Reviews
The Best Wedge Pillows For Acid Reflux in 2022, Ranked: The definitive in-depth review of top-rated pillows
Jake Manning
04.07.22

Final Winner: 1 out of 8 (See Below for In Depth Review and Process)



9.5/10
15 votes



A+
Overall Grade

Support & Comfort
`
10/10

Slipping
`
9/10

Additional features
`
10/10

Value
`
10/10

Return policy / warranty
`
9/10

PROS
Cooling gel layer and cover actually regulates temperature
Premium CertiPUR-US Certified Memory Foam
Perfect balance of comfort and support
3-Year Extended Warranty
60 Night Sleep Trial

CONS
X
Only available online

Why choose a wedge pillow?

Sleep is one of those things in life that you shouldn’t skimp on. We are quite literally different people when we don’t get enough sleep. For years, I have had a specific type of pillow that I prefer using in order to get the best sleep that I can. The science is clear: healthier, deeper sleep results in a healthier, happier you.

One of the newest innovations for pillows has recently been getting a lot of attention, and we wanted to check it out. Two words: Wedge pillows. Wedge pillows are rapidly growing in popularity for people who struggle to sleep. Are they a cure-all for sleep problems? Of course not. Still, wedge pillows are scientifically proven to help sleepers who struggle with GERD (acid reflux), neck pain, and circulation problems. If you have ever lost sleep from one of these issues, this review is for you.

What makes this review different?

Look, we’ve all read a review and come away from it thinking, “That guy didn’t actually sleep on that pillow; he just read reviews and made something up.” Today, that isn’t the case. Even more, I included my wife as a part of my review process, and both of us have slept on each of the reviewed wedge pillows. If you want an honest review of something, always ask the wife for the truth. Today, that’s what you will get… truth!

Here’s a photo of all the pillows we tested, together:

Each review will detail my experience sleeping on each pillow, plus a few added comments from my wife to round things out. As you will see, we didn’t always agree, but an honest, dynamic perspective is always better than a flat one, right?

Is It Worth It To Consider Pillows Under $50?

I personally do not think it is best to consider the options under $50. You will likely save money in the long run because the manufacturers of cheaper pillows tend to cut corners – these pillows also generally do not last as long. If you get the right pillow (even if it is more expensive), you’ll likely save money in the long run. This is especially true since you will be using this wedge pillow almost every night if you are using it to relieve acid reflux or GERD. Even if you are using it temporarily, you want a pillow that will support you adequately. With the right one, you’ll even be able to use it to lounge, watch TV, or read.

As an example, some memory foam pillows (especially those that are not CertiPUR certified) tend to use lower quality foam, which results in worse pillows. Other pillows try to use air to support you – these are neither supportive or comfortable, and come with the added hassle of trying to blow them up. A lot of cheaper pillows also skimp out on the filling, which causes the pillows to provide less support and feel flat.

It is worth it to invest in a higher quality pillow – especially when you consider how much impact a better pillow can have on your sleep quality. The right pillow can help your sleep as much, if not more, than a new mattress (which is way more expensive).

In Depth Review And Process

We went into this review with a process in mind. For each pillow, we wanted to judge it on the following criteria:

  • Support
  • Material Quality
  • Cooling ability
  • Value (claims minus price)
  • Sleep orientation (good or bad for side, back, and stomach sleepers)

Using these categories, we were able to place these pillows in a ranked system. What’s important to note, however, is that everyone’s priorities are different. An example of that is the cooling ability of a pillow. A pillow’s ability to cool me down is imperative since I am a hot sleeper. My wife is chronically cold (and can never remember to take her iron pills), so a pillow that cools you down is actually less valuable to her.

Also, here are a few things about ourselves and our room to give context for some later review elements. I am 6 ft tall, while my wife is a petite 5’5. Our bedroom is roughly 120 square feet, and we sleep on a queen-sized bed together (me in a tiny corner and her spread-eagle across the rest of it). I am a back sleeper and never flip onto my stomach, although I will occasionally flip to my side. My wife is the opposite of a back sleeper and can be found in a stunning array of positions through the night (let’s call her a stomach and side sleeper).

Ok, let’s get into the reviews.

Overall, the best wedge pillow I slept on by far was the Dosaze Therapeutic Cooling Wedge Pillow. We enjoyed sleeping on the Dosaze Therapeutic Cooling Wedge Pillow in all three sleep positions thanks to the premium materials, temperature regulation, and overall comfort level. But more on why I like this pillow so much later



9.5/10
15 votes



A+
Overall Grade

Support & Comfort
`
10/10

Slipping
`
9/10

Additional features
`
10/10

Value
`
10/10

Return policy / warranty
`
9/10

PROS
Cooling gel layer and cover actually regulates temperature
Premium CertiPUR-US Certified Memory Foam
Perfect balance of comfort and support
3-Year Extended Warranty
60 Night Sleep Trial

CONS
X
Only available online

The Bottom Line

This pillow is the top of the top, crème de la crème. If you’re purchasing a wedge pillow, it’s likely because you need it to relieve your acid reflux, GERD, or pressure on your back (from surgery or just in general).

If this is your primary use case, then you want a high quality pillow that will actually provide you the support you need. This pillow is just that and more. I obviously tested a number of wedge pillows, and found that this one was clearly the best. Not only is it made of premium materials, but the temperature regulation is so nice to have.

Memory foam tends to overheat, which is my typical issue with memory foam products. This can cause discomfort and hot sleep — fortunately, this pillow works wonders to keep you cool throughout the night (or day, if you’re just using it to lounge!). You lie on the pillow and really instantly feel a cool to the touch experience. The added gel layer then actually does work to keep the pillow noticeably cooler for longer than other pillows.

This pillow also solves for a number of other issues I have with other wedge pillows – while it is pretty difficult to prevent all slipping on wedge pillows, I did notice that I slipped down this one less than I did with other wedge pillows. A lot of other wedge pillows tend to be too firm, and this one was the perfect level of firmness!

It provides the perfect combination of comfort and support – the foam isn’t too firm nor is it too soft. I would describe it as firm enough to support my full body so I don’t sink too much into the pillow, but also soft enough so that it is comfortable to sleep on all night.

This pillow distinguishes itself from other pillows for neck pain in four ways (1) the quality of the materials (2) the temperature regulation (3) the customer experience.

  1. quality materials the foam in this pillow is CertiPUR-US certified (unlike many other pillows, including Sutera). The cover is also made of bamboo, unlike other pillows which tend to use 100% polyester or other scratchy materials. This memory foam has the perfect ILD (indentation load deflection). The foam is not too firm nor is it too soft.
  2. temperature regulation – the cooling cover and gel layer work wonders to keep you cool all night long on this pillow. Unlike most memory foam, which tends to overheat, this pillow regulates your temperature. I can’t stress enough now nice of a feature this is — it even makes this pillow super fun to use while watching TV or reading.
  3. customer experience – I had the best experience purchasing this pillow. The Dosaze team was incredibly responsive when my pillow got lost in the mail, and sent me one free of charge. They also offer a 60 day sleep trial and 3-year-warranty.

This pillow is seriously a case of you get what you pay for – with high quality materials, innovative features, and incredible customer service and experience, this pillow is the best option if you want a quality wedge pillow that relieves acid reflux, GERD, and reduces pressure on your back.

You can see that this pillow is great height — it’s enough to elevate you the recommended amount to combat GERD and Acid Reflux while not being too high to be uncomfortable. I love how you can also add an additional pillow on top if you want to (but you don’t have to).

UPDATE (3 months later!): I’ve been sleeping on this pillow for 3 months now, and it is still the best one. I’m super satisfied with the overall quality and durability of this pillow. This has been the best investment for me in terms of improving my overall sleep quality and alleviating my acid reflux!




8.0/10
5 votes



B
Overall Grade

Support & Comfort
`
8/10

Slipping
`
8/10

Additional features
`
7/10

Return policy / warranty
`
9/10

Value
`
8/10

PROS
Squishy memory foam
Nice-feeling cover

CONS
X
Heat retaining
X
On the larger side of wedges
X
Can be firmer than some prefer

The Bottom Line

The Helix Wedge pillow was a middle-of-the-road option for us. We didn’t hate it, but there was really nothing special to set it apart. It is designed with soft memory foam and is covered in a polyester cover the color of heather.

We think that the Helix is an example of a wedge pillow that tries to become the centerpiece of your bedspread. It’s just a bit too large, and if you sleep with another person in the bed, it can be pretty annoying.

Additionally, the angle of the Helix is a bit too severe. I ended up sliding down the pillow within a few hours of going to sleep and would wake up scrunched into a strange ball. It’s also too large to effectively sleep on your side since you can’t really wrap your arm around the top of it.

When it comes to cooling, this pillow is, once again, just ok. It’s not designed with any cooling gels, and the foam seems to retain heat a bit too well. The memory foam itself is rather squishy, however, and I didn’t mind it while sitting before bed. With how thick it is at the top though, some might consider it too firm, especially if they are lighter and can’t press the material down as much as I can.

Maddie’s comment:

“This pillow was a little too large for me to sleep on through the night. I lasted until around 2 am before I had to take it off, after which I promptly fell asleep.”

We recommend this pillow for anyone wanting a wedge with some premium features (memory foam, good material quality, etc.), but on a budget with a hard cap of $100.

As you can see, this is a solid wedge pillow, but it is a bit on the larger end. We also experienced more slipping than we would have liked to. It’s a decent option, but could honestly doesn’t live up to the other options on this list. The angle is too high for most people.




7.0/10
4 votes

C
Overall Grade

Support & Comfort
`
7/10

Slipping
`
6/10

Additional features
`
6/10

Return policy / warranty
`
8/10

Value
`
8/10

PROS
Comfortable cover
Smaller form factor
Good angle

CONS
X
No longer available for purchase
X
No cooling technology

The Bottom Line

The Malouf Z-Wedge was one of the better pillows that we tested but was discontinued while this review was being written! As a result, there are some things we don’t know about the pillow (certain material details and current pricing/value), but we still included it for comparison.

The best thing about this pillow is the cover. It’s incredibly soft and feels superb on your skin. I think it’s some sort of textured polyester, and it feels similar to a fuzzy blanket. The only downside to a cover like this is that it isn’t great when it comes to cooling ability. Although the cover was blanket-like in its heat retention, the pillow material itself was pretty light and didn’t hold onto heat like a full-on memory foam tends to do.

When it comes to size, the Z-Wedge was a little bigger than our sweet spot, but not by much. It isn’t too wide, and it was one of the only pillows that didn’t make me feel like I was sliding off the bed towards my feet. The angle was nearly perfect, with only the Dosaze beating it in terms of our preference.

The other thing you might have to worry about is that some customers claim that it doesn’t fully “decompress” — see the review below:

Thankfully, I did not have this issue, but this review is relatively recent, so it could be luck of the draw. Part of me thinks they had to discount the pillow on Amazon because of these reviews — the same pillow is listed as $100 on their website here:

Maddie’s comment:

“This is one of the two wedge pillows I was able to sleep through the night on. Going to have to say, this one was my favorite, I’m a sucker for anything soft, fuzzy, and cozy!”

We can’t recommend this pillow because it isn’t for sale anymore! You may be able to find it with secondhand sellers, but who knows how long their stock will last.

For us, this was a good pillow, but as you can see from the reviews, it can be a bit hit or miss if you’ll get a good one. Our only other complaint with this pillow (although the cover is comfortable), is that it can get pretty hot.




6.6/10
4 votes

D
Overall Grade

Support & Comfort
`
8/10

Slipping
`
6/10

Additional features
`
9/10

Return policy / warranty
`
5/10

Value
`
5/10

PROS
Comes with a body pillow
Specially designed for side and stomach sleeping
Comfortable

CONS
X
Expensive
X
Body pillow ban just be bought separately

The Bottom Line

This pillow is incredibly high priced, and is supposed to relieve shoulder pressure (as well as GERD and Acid reflux) for side sleepers, so I thought I’d give it a try.

The MedCline Wedge pillow isn’t just a pillow but is actually a sleep system that includes the wedge, a body pillow, and a small filler pillow. Together they create a special system that is primarily designed for side or stomach sleepers. As a back sleeper, this isn’t as much of a priority for me, but for others, it’s absolutely essential.

The short answer is that

Pros:

  • Works for some people with chronic shoulder pain

Cons:

  • Incredibly expensive
  • Many reviewers complain that it is too hard
  • Can actually cause shoulder and lower back pain for some
  • You cannot return it because it is nearly impossible to fit back in the box. Some people report that the company didn’t let them return.

This pillow can be hit or miss — it definitely works for some people, but for a lot of people it doesn’t work. If there were a better return policy, I’d say it might be worth the risk, but given that a lot of customers report trouble returning it (and its high price tag), I’d stay away and try a normal wedge pillow first.




5.8/10
5 votes



F
Overall Grade

Support & Comfort
`
6/10

Slipping
`
6/10

Additional features
`
5/10

Return policy / warranty
`
7/10

Value
`
5/10

PROS
Quality materials
Good support (relatively firm)

CONS
X
Pricey but doesn’t have additional features
X
Too wide and takes up too much of the bed
X
Cooling cover isn’t that cool
X
Short return window

The Bottom Line

The MedSlant wedge is solidly middle of the pack in our list of pillows. It is made with a memory foam core and an allergen reducing cover, but the cover seemed to almost be a size too large for the pillow. The “cooling” side of the pillow is ok, but it just feels like they used nylon instead of a real cooling gel to get the cooling effect. Additionally, it doesn’t need to be as expensive as it is for what you are getting.

We ran into a few problems with the MedSlant. The first was when it came out of the box. All of the pillows came in a vacuum-sealed package that, once cut, allowed the pillow to expand. For some reason, it seems like the MedSlant we received never filled out the cover like it was supposed to. As a result, the cover was loose and would wrinkle and roll up through the night.

Additionally, we found this pillow to be too large. They advertise it as “half the width of a queen-sized bed,” but we didn’t really find that to be a selling point.

I did like the angle of the pillow, however, as it wasn’t too harsh of an angle like some of the others. The incline was allowed me to feel elevated without feeling like I was being propped up and likely to slide down during the night.

Maddie’s comment:

“Too big for me. Much too large for this petite gal.”

We don’t really recommend this pillow when there are similar or better pillows on our list in the exact same price bracket.

As you can see, this pillow kind of doesn’t really fill into the cover, and it’s a bit awkward. It’s also surprisingly easy to make your way down to the bottom, and you end up using it as a “normal” pillow.



6.2/10
3 votes

D
Overall Grade

Support & comfort
`
9/10

Slipping
`
6/10

Additional features
`
7/10

Return policy / warranty
`
6/10

Value
`
3/10

PROS
Ideal for the sick elderly or recovering
Complete support
Good for watching TV or YouTube at night

CONS
X
Truly and incredibly massive
X
Doesn’t allow for any variation of sleeping other than back
X
Isn’t cooling at all
X
Can fall off

The Bottom Line

The Contour BackMax has a highly specific use case, one that most sleepers won’t fall into. First off, it’s massive. It’s huge. It’s so big that it took up 3/4ths half of the bed horizontally and all of the bed vertically. The pillow is split into three segments that can be removed via a zipper, essentially turning a full-body support pillow into just a wedge. As a full-body pillow, the Contour BackMax just didn’t cut it. It is so supportive that you can’t turn on either side while sleeping and don’t even consider trying to sleep on your stomach. It initially feels comforting, but that comfort turns into a prison around 2 am. Laying on the pillow, I found my feet hung off the bed unless I scooted way up near the top of the wedge to the point that the only thing left on the bed was my butt.

The material is some form of foam, and it is pretty supportive if a bit firm (more of a preference thing). The cover is a soft, felt-like material, and it doesn’t provide any real cooling. The only thing keeping me from giving this pillow a 1 on the cooling scale is that the foam is less dense than some others and didn’t hold onto a ton of heat. Overall, the material seemed average, with the quality of the zippers feeling like the most premium thing on the system.

Maddie’s comment:

“It’s super cool, but not for sleeping, at least for someone who doesn’t have medical needs. I couldn’t sleep with it, but I love to use it on the floor to play video games in the living room. For me, it became a lounge chair instead of a sleeping pillow.”

Overall, the Contour BackMax is a pillow designed for someone that has serious physical needs. We would recommend this pillow system for the following people:

  • The elderly or infirm
  • Those with specific and serious health needs
  • Those recovering from a surgery that requires total body support

If those don’t sound like you, don’t go through the hassle of trying to get this pillow, or you will end up like me, staggering into a Kohl’s with a pillow the size of a small couch to return.

This pillow is massive and is good for certain use cases, but it’s not ideal for most people. As you can see, it takes up the vast majority of the bed (so your spouse might have a tough time). However, it is useful for certain people. It is also possible to “fall” off of this pillow, and that did happen to us a couple of times!




52/10
4 votes

F
Overall Grade

Support & Comfort
`
3/10

Slipping
`
7/10

Additional features
`
3/10

Return policy / warranty
`
7/10

Value
`
6/10

PROS
Can deflate for travel
Easy to inflate

CONS
X
Requires a cover to use without discomfort
X
Really uncomfortable
X
Cheap material construction

The Bottom Line

I want to be clear when I say that this pillow isn’t designed to compete with the other options on the list. It is, quite literally, an inflatable pillow that happens to be in the shape of a wedge. It’s cheap, uncomfortable, and not designed to be used at home.

I ran into a few problems with the Wey and Fly. The first and most noticeable problem that I had was the plastic seams that held it together. The seams run all along the edges of the wedge and are really sharp. I sleep without a shirt, and they were noticeably prickly and sharp on my skin. If you are going to use this wedge without a shirt on, a wedge is essential. Along the vein of material quality, this pillow is at the bottom of the barrel. It’s plastic and feels like the mattress you used when visiting Grandma as a kid.

The second problem that I had was that the air valve sticks out about 2 inches from the side of the pillow. The orientation of the pillow meant that this protrusion was directly facing Maddie in the center of the bed, right around where the top of her head would normally be. It wouldn’t have been a problem if I slept on the other side of the bed, but we are creatures of habit.

Aside from the problems, there are a few things that were “ok” about the pillow. The air valve is one way, allowing you to easily blow it up without going blue in the face or having sore cheeks for three days. Additionally, it can deflate and fold away pretty small.

Maddie’s comment:

“I’m very texture-oriented and the lack of quality and the seams on this pillow stopped me from even trying to sleep on it.”

We recommend this pillow for anyone who wants to have a wedge pillow they can camp or travel with. Outside of those niche needs, we can’t recommend this pillow in good faith.

This pillow is okay for a very specific use case, but to be honest it is very challenging to sleep on it. You’d have to be pretty desperate to use it on the road.




4.0/10
2 votes

F
Overall Grade

Support & comfort
`
3/10

Slipping
`
5/10

Additional features
`
3/10

Return policy / warranty
`
7/10

Value
`
2/10

PROS
The cheapest wedge you can probably find

CONS
X
Incredibly low quality
X
Way too hard
X
plastic feeling cover
X
Too severe of an angle

The Bottom Line

Look, there is always a cheap, low-quality option in every review. The DMI Bed Wedge takes that cake in our list. It’s hard, uncomfortable, and low quality, with little to no redeeming factors outside of price.

Neither me or Maddie could sleep more than an hour on this pillow. It’s constructed from polyurethane foam and feels like it was made with old lifejacket material. If you need really firm support, this pillow may have some benefit to you, but otherwise, it’s much too hard for most people’s needs. To make matters worse, the hard material is paired with a steep angle, creating a really uncomfy sleeping experience.

The outer cover of the pillow is slick and plasticky feeling. If you are prone to spilling drinks on your pillows, that could be a plus, but otherwise, it’s a bad thing. Funny enough, it actually makes a slick, slippery noise when you move too much on it, almost like a pet is scratching at a tent while camping.

The main selling point for this pillow is its price. It’s super cheap and can likely be Amazon Primed to you within 24 hours. If you need something cheap and fast for an emergency flare-up or something, you may fall into this niche market for this pillow.

This is my biggest issue with really trying to cut costs on Amazon. Sure you can find some great products, but you also run the risk of getting something significantly lower quality – and in this case, this pillow definitely is.

Maddie’s comment:

“Didn’t even try to sleep on it because it was so uncomfortable. No way.”

We recommend this pillow for anyone who needs an emergency wedge pillow for the cheapest they can get. Although, we would probably recommend just stacking two regular pillows on top of one another before getting this one.

Conclusions

Out of all of the wedge pillows we reviewed, both Maddie and I had different priorities and, subsequently, different favorites. Rather than complicating things, however, I think that our conclusions can help you make your decision!

Jake Manning’s choice:

I don’t struggle with chronic GERD or sleep apnea every night, but I do occasionally get acid reflux flares. In those moments if I needed a wedge, I would most likely choose the Dosaze wedge pillow because of its small size and extreme cooling ability.

Disclosure: HomeHacks has relationships with some of the products listed in this article. We may earn a varying commission if you purchase any of the products on this list.

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