Kapok, or ceiba pentandra, is a tropical tree native to Mexico. They’re impressive trees that can grow to be 200 feet tall with trunks as wide as 9 feet. Kapok is a deciduous tree and drops its leaves following seasonal periods of heavy precipitation. While the tree is leafless, flowers appear. If they’re pollinated (most often by bats!), the flowers will produce a fluffy, cotton-like material containing hundreds of seeds. This light brown, soft fibre is sometimes called silk cotton.Kapok’s qualities have made it popular for filling pillows, upholstery, and even life preservers, but its use has dramatically declined since the introduction of polyester/polyurethane foams.Kapok is currently experiencing a small revival thanks to its all-natural characteristics.Kapok fill is often marketed as being “hypoallergenic.” Unfortunately there is no regulation in the United States that defines or governs the use of the term, so manufacturers of all pillow types use the term quite liberally.
Consequently, hypoallergenic claims often don’t carry much water.It’s unclear how common genuine kapok allergies are because allergic reactions are often incorrectly attributed to kapok when the true cause is dust mites and/or mold. However, one study found that 10 patients out of 59 were allergic to kapok. Other studies show that kapok will accumulate dust mite allergens more quickly than other fibers. Given the evidence, calling kapok hypoallergenic is, at best, an overstatement.That said, kapok can be an alternative for those allergic to other pillow fill types like down.Unfortunately kapok is extremely flammable. Its flammability is partially to blame for its decline in popularity. If you’re accident prone and burning incense or anything else near your bed, kapok might not be a great pillow to have around.While flammability is a viable concern, be aware that many traditional bedding products are treated with really nasty chemicals like formaldehyde to make them fire retardant.
Is kapok’s flammability more of a concern than exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals? I would prefer kapok to a lot of the fire-retardant pillows currently available!I’d done plenty of reading about kapok, but never tried it. I researched a few kapok pillows offered on Amazon and added one of the favorably-reviewed ones to my cart. A few days later, it was time to give kapok a whirl!When I opened the pillow, I examined the fill carefully. It looked quite different from the stock image at the top of the page. The kapok was slightly clumped together in thick, light brown strands and a few small pieces of the seeds were scattered throughout. The clumps tear into smaller pieces easily, but the individual fibers attract and cling to one another giving it an interesting soft texture similar to raw cotton.A deep inhalation of the kapok thankfully revealed no discernible odor.Initially my new pillow was way too thick. The pillow pushed my head upward at an uncomfortable angle.
No problem — it included included a zipper on the side, allowing me to remove some of the kapok to give it more appropriate, thinner loft.As someone who’s accustomed to sleeping on a buckwheat pillow, kapok was an abrupt change for me. The kapok fill has a fairly uniform density and when compressed it tends to spring back into its original shape. Each night I’d squish and mash the pillow’s fill in an effort to mold it into a more comfortable configuration with little success. This soft loaf refused hold its shape.Kapok is frequently compared to down. Down and kapok are both soft, but I found that the similarities ended there. One of down’s best qualities is its moldability; it can conform to the shape of your head and neck and provide great uniform support. Moldability isn’t the only characteristic of a good pillow, so I shrugged it off and left it on my bed. I know from experience that its necessary to give a new pillow up to two weeks to get used to it.The lack of head and neck support really go to me.
Inevitably, in the middle of the night, my pillow would shift and my neck would be elevated either too high or two low. Changing the amount of fill didn’t help. I longed for my faithful buckwheat pillow that perfectly filled the space between my neck. The kapok pillow ended up in my closet, alongside my sad latex pillow.After only a few days, I noticed that the kapok was starting to develop lumps, much like polyester foam pillows do. For this reason, I imagine it will not last very long. I was surprised to see this happen so quickly because some of the marketing literature suggested that kapok resisted clumping.Kapok pillows certainly have their advantages. I think it’s a good choice for those that are looking for an all natural alternative to softer pillow types like down or polyester foam pillows. Not all, but some kapok pillows include a zippered opening. The fill is very easy to add or remove so that you can adjust the loft (height) to your personal preference. You can’t do that with down!
For me, the lack of moldability was the pillow’s biggest flaw. I just couldn’t make it stay in the shape I wanted and as a result I wasn’t getting the best sleep. and you’ll find that it’s a common complaint. If you’re looking specifically for an all natural alternative to a soft pillow fill like down or polyester, kapok could be a good upgrade for you. It’s safe (as long as you keep it away from fire), doesn’t have any chemical odor and will provide roughly the same sleeping experience.For most people, I think that there are better options, like our own Hullo™ buckwheat pillow! Give one a try and I think you’ll agree that it’s superior to other pillow types. Don’t take my word for it — check out these customer reviews. Buy online and return core parts to the store to be refunded the price. On Orders $75 or Greater and free shipping to APO, FPO, DPO addresses. Save time by buying online and picking up items in store.Are you sure you want to navigate away from this site?