Intro
Let’s talk wedge pillows! Numerous studies have shown that sleeping in an elevated position not only helps alleviate symptoms from acid reflux or GERD, but also help with flu, back pains, and swollen feet.
Wedge pillows are orthopedic pillows that help correct your body posture, to aid in the relief of various conditions. These slightly inclined triangular pillows, offer great support that allows you to sit upright in bed. Or elevate your body for a more comfortable rest.
Sometimes you want to read your book or watch TV in bed. These pillows serve as a great backrest for such activities. In this guide, we go over a list of the best wedge pillows, their benefits, and how to choose the best for you.
Best Wedge Pillows 2021
#1 Medslant Wedge Pillow
# 2 Xtra-Comfort Bed Wedge Pillow
#3 Abco Tech Leg Wedge Pillow
# 4 Avana Kind Bed Wedge Pillow
#5 Brentwood Home Zuma Wedge Pillow
Medslant Wedge Pillow
(Best Overall)
- 28″ wide (half a queen bed)
- Removable, washable microfiber cover
- Made in the USA
- CertiPur certified
Best Overall
The Medslant Wedge Pillow is our best overall for its amazing qualities. It’s great for anyone suffering from Acid Reflux or GERD. It features a 7-inch slant that is enough to keep your whole torso supported.
Medslant works by preventing acid from traveling up your gut causing discomfort. It also helps you breathe better by keeping your airways open, helping with sleep apnea.
In the elevated state, it keeps the throat from collapsing into the airway, therefore, reducing snoring. A win-win for you and your bed partner.
This wedge pillow is made out of 100% hypoallergenic polyurethane memory foam devoid of harmful chemicals. Memory foam is great at contouring and reliving pressure pain points, offering you a restful night’s sleep.
The microfiber zippered cover is easy to remove and put back on and allows for easy washing. The fabric is also stain-resistant and more durable than ordinary fabrics. It might seem a bit pricy compared to other Wedge pillows, but it’s worth it for its invaluable benefits.
Features
- – 28″ wide (half a queen bed)
- – Removable, washable microfiber cover
- – It is foldable and convenient for travel
- – CertiPur certified
- – Made in the US with Hypoallergenic materials
Xtra-Comfort Bed Wedge Pillow
(Best Customizable Pillow )
- Measures 22” wide and 12” high
- Removable-machine washable covers
- Carry handle for traveling
- Customizable set
Best Customizable Pillow
- The Extra-Comfort Bed wedge pillow is a multifaceted pillow that elevates and supports your head, back, and legs.
- The foldable memory foam pillow can be adjusted to different inclines for different uses. Thus, making it the best customizable pillow.
- The soft high-density foam not only makes it super comfortable for your neck and back but also firm for maximum support.
- Extra-comfort’s wedge pillow also comes with a removable cover that is machine washable for easy cleaning.
- The pillow features a handle that makes carrying the pillow easy. Measuring 22”wide, this pillow easily fits in any bed. It’s affordable too, and given its numerous benefits, it would be a great buy.
Features
- – Measures 22” wide and 12” high
- – has removable-machine washable covers
- -Carry handle for traveling
- – Customizable set.
Abco Tech Leg Wedge Pillow
(Best Leg Wedge )
- Dense foam makes it durable
- Measures 24 x 21 x 8 inches
- Made in the USA
- 8-inch elevation
Best Leg Wedge:
As the name suggests, this is a leg rest pillow that relieves pressure from your hips, lower back, knees, and legs. With an 8 inch incline, this pillow helps your legs rest at zero gravity which is great for correcting your sleep posture.
If you suffer from conditions such as restless leg syndrome, varicose veins or swollen feet, you will find this pillow especially beneficial. This is after seeking medical advice first.
Other uses of this pillow, including elevating your head or mattress while sleeping. It offers support for reading, and it also acts as a tabletop for your laptop. Breastfeeding mums can also use it to hold the baby in position.
This pillow’s gentle inclination improves blood circulation by elevating the feet above the heart level.
With its firm memory foam construction, this leg pillow offers support to your legs, without collapsing under your body weight.
Features
–Dense foam makes it durable
– Measures 24 x 21 x 8 inches
-Removable, washable microfiber cover
-8-inch elevation
Avana Kind Bed Wedge Pillow
(Most Unique)
- 4 pieces
- Removable and machine washable cover
- Soft and comfy micro velvet cover
Most Unique
This wedge pillow gets an A for innovation! It has four pieces that work together to offer maximum comfort and support for the user. This set is guaranteed to give the user an optimum relaxation experience.
It’s ideal for anyone with restricted movements or confined to bed for a long time. It’s also great for anyone who loves reading, working or watching in bed.
The curved back wedge is easily moved to achieve the desired head incline while the neck pillow adjusts up and down as well. The knee pillow elevates the legs allowing better circulation throughout the body while relieving pressure from the spine, hips, and legs.
Avana pillows are made from supportive medium density foam core layered with premium foam for extra comfort. The covers are zipped for easy removal and are machine washable. This set is a bit costly but totally worth it!
Features
- – 4 pieces
- -Removable and machine washable cover
- -Soft and comfy micro velvet cover
Brentwood Home Zuma Wedge Pillow
Budget Choice
- Very Affordable
- 7-inch elevation
- Made in the US
- Breathable bamboo cover
If you are looking to save a buck, then this is the wedge pillow to get.
Brentwood home wedge pillow is made from a soft and comfortable foam that provides great support and relief at a very affordable price! It gives the user a 7” elevation, that’s great for proper circulation and breathing.
The design is great for back and side sleepers who are looking for comfort during sleep.
If you have any issues with acid reflux or GERD then you should definitely think of getting one of this, it elevates the torso and prevents gas from flowing back to your esophagus hence providing relief from heartburns.
The pillow can also be used to elevate your feet hence relieving your back and knees from any pressure. It’s a good pillow for sitting upright in bed to sleep, work or watch TV.
Features
- – Very Affordable
- -7-inch elevation
- – Removable, washable microfiber cover
- – Made in the US
- – Breathable bamboo cover
Wedge Pillow Buying Guide
What Is A Wedge Pillow?
A wedge pillow is a triangular pillow made out of moderately firm foam which can be used when sleeping or sitting upright. With the purposes of supporting your back, neck, and legs.
It does this by slightly inclining the body at a 30 or 40-degree angle ensuring that the user remains at a partially elevated angle to provide relief and comfort.
Most wedge pillows come in an array of heights to enable the user to choose the extent of incline they prefer. The height of a wedge pillow dictates its use. Most pillows will range from 7 to 12 inches. 7 or 8 inches is the recommended height for a sleeping wedge pillow. While 10 to 12 inches is the recommended height for sitting purposes.
How does a wedge pillow work?The wedge shape gives the user so many options on how exactly they would like to position the pillow for maximum comfort.
This type of pillow can be used as a backrest when the long flat side is placed against the headboard. This is so as to help one sit upright in bed.
When the wedge is placed flat on the bed in a declining slope, it can be used to elevate your upper body opening up your airways hence great for managing Sleep apnea and reducing snoring.
This elevation also keeps acid from reaching the throat and causing discomfort, therefore, helping provide relief from Acid Reflux or GERD.
Placing the wedge flat on the bed, with the steep slope under your knees helps maintain legs at zero gravity, which helps reduce the pressure exerted on the hips and lower back.
Resting one’s legs in this position also helps relieve the swollenness of the legs caused by certain conditions.
How To Shop For The Best Wedge pillows And What To Look For?
Now that we know what wedge pillows are, let’s go through how to shop for the best one that fits your needs. In this guide, we cover what you need to look out for in a wedge pillow.
There are many wedge pillows out there and it can get a bit overwhelming when shopping for one. A good starting point is to be clear on the purpose of purchase.
What is going to be the primary use of your pillow? Are you looking for a pillow to offer relief, support or comfort? Or a little bit of both. Whatever the case, these are the features you need to look out for
1- Check Both Sizes, and Shape of Wedge Pillow
When it comes to a wedge pillow, size and shape matters and many vary in terms of these. Wedge pillows vary in length, height, and width. Most of them measure from 24” wide by 24” long which is enough to cover your head, torso, and back comfortably.
Smaller sized pillows will fit smaller beds such as a twin-size perfectly, while larger beds such as queen and king sizes will need a longer pillow.
Most pillows will give you an incline of about 30 to 40 degree but ultimately your needs will dictate this.
A larger pillow is better for people who read and watch T.V while sitting upright in bed. For these types of pillow, a 10-12 inch incline is recommended.
A lower loft pillow is, on the other hand, recommended for people who need the pillow to elevate their upper bodies while sleeping. For this type of pillow, a 7-8 inch incline is recommended.
For example: Say for instance you want to manage symptoms arising from Acid Reflux or GERD, you would want to go for a wedge pillow that doesn’t elevate you too high that you keep slipping down. Same case for sleep apnea or snoring.
The goal is to use a pillow that gives you a natural incline hence helping you manage your symptoms but still comfortable for you.
2- Top Layer Makes All The Difference
Most Wedge pillows are made in layers of different types of foam. Polyurethane foam is most commonly used in the core of the pillow as a support layer.
However, to make these pillows more conforming and comfortable to use, some manufacturers add a top layer of latex or memory foam.
Latex and memory foam are great at contouring to shapes, relieving pressure, and offering great support.
These materials are also long-lasting because of their ability to spring back to their natural shape after pressure is withdrawn from them.
Comfort and support are the number one priorities when looking for a good wedge pillow. Luckily, memory foam gives you just that. It retains its shape long after use, hence great for support.
Polyester-filled pillows are less common and provide less support but can still be comfortable.
3- The Wedge Pillow Cover
A majority of wedge pillow come with removable covers that are 100 percent cotton but we have a few that are 50 % cotton and 50 % polyester.
Cotton is highly preferred for its natural quality. Cotton covers are breathable, machine washable, and last longer too. These types of covers are soft to touch and super comfy especially when sleeping.
Another great natural material is bamboo. Bamboo is more breathable than cotton hence great for those who sleep hot. It’s long-lasting as well and mostly stain resistant.
Removable covers feature zippers that make it easy to remove the cover. Some manufacturers offer additional cases to help you have a fresh one on hand when you need to change the covers.
Removable covers also mean you can get alternative covers in different materials and colors to suit your tastes.
Generally, the cover should be comfortable to touch and lie on.
4- Quality VS Price
The quality of the pillow will ultimately affect the price. Basic polyester wedge pillows are more affordable with an average retail price of $25. Mid-range pillows filled with either polyester or foam go for around $50.
This, however, might vary slightly with different brands. Please note that polyester fill pillows aren’t as comfortable as other types of foams. They might be too stiff hence not recommended for sleeping wedge pillows.
Memory foam and premium foam filled wedge pillows are superior in quality. As such they are a bit costly with the larger size pillows going for $100 or more.
When buying the wedge pillow for long term use, we suggest getting one with a better quality foam hence guaranteed durability, comfort, and support.
However, if the pillow is for a short term use like during pregnancy or surgery recovery, then a less costly but quality mid-range pillow will work as well.
5- What Others Are Saying About The Pillow
Reviews, reviews, and more reviews! Product reviewing is very important especially since you’re most probably getting one for medical purposes.
It is always advisable to read reviews on the site you are buying the pillow from to find out other customer’s experiences using the product.
Customers usually share their likes and dislike about the product and from this, you can almost gauge the experience you will have using the same product.
Always make sure to do your own research before buying any product. For example, if you are getting the wedge pillow for medical reasons then it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor first.
Be sure to check the product rating. A 4 or 5-star rating means that the majority of customers are impressed with the quality of the product and can actually recommend the product to other customers. Reviews will save you money and time!
6- Check The Return Policy and Warranty
To make sure you have peace of mind and can rest easy, check that the pillow has a reasonable return policy and or warranty. Most companies will offer you a 30- day return policy.
So that if you are not happy with the product, you can return it within 30 days for a refund.
Some companies insist that you can’t return the order before the 30 days are over.
This is to make sure that the user has completely adjusted to the wedge pillow seeing that some pillows might take 30 days of continued use to get used to.
When it comes to the warranty, you want to make sure that it is clear and you are well aware of the terms of return. Most warranties are for 1 to 3 years. Coverage usually involves workmanship faults and abnormal premature deterioration.
Wedge Pillow Uses And Benefits?
As mentioned before wedge pillows come with many benefits, most of a medical kind.
Among the conditions that wedge pillows aids in are Acid reflux, sleep apnea, snoring, restless leg syndrome, varicose veins, and chronic back pains. In this section, we look at how wedge pillows help with these conditions as well as some of its other benefit
Managing and relieving acid reflux and GERD
Acid reflux and GERD are medical conditions where Stomach acid flows back to the esophagus causing great discomfort. This condition gives one serious heartburn. Also making it difficult to swallow because of the irritated throat.
Wedge pillows help by keeping your head, shoulders, and torso elevated to prevent the acid from flowing back to the esophagus.
The wedge pillow inclines the head in a very natural way to not only provide comfort but relief ensuring that you get a good night’s sleep, ready for the next day.
Reduces Snoring and Sleep Apnea
To prevent collapsing of the airways into your respiratory system, the wedge pillow keeps your head and upper body elevated. This helps your airways stay open for smoother breathing.
Helping manage sleep apnea with reduced sleep interruptions. Breathing easy also reduces snoring meaning better sleep for you and bed partner.
Sinus Relief
Whether it’s a cold, allergy or sinuses acting up, postnasal drips are nightmares. The dripping down of mucus back to the throat causes irritation hence prolonging cold and coughs.
Wedge pillows help elevate the head and upper body to prevent mucus from collecting at the back of the throat.
Sleeping in an inclined position helps drain the sinuses thus reducing or completely stopping the irritation to the throat.
Asthma relief
Nighttime Asthma creates shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness.
This condition can make sleep impossible and leave you feeling tired and irritable during the day. By elevating your head and upper body, wedge pillows help manage this condition.
Sleeping in an elevated position prevents fluids from collecting in the lungs which is one of the causes for Nighttime asthma.
Post-operative care
Wedge pillows are highly recommended by doctors for patients who’ve recently had surgery.
The offer great relief from for pain in the sensitive areas and also reduce swelling in joint areas. Some people even find two wedge pillows useful – one for the knees and one for the upper body to maximize their comfort level.
Support and comfort for pregnant women
Wedge pillows are great for pregnant women who are simply looking for support and comfort when sitting or sleeping.
Pregnancy support pillows come in a variety of shapes that offer comfort and extensive support to the bump, back, and legs. Wedge pillows are especially recommended for women who have swollen feet during pregnancy.
The elevation releases pressure from the legs, knees, and feet by draining excess fluid from them. This reduces swelling and provides much-needed relief.
Wedge pillows can also be used is post-natal care, higher wedge pillows can help hold the baby up while it breastfeeds.
Support for sitting upright
Enjoy book reading or watching TV while comfortably sitting in bed by placing the pillow on your back. A large wedge pillow is great for sitting upright in bed. It is especially good for anyone with restricted movements. As it supports the back and neck while sitting upright.
Great support for resting Legs
The leg support wedge pillows relieve pressure off your spine, legs, and knees.
It helps manage conditions such as varicose veins, restless leg syndrome or Phlebitis, by holding the legs at zero gravity and draining excess fluids. Sleeping while elevating one’s legs also takes the pressure off the lower back area, reducing back pains.
Who knew a pillow can be a lifesaver? From improving our digestive processes, helping mums, managing various ailments to improving our sleep and that of our bed partner. Wedge pillows are very beneficial.
The wedge pillow not only helps us manage health challenges but greatly improves our quality of life.
In this guide, we have looked at the best wedge pillows and our top pick was Medslant wedge pillow for its overall amazing qualities.
To help you chose the right wedge pillow, we also looked at size, material, value, and return policies. In short, a great wedge pillow will have the right size for your needs.
It will feature the best materials for its purpose. Memory foam and latex are great top layering materials in quality wedge pillows.
When it comes to the outer cover, always go with natural material such as cotton or bamboo. Lastly, always ensure there is a trial period for your peace of mind.
With that, you are well equipped to shop for the best wedge pillow for your needs.
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