Bigger isn't always Better.
That's the verdict when it comes to Sobakawa Buckwheat Pillows.
As is with the majority of bedding and sleeping products, every person has different needs and tastes, and there is no one size fits all.
But that's what makes our world more interesting. Imagine everyone having the same type of pillow or mattress. Individuality keeps us sane.
When it comes to a buckwheat pillow (and we really hope you make the decision to get one instead of sleeping on overpriced memory foam pillows or other synthetic materials where you have no clue what actually makes up the pillow), the size choices vary greatly between manufacturers, but there is one clear favorite and size we recommend.
Travel Size (10" x 14")
As the name suggests, this size is best for traveling. Being it camping, train or road trips, a travel-size pillow comes in handy the next time you're sinking into your cheap hotel pillow or your overpriced camping pillow. This size is also a very good option for young kids (ages 2 - 6) or back sleepers that don't change their sleeping position very often. Once the filling is adjusted to your liking, it perfectly complements and adjusts to your neck's natural curve.
Japanese Size (12"x 18")
This size comes closest to the traditionally used makura sobakawa pillow, Japanese people have been using for centuries. Its size is perfect for daily use, making it our recommended choice for everyone.
Why? Because the average size of a human head measures 6-7 inches in width and about 8-9 inches in length. So having a Queen Size pillow that measures 30 inches in length, is not only a waste of money but possibly quite similar to buying pants that are too large because you want to make sure you can still wear them should you ever gain weight ;-)
Japanese Plus Size (14"x 20")
This size works great for people who tend to move around a little more during the night or switch sleeping positions often, turning from one side to another while sleeping on their side. With the extra sleeping surface added over the regular Japanese Size, our Plus Size model also works well for people that are a bit larger-built and have a larger head. It shares most of the advantages of the regular Japanese size as well.
There are some advantages that make the Japanese Pus size the clear favorite among buckwheat pillows:
- Compact in size, but yet big enough for daily use and also easy to take with you on trips if you don't want to miss your japanese buckwheat pillow while on the road
- Much easier to move around and handle than larger size models
- It's also easier to adjust than a larger pillow as you have to move fewer hulls around
- Affordable Price. Less Fabric, Less Buckwheat Hulls, Less Labor, Less Shipping Costs, result in the best-priced premium buckwheat pillow you will find.
Standard Size ( 20" x 26")
Yes, we know. Having a standard size or queen size bed pillow makes your bed look organized and better than having small size pillows on your bed. While that's true, and while Standard Size pillows are a great choice when it comes to fiber-filled or memory cushions, we don't believe it's the best size for buckwheat pillows. Our Standard Size pillow comes in at a weight of almost 11lbs, whereas our Japanese Size pillow only weighs 5.5lbs. This makes a huge difference for many people when it comes to how you handle the pillow. Moving 10lbs around when you have to wash the cover or replace the cover or sheets, is not really fun. Overall, a larger pillow means more maintenance. You have to empty out more hulls than you'd have to with a smaller size. So the cleaning process itself of your buckwheat bed pillow becomes a harder task with this size.
Price-wise a standard size pillow also comes in at almost twice the cost as a Japanese size pillow.
Neck Roll (17" x 6")
Neck Rolls are great for anyone who wants a buckwheat pillow with reduced sleeping surface which equals reduced pressure points, since this shape and size of pillow minimized the area needed to support your head for sleeping.
Neck Rolls are also really great for supporting your arms when sleeping on your side, or as a knee support pillow when sleeping on your back.
Queen Size ( 20" x 30")
Queen Size bed pillows are what we call the "Plus" version of a standard size pillow. A Queen Size Buckwheat Hulls filled pillow will weight around 14lbs making it even harder to handle and move around.
We really don't recommend this size to anyone, but maybe bodybuilders or weightlifters ;-)
King Size ( 20" x 36")
A King Size Pillow with buckwheat hulls, comes in at almost 18lbs weight-wise.
We only really recommend such sizes to people that want a body pillow, but if the only purpose of having a body pillow is to support your arms and shoulders, then a Buckwheat Neck Pillow will do the job as well without the hassle of the weight and a much lower price tag.