Bamboo Pillow vs Regular Pillow: What's the Difference?

"Bamboo pillow" is one of the most searched pillow types online, but the name can be confusing. Is the pillow made of bamboo? Is it different inside? Here's a plain-English explanation of what a bamboo pillow usually is, and how it compares with a regular pillow.

What "bamboo pillow" usually means

In most cases, a bamboo pillow is not filled with bamboo. The name refers to the cover, which is made from fabric that contains bamboo-derived fiber, usually called bamboo rayon or bamboo viscose. Inside, most bamboo pillows are filled with shredded memory foam.

So when you compare a "bamboo pillow" with a "regular pillow", you're really comparing two things: the cover fabric and the filling.

The cover: bamboo blend vs standard fabric

Bamboo rayon is often blended with polyester to make a soft knit. People like it because it:

• feels smooth and soft against the skin
• is often knitted with small perforations that let air move through
• drapes nicely over the shape of the pillow

A standard pillow cover is often a woven cotton or polyester shell. It can be perfectly comfortable, but it's usually firmer to the touch and less stretchy.

The filling: shredded memory foam vs fiber or solid foam

This is where the real difference in feel comes from.

• Polyester fiber (the most common "regular" pillow): soft and light, but it tends to flatten during the night and over time.
• Solid memory foam: supportive and holds its shape, but it's one fixed block. If the height doesn't suit you, you can't change it.
• Shredded memory foam: small pieces of foam that mould around your head and neck, keep their height well and can be fluffed and pushed into the shape you like.

Side-by-side summary

• Feel: soft at first touch, then supportive (shredded foam) vs plush but flattening (fiber).
• Shape over the night: holds well vs often flattens.
• Adjustable: yes, by fluffing and shaping vs not really.
• Weight: heavier vs lighter.
• Arrives: often vacuum-sealed and needs a few days to expand vs ready straight away.
• Care: wash the zip-off cover, not the filling vs many fiber pillows can be washed whole.

Who it suits

A shredded memory foam bamboo pillow tends to suit people who want support that lasts all night, who switch positions, or who've found fiber pillows go flat too quickly. If you prefer a very light, squashy pillow you can fold in half, a fiber pillow may feel more familiar.

About the Driftly pillow

The Driftly Bamboo Pillow follows the classic recipe: a 100% shredded memory foam fill in an inner case, with a 40% bamboo rayon / 60% polyester knit cover that zips off for washing. It comes in Queen and King, and you can see real photos of the actual pillow on our product page. New to shredded foam? Here's how to fluff it when it arrives.