Pillows

Reviewed by Alicia MacLeay

The Western Mountaineering Cloudrest was named Trailspace's Pick for Backpacking Comfort in our “Backpacking and Camping Pillow Comparison.”

Weight: 5 ozFill: 800-fill power goose downDimensions: 12" x 16"MSRP: $39 Pros: The 800-fill Cloudrest is amazingly soft and comfortable and offers sufficient support, cradling your head and preventing any head rolling. For not much weight you get a fairly large surface area, and it's extremely easy to compress into its built-in stuff sack. This pillow is just about perfect for backpacking. Cons: It's pricey, and it doesn’t compress down quite as tiny as the Cocoon Down Travel Pillow. Review originally published as part of Backpacking and Camping Pillow Comparison review.

Read more: Western Mountaineering Cloudrest review (1)

Featured review by Richard Leyden

I need a dedicated pillow. Having a good night's sleep is one of the most important things to me when camping. This pillow far exceeds my expectations.

I have searched forever for the perfect pillow. I have been using a Slumberjack 14" x 16" pillow I purchased many years ago. It compresses fairly small (5" x 10" and weighs 12.65 oz.). The pillow is extremely comfortable and was a hard choice replacing it. I will not do without a pillow, I have tried and don't like it. I need a dedicated pillow. Having a good night's sleep is one of the most important things to me when camping. I will usually stuff some clothes under my pillow to raise the pillow a bit.

Read more: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow reviews (8)

Featured review by Sean Van Cleve

The Exped Ultra Pillow is an extremely small and inflatable pillow that can make a big difference in one’s quality of rest on the trail. As a backpacking pillow it is small enough to take almost anywhere, plus it is an easy-to-use product that comes in handy for air travel or a car road trip.

Snow Lake, Washington "Pillow talk" may be sometimes considered taboo, and discussions related to pillows in the backcountry can be equally questionable. Some people shun the idea, thinking of extravagance and unnecessary weight. Others may consider this an essential. Nevertheless, Exped’s Ultra pillow is a superb inflatable pillow for those who want to cushion their heads after a long day hiking.  Setting up camp—N. Puyallup River, Mount Rainier National Park Two sizes are offered of the Ultra model:  Medium              15 x 10.6 x 3.9 inches, 1.8 oz Large (tested)   18 x 11.8 x 4.7 inches, 2.3 oz   The 20D recycled stretch polyester Ultra pillow (Large) I tested weighed in at 2.25 ounces, 2.5 ounces with the storage bag. ...

Read more: Exped Ultra Pillow reviews (2)

Reviewed by G00se

If 2.9 ounces in your pack is worth a better night’s sleep, then Outdoor Vitals’ Ultralight Stretch Pillow deserves a look. Relatively light. Exceedingly comfortable. As an admitted pillow skeptic I have been made a believer with this product.

From my earliest days as a Boy Scout, the one thing I did was stuff clothes in a bag and use it as a pillow. WHY would I do anything else? Well, I have been listening to numerous hiking podcasts this winter, and a recurring theme is that an inflatable pillow is worth the extra weight. I’m no gram weenie, but I am incredibly cheap (check my other reviews!). So I sat on the idea, until Outdoor Vitals (and a few competitors) began flooding my FaceBook account with ads for a "free" UL pillow. The pillow isn't really free.

Read more: Outdoor Vitals Ultralight Stretch Pillow review (1)

Featured review by Jomebrew

Absolutely essential for comfort and a superior night's rest. Highly adjustable for precise comfort. It is perfectly sized for any sleeping pad. Super lightweight, you will not know you are carrying it.

I tried using my clothes, down jacket, boots, day pack, and just about everything in my pack as a pillow. Sure, many people make that stuff work. But I really wanted to sleep as comfortably as possible to be ready for the next days big hike.  many of the above items were OK for a little while but I spend half the night trying to readjust and fluff the flats sports and remove lumps.  There had to be a better way... And so I searched for a camp pillow on the popular outdoor sites. Wow! So many! Yay! I read the reviews here on trailspace.com as well as the forums posts about pillows.

Read more: Cocoon Air-Core Ultralight reviews (7)

Featured review by Longhand

Traveling, hiking, and napping are great with this Fillo. I sleep with a narrow pillow, and filling the Fillo only partially works wonders. I sleep soundly every time with it. When you try it out, it may not feel fantastic, but I sleep UN-interrupted using it, so my sleeping self loves the feel of it, I guess you could say. I would recommend it to anyone who travels, hikes, or naps. No air loss in the morning. Easy to clean. if you are a side sleeper, fold the Fillo over, to double the height. It can be more comfortable for side sleepers that way.

You can store this Fillo in its sack (4 x 6 inches), or just push the air out of it and store it flat, as it is compressible and takes no space storing it flat. Please read my review above.  The only thing I would add is that there is a bit of "sticker shock" at the price at first, but believe me, I really value a good night's sleep and the Fillo is worth much much more than its full price. I have no question about that. Try it at different levels of inflation until you find the one that lets you sleep the best, and the longest.

Read more: NEMO Fillo reviews (6)

Reviewed by King Thurber

Therm-a-Rest Air Head Pillow—just the ticket to reduce that aching neck.

  After countless nights on the trail trying to repeatedly position my head on makeshift bundles of clothing or puffy jackets and still waking up with a neck ache, I was just about to break down and get a pillow. As I am counting ounces I didn’t want to add any “unecessary” items. And along came the Air Head! I tried it in conjunction with the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe (separate review) air mattress and for the first time my neck didn’t ache! The pillow was easy to inflate> No, it didn’t blow up*, but held air perfectly.

Read more: Therm-a-Rest Air Head Pillow review (1)

Featured review by Anne S

This is a nice, lightweight, and reasonably priced stuff sack/pillow that held up to some wet days and nights pretty well. I like that it is compact and lightweight and dual purpose.

I was looking for a cheap stuff sack and I have liked Therm-a-Rest products before so I got this one. It works well and is super lightweight, which is nice. I took it on a trip where we had a lot of wet weather and it stayed dry pretty well. I like that it's a good price too.

Read more: Therm-a-Rest Stuff Sack Pillow reviews (4)

Reviewed by Bentbrook

Seeking a little more luxury and comfort in the backcountry? At around USD $25, the Sierra Designs DriDown pillow is a comfortable, reasonably priced, well-designed, and responsibly sourced down pillow for backcountry use. The flexible design of this pillow system allows one to shed weight or add luxury as desired.

The Sierra Designs DriDown Pillow is actually a pillow "system" consisting of a DriDown-filled, quilted pillow top, a synthetic pillow, and a lightweight stuff sack. I use the term system because one can carry only those components one wishes to carry. It is perfectly possible to use only the synthetic pillow, or, if one only needs a little cushioning under one’s head (as, for instance, when one is in an already supportive hammock), the pillow top alone may suffice. In lieu of carrying the synthetic pillow, one may instead opt to plumpen the pillow top with an already packed down vest or a spare pair of socks, too (see image, below).

Read more: Sierra Designs DriDown Pillow review (1)

Featured review by Go Time! (Jesse Maloney)

The solution to the fact that everyone likes a different kind of pillow. This pillow inflates to suit anyone's desire. I have never been a fan of inflatable pillows until this model.

Ease of Use: Really easy to blow up. Just 2-3 breaths depending on how firm you like it. The valve is the old school multiple twist to tighten. It would be nice to have the 1/4 turn valve, but it's not a big deal.full turn valve The pillow fits really nicely into the hood of all of my bags. In the bags with a tighter hood, I just inflate it a little less and it slides in snug and secure. X design allows head to rest in the depression of the pillow. Features: I love the X design. Your head rests in the middle depression of the pillow keeping it from slipping out like many other blow up pillows.

Read more: Klymit Pillow X reviews (5)