There are all sorts of reasons people bring their own pillow on their travels: they have trouble sleeping in a hotel or vacation rental bed, they travel to places that don’t have the same hygiene standards as they do, and kids especially do so for sentimental reasons. For most of my life, I’ve focused on the major detractor for bringing my own pillow along—it takes up space.
But I’ve been testing out the Organic Mini Pillow from Avocado Green Mattress, and I need to change my ways.
The cover of the pillow is made from 100-percent GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) organic certified cotton. The most stringent OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Class 1 Certification means the cotton is grown and harvested responsibly, and without pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. The fabric is also cool, breathable, and wicks moisture.
The pillow is stuffed with kapok fiber, from the Ceiba pentandra tree. The silky, fluffy fiber is a softer, lighter, and vegan alternative to down—and it’s also hypoallergenic, biodegradable, non-toxic, and is grown pesticide-free. In addition to kapok fiber, the pillow is stuffed with ribbons of GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) organic certified latex, upcycled from the same latex the company uses in their mattresses.
Measuring 20 inches by 12 inches, and weighing 0.9 pounds, the mini pillow is smaller than the one at home on your bed, so you don’t have to try and cram a standard-sized pillow in your suitcase. It’s easy to pack along in your carry-on bag, and far more comfortable than the airline pillows. With each pillow, you get an extra bag of fill, in case you like them really stuffed.
The Organic Mini Pillow lists for $49 on the Avocado site. Unless you already have a mini (or toddler) pillow, you’ll likely want to get the Organic Mini + Toddler Pillowcase, too.
