CalmingBreath Buckwheat Pillow - Great for Neck Pain, Headaches & Side Sleeping, Cotton Cover - Buckwheat Filled - 48cm x 74cm

I have been looking for new pillows for a while -but really didn't know which to get.I was absolutely fed up with microfibre ones - I ended up buying more and more expensive ones only to find they all go flat after a year or so and then you have the problem of what to do with them? (Mine went via the pet rescue centre to landfill)Was tempted to go for memory foam - until I found they don't last long either - more landfill, and are hot to use and apparently your head sinks into them and gets 'stuck'.Thought I would have to go back to feather - not ideal because they tend to be quite soft and I like a firmer pillow - and also I had vowed never again after I had to wash them - to be fair a good few years ago and they may not have been classed as 'washable' but I couldn't get them dry - hours in a laundrette dryer and they were still damp ....have you ever smelt damp, rotting feathers? - yuk - (and never open one up - even in a desperate attempt to speed up the drying process - they went everywhere and there were lots of them ....just one pillow created a bin bag and a half ...and I had two pillows - a nightmare . (Someone also told me that some are produced cruelly from live ducks/geese)Then someone suggested these - and I decided to give them a go. If nothing else the contents can be composted...no landfill! If they go flat you can buy more filling to top them up, you can take filling out or put more in to adjust to you - all good.The covers are good quality, thick cotton - and the zip will be handy (and has been because I was curious as to what the filling looked like)..They are well filled - rubbish at approximating but I'd say 10- maybe more cm deep. The filling isn't washable, - so I think you may need decent pillow protectors - but you can buy just filling and the covers can be washed -so not an absolute disaster if you have a vomitty child incident etc.So what are they like as a pillow...well - a bit different... I guess they are a bit like polystyrene bead bean bags.My partner's first reaction was to ask me why I'd filled the pillow cases with gravel! But after he used it he liked it.. I only got two (one each) and he likes having two pillows so currently has a flat microfibre one too. But he says he would be happy with another buckwheat one to replace the microfibre.I was surprised how heavy they are...have had to adjust my pillowcase putting on technique.They do make a weird crackling noise in your ear when you put your head on them - takes a bit of getting used to but you do and I find it strangely sleep inducing - I guess a bit like white noise.I struggled more - took more adjustment. I like two pillows too- sit up to read at first so one at my back and one behind my head and then lie down on my side to sleep. So I had a flat microbfibre one too. But then it was too high to lie on my side ...but not quite high enough to put the thin one to one side and just use the buckwheat. After a few nights I developed a technique where the buckwheat is pushed to the top and the two are fine.I should probably take some filling out ....but I think I will be getting another buckwheat one - but a thinner one and take some filling out of this one to make them more even...just want to see how well they last for a bit longer ....But I do like them... actually I love them . I seem to be having a much better sleep ...much deeper than I have had for a long time.I think maybe the best indication of that - which I'm not sure is a selling point but maybe should be - is I have overslept 3 times since I got them! I think I need a better alarm....or maybe earlier nights.

After using this for 3 days, I was tempted to return it for a refund, as I dreaded the thought of another nights sleep resting my head onto bricks...or at least what felt like bricks. There was also the issue of the sound...like having your head on a pebble beach each time you want to adjust the pillow at night..with the pebbles rolling to and fro. But...I did also have very clear breathing...and my head always seemed to be at the right height...whether I lay on my front, back, or side, albeit with a small shift of the buckwheat. So...there it lay, beside my bed but not on it, for 4 days as I went back to softness...but the soft pillows had an undeniable weakness: a given pillow may be ok for back, but then would not work for side sleeping, whilst another would be ok for side, but then be way to high for back sleeping...well...you get the picture. The even bigger problem with non-buckwheat pillows...you may choose good back sleeping pillow only to wake up later on your side with a stiff neck. So... I decided to give the buckwheat pillow another go. I start off the night getting to sleep on my back, with a camel shape in the middle...so my head rests low...but my neck is supported...with a more standard shape for side sleeping if my head rolls out of the camel hump in the middle of the night to do some side sleeping. It works great...and most nights I don't have to reshape the pillow at all. And...I'm not sure why...but the buckwheat no longer feels like a pile of bricks...it feels more firmly supportive...like a good firm mattress. The longer I use this pillow...the more I am amazed how it can transform into any shape and height that you need literally unlike any pillow, ever. That is definitely it's biggest strength...you never have to worry about your pillow being the right height or shape...as you can simply adjust this one. This makes it extra perfect if you need to swap beds one night...as even if the other mattress changes how your body lies in the bed...the pillow can perfectly adjust. Only problem is... I will know have to pack my pillow away with me for trips! One tip: If you find you always want a bit 'lower' overall pillow...simply remove some of the buckwheat so you don't have to shift so much to the back or sides. I did this and it worked perfectly. Second tip: If you are a two position sleeper, like me (back and side)...adjust one half the pillow one way...and the other half the other so you only have to roll into place at night...but I actually do it 1/3 1/3 1/3 (right side, back, left side). Wish list/ tip three: Like another reviewer, while it would be convenient to have a travel pillow size for going away made for you... you could also create a travel pillow size by filling a smaller 'case' using buckwheat from you main pillow...and then simply return the buckwheat to the main pillow when you return.