Chillow Original Cooling Relief Pad, Blue, Full size

First of all, just like with a pillow (minus the "chill") or, really, any device whose use is so tied into the human body, there are going to be a lot of folks who will find this wonderful, and just as many who will hate it. As always, the wonderful Amazon return policy means it doesn't cost you a thing to try this out, so I wouldn't let any of the negative reviews throw you off. That said, while it's not perfect it does solve my issue and I won't be without one -- indeed, I came back to this product page (and am writing this review) because I'm ordering another one, just in case the one I've now had for a couple of months goes bad somehow (springs a leak?). I don't want to be even one night without it. As a guy I don't suffer from hot flashes, but I do "sleep warm" (and live in Florida), at least so far as my head is concerned. While I was (finally!) able to get a nice new decent extra firm pillow to suit my sleep pattern, I found the heavy down inside just felt way too hot for my head after even a few minutes, hence trying this device out. It starts off feeling *very* cool to me -- bordering on too cold -- but then will warm as it absorbs your own heat. You can switch to the other side (which I do normally as a side sleeper, turning back and forth through the night) but eventually the whole thing will warm up to what I would call lukecool temperature -- not as warm as my pillow would have been, but not really cool either. Still, it let's me get to sleep, it stays cool enough through the night that I don't feel uncomfortable, and doesn't bunch up on me as some folks. Then again, I use an extra firm pillow, which really can't be bunched up even without the Chillow. I can see folks who prefer a softer pillow (and like to scrunch it) having issues with this so, again, YMMV. About the only negative I can say is that it smelled strongly of vinyl for quite a few weeks -- like putting your head on a child's swimming pool. It didn't bother me all that much and eventually (after about six weeks) the smell went away, but I could see it bothering some folks a lot (I guess you could just keep it out of your pillow for a week before you actually start using it). If you have heat issues I can't see why you wouldn't at least try this -- return it if it doesn't work for you, but you may well find (like me) that you no longer want to try to sleep without it.

UPDATE AFTER ONE YEAR'S USE The chillow was wonderful to help keep me cool, and it has stayed cool for almost the full year with only one refill. However, this review has gone from five stars to three stars for the following reasons: The foam core does not stay flat with continued use. It bunches up and cannot be fixed without very intensive and annoying effort. If you use it in your pillow while it's bunched up, it feels like you have lumps of coolness balled up under the pillow case. It's not only uncomfortable, but impossible to sleep on soundly as you adjust through the night. The foam core began to smell so strongly of mildew that it cannot be used. I've never smelled anything like this- it's really bad. When I first received it, it had a slight chemical smell to it. I don't know if those chemicals were meant to keep it from getting mildewy, but it has not worked. The foam core has turned orange. Yuck! This is effective for cooling, but be warned that you will need to replace it for one of the above reasons at some point. I liked it so well that I'm debating buying another, but I'm also looking at other options. *** After reading all of the reviews here, I was nervous about ordering my own chillow. I have to say that I am very glad that I did. I have a medical condition that causes me to just wilt in the heat. We live in the desert, so I really need tools to help keep me cool. The chillow has really fit the bill when it comes to staying cool while I sleep. I carefully followed the directions that came with it (they're not hard, but need to be followed exactly), and my chillow has worked wonderfully. It is cool all night long, with none of the leaking or dampness that other reviewers noted. It does have a slight chemical smell that took a little getting used to, but for me the coolness was worth the slight smell. I can imagine that this would be helpful for people with a variety of conditions, including people who get regular headaches and those going through menopause. I have actually thought about getting another so that I can have one at home and one at work to sit or lean on during the day. I am a fan!

I followed the directions exactly for this product, and used it for five minutes before having an asthma attack. Thinking, I simply have asthma, I laid back on it after treatment, and had another attack. I treated it again, and then laid back on the chillow for a few more minutes before the smell suffocated me, caused another attack, and triggered a migraine. I am NOT allergic to latex, but I do not know what else is in the chillow that makes it, well, chill. Also, in the time I used it, it never really did get cold, but I am unsure if my experience with it allows me to comment on its effectiveness, as I was barely able to breath after just 15 minutes. IF YOU HAVE ASTHMA I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT FOR YOU!! I know migraines are different with one person to the next, but if YOUR HEADACHES ARE TRIGGERED BY SMELL for you then I also warn to STAY AWAY. And it IS LATEX, so obviously if you have an allergy to that you want to avoid it. Like I said, I do not, but somehow still had a reaction to, well, something. Please be careful when ordering this product if you have any breathing issues!

Doesn't stay cold very long.

Bis jetzt bin ich restlos begeistert. An warmen Tagen lege ich mir das Kissen ans Fußende und es kühlt wirklich sehr gut. Selbst nachts, wenn ich wach werde und die Füße und Beine erneut darauf lege, kühlt es immer noch. Hoffe es hält noch eine Weile. Möchte es im Sommer nicht mehr missen.

As a migraine sufferer I used to resort to the damp flannel on the forehead technique to get some relief from the pain, so when I found out about the Chillow it seemed like the answer to my prayers. I'm on my second Chillow now, the first one lasted about 3 years until the sponge centre broke down. Having read the other reviews on here I felt I must add a more positive response for this product. First of all, yes it is a bit awkward to set the Chillow up for use at first, it comes rolled up in a box and you have to fill it with water, smooth the air out and keep it flat. Having said that, the instructions are clear and once set up it's fine. There is a plastic smell about it, but its not overpowering by any means. Laying on a plastic surface can be quite uncomfortable, especially if you fall asleep on it and it becomes warm, but I always have a pillowcase on mine. I find the Chillow stays cold far longer than an ordinary feather pillow, yes, it does warm up eventually, but not until you've either fallen asleep or don't need cooling down any more. I use my Chillow summer and winter and wouldn't be without one now, so don't be put off, especially if you suffer migraines, this is a really great product, and I've never had a leak with either of mine.

Your head gets nicely cooled, shame that, after a few nights the sponge inside starts to crumble and it's impossible (no matter what the instructions claim), to restore it to its original shape. Forward a few weeks and you are left with an unshaped mess that no longer serves its purpose.

If you try to sleep with it in your pillow it gets all bunched up and wonky by morning. The inside foam moves all over the place. Very difficult to fix through the fill hole. Followed set up instructions to a T. No luck.