The “So Soft” Down Pillow That Made My Neck Pain Disappear (It’s on Sale!)

I’ve always had trouble falling asleep and getting comfy at night. I’ve got hip and neck pain, and usually wake up with a stiff back — and I’m only in my early 30s. Since I began working at Apartment Therapy more than two years ago, I’ve learned a lot about pillows — most importantly that you’re supposed to get new pillows every two years (which I definitely hadn’t been doing prior). After a year of using a silk pillow from Cozy Earth, I noticed it was a bit too firm for my needs. I was starting to wake up with more neck pain than usual, so I decided to throw my hat in the ring for testing a pillow for our Best List. 

I chose a pillow from The Company Store, a brand that I really like. I reviewed one of the brand’s coverlets, which is perfect for transitional weather, in the spring and was impressed by the quality. The pillow I was assigned was a down pillow, a type of pillow that I hadn’t slept on in a few years. I had put a memory foam, a silk pillow, and a down alternative pillow to the test, but down felt a bit old-fashioned to me, though I kept an open mind. 

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This pillow is made out of 50% down and 50% feather blend. The pillow has an OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification and is double-stitched. It comes in soft, medium, and firm, and three different sizes, including standard, queen, and king. I picked standard size and medium firmness — I have TMJ in addition to the neck pain, so I like a pillow to have a little fluffy/cloudlike feel to ensure that I won’t wake up with my face hurting in the morning. This happened with a memory foam pillow last year, which is why I will not sleep with one ever again!

When I first unboxed the pillow, I was honestly concerned that it was too low-profile and soft for my side-sleeping habits. It seemed like the pillow was well-made, but I was worried for my neck muscles. These anxieties were quickly dispelled after sleeping on the pillow consistently for the past six months. My neck pain has virtually disappeared. It does still get stiff, but that is due to looking down at my laptop screen all day rather than using a monitor. The pillow feels cool, lightweight, and yet substantial enough to support my head all night long. When I slept on the silk pillow, sometimes I could feel my head on the mattress, which was both uncomfortable and distracting. 

And right now, this pillow is a whopping 30% off for Labor Day. Even though we might all be back at work, there are still deals to be had.  

Buy: The Company Store’s Better Down Feather Medium Pillow, ($89.97, normally $120)