Pillow Reviews > Down Alternative / Gel Pillow Reviews
Down Alternative "Gel" Pillows → Reviews, Ratings & Complaints Based 1,800 Actual Owner Experiences
Page last updated January 22, 2012
What You Need To Know
Owner satisfaction: Down alternative "gel" pillows have 83% owner satisfaction.
Price: $10-$50
Pros: Generally soft; reasonably priced; cuddly; moldable.
Cons: May lack adequate support and firmness for some people; questionable longevity; clumping / lumpiness likely as they age; may require regular fluffing.
Competition: See how down alternative pillows compare to other types in the pillow comparison.
Down Alternative Pillow Ratings: As a Group
The ratings below discuss how the pillows overall as a group are evaluated by owners. For information on specific brands, see the section following this one.
| Owner satisfaction | good | With 83% owner satisfaction, down alternative pillows rate slightly above average compared to other pillow types. Owners who like softer rather than firmer pillows are generally most satisfied. |
| Durability / longevity | fair | Expect about a 1-3 year lifespan with regular use in most cases. As the product ages, it will flatten and possibly develop clumps and hollow spots. |
| Price | good | Prices range from $10-$50. Owners on average paid $30 for a pair. Given their low price, fair durability and respectable owner satisfaction, owners say the pillows are a value. |
| Less pain | fair | Pain relief provided by the pillow is about average, with 8% of owners reporting reduced pain, such as neck pain. At least 3% of owners say that the pillow causes pain usually due to lack of support. |
| Supportive | fair | A lack of adequate support is the main complaint about the pillow. 15% of owners want more support. Owners are split as to whether the pillow holds its shape and supportiveness adequately through the night. |
| Moldable | good | Down alternative pillows, especially the softer varieties, are usually moldable and can be scrunched up to provide support. |
| Cuddly | good | A "cuddly" pillow is one that is soft and huggable, as opposed to hard, rigid, stiff and or too heavy. A down alternative pillow's softness helps it to have good ratings on this issue. |
| Contents won't shift / clump | fair | A main complaint about the product. At least 7% of owners report lumpiness, clumpiness. |
| Loft variety | fair | Most down alternative / gel pillows have medium to low loft. While a down alternative pillow may appear to have significant height or loft, owners say that one's head sinks substantially into the pillow. Fluffing may be needed after use to return pillow to its original loft. |
| Back sleep | good | Back sleepers are often pleased, unless there is too much or too little loft. |
| Stomach sleep | fair | Stomach sleepers can be pleased with soft, low-loft down alternative pillows. |
| Side sleep | good | Scrunching of the pillow may be needed to achieve adequate loft for side sleepers. |
| No initial odor | fair | With one or two notable exceptions, complaints about odor are not common. |
| Air flow | good | Owners are usually pleased with how the pillow keeps from getting hot. |
| No noise | fair | Noise can occasionally be an issue. The cover or lining inside may make a crackling noise. |
| Fewer allergies | fair | Down alternative pillows are hypoallergenic but are susceptible to dust mites given their fibrous contents. |
| Ease of use / maintenance | fair | They may need shaking or fluffing to maintain their loft, say owners. They are often machine washable. |
| Lightweight | fair | They are usually about average in weight. |
Down Alternative Pillow Ratings: By Brand
Several down alternative pillows are compared below on factors that can vary at least somewhat from brand to brand. In addition, the chart below evaluates only those pillows for which we could find significant owner experience data; in other words, the chart does not include all down alternative pillows available.
|
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner Satis- faction |
Sample Size | Price / Retailer | Firm-
ness* |
Loft* | Sleeping Positions* | Main Complaints (% of Owners) | Return Policy | |
| 200 Thread Count Gel | 83% | 80 | $10 / Walmart.com | Medium-
Soft |
Medium- Low |
Stomach, perhaps back | Too flat (7%), Too soft (6%) | 90 days |
| Beautyrest | 87% | 41 | $41 for 2 / Overstock.com | Firm-
Medium |
medium | back, side | Lacks support (10%) | 30 days |
| Clustaire | 82% | 276 | $40 / Overstock.com | Soft | Low- Medium |
stomach, back | Lacks support (15%) | 30 days |
| Elementa | 82% | 251 | $34 for 2 / Overstock.com | Medium- Firm |
Medium-High | Side, Perhaps back | Too firm (11%), Too thick (7%), thin (5%) | 30 days |
| Down-Like 500 Thread Count | 83% | 60 | $42 for 2 / Overstock.com | Soft- Medium |
Medium | Back, side, perhaps stomach | Too soft (10%) | 30 days |
Z by Malouf
(Amazon.com) |
79% | 121 | $18 / Amazon.com
|
Medium | Medium | Back, side, perhaps Stomach | Odor (8%), Too narrow (6%), thin (5%) | 30 days |
| Microfiber Quilted | 87% | 34 | $15 standard size / Walmart.com | Medium- Soft |
Medium | Back, stomach, perhaps side | Too thin, (10%, Too soft (9%) | 90 days |
| Premier Down Like | 85% | 1564 | $22 for 2 / Overstock.com | variety offered | medium | side, back, perhaps stomach | lacks support (11%), Noisy (5%), | 30 days |
Pinzon Pyrenees Firm  (Amazon.com)
|
80% | 28 | $40 / Amazon.com | Medium- Firm |
High- Medium |
Side | Too soft (11%) | 30 days |
* This information is what tends to be true in most owner experiences, but not necessarily all. In addition, this information is based on actual owner experiences, not on manufacturer claims which can often be inaccurate.
Description of Lying on a Down Alternative Pillow
Below are the most common words / phrases that owners use to describe lying on their down alternative / gel pillow (in order of more common to less common).
| Cushy / plush |
| Cloud-like |
| Plump |
| Fluffy |
| Squishy |
| Not as soft as down |
| Flexible |
| Contouring |
| Lacks support |
| Too flat |