The Fine Bedding Company Allergy Defence Pillow review: comfy enough, if you suffer from allergies

This is an interesting pillow aimed at allergy sufferers. Its fibres are surface coated with HeiQ Allergen* Tech, a natural probiotic treatment which uses bacteria to break down inanimate allergens such as dust mite matter, pollen and pet dander. So what's it like to sleep on?

It’s designed for home washing at 40°C and even tumble drying. Just don’t bleach, dry clean or use laundry sanitiser – the aim is to keep the good bacteria alive to eat up allergens. The treatment is durable for more than 20 washes.

It's also one of the more affordable best pillows that I've tested, with an RRP of £30 per pillow (see below for today's current best deals). After testing the pillow for several nights, I can reveal how it was to sleep on, and whether it might be right for you.

The Fine Bedding Company Allergy Defence Pillow review

Specifications

• RRP: £30
• Size: 48x74x19cm
• Sleep position: All
• Filling: Synthetic
• Firmness: Medium
• Trial: No
• Guarantee: 2 years

First impressions of the The Fine Bedding Company Allergy Defence Pillow

The pillow feels plump and pleasant, with lots of bounce-back. It feels like the sort of pillow you get in a hotel (like the Snuggledown Hotel Luxurious Side Sleeper Pillow did). It looks like any other pillow too, so it will fit into a standard size pillow case. If your partner has a hollowfibre pillow, you will struggle to tell which one is which without looking at the label.

It has a ‘silky-smooth Smartfil Cluster fibre filling’ but it feels the same as hollowfibre to me.

What's the The Fine Bedding Company Allergy Defence Pillow like to use?

The plump, pleasant pillow feels nice to rest your head on, but I didn’t sleep brilliantly on it. When I got up, the area where my head had been was left slightly depressed but bounced back up promptly.

It was ok, but essentially just the same as any other affordable hollow fibre pillow. It really only comes into its own for allergy sufferers.

How does the The Fine Bedding Company Allergy Defence Pillow compare?

If you don’t need the anti-allergy treatment then consider the Dreams Side Sleeper Pillow which is a good hollowfibre pillow with a luxe feel. I slept better on it. And I slept far better on the Dreams Tempur Cloud Air SmartCool Medium Pillow, which actually feels like how I imagine sleeping on a cloud would feel.

But if you have allergies then it’s absolutely worth trying the Fine Bedding Allergy Defence Pillow. I’d also recommend getting one of the best air purifiers in your bedroom. Make sure it’s switched on, working, cleaned regularly and gets its filters replaced on time. The Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool is expensive, but comes highly recommended by our Homes eCom editor as the best air purifier she's tested.

Should you buy The Fine Bedding Company Allergy Defence Pillow?

If you have allergies, this pillow is absolutely worth a try as tackling them will improve your sleep. But I’d say that a good-quality air purifier in your bedroom is important too.

Read our guides on How to choose a pillow, and the different types of pillow explained for more help on deciding which pillow to buy.