Why you'll love it: No matter how you like your pillow, the
Zen Chi Buckwheat Hull Pillow delivers and it keeps you cool while you sleep.
Confession: I’ve been sleeping on the twin Zen Chi Buckwheat Hull Pillow for several years now. In fact, I’ve gone through two of them. I’ve tried a lot of pillows over the years — memory foam, shredded memory foam, latex, polyester, and several specialty fills as well — but I have never stuck with any other type of pillow for as long as the buckwheat hulls.
I’m a restless sleeper and love the way I can squish the buckwheat hulls out flat to sleep comfortably on my stomach, and then bunch them up a few minutes later when I flip over to my side. Plus, as a “hot sleeper,” this is the best fill I’ve found to avoid the dreaded sweaty head wake up.
Zen Chi uses 100 percent organically grown buckwheat to fill its pillows and 100% cotton for the case. There’s a zipper, so you can actually adjust the fill of the pillow. Add more hulls for a firmer, loftier pillow, or remove some if you prefer a softer, flatter feel. And even if you leave the pillow as is, the beauty of a buckwheat hull pillow is its supreme adjustability. Because you can mold the pillow any way you like it, you can support your head, neck, and upper body for the most comfortable sleep.
Amazon users are very enthusiastic about the pillow. Out of the 600+ reviews for the queen size, 76% give it four stars or more. Many buyers commented that it took a couple of nights to get used to the pillow’s feel, but once they did, they loved the support and adjustability. Buckwheat hulls are definitely not soft, but thanks to the pillow’s beanbag feel, they don’t feel uncomfortably hard, either.
One reviewer wrote: “I thought it might be too hard on my ears, but it's not. I finally wake up without a crick in my neck, which was the case with every other pillow I've ever owned.” Many owners also praised the coolness of the pillow.
On the downside, the slight crinkly sound of the shifting hulls bothered some owners. This has never been an issue for me, however. Other customers complain about the pillow’s weight, and it is indeed very heavy. Still, the overall comfort outweighs the minor issues.
Pros: Stays cool, adjusts to any position, firm support
Cons: Heavy, noisy, some people find it too hard
Buy the queen Zen Chi Buckwheat Hull Pillow on Amazon for $39.95 (originally $69.95)