Updated November 2026. Tontine makes every pillow named in this guide. We compare our own range only, and every detail comes from each product's page.
Two pillows of the same height can feel completely different because of what is inside them. The fill decides how the pillow moves with you, how warm it sleeps and how you look after it. This guide compares the five fills in Tontine's range so you can pick the right one, then choose height and firmness for the way you sleep.
How we compared the fills
We grouped Tontine's current pillows by their main fill and compared them on five things you notice in bed: how the pillow feels, whether it keeps its shape, how warm it sleeps, how you care for it and who it suits. Each fill also gets an honest "not ideal if" line, because no single fill suits everyone.
Pillow fills at a glance
| Fill | How it feels | Shape | Care at home | Not ideal if you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory foam | Sinks slowly and moulds to your head and neck | Holds one steady shape | Removable, machine washable cover on Tontine's foam pillows | like to fold or bunch your pillow |
| Talalay latex | Springy, responsive and quick to bounce back | Holds its shape | Removable, machine washable outer cover | want a pillow you can squash flat |
| Fibre (Ultrafibre® and polyester) | Light, from soft and low to high and firm | Holds well with daily plumping | Most are machine washable | want one exact shape all night without plumping |
| Feather and down | Soft, mouldable and plush | Moves with you, needs plumping | Tontine's feather pillows are machine washable | need firm, unchanging height |
| Wool surround | Natural fibre around a supportive core | Holds well | Follow the care label supplied with the pillow | want a very soft, sink-in feel |
Memory foam pillows
Memory foam softens with the warmth and weight of your head, then holds that shape, so your neck rests on one consistent surface all night. It suits back sleepers and side sleepers who like steady, contouring support. Tontine's foam pillows use different covers to manage heat:
- Comfortech Medium Profile Memory Foam Pillow: a memory foam core in a breathable mesh cover, in a standard pillow shape that fits everyday pillowcases.
- Comfortech Gel Infused Medium Firm Memory Foam Pillow: AirCell® memory foam infused with cooling gel, with a mesh cover for airflow.
- Comfortech Coolmax Medium Profile Memory Foam Pillow: a Coolmax® moisture-wicking cover that helps manage perspiration.
- Comfortech Medium Firm Bamboo Cover Memory Foam Pillow: medium height with a firmer feel and a bamboo cover.
- Comfortech Cooling Support Medium Profile Memory Foam Pillow: a contouring memory foam layer with a gel-infused foam surround and polyester filling, designed with back sleepers in mind.
Not ideal if: you like to scrunch your pillow into a new shape, or you dislike a slow, sinking feel when you first lie down. See all memory foam pillows.
Latex pillows
Latex gives contouring support like foam but pushes back faster, so the pillow follows you when you turn instead of holding an imprint. The Comfortech Talalay Latex Pillow has an open-cell Talalay latex core that lets air move through it, a medium height that suits a wide range of sleepers, and two covers: a breathable natural cotton outer cover over a polyester inner cover. It measures 60 x 40 cm, and the outer cover comes off for machine washing.
Not ideal if: you prefer a pillow you can squash flat or fold, or you want the slow, hugging feel of memory foam.
Fibre pillows
Most Tontine pillows are filled with polyester fibre such as Tontine's Ultrafibre®. Fibre is the most flexible choice because it comes in every height and feel, from low and soft to high and firm, and most fibre pillows go straight in the washing machine. A quick plump each morning restores the loft.
- Low and soft, for stomach sleepers: Classic Comfort Allergy Sensitive Soft Pillow (low profile, premium cotton cover).
- Medium, for most back sleepers: Quick Dry Easy Wash Anti-Allergy Medium Pillows 2 Pack, with anti-allergy protection and quick-dry technology for frequent washing.
- High and firm, for side sleepers: Luxurious Support Anti-Allergy High & Firm Pillow (Ultrafibre® filling, natural cotton cover).
Not ideal if: you want a pillow that keeps one exact shape all night without plumping. Browse by position: side sleeper pillows, back sleeper pillows or soft and low pillows.
Feather and down pillows
Feather and down pillows are soft and mouldable: you can push the fill where you want it, under your neck or around your head. Down adds softness and loft, while feather adds body and support.
- Good Night Soft Feather Medium Support Pillow: soft feather fill in a smooth microfibre cover, with twin needle stitching to help it keep its shape. Machine washable.
- 50/50 Feather & Down Surround Pillow: a supportive feather core inside a surround of 50% white duck down and 50% white feather, with a breathable cotton cover and a medium profile. Machine washable.
Not ideal if: you need firm height that stays put all night, you would rather not plump your pillow, or you prefer a fill that is not from animals. See all feather and down pillows.
Wool surround pillows
A wool surround wraps natural wool around a lofty polyester core, so you get the breathability of wool with the support and resilience of fibre underneath.
- Washable Wool Surround Medium Pillow: a wool surround over a lofty polyester core, a breathable cotton cover and anti-microbial protection, in a medium profile.
- Classic Comfort Wool & Bamboo Surround Pillow: wool on one side for warmth and bamboo fibre on the other to help manage moisture, so you can flip it with the seasons. Medium firm, with a soft cotton cover.
For washing and drying, follow the care label supplied with the pillow. Not ideal if: you want a very soft pillow you sink deep into. See all wool pillows.
Which fill suits your sleeping position?
| You sleep on your | Height to look for | Fills that work well |
|---|---|---|
| Side | High, firm | High and firm fibre, or a firm memory foam pillow |
| Back | Medium | Memory foam, Talalay latex, medium fibre or a feather and down surround |
| Stomach | Low, soft | Low and soft fibre, or a soft feather pillow |
| Mixed, you change position | Medium | Talalay latex or fibre, which adjust quickly as you turn |
For specific picks by sleeper, see the best pillows in Australia by sleep position. If you sleep hot, start with the cooling pillows range, where the cover does much of the work.
Frequently asked questions
Which filling is best for a pillow?
No single filling is best for everyone. Memory foam and latex suit people who want steady support that keeps its shape, fibre suits anyone who wants an easy-care pillow in a choice of heights, and feather and down suits sleepers who like to shape a soft pillow. Choose the fill for the feel you like, then the height for how you sleep.
Is latex or memory foam better for a pillow?
It depends on how you like a pillow to move. Memory foam sinks slowly and cradles your head in one position, while Talalay latex is springier, bounces back as soon as you shift and lets more air through its open-cell structure. If you change position often, latex usually feels easier; if you lie still, memory foam feels more cradling.
What are the downsides of feather pillows?
Feather pillows move with you, so they lose height through the night and need plumping to restore their loft. They are not the best choice if you need firm, consistent height, such as a side sleeper with broad shoulders. A feather core inside a down surround gives more body than an all-feather pillow.
Can you wash a memory foam pillow?
Tontine's memory foam pillows have removable covers that go in the washing machine, which keeps the pillow fresh. For the foam itself, follow the care label supplied with the pillow. Using a pillow protector as well helps keep the pillow clean between washes.
What is a surround pillow?
A surround pillow has a supportive inner core wrapped in a softer outer layer. Tontine's surround pillows pair a feather or polyester core with an outer layer of down blend, wool or bamboo fibre, so you get support underneath and a softer, more breathable layer where your head rests.
Shop: All pillows | Memory foam pillows | Feather and down pillows | Wool pillows | Cooling pillows
