It wasn't too long ago that someone on here was asking for opinions on mattresses. I have no answers for that (still looking for the right one, myself), but I have found what I think might be the perfect pillow for me.
I'm a very restless sleeper, lots of thrashing and rolling. I also sleep very "hot" - it is not uncommon for me to wake up soaked in sweat. As a result, I can destroy an average set of bedding in a remarkably short time. The average cheap pillow from department stores will only last me a month or two before I completely flatten it. In addition, I have three herniated discs in my neck that cause me a lot of orthopedic issues, and I need a very firm pillow that can support my neck.
I've searched high and low for decent bedding. I've tried pillow after pillow, and none of them could stand up to my abuse. But my current pillow is the best I've ever slept on: the "Beans72" Organic Buckwheat Pillow, from Amazon. Costs $60 for the queen size, shipped.
Make no mistake about what your sixty dollars buys you - there is nothing fancy about this thing. You get a coarse cotton sack stuffed full of probably ten pounds of buckwheat hulls. This is not a delicate item - it is a specialty product intended to provide maximum support for people with neck injuries.
Pros:
Very firm, infinitely adjustable support. The buckwheat hulls can be molded to whatever position you require with a simple sweep of your hands. This is the best support for my herniated discs that I've found. Perfect for side-sleepers. Okay for back-sleepers, but the queen size may be a little thicker than ideal.
Heavy-duty. Those buckwheat hulls won't last forever - I'll eventually grind them down, but it looks like they are going to last a very long time. And the companies that make these pillows will sell you a box of replacement hulls when you need them.
Fairly cool-sleeping. The buckwheat hulls circulate a decent amount of air through the pillow, so if you are a hot sleeper like me, you may find that buckwheat pillows don't get as hot as the average pillow. Mine is not as cool-sleeping as was advertised, but it isn't bad.
Cons:
The firmness might be too much for most. You are basically sleeping on a sack of hard granules. As I said, this is a specialty product, probably not for the average sleeper.
Noise. You get used to it, but there is some noise as the hulls shift when you move your head or adjust the pillow.
Weight. No kidding, this pillow probably weighs ten pounds or more. Your wife will need help changing the pillowcase.
This thing has done my neck a world of good, and if you have sleep problems or neck injuries similar to mine, a buckwheat pillow might be worth checking out. I love mine.
I'm a very restless sleeper, lots of thrashing and rolling. I also sleep very "hot" - it is not uncommon for me to wake up soaked in sweat. As a result, I can destroy an average set of bedding in a remarkably short time. The average cheap pillow from department stores will only last me a month or two before I completely flatten it. In addition, I have three herniated discs in my neck that cause me a lot of orthopedic issues, and I need a very firm pillow that can support my neck.
I've searched high and low for decent bedding. I've tried pillow after pillow, and none of them could stand up to my abuse. But my current pillow is the best I've ever slept on: the "Beans72" Organic Buckwheat Pillow, from Amazon. Costs $60 for the queen size, shipped.
Make no mistake about what your sixty dollars buys you - there is nothing fancy about this thing. You get a coarse cotton sack stuffed full of probably ten pounds of buckwheat hulls. This is not a delicate item - it is a specialty product intended to provide maximum support for people with neck injuries.
Pros:
Very firm, infinitely adjustable support. The buckwheat hulls can be molded to whatever position you require with a simple sweep of your hands. This is the best support for my herniated discs that I've found. Perfect for side-sleepers. Okay for back-sleepers, but the queen size may be a little thicker than ideal.
Heavy-duty. Those buckwheat hulls won't last forever - I'll eventually grind them down, but it looks like they are going to last a very long time. And the companies that make these pillows will sell you a box of replacement hulls when you need them.
Fairly cool-sleeping. The buckwheat hulls circulate a decent amount of air through the pillow, so if you are a hot sleeper like me, you may find that buckwheat pillows don't get as hot as the average pillow. Mine is not as cool-sleeping as was advertised, but it isn't bad.
Cons:
The firmness might be too much for most. You are basically sleeping on a sack of hard granules. As I said, this is a specialty product, probably not for the average sleeper.
Noise. You get used to it, but there is some noise as the hulls shift when you move your head or adjust the pillow.
Weight. No kidding, this pillow probably weighs ten pounds or more. Your wife will need help changing the pillowcase.
This thing has done my neck a world of good, and if you have sleep problems or neck injuries similar to mine, a buckwheat pillow might be worth checking out. I love mine.
), and heavy. Any normal pillow I just immediately crush right down to the bed surface. I also side sleep (both for comfort and an as yet failed attempt to reduce my snoring). Foam pillows can do ok for a while - if it's winter and I've got the house in the low 60's, which keeps them stiffer. Even then, the massive heat my head puts out has it all squishy with a couple of hours. In the summer, forget about it. Maybe I'll give this a try. I have my doubts, as anything with a bead-like makeup would seem to be prone to settling and low support. But I'm about out of options.
