Have you ever woken up feeling even more sore than when you went to bed? It’s pretty common, especially when we’re talking about the lower body. Low back pain, hip pain, sciatic pain, knee pain, ankle pain… all of it can ruin your sleep and make your daily activities pretty miserable.
Luckily, knee pillows exist. They’re incredibly affordable, super easy to use, and they can help your entire lower body feel better. Most of them are pretty small, too, so you can take them with you when you travel.
If you think a knee pillow is the thing you need to feel better, we’d love to help you find your perfect match. Knee pillows will vary in price, size, shape, material, and so much more. We strongly encourage you to think about every feature before you choose which one you want to buy. They all matter, after all. More than you’d think.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best knee pillows in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
The Best Knee Pillows Right Now
Our Top Pick for The Best Knee Pillow
Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow Review
What We Think of the Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow
The Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow has a lot of features working in its favour. The thing we like most about it is the leg strap. Not only do we like that it has a leg strap, but it’s also adjustable so you can get a more secure fit. Plus, you can remove it entirely if it’s just an annoyance instead of being helpful. You can use this pillow on your thigh or calf to keep your spine aligned all night long.
One of the other features we love is the breathable fabrics. Both the memory foam pillow and the soft cover are exceptionally breathable—there’s no risk of overheating even if use it all night long. This pillow comes with a surprise, too. If you choose this one, you’ll get two pairs of memory foam earplugs to go with it. Yay for cancelling noise, right? A lifetime warranty means you’ll never need another knee pillow again.
We’ve only got one complaint to share with you about this option. Because of its deep wedge shape, it isn’t going to fit every leg shape and size. If you have wider legs, you’ll probably find that it digs in and doesn’t feel as supportive as it should be. We’d prefer a shallower wedge that fits every leg perfectly, but we guess we can’t get everything.
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow
Reviewers have a pretty high opinion of the Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow. People with heavier/wider legs didn’t find it was a comfortable fit, but that’s pretty standard feedback for a wedge shape. Most people get a lot of relief for their back or hip pain after using this pillow for a little while, and it’s as breathable as advertised. The earplugs were a big hit.
Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow Specifications
Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow Pros and Cons
Pros:
Leg strap can be adjusted or removed entirely if you don’t want to use it
Can be used at the thigh and calf
Breathable memory foam and cover help regulate your temperature
Comes with two sets of memory foam earplugs
Cons:
Our Final Thoughts on the Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, the Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow is our top overall pick for Canadians this year. We would prefer it to have a more inclusive shape, but you can’t deny the value of the breathable materials or the reliable support. You’ll even get some earplugs. How nice is that?
Our Upgrade Pick
Orthex Symbia3 Knee/Ankle Posture Cushion Review
What We Think of the Orthex Symbia3 Knee/Ankle Posture Cushion
The Orthex Symbia3 Knee/Ankle Posture Cushion is a stellar option if you’re looking to add some support to your lower leg. This pillow is long enough (at 22”) to provide support for your knee all the way down to your ankle. Of course, the exact coverage will depend on your height, but you get the point. Its shallow wedge shape will suit every leg size, so that won’t be a concern.
We really like that this pillow is made of thermoregulating memory foam. It does a great job of keeping your body at a good temperature—it won’t leech heat from your body or cause you to sweat. Thank goodness. It’s surrounded by an ultra-soft coconut shell that’s also really durable. And it can even be washed and dried in your machines. Hello, convenience.
Considering this is our upgrade pick, you likely won’t be surprised to find out that we don’t have many bad things to say about it. We would prefer that it wasn’t so expensive and that it was a bit more travel-friendly, but we really can’t deny the value it brings to the table. Or your bed, rather.
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Orthex Symbia3 Knee/Ankle Posture Cushion
Reviewers have a very high opinion of the Orthex Symbia3 Knee/Ankle Posture Cushion. It’s impossible to position incorrectly, which they love, and many of them find it more comfortable than smaller pillows that only provide support in one specific area. They really like the texture of the coconut shell, too.
Orthex Symbia3 Knee/Ankle Posture Cushion Pros and Cons
Pros:
Can support the entire lower leg at the same time
Has a very shallow wedge shape to suit every leg size and shape
Coconut shell/cover is incredibly soft and durable
Thermoregulating foam helps maintain a comfortable temperature while you sleep
Cons:
Our Final Thoughts on the Orthex Symbia3 Knee/Ankle Posture Cushion
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall, the Orthex Symbia3 Knee/Ankle Posture Cushion is an amazing choice for pretty much anybody. You will have to spend a little extra and make some sacrifices when it comes to portability, but it’s the highest-quality and most effective knee pillow money can buy.
Our Budget Pick
Sports Medica Knee Pillow Review
What We Think of the Sports Medica Knee Pillow
The Sports Medica Knee Pillow is surprisingly excellent considering how inexpensive it is. It’s one of the most versatile knee pillows you can buy, actually. It’s fairly compact (so it’s great to travel with) and you can use it at five different places on your body—it can support your head, thigh, knee, calf, or ankle. You’ll get an e-book to help you figure out the best way to use it!
A lot of wedge pillows don’t come with a leg strap, but this one does. And we love that for you because it means you can switch sides or shimmy around without losing your support. The removable cover is also incredibly soft on your skin, so it won’t become irritating when you’ve been using it for hours.
When it comes to low points for this pillow, we don’t have many. Due to its shape, it’s a tricky bugger to get back into the cover after you wash it. The wedge shape is also not super inclusive of different leg sizes, so depending on your body shape, you might not be able to use it comfortably at all five possible body positions.
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Sports Medica Knee Pillow
Reviewers really like the Sports Medica Knee Pillow. They’ve used it for back pain, surgery recovery, and as a way to get better sleep. They love the leg strap a lot since it helps keep the pillow in position, and they also love that it doesn’t take up too much space in the bed. It isn’t a perfect fit for everybody, but they’re really happy with it overall. They just wish it was easier to get back in the cover after they wash it.
Sports Medica Knee Pillow Specifications
Sports Medica Knee Pillow Pros and Cons
Pros:
Can be used as a pillow or at the thigh, knee, calf, or ankle
Cover is incredibly soft on skin
Comes with an e-book written by medical professionals to explain proper use
Leg strap lets you turn over and shift around without knocking the pillow out of position
Cons:
Our Final Thoughts on the Sports Medica Knee Pillow
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Overall, the Sports Medica Knee Pillow is an amazing option for just about everybody. The wedge shape isn’t as inclusive of leg sizes as other shapes, but it’s one of the best wedge pillows money can buy. And you won’t need to spend very much to find that out for yourself.
Our Triangular Pick
Saheyer Knee Pillow Review
What We Think of the Saheyer Knee Pillow
We like the Saheyer Knee Pillow quite a bit. It’s certainly the best triangle/heart-shaped option you’ll find right now. One of the things we love most about it is how versatile it is. It can be placed at your thigh, knee, or calf to give you support where you need it most, and it’s a super travel-friendly size too. Car rides, plane roads, and couch lounging can all be a lot more comfortable with this pillow.
It has one of the most ergonomic shapes of all knee pillows out there, so it will adapt well to every body shape and size. It has a leg strap to keep it in place all night long, so you won’t wake up to find it’s made its way to the floor overnight. The hollow center is a great addition to the design—it helps ventilate and keep your body cool.
We only have a couple of minor things to warn you about before we move on. First of all, this pillow is pretty thick, so depending on your body shape, it might feel a bit too bulky or cumbersome to be comfortable. Also, the removable cover is prone to pilling. This texture bothers us, so it’s something we had to point out.
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Saheyer Knee Pillow
Reviewers have great things to say about the Saheyer Knee Pillow. They really like how well it conforms to their legs and pelvis—it gives solid support without interfering with their sleep. Since it’s pretty compact, they have an easy time switching sides or shifting around without moving the pillow. Some people don’t love how thick it is, but that’s really the only complaint popping up.
Saheyer Knee Pillow Specifications
Saheyer Knee Pillow Pros and Cons
Pros:
Heart shape means it’s compact and easy to travel with
Leg strap keeps it in place even with some shifting around at night
Hollow center helps breathability
Can be used for thigh, knee, or calf support
Cons:
Our Final Thoughts on the Saheyer Knee Pillow
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
All in all, the Saheyer Knee Pillow would make a wonderful addition to your sleep setup. Of course, it won’t be a perfect match for everybody, but with a stretchy leg strap, ergonomic shape, and breathable design, it comes pretty close.
Also Great
Comforever Knee Pillow Review
What We Think of the Comforever Knee Pillow
The Comforever Knee Pillow is a pretty unique option, and it’s unique in a way that makes it perfect for back sleepers. Side sleepers can use it too, of course, and you can even use it sitting up in bed or on the couch if you want to. And it’s all thanks to its “W” shape. You can place it between your legs, under your knee(s), under your ankle(s), or even under your thighs when sleeping on your stomach.
We really love the rounded edges on this one—if you do need to shift the pillow around or pull it out every morning, it won’t get as caught on the blankets as square edges do. Since it’s made from high-density memory foam, it won’t lose its shape over time, and the removal cover does a great job of keeping things clean. You can even throw it in the washing machine.
There aren’t any glaring errors in the design of this option, which we’re thankful for. You probably are, too. However, we do want to warn you that it isn’t a great option for all side sleepers—it might not be as effective or comfortable as a smaller shape would. Also, since it’s so bulky, you’d better hope you don’t want to switch your sleeping position. Ever.
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Comforever Knee Pillow
Reviewers have mostly good things to say about the Comforever Knee Pillow. Back sleepers especially love it. They’ve used it to relieve back pain and ankle pain, and they find it incredibly comfortable. Side sleepers don’t have as much success with this one, though. And since it’s pretty large, it’s almost impossible to move around at night.
Comforever Knee Pillow Specifications
Comforever Knee Pillow Pros and Cons
Pros:
Ergonomic “W” shape is amazing for back sleepers and different body types
High-density memory foam doesn’t lose its firmness/shape over time
Can be used at the ankle, calf, knee, or thigh
Rounded edges don’t get as stuck in blankets
Cons:
Our Final Thoughts on the Comforever Knee Pillow
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall, the Comforever Knee Pillow is a really great option for back sleepers. Some side sleepers love it too, but it’s really going to depend on your body shape and personal preferences. We love it most for its removable cover and versatility. It’s a solid option.
How to Properly Choose Your Knee Pillow
Price
Almost every knee pillow can be purchased for less than $50. No matter what shape you prefer, this accessible price is a guarantee. However, there are some options that cost more than double the price of the average knee pillow. Those options will typically be larger and will have more sophisticated material compositions.
Size
Once people get used to sleeping with a knee pillow, it’s usually hard to go without. That’s why the size of your knee pillow matters. If you’ll be travelling a lot, you’ll want it to be portable so you won’t have to leave it behind. Another thing to keep in mind is how much space it will take up in the bed. Especially if you’re sleeping with a partner and need to share the space.
Shape
Knee pillows come in many different shapes. Some of them are simple rectangles with shallow depressions to contour around legs, some are deep wedges, and some are more triangular/heart-shaped. You can even find some that are shaped like a “W” that can support two legs at once while sleeping on your back. Every individual will have a different preference for the shape of their knee pillow.
Washable Cover
Most knee pillows will come with a washable cover, and this is essential for hygiene—you will be sleeping with it every night, after all. The material of the cover will also vary from model to model, so if you have any sensory issues or preferences, you’ll want to pay attention to that as well.
Leg Strap
Many knee pillows have leg straps to help keep the pillow in place at night. It isn’t a guaranteed feature, though, and some leg straps will be more inclusive than others (stretchy or adjustable to suit different leg sizes).
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
