REi Huggable LED Pillows
REi Huggables
REi (pronounced “ray”) Huggables might have a common inspiration—the sun—but they’re execution is a stroke of genius. Each comprises a transluscent polyester cover loosely packed with 12 LED lights embedded within its own silicone bubble. The pillow’s most obvious use is as an ambient illumination source, or even a head rest, but here’s where it gets interesting: you also can hug it. When you do, the silicone pods squish around and reflect your body warmth back at you, creating the sensation of holding a living being like your mom (or your dad, or your dog, or your girlfriend’s butt).
Currently available in white, gold, and red, the pillows are powered by four AA batteries (you get about four hours’ worth of light before the intensity starts to fade) or by an included 4.5 volt AC adapter. You turn the lights on and off with a metal pull chain hanging out of the pillow’s corner. And yes, the inventor, Diana Lin, swears they have been tested by a third party to ensure you don’t set yourself on fire while in the middle of a cuddle.