Laying your head down on a comfortable, supportive pillow shouldn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. DreamNorth offers not one, but two Premium Gel Pillows for an unbeatable price. Of course, when it comes to getting a restful night’s sleep, price isn’t everything. Read on for our verdict on this pillow’s performance, material, texture, and more.
Material: Animal-friendly and chemical-free
DreamNorth’s Premium Gel Pillows come nicely packaged, with each pillow tightly rolled into a cylindrical shape that’s wrapped in airtight plastic and tucked inside a zippered bag. While you may be eager to test out your new pillows right away, the company recommends unwrapping them and letting them sit out for at least 30 minutes to expand to their full form. We followed the instructions and noticed that our pillows did grow noticeably fuller and fluffier after the waiting period, as promised. These pillows are made of poly gel-filled fiber that successfully mimics the softness of real down, making them suitable for people who are allergic to down as well as those who object to pillows made with animal products. All of the materials are allergen- and chemical-free, which also makes them ideal for people with sensitive skin, allergies, asthma, and other respiratory difficulties. The white pillowcase is made of breathable, 100 percent cotton and has a striped design and subtle sheen for a polished, clean look. But much like a book, a pillow can’t be judged strictly by its cover. Comfort and support are what really counts when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. Fans of the DreamNorth pillow have raved that it feels like sleeping on a cloud. As lifelong memory foam pillow sleepers, we were very interested to see if spending the night with this pillow would be as heavenly as described. Unfortunately, it landed us in sleep purgatory instead. We spent the night tossing and turning as we tried to fluff and fold the pillow into a comfortable, supportive shape. But no matter how hard we tried, the pillow ultimately fell flat, leaving our neck unsupported and our heads engulfed in fluff. While we know pillow preference is highly subjective and some sleepers actually like very fluffy or flat pillows, we feel that the pillow doesn’t live up to DreamNorth’s description as “the perfect balance of fluffy and firmness,” or its promise to keep your head and neck aligned with your spine for the most comfortable sleeping position. Given its low price, quality materials, and the highly subjective nature of pillow preference, we don’t want to completely dismiss this pillow set. It still might be a good fit for certain sleepers, or for occasional use in a guest bedroom. We also tried the pillow out on top of our usual memory foam pillow and found that it provided good additional comfort and neck support for reading or watching TV in bed.
Texture: High-quality and hypoallergenic
The cover of this pillow is made of 100 percent cotton, making it very soft, breathable, and dry. We were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the fabric—especially for such a low price. The quality feel of the material suggests that it will hold up well over time and through repeated washes. The poly gel-filled fiber filling helped keep the pillow relatively cool throughout the night, so this pillow would be well suited for those who sleep hot. Since memory foam is notoriously warm, this was a welcome improvement for us.
Washing: Machine washable and durable
Washing your pillow regularly is as important as washing the rest of your bedding. Though it may seem like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming—and these pillows are proof of that. DreamNorth gel pillows are machine washable in cold water. We followed the instructions to wash the pillows separately and tumble dry on low heat. We also added clean tennis balls to the dryer based on recommendations from other pillow companies. The pillows were easy to clean and washed well, essentially maintaining their shape and polished appearance. DreamNorth notes that you can also leave the pillows out in the sun as a natural disinfectant but we didn’t try this method.
Price: A decent value
While we weren’t huge fans of these pillows, we did find them to be better than expected for the low, $35 price tag. They do offer a good value to sleepers on a budget or those looking to fill a guest bedroom.
Competition: Premium down vs. affordable down alternative
Original Casper Pillow: If you’re willing to pay up, the $65 Original Casper Pillow is an excellent option. With an innovative pillow-in-pillow design consisting of a supportive inner pillow and fluffy outer pillow, the Casper offers sleepers the best of both worlds: softness and support. We enjoyed several good nights’ sleep with this pillow, and never woke up with any unexpected pain or stress. Parachute Firm Down Pillow: At the admittedly steep price of $129, this premium down pillow costs seven times more than one DreamNorth Premium Gel Pillow and twice as much as the Original Casper Pillow. That said, the Parachute pillow comes through with ultimate comfort and support, and if you ask us, you can’t put a price on a good night’s sleep! If you like flat, super soft pillows, have a limited budget, or are looking to furnish a guest bedroom, these pillows might work for you. But if you plan on using these pillows on a nightly basis and you’re after well-supported sleep, we recommend considering other options.
