There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all pillow, but Coop's adjustable pillow comes pretty close

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As an insomniac who also suffers from neck and back pain, I've spent years looking for the perfect pillow.

I'm not alone. In researching, interviewing experts, and testing more than a dozen pillows for our guide to the best pillows, I learned that a one-size-fits-all pillow is a rarity. This is because the loft and support we need vary based on our body size and primary sleeping position.

A pillow that works for a stomach sleeper, for example, will likely be uncomfortable for someone who prefers to sleep on their side. One pillow that meets every sleeper's needs seemed like a pipe dream — until I tested the Coop Sleep Goods Original Pillow. 

Our review of Coop Sleep Goods Original Pillow

The Coop Original is a customizable pillow made from hypoallergenic, CertiPUR-US, and GreenGuard Gold-certified shredded memory foam. You can access the entire inner cavity of the pillow through a side zipper and adjust fill to find your perfect loft and support. While the pillow comes overstuffed, sleepers who need even more support can add up to a pound of extra filling from an included bag. 

The pillow is quite lofty, but it comes compressed in a small package. When you open the box, you're greeted by an insert that explains how to get started customizing your pillow. 

The insert notes that you can contact the company for help adjusting or if you need extra fill beyond what's in the pillow and the 1-pound bag of extra fill. Before I touched any of the filling, I followed the package instructions to let the pillow fluff up to normal size. It only took about 10 minutes to expand, and I used my hands to help fluff and distribute the fill. Alternatively, you can put the pillow in the dryer for approximately 10 minutes.

Once the pillow was fluffed, I gave it a try as is. I'm a combo sleeper, rotating between my side and my back throughout the night, but I spend the majority of my time on my back. The pillow was too lofty for me, so I followed the instructions to remove one-third of the foam.

I was a bit nervous scooping handfuls of shredded foam out of my pillow and into a trash bag — it seemed like a lot to remove — and the process left a pretty big mess of wayward foam all over my mattress and floor. Fill adjusted and floor vacuumed, I settled in for my first few nights on the Coop pillow. 

While I did some tossing and turning during my first few days and continued to adjust the pillow fill, I eventually settled in comfortably to my new, perfect, custom loft. At this height, the pillow was an ideal size and shape for both comfort and support, and I slept soundly for several weeks without any neck or back strain.

I loved how customizable it was. The fact that my husband and I — who have completely different sleep preferences and have been arguing over pillows for years — could buy the same pillow and get a comfortable custom feel was remarkable to me.

I also sent the pillow off for more testing by my side-sleeping neighbor. After hearing her sing the praises of its custom loft (like many side sleepers, she preferred more fill), I was even more impressed with this pillow's ability to work equally well for different sleeping preferences.

Ultimately, this customization made it the obvious choice as the best overall pillow in our buying guide.

Extra features

The pillow has a few thoughtful features that I love too. The bamboo-derived rayon liner that encases the foam makes for easier cleaning; I've tried a couple of other adjustable fill pillows that don't have this extra encasement. If you want to wash them, you first have to remove all of the fill. With the Coop pillow, the encasement acts as a barrier between your pillowcase and the inner pillow. Simply remove and wash the encasement and pillowcase.

I tried the traditional rectangular shape, but Coop also offers specialty shapes including a crescent shape for combo side and back sleepers ,a cut-out for side sleepers, and a body pillow. 

There's also the 100-night trial period, which is one of the longest I've seen for pillows. It gives you plenty of time to sleep on the pillow, adjust, and decide if it's right for you. If it's not, the company will cover return shipping and provide a full refund. Coop says it donates any gently used returned pillows to local charities.

Finally, while I think a good pillow is worth investing in, it's hard to find one at as good a price as the Coop Sleep Goods Original Pillow. At $79, it costs significantly less than other shredded memory foam pillows like the Nest Easy Breather Pillow or the Layla Kapok Pillow and pillows from brands like Saatva, Boll & Branch, and Parachute Home.

Cons to consider

You can get a customizable height and fluff out of this pillow, but it might not be the coziest choice if you're not a fan of memory foam.

There was something about the pillow that I found lacking — I like a softer, down-like fill that envelops your head the way that hotel pillows do, and memory foam doesn't do that no matter how much fill you add or remove. Like many memory foam pillows, it also felt a bit hot compared to other pillows I've tried, though it was never sweaty or stifling. Coop's answer to this is the slightly pricier Eden line, which is filled with gel-infused memory foam & microfiber that sleeps cooler and softer. There's also the Essence, which swaps shredded foam for down alternative "phluff" for a softer feel; and it's sold in a pack of two. Unlike the Original where I was removing fill to get my preferred support, I felt like I needed to dip into the extra fill bag for the Essence.

Most nights, I prefer to sleep with my Saatva Pillow because I prefer a softer pillow, but I know plenty of people who swear by the Coop. Among them is my neighbor, who after many years of sleeping on stacks of pillows as flat as pancakes, now refuses to return my Coop pillow.

The bottom line 

The Coop Sleep Goods Original is an exceptionally designed pillow that can provide a custom, supportive night's rest for almost anyone, whether they are a stomach, back, or side sleeper. Its hypoallergenic materials are also great for those who suffer from allergies. The encasement makes for easy cleaning, and it's priced very competitively compared to other high-end pillows.

The only people who I don't recommend this pillow for are those who dislike the feel of memory foam. If you're on the fence, I recommend trying the pillow. With a 100-night return window, it's a risk-free purchase.