Zafu and zabuton meditation cushion set review
A buckwheat zafu on a memory foam zabuton, which is what saves your ankles.
A buckwheat-filled zafu on a shredded memory foam zabuton mat, with washable embroidered velvet covers.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Zafu | 16 inches by 5 inches, filled with 100 percent natural buckwheat hulls |
| Zabuton | 32 inches by 3 inches, filled with dense shredded memory foam |
| Cover | Organic velvet with hand-embroidered star-chart designs |
| Care | Removable cover, machine washable cold, tumble dry low |
| Durability | High-resilience foam stated to resist permanent flattening |
Specifications above come from the manufacturer's published product specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- The zabuton is the part people leave out and then wish they had. Cross-legged sitting puts weight on ankle bones and knees, and three inches of foam under them is what makes twenty minutes possible.
- Buckwheat hulls mould to you and then stay where they are, which is what a firm seat has to do. Foam alone compresses under you and you sink.
- A 5 inch zafu height suits most people sitting cross-legged, and tipping the pelvis forward is what lets the spine stack without effort.
- Removable machine washable covers, which matters because a cushion on a floor collects everything the floor has.
- A 32 inch zabuton gives room for knees in a wide cross-legged position rather than forcing them onto the floor at the edges.
Where it falls short
- Five inches is one height. If you are tall, or your hips are tight, or you sit in a kneeling position instead, you may want more or less, and a fixed cushion cannot give it to you. Check whether the zafu can be topped up or emptied before ordering.
- Buckwheat is heavy. This is not a set you carry to a class in one hand.
- Velvet with embroidery looks lovely and attracts every hair and speck in the room, which is a slightly comic property for a floor cushion.
- Under $100 is still a real amount for something that competes with a folded blanket and a firm pillow, which is what most people should try first.
- A cushion does not fix sitting. If your knees hurt because your hips are tight, height helps and stretching helps more, and a bench avoids the issue entirely.
What owners report
Long-term sitters consistently report the zabuton as the item that changed how long they could sit, and consistently recommend buckwheat over foam for the cushion itself. Reports of buckwheat sets settling and needing a top-up after months are common, which is why adjustable fill matters. The most repeated advice for beginners is to try a folded blanket first and buy the set once sitting is a habit rather than an intention.
Cushion, bench or bolster is a real decision and it depends on your hips more than your preferences. Our meditation cushion vs bench and bolster vs cushion comparisons cover both, and meditation for beginners covers the part that matters more than the seat. Never practise breath holds in or near water.
Who it suits
- Cross-legged sitters on hard floors.
- Anyone whose sittings end because of ankles and knees rather than the mind.
- People with an established daily practice.
- Households where the set can stay out, since it is heavy to move.
Who should skip it
- Beginners who have not yet built the habit.
- Kneeling sitters, who want a bench instead.
- Anyone needing a portable seat for classes.
Alternatives worth considering
The buckwheat cushion alone with adjustable fill and a cotton cover, and you supply a folded blanket underneath. Adjustable height is a real advantage.
Check price on AmazonIf it is the knees and hips that hurt rather than the ankles, kneeling on a bench avoids the position that is causing the problem.
Check price on AmazonA bolster works as a seat, as a knee support and as a restorative prop, which a fixed-height zafu does not.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Do you need a zabuton as well as a zafu?
On a hard floor, most people do. The cushion raises your hips and the mat protects your ankles and knees, and it is the ankles that usually end a sitting on a bare floor. On carpet or a rug, a zafu alone is often enough.
What height meditation cushion do I need?
Enough to tip your pelvis slightly forward so your knees rest lower than your hips and your spine stacks without effort. Around five inches suits many people cross-legged, taller people and tighter hips need more, and the only way to know is to sit on a stack of books and find your height.
Buckwheat or foam?
Buckwheat moulds to you and then holds its shape, which is what a seat has to do. Foam compresses under sustained weight and you sink into it, which changes your position over twenty minutes. Buckwheat is heavier and it is the traditional choice for a reason.
Do you need a cushion to meditate at all?
No. A firm chair with your feet flat on the floor works perfectly well, and so does a folded blanket. A cushion makes floor sitting comfortable for longer, which matters if floor sitting is what you want to do. It is not a requirement for practice.
Keep reading
- Meditation cushion vs bench
- Bolster vs cushion
- Meditation for beginners
- Retrospec Sedona cushion review
- Mudra Crafts meditation bench review
- Gaiam yoga bolster review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.