Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow Review

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Side sleeping is the most common sleep position; chances are that you are among the majority. As a side/stomach combo sleeper, so am I—welcome to the club! As side sleepers, head and neck support and spinal alignment are key factors to waking up without aches and pains. Much of this is a result of your pillow.

The bedding company, Eli and Elm has created a pillow specially designed to fit us side sleepers, and I gave it a try. I’ll tell you about how the pillow is built, what makes it so special, and most importantly, if it lives up to the hype.

Let’s explore the Eli & Elm Organic Cotton Side Sleeper Pillow.

What’s Inside

If you have a commitment to the environment and natural materials, chances are this Eli & Elm pillow will be right up your alley. All of the fill and cover materials are made with no harmful chemicals, hypoallergenic, dust mite-resistant, anti-microbial, and mildew proof.

The fill consists of 75% natural latex and 25% polyester fiber. The fabric outer cover is 37%  organic cotton, 2% spandex, and 61% polyester. The latex foam fill is infused with cooling gel and the cover is breathable, so you don’t have to worry about overheating.

Special Features

This Eli & Elm pillow goes above and beyond to appeal to its side-sleeping audience.

Made Specially for Side Sleepers: As you may have guessed from its name, every detail of this Eli & Elm pillow is made for side sleepers: from the U-shape to the contouring fill. It’s always nice to have a product created with your needs in mind.

Customizable Firmness: Loft is a big deal for side sleepers: you want to make sure it holds your head high enough to keep your spine straight, but not too high where you strain your neck. The zipper on the side of the pillow allows you to pull out the cooling fill until you’ve found your perfect fit.

Organic Materials: We always love supporting the environment. The organic cotton cover and natural latex fill is no different. The organic cotton allows for the pillow’s breathability and a cool night’s rest.

Product Info

Sizes and Prices

The Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow only comes in one size:

• Price: $99.99
• Size: 17” x 29”

Warranty

Eli and Elm offers a 5-year warranty on all of their products, including this latex foam pillow. The warranty covers manufacturer defects, such as material ripping and seams coming undone. It does not cover any damages from user abuse, so be kind to your pillow.

Shipping and Returns

Making products in the USA means that it makes sense for Eli & Elm to ship free to the entire continental US. People who live in Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada, however, must pay a shipping fee of $45 per pillow.

You should get your purchase in about 4-6 business days as it takes 2-3 to manufacture and package and another 2-3 to travel. The process is totally trackable through the shipping number they give you at checkout.

You get a 45-day trial on your Eli & Elm pillow during which you can return it free of charge. To make a return just contact them at info@eliandelm.com with your order number and reason for return. But beware: the buyer is responsible for return shipping.

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Experience

Enough about expectations, let’s get into the reality.

Unpacking

The pillow comes in a box, rolled up in plastic. It takes a little muscle to wiggle it free, but from there it’s a breeze. The pillow is super long: while a standard pillow is 26”, the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow is 29”.

There were a few areas that lacked filling due to its time in the box, but with mild fluffing, they easily evened out.

Sleep Experience

To the touch, the pillow is cool, soft, and squishy which worried me a bit because people who sleep on their sides need firm pillows. But my worry quickly dissipated when I lay my head on the pillow. There was little to no sink—meaning great support and firmness.

While I didn’t need to adjust the loft, I unzipped the side and stuck my hand in anyway for the sake of curiosity. The latex fiber filling was the source of the squish. It was cool and a bit gummy but resilient. It would be super easy to pull out the desired amount for your loft.

As I slept, I did notice that the pillow slept pretty cool (three cheers for breathable covers!). Though the U-shape is made to contour around your shoulders, I found that it was cuddle-friendly, something else side sleepers love to do. The exceptional length was also great for tossing and turning because no matter where I ended up, I was in the bubble of the side-sleeping pillow.

Related: Best mattress for side sleepers

The only thing keeping this review from being a rave comes with my own personal sleep habits. While I loved this pillow for my side, it was far too lofty for stomach sleep. Any time I woke up on my stomach, it was with a small neck ache. So, I’d say it’s good for true blue side sleepers and side/back combo sleepers.

But, despite my stomach-sleeping woes, I enjoyed the experience. Using this pillow will be good for me by forcing me to sleep on my side all night⁠—it truly works great while I do. Side sleeping is better for health and alignment anyway.

Pros and Cons

Pro/con lists are a staple in decision-making, so let’s get into it.

Pros	Cons
Customizable Loft: Everyone has different sized shoulder and neck lengths; that’s why a customizable loft and firmness is so important. Both of these aspects are in your control.	Needs Custom Pillowcase: Because this pillow is so long, normal pillowcases won’t do the trick. If pillowcases are a must for you, you will most likely need to order one that suits the dimensions of this pillow.
Cool: Unlike your average memory foam pillows, the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper is made with latex foam, so that it sleeps cool—and it does.	Not for Stomach Sleepers: You might be saying “duh,” but most side sleepers are also combination sleepers. Even with the adjustable firmness, it won’t be flat enough to be stomach-sleeper compatible. This is a pillow for side/back combo sleepers or exclusive side sleepers.
Long: The length works wonderfully for two reasons: one, it is great if you toss and turn in your sleep, and two, it makes the lips of the U into cuddle handles.	Return Policy: While 45 days gives you over a month to sleep on the pillow and make a decision, other bedding companies have an average of 100 days for their trial periods.

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Final Breakdown

The Eli & Elm Organic Cotton Side Sleeper Pillow is specially made for side sleeper support. And the best part? It’s completely organic, incorporating natural latex and organic cotton materials. This pillow is a wonderful choice for side sleepers who sleep hot and toss and turn. It may not be the best choice for side sleepers who spend the majority of the night on their stomachs. But, you have a month to decide if you want to keep it and customizable firmness, so Eli & Elm leaves all of the choices up to you.