Therm-a-Relaxation Compressible Camp Pillow Overview

Backside Line

The Therm-a-rest Compressible Cinch Pillow is a comfy different to firmer air pillows – a few of which really feel like balloons, chip luggage, or pool toys when absolutely inflated. This pillow’s compressible foam blocks make it a softer-than-average pillow that lets our heads sink right into a sea of cushion.

It additionally incorporates a cinch system to compress the pillow for added assist. This adjustable foam pillow – with a doubtlessly good mix of consolation and assist – has a sense that we will get behind. In spite of everything, this pillow was beforehand our Editor’s Choose as one of the best total tenting and backpacking pillow. However its weight and packability make it a a lot harder promote for backpackers. See how this selection compares to our different favorites on our information to one of the best tenting pillows of the yr.

With its weight, packability, and assist lagging behind most backpacking pillows we advocate, we’ve bumped it down barely primarily based on our comparative testing mannequin. Nevertheless we’re nonetheless joyful to advocate the Compressible Cinch as a comfort-forward tenting pillow and a risk for backpackers preferring the texture of froth pillows to air pillows – and don’t thoughts carrying further weight and bulk.

How We Examined

Over the previous few months, we’ve subjected the Compressible Pillow to a collection of side-by-side checks to match its consolation, weight, packability, assist, and ease of use to a dozen different pillows. Gear Analyst Jory Brass backpacked and camped throughout New Mexico’s excessive desert mountains with a ton of camp pillows in tow to see if this best-seller from Therm-a-rest nonetheless deserved its #1 rating by CleverHiker.

Consolation

Consolation is the calling card of Therm-a-rest’s Compressible pillow. Fluffier and bulkier than the standard tenting and backpacking pillow, the Compressible options floating foam blocks for a unique really feel than ultralight air pillows. The combination of polyurethane foam and polyester insulation isn’t as lumpy because the REI Trailmade pillow; nevertheless, CleverHiker’s Senior Gear Analyst nonetheless felt it was lumpier than he needed.

Lumpy or not, this compressible foam pillow is noticeably extra cushioned than the inflatable pillows we’ve examined. The pillow’s cinch system additionally permits us to regulate its really feel. Cinching down the wire compresses the froth over a smaller space for a firmer, extra supportive pillow. Loosening the cinch spreads out the froth for a flatter, softer, and fewer supportive nest for our head. That adjustability will increase its consolation. 

Testing the regular-sized Compressible – listed at 18 x 13 x 6 inches – we appreciated its puffiness in comparison with his typical air pillow. Specifically, we observed that the softer, compressible pillow didn’t smash our ears whereas sleeping on his facet – which meant we didn’t have to roll over as usually at night time.

Though the floating foam blocks didn’t present as a lot assist because the air pillows in our testing line up, we felt comfy sleeping on his facet with our heads and necks nestled within the regular-sized Compressible Cinch Pillow. We weren’t satisfied that the small-sized Compressible Cinch can be as comfy given its thinner construct.

Nevertheless, CleverHiker Founder Dave Collins is extra effusive in his reward for this pillow’s consolation – it’s his private favourite tenting pillow primarily based on years of backpacking expertise.

Weight & Packability

Despite that endorsement, the Therm-a-rest Compressible isn’t the obvious decide for backpackers, given its weight and packability. With a claimed weight of 10 ounces, the common Compressible Cinch is heavier than most backpacking pillows. For instance, the backpacking pillows we advocate vary from 1.7 ounces to six+ ounces. 

Likewise, its packed measurement is considerably bulkier than backpacking air pillows and the opposite compressible foam pillow on our checklist, the REI Trailmade pillow. The pillow’s built-in stuff sack lets us partially fold the Compressible Pillow into itself and safe it down with a bungee loop and plastic hook. Nevertheless, its smushed measurement remains to be greater than a full-sized soccer, taking over important pack area. 

For CleverHiker’s founder, the Compressible Pillow’s consolation outweighs the commerce offs in weight and packability – and that’s primarily based on a number of difficult, multi-day backpacking journeys. Nevertheless, ultralight backpackers and thru-hikers could not agree and should as an alternative choose the lighter, extra packable air pillows on our checklist.

Help

In contrast with the opposite tenting and backpacking pillows we’ve examined, the Therm-a-rest pillow affords common assist. Cinched down to maximise its loft, it’s pretty supportive, given the depth of that foam nest. Even so, these chunks of froth aren’t as agency and supportive because the stable block of gel reminiscence foam within the Weekender pillow, nor do they supply as a lot elevate and resilience as inflatable camp pillows.

In case you’re used to thicker pillows – otherwise you’re a facet sleeper who likes the assist of air pillows – you may not like how a lot this compressible foam pillow packs down. Loads of buyer opinions name out the pillow’s restricted assist, particularly as these foam blocks pack down all through the night time. 

Nevertheless, Gear Analyst Jory Brass pulled off a pair nights of facet sleeping on this pillow’s floating compressible foam with none neck points. General, although, this pillow is geared extra in direction of individuals who choose a softer pillow over a supportive pillow.

Ease of Use

When you’ve used this Therm-a-rest pillow just a few occasions, you’ll really feel comfy unpacking it, utilizing the cinch to regulate its loft, reversing its cowl/pocket to partially stuff it and pack it again down. Nevertheless, this pillow has sufficient bungees, cinches, cords, toggles, and pockets to doubtlessly confuse you the primary time you utilize it. A couple of buyer has talked about being mystified by this pillow within the discipline, particularly when it’s darkish. Nonetheless, it’s a camp pillow, so issues can’t go too mistaken.

Ought to You Purchase the Therm-a-Relaxation Compressible Cinch Pillow?

Just about everybody agrees that the Therm-a-rest Compressible is a snug camp pillow for the campground. Nevertheless, even gear specialists can’t fully agree if it will probably double up as a backpacking pillow.

Both method, we extremely advocate this product. It’s softer than the usual air pillow, which can be a recreation changer for campers or facet sleepers who’re sick of their ears hurting so unhealthy that they should hold flipping sides in a single day. The common Compressible Cinch ought to be supportive sufficient for all again, abdomen sleepers and facet sleepers.

This may be a consolation splurge for backpackers who don’t thoughts packing a pillow that’s greater than their sleeping bag. General, this can be a versatile, comfy camp pillow with many advantages that ranks excessive on our checklist of one of the best camp pillows.

What Different Tenting Pillows Ought to You Think about?

Our full checklist of the greatest tenting and backpacking pillows has extra choices for each backcountry and frontcountry tenting.  

NEMO Fillo Overview: The Fillo Pillow is a hybrid air/foam pillow that additionally straddles the road between a tenting and backpacking pillow. The Therm-a-rest pillow is softer, however the Fillo is extra packable and supportive.

REI Trailmade Pillow Overview: In our facet to facet testing, all of us prefered Therm-a-rest’s consolation and assist, however REI’s compressible foam pillow is far more packable, cheaper, and half the load of the Compressible Cinch. 

ExPed Mega Pillow Overview: In case you’re in search of a greater backpacking pillow with upgraded consolation, the Mega Pillow just isn’t as smooth because the Therm-a-rest Compressible, nevertheless it’s nonetheless comfy with higher packability and assist.