Pillows

Recent Pillow Reviews

Exped Ultra Pillow

Far superior to extra clothing stuffed in a stuff sack. Inflating is no-brain easy, deflating is cumbersome. This is my second Exped pillow. The first one developed too many leaks to patch, however it came with separate inflation/deflation valves which made it super fast and simple to deflate. This "new" version has only one valve for both inflating and deflating. To deflate, one has to very carefully align the deflation "tool" over an extremely flexible spike which is attached to the actual flap… Full review

Exped Ultra Pillow

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… Full review

Therm-a-Rest Air Head Pillow

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… Full review

Hummingbird Hammocks Starling Inflatable Pillow

A good pillow, while not critical, can make for a good night’s sleep, which in turn is crucial for restoration when camping or backpacking. The Starling is an inflatable camping/backpacking pillow made by Hummingbird, a brand more famous for their ultralight parachute fabric hammocks. The Starling is soft, silent, lightweight, and compact, all qualities I look for when searching for a decent camping pillow. If they can improve it in some areas, it’ll come even closer to a top choice. For decades… Full review

Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow

Completely changed my sleep quality outdoors. It's super comfortable, highly compact, lightweight, and durable. The only downside is the price. Who thought sleeping outside could be that comfortable? From an item I thought I would never need, this had become an item I never go camping without. Ultralight, super compact, and amazingly comfortable, maybe the price is its only downside. Like much everybody else, my first and only pillow up to this one, was a rolled fleece jacket, or if I was super… Full review

Exped Down Pillow

Exped Down Pillow—a little comfort goes a long way when on the trail at night. My body has been through Hell and Back and I've suffered a couple of different head and neck injuries. As I started to try long distance hiking and being a beginner I started trying and experimenting with new gear. I found when sleeping on the cold ground I wasn't getting a good night's sleep and since I had already discovered the Exped Down sleeping pad when I saw the Exped Down Pillow at my local outfitter I had to… Full review

Forclaz Inflatable Hiking Pillow

The closest to home bed pillow I could ever find: silent, soft, adjustable. Not the lightest or most compact trekking/camping pillow out there, but well worth carrying around for a good and restoring night. A few words on sleeping comfort and camping pillows Different people have different needs, but everyone can benefit from a good night of sleep to restore energy when we’re backpacking, camping or trekking. Sleeping comfort is relative too, and depends on so many factors. When I’m really tired,… Full review

Marmot Strato Pillow

The Marmot Strato Pillow strikes a good balance between minimalism, comfort, and versatility. Background: I've used a variety of inflatable pillows over the years, as well as pillows fashioned out of excess gear (the stuff-sack pillow method). While such an ultralight solution can suffice for a few nights, a long-distance trail of hundreds to thousands of miles requires days and months of restorative sleep.  My backpacking style focuses on lightweight, minimal gear with a priority given to some… Full review

Sea to Summit Aeros Down Pillow

Nice light luxury item. After 50+ years of backcountry tripping I've never used a pillow per se. The closest I've come is a light microfleece sack to stuff some clothes in as a pillow. The suitability of that approach however, depended on what clothes I had available to use as "stuffing" and often was pretty lumpy in the end. So, after reading some reviews and talking with folks that have tried it, I splurged and tried this one. It weighs almost nothing and takes up negligible pack space. Rectangular… Full review