A less popular option to buckwheat pillows like our own Hullo is millet hulls filled knee pillow.
Due to its distinctive smell, millet is instantly recognisable to many people. It is the main ingredient in the majority of bird seeds. The main reason why millet and buckwheat are planted is for the wholesome grains that they yield.
Hulls are a byproduct of milling; they are left over after the groat, which is the plant’s edible and nutritious component, is removed. In both situations, the hulls make excellent pillow fill.
Although I prefer buckwheat hull pillows, I do have a millet hull pillow that I use at home. It took me some time to get used to it, much like my first buckwheat pillow.
Millet Hulls: Heavy or light sleep?
I carefully filled a 2026′′ case with millet hulls I had purchased online. I was aback by how much lighter it seemed when packed compared to my buckwheat pillow.
When I tested my new pillow, I discovered that it “bottomed out,” providing minimal support for my head and neck when pressure was applied because the millet hulls slipped away from the pressure area.
I made up for it by adding extra hulls. My standard-sized case required roughly 7 pounds to fill to the proper thickness.
My buckwheat hull cushion has 8 pounds of fill, for comparison. I initially believed the millet to be far lighter, but the additional volume needed to maintain sufficient support for my head and neck disproved that notion.
If you consider the additional volume needed to make the cushion comfy, it is, but not by much.
How is being silky and soft a bad thing?
It felt a little unusual initially because I’m used to sleeping on a buckwheat pillow. The hulls of millet feel entirely different.
The millet hulls give in or collapse when you apply pressure to them, which is the most noticeable change. You’ll bury your head in the pillow. It feels tender. The fill adapts to any applied pressure as it slides smoothly against itself.
A millet hull pillow can be easier for those who are uncomfortable with the thought of a rugged pillow to get used to than a buckwheat hull pillow.
Quiet! I’m using this pillow as a bed.
The hulls of millet sound and feel different from those of buckwheat. Unlike millet hulls, which rustle when moved, buckwheat hulls were almost silent when they moved inside my pillowcase.
Although some millet pillow users have complained about it, I’ve never found the sound of the buckwheat hulls to be unpleasant. Consider the benefit of millet husks being quiet.
At first, I was ecstatic that I had discovered a cushion that was better than my buckwheat pillow. It had a great deal of promise. I slept on it for a few weeks.
Several things about my millet husk cushion were lacking.
The hulls of millet can smell very strongly.
Benefits of Millet Hull Pillows
- Buckwheat is heavier than millet (although not by much).
- They felt “smooth” and plush.
- The millet hulls don’t rattle when you move them, so it’s silent.
Problems with millet hull pillows:
- It’s less effective than a buckwheat pillow at keeping your head and neck cool because of the microscopic millet hulls, but it’s still much more breathable than a down or polyester cushion.
- The strong scent of bird feed may turn some people off.
- Although it gets weaker with time, the smell can be extremely potent when it is first gathered.
- The hulls of millet don’t provide much support for your head and neck. If the enclosing case isn’t nearly entire, it “bottoms out” quickly.
- I can’t sleep with a millet pillow beneath my head since it doesn’t provide enough support. Please do not misunderstand; it is still a good pillow. Any day over a pillow filled with down or polyester, I’d choose this one. I’m sure many people would enjoy using it as a bed pillow because of how smooth and silky it feels.
I believe that the majority of people prefer buckwheat pillows. If you try one, I think you’ll agree that it’s better than other kinds of pillows.