When seeking the best pillows for gaming, you might notice there are quite a few rather low-quality looking products.
Why settle for something subpar though? You want to pamper yourself during all those hours of playing. We've handpicked 4 gaming backrests for bed of proven excellence.
The UGC team believes the LinenSpa Pillow to be the top choice based on ergonomics, price and a fantastic 3-year warranty.
This pillow's ultra-soft and multi-purpose design might not be enough for you, though. This is why we've included a few other picks for the best pillows for gaming in bed.
Important: Usually, these products ship fully deflated. Give the foam within them 1-3 days (depending on brand) to expand fully!
Best Value
LinenSpa Shredded Foam Bed Pillow
Great for casual gaming.
The pioneer in shredded foam construction.
Unmatched 3-year warranty for its affordable price.
Extra Wide
Milliard Double Pillow For Games & Reading
Convenient extra space.
Easily accommodates even two adults.
Features two neat cupholders for refreshment time.
Premium Feel
BedLounge Hypoallergenic Pillow
A pampering experience.
Specifically designed by researchers in ergonomics.
Fully manufactured in the USA.
It’s estimated that we’ll spend up to one-fourth of our entire lives on a pillow resting our heads when awake. Whether it’s sleeping or relaxing, reading or gaming, that's quite a bit of hours spent in a specific position.
Obviously this calls for a quality product that will make the experience as comfortable as possible.
A pillow for gaming in your bed (or for reading) isn't something new. Manufacturing advancements, however, have allowed new models to emerge. They feature better quality, more cushioning, and even perks like cupholders in armrest sections.
What’s the purpose of these gaming pillows? Why would you bother getting a product designed like this?
Well, normal pillows are less than ideal for neck support when standing more upright. They don't have a proper backrest, neither do they feature an extended armrest section to keep your arms comfortable during gaming sessions.
We'll discuss the benefits a bit later. Let's first head on to the products we can wholeheartedly recommend.
1
Overall best gaming pillow with backrest:
LinenSpa Shredded Foam
LinenSpa has been a top selling pillow for a few years and it's easy to see why. The brand was one of the first to popularize the use of proper shredded memory foam. This is the secret ingredient behind soft, responsive pillows for gaming in bed.
The shredded foam compresses well (not as soft as single memory foam pads) and reverts back to shape quicker.
There's one very distinctive feature about this cushion: the high quality velour cover. Fluffy and plushy, it's a step above any similarly priced gaming wedge. The drawback is that you can't machine wash it, unlike the jersey cover of the Milliard we'll discuss later.
Spot cleaning isn't exactly rocket science, though. And a bed gaming pillow doesn't get dirty too quickly in normal situations, so we don't think it's that much of an inconvenience.
Unlike some other brands, LinenSpa has designed this pillow in three variations:
- Standard size: Great for smaller adults, or as a bed gaming pillow for kids/teens.
- Extra-large: For those who need some more room or want to spread their arms a bit.
- Extra-large with neck support (check it here): The neck support is actually removable.
There's a carry handle on the top. Sure, you can use it to move the pillow from your bedroom to your living room. But there's one hidden perk to this feature: you can use it to grab and shake the gaming backrest. It'll help with readjusting the shredded foam within and keeping it optimally comfy!
Last but not least, you have a fantastic 3-year warranty on this product. Few brands, much more brands at this price range offer such a lengthy guarantee on your purchase. Not surprising then that the LinenSpa gaming pillow has been a bestseller for so long.
2
Best extra wide gaming pillow for bed:
Milliard Reading Pillow
Some people prefer to have it all - and by this we mean all the space. Do you need something wider? Do you prefer to have a gaming pillow for bed ready to accommodate multiplayer adventures with your significant other?
Well, Milliard's product is pretty much unique in this regard. Designed and tested in the US (New Jersey, to be exact) it provides just enough space for two adult gamers to feel comfortable to the maximum.
It's not just the size, either. This gaming cushion for bed features high quality shredded memory foam for improved response to the curves of your neck or back. To top it off, the foam is wrapped in an elegant jersey cover.
The jersey factor might seem small, but it actually matters a lot. It's exactly this extra step that allows for cool comfort and a breathable reading or gaming experience in your bed.
Wondering what the small holes are for?
Those two actually are neatly designed cupholders! As a result, the Milliard gaming backrest for bed will not only keep your arms comfy. It'll also provide space for much needed refreshments during your video game sessions.
With so much praise centered on the materials, you might wonder how's the maintenance looking.
Relax, the jersey cover is fully machine washable. You can also easily remove it via the little zipper.
If you travel often, you'd be glad to hear that there's a built-in carry handle. One more score for convenience here.
All in all, a fantastic addition to the world of pillows for gaming in bed. The Milliard pillow is a rather new product and it shows. A piece of coziness, updated to the needs of the post-Covid 19 gamer or reader who wants additional comfort and space to enjoy home.
3
Luxury support pillow for bed gamers:
BedLounge Hypoallergenic Wedge
When it comes to actually pampering yourself with a premium pillow for gamers, BedLounge is on top of the list. Not only are you getting a product actually developed by researchers in the ergonomics department; you also get something fully manufactured in the US.
First things first: what's inside is high quality traditional foam. It's blended with synthetic soft fibers to ensure luxury-grade coziness. The hypoallergenic part comes with the 100% cotton cover which is also machine washable.
There are several very important standout features about this we'd like to mention gaming pillow for couch or bed.
To start off, the headrest here is both extendable and rotation-ready. You can extend it for up to 12", and the rotating angle is a full 90°. Both of these features can't be found at lower priced gaming cushions. If you value adjustability, this is the top choice.
Continuing with the improved support, this gamer bed pillow has armrests pivoting both outward or inward, depending on your preference. Not only this, but you have a storage pocket on each armrest. You can put accessories such as your glasses, a remote or even a smaller game controller there.
Last but not least, there is a lifetime warranty on the inner frame.
All in all, the BedLounge Hypoallergenic is limousine-levels of luxury among bed gaming pillows. Admittedly, the arms here are slightly stiffer than some of the other backrest pillows for gamers we listed earlier on.
4
Classic-style pillow for gaming in bed:
Deluxe Comfort
The Deluxe Comfort is a typical, classic-styled gaming backrest pillow. It's similar to many other cheaper products, with one distinctive benefit: the abundance of color designs. There are overall 10 colors you can pick from, all of them coming in soft, fluffy microsuede fabric.
Much like LinenSpa's pillow, you need to spot wash the Deluxe Comfort. Just use a damp cloth to keep the dirt away. You can easily remove the cover through the zipper lined across the backrest.
Going further in our review, we'd like to mention that this gaming pillow for arms doesn't really excel anywhere. It just does the job well on a budget.
An example would be the filling: don't expect high-grade memory foam goodness here. The gaming cushion is soft and cozy, but it isn't as responsive to body contours as other products listed beforehand.
On the other hand, though, you get pockets on the armrest much like the more expensive BedLounge. The pockets are somewhat tinier, but you can still fit stuff like a remote control, smaller smartphones or a pair of headphones.
Small or not, the pockets are also double-stitched - as is the whole pillow for gaming in bed. This reinforced upholstery threading ensures better durability, and that's something we like a lot here.
The bottom line? The Deluxe Comfort gamer pillow is an acceptable alternative to LinenSpa's product. Its arms have pockets, but they're slightly less ergonomic (shorter) than its competitor.
We miss the shredded foam ensuring better material response to the movement of your neck or back. And there isn't a neat 3-year warranty.
As a budget pick, though, it sure makes for an attractive purchase. The diverse color options, double-stitching and soft microsuede are all powerful factors to take in consideration.
5 main benefits of using a pillow while gaming
- The best pillows for gaming have better texture used which allows for improved airflow. In turn, this airflow allows the exterior of the pillow to stay more durable and last longer as well.
- Traditionally for gaming, you have to be sitting at a computer desk or sitting ground level so that you can see what’s happening on the screen in front of you.
For some, it’s highly impractical to keep your neck held up for an extended period of time while laying down. Most people don’t have screens directly above them on the ceiling - this is where the gaming pillow comes in. - Some of the health benefits of these best pillows for gaming include proper neck support, which will also extend support all the way down through your spine as well.
Have you ever tried to play your favorite game while you were uncomfortable? You probably performed less than optimally. A decent gaming backrest for bed would help immensely in improving yourexperience. - These pillows can be moved around with ease. Better manufactured cushions for bed come with a handle on the top of them. If you have a console hooked up to a TV in one room, but another device you want to play elsewhere, you can easily move the gaming backrest from bed to sofa or vice versa.
- Arm supports that come with the best pillows for gaming allow you to comfortably rest your arms so hanging in the air. Some of them might even feature cupholders near the arm/elbow area for extra convenience during gaming sessions.
Benefits of using these as reading pillows
- Much like the best pillows for gaming above, the best pillows for reading relieve the strain that a normal pillow would put on your back and neck. This is important because long-term side effects of a neck that isn’t properly seated can lead up to chronic pain which isn’t fun.
- A reading pillow that’s properly placed can alleviate any stress you have and actually help better regulate breathing. When your body is properly relaxed, it’s easier to take in the story you’re reading and get better enjoyment out of your activity.
- If you need a cheap gift for a student or someone who reads a lot, these best pillows for reading are relatively inexpensive as they’re quite simple in function. Their main purpose is to serve as a pillow or a backrest while you read, so they’re usually quite cheap.
- The best pillows for reading will prevent strain from holding a book for a prolonged period of time. When you’re holding a book without a reading pillow, your arms, elbows and other joints involved when holding up a book will become strained after quite some time.
Conclusion
We wanted to make sure that you, our readers, were comfortable. Hence, the UGC team has compiled 4 options for the best high quality, yet affordable pillows for reading and gaming.
It really boils down to your personal preferences among those four products. Rest assured, though, that all of them will serve as a great backrest for bed while gaming. All of them also are manufactured with ergonomic, durable materials that both provide cushioning and should last long enough with reasonable use.
If you have used another brand, do let us know in the comments. We try to update our list as often as possible, considering how home office has become a standard for many avid gamers.
In case you prefer a classic gaming chair, check out our list of the most ergonomic chairs currently. Or, if you're interested in improving your posture when sitting in a standard gaming chair, check out our guide on how to sit in one.
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