Despite having three pillows that can be used any way you need them, this Lunix set comes with an awesome travel bag that makes comfort portable.
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Pros
Easy to adjust
Compact size
Machine-washable cover
Neck pillow and hot/cold pack accessories
Cons
Attachment areas for head pillow aren’t ideally placed
This pillow from All Sett Health supports seven position to maximize versatility. It runs hot, however, and may be a bit large for some households.
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Written byAnna Wenner, freelance writer, accessibility advocate, giant nerd.
Updated April 17, 2024
Finding the perfect resting angle can be surprisingly difficult, particularly when dealing with back or neck pain. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably endured your fair share of attempts to find a back-friendly solution that still lets you have the flexibility needed to truly relax. As a person with scoliosis and chronic back problems, I’ve been on the hunt for a solution to this challenge for quite a while.
Enter the wedge pillow. The name alone may make you think of a basic triangular pillow, but in today’s market, these little miracles offer so much more. There’s a huge variety of designs to choose from, all catering to different needs. In our testing, we found the Lunix LX8
(available at Amazon)
pillow to have the broadest application for users seeking upper-body relief.
If you’re looking for help with knee support, we also recommend reading our guide on the best leg elevation pillows. The products listed below, however, are the best wedge pillows for back and neck pain, according to our in-house testing.
Best Overall
Lunix LX8
When it comes to versatility, the Lunix Orthopedic Pillow Set edged out the rest. It features three different pillows that can each attach via Velcro or be kept apart (and includes strips to cover the Velcro when not in use, protecting fragile skin).
Its attached handle and included travel bag are also extremely helpful in taking it with you inside and out of the home. Plus, its narrow (but not too narrow for me) width of 22 inches is perfect for use on most couches while still being wide enough for reading in bed.
The firmness of the pillow was comparable to the All Sett and Cushy Form pillows, and it provided solid support for the entire back and neck. Whether I was playing video games, watching TV, or working on my laptop, I was able to sit in just about any position and still have the support I needed. The included hot/cooling gel pack didn’t feel necessary as part of the set, but it was high quality and did its job well.
The removable covers are well made, showed no sign of stain or wear through testing, and proved surprisingly breathable despite their velvety material. The covers can be machine washed (though they should not be put through the dryer), and the entire pillow is Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certified.
Where this pillow falls shortest is, well, in how short it is. While other pillows we tested offered a longer space for your head and back, this one proved just barely big enough for my 5-foot-8-inch height. Anyone closer to 6 feet may find the pillow too short to get the support they need.
In a similar vein, the location that the pillow attaches is clearly designed for shorter users. However, the pillow stayed in place fairly well, even without using the Velcro to keep it there, so this literal shortcoming didn’t end up being too much of a hassle.
Pros
Easy to adjust
Compact size
Machine-washable cover
Neck pillow and hot/cold pack accessories
Cons
Attachment areas for head pillow aren’t ideally placed
If you're looking for extra reassurance before purchasing the All Sett Bed Wedge, consider its Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification.
Best Value
All Sett Health Bed Wedge Pillow
The All Sett Health Folding Wedge Pillow does a great job of being easy to use while also being supportive in the right places. Because all of its pieces are attached, it stays compact and easy to carry, and its Velcro straps make any adjustments quick and effortless. Its 22-inch width is perfect for transporting and using on a couch, and its firmness is comparable to the Lunix and Cushy Form pillows. Its cover is also high quality, soft, and impressively breathable.
The All Sett pillow and the Cushy Form pillows (which we’ll discuss below) are nearly identical in appearance, firmness, and flexibility. They also can be machine washed and dried (unlike others we tested). However, where All Sett stands apart is in its Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification and value-focused price.
I didn’t find this pillow to have the same level of versatility as the Lunix for my back issues because the triangular pillow was permanently attached (which gave less flexibility on the angle it can be used), and because it didn’t include a neck pillow. That said, my roommate found this wedge pillow to be her favorite by far.
If you’re shopping with specific orthopedic needs in mind, the rigid design of this pillow may not suit them all. However, if you are merely looking for a more comfortable angle and solid support for daily activities, the All Sett Health Folding Wedge Pillow is a cheaper and easier option to use.
The memory foam material used inside of this Relax Support wedge pillow makes it ideal for reclining.
Best Wedge Pillow for Bed
Relax Support RS6
While most of the pillows we tested used at least a thin layer of memory foam, the Relax Support Memory Foam Adjustable Wedge Pillow was the only one to boast memory foam as its only filling. Though this difference may feel subtle for many, it is noticeable where it counts most: in bed.
It provides two options for a gentle slope that lets you choose your best angle for support. The included pillow can be helpful for some situations, though personally I found its height too tall to comfortably use in most situations.
Where the Relax Support pillow suffers is in its unwieldy size and poorly constructed cover. The pillow’s 25-inch width and length are great for those aiming to use it in bed regularly, but it also can make it uncomfortable to use on a couch or around the house. In addition, its large size and lack of a handle means it can be tricky to transport between rooms.
Unless you plan to pay for an alternate cover, the only option for this pillow is a white, porous material that invites stains and hair to stick to it. It was also the only pillow to show pilling and surface wear after just one week of gentle use and a single wash. Most importantly, its zipper broke after the first wash too, making the cover more or less unusable.
Of the pillows we tested this is absolutely the best one to sleep on, but users should be very careful with how they use it. Putting it in the washing machine should probably be avoided, too.
The Cushy Form Wedge offers buyers a more reasonable price with more color options, but its pricing structure is odd.
Cushy Form Wedge, 12"
There aren’t many differences between the Cushy Form Wedge Triangle Pillow and the pillow from All Sett Health. Both are structured the same way, offer the same level of flexibility with their setup, and provide a similar level of firmness. The main advantage the Cushy Form Wedge Pillow offers that All Sett does not is the ability to buy the pillow in gray as a cheaper alternative to blue and white color options.
For those on a tight budget, selecting the cheapest of the colors will give you a pillow that is only $34, which is favorably priced even compared to the All Sett. However, the price between the three color options ($34 for gray, $54 for blue, and $55 for white) feels like a confusing and unnecessary differential. In particular, the white option costing about $20 more than gray feels strange, as the white coloring is more likely to stain and show wear.
Overall, because of Cushing Foam’s confusing pricing structure and its lack of information surrounding the pillow’s chemical makeup, we found the All Sett to be a more reliable pick overall.
Pros
Machine-wash and dryer safe
Three color options
Budget-friendly price tiers
Attached pieces and handle make it easy to transport and rearrange
This bed wedge set from Qirroboni initially offers an ergonomic design but didn't prove to be very comfortable.
Qirroboni Basic 3-Piece Support Pillow (17.8'')
While the Qirroboni Orthopedic Indigo Bed Wedge Set initially showed promise, we ultimately found it didn’t live up to our expectations. Its 17.8-inch width was nice for its compact size in tight spaces, but the product ultimately ended up being too small to provide the versatility we want in a wedge pillow. Its curved support was great for sitting up straight but significantly less comfortable when used in non-traditional sitting positions.
In addition, the Qirroboni Orthopedic pillow is firmer than the other pillows we tested, which can sometimes be good for support, but in this case posed more problems than it solved. I had trouble lining my back, neck, and head up in a way that was fully supported by the pillow without also finding some part of the pillow’s design digging in uncomfortably. The included neck pillow was also too thick and often left my neck at an uncomfortable angle that caused pain over time.
The layout and attachments of this pillow were surprisingly confusing and not very convenient compared to others we tested. In the end, this was the only pillow I had to look up a picture of in order to figure out how it was meant to be used.
Lastly, though this pillow is available in several nice color options, the majority of every design is white—specifically where it is likely to get dirtiest. Because of this decision and the material’s makeup, this pillow was one of the worst when it came to showing hair, dust, and anything else it touched.
Pros
Machine-washable cover
Compact size fits tight spaces
Cons
Lacks versatility in design
Confusing setup that doesn’t feel quite comfortable
All five wedge pillows featured on this list were thoroughly tested over a period of several weeks by one of our qualified experts. Each product was ranked and scored based on its firmness, comfort, breathability, size, adjustability, odor, construction quality, and overall user experience. Beyond these subjective factors, we also considered if the pillow can be cleaned and if each pillow can be carried.
The above list is a reflection of this weighted ranking.
What You Should Know About Buying Wedge Pillows
How to use and sleep on a wedge pillow
Like many pillows, the best general use of a wedge pillow mostly depends on what feels good to you and your body. That being said, sources like Amerisleep offer a handful of ways wedge pillows can be appropriately leveraged.
Upright Recline: This is as simple as resting the flat side of the pillow against a flat surface, like a headboard or wall. If you need this simple elevation, consider buying a pillow with a high incline.
Elevated Back: If you put the smallest part of the incline at your mid back, this raised sleeping position may be helpful in reducing snoring or the symptoms of acid reflux. A wedge pillow for acid reflux should have a slightly lower incline.
Elevated Side: If you’re a side sleeper, just move your head up or down the slope till you find a position that feels good. Your head, neck, and shoulders should be properly aligned.
Lap: A wedge pillow can improve posture as a stand for a laptop or book as well. For this use case, just place the thinnest end of the pillow closest to you, so the shape resembles a podium.
How to sleep on a wedge pillow after shoulder surgery
Shoulder surgery is one of the most common reasons someone may buy a wedge pillow for upper-body comfort. While many folks may turn to a recliner for elevated sleep in this circumstance, a large wedge pillow, or multiple wedge pillows for back and shoulder, may help too.
The basic philosophy is to elevate the head and impacted shoulder, so they’re properly aligned. You simply want to avoid the ball of the shoulder falling back too far.
What type of wedge pillow do you need?
To determine which type of wedge pillow is best for you, make a list of the different spaces in your house where you need extra support, such as your couch and bed. Next, list which part(s) of your body are most sensitive to a lack of support (or the wrong support).
Rather than grouping a complex area like your back all together, determine if you need more help in the lower or upper back and shop accordingly. Similarly, if you know neck pain is one of your main issues, don’t skimp on a quality neck pillow to go with your set.
From there, consider the aesthetics and functionality you’ll need, such as how much wear the pillow will get, whether it’ll be around kids and pets, and how many different positions you need the pillow to support. If you like to travel and are hoping to bring your new pillow with you (or have a large home with lots of rooms), keep transportability in mind.
Don’t use your pillow on day one
Each of the pillows we ordered came in a vacuum-sealed package that required 24-72 hours to fully air out. Some pillows carried a slight chemical smell immediately after being released from their packaging, but all were smell-free and ready to use by the time the manufacturer indicated they would be. While you technically can use them straight out of the package, you won’t get the proper support you’re after or experience what the pillow will truly be like long term.
Are wedge pillows machine washable?
All of the pillows we tested advertised themselves as “machine washable,” but only two were also able to be put in the dryer. While this isn’t uncommon as a marketing tactic, it’s nonetheless an easy element to miss while shopping. If it’s important to you to be able to dry your pillow cover with your other laundry, pay close attention to the wording on each of your choices.
What is Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification?
Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification means every fabric component of an item was independently tested against more than 1,000 chemicals which can prove harmful to humans. You can learn more about what goes into this certification on the Oeko-Tex website. While a pillow that lacks this certification may not necessarily include any of those harmful chemicals, the certification offers extra reassurance it does not.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
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Anna Wenner is a freelance writer and photographer with nearly a decade of editorial experience. Anna's work always has one thing in common: helping her readers live safe, fulfilling lives.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.