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- Comfortable and supportive for side and back sleepers
- Well made
- Affordable
- Polyester filling not as breathable as natural materials
The more bedding I review, the more hesitant I’ve become to recommend synthetic materials such as polyester over natural alternatives. That said, the one big draw that polyester has over the likes of wool, silk and down is that it’s often much more affordable.
At £30, the Dreams Side Sleeper Pillow is one such affordable option. In fact, it’s one of the most budget-friendly pillows I’ve tested in years.
Does that mean it’s lacking in quality? Not at all. This is a very comfortable and supportive pillow. It feels well made and I’ve had some great nights’ sleep on it.
Dreams Side Sleeper Pillow: What do you get for the money?
The Dreams Side Sleeper contains a polyester hollowfibre filling, encased in a 100% cotton cover. It has a rather boxy construction, and the piped stitching around the edges of the pillow holds this together well.
Unlike other pillows I’ve reviewed, this casing can’t be unzipped and removed. Instead, if you want to wash the pillow, you can put the whole thing in the washing machine. Interestingly, Dreams’ website quotes a recommended washing temperature of 40°C, while the care label on the pillow itself specifies 30°C. I’d be inclined to go with the latter.
At £30, the Dreams Side Sleeper pillow is remarkably affordable. In fact, of all the pillows I’ve tested over the past year, this is the cheapest: it’s a fraction of the price of many memory foam alternatives and is £15 cheaper than our favourite value foam pillow: the Panda Memory Foam Bamboo pillow.
It perhaps makes more sense, though, to compare prices with rival synthetic-fill options. Here too, the Dreams Side Sleeper Pillow seems to be one of the most affordable options we’ve reviewed. The Simba Aerodown will cost you £60 (quite a reasonable price for the bed-in-a-box brand), while the Fine Bedding Co Boutique Silk pillow, with a majority microfibre filling, is £38.
On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, there are cheaper options. Dusk’s Feels like Down Pillows are £20 for a pair, while Silentnight remains the go-to budget brand, with its Just Like Down Pillow (£28 for a pair) and Hotel Collection Pillow (£36 for four).
What does it do well?
I found the Dreams’ Side Sleeper pillow supportive and comfortable – whether I was sleeping on my side or my back. The brand labels it as offering a medium-firm feel, but I’m inclined to say this overstates its firmness slightly. There is plenty of give and plush comfort here – that being said, my head and neck felt supported and my spine aligned. Overall it’s a very well-balanced pillow.
As for the pillow’s construction, it doesn’t feel cheap at all. The cotton cover is soft to the touch, breathable and I’m a big fan of the piping and overall design of the pillow, which helps it hold its lofty and supportive shape.
What could be improved?
However you cut it, synthetic materials are not going to be quite as breathable as natural fillings. And while the Dreams Side Sleeper Pillow never left my head feeling hot and clammy, I did find myself occasionally flipping it over in the night to get to the cold side.
Should you buy the Dreams Side Sleeper Pillow?
However, for the price, there’s really very little I can criticise about the Dreams Side Sleeper pillow. If you’re a really hot sleeper, you could invest in naturally cooler materials such as wool or down – provided your budget will stretch, the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Pillow is lovely.
But at £30, this is a really nicely made, comfortable and supportive pillow. At the end of the day, I can’t think of many reasons not to recommend it as a great value option.
