There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
On Trial: The Purple Harmony Pillow
Tester: Melanie Yates, a home editor with lots of opinions on pillows
The Brief: In my work writing and reviewing bedding products for this site since 2015, I've come to judge bed pillows mainly on the same criteria: support, responsiveness, weight, and heat retention. However, I've recently added a fifth criterion to that list, which is appearance.
Quite simply, the reason this matters is because the pillow tucked inside of a pillowcase affects the look of the entire bed. If you sleep with a contoured, memory-foam neck pillow and your partner sleeps on fluffy down, this mismatch will make even a perfectly made bed look sloppy. After trying so many different combinations of pillows on my own bed at home, it seems as though this is something buyers should consider before purchasing.
Having a bed with two or four perfectly matching pillows, however, is a tall order, and I realize that function will typically outweigh form every time. Luckily, in testing out the Purple Harmony Pillow, I've found that it's a near-perfect union of both. While the $159 price point does make it a bit of an investment, the meticulously executed, bed-flattering design and the heat-wicking elements of this pillow make it feel as luxe as it is. Here's our breakdown of the Harmony Pillow's performance after sleeping on it for a month.
Appearance
The Harmony is Purple's third pillow model (following the original Purple Pillow and the Purple Plush Pillow), and it's undoubtedly the best-looking out of the three. Where the first model is completely flat and the second is rounded but slightly lumpy due to its fiber fill, the Harmony Pillow has a plump (but not overstuffed), rectangular pillow shape that blends in with nearly any down-alternative and shredded-memory-foam pillows that you already have on your bed.
As far as construction goes, the Purple Harmony Pillow is a multilayered pillow comprising three main elements: a porous latex core pillow, a flexible Grid Hex layer that encases it, and a mesh outer cover. Although the purple-colored Grid Hex layer is visible through the mesh cover, it cannot be seen through a pillowcase.
Responsiveness
The Harmony Pillow is certainly responsive, springing right back into its soft rectangular formation with no delay or sag. Both the latex core pillow and the Grid Hex layer (made of a proprietary polymer that has a gel-like, elastic feel) have a pleasantly pliable quality to them.
While you can bend, fold, or twist the pillow in any direction, it will pop right back into shape when you let it go, which could make this a bit of a departure from folks who enjoy their down, down-alternative, or shredded-memory-foam pillows, which are much more malleable due to their fill type and slightly less responsive.
Support
Both the Harmony Pillow's latex core and Grid Hex layer contribute to a feeling of pushback that seemed to actively suspend my head in alignment with my neck. The Grid Hex layer even extends to the sides and corners of the pillow, lifting the head no matter where on the pillow it is.
Too much pushback in a pillow, however, can feel aggressive while you're trying to relax and sink into deep sleep. And as a side sleeper with narrow shoulders, it did sometimes feel that way to me, which is why I highly recommend opting for the lower, 6.5-inch height over the taller 7.5-inch pillow if you're built similarly.
Even still, I would not call the Purple Harmony a firm pillow, but a highly supportive soft pillow.
Weight
The Harmony Pillow weighs 4.5 pounds, which is a moderate weight — if you like to spoon, it won't feel as though your hand is crushed underneath the pillow, but it's not exactly light as air. The benefit to this is that its weight, coupled with its responsiveness, feels very comforting. It form-fits to your sleeping position, without feeling too dense or too airy.
On nights when I tossed and turned while spooning this pillow, it did feel like I was lugging it from side to side. However, it's not nearly as heavy as solid memory-foam pillows, which are also typically harder to spoon with because of their flatter shape.
Heat Retention
Finally, when it comes to dispelling heat retention, I felt as though the Harmony Pillow did a great job on this front. Instead of surface-level, cool-to-the-touch materials like most cooling pillows have, it has a porous, sponge-like core layer, a hollow Grid Hex layer, and a slinky mesh cover that all contribute to a properly aerated feeling. If you bounce your head on the pillow, you'll actually feel air come out the other side each time.
The smooth mesh outer layer, even with a cotton pillowcase layered over it, did a great job at not impeding any of the inner elements from working as they should. While the Harmony Pillow may not immediately strike you as a traditional cooling pillow, it's incredibly adept at wicking heat, it never left me feeling hot and sweaty.
Overall Score:
Closing Argument: The Purple Harmony Pillow is a great bed pillow for people who say that they want a soft pillow, but actually need one with ample support. It's very huggable and springy, and its unique feel is very enjoyable to sleep with.
While it is a slightly weightier pillow, it is designed to sleep incredibly cool, making it well worth the price for hot sleepers who don't like the slick feel of regular cooling pillows. I recommend the Harmony Pillow most for back sleepers or side sleepers with broad shoulders who enjoy spooning their pillow.
Read More:
These Are the Best Bed Sheets That Our Team Has Ever Tested
How to Find the Best Mattress for You, According to Sleep Experts
These Are the Best Cooling Pillows to Buy in 2020
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