As a lot as I’ve devoted myself to ultralight backpacking, the one “non-essential” I’ll by no means surrender is my tenting pillow. I’ve spent loads of journeys sleeping on a greasy stuff sack full of further layers of clothes as my pillow, however after a protracted day on the path, I want to blow two breaths right into a backpacking pillow and name it an evening. And until you’re counting each gram in your pack, tenting and backpacking pillows are so compact and light-weight that I’d suggest 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 every little thing from backpacking journeys, to street journeys, to front-country tenting. My favourite camp pillows inflate with simply two or three breaths, weigh lower than three ounces, and may 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 listing and may personally suggest all of them, no matter what sort of tenting journey you’ve gotten deliberate.
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That is my prime decide for lots of causes, however principally as a result of the additional weight of the plush cowl, added baffles, and flat floor that feels extra supportive than a few of the springier air pillows, are 100% value 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 a normal 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 inside baffles that assist help the top 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 on the market 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 available on the market and has a killer size-to-weight ratio. It’s additionally provided in a big measurement (2.8 ounces and 18 inches huge), 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 via 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 considered one of my must-have objects for street 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, nevertheless it does lie flat due to the memory-foam panel that gives a supportive backing if you inflate the entrance half. I often depart this flat and roll it up inside my car-camping mattress, then have it instantly out there after I unroll my mattress at night time. It has an opulent cowl with a bit of little bit of density, and the reminiscence foam help 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 outdoor, and the usual measurement nonetheless weighs simply 2.5 ounces. Sea to Summit saves a little bit of weight through the use of the identical technical polyester supplies they use of their ultralight Spark Sleeping Baggage, so it’s light-weight and sturdy, however a bit of extra slippery than the brushed polyester face cloth 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, street 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 tender polyester floor, that is my decide for base tenting and prolonged journeys. This is likely one of the unique tenting pillows, and I’ve loads of outdoorsy mates 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 may be tossed within the washer if you get house. It has a layer of insulation over the fill that gives extra construction and help, 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 exterior the traditional design for tenting pillows is that this travel-pillow-inspired inflatable mannequin from Out of doors Vitals. It’s simply as snug for touring as the most costly 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 techniques like hammocks, the place an ultralight normal pillow could be liable 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 incredible (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 on the subject of 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 few of the extra rectangular pillows don’t wedge contained in the hoods as effectively and may create drafts and slide round. I additionally love the two-sided materials choices: one aspect has a tender 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 satisfactory neck and head help, with supplies that stability firmness with a pleasant floor materials. Virtually all the pillows on this listing are extremely adjustable for inflation ranges, which is able to assist as effectively. Lastly, take into account the pillow’s measurement and form to match your sleeping type, breathable supplies, and ensure the pillow has both a washable cowl or may be absolutely hand washed.
Assume About your Sleep Setup
You’ll wish to make sure that your pillow matches your sleep system, particularly for backpacking. A mummy bag with a hood will work greatest 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 forestall this, and you may as well search for brushed pillow supplies to assist every little thing keep in place.
Think about Portability
Your kind of outing will immediately impression 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 may be simply stowed in a backpack with out including notable weight or bulk. For automotive tenting, weight and house are often much less of a priority so that you’ll have extra flexibility and may go for bigger, extra plush pillows that provide most consolation and extra help.
Incessantly Requested Questions
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Why is a backpacking pillow value 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 over house or including extreme weight. Regardless of their portability, they do supply superior help and luxury in comparison with makeshift options like rolled-up garments, serving to to forestall neck and again ache. Moreover, many backpacking pillows are constructed from sturdy, quick-drying, and moisture-wicking supplies, in order that they’ll final a number of seasons and may 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 could be a ache. I don’t have an ideal resolution, however take into account your complete sleep system. Some sleeping pads include built-in pillow pockets or straps the place you may safe your pillow, or you should use Velcro strips or elastic bands to connect the pillow to the pad. For mummy baggage, you may place the pillow contained in the hood to maintain it from shifting round throughout the night time, and for those who’re having a ton of bother, attempt 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 flooring.
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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, and so they take up minimal house in your pack. Most even have the choice for various the quantity of air inside, permitting you to customise the help stage to your choice for a cushty night time’s sleep, and even the lightest fashions are constructed from strong 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 climbing 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 quite a lot of tenting pillows from probably the most minimalist ultralight to the plush car-camping fashions.
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