As a lot as I’ve devoted myself to ultralight backpacking, the one “non-essential” I’ll by no means hand over is my tenting pillow. I’ve spent loads of journeys sleeping on a greasy stuff sack stuffed with further layers of clothes as my pillow, however after an extended day on the path, I want to blow two breaths right into a backpacking pillow and name it an evening. And except you’re counting each gram in your pack, tenting and backpacking pillows are so compact and light-weight that I’d advocate them to anyone spending the night time in a tent.
Tenting pillows are available a variety of weights, kinds, and sizes, to allow them to be used for all the things from backpacking journeys, to highway journeys, to front-country tenting. My favourite camp pillows inflate with simply two or three breaths, weigh lower than three ounces, and will be adjusted for various fill ranges (I over-inflate for studying after which scale back the inflation for sleeping). I’ve used each pillow on this record and might personally advocate all of them, no matter what sort of tenting journey you’ve deliberate.
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That is my prime decide for lots of causes, however largely as a result of the additional weight of the plush cowl, added baffles, and flat floor that feels extra supportive than a number of the springier air pillows, are one hundred pc price it. For such a light-weight pillow, the Aeros Premium has loads of options like a knit polyester exterior, a contoured TPU air bladder that mimics an ordinary pillow, and a proprietary valve for max air fill customizing.
It additionally has extra construction than probably the most minimal pillows on the market, with precise inner baffles that assist assist the pinnacle and neck whether or not you are sleeping in your aspect, abdomen, or again. It has held up very well for greater than 4 seasons of use backpacking, touring, and automotive tenting, too. Deflating takes only a few seconds, and I can inflate the usual measurement with simply two breaths. This pillow is obtainable in two sizes, however I’ve been very proud of the common mannequin.
The Particulars: 13.4 x 9.4 x 4.3 inches | 2.8 ounces | Brushed 50D polyester and artificial fill
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The 2-ounce weight and 15-inch width of this pillow is aligned with the lightest pillows in the marketplace and has a killer size-to-weight ratio. It’s additionally supplied in a big measurement (2.8 ounces and 18 inches vast), although the common measurement works simply nice for me for backpacking. It has a non-slip materials that retains it from sliding round on my sleeping pad or sleeping bag, and it’s really so tiny it will get misplaced in my bag after I’m digging by means of my gear at camp — an issue solved by tucking it into the underside of my sleeping bag within the morning earlier than I pack up.
The Particulars: 15 x 11 x 4 inches | 2 ounces | Polyester
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This half-foam-half-inflatable pillow is one in every of my must-have objects for highway journeys, and it has a everlasting place in my car-camping setup. It doesn’t roll as much as the tiny measurement of air-filled pillows, however it does lie flat due to the memory-foam panel that gives a supportive backing while you inflate the entrance half. I normally depart this flat and roll it up inside my car-camping mattress, then have it instantly obtainable after I unroll my mattress at night time. It has a luxurious cowl with somewhat little bit of density, and the reminiscence foam assist feels near a house pillow with out the majority of packing a non-inflatable. If that doesn’t persuade you, it comes with its personal stuff sack and has a detachable, washable cowl.
The Particulars: 17 x 11 x 4 inches | 9.2 ounces | Polyester or microsuede and reminiscence foam
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The Aeros Down Pillow has a customizable inflation valve that drops micro quantities of air with only a mild push, then seals instantly when launched. It has a layer of ultralight down feathers for a prime cushion that feels as near my at-home pillows as something I’ve used open air, and the usual measurement nonetheless weighs simply 2.5 ounces. Sea to Summit saves a little bit of weight by utilizing the identical technical polyester supplies they use of their ultralight Spark Sleeping Baggage, so it’s light-weight and sturdy, however somewhat extra slippery than the brushed polyester face material of most different tenting pillows.
The Particulars: 13.4 x 9.4 x 4.7 inches | 2.5 ounces | Polyester and down fill
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It is a hardy, machine-washable pillow good for front-country tenting, highway journeys, and air journey.
This basic pillow is very nice for front-country tenting, overnighters, and even use in hostels. With a plush-yet-supportive artificial fill and a gentle polyester floor, that is my decide for base tenting and prolonged journeys. This is likely one of the authentic tenting pillows, and I’ve loads of outdoorsy associates who’ve had this of their front-country tent and hammock setup for years. It compresses down into its personal pocket for straightforward stashing, and the entire pillow will be tossed within the washer while you get house. It has a layer of insulation over the fill that gives extra construction and assist, and it is available in enjoyable patterns and designs.
The Particulars: 18 x 13 x 6 inches | 10.1 ounces | Polyester and artificial fill
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Considerably outdoors the traditional design for tenting pillows is that this travel-pillow-inspired inflatable mannequin from Out of doors Vitals. It’s simply as comfy for touring as the costliest travel-specific pillows, and it additionally packs down so minuscule I’ve to maintain it in my pocket or else I could lose it. I just like the horseshoe form for unconventional tenting programs like hammocks, the place an ultralight commonplace pillow could be vulnerable to flying out of the hammock with out a mummy bag or tent partitions to maintain it in place. Simply blow a number of breaths of air in, seal it with the flat-lying valve, wedge it round your neck, and it’s not going wherever. The travel-pillow form isn’t for everybody, however for hammock tenting and airline journey, it’s an excellent (and reasonably priced) possibility.
The Particulars: 16 x 10 inches | 1.1 ounces | 30D stretch nylon
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This ultralight camp pillow from Cocoon is a good finances possibility, retailing for lower than $30, that also holds up in high quality in relation to weight, construction, and air-retention sturdiness. It is also designed particularly to slot in the hood of a mummy bag, which is very nice since a number of the extra rectangular pillows don’t wedge contained in the hoods as nicely and might create drafts and slide round. I additionally love the two-sided materials choices: one aspect has a gentle microfiber for chilly nights, and the opposite is a nylon with a smoother, cooling floor.
The Particulars: 11 x 15 inches | 3.8 ounces | Polyester, nylon, and artificial fill
Suggestions for Shopping for a Tenting Pillow
Prioritize Consolation
Not like conventional pillows, tenting pillows are designed to be light-weight and compact, however I’m a agency believer that this should not come on the expense of consolation. Select a pillow that gives ample neck and head assist, with supplies that stability firmness with a pleasant floor materials. Virtually the entire pillows on this record are extremely adjustable for inflation ranges, which can assist as nicely. Lastly, think about the pillow’s measurement and form to match your sleeping fashion, breathable supplies, and ensure the pillow has both a washable cowl or will be absolutely hand washed.
Assume About your Sleep Setup
You’ll need to be certain your pillow matches your sleep system, particularly for backpacking. A mummy bag with a hood will work finest with a rounded-top pillow whereas open-top sleeping baggage or quilts will likely be nice with extra rectangular, bigger pillows. Sleeping pad and sleeping bag supplies are additionally slippery, and paired with a slippery pillow could make for hours of annoying sliding round. Sea to Summit makes suitable sleeping pad and pillow supplies to assist stop this, and you too can search for brushed pillow supplies to assist all the things keep in place.
Think about Portability
Your sort of outing will immediately influence the scale of the pillow you get, and whether or not it has precise fill or is absolutely inflatable. For backpacking, prioritize ultra-lightweight and compact choices, corresponding to inflatable fashions, which will be simply stowed in a backpack with out including notable weight or bulk. For automotive tenting, weight and area are normally much less of a priority so that you’ll have extra flexibility and might go for bigger, extra plush pillows that supply most consolation and extra assist.
Often Requested Questions
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Why is a backpacking pillow price it?
I’ve at all times discovered that backpacking pillows considerably improve my high quality of sleep on the path, which improves my power ranges on the entire journey. These pillows are designed to be light-weight and compact, becoming simply into your backpack with out taking on area or including extreme weight. Regardless of their portability, they do provide superior assist and luxury in comparison with makeshift alternate options like rolled-up garments, serving to to stop neck and again ache. Moreover, many backpacking pillows are produced from sturdy, quick-drying, and moisture-wicking supplies, so that they’ll final a number of seasons and will be washed and air dried.
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How do you retain a pillow in place whereas tenting?
The slippery combo of pillow + sleeping bag + sleeping pad is usually a ache. I don’t have an ideal resolution, however think about your entire sleep system. Some sleeping pads include built-in pillow pockets or straps the place you’ll be able to safe your pillow, or you need to use Velcro strips or elastic bands to connect the pillow to the pad. For mummy baggage, you’ll be able to place the pillow contained in the hood to maintain it from shifting round throughout the night time, and if you happen to’re having a ton of hassle, strive utilizing clothes or further gear to create a makeshift nest across the pillow. Lastly, search for non-slip supplies or grip dots on the underside to assist the pillow keep in place on the sleeping pad or tent ground.
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Are inflatable pillows good for tenting?
Inflatable pillows are nice for tenting. They’re extremely compressible, making them extraordinarily light-weight and straightforward to pack, they usually take up minimal area in your pack. Most even have the choice for various the quantity of air inside, permitting you to customise the assist stage to your desire for a snug night time’s sleep, and even the lightest fashions are produced from sturdy supplies constructed particularly to be puncture resistant for lengthy seasons out on the path.
Why Belief Journey + Leisure
Maggie Slepian is an avid hiker, backpacker, and bikepacker with greater than a decade {of professional} gear testing expertise. She has backpacked 1000’s of miles, and her mountaineering and backpacking has taken her from winter peak bagging and coastal backpacking to prolonged journeys within the desert and excessive alpine. Maggie has spent a whole lot of nights in a tent each front-country and backcountry, and examined a wide range of tenting pillows from probably the most minimalist ultralight to the plush car-camping fashions.
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