Hybrid Pillow : Natural Wool & Buckwheat

Buckwheat hulls are the hard outer shells that protect buckwheat seeds. Once the seeds are separated for food use, the leftover hulls are cleaned and used as a natural pillow filling.

Wool comes from sheep. Ours is sourced from farms in New Zealand and goes through a gentle crimping process to give it extra loft and spring.

Both materials are renewable, natural, sustainable, ethically sourced, and processed without harsh chemicals, making them perfect for our hybrid pillow.

A hybrid pillow combines two pillow types into one - in our case, a buckwheat pillow and a wool pillow. We’ve used buckwheat hulls for one side of the pillow and natural wool for the other. This way, you get the benefit of both materials and can choose whichever feel you like most at the time.

Buckwheat hulls provide firm support with adaptive contouring, while wool provides gentle cushioning with springy support. Together, they create a balance of comfort and support that’s hard to find in a single-fill pillow.

Hybrid pillows are recommended for people who are tired of using just one pillow type and want more variety. They let you switch things up whenever you like, essentially giving you two pillows for the price of one.

Absolutely. Buckwheat hulls and wool complement each other well, which is why they make such a strong pairing in a hybrid pillow. Each material has its own unique benefits, and together they balance firmness with softness.

Buckwheat hulls are the perfect pillow stuffing for a firmer feel and adjustable support. When you put your head down, the hulls move around and settle to fit your exact shape, holding up your neck and keeping your spine straight. Since air moves easily between all those little hulls, the pillow doesn't get hot like memory foam does, so it stays cool and breathable even on warm nights.

Wool, on the other hand, gives the pillow a more cushioned feel. It has a natural springiness that gently supports your head without letting it sink in too much. Wool also helps regulate temperature by keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, while wicking away moisture so the pillow feels fresh through the night.

The hybrid pillow is built to last 5+ years. Both buckwheat hulls and wool are naturally durable, so with proper maintenance, the pillow can stay comfortable for years. Plus, since the fillings are easy to replace, you can extend its lifespan even further with simple refills.

It’s both. One side of the pillow is filled with buckwheat hulls, which create a firmer feel with strong, adjustable support. The other side is filled with natural wool, which offers a softer, springier cushion. This way, you can flip the pillow depending on whether you want firmness or softness at any given time.

Yes. Hybrid pillows are a great option for side sleepers because they let you choose between firm support and gentle cushioning. The buckwheat hull side keeps your head and neck aligned, preventing strain, while the wool side adds softness to reduce pressure on your shoulder.

For many people, yes. Buckwheat hulls give firm support that molds to your shape and holds it, and wool adds soft, breathable cushioning that wicks moisture.

Memory foam tends to hold heat and can feel like you sink in and stay there. The hybrid pillow sleeps cooler, lets you adjust both sides, and is made only from natural fills.

The hybrid pillow is fully adjustable, giving you control over both the firmness and loft. Since it contains two natural fillings - buckwheat hulls and wool - you can fine-tune the balance between support and softness until it feels just right. Hulls provide structure and firmness, while wool gives cushioned softness and comfort.

Here are some easy steps to follow for this:

To Increase Loft/Firmness

1. Unzip the pillow cover and add more buckwheat hulls using a small cup.
2. Distribute the hulls evenly inside so the pillow keeps its shape.
3. If you’d like more plushness along with height, add a little extra wool fill as well.
4. Zip the cover back securely, then test the pillow by lying in your usual sleeping position.
5. If your head feels too high or the pillow too firm, remove a small amount of hulls/wool.

To Decrease Loft/Firmness

1. Unzip the pillow and carefully scoop out some hulls using a small cup.
2. If you want to make it feel softer without lowering it too much, reduce the amount of hulls but leave more wool.
3. Store the extra hulls or wool in a sealed bag/container so you can add them back later.
4. Zip the cover tightly, test the pillow, and keep adjusting until you find the perfect balance.

By mixing and matching the right amounts of hulls and wool, you can customize the pillow to be firmer, softer, higher, or lower - whatever feels best for you.

Many people find it more comfortable, because you can set it up to fit you. The buckwheat side gives firm, shaped support that keeps your head and neck in line, and the wool side is softer on your shoulder. Add or remove hulls to get the right height: fuller for side sleepers, lower for back and stomach sleepers.

A pillow isn't a medical treatment, so if you have ongoing pain, talk to your doctor.

To clean your hybrid pillow, start by unzipping the cover and carefully emptying both the buckwheat hulls and the wool fill into clean containers. (Turn the cover inside out to get everything out easily.)

• Cotton Cover: The organic cotton cover is machine washable. Use cold water, mild detergent, and a gentle cycle. Hang to dry completely before refilling.
• Buckwheat Hulls: Never wash hulls with water. To refresh them, spread the hulls out in direct sunlight or in a breezy spot for a few hours. This helps remove moisture and odors.
• Wool Fill: Wool should not be machine-washed. Instead, lay it flat in sunlight or an airy place to freshen it up. If it becomes clumped, gently fluff it apart by hand before refilling.

Once everything is dry, return the hulls and wool to the cover, adjusting the mix to your preferred feel.

For small stains, spot clean the cover as needed.

Always keep your pillow dry to prevent mold. Replace hulls when they lose springiness, and refresh the wool if it becomes too compressed.

The buckwheat side makes a soft rustling sound when you move, as the hulls shift. Most people stop noticing it after a few nights. The wool side is quiet, so flip to it if you prefer silence.

Buckwheat hulls stay dry and airy, and wool wicks moisture, so the inside of the pillow stays drier than many other fills, and dust mites prefer damp places. For extra protection, use a pillow cover and air out both fills every few months.

Yes, but only a mild and natural one. Since it’s made with real buckwheat hulls and wool, you may notice a faint earthy or woolly scent at first. This isn’t a chemical smell like memory foam. It’s just the natural aroma of the materials, which most people find pleasant. The scent usually fades within a few hours/days of use, especially if you air the pillow out before sleeping on it.

Yes, the hybrid pillow is heavier than standard foam pillows because of the buckwheat hull filling. Depending on the size you choose and how much you fill it, the pillow can weigh anywhere from 2 to 8 pounds. For instance, the travel and mini hybrid pillows are much lighter than the queen and king hybrid pillows.

No, don't microwave or heat buckwheat hulls. Heating them up makes them way too dry and brittle, which messes up their structure. This causes the hulls to break, crumble, lose shape, making your pillow flatter and harder to adjust.

Even if the hulls feel a little warm after microwaving, that warmth goes away really fast, so they're not that great at staying warm anyway.

If you want heat while you sleep, try a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, or get one of those microwavable heat packs instead. You could also just use a heating pad on low. That way, you get the warmth you want without ruining your pillow.

Yes. One of the best features of our hybrid pillow is that it’s refillable. Both the buckwheat hulls and the wool can be replaced over time:

• Buckwheat hulls naturally compress after years of use. When they lose support, you can empty them out and refill with fresh hulls to restore the pillow’s structure.
• Wool may flatten slightly with long-term use. You can fluff it up in the sun to revive it or replace it with new crimped wool if needed.