Wool vs Alpaca Pillows: Choosing a Natural Pillow in NZ

A wool pillow NZ sleepers can rely on needs to hold its shape, breathe well and stay fresh without chemicals. Our two natural pillows, the 100% NZ Wool Pillow and the Premium New Zealand Alpaca Adjustable Pillow, do that in different ways, and this guide helps you choose the right one for the way you sleep.

In brief

• Both pillows are filled with New Zealand fibre pearls and covered in OEKO-TEX certified cotton, and both are made in Auckland.
• The wool pillow is a fixed, firmer pillow that holds its loft. It suits side and back sleepers who want steady support.
• The alpaca pillow is adjustable. Unzip it and add or remove filling until the height suits you.
• Side sleepers usually want a higher, firmer pillow. Back sleepers want medium. Stomach sleepers want low.
• Pillows are not returnable for hygiene reasons unless faulty, so use this guide to choose carefully.

Why choose a natural fill pillow

Wool is nature’s most breathable fibre. It wicks moisture away from your head and neck and releases it into the air, so the pillow stays cool during a humid New Zealand summer and comfortably warm in winter. That same dryness makes a wool pillow naturally resistant to mould and mildew, and our wool goes through a Double Wash anti-bacterial treatment that limits dust mites and allergens.

Alpaca shares those qualities and adds one more. The fibre contains no lanolin, so there is nothing to prickle or irritate sensitive skin, and it is naturally hypoallergenic, moisture wicking and odour resistant. Alpaca pearls also keep their loft while staying soft, so the pillow stays supportive for longer than many synthetic fills.

Both fills are encased in 100% cotton covers certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and both pillows are made in our Auckland factory. If you are new to natural pillows, our post on understanding natural wool pillows is a good starting point.

The two Kiwi Wool pillows compared

	100% NZ Wool Pillow	Premium New Zealand Alpaca Adjustable Pillow
Fill	100% New Zealand wool pearls, also called wool knops	100% New Zealand alpaca fleece pearls
Support feel	Firmer and springy. The clusters hold their shape rather than flattening	Soft, light and resilient, with a plumper feel
Adjustable	Fixed loft	Yes. Unzip the cover and add or remove pearls
Heights	One height	Medium (about 16 cm, 980 g) or High (about 18 cm, 1100 g), then fine tune at home
Size	50 x 75 cm	45 x 70 cm
Weight	1000 g	980 g or 1100 g
Cover	100% cotton, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified	100% cotton, 400 thread count, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified
Best for	Side and back sleepers who want consistent support all night	Back, side and combination sleepers who want to dial in their own height

Choosing a pillow by sleeping position

Side sleepers

When you lie on your side there is a wide gap between your ear and the mattress, so you want a higher, firmer pillow that fills that gap and keeps your neck in line with your spine. The 100% NZ Wool Pillow is our first pick because the wool pearls provide a firmer level of support that mimics the loft of a traditional pillow without flattening. If you prefer alpaca, choose the High option and leave it full.

Back sleepers

Back sleepers need a medium height that supports the natural curve of the neck without tipping the head forward. Either pillow works. The wool pillow gives a steady medium-firm feel, and the alpaca pillow on Medium can be fine tuned by removing a handful of pearls if it sits too high.

Stomach sleepers

Sleeping face down puts the most strain on the neck, so you want the lowest pillow you can tolerate. The adjustable alpaca pillow is the better choice here. Start with Medium and remove filling until your head rests almost level with the mattress.

Combination sleepers

If you change position through the night, adjustability matters more than anything. The alpaca pillow lets you find a height that is acceptable on your side and still comfortable on your back, and you can revisit it as your preference changes.

Support for your neck and shoulders

We are not a medical service and cannot promise a pillow will fix neck pain. What we can say is that pillow height and firmness change how your neck sits, and many people with neck or shoulder discomfort find a firmer, higher pillow helps when they sleep on their side, and a lower one helps on their back.

An adjustable pillow takes the guesswork out of this. Rather than buying three pillows to find the right one, unzip the alpaca pillow, adjust the pearls and sleep on it for a few nights before adjusting again. Wool pearls, on the other hand, give a very predictable feel that some people prefer once they know a firm pillow suits them.

Natural fill vs memory foam, latex and feather

Memory foam moulds closely to your head and is very consistent, but it can hold heat and has a distinct feel that some people find too dense. Latex is springy, cool and durable, but it is heavy and cannot be adjusted. Feather pillows are soft and mouldable, though feathers can trap dust and allergens and tend to flatten as the night goes on.

Natural fibre pearls sit between these. They breathe and wick moisture like no foam can, they resist dust mites and mould, and the alpaca version is adjustable. What they do not do is the deep sink of memory foam, so if that is the feel you love, a natural pillow will feel more traditional by comparison.

Looking after a natural pillow

Like our duvets, both pillows should not be machine washed or tumble dried. Spot clean small marks with minimal water and air the pillow regularly, wool in the sun and alpaca outdoors in the shade, to keep the fibres fresh and resilient. A pillow protector under your pillowcase extends the time between cleans. Our care guide for wool and alpaca bedding covers cleaning and storage in more detail.

Because pillows are hygiene items, we cannot accept returns on them unless they are faulty. Both pillows are covered by our 3-year warranty against manufacturing defects, and if you have any concerns after delivery our Auckland team is a phone call away on 09 622 1318.

Frequently asked questions

Which Kiwi Wool pillow is best for side sleepers?

The 100% NZ Wool Pillow. Its wool pearls give a firmer, higher level of support that fills the gap between your ear and the mattress and holds its shape through the night. If you prefer alpaca, choose the High option of the adjustable pillow.

Are wool pillows good for hot sleepers?

Yes. Wool is highly breathable and wicks moisture away from your head, so the pillow stays cooler and drier than most synthetic fills. The alpaca pillow behaves the same way because alpaca fibre is also moisture wicking and breathable.

How do I adjust the alpaca pillow?

Unzip the cover and remove a handful of alpaca pearls at a time, or add them back, until the height suits you. Sleep on it for a few nights before adjusting again. Stomach sleepers usually remove the most, side sleepers the least.

Can I wash a wool pillow?

Do not machine wash or tumble dry it. Spot clean small marks with minimal water and air the pillow in the sun regularly. Air the alpaca pillow outdoors in the shade. A pillow protector keeps the cover cleaner for longer.

Are wool and alpaca pillows hypoallergenic?

Both are naturally hypoallergenic. Our wool has a Double Wash anti-bacterial treatment that limits dust mites and allergens, and alpaca is lanolin free, odour resistant and moisture wicking. Both covers are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified cotton.

Can I return a pillow if it does not suit me?

For hygiene reasons pillows cannot be returned unless they are faulty, which is why we recommend choosing by sleeping position and, if in doubt, picking the adjustable alpaca pillow. Faulty items are covered by our 3-year warranty.

Both pillows are made in Auckland from New Zealand fibre, ship free within New Zealand on orders over $150 NZD, and are covered by our 3-year warranty. Choose yours, or read our frequently asked questions for shipping and payment details.