Natural latex pillow vs down alternative — I tried both and here’s my top pick for side sleepers shopping the Black Friday sales

Being a bedding tester and a combination sleeper (side and back), I've come to realize that consistent support, contouring pressure relief and dreamy plush comfort are three of my pillow non-negotiables.

This is something I understood while testing some of of the best pillows of 2025, gauging the comfort and support delivered by the fill and whether it effectively holds my head, neck and shoulders in alignment with my spine, even if I'm prone to shift my positions during the night.

But, does the fill material really influence the overall comfort and feel? Turns out it definitely does, as I discovered for myself when reviewing two top-rated pillows on the market: the Avocado Molded Latex Pillow and the Amazon bestseller, Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillow. Here's the ultimate comparison of the two across various parameters, so that when you're shopping the Black Friday mattress deals you'll be able to choose a pillow that goes perfectly with your new bed...

Avocado Molded Latex vs Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillow: Price & deals

• Avocado pillow comes at a premium price starting from $139
• You get two Beckham queen pillows at $59.99
• Avocado offers better benefits including a 100-night trial and one-year warranty

Avocado is the brand behind the Avocado Green Mattress, which we rate as the best organic mattress you can buy right now. Avocado uses premium materials like latex, wool and organic cotton, which means that its products come with a premium price tag, and its bedding is no exception.

The Avocado Molded Latex pillow is available to buy in three sizes (standard, queen and king) starting from $139. You can, however, snag great deals on it during major sale events, like the current 20% discount for Black Friday, which drops the price of a queen latex pillow from $149 to $119. Like some of the other luxury bedding brands, Avocado also offers great sleep benefits like a 100-night trial period, one-year warranty and free shipping.

In comparison, the Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative only costs a fraction of the full MSRP of the Avocado pillow. The fact that you're paying for not one, but two pillows, definitely gives it an edge over the Avocado.

The queen set of Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative pillows is priced at $59.99, while a king pack will cost you $79.99. We've seen it up to 30% off this year (during Amazon Prime Day Big Deals Day) which brings down the price of a queen set to $41.98 (around $21 per pillow).

However, the biggest downside is that Beckham Hotel Collection pillow does not include a sleep trial period or warranty. Shipping costs also apply as per Amazon charges.

Even without such benefits, the Beckham Hotel Collection pillow clearly seems to have the upper hand here, considering the affordable price point and availability of deals.

Avocado Molded Latex vs Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillow: Design

• The Avocado pillow consists of a charcoal-infused latex core
• Beckham is crafted using plush down alternative fibers
• Neither has a customizable build

As the names suggest, both the Avocado Molded Latex and Beckham Hotel Collection Down-Alternative are made from completely different materials. The fill composition and build is the major reason for their stark difference in prices, comfort and support.

The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and GREENGUARD Gold-certified Avocado pillow consists of a single charcoal-infused latex core, encased in a GOTS-certified organic cotton cover that's soft and breathable.

The latex fill is designed to hold its shape, offer firm bouncy support, remove odors and wick away moisture, while the cotton cover enhances its temperature-regulating properties. This makes it an ideal choice for hot sleepers who battle overheating and night sweats regularly.

The OEKO-TEX-certified Beckham Hotel Collection pillow, on the other hand, features a more simple design: a 100% polyester down-alternative fill covered in a 250 thread count white cotton case.

Unlike the Avocado, the entire Beckham pillow is machine-washable according to the care tag. However, washing and drying a whole pillow is a tedious process, especially since its top cover is not removable

Based on the construction and the many user benefits offered by the premium materials, the Avocado Molded Latex pillow has the winning lead.

Avocado Molded Latex vs Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillow: Comfort & support

• Beckham Down Alternative pillow flattens easily
• Avocado latex pillow offers consistent responsive support for side-sleeping
• The latex pillow is also a better choice for pressure-relieving comfort

Incidentally, I happened to try the Avocado Molded Latex right after testing the Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative pillow. In short, it was a change I was quite relieved by.

During the Beckham Hotel Collection down alternative pillow review period, I initially found it to mimic hotel-quality plushness and sink-in comfort much like like natural down. The medium-firmness and loft seemed to work well for side sleeping in particular, bridging the gap between my ears and shoulders.

However, a few nights in and I found the support practically insufficient to keep up with my combination-style sleeping. The pillow fill flattened easily under the weight of my head and required constant fluffing to maintain the shape and support. This ended up disrupting my sleep, as I spent the night tossing and turning and adjusting the fill.

Switching to the Avocado Molded Latex pillow, single-handedly saved my sleep. My head, neck and shoulders welcomed the subtle pressure relief and bouncy comfort of the latex while side-sleeping, but it was the consistent support that actually got me hooked.

The best part? It didn't require any adjustments or fluffing at all. The Avocado latex pillow dutifully held the same supportive shape without fail, even though I alternated between side and back sleeping during the night (but never woke up).

While the brand says it offers 'firm' support I found it to be more on the medium-firm, mainly due to the responsive and squidgy texture of the charcoal-infused latex core.

Avocado Molded Latex vs Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillow: Which should you buy?

Buy the Avocado Molded Latex pillow if...

✅ You're side or back sleeper: The responsive support, firm loft and subtle pressure relief helps the head, neck and shoulders relax while lying in these positions.

✅ You do not like re-fluffing your pillow: This Avocado pillow is essentially made of a block of charcoal-infused latex core that does not require any re-fluffing.

✅ You prefer a pillow offering extra perks: Unlike the Beckham, the Avocado Molded latex pillow comes with a 100-night sleep trial, one-year warranty and free shipping.

Buy the Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillow if...

✅ You're upgrading your guest rooms: It effectively recreates the fluffiness of hotel pillows, making them quite comfortable as temporary options and hence work well for guest rooms.

✅ You're looking for something affordable: At $59.99 (the usual sale price for a set of queen pillows) for two pillows, it's undeniably more affordable than the Avocado Molded Latex.

✅ You need a pillow with a simple design: This Beckham pillow is made of plush 100% polyester down- alternative fill covered in a 250-thread count cotton cover.