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Table of Contents
1. Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow – Editor’s Pick
Gaining points for both style and portability, the Therm-a-Rest Compressible pillow is a great stand in for a traditional pillow when you’re out in the wild. The compressible pillow is made in the USA and can be squished down small enough to fit inside of a backpack but expands to a comfortably sized pillow for one person. The outer cover is made from an ultra-soft polyester that can be machine washed for repeated use.
The Therm-a-Rest compressible pillow also comes in three different sizes depending on your needs. The largest has is about two feet in length meaning it’s great for sleepers who roll around a lot. The Therm-a-Rest compressible pillow is available starting at $29.95 and is available in a wide variety of colors and styles.
Pros/ Similar to a traditional pillow but doesn’t take up as much space
Cons/Still takes up a lot of space compared to other options
Bottom Line/The ultimate blend of comfort and compactness for the discerning camper
2. Klymit Pillow X – Budget Pick
The least expensive pillow and also one of the lightest
The Klymit Pillow X is as light and compact as they come in the inflatable pillow world. How small exactly? Well the Pillow X compresses down into the size of a lighter and claims to also be the most inflatable pillow on the market. When ounces count, the Pillow X is probably going to be the best choice for you.
The Pillow X receives its name from the obvious “X” shape that the cells of the pillow create which also serve to center your head making sure it doesn’t slide off the edge and onto the hard ground while you’re sleeping. The Pillow X comes in several different colors and is available starting at $24.95.
Pros/Ultra Lightweight and Compact
Cons/Not as comfortable as larger pillows
Bottom Line/The best option for hardcore backpackers who need to save both space and weight on their trip
3. Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Deluxe Pillow
Full-sized comfort
The Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Deluxe Pillow is a full sized inflatable pillow that combines some of the compact benefits of an inflatable pillow but with the comfort of a more traditional pillow. The Aeros Premium Deluxe features a high strength inner TPU bladder finished off with a very soft 50D quilted polyester face fabric.
The Aeros Premium Deluxe is super easy to inflate or deflate meaning setup and take down of your sleeping area is quick and easy and the full size pillow offers you both the comfort of the air cushion as well as the soft quilted polyester surface to rest your face on. The Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Deluxe Pillow is available for $64.95.
Pros/Full size comfort combined with soft face materials
Cons/About the size of a brick when compressed and also quite expensive
Bottom Line/Great for use around the home or as part of your weekend camping gear at the lake
4. Big Agnes AXL Air Pillow
Big Agnes has got just about everything you could need or want for a camping or backpacking trip and their AXL Air Pillow is no different. Featuring an ergonomically designed I-Beam construction and featuring heat-reflective material, the AXL Air Pillow is designed to work and pack seamlessly with Big Agnes’ sleeping bags.
The AXL comes complete with a stuff sack, an aviation grade TPU inflatable liner, an antimicrobial inner treatment to prevent odors and microorganism growth and finally features an outer four way stretch nylon for both durability and comfort while sleeping. The Big Agnes AXL Air Pillow is available for $39.95 and packs down into a 4 by 2.5 by 2 inch pack.
Pros/Helps keep your head warm in cold weather, very solid design
Cons/I wish it was a little bigger
Bottom Line/A great pillow from one of my favorite camping gear companies
5. Helinox Headrest Air Pillow
Rounding out this list is probably my favorite pillow. The Helinox Headrest air pillow is one of the more flexible options on this list. The pillow features separate valves for inflation and deflation making getting this thing up to the right air level is very easy. The pillow also features Velcro panels for attaching to anything from the interior of sleeping bags and can also be used for attaching the pillow to chairs when you need additional support. The only thing keeping this from being the editor’s pick for this story is that while I love it, some feel it is too narrow.
The Helinox rolls up into a 2.5×5 stuff sack when packed and weighs just 3 ounces making it one of the lighter options on this list. This is also a great alternative for those who like to have a neck pillow rather than a full sized pillow and prefer to lay their heads flat but still supporting the neck. The Helinox Headrest is available for $34.95.
Pros/Compact and lightweight and stays attached to your chairs and sleeping bags
Cons/ Quite narrow meaning your comfort may vary depending on your sleeping preferences
Bottom Line/Perfect as a compact sleeping pillow or as a supplemental neck pillow
Picking the right pillow
Of the three main types of camping pillows, I personally think that the compressible types are the most comfortable. They are often heavier and more durable than air bladders or stuff sack pillows but they also don’t take up that much space compared to the other types on the list. If you prefer a stiff pillow then the air pillows might be a better option for you especially if weight and storage space are important to you.
If you use a rectangular-style sleeping bag, you will definitely want a pillow of some type. I find that mummy sleeping bags are a bit more forgiving when it comes to needing pillows as you have the outer shell to serve as a soft surface to rest your head on. However, if you have the space and weight available I’d still recommend adding a compact pillow to keep your head at a comfortable angle as you can’t always rely on a backpack or jacket to be at the right size or height for sleeping through the night.
How do I keep my pillow inside my sleeping bag? It keeps slipping out!
This is an extremely common problem for a lot of campers and for people like me who move around a lot it can turn what should be a restful night’s sleep into a nightmare. I found the easiest solution to keeping your pillow from slipping off your bag is to create a border around your pillow to prevent it from moving or secure it to the back of your sleeping bag using a belt or paracord.
About the Author
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