The Unofficial Memory Foam/Visco Elastic/NASA Pillow Thread

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MISMan

Senior member
Jun 25, 2001
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I doubt the shelf life on the pillows - for the mere fact that Tempurpedic and others have a 10 or 20 year warranty on their beds - and they are made of the same material. IMHO here :)
 

TekDemon

Platinum Member
Mar 12, 2001
2,296
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OK, OK I just finally looked through the last few pages and saw that you guys found Mark's 1/2 Price bedding. That's great but I e-mailed them about getting the pad in twin XL(I live in a dorm =( ) and he quoted a price that was quite a bit higher than some other guys on ebay too, who had them for $110 plus shipping

So, has anybody bought the pad from "rapidrae" ? (that's the ebay username)

Please lemme know! =)
 

randypj

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Atrac--I'll add a couple things to keep your thread up. You goin' for the longest lived thread on AT? :)

My Mom loves the 3" 4# mattress pad that she got from Mark's 1/2 price.

I tried the cheapo 1-1/2" (I think) pad from www.campingworld.com. It doesn't do a thing for me. I also, just hadda try it doubled, which did not help. I'll probably cut it down for car lower back pillows.

About tempurpedic pillows. They definitely should hold a handprint well. My tempupedic pillow that I got from Brookstone holds my handprint far better than either of the above mattress pads.

The above are just my observations. YMMV.
--Randy
 

LuNoTiCK

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2001
4,698
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I would prefer to say the sellers name in a PM, just in case they are real and genuine which it seems to be. It can definately not hold a handprint. I emailed the seller to see what he has to say, but I don't get why it can't even hold a handprint. Do you need to spend a few days on it to get the pillow adjusted to you?
 

mjm

Junior Member
Sep 29, 2000
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great thread Atrac!!
I've been following it and finally last night made a decision on a mattress pad...got the 3" 4# one from that Mark's 1/2 price bedding store.
Haven't made a final decision yet on a pillow...thinking about going for the Costco one.
I want a pillow that is high and firm for my side sleeping comfort.
thanks everyone for all the great input.
 

Atrac

Golden Member
Mar 26, 2000
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I will say that the Tempur Pedic Classic 4" Pillow (shaped like a regular pillow) doesn't hold a handprint. For some reason, it just doesn't act like the other pillows. I tried a couple in Brookstone and they all spring back really fast. So if you have the Classic 4" Pillow LuNoTiCK, it's probably not defective. It's just the way it is.
 

MISMan

Senior member
Jun 25, 2001
694
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I just looked at Costco.com and could not find the pillow. Is it possible it is gone?

Also, Atrac - I just ordered the Sharper Image deal (not too bad there). You said it was pretty good, right? I figured worst case I could return it as Sharper Image and Brookstone both have great return policies.
 

zervun

Member
Aug 8, 2001
118
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Originally posted by: misterj
a month and its still hard?

i picked up the novaform from costco. i figured it would soften up like the opened package at the store but its been like a week and its still kinda stiff. did you guys buy one that wasnt wrapped in plastic or an opened one (but still in the box)? if not it should soften up right.. how long should it take

Mine is soft, the heat from your head will form it to it. Make sure you aren't using another pillowcase on it, use only the pillowcase it came in or the heat transfer won't work. Mine was wrapped in plastic I believe.

 

misterj

Senior member
Jan 7, 2000
882
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ya it does conform, but in comparison to the one that wasnt wrapped (i assume its been out for a while and has been squeezed by everyone and your momma), its like night and day. i also checked several of the other ones which were still wrapped and they were as stiff as mine..
 

Atrac

Golden Member
Mar 26, 2000
1,222
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Originally posted by: MISMan
Also, Atrac - I just ordered the Sharper Image deal (not too bad there). You said it was pretty good, right? I figured worst case I could return it as Sharper Image and Brookstone both have great return policies.

Well, as I've been saying all along that ultimately you have to like the pillow, but in my opinion it's a decent "knock off" of the Tempur Pedic. Also, I think it improves on the Tempur Pedic as the inner "netted" layer of fabric has a higher thread count. So it's like it has it's own inner layer, then the outer cotton cover. It protects the foam more but still allows it to breathe.

On a funny sidenote, I was watching the "Anna Nicole Show" (what a train wreck!) and she had bought some Tempur Pedic Pillows. She and her friend were putting their faces into them. It was during a montage, so I couldn't hear the audio. But they must have been commenting on the smell! heh heh

 

db

Lifer
Dec 6, 1999
10,575
292
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I was eagerly anticipating getting my pillow, and finally got the Coscto novaform pillow. In short, it sucked.
I tried it for 3 nights and had to take it back to the store. It seemed no different than the foam mattress I've been sleeping on for the last
gazillion years. It did not work for me--if you can get it to work for you, lucky you.
 

Atrac

Golden Member
Mar 26, 2000
1,222
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In a shameless attempt to resistate this thread, I'm curious if MISman got his Sharper Image pillow and if so, what's your opinion on it? I'm still using mine and still like it. :)

 

MISMan

Senior member
Jun 25, 2001
694
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I got my pillow, and my wife stole it ASAP.

We got out bed as well. Someone asked above why not get a top layer for our existing bed - and that is simple our bed was quasi-broken.

On to the pillow. I also got one at Costco, and the Sharper Image holds form a little longer from what I saw.

On the the big beast, my bed. We got it and absolutely love it (thought only 1 night on it). Whoopee was even better, and man was it comfy. Well worth the $2400! If it truly will last a minimum of 20 years, it is well worth the investment in better sleeping and relaxation (IMHO there).
 

SugarTooth

Member
Oct 26, 1999
109
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Well, I've read most of this neverending thread and I still don't know what to get - but I do want a new pillow! Atrac, maybe you can help me.

Do you think that this Comfort Zone Visco Elastic Memory Foam Bed Pillow is the same as the JCPenney "Comfort Zone" pillow, which is possibly the same as their "Isotonic" pillow? If so, I think I'll get it (looks like a good price I think).

But Smartbargains also has this Novaform Memory Foam Pillow with Goose Down Cover which looks like the same thing as this one at Stroud's. and the popular CostCo one (without the down cover). I'm not crazy about down & it seems like it's probably a proprietary cover, so I'm leaning towards the Comfort Zone one.

Have any thoughts? (i know you do).

ST
 

Noirish

Diamond Member
May 2, 2000
3,959
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Originally posted by: SugarTooth
Well, I've read most of this neverending thread and I still don't know what to get - but I do want a new pillow! Atrac, maybe you can help me.

Do you think that this Comfort Zone Visco Elastic Memory Foam Bed Pillow is the same as the JCPenney "Comfort Zone" pillow, which is possibly the same as their "Isotonic" pillow? If so, I think I'll get it (looks like a good price I think).

the ones at jcpenny looks different right?
they are like half cynlinder.
i'm thinking of getting those though b/c they have a promotion of buy one pillow get the 2nd for $1.
i don't know if it applies to those special pillow though.
 

Atrac

Golden Member
Mar 26, 2000
1,222
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I am 99.9% sure that the Comfort Zone pillow at Smart Bargains is the same one from JCPenney. The half cylinder one at JCPenney is made out of the same material, just smaller. But JCPenney does carry the full sized one like Smart Bargains.

Now is the Comfort Zone the same as the Isotonic Pillow at Bed Bath & Beyond for $59.00? Experience has told me "no." They are both made by the Carpenter Company, but I *think* the Isotonic is "slightly" more dense...just not by much. I think they do this because selling the same pillow under a different brand name may be illegal. I could be totally wrong though. I just know that Bed Bath & Beyond now sells the "Isopedic" pillow, which seems to be *exactly* the same as "The Perfect Pillow" which, interestingly enough, is no longer listed on the Linen's 'N Things website. So they may have discontinued it so BB&B could sell the Isopedic. Again, I could be totally wrong...it's just a hunch.

Is the Novaform better than the Comfort Zone? In my opinion, no. This is *only* because the Novaform from Costco got me very very *very* sick. I was messing with my roommate's Novaform (meaning just took off the Terrycloth Cover and squeesed the foam) and it was flaking foam all over the place. I'm pretty sure that I inhaled some of it and ended up getting very sick to my stomach and had a migrane that lasted two days. I won't even go near the Novaform now. Of course he may have just had one from a bad batch. But I've never seen a foam pillow flake so easily. (I cringe just typing this!).

From what I could tell though, the Comfort Zone is more firm than the Novaform. So it depends on if you like more firm or more pliable. They sell that Novaform at BB&B (for like $79!!!!), so maybe you can go there to compare them?

Good luck. :)
 

SugarTooth

Member
Oct 26, 1999
109
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Thanks for your always-thorough assessment. I was already leaning towards the Comfort Zone, so as soon as I make a trip to BB&B to make sure I even like contoured pillows (never tried one), I think I'll get it.

ST
 

pshlortz

Member
Dec 6, 1999
160
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so I caved and bought the costco pillow. Seems alright, but atleast *to me* it seems like the pillow is a bit to tall. maybe the same curve, with an inch less thickness (shaved off the bottom?) would be better for me... It just feels like my head is propped up too much.

also, does the heat transfer exist in this pillow... my head doesn't seem to be leavign any impression whatsoever in the pilliw, let alone the hand prints they show on the box.

oh well, interesting no less, not sure if it's any better.. although i feel a bit sore in the morning, but my neck feels a bit better over the whole day then usual.
 

zervun

Member
Aug 8, 2001
118
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Originally posted by: pshlortz
so I caved and bought the costco pillow. Seems alright, but atleast *to me* it seems like the pillow is a bit to tall. maybe the same curve, with an inch less thickness (shaved off the bottom?) would be better for me... It just feels like my head is propped up too much.

also, does the heat transfer exist in this pillow... my head doesn't seem to be leavign any impression whatsoever in the pilliw, let alone the hand prints they show on the box.
q]

It took me a few days to get used to it, and yes mine felt a little stiff at the start. Make sure you are only using the pillow case that came with it. Now when I wake up the pillow is fully formed around my noggin. I use the smaller side under my head. Also give the pillow case a wash first off.
 

tedbearz

Member
Jul 1, 2001
78
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Just checked out Jack's 99 cent store in NYC across from Penn Station. They have tempupedic pillows for really cheap.
I think the standard size was 39.99. I am pretty sure these are the real thing. They felt heavy and well constructed.
Anyone buy one yet?
 

LuNoTiCK

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2001
4,698
0
71
Originally posted by: tedbearz
Just checked out Jack's 99 cent store in NYC across from Penn Station. They have tempupedic pillows for really cheap.
I think the standard size was 39.99. I am pretty sure these are the real thing. They felt heavy and well constructed.
Anyone buy one yet?



What other sizes do they have? And how much?
 

ModestFever

Member
Jun 25, 2002
56
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marks 1/2 price bedding is great for memory foam related stuff. I got 4 pillows and 1 3in pad from him, and my friend got a pad and a pillow from him. So far we are both happy with the purchase. We picked up the item up locally, he's modifying a 'offical' memory car. pretty cool guy.