Elviros Cervical Memory Foam Pillows for Neck Pain Relief,Medium Firm

Why it's worth it

The Elviros is a dual-height memory foam pillow with a shoulder cutout and an ice-silk cover, aimed at side sleepers who run warm. It supports your neck through the night at a medium-firm feel, and it costs well under what the molded-foam pillows here do.

The shoulder cutout is what makes side sleeping work. It gives your shoulder somewhere to go, so your head stays level with your spine instead of tipping down. That's the alignment problem side sleepers actually have, and a flat pillow can't solve it no matter how thick it is.

Two heights mean one pillow covers both positions. The higher 5.1-inch side suits back sleepers with cervical issues, and dual horns support the head and neck there. The lower side works when you're on your side. If you switch through the night, you have options without buying a second pillow.

From our review of 8 cervical neck traction pillows, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +The shoulder cutout is what makes side sleeping work
• +Two heights mean one pillow covers both positions
• +The cooling cover is a real difference, not marketing
• +Medium-firm is the setting most people want

What to know

• –It smells for the first few days
• –One size doesn't fit every frame
• –It supports more than it corrects