Gaiam Organic Cotton + Wool Pillow : Rest Easy

I can totally relate to the story about the princess and the pea. Who can sleep unless their bedding is perfectly comfortable?

For me, comfort means that my pillow is not too soft, not overstuffed, doesn't develop a huge crater in the center where my head rests, and is made out of natural products. If it's also naturally resistant to mold, mildew, bacteria, and dust mites, as is the Gaiam Organic Cotton + Wool pillow I've been testing for months, then it's a keeper.

Some people still have outdated notions about wool; they think it's scratchy or too hot or too hard to care for. They are missing out. Wool is an incredible material with so many uses. I love my wool pillow for many of the same reasons I love wearing wool -- it breathes, dries quickly, and is naturally odor resistant, which all mean that my pillow never smells funky; it's equally comfortable in hot or cold temperatures; it's fibers are also incredibly resilient and springy, so my pillow doesn't get matted down after use or break into little clumps on the inside. (Wool is also flame resistant.)

I've been using my Gaiam Organic Cotton + Wool pillow for months, and it feels the same as it did the day I got it. No lumps. It feels like there are several layers of wool densely packed into the 250-thread-count organic cotton cover. I'm usually a side sleeper, so this pillow is just the right thickness for me. My head feels supported, and more important, my face rests against natural materials. Sometimes I use this pillow as a body pillow; I either hold it or place it between my knees when I sleep, or, when I want to sleep on my stomach, I place it under my torso to raise my body enough that I can still use another pillow under my head.

It's a huge bonus for me that dust mites don't like wool. Because of this, and because wool needs to breathe, I don't use an allergy cover on this pillow.

It may sound silly, but I feel healthier using a wool pillow. I feel like I'm doing the right thing for my respiratory system and for the planet. I'm highly allergic to down (and I can't stand down pillows -- they don't provide any support), and I'm so over the super cheap (i.e., less than $10) "hypoallergenic" pillows I used to buy because I didn't really think there was a difference between pillows. I used to think that having a cheap pillow and tossing it when it was spent was smarter than investing in a good pillow. I was wrong. I'll never take my pillow quality for granted again. I can't go back now.

Maybe this pillow, and other products reviewed on this site, seem expensive, but I've started reevaluating how I make shopping decisions. I'm a seriously budget-conscious person, with no expendable income, so I consider my purchases very carefully. It comes down to a lifestyle choice...

I'd rather save up and have a quality pillow that works for me, is good for my health, and will last for years than spend the same amount of money buying and replacing lesser quality pillows over a period of time.

Eco Creds: Shell made out of organic cotton, with wool fill.

Bottom Line: Wool is a magic fiber that performs well, is high quality, and provides plenty of comfort. This pillow lives up to my royal standards!--E.D. (June '10)

BUY ONLINE : $68

Manufacturer's Site: www.gaiam.com

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