I used to fight with my pillow all night. I would squash it, fold it, flip it over and shove my hand underneath for extra height. Still, I would wake with a tight neck that only my morning yoga practice could straighten out.
When I sleep, I start on my back, but end up sleeping on my side. Finding a pillow that doesn’t give me back or neck pain is a challenge, especially because I have wide shoulders and prefer a very firm bed. For me, a squishy pillow made little sense.
It took me years to realize that finding the right pillow depends on your sleeping position, body type and bed firmness. My journey led me beyond curved neck pillows, foam that stifled my ear and stacked pillows to make room for my shoulders when side sleeping and ended with a buckwheat hull pillow – the solution to all of my sleeping problems.
For more sleep recommendations, check out our guides to our favorite pillows from Coop, the sleep tech gadgets that actually work, the coziest PJs, or see why the Mzoo sleep mask is the secret to napping – anytime, anywhere.
Sachi Organics Buckwheat Neck Pillow
Sachi Organics Buckwheat Neck Pillow none-selected
It’s what’s inside that counts
Side sleepers need enough pillow height to fill the gap between the ear and outer shoulder. Traditional foam was too soft and duck down compressed almost instantly, sinking my head too low. Memory foam adapts but not enough to accommodate wide shoulders. Denser foam gave me more support, but trapped heat and moisture. I sometimes woke up with a strangely sore, damp-feeling ear.
Traditional pillows also forced an awkward compromise. On my back, I wanted something fairly flat. On my side, I needed an overstuffed pillow. I actually tried using two pillows, but swapping during the night was impractical.
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A buckwheat hull pillow quickly became my favorite, and I have continued using it for five years. The unique filler does something other pillows couldn’t, combining firm support with the ability to reshape in seconds.
Why buckwheat hulls?
Buckwheat hulls are the dry outer shells of edible buckwheat seeds, used to make soba noodles and buckwheat flour. After harvest, the hulls become a plentiful, renewable pillow filler that’s lightweight yet durable.
The gaps between the hulls allow air to move through instead of trapping heat inside a solid block of foam. With the right amount of filling, I get plenty of support without feeling like I’m sleeping on something rigid.
Hulls are great, but take some out
My $40 Sachi Organics buckwheat hull pillow arrived overstuffed and very firm, with instructions to unzip and remove some hulls to personalize the feel. I stored them in a sealed plastic bag in case I want to add some back later. After some trial and error, I settled on keeping about 75% of the original filling.
The extra space lets me adjust the shape. Pressing a finger into the pillow’s surface makes a divot for my ear or use a hand for larger changes. The hulls are easy to move yet hold their position under pressure.
When I lie on my back, I press the middle down to form a nook for my head and neck. It’s comfortable and keeps my chin up to reduce snoring.
For side sleeping, my most common position, it’s almost the reverse. I tuck my hand under and lift. The ends draw closer together, creating an arch beneath my head with room for my shoulder.
Reshaping it as I roll over has become part of my muscle memory so it doesn’t interrupt my sleep.
I’m not going back to foam or feathers
Sachi Organics Buckwheat Neck Pillow none-selected
At first, a buckwheat hull pillow requires more adjustment than a conventional pillow. But that’s exactly why I like it. With the fill level dialed in, I can give it a quick push or squeeze to provide the neck and head support I want.
A pillow is only one part of solving common sleep problems, but getting mine right made a noticeable difference. My Sachi Organics pillow is cooler and more breathable than foam, kinder and more sustainable than feathers and flexible enough to adapt to how I want to sleep. After years of feeling like I needed two pillows, one finally does the job.
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Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter, the Guardian’s guide to buying fewer, better things:
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I thought I found the perfect pillow. Could these three unseat my favorite?
