I don’t often get to write about pillows when it comes to tech but my new Chillow Pillow Single by Soothsoft Ltd is worth talking about. Sometimes I get a hot head at night, my pillow gets warm and I have trouble sleeping – keeping cool can be a problem. I also like a fan on and the window open but that is another story.

For a birthday present I received the Chillow – a personal comfort device, and at first was a little unsure of what it was. To look at it – it resembles a plastic mat more than a pillow so how can it help me? It is described as a “unique personal cooling pad” and is an interesting concept and one that got my geek radar locked on. In terms of size it is about two thirds the dimensions of a typical pillow and only a couple of centimetres deep so I guess it could be used for more applications than as a cooling pillow aid.

The first thing to do was set it up. It is worth reading the instructions, something I am usually quite averse to, as upon first use the foam core needs to be activated using warm water. It did take a while setting the device up which involved unrolling it, pouring in a large measured amount of warm tap water (1.9 litres), allowing it to cool for several hours then working out air bubbles by rolling up carefully and padding out the air bubbles whilst trying to keep the water in. I would definitely recommend using a funnel to ensure you do not spill too much. According to the instructions the more air you get out the better performance you are likely to get. I did the air bubble thing a couple of times and after a few more hours it was ready to go – which was fortunate as I was starting to get sleepy.

When I first lay down on my new Chillow I have to say I was not immediately taken by it and it did not really feel cool. But then, something magically strange started to happen. The longer I lay on it the cooler it seemed to be getting – it was not cold but it was pleasantly cool and it was reasonably soft (once it started to feel cool it stayed cool). I tucked mine into my pillowcase and set about going to sleep. The sensation took a short time to get used to but then I was set – and snoozed off quite happily. I woke up quite happy with the Chillow and it was still dry, and ready to go again.

The Chillow does not need to be plugged in. It does not, seemingly, need to be refilled too often or have the water changed. It does not even need to be refrigerated (unless of course you have a particular hot head). Every now and then I may need to open the air seal and blow in it (in case it becomes twisted) but for a cool gadget – it has some special magic going on and so far fits the bill; I have certainly managed to keep a cool head with it.

Some of the features of the Chillow Pillow Single by Soothsoft Ltd are described as:

• Relieves discomfort from overheating in any part of the body
• Uses a unique cooling pad
• Gives you a lasting, cool and comforting sensation
• Helps to give you a superior sleep
• Allergy free
• Use it on any part of your body
• It is light, so it can be taken abroad when travelling in hotter climates
• Needs no refrigeration
• Always cool not cold, dry not wet and soft not hard

There are some tips for getting a cooler experience out of the Chillow including:

• Reducing the air inside the Chillow
• Keeping the Chillow out of the sun
• Popping the Chillow into the refrigerator for a short period (but freezing will ruin the Chillow)
• Topping up the water from time to time – in case evaporation occurs

You can learn more about the Chillow by visiting their website at www.chillow.co.uk