Cushion Lab is one of the most recognizable brands in the bedding world, but does that mean they are the best? I wanted to look into some of these claims and see how they held up against some of the competitors.
Why?
There is a lot of talk around who makes the best pillow for neck pain and side sleeping, and Cushion Lab and Dosaze are both in the running for the most popular. Before I settled on something that I was going to sleep on for the next few years, I wanted to do some serious research and learn what I could about both of them. Then, I went ahead and compared them to help anyone else who struggles with neck pain, headaches, and side sleeping discomfort, just like me.
I read hundreds of reviews of both pillows, ordered multiple units of each, and spent 3 months sleeping on them. Here’s what I discovered.
The Short Answer
If you want a short answer, the winner after months of testing was the Dosaze Contoured Orthopedic Pillow. I liked how, overall, it offered more value for what I got, and was better for various sleeping positions (back, side, and stomach)
Ultimately, the decision was made due to a few important factors:
- Functionality (reducing neck pain, etc.)
- Price
- Customer service
- Value
- Materials
Here’s an in-depth review of how they stacked up against one another in each category.
Functionality/Effectiveness – Clear Winner, Dosaze
Cushion Lab and Dosaze make similar claims, but after I tested them, I found that I prefer the Dosaze pillow, especially when it comes to relieving neck pain and tension headaches. There are actually some differences in the shapes of the pillow, and I thought that the orthopedic contour of the Dosaze pillow was more pronounced in a way that actually helped my pain.
I simply found that Dosaze did a better job at reducing our neck pain – it really works well. Here’s what we like about it:
- Innovative Shape – the innovative contour of this pillow is amazing. It does wonders to align your neck and back and keeps your neck in place throughout the night. This reduces neck pain, tension headaches, and even alleviates snoring and sleep apnea (because your airways won’t get blocked). Other pillows have tried to copy this shape, but I found this one to be the best, by far.
- Actually works for all sleepers – the shape of this pillow is ideal for two reasons: (1) it aligns your head and neck and keeps it in place, and (2) if you are a combination sleeper, it lets you alternate between positions easily.
I liked the Dosaze pillow and how it let me sleep whichever way I wanted.
The Cushion Lab was plenty comfortable, and I actually liked the cute little shape of it. My main issue was that, at the end of the day, there wasn’t anything particularly stabilizing about the Cushion Lab, and it didn’t keep my head in place like the Dosaze did. There weren’t any unique attributes or special features that addressed neck pain, tension, or other issues.
Price – Slight Winner, Dosaze
The Cushion Lab pillow is slightly more expensive than the Dosaze pillow. On average and without any discounts, the standard pillow will run around $135 USD. The Dosaze is on the higher end, but even their largest size only costs $120.
I don’t mind spending some money on a pillow. In fact, I view it as an investment into my sleep, not a cost I have to pay. Depending on the sale being run when you read this, either pillow could be cheaper or more expensive. I would recommend looking at the other factors anyway, not the price, since they are so comparable here.
Customer Service – Winner, Dosaze
While it’s impossible to please every customer, Dosaze goes out of its way to make everyone who purchases a pillow happy. You can see in the review on the site that customers really appreciate Dosaze’s customer service:
That being said, Dosaze has a much better deal when it comes to support. Dosaze offers a 60-night sleep trial, while Cushion Lab doesn’t. That being said, Cushion Lab only lets you refund within 30 days and also forces you to pay for the return shipping yourself, which is a real hassle.
Materials – Tie
The Cushion Lab and Dosaze pillows are both well-made and high-quality. The Cushion Lab pillow is made of a visco elastic memory foam, while Dosaze’s core is made of premium memory foam. To compare them, I would say that the Cushion Lab is a little more… bouncy? It’s almost bordering on latex, similar to the Purple pillow. The Dosaze has a softer feel to it, but with some support.
Which one is better is mostly a preference here. Some may like the bouncy nature of the Cushion Lab, whereas some may prefer the softer more foamy feel of the Dosaze.
Value – Slight Winner, Dosaze
The Cushion Lab is great, but it’s a little more expensive for a pillow that many would describe as a “unique feeling.” The Dosaze pillow feels specifically designed for pain and, in my experience, keeps my neck more aligned.
Since the materials are of the same caliber, this category isn’t a total blowout. I think that most people would be happy with either, but I have a preference for the less jiggly and more winged Dosaze, not to mention it’s priced a little better. That’s why it only takes the edge slightly here.
Overall Winner: Dosaze Contoured Orthopedic Pillow
Truth be told, I was a little shocked by the final result. Cushion Lab makes a great pillow, and I’ve had friends recommend it to me. It was a close one, but the price, better design, and my preference to its materials just took it over the edge for me.
The Dosaze isn’t even more expensive, although I don’t mind spending money on a pillow (I view it as an investment in my sleep).
At the end of the day, I would recommend the Dosaze Contoured Orthopedic Pillow to most people, most of the time!
