The 12 Best Camping Pillows In The Market
It goes without saying that you are required to carry a tent and a sleeping bag on such adventures, but what it is forsaken is the need of a perfect pillow when on these escapades. People might even carry pillows with them but what’s important is to choose the perfect ones; those that are specially designed for such adventures. Why would you want to carry a regular heavy pillow that might not be able to stand the moisture or the spikes and spines of such an event over a pillow that’s ultralight and durable.
Camping pillows might be a recent development in the world of camping gear but are one of the most important amongst them. These pillows have special features like advanced valves, light weight, velvety texture, durable construction, storage sacks, easily inflatable and deflatable bladder, higher compression level, moisture resistance, and more. So here are some of the things that you should keep in mind before you choose to buy a camping pillow:
Construction: When we think of a pillow, there’s nothing but comfort that comes first to our mind. So, when you are choosing a camping pillow for yourself, keep a note of its construction; the design, the liner materials used, the inner padding, the seams, the valves, everything. If you think all these things tick off on your list and pass the comfort test for you, go for it.
Insulation: You’ll find a special mention about insulation on the camping pillows that are specifically designed to be used in colder climates. It is because these pillows come with extra warmth and additional padding to keep you snug throughout the chilly camping nights. Different insulation materials are employed by different brands; while some use cheap fabrics like cotton, renown brands use premium products.
Size, weight and compressibility: This trio is the most important factor to be checked on while purchasing a camping pillow. It’s advised to go as lightly packed as possible when going on camping adventures. Different brands have designed pillows that are ultralight; but you should also keep in mind their size. While some pillows might be very light, they might be too big for your bag-pack, here’s when their compressibility matters. Almost all camping pillows are designed to be highly compressive so that they can pack down into the smallest possible size. Some pillows compress down to sizes as small as those of a burrito or even a lime.
Durability and weather proofness: These are the factors that make camping pillows different from your usual pillows. Camping pillows are specially designed to stand the dirt, weather conditions and hardships of such endeavors. While some of them provide you a partial moisture control and durability against puncturing and abrasion, others provide full control against the same.
Since you are now aware of what you need to look for in your camping pillow, here’s our list of the best 12 camping pillows for you.
#1 REI CO-OP TRAILBREAK FOAM PILLOW
REI CO-OP trail break pillow is just like a treat when it comes to comfort as it ensures you a snug head rest at bedtime. It’s perfectly suited for travel as well; you can take it while you are out there camping, road tripping or air traveling. It’s very easy to carry around since you can compress it to 1/5 of its original size and fit it in any pocket of your suitcase or bag.
Its best quality is that you don’t need to inflate it every time you want to use it since it instantly expands to its original size once you unpack it. This pillow is made with the leftover bits of the same high-quality foam that’s used in REI CO-OP’s self-inflating sleep pads. Its large size weighs around 15 ounces while its regular size is 10 ounces in weight. You can machine wash it whenever required. It’s available in 4 color-ways: Sedona Plaid Desert Sage, Sea Olive, Ojai Icons Macadamia and Ebb and Flow Champion Blue.
#2 MARMOT STRATO PILLOW
If we have to name a pillow that’s both super-comfy as well as extremely lightweight, it has to be Marmot’s Strato Pillow. Constructed using a combination of nylon fabric and 20D embossed polyester, this pillow is very sturdy and durable and is perfectly suited for camping as it doesn’t give in to rocks and twigs. It is because of its RF welded seams that the Strato pillow is so stout and tough. It’s its flex-baffle technology that supports your neck and head while resting or sleeping.
You also get a matching storage sack to throw your Strato pillow into whenever it’s not in use or to easily carry it to places. This ultralight pillow weighs around 1.41 ounces and comes in two colors: Ceylon Blue and Green Lichen. It can be easily inflated and adjusted with the help of its fine-tune locking valves.
#3 THERM-A-REST COMPRESSIBLE PILLOW
From international travelers to car campers, this compressible headrest is a go-to pillow for everyone. Therm-a-rest uses up-cycled foam from their own pad manufacturing to source the pillow foam and employs ultra-soft polyester that’s made from 60% recycled materials to make the cover. It initially comes in a small foam packing and expands to a big size on opening. It can be easily compressed back to its small size for easy storage or for effortlessly carrying it while traveling.
Whenever you need to restore its loft, just shake and fluff up the pillow and you are good to go. It comes in four sizes: small, medium, large and extra large, and they accordingly vary in their weight. They weigh 7, 9, 12 and 15 oz respectively. Therm-a-rest offers you many distinct color-ways to choose from; Cranberry, Blue Woven, Denim, Eagle, Gray Mountains, Moon, Cardinal, Gray, Lichen and Sunray. You can easily machine-wash this plush pillow.
#4 COCOON SLEEPING BAG HOOD PILLOW
Originally designed to be paired with hooded sleeping bags, Cocoon pillow is very compact and light. This inflatable hood pillow is made from a combination of dual microfiber and 20D nylon with a quilted finish to give you a next-to-skin softness experience. It is specially designed with a shape that cannot just easily fit in the hood of a sleeping bag or liner but also can also be used in a hammock.
It’s not just perfect for camping and bag packing adventures but also for any travel situation from plains and trains to cars and buses. It comes with a matching storage sack so that whenever it’s not in use, you can compress and store it in that pouch or can easily carry it to different places. In addition to its 100% polyester filling, its bladder is also replaceable.
It is suggested to hand wash this pillow in lukewarm water, to avoid dry cleaning and tumble drying it and most importantly to remove the bladder before washing it. This ultralight pillow weighs about 108 g. It’s available in two color-ways: light blue/grey and wasabi/grey.
#5 SIERRA DESIGNS DRIDOWN PILLOW
With its versatility and comfort, DriDown perfectly adapts to your needs. Constructed using the mix and match of three components, this pillow comes with a lifetime warranty. This two piece system has a DriDown insulation that ensures that you get the best comfort and warmth. It has a synthetic inner pillow that not only provides it loft but is removable for when you want to go lightweight. Its 20D polyester ripstop shell covering is a water resistant fabric that is coated with PFC-Free DWR.
This trekker and camper friendly pillow has a hydrophobic finish that helps your sweat to escape it and prevents snow or rain from getting in. It also comes with an additional sack that makes it easier for you to store the pillow when not in use or to easily transport it. It weighs about 85g and becomes even lighter when used without the shell. Sierra Designs DriDown Pillow is available in colors like green, purple, blue and red.
#6 RUMPL STUFFABLE PILLOWCASE
The Rumpl stuffable pillowcase is specially customized for the customers’ comfort. It comes with a side zip that lets you stuff in whatever material you prefer the best for your comfort. This super-comfy and lightweight pillow is not just a perfect fit whether you want to take it on a trek, while on a hammock, or on camping adventure but also while you’re traveling in a bus, plane or train.
It comes with a stuff-sack to help you store the pillow in a compressed form when not in use or for easy transportation. This pillowcase has a total weight of not more than 139g. It has an ultra-warm synthetic construction with a super soft fleece on one side and Rumpl’s classic puffy material on the other. This durable, water repellent pack is machine washable. It comes in Cypress, Deepwater, Glyph, Kaleidoscope, Desert Grade, Desert Sage and Black color-ways.
#7 KLYMIT LUXE PILLOW
With its hybrid-fill design, Klymit Luxe helps you feel the maximum comfort possible by combining the polyester fill’s lofty support with the cushioning of air. It provides your head with a supportive, soft and stable position. With a size almost as big as a regular pillow, it weighs not more than 6.2 ounces. Its best quality is that is compresses down to the size of a burrito. You can easily adjust its height and pressure by simply adding or releasing air.
This pillow is a great match for sleeping bags as it is specially designed to fit inside a mummy bag’s hood. Since it is constructed using 75D polyester for both its top and bottom, it provides high resistance against tearing, puncturing or abrasion. It comes with a storage bag for easy storage and safe transportation. It’s perfect for camping and hiking because of its lightweight yet comfortable size. It can be machine washed whenever required.
#8 HYPERLITE MOUNTAIN GEAR STUFF SACK PILLOW
One of the greatest brands when it comes to sturdy yet lightweight camping and trekking essentials, Hyperlite manufactures one of the best pillows. Its sack pillow has a waterproof Dyneema composite fabric as well as fully taped seams to protect it from any form of moisture be it rain, snow or excessive sweat. It has a Polartec fleece that gives you a super snug feeling. It comes with a reversible design and water resistant YKK zippers.
While its small size weighs 33g precisely, its large size weighs not more than 48g. Its greatest advantage is that neither does it leak around the valve or seams nor does it develop any pinhole punctures over time unlike other pillows. You can easily adjust its loft and firmness by simply adding or reducing the number of clothes inside it. This stuff sack pillowcase is currently considered one of the best in the market.
#9 NEMO FILLO ELITE PILLOW
An award winning edition, Fillo Elite is a cleverly designed pillow. It’s not just a perfect match for bag-packing adventures but for usual traveling as well. Even though this ultralight piece weighs less than 3 oz, the height and cushioning that it has to offer to you is exceptionally good. It is constructed using the combination of 3” l-beam baffled air cell and an ultra-soft jersey cover teamed with Primaloft insulation which is 100% post-consumer recycled.
It has an ergonomic and unobtrusive valve which is very easy to use. It compresses down to a size as small as a lime to fit in the stuff sack that comes with it. It’s very easy to inflate and takes only a few seconds and a couple of blows to fluff up. It is machine washable and comes with a removable cover that is very snug. It is available in blue fame, midnight grey and sapphire stripe color-ways.
#10 EXPED MEGA PILLOW
This fleece padded air-core pillow comes in a 3D design and is considered perfect for MegaMats. With its extra large size and velvety soft texture, you get an amazing next-to-skin experience every time you use it. It has a combo valve which consists of a one-way flap as well as a deflation pin. Its fabric eyelets assist in its smooth and easy attachment to a mat. Other than its insulating surface, the pillow’s material is a combination of brushed tricot nylon and a synthetic fleece.
Certified by Bluesign, this pillow has a weight of 6.5 oz only. It comes in deep sea blue, moss green and ruby red colors. It is very easy to inflate and aerates in just a few breaths and is even easier to compress when not in use or for easy storage. The cover and air core easily separate to assist you in effortless cleaning or individual usage.
#11 BIG AGNES Q-CORE DELUXE PILLOW
You name it and this pillow will literally pair perfectly with anything; be it traveling, camping, trekking and even with your hammock. With its four-way stretch nylon’s soft touch, this pillow molds to your features so that you don’t have to feel any pressure points while using it. It gives you a very snug, next-to-skin experience since it has all the features of the best sleeping pads.
Thanks to its built-in advanced heat reflective technology that helps to keep it warm enough for you to feel comfortable but prevents it from overheating at the same time. Its minimalist offset l-beam construction is responsible for its lightweight and consistent stability. It has a single port and a two-way valve which assist in easy deflation and inflation. You can also use its micro-release button for subtle adjustments.
It is not only built to be puncture resistant along with a high tear strength but is also constructed to be super durable with its Aviation grade TPU lamination technology. Since this pad comes with an internal anti-microbial treatment, your pillow is safe from any kind of micro-organic growth inside it. It is advised to hand wash and air dry this pillow.
#12 SEA TO SUMMIT AEROS DOWN PILLOW
Topped with warm down fill, this luxurious pillow is so lightweight. It has an inflatable TPU Bladder which provides it an excellent support. With its mini multi-functional valve, it is very easy to inflate. Its premium down top-cushion ensures that you get the most comfortable and snug sleep. You can deflate it within no time whenever you need to store it or transport it and stuff it in the sack that comes with it.
Every time you need to bulk it up again, just blow a couple of breaths into it and you are good to go. It comes in three sizes: regular, large and deluxe and varies in weight accordingly. While the regular size weighs 2.5 oz, the large and deluxe sizes weigh 3.3 and 6.7 oz respectively. It is strictly advised to only hand wash this pillow. It’s available in grey and lime colors.
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