We tested this year’s most hyped side sleeper pillows from Eli & Elm and Nest Bedding — here’s the one we’d buy in Memorial Day sales

The right pillow for you will largely depend on your preferred sleep position, which means side sleepers should consider choosing an ergonomic design that's geared towards the way they sleep.

Luckily, we've tested two of the best pillows for side sleepers: Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow and the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow.

Both have adjustable fill, a curved design, and an aim to provide plenty of neck support. However, there are some key differences between them, which we'll delve into.

So, if you're shopping the Memorial Day sleep sales and wondering how to choose between the Eli & Elm vs the Nest Bedding, we'll explore the key differences in price, design, and support. So you can decide which is the best option to buy before they shoot back up in price.

Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow vs Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow: Price & deals

• The Eli & Elm pillow's MSRP is $134.99, but it's currently reduced to $107.99
• The Nest Bedding pillow is $124 MSRP, but it's $119 at Amazon
• Eli & Elm offers a longer warranty and sleep trial, and free delivery

Both the Eli & Elm and Nest Bedding pillows have a starting MSRP and (regular sale price) of over $100, so you're looking at two pillows that sit squarely in the premium price tier.

The Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow has an MSRP of $134.99 for a queen (its smaller size), but this is the cost of the pillow only; if you want the cooling pillowcase as well, this MSRP rises to $171.98.

However, regular deals mean you'll often find the Eli & Elm Pillow for much less. Currently, a Memorial Day discount takes the price of a queen pillow down to $107.99 ($115.99 if you want a cooling pillowcase, too). Plus, they have a BOGO 50% off deal bringing the price of two down to $175.48 ($191.48 with the cooling pillowcases).

Meanwhile, the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow has an MSRP of $124, but you can often find deals (particularly on Amazon) where it's reduced to $119. This is the current price offered by Amazon, but we've also seen the pillow reduced to $107 there in the past.

Speaking of Amazon, it's worth noting that both pillows are available at the retail giant. This is a good option if you want extra fast shipping, but be aware that the brand's benefits (namely the trial and warranty) may not be available if you buy from a third party instead of directly from the brand.

So, what are these benefits? Both brands offer a warranty and sleep trial with their pillows, but the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow has a slight edge in this department. They offer a 45-night sleep trial and five-year warranty, whereas Nest Bedding offers a 30-night sleep trial and two-year warranty.

On delivery too, Eli & Elm offers the better deal; their delivery is free. Whereas Nest Bedding only offers free delivery for orders over $130. Orders that come in under $130 are subject to a $10 standard delivery charge for the continental US (for Alaska, Hawaii and Canada, additional shipping rates apply).

Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow vs Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow: Design & Materials

• Both pillows have a curved build with adjustable foam fill
• The Eli & Elm Pillow comes with latex or memory foam fill options, whereas Nest Bedding's fill is made from a foam and fiber blend
• Both pillows have breathable covers, but Nest Bedding's is cooler

May of the best pillows today offer adjustable comfort, and both the Eli & Elm and Nest Bedding side sleeper pillows come with fill that can be removed to suit your sleep style and body type. While both offer adjustability, there are some differences between the fills.

The Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow offer only one type of fill which is made up of 80% blended memory foam and high response foam, and 20% polyester fibers. The foam is "precision-cut" to enhance airflow and pressure relief. It arrives overstuffed and Nest Bedding provide a free bag they call a "pillow egg" to store any fill you remove.

The Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow, on the other hand, offers two fills to choose from: Memory Foam (for classic contouring) which comprises of 75% shredded memory foam and 25% ultra-fine polyester fiber, or Dunlop latex (for durable, firmer support) made up of 75% Dunlop latex noodles and 25% ultra-fine polyester fibers.

It's worth noting that while the Nest Bedding pillow arrives overfilled by design (so you can adjust as you prefer), Eli & Elm offer additional fill for $15.99. However, they do note that most people are satisfied with the amount of fill that comes with the pillow as is, and the optional additional fill is for those who like a higher than average loft pillow.

As for covers, both are described as "breathable". The Nest Bedding's cover is made from 49% polyester, 2% spandex, and 49% "Icecore" (Nest Bedding's propriety heat-dissipating cooling fabric).

The Eli & Elm's cover is made from 37% Cotton, 2% Spandex, and 61% Polyester. As mentioned above, you can pay extra for a cooling pillowcase, which is made from 100% cotton.

Both covers can be removed and machine-washed on a cool setting, and put in a dryer on a low heat.

Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow vs Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow: Peformance

• Our testers found the Nest Bedding suits all sleepers, and praised the Eli & Elm for side and back sleeping
• The Eli & Elm sleeps temperature neutral, but the Nest Bedding impressed with its cooling capabilities
• Those looking for a firmer feel may be best suited to Eli & Elm's latex noodle pillow, while the Nest Bedding's precision cut memory foam offers a plusher, contouring support

As both have an adjustable fill, the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow and the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow can be customized to suit all sleep positions.

As we mentioned above, the Nest Bedding pillow comes overfilled, whereas with the Eli & Elm, those who like a high loft pillow may need to purchase the additional fill.

In our Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow review, our tester recommends the customizable design to all sleepers, while our Eli & Elm Side Sleeper hands-on review reveals it is great for side sleeping, but could also find a place in our best pillows for back sleepers guide (note, our tester is a combi side and back sleeper).

That said, these two pillows do have some differences in terms of temperature regulation and firmness.

For instance, the Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow does arrive overfilled (which lends itself to a firmer feel), but the fill itself (foam and fiber) includes precision-cut memory foam designed to create a plush feeling support. Our lead tester calling its fill "supremely comfortable" and described the pillow as providing "contouring support" that you'd expect from memory foam as it molds to body shape.

The firmness of the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper pillow, meanwhile depends on which fill you choose (the Dunlop latex noodle fill is the firmer option, while the shredded memory foam provides a softer feel — our hands-on tester described it as "soft to medium-firm feel").

The firmer feel of the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper with the Latex Noodle fill may be a downside for some sleepers (a few Amazon customers find it too "hard", though many praised the feel) but a firm pillow could be a better choice if you experience tension headaches on softer pillows.

As for cooling, the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper has the edge thanks to its propriety "Icecore" heat-dissipating material, with our reviewers impressed with how the "cooling really works". Meanwhile, in our Eli & Elm hands-on review, our tester reported that her pillow (which doesn't include the cooling cotton cover upgrade) "remained at a neutral temperature" during the first week of testing.

Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow vs Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow: Which should you buy?

Buy the Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow if...

✅ You want firmer support: Thanks to a curved U-shape design and the Dunlop latex option, the Eli & Elm delivers firmer support than the softer contouring of the Nest Bedding.

✅ You want to choose between memory foam and latex fill: Choose between a shredded memory foam-polyester blend or a Dunlop latex-polyester blend (the former is better for contouring comfort and the latter is better for durable support)

✅ You want a longer warranty and trial, and free shipping: Eli & Elm offers 15 more night to try, but it's warranty lasts three years more than Nest Bedding's. Plus, you'll get free shipping, whereas Nest Bedding charges for orders under $130.

Buy the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow if...

✅ You want plusher support: The precision-cut foam is designed to offer optimal pressure relief and plushness.

✅ You're a hot sleeper: With a cover that uses specialist cooling fabric and memory foam with "air channels" to enhance breathability, the Easy Breather lives up to its title.

✅ You sleep on your side, back, and stomach: Our review praised the Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow for its versatility.