsett pillow mentioned above.

2- Materials Used

When buying a pillow of any kind, it’s important to consider what it’s made of. Reading pillows are supposed to be firmer than other types of pillows.

So, it’s even more important to find out what makes your pillow. This way, you can get the appropriate amount of support.

Filling Material

There are two popular materials used to make the infilling of reading pillows. These are memory foam and poly-fiber.

Memory foam:

Some pillows contain a dense solid piece of memory foam. Memory foam is great at contouring to one’s shape, providing much-needed pain and pressure relief.

Shredded memory foam:

Other pillows, however, use shredded memory foam. This is memory foam that is cut into bits and pieces. Shredded foam is adjustable, more moldable, and cooler. Reading pillows bearing shredded foam are softer and in most cases feature a zip on the pillow cover to enable the user to remove or add more shredded foam. Helping them achieve their desired level of support.

Polyester fiber or microfiber:

The other most popular reading pillow filling material is polyester fiber. The highlight of using Poly-Fiber in a reading pillow is its budget-friendliness and ease of cleaning. However, polyester-filled pillows can lack proper support and aren’t as long-lasting as memory foam ones.

Cover Material

A reading pillow’s cover affects its comfort, look, and durability. Since this pillow type is likely to come into contact with your skin, you want something soft and comfortable.

Some cover materials enhance the appearance of the pillow and your upholstery at large.

Given the amount spent on these pillows, you will want something worth the cost. Thus it’s important to look for a strong durable outer cover material.

There are several materials used to make reading pillows. They include:

Velvet:

a luxurious, plush, shiny fabric that improves the aesthetics of a space. This fabric is quite delicate and costly to maintain. Velvet requires professional cleaning most of the time.

Microsuede:

has a sleek look. It is also durable because of its tight weave. It repels stains and is easy to clean.

Corduroy:

made from cotton, polyester, or a blend of both, Corduroy is soft and durable. It features ridges that provide a unique look and feel. Corduroy is machine washable but you should take care that it doesn’t snag in the wash. Also, keep it far from your pets, whose paws are known to snag at the ridges and cause this kind of cover to unravel.

Velour:

just like velvet, velour is a soft luxurious material that is more affordable. It is also easier to maintain compared to velvet making it a family-friendly fabric.

3- Added Features

Some reading pillows have additional features to increase the convenience and functionality of the pillow.

Pockets:

Some reading pillows like the Husband pillow feature side and back pockets used to hold anything from glasses, the remote, and books.

Armrests:

Husband pillows have armrests which are not only good for providing arms support, but for keeping the pillow in an upright position.

Headrest:

Some reading pillows like the Husband Pillow reviewed above feature a detachable head/neck pillow. This type of pillow is not only good for supporting your head and neck but can be used as a footrest as well.

Handle:

Reading pillows are large and a bit heavy. To help you move the pillow with ease, some manufacturers add a handle at the top of the pillow.

A removable cover makes cleaning your reading pillow easy. Look for pillows that have this option.

Adjustable loft:

pillows that contain fillings like shredded memory foam are easily adjustable. With such pillows, you can easily add or remove shredded foam to achieve your desired firmness.

Other features include cup holders on the armrest, which keep that mug of coffee close as you read.

Fancy reading pillows even come with a massage feature. Providing you with therapeutic relaxation while you sit upright in bed.

4- Price and Value

Reading pillows vary widely in price. So, how can you tell that you are getting value for your money? The most important thing to look at when considering the price, is the purpose, material, and construction of the pillow.

Natural and better quality materials such as organic cover and fillings will demand higher prices.

The size, type, and purpose of the pillow will also affect its price. A smaller size pillow costs less than the larger pillow since it uses fewer materials.

A wedge reading pillow will also differ from a husband-reading pillow.

Wedge pillows especially larger sizes demand higher prices.

Some pillows come with additional features as mentioned earlier in this guide, this also affects the price of the pillow.

In the end, you have to determine whether you need all the extra stuff or if you are okay with a simple yet functional pillow.

5- Good Company and Pillow Reviews

If you are an avid book reader, then you must know how important a reading pillow is or could be to you.

You therefore only want the best. While it’s advisable to test these pillows before buying them, most online stores offer better prices, larger selections and an easy way to compare between different types.

But how do you ensure that what you are buying is what is advertised? Through reviews, that’s how. Reading previous reviews of verified purchases will give you an idea of what you are getting.

Normally a pattern of positive unbiased reviews means you can trust what you are purchasing.

A good company is key as well. Look for a company with a good reputation and most especially pay attention to their customer service.

How company’s treat their customers says a lot about them.

6- Return Policy and Warranty

One of the most important factors to look at when purchasing a pillow is its return policy and warranty.

Ensure you can return the pillow if it doesn’t work out. Some manufacturers offer a trial period.

This period allows you to test out the pillow and figure out whether it’s a good fit — risk-free. A decent return period starts at 30 days and above.

Also be conversant with the warranty of the reading pillow you choose, this way you’ll know what is covered and what is not.

Most pillow manufacturers only cover faulty workmanship and premature wear and tear within reasonable normal use of the pillow.

How Will A Reading Pillow Help You Sleep Better?

Reading before bed is an age-old tradition that we pass on even to our kids. What many don’t know is that there are health and social benefits of reading before we sleep.

Some of the benefits of reading before sleep include:

Reduced stress

A 2009 Study done by the University of Sussex concluded that reading reduces stress by 68% which is up to 20% higher than other stress-reducing means such as drinking coffee, taking walks, and listening to music.

When we start reading, our mind escapes from the stressors of everyday life and focuses on the literature before it. This helps us calm down almost immediately.

Boosted brain power

Reading exercises our brain’s muscles. Since reading is proven to be more difficult than speech or visualization, it challenges the brain to work harder.

This helps create brain muscle that is necessary for our wellbeing.

An active brain is less likely to get diseases such as Alzheimer’s which is linked to low brain activity.

A study concluded that people who engage their minds through reading, solving puzzles, or playing chess are 2.5 times less likely to get the disease.

Reading boosts creativity

Not only does reading improve vocabulary, but it also helps people become more creative by exercising the brain’s visualization power.

When reading, you create a picture in your mind of what is described, this helps you become more creative.

How to read properly

To rip all these benefits, there are two factors to observe when reading.

Physical over digital books

Our bodies are regulated by something called the circadian rhythm. This phenomenon tells the body when to sleep and when to wake up. It’s highly influenced by light.

For example, you start to feel sleepy when darkness set’s in and find it hard to sleep in broad daylight.

Light or lack of it triggers certain neurochemicals in our bodies that communicate it is time to sleep or wake up.

The blue light emitted by our phones, laptops, and television sets, hinders these chemicals from being released, making it hard for us to fall asleep.

That’s why it’s advisable to ditch digital books, TV watching, and working on laptops for physical books.

Reading posture

Nothing will cause sleeping benefits to disappear quicker than poor posture.

A poor reading posture can lead to neck and back pains. These pains will interrupt your sleep and that’s why investing in a sturdy reading pillow is important.

A good pillow will promote proper blood circulation Proper circulation helps regulate your body temperature. The body needs to cool down for you to fall asleep.

Whether you love reading, watching T.V or working in bed, a reading pillow is very beneficial. This type of pillow helps you sit upright while you do what you love.

It eliminates the stress of having to prop up regular pillows on the bed’s headboard to get or maintain the needed amount of support.

But not all reading pillows are equal, some are quality while others are not. That’s why the guide above outlines what to look for in a reading pillow. Factors such as shape, material, added features, return policy, warranty, and product reviews are crucial when choosing a reading pillow.

Ultimately, however, your needs, budget, tastes, and preferences will determine what you pick.

With all the information in this guide, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and that’s why we highlight 5 of the best reading pillows we found in the market. Our pick is the Husband Pillow, it pays great attention to detail, offers great support, and comes with nifty features.

Now that you know how to go about choosing the right reading pillow, don’t buy it and stash it away. Remember the benefits of reading at night, outlined above.

By keeping your mind active you prevent diseases such as Alzheimer’s. You also learn and become more creative.

Best Reading Pillows 2021 – Top Picks and Buyer’s Guide

Intro

But how does one go about purchasing one?