Natural Fills

Buckwheat & Kapok

Firm, cool support that stays where you put it.

Pillows filled with buckwheat hulls, the traditional Japanese sobakawa filling. The hulls shift to fit your head and neck and then stay put, giving firm, cool, adjustable support.

Firm supportAdjustable fillAirflow between hullsHow buckwheat works ↓
Buckwheat hulls
Buckwheat hull pillow
The Science

Why a pillow full of hulls works

Buckwheat hulls are the hard outer casing of the buckwheat seed. Inside a pillow, thousands of them shift to follow the shape of your head and neck and then lock against each other under weight. Foam slowly compresses during the night; hulls hold their position.

1
Hulls interlock under load The pillow moulds to you, then keeps that shape instead of sinking.
2
Air moves between the hulls The gaps let heat and moisture escape, so the pillow does not build up warmth the way dense foam can.
3
You set the height On pillows with a zipper you can add or remove hulls to make the pillow higher, lower, firmer or softer.
Common Questions

What first-time buckwheat buyers ask

Is the filling the same as buckwheat you eat?
No. The hulls are the hard outer casing of the buckwheat seed, not the seed itself. They are separated during milling, cleaned and dried before being used as a filling. They are valued for their shape, which lets them interlock.
Will the hulls make noise when I move?
Yes, they make a soft rustling sound when you shift. Most people stop noticing it within the first week. If you are a very light sleeper who is sensitive to any sound, expect an adjustment period.
How firm is it compared with memory foam?
Firmer than most foam and much firmer than down or fiber pillows. The hulls give a stable, supportive surface rather than a soft, cradling one, so allow a few nights to adjust if you are used to very soft pillows. On adjustable pillows you can remove some hulls to soften it.
Can I wash the hulls?
No, never wash the hulls: water makes them deteriorate. Wash the removable cover instead. To refresh the filling, take off the cover and leave the inner pillow in the sun for a couple of hours.
How long do the hulls last?
With care the hulls keep their support for years, much longer than a typical foam pillow. If they flatten over time you can top up or replace the hulls instead of the whole pillow.

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