What To Look For in a Lumbar Pillow

Finding the right lumbar pillow doesn’t have to be a pain if you know what to look for and what you need to help your specific lumbar issue.

How Can You Find the Perfect Lumbar Pillow?

If you’re looking for a lumbar pillow, chances are you need it for support to help with lower back pain or posture. Since you have specific needs, you need to look for the quality of materials, flexibility, versatility, type of cover, and finally, you’ll need to consider the size.

Taking these factors into consideration will allow you to find the best lumbar pillow for you. Getting rid of your low back pain and discomfort is a priority, and is made possible with lumbar pillows.

Who Needs a Lumbar Pillow?

Lumbar pillows are not just for individuals with back pain or injuries. If you work at an office and sit in a chair most of the day and need lumbar support or help with posture, you can benefit from a lumbar pillow.

If you can’t seem to get comfortable when you sit up in bed to read your favorite book, you can benefit from a lumbar pillow.

Even if you’re just looking for a great couch pillow that can support your back, you can benefit from getting one.

Buying a Lumbar Pillow

Once you’re ready to purchase a lumbar pillow, you’ll need to consider factors specific to your situation. You should focus more on support and the quality of materials if you need a lumbar support cushion.

If you’re looking for an office chair, you’ll need to keep size and flexibility in mind.

When looking for a throw pillow and pillow insert, consider the versatility and cost since you won’t use it all the time.

Each lumbar pillow has different advantages and disadvantages, so before buying, do some research and think about what’s most important for you.

Lumbar Pillows We Love

Amazon product

Quality of Material

Choosing a lumbar pillow with high-quality materials is important, especially if you have low back pain, neck pain, or lumbar lordosis. For maximum comfort, it’s essential to find a support pillow that’s right for you.

A durable support pillow will help with pain while helping you keep a neutral position and good posture.

Look for a pillow with memory foam or a polyester-memory foam blend. These lumbar pillows are soft, support your specific sleeping posture or spine posture, and are long lasting. They’re a great buy if you need a long-lasting support pillow.

The quality of the material is also important because your lumbar region needs tons of support. You need high-quality support, whether you have a new injury or chronic back pain.

This is an item that is worth paying full price for. High-quality lumbar pillows are often a bit expensive, but they’re worth every penny if it means giving you the support and comfort you need.

Flexibility

Finding a high-quality support pillow with flexibility can be a challenge, but it’s certainly worth it. Your needs change throughout the day, and where you spend your time varies, which means you need a lumbar cushion that can adapt to each need.

If you work in an office, you might want to find an office chair seat cushion that you can also use on your sofa. Finding a lumbar pillow that is flexible enough to fit properly in your office chair and on the couch in your living room means you get twice the use for your money.

A great pillow can change shape and work where you need it to work. The trick is finding a flexible support pillow that’s made with high-quality materials.

If flexibility is one of your main requirements, consider buying a memory foam/polyester blend pillow. These pillows are more flexible than pure memory foam, allowing you to get more use out of them.

Your posture changes in certain situations, so it’s important to find a pillow that can adapt to your sleeping position, sitting posture, or neutral position.

Buying a flexible support pillow can meet your needs while providing everlasting comfort.

Versatility

Since you’re not going to be in the same place all day, every day, it’s important to find a lumbar pillow that’s versatile enough to fit your needs.

You might need an option that can serve as a pillow insert, lumbar support for your office chair, and help with your sleeping position.

Instead of buying three different support pillows, try to find one versatile option to work for you in multiple settings.

Look for a lumbar pillow that is the right shape to fit all of your needs. Will a square pillow work better for you in most situations or a round pillow? How about a long pillow that you can fold the ends to wrap around you?

The shape can make a huge difference and help meet multiple needs instead of just being useful in one scenario.

Buying a versatile support pillow doesn’t mean that you have to carry it around with you everywhere you go. You might still want to keep one at your office and one at home, but it’s always best to buy something that you can get more use out of.

Another reason it’s great to have a versatile lumbar pillow is to help households with more than one person who experiences neck pain or lower back pain.

Having one pillow that multiple family members can share saves money and space on your couch or bed. Saving space and money can come in handy if you have multiple kids or pets that like to pile on the couch or the bed.

Breathable Covers

Finding the right pillow cover can make a huge difference in how much you love your lumbar pillow.

It’s important to have a breathable cover, especially if you use the pillow at night to help with your sleeping position.

Breathable covers keep you and the pillow cool, and they’re typically lightweight, making them comfortable and soft to the touch.

Not all support pillows come with a breathable cover, so you may have to shop around to find the perfect removable cover that will work best for you.

When you’re shopping for a pillow cover, consider the weight or thickness of the cover. You’ll want something breathable and lightweight to help keep you cool and allow the pillow to remain as flexible and versatile as possible.

Also, consider getting a scented pillow cover. It may sound unnecessary, but pillow covers with a slight lavender scent help you fall asleep and stay asleep, making them great if you use your lumbar pillow at night.

Finally, make sure that you find a washable pillow cover. There are tons of beautiful options out there that may perfectly match your style, but if they’re not washable, they won’t last as long.

Finding a washable pillow cover will extend the length of the cover itself and even help extend the pillow’s lifespan as well.

You won’t have to worry about spills, accidents, or pet hair which gives you one less thing to worry about.

Lumbar Pillow Covers We Like

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How Often Should You Wash Your Lumbar Pillow Cover?

How often you use your lumbar pillow will determine how often it needs to be washed. If it’s a pillow you sleep with nightly, you’ll want to wash it weekly.

This might seem excessive or unnecessary, but when you sleep, your body releases oils that mix with dead skin cells and dirt, resulting in a much dirtier pillow cover than you may think.

If you’re using your lumbar pillow in an office or on the couch, you only need to wash the cover every two to three weeks.

You may even have a lumbar pillow that you only use a few times a week, and in that case, you may be able to wait four to five weeks between washes.

It all depends on where and how often it gets used, but you want to make sure you’re keeping the cover clean.

A good idea is to have more than one pillow cover, which allows you to keep using your support pillow even if one of the covers is in the wash. You won’t miss a beat if you have more than one cover.

Size

When you’re considering which lumbar pillow is best for you, consider the size. The size of a pillow will determine where you can use it and what it may help you with.

If you have trouble sleeping due to a neck injury or lower back injury, you’ll probably want to invest in an extra-long lumbar pillow, which will help you sleep comfortably. An extra-large support pillow will be great for relaxing on the couch or when you’re sleeping.

Small square support pillows will be great for an office chair if you need help with your posture or have low back pain.

These small pillows will fit in your office chair and feel good on your back. They can help your posture without making you feel uncomfortable or feel like you’re getting pushed out of your chair.

You might want to consider mid-size lumbar pillows for long car rides or sitting on the couch. The mid-size pillows may end up being a versatile and flexible option for you, considering your needs.

In addition to the size of the pillow, the shape makes a difference as well. You’ll want to consider shape when you’re trying to find the right size for your needs.

A large square pillow may not give you the full-body support that a large rectangular (long) support pillow could provide you.

Conversely, a small rectangular pillow may not give you the full support that a small square pillow could provide your lower back.

Look at Reviews

Never underestimate the power of honest reviews! This might take a little digging, but it’s worth finding out how real people have experienced the lumbar pillow that you’re considering purchasing.

Try finding the pillows on external sites such as Amazon because the reviews are unfiltered, meaning you’ll get honest opinions.

Many companies will post five-star reviews on their home page or website but intentionally leave off negative reviews. While this is a great marketing strategy, it doesn’t give you the full picture before buying.

Using Amazon or Yelp will give you real reviews that often point out the negatives of a product. It may have an issue that could be a deal breaker for you, and it would be great to know that before buying.

You’ll have to be careful here because someone will have something negative to say no matter what product you’re considering. Here, you’re looking for real issues with the product or material that could lead you to regret your purchase.

A small tip for looking at product reviews on Amazon is their search bar under the reviews. If you want reviews on the material quality, you can search for that specifically, and they will bring up reviews regarding the material quality.

It might end up saving you time and send you right to the reviews that you need.

Lumbar Pillows We Love

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Try Them in a Store

Shopping in a store, as opposed to online, has many advantages. Although it’s not quite as convenient, it does allow you to see and feel what you’re getting.

Seeing and feeling a lumbar support pillow in person may make or break your purchase. Buying online is great, but you can’t actually test out the product first, so you’ll have no idea how the pillow feels.

If you’re buying in a store, you’ll have the ability to compare pillows side by side and feel the difference between them. You may be looking at a firm pillow online, only to realize that it’s not a comfortable fit for your needs once you try it in a store.

You might believe you want a memory foam support pillow, and then you try a polyester blend in a store and realize you like that one better.

Buying in a store also gives you a much better idea of the size of each pillow. Unless you have a measuring tape ready, the dimensions you see online don’t mean too much, and you’ll have to go off the pictures on the website.

You can see if the pillow size will work for your specific needs when you’re actually in the store.

Yes, you’ll have to spend more time shopping by driving to a store, picking out pillows you might like, and trying them out. However, this could save you time from returning or exchanging the lumbar pillow you bought online for a different type.

The best part about buying in a store is having an expert to help with your decision. Whether you’ve done some preliminary homework or not, going to a mattress store or department store with knowledgeable staff members can help with your decision.

You might be stuck on a decision between two similar pillows, and the staff member might recommend their favorite. Not only will you get help with your decision, but many stores also offer a warranty on their products.

Buying from a certified store may get you the same pillow you were looking at online for the same price, and it’ll come with a warranty. You won’t have to worry about unforeseen circumstances or bringing it home and hating it.

Lifespan of Lumbar Support Pillows

The lifespan of your lumbar support pillow will depend on the type of material it’s made from. Different materials have different lifespans and are something to consider when buying a support pillow.

Memory foam and latex pillows generally have the longest lifespans. The durable material can hold up after repeated wear and tear, making them a good option if you need a long-term solution. These pillows typically last two to four years with normal use.

The memory foam and latex pillows are generally more expensive upfront but could save you money over time because you won’t have to replace them as often.

Pure polyester pillows have the shortest lifespan, typically lasting anywhere from six months to two years at the most. You’ll get a longer lifespan out of the pillow if you use it sparingly and keep a protective pillow cover on it.

The less expensive polyester pillows may be a good option for you if you’re only in need of a short-term lumbar support pillow. If you don’t need it for more than two years, it might be best to save some money upfront and try out a polyester pillow.

How To Increase the Lifespan of Your Lumbar Pillow

If you’re looking to increase the lifespan of your lumbar support pillow, there are a few things that can help you.

Keep a protective pillow cover on at all times, and wash it regularly. Keeping the cover clean will help keep your pillow clean.

Use it correctly and according to the instructions. Specific support pillows for the car or an office chair may have direct instructions that will allow you to get the most out of the lifespan.

Keeping the pillow itself clean and in the right position will allow you to get the most out of your use and prevent you from buying a new pillow every year.