Why it's worth it
A taller buckwheat zafu with a velvet cover and a removable outer layer for washing. The extra height suits people whose knees ride high off the floor, and the soft cover is easier on bare legs than heavy cotton duck.
If your knees sit well above the floor when you cross your legs, height is your problem and this fixes it. This cushion runs taller than the standard five- to six-inch zafu, which tips the pelvis further forward and lets tight hips settle. Owners who couldn't get comfortable in lotus on a shorter cushion describe this one as the difference between sitting for five minutes and sitting for thirty.
The velvet cover is the other reason to pick it. Heavy cotton duck is durable but scratchy against bare skin, and if you meditate in shorts or after a shower, that texture registers. Velvet doesn't. The outer cover comes off for washing, which is the single most practical feature on any cushion you sit on daily — Verywell Mind's analysis of retail reviews found washability is what buyers cite most often.
From our review of 4 meditation cushions, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert