Let’s face it, sometimes you just want a soft, plush, hotel-quality pillow to sink your head into. These days, you can purchase these pillows for your home. The Saatva Down Alternative pillow will give your bed the feel of a luxurious retreat.
In my unbiased Saatva pillow review, I’ll show you the ins and outs of this pillow from my testing experience, its price, firmness, feel, and so much more.
Ready to sleep in luxury? Of course you are. Let’s dive in!
Saatva uses high-quality, durable materials in its down alternative pillow. It combines comfort and support which is ideal for back sleeping, and it's high loft fill makes it a good choice for side sleepers, too. But it's also moldable enough for stomach sleepers! It's the perfect down alternative pillow.
Saatva Down Alternative Pillow Overview
Saatva makes a number of quality sleep products. The Saatva Classic mattress has made many of our best mattress lists here at Mattress Clarity. But in addition to mattresses, and the equally popular Saatva latex pillow, there’s the Saatva Down Alternative Pillow.
Overall Rating
I’ve done all the testing for you to help you decide if this is the pillow for you! But before I go into too much detail, here’s a quick overview of who should enjoy this pillow, and who should consider something else:
Who Might Like the Saatva Down Alternative Pillow?
- Fans of fluffy down alternative pillows
- Sleepers looking for a hypoallergenic pillow
- People of all sleeping positions
Who Might Not Like the Saatva Down Alternative Pillow?
- Shoppers on a budget
- People looking for an adjustable pillow
- Those who prefer slow-moving memory foam pillows
Saatva Down Alternative Pillow Firmness and Feel
So, how firm is the Saatva Down Alternative pillow and what does it feel like? Let’s talk about it!
How Firm is Saatva Down Alternative Pillow?
The Saatva Down Alternative pillow only has one firmness option available. I’d say this pillow is a soft, to just barely medium-firm pillow. It’s full of a fluffy down alternative that gives it a very soft feel. It has a supportive core, but that doesn’t influence the firmness too much.
If you prefer a more firm pillow, be sure to check out our list of the best firm pillows!
Sleeping on Saatva Down Alternative Pillow
Let’s discuss my experience with the Saatva Down Alternative Pillow.
As a side sleeper, that’s where I started. This pillow made me feel really comfortable. Even though the fill is on the softer side, there’s a lot of it, and the supportive inner core kept my head from sinking to the top of my mattress. This is a great pillow for keeping your head and neck in a neutral alignment if you’re a side sleeper.
Moving on to my back, I felt really comfortable here, too. My head compressed the softer outer layer, but the supportive inner core kept it from going too far back.
Finally, shifting to my stomach, this pillow did a good job. I was able to compress the pillow a good amount. I think this could work for my fellow heavier bodied stomach sleepers, but I wouldn’t recommend it to every stomach sleeper out there.
I’d be worried about the supportive core preventing some of you from compressing it enough. And when stomach sleepers sleep with a pillow that’s too tall, neck pain could develop over time.
30-60 Min Nap
Now it was nap time. I felt really comfortable while resting on my side when I tested this awake, so that’s where I started. One thing I noticed as I settled in was there was a bit of a hot spot that developed on the pillow. This could have been just the pillow reacting to my body temperature. But after a bit, the pillow seemed to cool off.
I really liked this pillow for side sleeping because, even though it’s not the tallest pillow, it did a great job at keeping my head and neck elevated and not craning downward while I slept. And truth be told, I stayed put during this nap. I tend to toss and turn a lot, but I didn’t feel the need to on this pillow.
But even if you’re a tosser and turner, adjusting positions will be really easy on this pillow. And if you’re a back/side combination sleeper, this should be a win for you.
What does the Saatva Down Alternative Pillow Feel Like?
The Saatva Down Alternative Pillow feels very fluffy and soft. You can compress this pillow and feel the supportive inner core. And the outer cotton cover feels equally soft! This pillow really exudes a soft, luxurious feel.
Average Weight Sleepers – 130 lb – 230 lb
For the average weight folks, the Saatva Down Alternative pillow is a great choice for all three sleeping positions. Back sleepers will get comfort and support, while side sleepers will get a good amount of neck support to keep their heads from craning downward.
Stomach sleepers should be able to compress the pillow enough to get it low and flat to prevent your head from craning upwards. Overall, a great choice!
Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230 lb
As a heavier individual myself, this pillow worked well for me, so it should work well for people with my body type. I found it most comfortable on my side and back. And heavyweight stomach sleepers will be able to compress the pillow very well to get it low and flat.
If you are worried about head and neck support, however, you may want to opt for a firmer pillow.
Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130 lb
Lightweight side sleepers who love a soft, fluffy pillow will enjoy the Saatva Down Alternative Pillow. And it should still be a good option for back sleepers, too! I’d be worried about lightweight stomach sleepers, however. Though this is a very soft pillow, the supportive inner core is just that: very supportive. Lightweight stomach sleepers might not compress the pillow enough, and their heads could crane upwards, which is a recipe for neck pain.
Saatva Down Alternative Pillow Construction
Saatva sources high-end materials for its products. Let’s see what goes into the Saatva Down Alternative pillow.
Cover
On the outside of the Saatva pillow, there is a high-quality, 100% organic cotton cover that has been made with the sateen weave. The cotton is very breathable, and the sateen weave makes it feel very soft and silky.
Core
On the inside, Saatva uses a combination of plush microdenier fibers, a type of synthetic fiber, and microfiber clusters. Saatva calls these clusters “memory fiber clusters,” and this combination of materials gives this pillow a very plush, but supportive fill. Though this is a very moldable pillow, this isn’t an adjustable pillow. Meaning, you cannot take out or add in the fill material.
Height/Loft
This pillow is very moldable, but when fluffed to its normal size, it stands at around 5” tall.
Saatva Down Alternative Pillow Size Options and Price
Take a look at our chart below for up-to-date pricing information on the Saatva Down Alternative pillow!
| Size | Price |
| Queen | $115 |
| King | $135 |
Saatva uses high-quality, durable materials in its down alternative pillow. It combines comfort and support which is ideal for back sleeping, and it's high loft fill makes it a good choice for side sleepers, too. But it's also moldable enough for stomach sleepers! It's the perfect down alternative pillow.
Saatva Down Alternative Pillow Performance
With how this pillow sleeps out of the way, let’s talk about a few more key considerations that you should keep in mind when looking at the Saatva Down Alternative pillow.
Sleeping Hot or Cold
Down alternative pillows can go both ways when it comes to being cool or hot. The microfiber clusters are more breathable than insulating down, but unless a down alternative has cooling components, it can trap heat.
Luckily, I didn’t find myself sleeping too hot with this pillow. There was a bit of a warm spot on the back of my head when I first tested the pillow out, but once my body adjusted to the temperature of my room, I felt very comfortable.
Plus, this pillow has a very breathable cotton cover on the outside, which can help air flow through the pillow easily. But if you are an exceptionally hot sleeper who needs a cool pillow, be sure to look at our best cooling pillows list.
Off-Gassing
The Saatva Down Alternative pillow comes inside of a plastic bag once you pull it out of the packaging. There is no need to let it expand, and you shouldn’t experience any off-gassing or a chemical smell to it.
Care Instructions
To help keep your pillow clean and last longer, keeping it inside of a pillowcase is recommended. However, accidents happen. If you spill something, or just need to clean a stain, Saatva recommends spot cleaning only. This is not a machine-washable pillow.
Allergies
Saatva lists this pillow as 100% hypoallergenic. If you have sensitive allergies, or want a pillow to fight the buildup of dust and resist mildew, this is a pillow for you!
Company Policies
Here’s what you can expect when you make a purchase with Saatva.
Warranty Info
Saatva offers a 1-year limited warranty on this pillow.
Sleep Trial
For all its sleep accessories, Saatva offers a 45-day trial period. This gives you a little over a month to test this pillow and see if it works for you.
Return Policy
If, during that 45-day window, you decide that this isn’t the pillow for you, you can return it for a full refund. Or, if the pillow arrives damaged, you can exchange it as well.
Saatva offers free shipping for all orders, returns, and exchanges.
How Does the Saatva Down Alternative Pillow Compare To Other Pillows?
Saatva is known as a luxury brand, but it’s not the only one. And if you’re not the biggest fan of fluffy down alternative pillows, it’s always good to see how other pillows compare.
Let’s compare the Saatva Down Alternative pillow to two other popular brands: Brooklyn Bedding and Layla.
Saatva vs Brooklyn Bedding
Brooklyn Bedding’s Talalay Latex pillow is a popular pillow here at Mattress Clarity and for good reason. It’s made of a single piece of Talalay latex foam, which is going to feel much different than the Saatva pillow.
Latex foam is very springy and responsive, while the down alternative in the Saatva pillow feels very plush and cushiony. But regardless of their feel, both pillows will work well for all three sleeping positions. Both should be relatively easy to move around on as well, but Saatva really exudes that luxurious and plush hotel pillow feel.
Brooklyn Bedding is known for some affordable mattresses, and the same could be said for the Talalay latex pillow. If you’re prioritizing budget over luxury, the Brooklyn Bedding pillow is the way to go.
Who Should Get Saatva Down Alternative Pillow?
- Fans of soft down alternative pillows
- People looking for a luxurious hotel pillow
Who Should Get the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow?
- People who prefer bouncy, latex foam pillows
- Shoppers on a budget
Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex pillow review.
Saatva vs Layla
If you’re looking for a pillow that conforms to your head, and has a cooling pillow cover, the Layla Kapok pillow is a good option to look at. Unlike the fluff found in the Saatva pillow, the Layla pillow features shredded memory foam and plush kapok tree fibers.
This gives the Layla pillow a slow-moving feel that will let you sink into it. This pillow is adjustable as well, meaning you can take out or add in the inner fill to adjust its loft and feel, and make it match your sleeping style. While you can’t adjust the Saatva pillow, most sleepers of all positions should be able to get what they need out of it.
Both should be a good option for hot sleepers, but the only cooling feature to the Saatva pillow is a breathable cotton cover. Layla’s gone a step further and infused copper into the cover, which will pull body heat away from you so you can sleep comfortably and cool.
Who Should Get Saatva Down Alternative Pillow?
- Fans of soft fluffy down alternative pillows
- Anyone who needs a hypoallergenic pillow
Who Should Get the Layla Kapok Pillow?
- Fans of slow-moving memory foam pillows
- Hot sleepers
Read our full Layla pillows review.
FAQs
Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about Saatva and the Saatva Down Alternative pillow.
Which Saatva pillow is best for side sleepers?
Saatva sells three pillows: the latex pillow, the down alternative pillow, and the memory foam pillow. The brand recommends the memory foam pillow for side sleepers, but truth be told, all of them work.
The down alternative pillow will work especially well for back and side combination sleepers who tend to change position frequently. It’s soft but very supportive and easy to move around on.
What if I don’t like my Saatva Down Alternative pillow?
Don’t stress! You have 45 days to test out this pillow to see if it’s right for you. If, during that time, you decide it’s not the perfect match for you, you can return it for a full refund.
How long will the Saatva Down Alternative pillow last?
Down alternative pillows aren’t the longest lasting. However, Saatva uses high quality cotton and very durable polyester microfibers in its pillow. The brand offers a 1-year limited warranty on the pillow, so with good care, it should last at least that long, if not up to two years, with good care.