Trekology Aluft Pillow 2.0

Near perfect backpacking/camping pillow at half the price.

We have all done it. Stuff your T-shirt or drysack with clothes to make a pillow when camping/backpacking. Admit it.  And, like most of you, I got tired of lumpy, uncomfortable, and often smelly "pillows."  (yeah, I stuffed with used clothes more than once.  So have you.)

So, the search starts for a decent inflatable camp pillow.  And you know what is out there. Sea to Summit, Therm-a-rest, Exped, etc... Now, if you want to spend $50 on an inflatable bag, sure, go for it. However, I am reluctant to go that route without some research.

And, browsing Amazon, I stumbled across the Trekology Aluft Pillow 2.0. It looked good, had good overall reviews, and was 1/3rd the price of the big brands. For a whopping $18, I was assured of a good nights sleep. (Or so I thought when I ordered it.)

The pillow comes in several colors, and includes a stuff sack and a strap to affix to a sleeping pad if necessary.

So... here is the lowdown.

First of all, the good bits.

• it is a comfortable pillow overall. The pillow is scalloped to cradle your head, and has a fuzzy texture to it.
• It is durable. I have used it for over two years, and it is still going strong.
• It fit snugly in mummy bags. Ideal if you have one. (I don't, prefer a rectangular bag.)
• Two to three deep breaths, and it is firmly inflated.
• Inflation is through a single "two position" valve. The mechanism internal to the valve allows one way or two way air flow. Push it in to allow the pillow to deflate, pop it out and it is in inflation only mode. And, the valve cover has a cute little smiley face...

• Lightweight. The pillow, with strap and bag weighs in at slightly over 3oz.  If you are an ultralight hiker, you do not need to include the strap or bag, but that shaves less than 1/10th of an ounce. And, you might want the strap. (more on that in the "less than ideal" portion of the review)
• Comes in several colors to fit any mood.
• Low cost, but good product.  A rare case of "you get more than you pay for."

So far, this is an IDEAL bit of camping gear, but nothing is that good, is it?

No... the Trekology Aluft Pillow 2.0 has some less than ideal aspects.  Which leads us to...

Now for the "less than ideal."

• It cannot be used as a seat. Not durable enough for that. If you want to cushy your tushy get a pad specifically designed for that purpose.  
• The pillow, despite the manufacturer's claim, does not grip. Yes, there are rubber/silicone dots on the rear of the pillow, but in my experience they are wasted weight. They do not stick to anything. Not my sleeping bag, not my Big Agnes pad. They do not even grip my kitchen table.  
  

   

• The strap is necessary unless you have a mummy bag. If you do not strap it to your sleeping pad, it shoots out from under your head almost immediately.

And, that is about it.

Seriously. Do not even look at the big names, get this instead. There is no justification for spending $50 on an inflatable pillow when this is $18.  

UPDATE 8/2023:  
Few minor complaints showing up over time. Nothing significant enough to reduce my rating, but things you should know.

1. The pillow, over time, will start to stain. This is everything from sunscreen, bug dope, sweat, and any hair products you may use. And, it is not as easy clean as I would have liked.

2. The pillow is a bit large. I like it, but my camping partner no longer uses this pillow because of it. Overall height is around four inches (4"), and that is too tall for her. We tried to let some air out, but there is no "in-between"  Either it is fully inflated, or the air moves to the edges and you might as well not have a pillow.

However, we did a workaround.  Used a stuff sack, and with a small amount of clothing, plus this pillow for loft, it was quite comfortable.  

I still recommend highly, especially at the price, but check your sleeping habits, and how much pillow you want.

Background

This pillow has gone camping and backpacking with me in AK, AZ, NV, CA, and TX.