Tom's Guide Verdict
The Beckham Hotel Collection Original Down Alternative Pillow will remind you of sleeping at your favorite hotel. This luxurious pillow is plush enough to provide a 5-star sleeping experience, however, the loft isn’t too high, so you can also expect the pillow to support your head and neck. It’s a breathable pillow, so heat isn’t trapped, and you won’t wake up in a sweat. It’s a good choice for side, back, and stomach sleepers, and for those who want a cooler sleeping experience.
Pros
- +
Ideal for all sleeping positions
- +
Suitable for those prone to sleeping hot
- +
Plush sleep experience at great value
Cons
- -
Not cool to touch
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The Beckham Hotel Collection Pillow: review in brief
The Beckham Hotel Collection's Original Down Alternative pillow (as it is officially named by the brand) might be a best-seller, but it's just one of the company’s offerings. Beckham Pillows are generally known as Beckham Hotel Collection pillows, and the other options include down bed pillows, as well as shredded memory foam pillows, and polyester fill pillows with micro fiber covers. In addition, Beckham makes sheets, pillowcases, and duvet inserts.
The Beckham Hotel Collection Original Down Alternative Pillow is suitable for all types of sleepers. It’s plush, yet supportive, and the loft is not too high. The alternative down material helps to regulate body temperature, which makes it a good choice for those who tend to sweat while sleeping.
One thing to note: The Beckham Hotel Collection Original Down Alternative Pillow is also billed as a “gel” pillow. I’ve tested several gel pillows, and they usually contain some sort of gel-infused memory foam, which is visible when the pillow is unzipped – or the outer cover has some sort of cooling technology coating that’s clearly discernible.
However, the Beckham Hotel Collection Original Down Alternative Pillow is not zippable, and I couldn’t feel anything that indicated gel was present. This is not to say that the pillow doesn’t contain gel – just that I couldn’t detect it.
It's also worth noting that the pillow was not “cool to the touch” as some cooling pillows are. However, I did not experience any heat coming from the pillow either, and was able to sleep comfortably through the night.
Type of pillow: alternative down
Best for: side, stomach, and back sleepers /hot sleepers
Price: $79/Sale $46
Size: 27” x 20”
Benefits: Plush and luxurious/temperature-regulating/washable
In the wider pillow market, the Beckham Hotel Collection Original Down Alternative Pillow is considered a mid-priced pillow.
A set of two pillows typically retails for $79.99, but Black Friday bedding deals have pushed that price down to $46.97 for the queen size. The king size pillow set retails for $79.99, and is currently on sale for $62.97. (If this is not a mistake, the regular pricing is even better, since king size pillows tend to cost more than queen size versions).
For alternative cooling options, the Casper Hybrid Pillow with Snow Technology retails for $149 for a single standard size pillow and is currently on sale for $134.10. The Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleep Pillow, which retails for $119 and is currently on sale for $95.20 for a single pillow, also has cooling properties.
I slept on the Beckham Hotel Collection Original Down Alternative Pillow for several weeks to assess its performance. As a general rule, I’m a combination sleeper, preferring to sleep on my side, and I was perfectly comfortable on the pillow in this position. However, I also regularly sleep face down, and was comfortable in that position as well. While I only sleep on my back when I’m testing pillows, even in this position, there was no stress or strain on my neck or shoulders. And since I tend to be a hot sleeper – and I like to sleep under the covers regardless of the season – I also tested the pair of Beckham Hotel Collection Original Down Alternative Pillows with these factors in mind as well.
I would rate the pillow 4.5 out of 5 stars. I love plush pillows, and this certainly fits the bill. It’s soft, but not too soft that it’s not supportive. And the pillow also helped to regulate my body’s temperature.
Beckham Hotel Collection Pillow: Design and materials
As its name suggests, the Beckham Hotel Collection Original Alternative Down Pillow is a substitute for a down pillow. Some people may be allergic to down, and if that's the case, the good news is that this version mimics the plushness and luxury of a down pillow. However, it's actually made of 100% polyester fiber, while the cover is made of 250 thread-count cotton.
The pillows are also OEKO-TEX Standard Certified, which means they’ve been tested to ensure the absence of harmful substances and meet high standards when it comes to the materials' impact on the environment.
Comparing the Beckham Hotel Collection Original Alternative Down Pillow to other pillows, the Purple Harmony Pillow contains a lightweight Talalay latex, which does give it a bouncier feeling, as well as being breathable and supportive.
The Casper Hybrid Pillow with Snow Technology, on the other hand, is a hybrid pillow made of foam and fiber, with a rayon cotton cover. It has a bouncy feel and the Airscape foam and cover are designed to keep you cool.
Beckham Hotel Collection Pillow: Performance
I slept on the Beckham Hotel Collection Alternative Down Pillow for several weeks to assess set up, comfort and support. I also evaluated temperature regulation, durability, and care.
Setup
The pair of Beckham Hotel Collection Original Alternative Down Pillows arrived in a brown box from Amazon. The pillows were wrapped in plastic, and after carefully tearing open the clear plastic surrounding the pillows, they started to expand immediately. When I returned to the bedroom a few hours later, the pillows had completely decompressed. This is similar to the process for the Casper Hybrid Pillow with Snow Technology. However, the Purple Harmony Pillows did not need to decompress when I tested them.
Score: 5 out of 5
Comfort and support
I found every position to be comfortable when sleeping on the Beckham Hotel Collection Original Alternative Down Pillows. I’m a combination sleeper, preferring my side, but often sleeping on my stomach as well. These pillows were generally comfortable in every position. I found them to be like sleeping on a cloud, albeit a very supportive cloud.
Unlike the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow, there’s no adjustable fill to remove. Although I was comfortable in every position, some consumers may prefer the ability to unzip the pillow and add or remove fill to make the loft higher or lower. For example, the Purple Harmony Pillow has three different pillow lofts, so you can choose a low, mid, or high loft to meet your needs.
Score: 5 out of 5
Temperature Control
I didn't find the Beckham Hotel Collection Original Alternative Down Pillow to be cool to the touch, like some pillows can be. However, it did keep me cool when I slept. This is perhaps the result of the alternative down material making it cooler than memory foam (which typically traps heat). The cotton cover also contributes to the temperature regulation.
It's worth noting that individual bedroom conditions can impact sleep experience. In my case, I have a Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress, and at the time of testing, cotton sheets and duvet cover from The Company Store, a Casper lightweight down duvet, and an Arhaus faux fur throw on my bed. I tend to sleep in T-shirt material since I’m under several layers of bedding and my home is thermostatically-controlled, so it’s never cold in the winter (or hot in the summer). Keep in mind that your experience may be different, based on your environment.
Overall, I found the Beckham Hotel Collection Original Alternative Down Pillow's temperature regulation to be comparable to both the Casper Foam Pillow with Snow Technology, and the Purple Harmony Pillow.
Score: 5 out of 5
Beckham Hotel Collection Pillow: Durability and care
When testing the Beckham Alternative Down Pillow, I also assessed build quality, care, and maintenance.
Build and quality
The pillows feel luxurious and plush, and they look like the type of high-end pillows I would expect to find when sleeping in a luxury hotel. Besides sleeping, I like to read books and watch TV in bed, and I didn't note any degradation in quality throughout my various activities. The pillows resisted sagging and bounced back to their original shape.
This type of high-quality build is comparable to the Casper Foam Pillow with Snow Technology, and the Purple Harmony Pillow, which also retain their shape.
Score: 5 out of 5
Care and maintenance
As with most alternative down pillows that I’ve tested, the cover can be removed and the pillow washed in cold water on a delicate cycle. It should be left to dry flat, and then fluffed. However, that’s a rather tedious process, since it can take an entire day or more for a pillow to air dry. I would prefer to be able to toss the pillows into the dryer. Otherwise, my preference is a removable cover that can be washed and dried.
As a point of comparison, both the Casper Foam Pillow with Snow Technology, and the Purple Harmony Pillow have removable pillow covers that can be washed and then air dried. This is a simpler process than trying to air dry an entire pillow.
Score: 4 out of 5
Should you buy the Beckham Hotel Collection pillow?
This pillow set provides great value for the money. The Beckham Hotel Collection Original Alternative Down Pillow is plush and luxurious, providing a cloud-like experience. However, it’s also supportive enough that your neck and head are aligned as you sleep. And since it’s a breathable pillow, heat isn’t trapped, and you won’t wake up hot and sweaty, feeling like you just left the gym rather than had a restful sleep. The ability to wash the pillow makes it a hygienic choice, but air drying it can be a tedious process. Lastly, it must be reiterated that these pillows are great value since you’re getting two for less than you’ll often pay for one.
Buy the Beckham Hotel Pillow if...
✅ You want a luxury pillow for less: The pair of pillows look and feel luxurious, and you can easily imagine you’re sleeping at your favorite hotel. The 250-thread count cover adds to the plush experience.
✅ You're not sure what loft you need: The Goldilocks effect: the pillows are not too thick, and not too thin. They’re just right for most people, and this makes them a good choice for side, back, and stomach sleepers.
✅ You want decent temperature regulation: The pillows are breathable, so they can regulate your body temperature as you sleep. This reduces the chances that you’ll wake up hot and sweaty.
Don't buy the Beckham Hotel Collection Pillow if...
❌Not actively cooling: For a cooling pillow, it’s not cool to the touch, and it wasn't possible to detect any cooling gel.
❌ You want a customizable comfort: There’s no zipper to open and then add or remove fill for a customized pillow.
Beckham Hotel Collection: Top alternatives
