Pillow Reviews > Buckwheat Pillow Reviews
Buckwheat Pillows → Reviews, Ratings & Complaints Based on Data From 431 Actual Owners
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updated January 22, 2012
What You Need To Know
Owner Satisfaction: Buckwheat pillows overall have 85% owner satisfaction.
Pros: Generally supportive and contouring; above-average neck pain relief; can adjust height / loft by adding or removing hulls; good air flow.
Cons: Too firm for some; some noise; too small for some; fairly heavy; odor possible; may need to experiment to determine right fill quantity.
Price: $25-$75 depending mainly on size.
Competition: See how buckwheat pillows compare to other pillow types in the pillow comparison.
Buckwheat Pillow Ratings: As a Group
The ratings below discuss how the pillows overall as a group are evaluated by owners. For information on specific brands, see the section following this one.
| Owner satisfaction | good | With 85% owner satisfaction, buckwheat pillows are tied for top place in owner satisfaction. |
| Durability / longevity | good | Buckwheat pillows perform average to somewhat above average on this issue. The hulls become compacted with use, and eventually the product will lose some volume. |
| Price | good | Prices range from $25-$75. People on average paid $38. High owner satisfaction and reasonable prices make the pillow an above-average value, say most owners. |
| Less pain | good | Pain relief provided by buckwheat pillows is above average, with at least 20% of owners reporting reduced pain, especially neck pain. However, at least 5% of owners say that it causes pain usually due to high firmness. |
| Supportive | good | Supportiveness is a clear strength of the pillow, according to owners overall. The pillow tends to not sink in / flatten during the night, allowing one's neck to maintain a proper, neutral position. |
| Moldable | good | Buckwheat pillows can conform to contours of the neck / head resulting in even distribution, proper support and comfort. However, getting the pillow to mold properly may take effort, such as using one's hand to shape the pillow. |
| Cuddly | fair | A "cuddly" pillow is one that is soft and huggable, as opposed to hard, rigid, stiff and or too heavy. Softer, lighter pillow types do better on this issue than buckwheat pillows. |
| Contents won't shift / clump | fair | Hulls can slide / shift to one side but can be easily corrected. |
| Loft variety | good | Many buckwheat pillows have a zipper that allows the pillow to be opened and hulls to be removed or added. This allows loft and firmness to be adjusted to suit personal preference. However, be prepared to experiment with the correct fill quantity to find a level that’s right for you. |
| Back sleep | good | Our data suggests that most owners are back sleepers. |
| Stomach sleep | fair | The high firmness of the pillow can undermine comfort for stomach sleepers, owner data suggests. |
| Side sleep | good | The pillows are generally good for side sleepers, but high firmness may irritate the ears of some sleepers. |
| No initial odor | fair | At least 2% of owners report an initial, unpleasant smell. |
| Air flow | good | Buckwheat hulls allow air to circulate around them. Less than 2% of owners report heat buildup. Regular use will result in increasingly compacted hulls which will decrease air circulation. |
| No noise | poor | A buckwheat pillow is likely the noisiest pillow especially for side sleepers who have an ear on the pillow. One may hear hulls being compressed. Many owners, however, report that they get used to any sound produced and that noise largely goes away over time. |
| Fewer allergies | good | Allergies caused by buckwheat hulls exist but are rare. |
| Ease of use / maintenance | poor | Using a buckwheat pillow may require more effort than is the case with most other pillows. Many owners need to experiment to find the correct fill quantity that is right for them. Directions call for occasionally unzipping the pillow and removing hulls and then washing the case. It is usually not recommended that the hulls be cleaned. |
| Lightweight | fair | They are often described by owners as fairly heavy. This means that the pillow will stay put at night but it also makes it more difficult to move or pick up. |
Buckwheat Pillow Ratings: By Brand
The chart below evaluates only those buckwheat pillows for which we could find significant owner experience data; in other words, the chart does not include all buckwheat pillows available on the market.
| Owner Satisfaction / Sample Size | Price / Retailer | Return policy | |
|---|---|---|---|
Beans72 (Amazon.com) |
87% / 334 | $24-$50 / Amazon
|
30 days |
| Premium | 89% / 120 | $46 / Overstock.com | 30 days |