The Informant: Pluto Pillow
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The stakes of sleeping on the wrong pillow only get higher with age. Too much fill and the fragile, overworked tendons of my scapula scream in pain. Too little fill and the crunch of my cervical spine awakens me before the alarm chirps. I haven’t hit 30 yet, but my addiction to distance running makes caring for my joints paramount, and that includes the 8-9 hours I’m asleep.
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Many a pillow has mangled my upper neck and spine mid-REM cycle, and it got to a point where I knew a generic pillow wasn’t going to do the trick. Then I received an offer for a complimentary, custom-made, personalized pillow from Pluto Pillow and I’ve woken up pain-free for close to two years.
Pluto Pillow
Buy Now $125.00
Like many direct-to-consumer (DTC) products aimed at millennials, the Pluto Pillow starts with a personal quiz. The brand asks you basic questions like your height and weight, as well as details about the pillow you’re currently using, to see what they can improve. It comes in different shapes to support side, stomach, and back sleepers — as well as different fills and fabric styles for breathability. Whether you have a very specific idea of the type of pillow you want like I did, or you’re not sure why this matters, the questions they ask help narrow the pool.
For the humble pillow, an object that quite literally everyone needs, there are far too many options.This is the heart of the problem Pluto Pillow solves. Sure, they make a nice pillow that I sleep on comfortably each night. But they remove the paradox of choice from shopping for a product as rudimentary and replicated, as a pillow by removing the mental burden of picking one. And, it’s a great pillow that cradles my seemingly fragile neck into an ideal spot each night.
My Pluto Pillow is medium height with plush fill to support my neck without being too firm or propping it up too much. It has a breathable, quilted exterior that regulates temperature nicely, and I also have the brand’s silk pillowcase to keep my hair and skin healthy.
The quilted exterior is cool to the touch and very comfortable to sleep on, and while it’s not the squishiest pillow on my bed it supports my head in exactly the right ways. I’ve learned squishiness is a slippery slope, literally, when it comes to neck and spine health during sleep and is better suited for the couch during Netflix binges.
Every Pluto Pillow is the same size length-wise, and they’re longer than the average pillow, which works for me since I share a king-sized bed and love being able to turn over without my head rolling off. But for someone in a twin or full-sized bed, it might take up an inconvenient amount of space. It also requires larger pillowcases, which can be more expensive to purchase online or at your local abandoned Bed Bath & Beyond.
The Pluto Pillow is also heavier than the average pillow by at least a half a pound. It’s a hefty addition to the bed, especially given its length, which is worth it for me because its density makes it supportive. It means it stays put during the night and doesn’t shift around easily. It also takes a bit more effort to unclothe and re-case during sheet washing day.
I’m a huge advocate for investing both time and money into the objects you use every day. A toothbrush is one of them, and a water bottle is another. A pillow sits at the top of that pantheon given the face time. As opposed to simply investing in a luxe, mass-produced pillow, or buying a replacing a cheap pillow a few times a year, spending $125 on a Pluto Pillow comes with the perk of customization. Getting a pillow built specifically for you, and how you sleep, is worth the premium. It can’t lull me from my anxious dwellings on the state of the world, but my neck no longer contributes to the anguish.
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