SobakawaCloud Pillow 12.6" x 18.5" x 3.15"

When I saw the commercial for this product I thought, phh...no way a pillow can make a difference in the quality of my sleep. I doubted and doubted then I just got plain fed up with how a typical pillow lost it's ability to support and keep cool. I woke up again and again just to flip or fluff my regular, plain old pillows. I looked online or a good deal and saw a TV commercial that wouldn't have been a bad deal had they not charged you for shipping and processing. I bought one pillow for 20 USD and the TVs offer was 2 pillows for 20 USD but they also wanted 7.99 for shipping and 2.99 for processing on each item so it was almost the same. Just because I did not require two pillows I did not order from the company. I went online to Amazon and got free two day shipping and the pillow for the 20 USD. Do not pay over this for a micro bead pillow. The product itself is very nice. It does stay cool and it does keep its form. The pillow is just slightly smaller than a queen size mattress set pillow. It's just a different shape and is much more comfortable. I put my regular pillow under the sobakawa pillow and it works great. No neck pain and my shoulders feel much better in the morning. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a better sleep experience...

When I lived in Japan I discovered something called the 'MOGU' brand pillow. Various sizes/shapes of stretchy fabric containing microbeads, generally in colorful and fun colors. I LOVED the roll pillow I got and when I finally lost it (left it in a hotel room) I went on a hunt for something to replace it.I found the slightly under filled, tiny microbeads pillow lent itself very well to propping my head or supporting a sore arm in my sleep. I even took it with me a short shipboard TAD (in the Navy) where I had the classic coffin rack. The pillow (and my own blanket) made it quite reasonable--though nothing really made up for the fuel smells, but I digress.In any case, once I lost my pillow I went on a mission to buy another. Unfortunately Amazon.jp stopped selling them (oh, how I wished I'd gotten another one when available) except in white. I had a friend order me that one (no shipping to the US)...but that pillow lacked a cover slip and it's only a matter of time before it's too icky. She also sent me a couple other things like a seat cushion, but it's not the same when trying to lie down.The closest I've seen is the FOM pillow--which is okay, but not quite as nice (too overstuffed, see my comment below).Then I saw the ad for the Sobakawa Cloud Pillow. I took a chance on ordering it (BB&B no longer had them in the stores locally) and crossed my fingers. Upon arrival I am quite sure they are sourcing from the MOGU people. The fabric is the same stretchy/soft material and the beads feel/sound the same.I found the pillow shape is very amenable to folding and propping to find the comfort position.Do note, it is 'under filled', but that is what (IMO) makes it useful. You can place it how you want and it settles into place. If it was any more filled it would be too stiff. The FOM pillow is 'fuller', but I find it harder to fall into the shape that is most comfortable. I like those too, but if I could open it up and empty out a few of the beads it would be better.The bead sound is notable at first, but quickly fades into the background and is not bothersome to me. If you are very sound sensitive, this may be a problem.I hate that the pillow is white, but at least it has a cover. The cover is washable...I saw one reviewer who does not like that the pillow itself is not washable. Personally, I was my pillow cases frequently, but I have never tossed a pillow into the machine, so I don't see the worry. I'm glad the covering is the same material...just don't like the white. I suppose I could put the whole pillow/cover into another pillow case, but honestly, the fabric is part of what makes this comfortable.Now, no pillow is going to work for everyone, but I have found the stretchy/soft fabric and understuffed microbeads have resulted in a great deal of comfort, both in neck and when used to support a bum shoulder/arm when positioning for sleep. Cheaper models have a fabric that is unpleasant (and smelly) and the FOM, though almost as good, is just too stuffed (and had that chemical smell that thankfully faded quickly).I love this pillow and have ordered a spare! I highly recommend it for someone looking for a new type of pillow to try. It's just not like anything else I've used before and nothing else has been as comfortable. It may or may not work for you, but if others have failed, this may be the type that will do the trick. At the current time it is very reasonably priced--very satisfying on the cost/benefit concern.HIGHLY Recommended!JTG

This is the second time I've bought this pillow. First time was from Bed Bath and Beyond but they no longer carry them. I bought this through Amazon and it's exactly the same as the first one I bought. The last for years and I finally needed to replace the one I had. I've had TMJ, teeth implants and need lots of neck and shoulder support. Although the pillow is soft, you're able to scrunch it into whatever place you might need support. This pillow, in addition to my Bucky, provide all the support I need. It's cool too.

Update: my review is still how i feel but after 3 weeks of very careful use of this (my 4th pillow order) i found that ridiculously fragile thread that is used to make a bit of a quilt-dent in the pillow broke. this has been my major issue the last 3 pillows i bought but this one didnt even have more than my head laying on it, gently. i now have the irritaing "shapeless sack of beads" i can do little with. the pillowcase seemed a bit large or the pillows less filled - the pillow turned in the case like it was in a washing machine. Ill look for a different brand next time. i dont know why these pillows, that use a cheaply bought styrofoam bead, are so tiny and so expensive. original post : i suffer from life long, horrible, non-fixable migraines. It's something with my skeletal alignment and there's little that can be done so I do what I can, but the older I get, the worse it gets. The last 3 years have been a nightmare, waking up several times a night because I have to shift positions and I have to make sure my head and neck are exactly perfect.I have literally bought and tried at least 20 different pillows the last 2 years. All the names you can cite, been there, done that. Every gimmick you can think of that is in a pillow, ditto. Fixed, "support" pillows were rough because unless your head and neck are fine in a normal line or the curve or your neck is a beautiful bend so it's OK to sleep in the position that you're "supposed to " they just are miserable. Forcing your head and neck to be "correct", when it's not, doesn't work.The only thing that really stayed helpful were microbead pillows because you can jam them under your head or neck in any strange manner you need to. I have bought tons, and the problem is always that the little bit of sewing they put to kinda separate the beads into a pillow wears out fast and you end up with a sack of beads sitting in a pillow case. They're usually smaller than a normal pillow so even putting them into a pillowcase requires Origami skills. Then I saw this pillow and sighed - ah, another Sack O' Beads pillow - but I noted they send you a pillowcase and their directions state to always use the pillow WITH the pillow case. They get it! Oh happy day.I can't tell you how awesome this pillow is. You might remember there was a husk version, but this is the microbeads. The pillow case zips and holds everything in place. You can still smush it around a bit or flatten it a bit, etc. but it is sooooo soft and like air. It's just perfect to hold your head even with your shoulder (if you're a side sleeper) and if you have to have your head bent or down or a bit sideways according to what quirk you need to have comfort this molds to your needs. There's no hard edge to force you to lay a certain way.It's slightly smaller than a standard pillow but not tiny so that you're falling off of it all night. You can turn from side to side and still have pillow. Unless you have a cat that thinks it's all his and you're lucky to have a pillow at all.my only complaint is that this company doesn't make the sewn "arch" shape out of decent thread, firmly and sturdy. no matter how careful you are that ends up loosening and you end up with a sack of microbeads that is of little use because then there's too much space and no reinforcement. fixing this design flaw would make it last longer but maybe its planned obsolescence. I have to replace mine 3 times a year.