If you can’t remember the last time you felt truly rested after a good night’s sleep, then maybe it’s time to try a bamboo pillow. Bamboo pillows are better for you, AND they’re better for the environment. They’re a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional pillows.
I can say from my personal experience that switching to a tried and trusted natural alternative to down pillows has given me many nights of restful sleep - a real change from when fitful and restless nights of interrupted sleep were the norm.
There are not many things that will put you on the back foot for the rest of the day quite like a night of being half asleep and half awake.
When I decided to make the switch to bamboo pillows, I found that there were loads of new and established brands to choose from. This is excellent news for a more sustainable world. But a challenge for little old me, because there were so many options that I had buyer's paralysis.
But that's what Go Go Eco is all about - a place for me to share my experiences and findings on from my hunt for the best bamboo pillow.
The Cariloha Retreat Bamboo pillow has a sophisticated silver-on-white quilted cover with a jacquard stripe design. Not only does it look great, it feels soft to the touch. This softness is due to the plush 300 thread count of its 100% bamboo viscose material.
The cover is removable and machine washable so you can refresh it night-after-night for restful sleep on its cooling bamboo fabric. The cover fill is an 80 / 20 mx of microfiber and viscose from bamboo.
I need plenty of support for my head and neck, shoulders and back. The Cariloha Bamboo Pillow delivers on that front with support coming from the three layers of comfort and cushioning. At the heart of this pillow is the 100% bamboo charcoal memory foam of the middle fill. This gives me the pressure absorption that rests my neck as it adapts to my body shape and size.
If you’re looking for a pillow that’s soft on the skin but with firm support, then I highly recommend the Cariloha. It’s my top pick.
I’m always looking for ways to make my cash go further. So that’s why I think that the Bonifacio Shredded Memory Foam Firm Support Pillow, which comes in a pillow set of two, is among the best value for money bamboo pillows out there.
Effectively it’s two pillows for the price of one, so you won’t have to play rock paper scissors with your sleeping partner at bedtime to see who gets the good night’s sleep.
Even though it’s in the budget range, it still offers all of the natural cooling of more expensive bamboo pillow sets. The shredded memory foam interior offers firm support whether your sleep position is that of a side sleeper or a back sleeper.
The cover of this pillow is a 60% rayon from bamboo / 40% polyester blend. Despite being a blend, it still has hypoallergenic and naturally antibacterial properties. These pillows are machine washable but be warned that they do not include removable covers or pillowcases.
Although this kind of blend is cooler to the touch than other textiles, pairing this pillow with a bamboo pillow cover is best if your resting temperature is hotter than most, especially on warmer and more humid nights.
This is the bamboo pillow you want if you need maximum comfort and a great night’s sleep for a low price.
Don’t use the Zen Bamboo Ultra Plush Gel Pillow if you’re looking to take a quick power nap. The soft plushness will draw you into its lush embrace and turn that quick snooze into an extended slumber. Trust me, I know from personal experience!
The jacquard cover of this pillow is soft, breathable, and it looks great. It’s also functional with a no-shift design. This sees to it that no fabric overlaps or folds as you move on it, ensuring that you’ll always have the optimal amount of support.
At the heart of this pillow is a layer of the softest gel fiber. It’s gentle and malleable enough to accommodate any kind of sleeping position. Whether you’re a side, back or stomach sleeper, you’ll find the natural coolness and gentle support will give you night after night of restful rejuvenating sleep.
While I prefer a medium firmness pillow to get me through a night’s sleep, this gel-infused bamboo pillow is not without its value as a softer cushion for reading on your sofa, or to flop back into after you’ve just come in from a hard day's work.
The softness of the pillow together with the sparse fill can give the center of the pillow a “donut hole” effect around your head if rested on for an extended period of time. Some may like the sinking effect, others less so.
The Zen Bamboo Ultra Plush Gel Pillow is available in queen or king size. It comes as a set of two for you and your boo. They are naturally mold and mildew resistant, as well as being hypoallergenic and chemical-free.
The great thing about body pillows is that they are long enough to bring coolness to the length of your body on warm nights. The Essence of Bamboo Medium Polyfill is 54 inches long and 20 inches wide.
It’s the perfect oversize pillow to bring the embrace of bamboo coolness to your skin on hot and humid nights that would usually keep you out of sleep.
Like Goldilocks, I prefer a pillow that’s not too hard and not too soft, so I really love the medium support and firmness of this bamboo pillow. The fill is dense and soft polyester/polyfill. Because this pillow is long and malleable, it’s perfect for back, side and stomach sleepers.
When it ships to you, it’s packaged awkwardly, so it would take a little bit of effort to even it out. Check out the guide at the end of this article for how to fluff out your newly arrived bamboo pillow.
I may be pragmatic but even I like to spoil myself sometimes. If like me you feel that you’re worth the indulgence of 1800 thread count luxury, then the White Katherine Shredded Memory Foam Plush Support Pillow might just provide the pampering you seek.
It looks as great as it feels on the skin. This set of two pillows comes complete with removable covers, made from 1800 thread count rayon from bamboo.
These bamboo pillows are cross-cut with shape-retaining shredded memory foam. Best of all, they can be adjusted to three different firmness levels - plush, medium and firm. You can adjust this firmness by removing, or adding fill to the pillow according to your preference. This versatility comes with the naturally breathable properties of bamboo, but what’s more, this set has the extra comfort of cooling technology.
If coolness is what you seek from an eco-friendly bamboo pillow and cash is no object, the White Katherine Bamboo Pillow should help you wave goodbye to sleepless, sweaty nights. It’s also perfect for all kinds of sleepers; back, side and stomach.
Note - this is a single pillow. Get two or leave your partner to sweat out their jealousy!
The cooling effect of bamboo has been known for centuries in cultures around the tropical climes of southeast Asia. These cultures used the cooling effect of bamboo to bring a restful sleep on hot humid nights.
Even in modern times, with our air-conditioned apartments, there is nothing quite like the feeling of coolness against the skin to soothe your way to sleep. If you’re having trouble sleeping, a bamboo pillow could be the solution for you.
A bamboo pillow is shaped like a normal everyday down-stuffed pillow. The difference is that it's made out of bamboo fiber outer shell, surrounding a comfortable memory foam interior. Not all bamboo pillows are 100% all-natural bamboo. Some are made from all-natural bamboo pulp. Other bamboo pillows are semi-synthetic bamboo products with chemicals and bleach added.
I used to be at my wit's end, desperate to get a good night's sleep. I also wanted to try something that’s more sustainable. That’s why switching to a bamboo pillow was right for me, and it could be right for you too. There are three main benefits in swapping out your old fashioned traditional pillow for a bamboo pillow.
A good bamboo pillow will last between one and two years, depending on how well you look after it. Depending on the manufacturer, you may be able to replace the fill of the pillow if it begins to lose its natural plumpness. Using a pillow protector can add many more nights of use to your bamboo pillow.
To save space in shipping, your new bamboo pillow may have been vacuum-sealed. This would compress the memory foam filling to the point where it’s very difficult to plump with your bare hands.
To fix this, all you need to do is give it a spin in your dryer for about 15 to 20 minutes on low heat. The memory foam will expand and be ready for use. Letting it settle and then giving it a good fluffing would also help to ready it for a good night's sleep.
Your freshly shipped bamboo pillow may have a peculiar scent from the time it’s been compressed and wrapped, and as a residual effect of the manufacturing process of memory foam pillows. Don’t worry though, this smell will generally fade over time.
Quick tip: you can also get rid of any strong odor by tossing it in the dryer on low heat when it's fresh out the box.
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for your specific bamboo pillow. Generally speaking, a memory foam bamboo pillow will be damaged by overly frequent and rigorous washing, causing it to lose its structural integrity. When you do have to wash your bamboo pillow make sure that you dry it thoroughly so that you don’t leave any moisture sitting within the fibers. Follow this up with a thorough plumping.
Most manufacturers offer memory foam filling to refresh your pillow. But you won’t need it for a good while if you maintain your bamboo pillow properly. This means properly plumping and refreshing it daily to make sure that the memory foam doesn’t lose its natural spring by compressing in on itself.
Give your bamboo pillow a shake, a few punches and a couple of squeezes to spread the memory foam across the interior of the pillow. Doing this daily will add to the lifespan of your pillow.
When I was looking for a sustainable, eco-friendly solution for a better night's sleep, bamboo pillows ticked every box. I’m really glad I made the switch because the coolness of the bamboo feels heavenly against my skin and I really do feel like I’m getting a better night’s sleep. A quality bamboo pillow will support your neck, back and shoulders as you sleep.
It wasn't easy to find the best bamboo pillow - and there are many more to try - but I'm very happy with my choices and hope you feel the same.
Bamboo pillows are good for your body. They’re great for your sleep. And they’re better for the planet.
What’s not to like?
If you've enjoyed this article, check out our piece on bamboo pillow cases to go with the pillows you'll be adding to your bedroom!
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