Hullo pillows are generally considered to be firm pillows. While you might be accustomed to a squishy, soft pillow, many are surprised that firmer pillows can actually be more comfortable as they provide support. Did you know your head likely weighs between 8 and 12 pounds? A firm pillow supports that weight for a healthier and more comfortable sleeping position.
Pillow is VERY firm. Given the volume of hulls, initial shape was too large and stiff. Even with content/fill adjustment, end result was the worst neck pain I’ve ever experienced. Stopped using after 1 month and multiple adjustments. Went back to C shaped gel/foam type pillow.
I love this pillow and recommend it for the eco-conscious.
I really disliked the thought that something I’d sleep on for a few years would end up in a landfill for 500 years. So I decided to try this.
It is heavy. This helps me keep it on my side of the bed, and thus keep my head on my side of the bed. (It was not uncommon for me to have my pillows *off* the bed.) However, moving the pillow or getting it in the pillow case can be a bit more work than you’re used to, as it is 13 pounds (5.8kg). You can adjust the weight by removing some or all of the hulls. If you live alone and have arthritis or other impairment, just know it might be a bit of an adjustment.
It is loud compared to other pillows, but it’s still quiet compared to everyday sounds. And, of course, it’s only noisy when you move.
There is a bit of firmness, but it’s also adjustable. I think it’s great as is.
While there is a premium price for this product, it is a quality product, and it’s the best pillow I’ve ever owned.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I love my Hullo pillow! I am pretty picky about pillows. I like a pillow that’s firm but also malleable. Memory foam pillows have never worked for me because I can’t easily change the shape as I shift sleeping positions over the course of a night. I love how easy it is to reshape this pillow. I needed to take about half the filling out of mine to personalize it for my comfort, but that was very easy to do. The case is well made. The whole pillow feels clean and comfortable. It even smells fresh and clean. I wish I’d bought one years ago.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I am not a hard pillow type of person but this pillow provides much needed support while still being comfortable. I love that I can adjust it, as needed, around my shoulders.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I have tried dozens of pillows, from the cheapest to the most expensive. Every single one was a serious disappointment, especially the expensive ones because who wants to pay a lot for something that’s awful? I was beyond desperate. Why…WHY is it so impossible to make a firm pillow?? My head sunk to the mattress with every pillow I tried. So, not only no support, but the ends would pop up around my face. Uncomfortable and annoying! I stacked them…two, three, even four. That just made it annoying in layers.
I came across your product and thought it couldn’t hurt to try one more. I cannot possibly express how happy I am that I tried a Hullo Pillow. It’s a dream come true. I am not exaggerating. I had a bit of doubt that I’d like it when the noise of the hulls was mentioned. I should not have hesitated for a second. It’s very quiet, certainly doesn’t wake me up when I move during the night, and was very easy for me to get used to as I fall asleep.
Anyone struggling to find a good, firm pillow needs to try a Hullo. I have told every single person I know about this amazing pillow. I’ve even made a few people lay on it to see how great it is.
I am unable to thank you enough for making this pillow. I’m definitely going to buy more, for each side of the bed and for the couch, as I fall asleep there a lot.
Thank you,
Lisa Pence
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I really wanted to like this pillow but it doesn’t stay cool and is very hard. I tried removing a lot of the filling but it didn’t help. Using it just because I bought it 🙁
I didn’t think I’d like this pillow. After all, how could buckwheat hulls be soft enough for a pillow? Well, it turns out that if you think of them more like a beanbag chair, then you get a better idea of how they can be comfortable. After the first two nights of good sleep, I was mostly convinced that these are just as good as a regular feather or memory foam pillows.
Sometimes you might get in a position where the pillow just feels hard, like a rock. But a little fluffing with your hands can fix that, so it’s not a big deal; your head will then sink right into that ‘rock.’ Definitely give it a try. It’s better than you might think.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
Both my wife and I were a little shocked with just how firm the pillows were when we received them, but after a few months now, it’s hard whenever we sleep on anything else.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I got a recommendation from a patient for this pillow, but after the first night, it caused extreme head, neck, and shoulder pain! It was as hard as a rock. And it was also very loud every time you move to change positions to try to get comfortable with it. It is definitely not the pillow for us to sell to our patients when it causes extreme pain. The return policy is very misleading since the company gives you 60 days to return the pillow for a full refund, but when you ask to return the pillow they email you and ask you not to because of the impact on the environment. The pillow and the box weigh almost 15 lbs which will cost over $50 to ship back, and I will pay that to get the remaining refund. Companies that are misleading in the verbiage on their websites, or do not disclose that they do not pay for shipping on a return, and just leave out the information that your refund is minus your return shipping costs, is not a company my healthcare facility will do business with. The www.hullopillow.com website on returns is misleading.
Note from Hullo: We try to be clear with our return policy, which states return shipping is the responsibility of the customer. Return shipping cost depends on the carrier/service, but typically is nowhere near $50 for one pillow via standard ground shipping. As a small business, we do our best to balance value to our customers with operating expenses and our ecological footprint.
This pillow is exactly what I wanted. It’s a firm and comfortable support I look forward to every night. I’m buying a smaller one for travel because I love this so much.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
After years of using down pillows and suffering with neck pain I am so happy to have discovered hullo pillows. I get firm support and still feel comfortable. The cotton twill case is lovely. I wish I could buy another cotton case for when I throw this one in the wash.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
Skeptical at first. All of my life I have preferred super soft goose downy pillows. I ended up with a Hulo pillow and did not think I would like it at all. It seemed way to firm and noisy for my pillow tastes. I threw it on my bed with the rest of my tried and true super soft pillows. I figured that it might act as a foundation. Slowly but surely I ended up pushing the old pillows aside for the Hulo pillow. Much to my surprise, I now prefer the buckwheat hulls over goose down. Although firmer, the hullo pillow has just the right amount of give while supporting my head and neck positions. Gone are the sore necks, kinks and pinched nerves. Thanks Hullo for a great product!!!
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I’ve had my hullo pillow for almost three months now. After reading so many rave reviews I had high expectations but I can’t say it resolved my neck pain and tightness and it’s not the most comfy pillow I’ve ever had but then that’s perhaps not what one should expect from a buckwheat pillow. But it didn’t make my neck pain worse either and while it feels rather hard, overall I still sleep better on it than on a regular, small or a memory foam pillow made especially to support the neck. I like the size of the pillow but find the filling quite voluminous and will experiment next with removing some of the buckwheat content to see if that makes it feel better. I thought about returning it and think it’s great that the company offers that option but I’ve decided to keep it.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I am so happy with this purchase that I brought one for a gift for my son! I have enjoyed this pillow since the first night; it really does stay cool. Having a pillow that is nice and firm is wonderful. Just like the description says, you put your head on it and it forms to your head and neck. I started shopping for a new pillow because I was waking up almost every morning with a headache, since getting the Hullo the headaches have almost disappeared. It is well worth the extra money to have a great purchase. My son is also enjoying his and no longer has to flip to the cool side.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I LOVE my Hullo (14 x 20). I’ve had buckwheat and millet pillows in the past, but the hulls weren’t as fresh as these are, which actually makes a big difference. If you haven’t used a buckwheat pillow before, they are somewhat firm. They are also adjustable in two ways – the first way you can adjust these pillows is by adding or subtract hulls so that your head is cradled just right. The amount I took out seems minimal, but it made a huge difference for me. I played around with it quite a bit before settling on the right amount, and I kept the extra hulls around in case I need them later.
The second way the Hullo is adjustable is that you can move the hulls around so they best cradle your head each time you move.
There is a rustling noise as you adjust the pillow and the buckwheat settles into place. It might bother some people, but I find it very relaxing.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I got the small size, which is perfect for this type of pillow. Typically I don’t like a big, firm pillow, just a bit to keep my neck straight. The buckwheat is firm, but it can be molded around your neck and head the way you like. I had to play around with the amount of buckwheat filling, trying less, then more, then less, etc. I seem to like it somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 full. By that, I mean if I hold the pillow by the zipper end, the buckwheat flows to the bottom of the pillow a bit below the halfway mark and the top portion is empty. Too full, and the buckwheat flows less easily and it starts to feel too hard. So if you think it’s too hard, remove some of the filling and see how that feels. On the downside, it looks rather deflated on the bed, lol!
Usually I pull the pillow to mostly go under my neck. If that’s not perfect, then I push my head in a little. Sometimes I’ll just take my fist and punch a little hole for the back of my head. It’s like sand in that way, will stay the way you form it. When I change position, it usually adjusts with my movement. If not, I either use my hand to reform the shape or I give my head a tiny turn or two to dig in.
Have not gone back to a regular pillow for sleeping, but having fluffy ones for looks might be a good idea if that is important to you. If you get the small size, I suggest you look for a video online to show how to put it in a regular pillowcase so it fits perfectly and looks really nice (and less deflated!). I put mine in sideways which works well.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I snore. It’s really annoying for everyone (except me, I’m asleep). Tried the Hullo pillow and sure enough, it really helped. It’s firm and helps keep my head lifted up enough where my breathing isn’t compromised. This is true for when I sleep on my side. This may not work as well for you if you sleep on your back. The problem now is if I travel anywhere, I really miss it!
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I have been on an epic quest for years in search of the perfect pillow and I finally found it with Hullo. It’s supportive! It’s flexible! My nose doesn’t sink in and smother me in my sleep! Putting a pillowcase on it is similar to trying to wrestle an alligator, but it’s totally worth it. Currently recommending it to everyone and am so excited I finally found my pillow soulmate.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I could sell these all day long. It’s like a mold around your head and neck. Sometimes if I get up in the night I might push on the hulls a bit and they just fill in the “neck gaps”, again, like a mold. Yes, the pillow is heavy’ish and it has some sound to it, but it’s the best pillow I’ve ever had. I’ve been using one for years and feel the same way. Just recently bought the smaller travel pillows (my partner feels the same way) so that’s why I got a review request. People who complain that it’s hard as a rock need to take out of the hulls. They are malleable so they naturally push down in, but you may have to take some out. I guess it’s not for everyone, but if you end up loving like we do you’ll be so glad you bought it.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
An acquaintance recommended this pillow for my shoulder pain, but my goodness – it is hard as a rock. And loud. I hate it. But failed to read the return policy and fear it would cost too much to return ship, since it would be akin to shipping a cinder block. Expensive lesson.
I am enjoying my pillow. It is a bit firmer than I am used to but I definitely do not toss and turn as much with my new pillow. It sleeps much cooler than a foam pillow even those that claim they have some kind of cooling fabric. It also has no odor. I bought a new pillow from a chain store that had to breathe for 24 hours before using— that can’t be good.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I have tried several pillows over the last few years – all with mixed results. My head and neck get quite warm when sleeping and regular pillows trap heat exceptionally well, unfortunately. I’ve tried cooling pillows, but those only work so long. Heard about Hullo pillow on a podcast for several weeks in a row, so did a little investigating and eventually bought the small one – hoping to keep from having to share with my cats (they just ended up either pushing my head off most of the pillow or sleeping on my face). It seems unsubstantial until you put force on it, then it becomes quite firm, which I rather liked. Molds very easily to shape of your head or face. Does get a little bit warm and retains some heat, but not enough to make it necessary to flip the pillow halfway through the night. It is rather comfortable to sleep on, though on occasion I do wake up with neck pain, so I’m debating taking some of the hulls out to see if that eliminates that as the pillow can feel a little raised.
My husband “borrowed” my pillow for a nap the other day and now is threatening to steal mine or buy his own.
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
My chiro had me sleeping on a stack of pillows for my lower back pain which was not something I looked forward to each night! So I set out to find the firmest pillow made as my chiro told me I had to find a pillow that did not give at all to keep my spine aligned in a neutral position. After reading the reviews for the Hullo, I took a chance and it has been the best pillow for me. Even my chiro and my physical therapist have given their approval. I sleep so well on my Hullo and wake up pain free. I look forward to laying my head down each night. Thank you for this wonderful product!
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.
I have tried so many pillows and I FINALLY found a GREAT one! I searched for a pillow that would not “sink” when I slept, I tried so many and honestly I was about to give up. I found Hullo by searching for “firm pillows”, read the description and took a chance. So glad I did because this pillow is a dream!
I would recommend Hullo to a friend.