How Honeydew Sleep pillows helped me create the sleep oasis of my dreams

Pillows have been somewhat of an afterthought in my house until recently, when the fast-approaching threat of turning 35 told me those pesky neck creaks weren’t getting any better and perhaps I should pay more mind to the flattened rocks upon which I was resting my head.

Honeydew initially reached out while I was working on a piece about dorm room necessities, and the reading I did on the company convinced me it was time to invest in a couple of quality pillows. They beat me to the punch, though, and sent over a generous package including the Classic Scrumptious Pillow, the Essence Side Sleeper pillow, and the Body By Honeydew, a human sized support pillow.

The trio was packaged beautifully and compactly in a large box filled with the three individual boxes inside. Much like the Tuft & Needle Hybrid Mattress recently reviewed on Wishlist, the Honeydew pillows are shrunk down in vacuum packaging to make them easy to transport.

I unwrapped each carefully and let them plump up while I unraveled the lush, satiny Bamboo pillowcases the company included and stuffed each plump pillow into its respective covering.

The first thing I noticed was the helpful band around the Classic Scrumptious–I’d read earlier that it helps the pillow maintain its height so you’re not sinking down into it, which is a bonus for me since I tend to me a stomach or side sleeper. Now a week later, I see that’s absolutely true and extremely helpful in cutting down on how much I toss and turn each night.

My next observation was the body pillow’s perfect size. I’ve had my eye on one of those giant pregnancy pillows for quite a while now (despite being nowhere near motherhood) because I love the way they seem to cradle you and provide extra support so when I’m propped on my side, I don’t fall off balance or wake up feeling like I’m tumbling over a cliff.

The first full night of sleep was a fun adjustment, as I felt like I’d climbed into a fancy hotel bed rather than my mid-quality queen. Our bed is situated in a corner, so I placed the body pillow along the wall and stacked the Essence and Classic. I’m used to needing two crummy pillows to feel supported, but it turns out there’s absolutely no need for that with these plump sleepers, so I settled on just the Essence with its innovative shape that lets you rest your head on the pillow sideways while its special shape curves up and doesn’t interfere with your neck or shoulders–look below to see for yourself.

I awoke feeling more rested that I’m used to, with less neck strain and grogginess and immediately knew the pillows were helping. A little reconfiguring the next night saw me hugging the Essence with my head on the Classic while cuddled up with the body pillow at my back, and let me tell you: This combo was and remains a winner. It was like nuzzling up to rest inside a dreamy oasis where I was protected from stress, nightmares, and overheating, even on the hottest summer nights.

No offense to my husband, but hugging something plush but sturdy that stays cool all night is a revelation. I felt supported without being suffocated, and I could align my body to rest the way that felt most natural, rather than settling for whatever comfort I could find. The number of times I wake up is fewer, if at all, and I don’t find myself shifting every two minutes while I’m trying to wind down for the night.

In the 10 days since switching to Honeydew, I’ve even taken back up the luxury of a 20-minute midday nap on my lunch break that working from home allows. It’s not even that I feel like I need it, it’s just so tempting to crawl back into bed and let the stresses of the daily grind melt away temporarily as I lounge luxuriously. Before, I’d sometimes eke out a quick nap and wake up groggier than before with a sore neck, but there’s something that feels like intentional and meaningful self-care about resting amid a cocoon of Honeydew pillows.

Below I’ll outline a bit more on each model I tried, but overall I highly recommend giving these pillows a try if you’re in the market for an upgrade. The genius shape, cool-touch feel, and incredible support they provide is stellar and will give you a beautiful night’s rest.

The Classic Scrumptious Pillow

Honeydew Sleep

Honeydew Scrumptious

This is the standard by which to measure pillow greatness.

The ribbon in the middle is nice and decorative, but it also helps maintain plumpness and integrity throughout the night so you’re not rolling into the flat part of the pillow or sinking so deep you can’t breathe. It’s so, so soft, too, and the 100% Organic Bamboo pillowcases you can buy with them are worth every penny.

Honeydew

$99.00

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Body by Honeydew

Honeydew Sleep

Body by Honeydew

This overstuffed dream weaver is the cream of the crop in my opinion. In addition to providing the deep comfort of full-body support, you can rest it between your knees while curled up on it to align your spine, improve apnea symptoms, and get better quality rest all night. Get the matching pillowcase to make the experience feel even more lush.

Honeydew

$149.00

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The Essence Side Sleeper

Honeydew Sleep

The Essence Side Sleeper

As a partial side sleeper, this one earns its name well by working exactly as planned. I love the unique shape and curve that feels custom-designed to support your neck and head, and the quilting seems to cushion my noggin perfectly as I doze off. There’s barely any heat buildup, unlike other brands, so you won’t wake up at 3am drenched in sweat and stuck to your pillow.

Honeydew

$79.00

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