NEMO Fillo Elite Broad Backpacking Pillow Assessment

Backside Line

The NEMO Fillo Elite Broad Pillow is lower than half the burden and packed dimension of the conventional Fillo pillow – a tenting pillow that additionally charges excessive in CleverHiker’s greatest tenting pillow information. That makes it a premium backpacking pillow – one which’s a greater match for again sleepers, based mostly on its thinner, 3-inch deep profile. On high of that weight financial savings, we like this pillow’s ultra-soft jersey cowl, which supplies this pillow a luxurious really feel.

Our Gear Analysts agree – the NEMO Fillo Elite Broad Pillow stands out as the very best backpacking pillow for again sleepers in our listing of the very best tenting pillows.

How We Examined

Gear Analyst Jory Brass has examined each NEMO pillows over a number of backpacking journeys in New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness, Organ Mountains Nationwide Monument, and a piece of the Continental Divide Path. He additionally evaluated its consolation, weight, packability, help, and ease of use in a collection of side-by-side checks with 11 different tenting pillows.

On high of our most up-to-date checks, CleverHiker Senior Gear Analyst Casey Handley beforehand examined the Elite Broad Pillow over 500 miles of the Arizona Path. 

Consolation

The consolation degree of the NEMO Fillo Elite Broad Backpacking Pillow largely is dependent upon your sleeping type. For those who’re a backpacker who sleeps in your again, this could be essentially the most comfy tenting pillow you should purchase. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re a facet sleeper, you would possibly wish to contemplate a thicker pillow that gives extra neck help. 

The Fillo Elite Broad Pillow options the identical base as the unique Fillo Pillow – a baffled air cell with I-beams to take care of the pillow’s form. Our discipline checks affirm NEMO’s claims that these air baffles get rid of the balloon or beachball impact of extraordinary air pillows. As a substitute of topping this pillow with an inch-thick sheet of froth, like the unique Fillo, NEMO has added a skinny layer of Primaloft insulation for added heat and cushiness. The face material is arguably the softest sleeping floor we examined – an ultra-soft polyester jersey that feels fairly posh, particularly for a camp pillow. 

Nonetheless, the pillow’s dimensions are vital to think about. With a sleeping floor of 21 x 11 x 3 inches, the Elite Broad Fillo is wider than the Fillo Elite. Nonetheless, that 3-inch depth is way thinner than the opposite inflatable pillows we’ve examined, which vary from 4.3 to five inches. 

That’s the place your sleeping type comes into this pillow’s consolation equation. Three inches is loads of top for again sleepers. Nonetheless, facet sleepers typically require added bulk to help their neck and maintain their higher physique in an ergonomically appropriate place.

For our back-sleeping gear analyst, the Fillo Elite Broad Pillow was comfy for the lengthy haul on the Arizona Path. Our side-sleeping analyst wanted to stuff spare garments beneath the pillow on a piece of the Continental Divide Path so as to add some help. His spouse – who believes much less is extra with pillows – additionally favored the texture of the Elite Broad Pillow (as did the couple’s cat). Total, this pillow’s consolation traits clearly favor backpackers who principally sleep on their again.

Weight & Packability

In comparison with the unique NEMO Fillo, the Fillo Elite Broad Pillow is considerably lighter and extra packable. With a packed weight of 4.2 ounces, the Fillo Elite Broad is the third lightest possibility on our listing of the 13 greatest tenting pillows. It’s solely half an oz. heavier than the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow and a couple of.5 ounces greater than our minimalist resolution, the Hyperlite Stuff Sack Pillow. That’s a big improve in weight financial savings in comparison with the unique NEMO Fillo, which weighs greater than 9 ounces – heavier than we usually advocate for backpacking.

When it comes to its dimension, the NEMO Fillo Elite Broad stuffs into its built-in stuff sack and packs all the way down to a palm-sized wad that’s just a bit bit greater than the lime-sized stuff sack of the Aeros Premium Pillow. Most ultralight backpackers wouldn’t hesitate to hold the NEMO Fillo Elite Broad Backpacking Pillow on a long-distance path.

Help

The Fillo Elite Broad Pillow gives loads of help for again and abdomen sleepers, however facet sleepers ought to discover a thicker air pillow to sleep in an ergonomically appropriate place. Inflatable pillows present loads of help (typically extra successfully than foam ones). In our most up-to-date rounds of testing, the gear analyst couldn’t fault the Broad Elite Pillow when sleeping on his again.

Nonetheless, sleeping on his facet was one other story. As touched upon within the consolation part, this pillow’s 3-inch depth is 1.5 to 2 inches thinner than the opposite air-filled pillows we advocate. Our tester’s neck clearly slanted downhill when making an attempt to sleep on this pillow on his facet, which may trigger knots, kinks, and stress complications.

Ease of Use

Like the unique NEMO Fillo, the NEMO Fillo Elite Broad Backpacking Pillow combines a number of options. Its design isn’t as convoluted as the unique Fillo, however there’s nonetheless a hidden stuff sack, detachable cowl, and finicky valve that’s not as easy as different camp pillows in our overview lineup. 

Truthfully, the valve isn’t our favourite. It twists to lock and unlock into place, and it should be popped out to inflate after which pushed again in – and locked – to shut up tight. These additional steps appear pointless and make it harder to dial in your most well-liked air strain with out dropping air within the course of. Even after mastering the twists/turns and pulls/pushes required to explode the pillow, the valve generally popped out after we laid down, releasing all of the air. 

The built-in stuff sack may be arduous to seek out, because it’s hidden contained in the pillow’s cozy lining. These things sack helps the Fillo Elite Broad obtain a formidable packed dimension, however it takes some endurance cramming to get the pillow stuffed into that ambitiously tight house. Total, the pillow’s design is okay, however it’s excessive upkeep in comparison with tenting pillows from different main manufacturers.

Ought to You Purchase the NEMO Fillo Elite Broad Pillow?

For those who’re doing extra backpacking than automotive tenting, the Elite Broad type of the favored Fillo Pillow is a transparent improve over the unique Fillo. On the similar time, it’s in all probability not the best choice for facet sleepers – who will seemingly need a thicker, extra supportive backpacking pillow.

We like this pillow as a light-weight, comfy, and supportive possibility for again sleepers and abdomen sleepers who don’t want a thick pillow for additional neck help. One in every of our Gear Analysts clearly most well-liked the Elite Broad to be definitely worth the little bit of additional weight in comparison with the Fillo Elite. If this pillow matches your mountain climbing type and sleeping type, then it’s a transparent winner.

What Different Tenting Pillows Ought to You Take into account?

For extra choices to think about to your sleep system, try our full information to the greatest tenting pillows. You may additionally begin with these related merchandise:

Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow Assessment: Are you a side-sleeping backpacker who desires a light-weight pillow with extra help than the Elite Broad Pillow? We’d begin with the Aeros Premium, our high air pillow for backpacking. 

NEMO Fillo Assessment: Would you moderately have a NEMO pillow that leans extra into consolation and help? The unique Fillo will not be as mild or packable because the Fillo Elite Broad, however it’s way more soft, supportive, and facet sleeper-friendly.  

ExPed Mega Pillow Assessment: Is your concept of luxurious a full-sized, smooth, and supportive air pillow that’s nonetheless packable sufficient for backpacking? Then try ExPed’s luxurious air pillow for the backcountry and frontcountry.