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Adrianna Piotrowska

This is the author page on Yawnder's website for Adrianna. It features a list of blog posts and articles written by Adrianna, which cover topics relat... Full Bio

Eli & Elm Ferry Collection Review

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Eli and Elm Ferry Collection

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Eli & Elm Profile

Eli & Elm entered the bedding world in January 2019 with a goal to create high quality bedding for the average sleep enthusiast. Based in New Haven, CT, their name is an homage to Eli Whitney—the inventor of the cotton gin; and Elm City—the home of Whitney before its name was changed to New Haven. Three Connecticut men were inspired by Eli Whitney’s innovation with the plant, so they took to improving the world of cotton bedding, with aspiring dreams to make the bed a better place for sleep. There hasn’t been much innovation in the textile industry, so Eli & Elm made it their mission to create luxurious and durable sheets for affordable prices. Their work with researchers and engineers has paved the way for eco-friendly advancements in the field while also focusing their resources on making fair trade products that are ethically sound.

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Ferry Collection Construction

Eli & Elm sent me their entire Ferry Collection to review, and while I was expecting the pomp and splendor of the past two Eli & Elm sets (the Wharf and Whitney Collections), I was surprised to find that there was no fancy, colorful box with typography gracing the front. Instead, the sheets were tied up with ribbon and labels, and the duvet was done up in the same fashion below it.

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Both parts of the Ferry Collection are woven together using a 300 thread count organic cotton Sateen weave. The tags break down the contents of each package—the sheets come with a fitted, a flat, and two pillow cases, while the duvet comes with a duvet cover and two pillow shams—and focused on the Fair Trade nature of the collection.

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My Ferry Collection Findings

I ran the sheets through the washing machine on cold, and through the dryer on low heat. The seams remained strong after the wash, and the fitted sheet only shrunk by 0.15 inches, which is quite solid for a set of cotton sheets.

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Just like Cloudten’s and Gryphon’s Sateen cotton sheets, Eli & Elm’s Ferry Collection has “TOP OR BOTTOM” tags sewn into the short sides, which—despite being written in a horrendous shade of orange—are an extremely helpful design feature that I love.

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The fitted sheet is tight and grips my mattress well, and the flat sheet is the correct size for a queen-size bed—I have no struggle tucking in the sheets and making it in the morning.

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The duvet has strong wooden buttons and ties to hold a duvet in, which work very well, but I find the buttons to be a bit small for comfortable fiddling—I much prefer the buttons on the MagicLinen duvet that are twice as large.

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The sheets exhibit quite defined wrinkles when removed from the dryer, and they don’t disappear too much during use. After a week of sleeping on the Ferry Collection, the sheen from the Sateen weave disappears and they resemble something ordinary, but only in looks.

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These are no basic cotton sheets and you can definitely feel that as soon as you slip between them. I curl up in bed every night, cozy and warm in the embrace of the Ferry Collection. No matter the temperature, I find the sheets never get too cold or too hot, which makes getting a good night’s sleep easy. Their temperature regulation is impressive considering their basic cotton construction—some cotton sheets get hot and sweaty, and others are cold and icy, but not these. Dress for the season and the sheets will take care of the rest.

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My Ferry Collection Recommendation

The Ferry Collection can be yours for between $129 and $159, which is actually less expensive than their Whitney collection (bamboo) and the same price as the Gryphon Sateen sheets I reviewed last month. These prices seem to be industry standard for affordable high quality Sateen sheets, so there is a bit of competition. They offer a 45-day window for returns, which is quite a bit shorter than other trial periods I’ve seen—I don’t even know if you can consider it a “trial period.” One thing to note is that Eli & Elm does not list Queen or King sizes for their Ferry Collection duvet set on their website, however I did receive a queen-size cover.

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Eli & Elm has been a favorite of mine for a while now, but I’m always hoping to find something surprising and new. I was wowed by the Wharf and floored by the Whitney because those are industry-leading innovations. On the other hand, The Ferry Collection is not surprising, but I don’t think that is bad. The Ferry Collection proves Eli & Elm is not about gimmicks or specialty products, rather they’re about making “good” better. Their Sateen cotton sheets might feel like a few others on the market, but they’re solid, reliable, and durable sheets that still feel amazing after countless washes. Eli & Elm stands by what they believe in with their cotton sheets—the textile industry is not known for being environmentally friendly or ethically sound, but Eli & Elm’s mission to create products that are better for you and better for the world is apparent in every sheet they produce. Shiny box or not, Eli & Elm has aced yet another set of sheets.

Shop the Eli and Elm Ferry Collection

[Tagline]

Eli & Elm Profile

Eli & Elm entered the bedding world in January 2019 with a goal to create high quality bedding for the average sleep enthusiast. Based in New Haven, CT, their name is an homage to Eli Whitney—the inventor of the cotton gin; and Elm City—the home of Whitney before its name was changed to New Haven. Three Connecticut men were inspired by Eli Whitney’s innovation with the plant, so they took to improving the world of cotton bedding, with aspiring dreams to make the bed a better place for sleep. There hasn’t been much innovation in the textile industry, so Eli & Elm made it their mission to create luxurious and durable sheets for affordable prices. Their work with researchers and engineers has paved the way for eco-friendly advancements in the field while also focusing their resources on making fair trade products that are ethically sound.

Ferry Collection Construction

Eli & Elm sent me their entire Ferry Collection to review, and while I was expecting the pomp and splendor of the past two Eli & Elm sets (the Wharf and Whitney Collections), I was surprised to find that there was no fancy, colorful box with typography gracing the front. Instead, the sheets were tied up with ribbon and labels, and the duvet was done up in the same fashion below it. Both parts of the Ferry Collection are woven together using a 300 thread count organic cotton Sateen weave. The tags break down the contents of each package—the sheets come with a fitted, a flat, and two pillow cases, while the duvet comes with a duvet cover and two pillow shams—and focused on the Fair Trade nature of the collection.

My Ferry Collection Findings

I ran the sheets through the washing machine on cold, and through the dryer on low heat. The seams remained strong after the wash, and the fitted sheet only shrunk by 0.15 inches, which is quite solid for a set of cotton sheets. Just like Cloudten’s and Gryphon’s Sateen cotton sheets, Eli & Elm’s Ferry Collection has “TOP OR BOTTOM” tags sewn into the short sides, which—despite being written in a horrendous shade of orange—are an extremely helpful design feature that I love. The fitted sheet is tight and grips my mattress well, and the flat sheet is the correct size for a queen-size bed—I have no struggle tucking in the sheets and making it in the morning. The duvet has strong wooden buttons and ties to hold a duvet in, which work very well, but I find the buttons to be a bit small for comfortable fiddling—I much prefer the buttons on the MagicLinen duvet that are twice as large. The sheets exhibit quite defined wrinkles when removed from the dryer, and they don’t disappear too much during use. After a week of sleeping on the Ferry Collection, the sheen from the Sateen weave disappears and they resemble something ordinary, but only in looks. These are no basic cotton sheets and you can definitely feel that as soon as you slip between them. I curl up in bed every night, cozy and warm in the embrace of the Ferry Collection. No matter the temperature, I find the sheets never get too cold or too hot, which makes getting a good night’s sleep easy. Their temperature regulation is impressive considering their basic cotton construction—some cotton sheets get hot and sweaty, and others are cold and icy, but not these. Dress for the season and the sheets will take care of the rest.

My Ferry Collection Recommendation

The Ferry Collection can be yours for between $129 and $159, which is actually less expensive than their Whitney collection (bamboo) and the same price as the Gryphon Sateen sheets I reviewed last month. These prices seem to be industry standard for affordable high quality Sateen sheets, so there is a bit of competition. They offer a 45-day window for returns, which is quite a bit shorter than other trial periods I’ve seen—I don’t even know if you can consider it a “trial period.” One thing to note is that Eli & Elm does not list Queen or King sizes for their Ferry Collection duvet set on their website, however I did receive a queen-size cover. Eli & Elm has been a favorite of mine for a while now, but I’m always hoping to find something surprising and new. I was wowed by the Wharf and floored by the Whitney because those are industry-leading innovations. On the other hand, The Ferry Collection is not surprising, but I don’t think that is bad. The Ferry Collection proves Eli & Elm is not about gimmicks or specialty products, rather they’re about making “good” better. Their Sateen cotton sheets might feel like a few others on the market, but they’re solid, reliable, and durable sheets that still feel amazing after countless washes. Eli & Elm stands by what they believe in with their cotton sheets—the textile industry is not known for being environmentally friendly or ethically sound, but Eli & Elm’s mission to create products that are better for you and better for the world is apparent in every sheet they produce. Shiny box or not, Eli & Elm has aced yet another set of sheets. Shop the Eli and Elm Ferry Collection

Posture Perfect Copper Pillow for Neck Pain

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Prana Rest Pillow

Overview of Posture Perfect Copper Pillow for Neck Pain

The Prana Rest Posture Perfect Pillow is sometimes referred to as a Cervical Pillow or Orthopedic Pillow and is used by individuals with disc issues or neck pain. Made from shredded memory foam, it’s recommended for back and side sleepers due to it’s soft and supportive nature. It’s designed to offer pain relief from things as severe as surgery or strains, as well as from overall general neck pain.

  • 10 years warranty
  • 101 Night Sleep Trial
  • Made in the USA
  • Price of the Pillow: Ranges from $100 to $160

Construction of Posture Perfect Copper Pillow for Neck Pain

Posture Perfect Copper Pillow for Neck Pain is a firm pillow available in Queen and King sizes. The measurements are as follows:

Queen size 20” x 30”

King size 20” x 36”

The inside fill of the pillow is made with CopperTouch Shredded Certi-PUR-US memory foam that is soft, supportive and adjustable. The foam is hypoallergenic, dust-mite resistant and anti-viral and anti-microbial. 

My Posture Perfect Copper Pillow for Neck Pain Findings

The first thing this pillow taught me is to make you properly read directions. I found myself a little confused at first, not realizing that the pillow had an inner pouch that itself could be customized. Overall the pillow looks solid and I like how its quadrant-style structure seems to be more meticulously constructed than other pillows. Having to be honest though, I would describe this pillow as more supportive than as soft. It’s comfortable but it’s not soft or fluffy but it’ll keep your neck steady and essentially, that’s what it’s designed to do. I also feel that the biggest value that you’re getting is when it comes to the pillow’s environmental certification. The Posture Perfect Copper Pillow for Neck Pain foam is CertiPUR-US certified and it’s made without PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), TDCPP (Trisphosphate) or TCEP (“Tris”) flame retardants.

My Posture Perfect Copper Pillow for Neck Pain Recommendation

While the pillow is on the pricey side, ranging from $100 to $160 dollars, it does come with an impressive 10-year warranty, as well as a 101 Night Sleep Trial. That being the case, I feel like the manufacturers have done everything in their power to make you feel confident in what they’ve created.

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Shop Pranarest

Cloudten Amora Sateen Sheet Set Review

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Cloudten Profile

Cloudten doesn’t provide much information about the history of their company on their website, but they do provide quite a bit of information regarding their mission, materials, and process. Their goal is to provide the most comfortable and relaxing sheets to the busy bee in all of us—the bed should be a place of the utmost restful relaxation. They believe that since we spend ⅓ of our lives sleeping, one should invest in the place where they spend that time—the bed should get just as much attention to detail as any other aspect of our lives; cloudten will give you the opportunity to experience luxury at a fraction of the cost. They mainly produce their sheets using sustainable, world-class, long staple Egyptian cotton, which are assembled using either a percale or sateen weave (which designates the thread pattern and orientation). Their name seems to come from the idea that being on “cloud nine” is exhibiting/feeling extreme satisfaction and happiness, therefore being on “cloud ten” would be a step beyond that.

Cloudten Amora Construction

Cloudten sent me their Amora Sateen Sheet Set to review. The sheets came in a white shipping box with “cloudten” printed on the narrow sides. When I opened the parcel, I was met with a box that matched the blinding white of the outer cardboard. At first glance, the sheet box looked like any other old cardboard box, but upon closer inspection—at a slight angle—raised letters spelled out “c l o u d t e n” across the front.

One of the edges sported a “Cten” logo, a plain white seal, and a white ribbon pull tab—under the flap were concealed magnets that held the package closed.

Inside, the sheets were neatly wrapped in tissue paper with a nice sticker, a postcard, and a non-personalized letter with nothing but the word “hello.” on the front—period and all.

The sheets themselves feel very similar to the Gryphon sheets I reviewed last, but they have that stiffness that cotton sheets often exhibit. The sheets have a sateen weave, so they’re a bit reflective—a bit more than the Gryphon set.

The seams are strong and the fabric doesn’t give when pulled. Overall, the build of the sheets is very solid and impressive.

I followed the instructions on the tag to run the sheets through a cold wash and a low heat tumble dry.

My Cloudten Amora Findings

The fitted sheet only shrunk by 0.75 inches (measured from pocket corner to pocket edge) which is pretty insignificant considering how prone cotton is to shrinkage—the same shrinkage seen in my Gryphon review. Cloudten is kind enough to sew “short top side” into the fitted sheet seam, which honestly might be one of the best—and simplest—ideas I’ve seen from a bedding company, yet.

Fitted sheets are like USB cords: you’ll never get them oriented the correct way on the first go—that’s a proven fact. So say goodbye to spinning fitted sheets around and around trying to figure out which side is the long side and which goes on the bottom.

The sheets were pretty wrinkly coming out of the wash and after over a week of sleeping on them, they still retained the distinct wrinkling.

The flat sheet is a good size, giving me ample fabric to tuck under my mattress for optimal security and comfort.

The pillow shams open with a horizontal hole in the back which makes pillow-stuffing a bit challenging—the resulting pillows have stretched shams and squished cushions.

My Cloudten Amora Recommendation

Cloudten claims that they produce the world’s greatest sheets, but I think that’s a pretty strong claim to make. Regardless of whether you’re a nap-enthusiast, a late-starter, or a deep dozer, cloudten’s sheets will give you a fantastic night’s sleep, and they give Gryphon a run for its money, but I don’t know if they’re better. Gryphon clocks in at $149 for a 4-piece sateen sheet set and cloudten comes in at $180 for their version of the same collection. Gryphon offers 7 colors, while cloudten offers only 5—blush and sky blue are the colors not available through cloudten. Despite being $30 more expensive than the Gryphon set, cloudten prides themselves on maintaining the same price across the board—all sizes cost the same—but that is a bit strange to me because buying a set of twin sheets for $180 seems like highway robbery. Even Gryphon’s California King size sheets are $10 less than cloudten’s sateen set—they claim the equal pricing is meant to make purchasing sheets easier and more fair, but regardless of their intentions, their sheets stand firmly on the more expensive side of the market.

Both companies offer a 100-night risk-free trial—just in case you’re not satisfied—but that’s where things get interesting. When you try a set of Gryphon sheets for 100 days and realize that for some reason you don’t like them, I’m not sure where they go—they don’t say. On the other hand, when you try cloudten sheets for 100 days and realize that you don’t like them, the company donates them. In addition to donating returns, each purchase funds a blanket for a terminally ill child through Project Linus. So ultimately, a purchase from cloudten will benefit more than just your night’s sleep, which brings a bit more perspective to the higher pricing. The cloudten Amora Sateen sheet set is fabulous, cozy, soft, smooth, and just the right amount of warm, but I wouldn’t go as far as calling them the world’s greatest sheets.

Shop Cloud Ten

Gryphon Sateen Sheets Review

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Gryphon Home
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Gryphon Profile

Since 1813, Gryphon has been creating high quality, expertly-crafted, and affordable textiles for their valued customers. Like its legendary griffin mascot, Gryphon exemplifies the strength and loyalty of well-constructed, long lasting fabrics and sheets. Gryphon owns and operates their own facilities from cotton farm to shipping box, ensuring that all of their processes are responsible, ethical, and environmentally sustainable. In order to provide the most luxurious sheets to their customers, Gryphon uses 100% Supima cotton—a cotton grown only in the Southwestern USA, representing less than 2% of the cotton harvested globally. Supima’s extra-long fibers give it superior strength, resilience, softness, and color retention. Supima cotton is also approved by the BCI (Better Cotton Initiative), which means it is more kind to its farmers and the environment. Gryphon is certified to promote responsible sourcing, fair wages, and safe working conditions, which makes them one of the best choices for sleep-lovers alike.

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Gryphon Sateen Construction

Gryphon sent me their Luxury Suite sateen cotton sheets in Charcoal Gray. I received the sheets in a brown shipping box with “DO NOT OPEN WITH SHARP INSTRUMENT” printed across the top flap, so I just tore it open. The sheets came tucked away in a sateen cotton bag, secured in a sealed plastic sleeve.

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Many of the sheets I have reviewed have come folded in small cloth pouches, but I really appreciate the companies that use bags instead because they can be reused easily—there’s even a tag that says “Please, re-use me!”

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The package—and sheet set itself—felt much lighter than other sheet sets I have reviewed. Initially I was worried that this set was missing a piece or two (possibly from a packing slip-up), but as it turned out everything was present. After unboxing, unbagging, and unfolding, I had a good look at the set before washing. The sheets are extremely light, which explains why the box’s weight was so negligible, but that is what is most interesting about these sheets—they are far more lightweight than any other sateen sheet.

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The sheets are an exquisite shade of gray that has a deeper and heartier color than the gray on Eli & Elm’s Wharf Collection. While I wasn’t a fan of the pattern/colors of the Wharf Collection, this solid gray has truly caught my fancy. The sheets are made of strong, Oeko-Tex Certified, 100% Supima Cotton, and the seams and weave feel sturdy with little to no stretch at all.

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My Gryphon Sateen Findings

I sent the sheets through the washer on cold and the dryer on low, and the fitted sheet pockets only shrunk by 0.75 inches—the smallest shrinkage I’ve reviewed on a cotton sheet set.

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The Gryphon fitted sheet grips my mattress perfectly, and the pieces have retained a wrinkle-free texture despite sleeping on them for a week. These details may sound inconsequential, but they are nonetheless important things to note—personally I do not like my bed to be covered in myriad wrinkles.

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Gryphon’s sateen sheets are possibly the greatest set of sheets that I have ever slept on, and that is not an exaggeration. Immediately after hopping into bed I knew that they were perfect. Light, airy, and breathable, yet soft and sleek—I had to double check the tag to make sure I wasn’t confusing the set with a bamboo sheet of some sort. In my experience, all cotton sheets, no matter how soft, have a kind of stiffness not found in bamboo or lycell.

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Three weeks ago I found myself wondering if bamboo sheets had completely ruined my perception of cotton sheets, but now I’m happy to report that that is not the case! Gryphon has created an amazing product that provides an incredible sleep experience, and I’m reluctant to move on to other sets.

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I have a few unhealthy sleep habits here and there, and sometimes those lead to less than satisfying snoozes, but these charcoal gray Gryphon sateen cotton sheets have unlocked a switch in my brain that almost immediately has me enjoying my best nights in months. My issues with sleep come from being too busy—there’s always something to do and it absolutely cannot wait until the morning—which means it’s not necessarily the falling asleep bit that I find challenging, but getting into bed proves to be more of a struggle. With that said, I haven’t gone a day without longing for the moment when I can curl up under those gray sheets, ready for a solid sleep, which makes putting down the notepad and getting into bed all the easier. I cannot speak more highly of these life-changing sheets—upon my discovery I just had to text Ben and tell him about these utopian fabric slices of excellence.

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My Gryphon Sateen Recommendation

Gryphon’s queen size Luxury Suite cotton sateen sheet set comes in at \$150 for a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases—a reasonable, affordable, and accessible price for a luxurious night’s sleep. While it may not be as inexpensive as other cotton sets, it definitely surpasses them in quality. If you’re still feeling unsure, Gryphon offers a 100-day free trial, which is the longest trial-run I’ve seen around. I know that I will definitely be keeping Gryphon’s sateen sheets and they will permanently have a place in my linen closet.

Shop Gryphon Home

 

Alterra Pure: Percale Fabric Bundle Review

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Alterra Pure Sheets
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Alterra Pure Profile

Alterra Pure was built on pillars of social and environmental sustainability, and maintaining a transparent and ethical business is their main goal. In order to live by their values, they pride themselves on giving back to the environment and those who produce their products. This means purchasing fair trade cotton from farms that use only rainwater to water their crops—they also recycle all water used in both fabric production and fabric finishing. To uphold their strong social standards, they hold no secrets—transparency is one of the most important principles a sustainable company must practice. Every step of Alterra Pure’s supply chain is Certified Organic and/or LEED Certified—from seed to gin to wheel to loom, nothing is overlooked. All water and materials are reused if possible, and as I mentioned before, even their packaging is made of biodegradable, scrap cotton and recycled paper. They are proud of the work they do and the products they create, so every ingredient and process is meticulously graded and tweaked to make the best fabrics. Their small lot and artisanal production scale is ideal for maintaining these tenets of sustainability and ethicality while staying afloat financially.

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Alterra Pure sent me their Traditional Organic Bundle to review. The shipping box held two off-white boxes that were constructed from re-constituted/up-cycled scrap cotton and recycled paper. The boxes are not smooth, nor are they shiny or sleek—they have a more Earthy feel to them.

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“ALTERRA PURE” is scrawled across the linty paper exteriors, with a seam dividing the two words. The seam (and the two box halves) is held together by a single piece of terra cotta-colored tape.

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After gently peeling off the tape—attempting to keep the boxes’ finishes intact—I found the sheets and duvet neatly folded, and tucked away in each box.

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I love the boxes—they’re gorgeous; the textures, colors, and fonts are beautifully executed; and the structure and overall design are not only effective in function, but also in reusability and general purpose storage. I plan to keep them around for a bit because I’ve got some magazines that could use a nice, new, organized home.

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Alterra Pure Construction

I removed and unfolded the sheets to get a better look at the collection. They sent me a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, two pillow cases, and a duvet cover—all pieces are made of organic cotton percale fabric. Initially, the sheets had a kind of parachute fabric feel to them, which I assumed would just wash out in the first laundry cycle, but I was wrong. After following the prescribed wash and dry instructions, I was left with sheets that feel nearly the same as when they went in.

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There was quite a bit of shrinkage, but I think Alterra Pure accounted for that when they made the sheets because despite the pockets shrinking almost 2 inches, the fitted sheet grips my mattress perfectly.

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In addition to the texture and shrinkage, I noticed that they stayed quite wrinkly, despite finally trying the damp washcloth method (which worked minimally). All of the set pieces don two very classy pinstripes close to the edges—one red and one blue—which serve as functional stitchings.

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The coconut buttons on the duvet are a good size relative to their respective holes, which I really appreciate because tough buttons can really beat up a set of fingertips.

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My Alterra Pure Findings

As I mentioned before, the sheets maintained their parachute-esque feel even after washing. I was a little skeptical going into this review, because the only other percale set I’ve reviewed so far is the Primary Goods set, which placed quite low on my list. Surprisingly, Alterra Pure’s collection does not remind me of the Primary Goods’ percale set at all, which honestly is a giant bonus in my book. The sheets have a kind of slick feel to them making movement easy and slightly slippery. The percale fabric is very breathable and comfortable no matter the temperature—I actually find it more temperature regulative than some of the other cotton sheet sets I’ve tried.

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My Alterra Pure Recommendation

I really love these sheets. I ended up liking the slippery texture, and the temperature regulation is aces. Everything from the red and blue stitching to the box design has me smitten, which is rare for cotton sheets—cotton sheets are pretty hit and miss for me. I love everything Alterra Pure stands for, and I commend them for taking such a firm stance on their values in every aspect of their production line. Their prices are on par with other organic cotton sets—$160 for queen size sheets, $160 for a queen size duvet cover, and $285 as a bundle. Primary Goods sells a queen size percale cotton bundle for $269 normally, but occasionally marks it down for $179. While Primary Goods percale set is considerably less expensive during markdown times, the quality of materials, comfort, and values woven into each inch of Alterra Pure’s bedding make the price worth every penny.

Puffy Pillow Review

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puffy pillow package

The Puffy Pillow

The Puffy Pillow is another adaptation of the customizable pillow. It’s designed to suit every sleeping style however do keep in mind that it leans towards the firmer side. You can open it and remove some foam to find your perfect comfort level. Puffy also does their work on the charity side by donating mattresses to children in need.

puffy pillow zippered case

Overview of The Puffy Pillow

The Puffy Pillow is Certipur-US Certified. That means that it’s made with no harmful chemicals or substances. The outer pillowcase is made from a special blend of Bamboo Rayon for breathability. This gives the pillowcase both a thermoregulating as well as a moisture wicking property. The cooling cloud cover is designed to prevent you from waking up due to sweating or overheating. Puffy gives you a 101-night sleep trial however this trial and their return policy only applies to those who purchased their pillows directly at puffy.com. A standard size pillow costs $75 while a king size pillow will run you closer to $100 ($95 on their site). The pillow is 100% manufactured in the USA.

pillow puffy after unboxing

Construction of The Puffy Pillow

You can get the Puffy Pillow in two different sizes: Standard and King size.

The Puffy Pillow has a premium memory foam filling that is CertiPUR –US certified. It’s made from a special polyester blend and a bamboo rayon blend so it is hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant. The cooling cover is also washable.

The pillow comes in the following sizes:

Standard: 20” x 26”

King:  20” x 36”

My Puffy Pillow Findings

My experience with the Puffy Pillow was mixed. The unboxing experience was great. It arrived in a branded package, it was designed well and looked neat. As with most pillows, it was compressed to reduce the size and cut packaging costs and waste. I was surprised with how much loft this pillow has once you give it time to sit there and adjust to the oxygen in the room. It’s really a huge pillow and I’m sure for someone who doesn’t like a lot of stuffing, it can even make two. There was a bit of off-gassing with this pillow so I do advise everyone to give it a sufficient amount of time to air out. Open a window and let the wind do some of the work. I felt that the pillowcase was disappointing, not necessarily because it looks to be made poorly or out of poor material; that wasn’t the case. It does look well made and like the fabric is designed to do what it’s supposed to (thermoregulating and moisture wicking), however it didn’t match the image of what they’re promoting on their website. In that sense, it was difficult to deny that I was surprised as I really was expecting something quite different. Adjusting the foam content was also not my favorite because I found it to be messy but as long as you don’t mind running a vacuum across the floor, it doesn’t need to be a deal breaker. What I do feel this pillow is great for is for someone who wants a pillow that is supportive and that can retain its shape and loft. Side sleepers would especially benefit because you can expect the foam to stay put. I would say that’s the strongest attribute of this pillow, it feels incredibly reliable in that sense.

puffy pillow perforations in pillowcase

My Puffy Pillow  Recommendation

I think the pillow has a lot of potential if only it looked more closely to what is portrayed on the website. I think the best word for the image online is that it looks too airbrushed. Otherwise, this pillow seems like a great option for someone who likes medium-firm pillows and who is specifically looking for adequate support.

puffy pillow logo tag

More About Puffy

On their website where the Puffy Pillow is promoted I found that at the bottom of the page you can find a link called “Puffy Donations.” While this doesn’t pertain to the pillow, it does pertain to their mattress and something philanthropic like this does score some points with me. For every 10 social media posts (on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter) Puffy will donate a mattress to a shelter for children in need. Individuals are asked to the tag with @puffymattress and #puffydonation. The non-profit organizations that they’ve partnered with include:

  • Penny Lane Center
  • Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter
  • St. Vincent de Paul
  • The Mission of Hope
  • Nashville Rescue Mission
  • Teen Challenge

Shop Puffy

The 8Hours Adjustable Pillow Review

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8hours pillow review

The 8Hours Adjustable Pillow is another adjustable pillow that seeks to change the game by helping you maximize on sleep. Its foam is made with patented MemHex™ Internal Technology. The thinking behind this product is that if you can’t adjust to your pillow, then have your pillow adjust to you. It’s described as tech + nature coming together.

Overview of The 8Hours Adjustable Pillow

8hours 8 hours adjustable pillow

The 8Hours Adjustable Pillow is essentially suitable for everyone thanks to its customizable design. Whether you are a side, stomach or back sleeper, this pillow can work for you. The company offers an 88 Nights No-Risk Trial. The pillow itself retails for $95 and you can buy a multi-pack to receive anywhere from 2, 3 or 4 pillows at a discounted rate. If you order 4 pillows, you get one for free. Shipping is a flat fee of $5 for all US orders and returns are free, so long as it’s shipped within the states. The pillow is designed and assembled in Italy (Molto bene!). 8Hours gives you the option to finance the pillow through Affirm if you so desire. This pillow comes with a 5 Year Warranty which is the longest warranty I’ve ever heard of for a pillow so I find that very impressive.

Construction of The 8Hours Adjustable Pillow

inside the 8hours adjustable pillow

This pillow comes in a single standard size of  18″ x 27.5″ with a 2″ Loft gusset.

The outer cover is made from a natural cellulose fabric. It’s moisture wicking and works to also distribute heat more efficiently so that you can sleep cool. Because of its water resistant properties, it’s also designed to be antibacterial. It’s both soft and durable and also made from 100% biodegradable and fully sustainable resources.

The foam for this pillow is referred to as MemHex™ Internal Technology. It’s pretty interesting being that it’s made with a honeycomb shape. The foam comes in its own case, and the pillowcase goes on top of that. This makes accessing the foam easy and convenient and the pillowcase easy to clean.

8hours memhex internal technology foam

Be sure to disperse the foam evenly and to fluff your pillow. Because the foam pieces are rather large, this is important to making sure they all fit and lock into one another.

The pillow is not only Hypoallergenic but is also:

  • Approved by SleepScore Labs
  • STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® Certified
  • Tested for Quality Control and ISO 9001 Registered with SGS

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. For a product to be OEKO-TEX® Certified, it has to go through some serious testing and the organization is known to have the highest standards in the industry. This guarantees that the materials have been tested to be free from harmful levels of 100+ different substances. The certification is voluntary, has to be reviewed and updated every year, is conducted by independent third party laboratories and is global, meaning that the standards are the same no matter the country.

My 8Hours Adjustable Pillow Findings

I wasn’t sure what to think of the 8Hours Adjustable Pillow initially but the more I lay on it, the more I came to like it. It came packaged in a branded package that was designed well and the unboxing experience was simple enough. Unrolling the pillow was kind of crazy because since most pillows these days come compressed, you usually have to give it some time to catch some air and regain its loft. When the pillow finally came to life, I was shocked with the size of this thing. It was ridiculous! You should really watch the video at least to see this portion because it’s amazing how big it became. I thought it would be too much foam to lay on but even without having to remove any foam, it was still incredibly comfortable. I usually like much fluffier pillows but actually felt really pleased and was impressed with how supportive this pillow was. Despite it holding its shape very well, I still found it to be incredibly soft and nice to rest on. While I feel this pillow can definitely accommodate any sleeping style, I think a pillow like this would be especially great for someone who is a side sleeper because getting that support between the neck and shoulder is so crucial to waking up pain-free and well rested.

My 8Hours Adjustable Pillow Recommendation

8hours adjustable pillow logo

I feel this pillow has a lot of promise due to how supportive it is. For anyone with environmental concerns as well, this thing is sure to hit a home run. There is no weird off-gassing or odor, like what can be found in many other pillows so this was a HUGE plus. Who wants to wait hours or even days until they can finally sleep with their new pillow comfortably? It may sound ridiculous but some pillows don’t ever stop smelling strange and that will not and is not the case with this. So as far as initial unboxing experience, this is something they really nailed. The foam is pretty funny and I wish I knew more about it but every company has their own trade secrets to protect. MemHex™ Internal Technology is trademarked for a reason and trademarking a product and a name isn’t cheap so they’ve taken the steps necessary to protect their creation. The foam is also designed to be used in pillows ONLY. You would never hear of this from anyone else. It’s very rare. Almost every company tries to develop a foam that can be used in an array of sleep products but that isn’t always sufficient and I’m glad 8Hours is a company that understands this. Some reviewers said the pillow is “lumpy” and while that may appear to be the case, so long as you disperse the filling evenly, you shouldn’t feel any discomfort. You are laying on foam after all, not rocks! The foam needs manual help to lock into place with all the other pieces. It just needs a little help to settle incorrectly. I consider this to be a pillow that is made well and one that will help you sleep soundly.

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Eli and Elm Wharf Collection Review

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Wharf Sheets

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Eli & Elm Profile

Eli & Elm entered the bedding world in January 2019 with a goal to create high quality bedding for the average sleep enthusiast. Based in New Haven, CT, their name is an homage to Eli Whitney—the inventor of the cotton gin; and Elm City—the home of Whitney before its name was changed to New Haven. Three Connecticut men were inspired by Eli Whitney’s innovation with the plant, so they took to improving the world of cotton bedding, with aspiring dreams to make the bed a better place for sleep. There hasn’t been much innovation in the textile industry, so Eli & Elm made it their mission to create luxurious and durable sheets for affordable prices. Their work with researchers and engineers has paved the way for eco-friendly advancements in the field while also focusing their resources on making fair trade products that are ethically sound.

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I received the Eli & Elm Whitney and Wharf collection together in a box that weighed a (figurative) ton. The construction of the product’s box is the same as the Whitney Collection, and similar to Layla’s, but instead it’s white with black edging and “BAMBOO.” printed across the top—split across two lines. As I mentioned in the Whitney Collection review, I’m a big fan of Eli & Elm’s minimalist, sans serif design language, almost as much as I like Layla’s.

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The sheets didn’t feel very impressive prior to being washed, but after a cold wash and a low heat tumble dry, they exhibited that signature feel and heft of bamboo sheets.

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The pockets shrunk a little, but not enough to cause a problem. For all I’m concerned, the construction looks impressive, clean, and durable, giving the Wharf Collection an early lead.

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Wharf Collection Construction

Eli & Elm’s bamboo sheet set is great on so many levels, but the pattern is… not what I expected. Every time I walk into my bedroom in my flannel pants and waffle-weave shirt, I can’t help but feel a bit… out of place. The gray and white pin-striped sheets transport me to a bachelor pad in a Manhattan high rise; the kind where titanium and brushed steel objects outnumber those made of any other material. These look like the sheets you would find on the bed of a yuppie with a suit collection.

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There are all kinds of people out there with different bedding preferences, but I don’t know why Eli & Elm chose this as one of three options for their bamboo Wharf Collection. On one had you’ve got the Whitney collection which comes in just white, so it can go with anything. On the other hand, the Wharf Collection features three patterns: white, gray and white pinstripes, and “Window Payne” (big white and blue gingham).

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The gray is sure to clash with just about everything that isn’t on a grayscale gradient and looks extremely out of place with wood—it’s more suited for metal tones. The Window Payne design is a great alternative to white, especially if you’re going for a New England theme (aka nautical everything). To me it seems like a very random collection of patterns; while most companies keep it simple and safe with solid colors (with the occasional collection of similar inoffensive patterns), Eli & Elm chose two very different patterns, for two very different kinds of people… and white.

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Wharf Collection Findings

I used Layla’s weighted blanket alongside the Wharf Collection and the combination was fantastic. While the bamboo fabric offered a cool, silky-smooth sleeping experience, the weighted blanket was just warm and dense enough that the sheets provided a comfortable and soft pressure that made drifting off to sleep easy. So what makes the Eli & Elm sheets stand out from other bamboo sheets, like those at Layla? Apart from the designs and colors, not much. The Layla bamboo sheets are my favorite sheets so far, which meant that these had a high standard to live up—they did, but they didn’t go much further.

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My excitement behind the Layla set may have been partially driven by first impressions with bamboo sheets, but I won’t know for sure until I try another set. When it comes down to it, Eli & Elm’s set costs $120-$150, which makes them some of the best, and least expensive sheets I’ve tried so far. What I really love about these Eli & Elm sheets is that they make accessible the luxurious feel, unbelievably soft texture, and fantastic sleep benefits of a set of sheets $50 more expensive! With that in mind however, the Layla set offers a 120-night trial period, while Eli & Elm only offers 45, and to some that may be a deal-breaker (depending on how picky you are).

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Wharf Collection Recommendation

Overall, I think the Wharf Collection is a great set of sheets that comes at a great price, from a great company, but I think it’s a toss up between the two bamboo options—there just isn’t a lot that sets them apart. Eli & Elm’s set may be cheaper, but it’s not by a lot; and Layla offers only solid colors—no patterns. I think they’re both fantastic choices and I don’t think you will regret buying one over the other. When it comes down to the question of “bamboo or not,” I still have concerns regarding material sourcing—you can read all about the environmental impact of viscose bamboo fabrication, here. On Eli & Elm’s website, they say that being “100% Viscose, [their] eco-friendly bamboo sheets are made without any harmful pesticides and woven into a silky-soft finish,” but that’s not the issue with viscose bamboo materials. In general, bamboo grows so quickly and vigorously that it’s not often seen as a pest target, thus not requiring pesticides; but I digress.

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Layla Weighted Blanket Review

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Layla Weighted Blanket Review

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The other day the FedEx guy knocked on my door and held out a large box addressed to me, from Layla. He warned me it was heavy, but for some reason I didn’t believe him—boy was I wrong. After dragging the large box into my house, I examined it for clues, eventually discovering I had just received in a 20lb weighted blanket from Layla. I was so excited to try it out, I could barely wait until that evening to get started.

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I’ve heard so many great things about weighted blankets, and to someone who used to sleep with a comforter all year round (except in Portland, Oregon, where some heathens decided AC was unnecessary) it seemed like a Comforter 2.0. I cut open the excessive tape to find a nice Layla zipper bag with handles—great for carrying around 20 pound blankets.

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I extracted the contents (and almost pulled a back muscle): an airtight plastic bag with the blanket vacuum sealed inside. I cut open the seal and air came rushing into the package; I was ready.

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The weighted blanket has two sides: quilted cotton on the bottom and quilted polyester fuzz on the top. The top layer is super soft, like a high quality blanket I once had years ago, but the bottom layer feels more like a pair of pants—coziness was not its #1 purpose.

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The blanket is weighted with a new material comprised of 95% glass beads and 5% polyester fiber, which made it weigh a metric ton.

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The sheet fell short at 60” x 80”—just smaller than my queen-size bed—but I guess it doesn’t really need to spread across the whole bed. The size discrepancy may look kind of unsightly laid out on top of the bed, but functionally a smaller blanket is easier for someone to wrap themselves up in. I originally thought it was supposed to serve as a bed layer (like a regular blanket), but now I see that it’s more of a personal accessory. The tag told me to wash it in cold water with a low heat dryer cycle, but I was worried so I put both machines on gentle. When the blanket came out I was ready to give it its first official test drive.

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Before hitting the hay, I contemplated using my duvet in conjunction with the weighted blanket, worried that the Layla blanket wouldn’t be warm enough in my 57F room. Turns out the blanket was perfect without the duvet, in fact it overrode the Eli & Elm Whitney (cooling) sheets a bit, but just enough to where I was warm and not hot. I stretched the warm, fuzzy, heavy blanket across my bed (and 5 pillows) and hopped under the covers. At first, I couldn’t sleep. It felt like the lead apron they make you wear when you get x-rays—it pinned me to my mattress and I felt trapped (this blanket is completely lead-free). But an hour or so later, I finally opened my mind and relaxed, drifting off to sleep. After a couple days of getting used to it, the feeling of being trapped turned into a feeling of security, and the weighted blanket soon fulfilled a need I didn’t even know I had.

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Sleeping with the Layla weighted blanket is bit like sleeping next to someone, but without the overheating. With a weighted blanket you don’t have to take turns as the little spoon (the best spoon), because the blanket is just one giant spoon and you are one warm burrito. Layla explains on their website that this feeling of security is called “Deep Touch Pressure” (DTP), which like a hug, causes your brain to release serotonin. Weighted blankets are great for people with ADHD, anxiety, and depression, which gives me blanket bingo, so you know I mean it when I say it works. Goodness knows I could use a little extra serotonin.

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The only negative thing I can think of when it comes to this blanket is that I can’t bring it everywhere. After trying out the blanket for a couple weeks, I visited my cousin in New York and it a bit challenging to stay asleep without the security of 20 pounds of glass beads weighing down on me. I did however wake up one morning with her roommate’s miniature pitbull mix laying on top of me, but it’s just not the same.

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The weighted blanket may cost $129 – $179 (depending on size), but this is one of those sleep accessories that is worth every dang penny. It’s durable and well made, which promises years of comfy, calm sleep. I raved about Layla’s bamboo sheets and I’m going to rave about this weighted blanket—it’s all fantastic. Use them together or use them separate, Layla is a doing a fantastic job adding onto their signature mattress products.

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Shop the Layla weighted blanket.

Eli and Elm Whitney Collection Review

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whitney

Eli & Elm Profile

Eli & Elm entered the bedding world in January 2019 with a goal to create high quality bedding for the average sleep enthusiast. Based in New Haven, CT, their name is an homage to Eli Whitney—the inventor of the cotton gin; and Elm City—the home of Whitney before its name was changed to New Haven. Three Connecticut men were inspired by Eli Whitney’s innovation with the plant, so they took to improving the world of cotton bedding, with aspiring dreams to make the bed a better place for sleep. There hasn’t been much innovation in the textile industry, so Eli & Elm made it their mission to create luxurious and durable sheets for affordable prices. Their work with researchers and engineers has paved the way for eco-friendly advancements in the field while also focusing their resources on making fair trade products that are ethically sound.

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Eli & Elm, a new upstart sleep brand, sent me their Whitney Collection to review, which consists of two pillowcases, a flat sheet, and a fitted sheet. The set came in a shipping box along with their Wharf Collection, which I will review soon. The shipping box weighed a little under a ton, and 20% of that was tape.

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After I cut through the ubiquitous adhesive, I was met with my favorite color—cyan—and the word “COOL.” printed across the top of the matte blue box. The box style, build, and structure was very reminiscent of Layla’s packaging, but when the clamshell opened, it did not remain open. This made it a bit challenging to remove the plastic-wrapped sheets, but with some prodding and pushing, they came out smoothly.

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The sheets themselves weighed quite a bit, and after removing the plastic wrap I could see… and feel why. The fabric strangely reminded me of that used for thermal curtains, but thinner and smoother. This is because Eli & Elm’s Whitney sheets are made of a composite Phase Changing Material (PCM). This is where the “COOL.” comes in.

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Whitney Collection Construction

PCM technology was initially created in the to make spacesuit temperature control more comfortable for the astronauts. A little over a decade later in the early 2000s, fabric manufacturers began working on an everyday, practical version of the material for commercialization.

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Phase Changing Materials act as a kind of heat sink for beds and clothing, meaning that they absorb heat that is imparted on them to regulate temperature. Fabrics that use PCM technology incorporate a temperature sensitive ingredient into their composition that will change from solid to liquid and back with the application of heat. The chemical phase change from solid to liquid traps the heat from the source and later releases it during the opposite reaction. Temperature sensitive ingredients often used to create commercial PCMs include paraffin, fatty acids, and polyglycols because they are safe, non-reactive, and can be easily incorporated into fabrics. Eli & Elm chose to use a composition of 70% cotton, 20% lyocell, and 10% paraffin, which makes these sheets really impressive.

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First off, lyocell is a fabric that serves as an alternative to the environmentally controversial textile rayon. Lyocell is comprised of dissolved wood pulp that has been reconstituted as a fiber that can then be spun. The great thing about lyocell is that unlike most rayon, no toxic solvents are used to dissolve the cellulose. This makes the production process much safer for the environment and those working with it; the fabric is also 100% biodegradable and recyclable. Lyocell not only is great for the environment, it’s also great for the sleep-lover because it exhibits natural thermal regulative properties along with a high quality feel. Eli & Elm uses long-staple cotton, which makes for a more durable cotton textile. When you combine the sustainability of lyocell, with the durability of long staple cotton, and the temperature regulative properties of paraffin PCM technology, it’s clear that Eli & Elm is entering the bedding world with a bang.

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My Whitney Collection Findings

I washed the sheets as directed, in cold water followed by a low heat tumble dry, and they came out much different than they went in, but they didn’t shrink. They started with a matte sheen that reminded me of Heavenluxe’s 3-piece set, but less reflective. The sheets lost that stiff thermal curtain feel and matte sheen, and came out feeling like any old set of cotton sheets—same texture and same weight. The main tangible difference between regular cotton sheets and Eli & Elm’s cooling sheets is that when I pulled the sheets out of the dryer, they were actually a bit cold.

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I made my bed with high hopes for a set of sheets that could usurp the throne for top sheet on my list, and I wasn’t disappointed. I slipped between the two sheets and I was caught aback by their texture. They were a bit rougher than I expected, but what really surprised me was how perfectly they modulated heat. Obviously I knew they were supposed to, but part of me didn’t actually expect it to work. Sleeping on Eli & Elm cooling sheets is like experiencing those first few minutes under slightly chilled covers, but for the entire night. As someone who gets too hot at night, my feet are the prospectors of the elusive bed sheet cold rush—constantly relocating in search of a respite from the heat. On these Eli & Elm sheets, I never have to move my feet to stay comfortable, nor do I have to roll over on a chilly spot to fall back to sleep. The Phase Change Materials work like a charm—it may be basic thermodynamics to a scientist, but to me it’s like witchcraft.

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My Whitney Collection Recommendation

It’s been a few days now and there’s only one issue I can find with these sheets: the price. These magical sheets command a hefty $300 price tag, which is mostly expected considering the amount of advanced technology that went into developing them. From the point of view of someone who is quite conservative when it comes to spending money, and doesn’t have much cash to throw around in the first place, there aren’t many sets of $300 sheets that I see as worth the price. If I were going to spend that kind of money on a set of sheets, I would want to make 100% sure that I like them before committing. Luckily, most of these high quality bedding businesses understand this, and like Eli & Elm, offer a trial period. Aside from that, I would want to read every review under the sun and weigh the pros and cons. So If you’re doing that now, and you have trouble with temperature regulation when you sleep, buy these sheets. Right now. You won’t regret it.

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Layla Bamboo Sheets Review

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layla bamboo sheets

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I received a set of white sheets from Layla, but I thought that I had received a bedside table from a furniture retailer. When my roommates asked me what I could’ve possibly gotten that was so large, we all found ourselves a bit bewildered when the answer was “sheets.”

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I opened the box and found… mostly nothing except for some industrial plastic wrap. At the very very bottom of the box, in a distant corner, was a dense box tightly sealed in more plastic. After retrieving the box from the abyss.

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I’ve gotten some overzealous packaging from Amazon, but never have I ever received something in a box 12 times the size of the actual object. I think they wanted the box in pristine condition which may explain the bix box. I don’t think this will be the case goine forward.

This is a very new product so as of this writing there isn’t too much information about the product on the website but that will change.

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The product box was breathtaking. This was not just any cardboard box, they somehow managed to make this box look like the Mercedes-Benz of boxes. The corners and seams were sturdy and perfect. The clamshell mechanism fit like a dream, and slid over the edge perfectly. All parts of the cardboard box were covered in fancy, smooth, matte gray paper. The box looked like it was made of two pieces, but the hinge was made so well that it opened to only 90°. The graphic design was impeccable—the fonts and colors were perfect, and the inner flap donned a two-tone gray gingham pattern that complemented the whole package so well. The inner flap read “YOUR NEW SHEETS HAVE ARRIVED,” which made the aesthetic experience all the more real. These were my sheets and I was ready to love them.

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After opening the clamshell I found yet more plastic wrap, but the dense pile of folded sheets looked so perfect I didn’t want to disturb the chic package. After revelling in its glory, I broke down and opened the inner package.

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Layla Bamboo Construction

The sheets were shiny, but not as reflective as the Heavenluxe set. Most of the seams were neat and hidden well, but some of the seams were boldly emblazoned in the very same dark gray that was used on the box.

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The sheets were soft and smooth, living up to all the good things I’ve heard about bamboo sheets. I ran the sheets through a cold wash and a tumble dry on low and they came out even softer. There was some minor shrinkage, but nothing too concerning—the pocket depth started at 14.5in (15.25in with the elastic band) and ended at 13in (14.5in with the elastic band).

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When I brought the sheets up to my room to make my bed, I noticed they felt abnormally hefty. When I shook them out against my mattress, they made a thunderous noise unlike any sound I’ve heard a fabric make—it sounded like muffled clapping. The fitted sheet fit snugly without any ripples, and the flat sheet sat on top smoothly. By this point it was 3am and I was still awake for some reason, so after making my bed I really needed a perfect set of sheets to help me doze off as fast as possible.

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My Layla Bamboo Findings

When those sheets touched my skin, they didn’t even feel like they were made of fabric—they felt so delicate and liquid like in a strange indescribable way. The sheets definitely felt heavier and more durable than the Heavenluxe sheets, but somehow they had a kind of ethereality about them that surpasses every experience I’ve ever had with any fabric. Sometimes all I think about at night is how amazing it will feel to pass out sandwiched between those gentle bamboo sheets. I want to say that I’m in love, but like every product, there are some hangups.

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I was really shocked by the shipping waste and I really hope that is not how Layla intends to distribute their products, but I didn’t want that to cloud my judgement of the sheets themselves. I love these sheets, but I find myself wondering if I love Layla’s sheets, or I love bamboo sheets. There are a few more bamboo sheet sets in the pipeline, so I want to make it very clear that this is my first set of sheets made of this fabric and I have no referent.

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My Layla Bamboo Recommendation

Since there isn’t much information on Layla’s website, I don’t know how their fabric composition or production differs from any other kind of bamboo sheet, so I don’t feel like I can adequately make a judgement on the company itself. Bamboo is a very promising agricultural alternative to cotton, but like hemp, the miracle textile crop of your dreams isn’t always sustainable. Ultimately whether you buy these sheets or not comes down to how important your carbon footprint is to you. Off the bat, while bamboo and hemp grow quickly and function more efficiently as textile crops, farms are often established on land that was deforested specifically for the cultivation of these crops, which is ironic and dangerous.

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Eli and Elm Organic Cotton Side Sleeper Pillow Review

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Eli and Elm Side Sleeper Pillow

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Eli & Elm Profile

Eli & Elm entered the bedding world in January 2019 with a goal to create high quality bedding for the average sleep enthusiast. Based in New Haven, CT, their name is an homage to Eli Whitney—the inventor of the cotton gin; and Elm City—the home of Whitney before its name was changed to New Haven. Three Connecticut men were inspired by Eli Whitney’s innovation with the plant, so they took to improving the world of cotton bedding, with aspiring dreams to make the bed a better place for sleep. There hasn’t been much innovation in the textile industry, so Eli & Elm made it their mission to create luxurious and durable sheets for affordable prices. Their work with researchers and engineers has paved the way for eco-friendly advancements in the field while also focusing their resources on making fair trade products that are ethically sound.

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Eli & Elm sent me their king-size organic cotton Side Sleeper pillow. The large cushion was rolled up and stuffed inside its long, white shipping box.

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I pulled it out and cut away the bag and tape to reveal a gold and ivory pillow shaped like half of a fingertip bandage.

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The quilted pillow fabric is extremely soft, and the filling is especially plush and squishy. The front and back of the pillow have “Organic” written stylistically across the pleats, and are joined by a gold suede band.

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The seams are hidden and seem durable enough to withstand even the roughest of sleepers. I really appreciate the placement of the zipper, as many zippers that go from corner to corner often get jammed with the interior fabric. When I unzipped the portal to coziness, I was met with tiny noodles of cotton stuffing, which Eli & Elm explains can be removed to adjust height, support, and cushiness for a fully customizable experience.

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Side Sleeper Construction

Eli & Elm’s pillow design is not only customizable for all sleepers, but it’s specially designed to benefit side-sleepers. The unique shape gives the head and neck the support they need, which is often not provided by flat pillows. I have two flat pillows that have lost every ounce of support and comfort that they once had, so this has been a long time coming. I couldn’t find any information on how I was supposed wash it, and I’ve had issues in the past with damp pillows, so I gave it an extra hour for good measure totaling 120 minutes on low heat. Once out of the dryer, I could start enjoying the pillow without having to smell the factory in which it was made.

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The pillow fabric is comprised of 37% organic cotton, 2% spandex, and 61% polyester; and the fill is made of 75% latex and 25% polyester fiber. Eli & Elm claim that their cotton fabric is breathable, hypoallergenic, eco-friendly, and temperature modulating, so I was intrigued to try it alongside Eli & Elm’s Cooling Whitney Collection. Unlike the Whitney Collection, the Side Sleeper does not utilize Phase Changing Materials in its construction, so experiencing the cooling effects side-by-side would give me an ideal comparison test. In the end, it really did do what they said it would.

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My Side Sleeper Findings

The pillow is heavy and kind of unwieldy—if you hold it with one hand, you feel like it will stretch into oblivion, but if you hold it with two hands, it still figures out a way to spill over your arms. When moving the pillow, it feels as though it’s caught somewhere between liquid and solid despite very clearly just being a fabric pillow stuffed with little squishy noodles. When placed on an immovable surface—like a bed—the pillow takes on a whole different personality. The noodles compress under the weight of your head allowing the half-fingertip-bandage shape to conform to your neck. The Side Sleeper feels like a luxury neck pillow made of pizza dough, and I love it. It can be hard to find a pillow that meets all of your greatest expectations, but Eli & Elm got it right this time. No matter which way I slept or rolled, the pillow was always there, giving me the best cushion experience for all sides of my head. It was both supportive and forgiving, which makes it a perfect pillow for literally anyone.

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When used simultaneously with Eli & Elm’s Whitney Collection, I found myself in one of the most breathable and temperature consistent sleeping environments ever. Sure, getting into the bed was a bit chilly (my house thermostat is pretty consistently set between 55F and 62F morning and night), but once inside, all the high tech cooling fabric started doing its thing and the sheets and pillow quickly adjusted to my body temperature. After a few days of usage, I was curious what the other side of the pillow felt like since the undersides of pillows are always colder—this one was very cold. In a sleepy daze, I strangely couldn’t tell if the pillow was cold because it was damp or just cold—turns out by perching the Side Sleeper on top of my other pillows (covered with the Whitney pillowcases), I created a kind of black hole for heat in between the two cooling fabrics.

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My Side Sleeper Recommendation

Eli & Elm’s Side Sleeper is a magnificent pillow for sleeping, to which I have found no comparison. That said, pillows are generally very versatile and practical, but I don’t think the Side Sleeper shares those traits. Due to its shape, it wouldn’t make for a back or head cushion while playing cards or writing your next novel, and its weight and Jell-O-esque feel make me think traveling with it would be a hassle—its true element is on a bed. The only thing that I’m unsure about at this moment is the stiffness of the pillow. This of course is just a personal problem, because Eli & Elm recommends removing or adding noodles as you go to get the perfect firmness, which I haven’t gotten around to doing. So for all of you prospective buyers and readers out there, if you’re looking for a pillow that is more squishy than firm, make sure you extract some noodles first before deciding it’s not for you! In the off chance the Side Sleeper is just not for you, Eli & Elm has a 45-day risk free trial period so you never have to invest in something you don’t actually like. For me? This is a real keeper and paces miles ahead of the comparable $100 solid bamboo pillow I got online.

Shop the Eli and Elm Side Sleeper Pillow

Primary Goods Cotton Percale Sheets Review

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primary goods sheets

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Primary Goods sent me a 5-piece set of 100% percale sheets in their special February color, “Lilac Snow.” As of this writing, you can get a queen size set for $179. The sheets come with a 100 night trial which means you get to try them in your bed for 100 nights and if you aren’t happy with them, you can return them for a refund. Just bear in mind that you will pay a $19.99 return processing fee for any product that is washed or used. You also need to pay for return shipping.

The sheets came in a pretty nondescript brown shipping box, and when I opened it I was not met with sleek designs or extravagant packaging—I was a bit surprised considering how many other sets come in over the top wrappings.

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Honestly, it was actually kind of refreshing not to have to choose between keeping the packaging to admire like a piece of modern art, and tossing it out. Primary Goods kept it simple with a shipping box and five fabric baggies also known as self packaging, each containing one piece of the percale puzzle. I disassembled the set and started looking over my new purple sleep treasure.

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Primary Goods Construction

One thing I did not account for was how close “Lilac Snow” is to pink. Contrasted on a bright white backdrop, “Lilac Snow” has the slightest discernible hint of purple on their website. In real life, under non-studio lighting, it is actually undeniably ballet slipper pink. I know this for a fact because I spent a few hours freaking out over my perception of colors before asking my roommates and sister what color they see. We all had a flashback to the dress that broke the internet in February 2015—the dress is clearly white and gold in that photo, but I digress.

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The consensus was unanimous: these sheets are not any perceptible shade of purple or violet. Since lilac is a pretty ambiguous color—lilac flowers can range from light red to dark purple and everything in between—I give it a pass with the disclaimer that unless you live in a photography studio or a glass house in sunny southern California, the sheets will be pink. Don’t get me wrong, pink is a great color, but purple is my favorite. On a side note, the sheets are surprisingly shiny (despite Primary Goods calling them “matte”), which made photographing the true colors very challenging, so please keep that in mind as you scroll through the photos.

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I unfolded the sheets and analyzed them closely. Initially the sheets felt a bit rougher than any old set of cotton sheets but Percale is a different weave than sateen and they will be more breathable, also given the weave, percale sheets have a sort of crisper crinkly feel that some people crave.

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My Primary Goods Findings

I followed the laundry directions and washed the sheets in warm water followed by a low heat tumble dry and there was no shrinkage, but they didn’t dry. I had to run the sheets through the dryer a second time to eradicate the dampness. During both sessions they were the only objects in the dryer, but for some reason they needed two hours to dry on low heat, which was frustrating. Pro tip, this happens with comforters and all sorts of bedding. It’s often best to dry the fitted and flat sheet separately so they don’t become entagnled which prolongs the dryng process.

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The corners of the fitted sheet may look like a pink Victorian era dress, but they sure do grip mattress corners well, even if it does seem a bit like overkill. If your sheets are prone to coming loose at night, these will ensure they stay in place.

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I spread the flat sheet out on my bed, set up the duvet, and began testing their signature snapping feature.

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If you go with their signature snapping system to attach the flat sheet to the duvet just keep in mind that this is meant to work as a system. If you use the flat sheet on its own, it will cover the top of the bed but it is not big enough to make the hospital corners.

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The goal of the snap system is to keep you from losing your top sheet an night. The primary purpose of the top sheet is to keep your duvet clean so you don’t have to launder it as often. If you’re disciplined enough to launder the fitted top sheet this is a good system.

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My Primary Goods Recommendation

Honestly, my first night sleeping took some getting used to. You need to get used to the feel of the top sheet being in sync with the duvet. After a few washed these sheet should soften up well and what you get for the money is a good value.

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Shop Primar Goods Sheets

XOcomfort Pillow Review

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XOcomfort Pillow Review

XOcomfort Carbon Series Cooling Pillow by XOcomfort

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The XOcomfort Pillow is real materials science brought to bedding. It’s a customizable shredded memory foam pillow designed for all types of sleepers. Unlike other cooling pillows, the XOcomfort pillow is not cool to the touch, meaning that you can “stay cool” without feeling cold. The secret is within the actual foam itself.

Overview of the XOcomfort Pillow

XOcomfort provides engineered foam products designed to increase comfort. It’s currently used in beds and pillows but is expected to be introduced to other comfort surfaces. It’s built with heat channels which move heat away from the body allowing for easier sleep and relaxation.

The company is currently offering $20 off their pillow (in Queen size)  if you follow the link to their Amazon Product Page directly from their website. The pillow normally retails for $69.99. Also, because it’s a Prime item, Amazon Prime members are able to get this pillow with free 2-day shipping. The company guarantees deep and restorative sleep or your money back within 30 days of purchase.

Construction of the XOcomfort Pillow

This may seem minuscule to some people but one nice thing about this pillow is the option in terms of size. Many pillows come in just a single standard size but in the case of the XOcomfort pillow, it’s available in Standard, Queen and King sizes. The depth of their pillows is about 6 inches but because this is a customizable pillow, that can change based on whether or not you choose to remove any foam from it.

Dimensions for the pillow are as follows:

Standard: 20 inches x 26 inches

Queen: 20 inches x 30 inches

King: 20 inches x 36 inches

The actual foam itself is CertiPUR-US certified. This is a not-for-profit organization that certifies foam based on their standards for content, emissions and durability. There are 6 requirements that need to be met to receive CertiPUR-US certification. They are:

  1. Made without ozone depleters
  2. Made without PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (“Tris) flame retardants
  3. Made without mercury, lead and heavy metals
  4. Made without formaldehyde
  5. Made without prohibited phthalates
  6. Low emission (low VOCs)

My XOcomfort Pillow Findings

I did experience some off-gassing with this pillow so be sure to let it BREATHE. As for the foam itself, it’s certainly interesting. The pillow contained shredded, cross-chopped, cooling memory foam. It’s incredibly soft to the touch and feels so light but when you’re laying on a pillow full of it, it’s actually quite supportive and a bit on the firmer side. The pillowcase also feels soft and I was happy to see that the actual foam itself was contained in a seperate layer, made of a light, opaque and breathable material. Everything looks like it’s of quality. The fabrics, zipper and foam itself all look top-notch. Also for a clean freak, it’s so nice that I don’t need to remove each piece of foam just to wash the pillowcase. God bless! Laying on the pillow, I would have to say that I found it incredibly supportive. As a side-sleeper, I felt it supported that gap between the head and neck really quite nicely.

 

You can access the inside of the pillow with its zippered cover.

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The XOcomfort pillow is created by the same people behind XOcomfort™ Cooling Technology and XOnano Smartfoam™. The XOcomfort pillow is what utilizes their cooling technology, while their smartfoam is a component of another entirely different project and endeavor. You can learn more about that here: https://xonanosmartfoam.com

XOnano Smartfoam is defined as: “an impact sensing technology that can be used to measure the magnitude of impacts in real time. The foam is engineered to create electricity when impacted which correlates to the impact magnitude.” This type of sophisticated smart foam allows data to be collected by way of technologically advanced nano-particles that are much smaller and less complex than sensors currently on the market. They create foam that is impact sensing, pressure sensing, and thermal regulating.

The inventor behind Smartfoam™ is Jake Merrell, who actually sold one of his companies to go back to school to become an engineer. XOnano Smartfoam™ is the commercialization of his Doctoral research at Brigham Young University. Initially, the smartfoam he developed was designed to better address concussions and head injuries that were common among young football athletes. For example, by measuring the impact, a coach could more easily decide whether or not a player should seek medical attention. XOnano is seeing a lot of application in the sports industry and its use will continue to expand into other markets.

You can watch the video below to learn more:

XOnano Smartfoam™ partnered with Rogers Corporation (NYSE:ROG) in Feb of 2018. Rogers Corporation is an electronics industry company and a global leader in engineered materials that power, project and connect the world. The announcement of this partnership was published on the Rogers Corp website itself, further amplifying its significance.

Many companies in the sleep industry say their products are “designed by real engineers” and so on and so forth but I sometimes wonder the validity behind those types of statements. More often than not, it can be difficult to find all the information you’re looking for but I’m happy to say that the company and the people within it are the real deal. If a public company like the Rogers Corporation is confident in them than how can I not be?

My XOcomfort Pillow Recommendation

Because this is a pillow that would require some time before I can report on it’s cooling properties, keep their 30 day guarantee in mind. While I do tend to sleep hot, that’s not the case every night so it varies. Many online reviews show that people are absolutely ecstatic about this thing but as with everything there are some exceptions. On another side note, if you find you’ve tried many cooling pillows but still aren’t seeing a difference, consider whether or not your mattress and/or your bed sheets, blankets, and comforters are conducive to cooler sleep. They might not be.

The XOcomfort pillow was developed by a startup with REAL promise for this venture and beyond. This isn’t just a company that purchases white label pillows from a manufacturer in China. They engineer their own products and the potential of their inventions is staggering.

Shop the XO pillow

Pacific Coast Lunesse Comforter Review

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Pacific Coast Lunesse Comforter Review

Overview of the Lunesse Comforter

The Lunesse Comforter is a mid-range White Goose Down comforter made by Pacific Coast, a company who understands that the devil is in the details. The company gives you a 30 Night Comfort Guarantee to make sure that you absolutely love the comforter and honestly, it’s difficult not to. The purchase includes an Allergy Free Limited Warranty as well as a 10 Year Limited Warranty. With 600 Fill Power, it’s more than adequate for cold, winter days and the batiste cotton, that’s known to be one of its most distinguishing features, is one of the lightest fabrics in the industry, allowing for a comforter that isn’t heavy and one that can maintain it’s poof with ease. The goose down is also sourced responsibly which is a nice plus.

lunesse goose down comforter on bed

Construction of the Lunesse Comforter

The Lunesse comforter is available in two sizes: Queen and King. The measurements are as follows:

Full/Queen: 90” x 98”

King/CalKing: 108” x 98”

The comforter’s most essential ingredient, the goose down, is sewn into a barrier weave down proof fabric that keeps feathers from flying. Also, to be more specific, goose down doesn’t refer to traditional feathers, (such as quills, which would be the main wing or tail feathers) but the soft material found on the breast of a goose. Down clusters are described to be light, soft and fluffy. They have no hard elements. It’s known for all of this as well as it’s unbelievable (aka magical) insulating properties.

This goose down comforter has been sewn with 370 thread count batiste cotton fabric which is known to be 30% lighter than other comparable fabrics. Batiste is defined as “a fine cloth made from cotton, wool, polyester, or a blend, and is the softest of the lightweight opaque fabrics.” Aside from preventing you from feeling like your blanket weighs too much, or is suffocating somehow, fabric like this allows the down feathers to breathe and maintain their loft. In this case, the fabric is utilized to literally not weigh things down.

opaque batiste cotton fabric in comforter

Moving on to the inside, the duvet consists of 600 fill power of Hyperclean® white goose down. One person mentioned in their review of the product, on the company page, that the comforter was “noisy,” further explaining that, “it is crinkly sounding and is annoying while sleeping or even just lounging in bed. Also the loft is very thin. It is not fluffy at all. Very flat and thin.”

But this individual was just unfortunately uninformed and besides, my out-of-the-box experience was much different. The company wrote back explaining that as a result of the nature of down proof fabric, that the material can be stiff when new, which can result in the noise this person was experiencing. The same remedy to soften the fabric is one that would also open up the down clusters to give it the decadent feel (and loft) it was missing from out-of-the-box. Pacific Coast Bedding recommends the following:

If you have access to a large dryer, place your comforter with a couple of clean tennis balls (or dryer balls), a fabric softener sheet, and lightly damp washcloth. Tumble your comforter on low heat until the washcloth is dry, for most dryers 15-20 minutes. The steam from the washcloth will open up the down clusters, while the fabric softener sheet will soften the fabric without adhering to the down.

As consumers, something we must keep in mind is that companies need to do a lot of different things to deliver their products to us in a way that is feasible for all parties. Pillows are often compressed and the same goes for bedding. It will always come folded. Figuring out how the product should perform best is reliant upon our own investigation.

My Lunesse Comforter Findings

When you touch the comforter by hand, or when you feel it above you, it’s evident that this is a high quality product. That’s because you can FEEL only softness. There are no quills, no roughness, no hard spots, nothing that appears to not belong. It’s of quality because of its consistency.

I saw a tiny little cluster of down in the air only once, about 1 cm in size, and that was it. The manner in which the batiste cotton fabric was sewn must be meticulous to allow air to circulate but to not allow any of the down to escape from it. It’s actually really quite impressive when you think about how much goose down, how many clusters had to be used, in a single comforter.

lunesse comforter digital drawing

The sewn through box design and the comfort lock border is a must and I can’t imagine a manufacturer creating a product like this without it. I have seen comforters made of synthetic materials sewn in a different manner but this grid-like compartment system is key because the down wouldn’t stay in place otherwise and it also works to keep it evenly distributed, which works well not only in terms of aesthetics but also in terms of efficiency.

pacific coast comforter duvet loop corner

Their printed duvet loops were a real treat. This type of comforter is not one you just throw on top of your bed. It belongs in a duvet cover, to protect it and to dress it as you like. Without these duvet loops, the comforter would absolutely not have stayed in place throughout the night. My partner moves around in bed and it’s frustrating enough to find pillows on the floor or the bed sheets all pulled to one side but it’s always nice to see that the duvet hasn’t moved (because it can’t, yay!)

SUITABLE FOR WINTER USE ONLY?

One comment that I made in the video was that I would not recommend this comforter for any season except for winter but that might have been far too quick of an assumption. I do heat my home considerably and didn’t initially factor this in when trying out the comforter. Goose down duvet regulates temperature itself and you heating up your home or heating it up too much may make this sort of comforter feel excessive.

It’s not labeled to be an all-season comforter but it is said to be good for varying climates. Apparently all-season duvet comforters come in a set of 2, one which is lighter, the other thicker, so be mindful to read everything when you’re shopping around. In this case, the comforter is only a single layer.

My Pacific Coast Lunesse Comforter Recommendation

In comparison to duck down, goose down is definitely the better option and not because it’s traditionally the more POPULAR option. In fact, it’s been the more popular option because goose down is harvested in larger clumps and makes for a lighter and more efficient insulator in comparison to duck down, which can only be harvested in smaller clumps. There are also a lot more ducks than geese, typically resulting in lower production costs but goose down is still the more premium material.

I love this comforter. The Lunesse Goose Down Comforter is exactly the kind of luxury that’s been missing from my life. Winter is not my favorite season and getting through it always comes with some struggle.

lunesse comforter construction

While I’m from Europe, Poland specifically, and while goose down pillows and comforters are the standard in Europe, I don’t remember what my experience was like sleeping with goose down products as a kid because I left the country when I was young. In America, goose down isn’t the standard here because it’s not as readily available. Because it is a more premium product in the states, the price of it can be just as exclusive. This comforter is no excuse in that regard but it’s not the highest priced I’ve seen. It’s also not just priced high for the sake of it; it legitimately comes down to quality and I feel that this is a high quality item. I’ve never felt so comforted and so warm from a comforter. I really did feel insulated as if I was in my own cocoon.

One thing that I wasn’t very impressed with and that I would change immediately is the packaging. It was really nothing special. The plastic comforter blanket storage bag was relatively cheap and plain. It was difficult to unzip as one of the zippers were defective but I was happy there were two so there was no need to reach for the box cutter. The branding overall could be better and the first place I’d improve that is with their physical presentation of the product. While Pacific Coast does have affordable options as far as down comforters go, I still think there’s no reason why they can’t improve the covers they package they comforters in. It’d be nice if it was more durable and looked nicer, not just because I would like it but because if this is supposed to be perceived as high end, even if it is the more affordable end of high end, it still needs to look like the luxury good that it is.

lunesse comforter before unboxing

The unboxing experience is always the most exciting but there was something else that upset me a little. When I had opened the package, the product cover didn’t actually specify that it was in fact the Lunesse Comforter so, I had assumed that I might have gotten the wrong item. Lunesse wasn’t written anywhere. I checked the item number on the order number and compared it to the invoice that was attached and it was the same. I also called the company to check the UPC code and they confirmed that I did, in fact, receive the correct item. Shortly after, I found out that they had actually decided to discontinue the item, which could be the reason behind the uninteresting packaging and why they might have gone with something more generic. You can still find the Lunesse product page online but you’ll see that there’s no inventory and that it has been removed from the main down comforter product listing page.

I called Pacific Coast Feather Company to get a suggestion of what comforters would work best in replacement of the Lunesse Comforter and there were two I was recommended: The Deluxe Oversized Comforter and the Supima Cotton Luxury Down Comforter. I put together a table below to help you understand the similarities and differences between the three.

Overall I’m really impressed with the company, with their products and how they carry themselves overall (customer service was very gracious and informative). Packaging appearance could use an upgrade but the actual product itself is a solid one.

Heavenluxe Tencel Sheets Review

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Heavenluxe Tencel Sheets Review
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I received a set of white Luxe Austrian Tencel sheets from Heavenluxe, wrapped in plastic and taped thoroughly to conform to the shape of their simplistic white box.

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There was little to no information on the box aside from the company name, their website, the product name, and box contents.

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I was impressed with how clean and no-nonsense the whole package was, but when I opened it up there was a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt on the underside of the top flap.

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It’s a great quote, but the font was atrocious. For a company that has such a clean and professional look to their products and website, I was baffled as to why they would choose a Lucida Handwriting-esque font that you might see on a tacky Get Well Soon card from Hallmark. The juxtaposition of the clean sans-serif logo below the bubbly cursive was striking, but not as striking as the sheets.

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Heavenluxe Sheets Construction

The sheets inside were so incredibly shiny and reflective, they almost seemed to emit their own light when tousled on the couch. The folds and ripples gave a kind of depth to the sheets that I have never seen before on any kind of fabric—I love shiny things, and I loved these sheets immediately.

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Nailing a first impression can be hard if you’re just selling plain white sheets unless there’s something special about them, and for Heavenluxe that special something is a fabric composition that feels extraordinary. Never have I ever felt a softer set of sheets in my life.

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I followed the directions on the tag to wash in cold water and dry on low heat, which only made them feel more luxurious and soft—I didn’t think that was even possible. I put the sheets on my bed and slipped in between my covers and instantly was smitten.

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My Heavenluxe Findings

Sleeping on Heavenluxe Tencel Luxe sheets is like laying on a cloud made of a single whispy breath of fresh air. I’m often skeptical when manufacturers advertise their products as being “silky smooth,” because 9 times out of 10 it’s an exaggeration. I will tell you now, these sheets really truly are silky smooth. The seams are perfect and nearly invisible, making the sheets sleek and elegant.

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They’re smoother and softer than the Peachskin microfiber sheets, so I had high hopes, but I also knew that with extreme softness comes a hurdle for me—they get hot. To my delight though, the sheets weren’t too hot or too cold. The Tencel fabric is warm, but definitely not as warm as the Peachskins. The Heavenluxe set is breathable, smooth, and beyond comfortable, but I did find some issues.

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Costs and Benefits

Where Heavenluxe exceeds in softness and sheen, it unfortunately fails in accessibility. Honestly, I did not see the itemized list until after I opened everything and discovered for myself that they only included a fitted sheet and two pillow cases. I use a flat sheet every time I make my bed, and when I purchase a set of sheets for $297 I expect it to include a flat sheet… so I was a bit disappointed. I personally have never heard of a sheet set that doesn’t have a flat sheet, but maybe I’m not looking in the right places. I wish that I had had a flat sheet so I could have the full experience, but they don’t even have that as an option on their website—you can only order the three-piece bed set. So instead I had to improvise with mismatched sheets. $297 is a lot to spend when you have to go out and buy more sheets just to have the average number of sheets. It feels like opening a birthday present on your 8th birthday only to find that it doesn’t come with batteries.

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After washing the sheets, two things stood out to me. The first was that after following the laundry instructions to a “T,” the sheets were shedding. I found threads all over the place and I have no idea where they came from or why they’re abandoning ship.

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While the seams look so slick and non-existent, they do feel a bit delicate. I was almost worried that if I made my bed a little too hard one day, the seams would rip. After some research, I learned that Austrian Tencel is actually one of the most durable fabrics that sheets can be made of so I’m not worried, however the sheets did shrink. This is the first set of sheets I’ve received that has shrunk in their first wash (despite following the laundry instructions), and they did so by a whole inch and a half. Not a big deal, but I rarely see any shrinkage in my cold washes.

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My Heavenluxe Recommendations

So why $297? It’s actually a reasonable price if you’re looking for authentic Tencel sheets. This 47-year-old fabric pales in comparison to the 7000 year track record of cotton, but age doesn’t mean a thing when you have the credentials of eucalyptus wood pulp fibers. Tencel is 500x thinner than cotton and 20x more moisture-wicking. What really amazes me is that this new eucalyptus fabric uses 96% less water and 30% less energy than cotton, making its environmental impact virtually zero. Heavenluxe transforms this renewable and sustainable resource into fabric through an environmentally friendly production process. They even donate a percentage of every sale to local charities that fund children’s educational programs.

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So while Austrian Tencel sheets may be expensive, the night’s sleep you will get from them is worth more than the $300 you’ll spend on a fitted sheet and two pillowcases. Aside from the great zzz’s, you will be contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable world, and a future generation of well-educated kids. When it comes down to it, I’m in love with plant-based alternative sustainable materials, so ultimately despite my reservations around price and lack of variety, I think buying from Heavenluxe would be a great investment for any sleep aficionado. You can learn more about Tencel sheets here!

Magic Linen Duvet Review

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Magic Linen Review

[vc_column_text class=”sleep-sherpa-exclusive-deal”]Sherpa DealGet $10% off your Magic Linen purchase with coupon code SLEEPSHERPA10 at checkout Activate Here[/vc_column_text]

 

 

I received a gray-blue linen duvet set from MagicLinen in Lithuania to review. Unlike the sheets from PeachSkin and Homestead, MagicLinen did not impress me in the presentation department. The presentation was definitely reserved and modest—the sheets were neatly folded in a small package wrapped in ribbon donning the MagicLinen logo, but that was mailed in just a regular brown box.

Obviously, presentation isn’t everything, so I definitely don’t put too much weight in that, especially since it had to travel so far. MagicLinen is a small, family-run company in Vilnius, Lithuania that makes high-quality linen, so it’s really impressive that they are able to mail their products internationally for only $15.

MagicLinen Construction

MagicLinen’s high-quality linen products are made from fibers of the European flax plant that have been stone-washed for maximum comfort. This durable textile is breathable and cool during the summer, yet warm and comfortable during the winter. Linen absorbs moisture well and releases it quickly, drying out fast.

I had heard that linen can be scratchy and irritating to sensitive skin, but upon reading more on the subject, I learned that linen actually possesses rare hypoallergenic and anti-microbial properties—it’s a natural antiseptic that kills bacteria and fungi. Amazingly, it can reduce inflammation and cure some skin diseases—from common rashes to eczema.

Right out of the box, the duvet cover and pillowcases felt distinctly different from other fabrics that I’ve tried in the past, but they were definitely not scratchy. The tail end of the duvet cover sported attractive wooden buttons, and the head end had handy tie-ins to keep the duvet in place (some don’t have them).

The instructions told me to turn all three pieces inside-out before throwing them into a cold wash followed by a gentle low heat drying cycle. Coming out of the dryer, however, they were wrinkly which is to be expected of linen.

My MagicLinen Findings

Even after putting them on my bed and pillows, they remained wrinkly. However, I absolutely do not care because when I laid down on my bed waiting for the rest of my laundry dry, I felt like I was on a wistful beach getaway on the Nantucket coast basking in the sunny seabreeze. Eventually, the wrinkles do relax and if you really care about that sort of thing you can certainly iron them.

My house does not have a view of the ocean nor do I live on Nantucket but for some reason these sheets evoked pure relaxation on a luxurious summer vacation. Lounging on my bed, binge-watching “New Girl,” the duvet cover was warmer yet airier than the ice cold duvet that I’m used to. Curling up with the linen cover tucked under one half of my head, and a linen pillow case under the other became a kind of highlight to my evening. Sometimes it’s hard for me to fall asleep, but for the past week I have had no trouble at all.

I combined my MagicLinen bedding with my Homestead cotton sheets for a dynamic duo of solid Zzzs. It was a really nice change of pace from the sweaty and balmy experience I had in the PeachSkin sheets. I thankfully did not wake up in the middle of the night, grasping for my fan, and kicking off my duvet cover; I think I have fallen in love.

My MagicLinen Recommendation

With a price tag of $206, it’s similar to the Homestead sheets in that it is, unfortunately, a bit inaccessible. Online, you can find good quality 3-piece linen duvet sets anywhere from $40 to $110, but none of them are going to be like MagicLinen.

MagicLinen prides itself on being a descendant of Baltic linen growing, sewing, and weaving traditions spanning hundreds of years. Centuries of tradition and advancement in textile work has brought MagicLinen to the forefront of eco-friendly linen products. They use only European OEKO-tex certified, high-quality linen when they hand make all of their products. The fabric is cut and sewn by tailors rather than machines or children, making their supply chain more ethical than most of those cheaper brands.

So if you find yourself wishing you could enjoy a dreamy sleep-cation reminiscent of every perfect beach house stock photo you’ve ever lived vicariously through, I can honestly say that this is a duvet set to splurge on. I would love to try the sheets one day, because I have a feeling they will be just as magnificent.

Learn more about Magic Linen

[vc_column_text class=”sleep-sherpa-exclusive-deal”]Sherpa DealGet $10% off your Magic Linen purchase with coupon code SLEEPSHERPA10 at checkout Activate Here[/vc_column_text]

Luxe Pillow Review

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Luxe Pillow Review 1

The Luxe Pillow

The Luxe Pillow is a new approach to the traditional pillow. Its most appealing asset is its unique construction, which involves three separate chambers within the pillow. It looks like any other ordinary pillow but its central core is what allows it to provide the support that other pillows might not be able to.

Overview of The Luxe Pillow

luxe pillow packaging and unboxing

The Luxe Pillow is available in goose down, as well as in a poly-fiber gel, a high-quality goose down alternative. Both pillow types are available in standard and king sizes. Luxe Pillow offers free shipping and returns on their items, a 100-night no risk sleep trial, and they use responsibly sourced goose down. This matters because responsibly sourced isn’t just an indication of company values but of a higher quality product overall.

Construction of The Luxe Pillow

luxe pillow unboxing and review

The Luxe Poly FiberGel Down Alternative Pillow is available in both Standard and King sizes.

For it’s construction, there is a dedicated core that’s been chiseled out, along with two additional chambers. This core provides stability, not allowing it to fall flat like other pillows might. It is also much more subtle in design than I realized and practically speaking, this is a plus as it’s not something distracting. I tried pushing down on the pillow hoping to find it but couldn’t exactly. I think the subtlety matters. It’s not supposed to be noticeable, it’s just supposed to be effective. That’s the point!

My Luxe Pillow Findings

luxe pillow detail

Luxe Pillow uses sustainably sourced white goose down and small-game waterfowl feather. The way they’ve designed it, to give you the best bang for your buck, is they filled the supportive core with high-quality waterfowl feather, which refers typically to ducks or similar animals, waterfowl are animals that like and live by the water. These types of feathers are either denser or more affordable so they can use larger quantities of it to create that internal support. The two external chambers are filled with goose down to provide the unique softness it’s known for. Despite the feathers, these pillows are certified to be hypo-allergenic and there is a 300 Thread Count Pillow Protector included.

For their down alternative pillows, they use Poly Fiber Gel which is an absolutely wonderful substitute. As someone who regularly sleeps with down pillows, I wouldn’t exaggerate.

To see my thoughts on the Down Alternative Pillow by Luxe Pillow, and to see me compare it to a Goose Down (and only Goose Down) Pillow, take a look at the video below that debuted on the Yawnder YouTube Channel.

 

The Luxe Pillow® vs The Pillow Guy: Construction, Price & Packaging Comparison

I consider the Pillow Guy company to be a direct competitor because of how similar these price points are, as well as because both cater their marketing to those interested in luxury living and therefore those looking to purchase luxury goods.

In terms of price, Pillow Guy is definitely the more expensive brand. Luxe Pillow, on the other hand, is still trying to bring value to its customers. The biggest differentiating factor in terms of price between these two brands lies in the price of their goose down pillows. I’m including the chart below to help you better understand these costs more clearly.

PILLOW TYPETHE LUXE PILLOWPILLOW GUY PILLOW
Standard Goose Down Pillow$129$189
King Goose Down Pillow$149$239
Set of 2 Standard Down Pillows

$229

(Saves you $29)

$329

(Saves you $49)

Set of 2 King Down PillowsNot available in King size

$449

(Saves you $29)

Standard Poly-Fiber Gel Pillow$79$79
King Poly-Fiber Gel Pillow$99$99
Set of 2 Standard Poly Fiber Pillows

$139

(Saves you $19)

$149

(Saves you $9)

Set of 2 King Poly Fiber PillowsNot available in King size

$179

(Saves you $19)

The reason for these price differences in the goose down products can vary. I’m assuming that it can come down to either quantity/weight of goose down, the quality of the goose down, advertising costs or simply a matter of brand perception.

With the Luxe pillow, the core of their down pillows does contain small-game waterfowl feather. This difference in composition might be what cuts cost for Luxe Pillow, allowing them to charge less for it. Goose-down in the states certainly falls on the higher end of the spectrum, typically of which consumers are well aware of.

The way I see it is if you’re particular about how you like things and you “MUST HAVE GOOSE DOWN,” I’m assuming you’ll disregard the price in exchange for getting what you want. If you, however, want to keep an open mind and are looking to save a little bit of money then the Luxe Pillow is a great alternative. We are talking about a $100 difference for a set of 2 Standard Down Pillows, for example.

luxe pillow branding

Both companies charging the same price for their down alternative pillows makes a lot of sense, being that they’re both constructed with the same material, poly-fiber gel. Their costs for this must be close to identical depending on the quantities it’s being purchased in but I’ll tell you first hand, poly-fiber gel feels amazing. It felt amazing with the Pillow Guy Pillow and it feels amazing with the Luxe Pillow too. I think that both companies offer these at reasonable rates considering these are higher end products that are beautifully constructed.

One thing that stood out tremendously to me is the difference in packaging, referring to the initial experience a consumer has with a company’s product. The Pillow Guy packaging was rather plain but Luxe Pillow went all out and something like this makes all the difference for me. Check out my review of the Pillow Guy Pillow to see what I’m referring to.

My Luxe Pillow Recommendation

luxe pillow letter from founder

Overall I’m quite impressed with the Luxe Pillow and it’s creators. The one thing that’s missing is their company story. I’m curious to learn what it is. Their website doesn’t have an “about” section and that’s a great place where a company can gradually build rapport with consumers. In this time and age brand loyalty is gained not just through the creation of great products but by sharing the WHY of what they do. Simon Sinek elaborates greatly on this topic in his Ted Talk entitled, “How great leaders inspire action.” Companies that are willing to share the story behind who they are and what they make are more likely to provoke an emotional reaction from their customers. Right now, Luxe Pillow, to me, does not have a face and I think it should be wearing someone’s. In my opinion, that’s all they need.

Learn more about the Luxe Pillo

Homestead Sheets Review

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I was given a set of 100% Organic Cotton Sateen sheets from Homestead to review. When I first opened the box I was surprised—the whole shebang was wrapped up like an elegant gift, complete with ribbon, handwritten note, and packing doingles. The presentation was impressive, and clearly displayed the care, time, and effort put into Homestead and their products. The free tote was definitely a plus—you can never have too many reusable bags.

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Homestead Sheets Construction

Now the sheets, at first they felt soft, but if I’m honest, I was slightly disappointed when I slept in them the first time. For the first few nights I really couldn’t see what was so great about them. They felt almost exactly like one of my other, cheaper bedding sets made of 60/40 Pima cotton/polyester that I got for $50 at an overstock store. I admit I was wrong. This is my first set of high quality sheets, so I didn’t know exactly what to look for.

Like many others, I was under the impression that a higher thread count meant higher quality sheets, but after reading up on the subject a bit, I found out that is not necessarily the case. The quality of the sheet comes from the materials used, rather than the thread count. In this case, Homestead uses organic, long staple cotton and special weave techniques to achieve their highest quality sheets (a cotton staple is the unit used to measure the length of the plant fibers). The longer the week went by and the more I slept in them, the more I was able to differentiate them from that kind of harsh, cold, feel of my old sheets. While Homestead’s 300 thread count cotton sheets felt softer than my 500 thread count polyester blend sheets, they somehow did not feel as soft as my 700 thread count 100% polyester sheets. I think that what held me back from fully appreciating Homestead’s sheets was how they didn’t quite match the delicate feel of those 700 sheets, but while softness is important, it is not everything.

 

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My Homestead Findings

At the end of the day (or I guess week), I’ve slept quite well in them, and have even had better nights sleep than with my old sets. After a week of breaking them in, the sheets really came into their own and I started to feel that warm cotton feel that they tout. As someone who tends to run hot at night, when I read on their website that the sateen weave yields a soft and warm sheet, I was concerned I might get too hot—there’s nothing worse than a sweaty night’s sleep. I realized later that while they were definitely warm, they weren’t too warm, which was a relief. Homestead says that with every wash, their ultra-soft sateen sheets get softer, and seeing as I’ve only washed them once and they’re already quite soft, I’m curious where they can go from there.

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After washing the sheets, they fit well and there was no shrinkage. The seams were 14.5 inches from corner to the inside of the elastic band; 15 inches to the outside edge. I followed the instructions on the tag to wash them in cold water and dry them on low heat, so I expect they might shrink in a warm wash and dry cycle, like most cotton fabrics.

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Cost and Benefits

The sheets come in at around $200, but while you get a warm embrace to coerce you back into REM sleep, you also get a sound 8 hours knowing that your money went to an exceptional cause—something that not many bedding companies can say. While you can get 100% cotton sheets just about anywhere for much much less, you’re contributing to the fair trade industry by just investing a little bit more in sheets like these from Homestead.

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Homestead prides themselves on promising high ethical and environmental standards every step of the way. No forced labor or discriminatory practices are used in their manufacturing process, and all production workers along their supply chain are paid a fair, living wage for their work, with benefits. The cotton behind Homestead’s line-up is 100% organic, which means no pesticides, insecticides, or fungicides are used in the the cultivation of their crops. Cutting out these sprays means also cutting out the greenhouse gases that would normally be emitted during their manufacturing operations.

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My Homestead Recommendation

Trying Homestead’s 100% organic cotton sateen sheet set has opened my eyes to a new world of bedding, through an experience that isn’t accessible to everyone. When I was last shopping for bedding (and I bought the 700 thread count set), I was more focused on the thread count and price rather than the materials and footprint it might have. Of course while budget is not always flexible for some customers, thread count and material are definitely variable choices that can be made. Next time you go shopping for sheets, consider weighing material over thread count and you definitely will not regret it. When you buy Homestead’s products, you’re not only investing in your sleep, but you’re also investing in social and environmental good for a better humanity, and I think that is what really gives these basic cotton sheets their value.

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The Cubes Pillow Review

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Cubes Pillow

 

Overview of the Cubes Pillow

The Cubes Pillow is a collaboration between F1F2 and Nightform Lab. It is the world’s first geometric structure pillow that is made of 70 internal and connected cubes. This is a pillow in which you will not find shredded foam or goose down feathers. It’s construction is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before and it even has 2 reversible sides to suit any sleeper, one that is firm and one that is soft. This type of interchangeability is just one out of many of it’s impressive features.

The creators have been on a 2 year journey from it’s initial design to their first shipment of the product.

 

Construction of the Cubes Pillow

The Cubes Pillow comes in 1 size only and measures 22 x 14 x 4 inches. It weighs 500g and is constructed with graphene nanocomposite foam which can also otherwise be classified as 100% polyurethane. The pillow comes with a modal fiber sleeve made of 95% modal jersey fabric and 5% spandex. The spandex portion means it’s best that it’s air dried, since the heat of a dryer will burn through these fibers. The pillow itself cannot be washed

My Cubes Pillow Findings

The most impressive thing about The Cubes Pillow is how much intention it was designed with. It’s creators have made a valiant effort in proving and educating others on how their pillow is different and why it’s better. There has been countless scientific research that has gone into its creation and refinement. Their marketing effort alone is evidence that their intention isn’t to sell but to inform consumers.

The individual materials used in the Cubes Pillow creation have been specifically chosen for how they can aid in a restful sleep. The graphene nanocomposite foam that they’ve used is designed specifically to be thermoregulating, bacteria resistant and odor controlling. The actual structure of the pillow itself also has purpose behind it. The connected cube formation helps to keep you cool at night since it promotes breathability aka air ventilation.

The structure of the pillow itself does a lot for a sleeper being that it’s created with stress relieving memory foam. Along with the helpful properties of the foam, the Cubes Pillow patented hinge structure “elevates the level of support from two-dimensional to three-dimensional.” Each cube is designed to work as a spring, providing legitimate 360-degree support. When all of these cubes work together, they can both individually and collectively support any weight that is applied to it. This also makes it easy for the pillow to bounce back to its original shape.

Additionally, the modal pillowcase is designed with a high tech fabric that is moisture wicking and also breathable, which further allows one to sleep cool.

The Cubes Pillow has been found to help with snoring issues, insomnia, and also in extending stage 3 and stage 4 of sleep, which are known to be the deep sleep stages which provide the most restorative sleep.

My Cubes Pillow Recommendation

The Cubes Pillow is not a novelty item. This pillow is the future.

Shop the Cubes Pillow

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