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[ahiddenbird]

Is there such a thing as a down-filled pillow that is cruelty-free? I've heard that eider down is cruelty-free, and I'm willing to pay more if necessary, but I'd like some extra input on the matter

Comments

[atalanta0jess]

Have you ever tried a millet pillow? I've only ever used a down pillow once...it's my husband's OLD OLD one, and it's kind of dense. Millet is similar (and has less pointed parts than buckwheat).

[ahiddenbird]

I haven't but I have considered it. The trouble is, Its not something I can feel or test first hand. I'd have to buy one online. This is problematic because I won't know how it feels until I actually pay for it.

Have/do you use millet pillows? Do they get flat easily? How do they feel?

[atalanta0jess]

Yeah, my pillow is millet. I actually bought a "duo" pillow that was millet on one side and buckwheat on the other for the exact reason that you describe...I had to order it online and was pretty unsure. Basically what it feels like is rice in a fabric bag. That's about the level of firmness. The difference is that the millet is smaller, so it's a "smoother" feel if that makes any sense at all.You don't feel the individual grains as much. But it definitely holds it's shape...it doesn't get all squished underneath you. I mean, you can make a head dent if you want, and it will pretty much stay that way, assuming your pillow is pretty full. I took all the buckwheat out and made a second pillow, so mine are pretty floppy and flat (just the way I like them!) But if you get one that has a zipper so you can adjust the amount of millet, you can make it as full or flat as you want.

Hope that's at least a little helpful. :)

[nikkigoesdown]

Tbh if it's coming from an animal, then it is not cruelty free.

[ahiddenbird]

I disagree.

[notxdeadxyet]

If it's a down pillow, then the bird has to have its feathers plucked. The only question is whether it was alive when that happened. Either way, it's not cruelty-free. Imagine having your hair pulled out....hurts, right? Therefore there is no such thing as a cruelty-free down pillow.
What about the memory foam pillows? Those sounds pretty comfortable.

[atalanta0jess]

Unless it dies naturally! Of course it would probably be very hard to find a commercially produced plucked-from-dead-birds pillow.

[mirhanda]

I've seen some down alternative pillows at BB&B and they felt ok in the shop. I don't know how they'd hold up. I use a down pillow for propping up, but since I'm a face-sleeper, it's just too firm for sleeping. I use a latex foam pillow, personally, but pillows are one thing that's just so personal for each person.

I tried one of those memory foam things for a while and it was HORRIBLE. I had a sore neck every day until I just gave up on the thing. I have a buckwheat neck pillow, but I could never sleep on it, it's just way too dense and heavy. It's just a little neck pillow but the thing must weigh 5 pounds. I can't imagine how heavy an actual pillow-sized pillow would be!

[jenss1234]

I was going to mention the down alternative, too. And BBB (the one I worked at, anyway) is usually pretty good about returns if you're not happy with the product.

[termofart]

Allegedly eiderdown is collected from nests and not plucked from the ducks.

But, one isn't likely to see pillows filled with just that.

Also, OMG expensive.

There are pillows filled with silk (some would complain for the worms' sake, but it isn't ripped out of them)

[atalanta0jess]

They do exist...but unfortunately the ones I found are $2,000. Seriously. 0_0

[miischelle]

My great aunt has one that she smuggled out of Poland - I've had my eye on that thing for ages...

[nikkigoesdown]

There's also really comfy hypoallergenic pillows with a special microgel filling.