Coir or coconut fiber is fiber from the husk of coconuts. Among other uses, it is used as a natural bedding material.
Generally, coir is used in the middle and upper layers of mattresses to provide support or responsive softness by adding more or less density of material.
Those that are allergic or sensitive to foam, may find that this all-natural, non-toxic material is a good addition. It is important to note that coir mattresses may also have additives: such as cotton, wool, or foam so it is important to do your research to make sure those materials are safe.
Pros: Eco-Friendly, non-toxic, and all natural bedding.
Cons: Comfort is dependent on the craftmanship and quality of the coir material. Low quality bedding can be quite uncomfortable.
A pillow top is a surface layer of soft material that is stitched and packed into the cover. This provides a soft as a cloud feel to the surface of the mattress.
There are multiple types of pillow tops, though the most popular recently is a memory foam pillow top. A memory foam pillow top has a thin layer of soft memory foam that is stitched into the cover. Though memory foam is a popular material for pillow tops, you can also find them with latex, cotton, cashmere, wool, or goose down/feathers.
Pillow top mattresses generally have spring support systems in the middle of the mattress, though there could be a pillow top on a memory foam mattress as well (it is just not very common).
Pros: A plush feel on the top of the mattress that pillows the body on top of the support layers.
Cons: The pillow top alone will not make a good bed -- the materials used in the pillow top and the rest of the mattress can sag or have issues if they are lower quality.
Overall Score:
Coir: 8.8/10
Pillow Top: 8.9/10
Comfort:
Coir: 8.6/10
Pillow Top: 9/10
Softness:
Coir: 8.5/10
Pillow Top: 9.4/10
Cooling:
Coir: 9.5/10
Pillow Top: 8.2/10
Hypoallergenic:
Coir: 9.5/10
Pillow Top: 8.2/10
Odor:
Coir: 9.5/10
Pillow Top: 8.2/10
General Support:
Coir: 9.5/10
Pillow Top: 8.2/10
Eco-Conscious:
Coir: 9.5/10
Pillow Top: 8.2/10
Price Value:
Coir: 8.6/10
Pillow Top: 8.2/10