I'm in the market for some new pillows and am curious what people like? I currently have off-brand inflatable pillows that are ok, but I often wake up with a stiff neck. It seems like the non-inflatable types just aren't fluffy enough for me, but maybe I just haven't found a good one yet?? Any recommendations?

I have the Nemo Fillo Pillow. I have both sizes, and the largest of the two is definitely best. So far it's the best inflatable pillow I've used and know of, but having said that, I've decided there is no inflatable that will provide half the measure of comfort and satisfaction of a regular pillow. They are all like laying your head on a balloon to varying degrees.

Pretty pleased...
Nemo Fillo

I like the stuff I see from Sea to Summit. I have an Exped pillow but it could be thicker so the S to S fits the bill for my upgrade.

I have an Exped pillow that I like and my wife uses a Cocoon pillow.

I take the pillow I slept on the last night before we leave. We base camp and the volume/weight is worth the effort for me.

I have an exped air pillow (medium) and I sewed a fleece pillowcase to put over it. Packs super small, super lightweight and warm with the added fleece. It goes in the stuff sack with my sleeping bag so its all together when I get to camp.

Maybe you've already tried and rejected this non-inflatable pillow, but it works for me: Thermarest Compressible Pillow (small).

The Sea to Summit Aeros is really nice. Not sure if it's "the best" but I've been happy with it. Packs really small and very comfortable.

Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Premium

For 30 years I used my clothing bag with my fleece wrapped around it.
Last summer I realized that it was pretty much as hard as a rock no matter what I did.
Now I use an exped inflatable pillow slipped inside a clean t-shirt.

Ok.....this is sort of embarrassing but I REALLY like a good nights sleep.......I go all day non-stop wether it is fishing or paddling and a comfy nights sleep is imperative if I am to do it all over again the next day.

I have a down pillow (REI)......yes it will set you back a pretty penny but it is supremely comfy and quite packable. Besides it goes nicely with my down booties and down sleeping bag........ahhh, I am smiling just thinking about it.

Another Nemo fan. It's a nice combo of memory foam on top of an inflatable section.

quote mastertangler: "Ok.....this is sort of embarrassing but I REALLY like a good nights sleep.......I go all day non-stop wether it is fishing or paddling and a comfy nights sleep is imperative if I am to do it all over again the next day.


I have a down pillow (REI)......yes it will set you back a pretty penny but it is supremely comfy and quite packable. Besides it goes nicely with my down booties and down sleeping bag........ahhh, I am smiling just thinking about it. "

I don't blame you a bit. I used a Thermarest Base Camp pad, size large, for years. Some better technology showed up for tripping but I still use it in certain conditions. I'll pay for some comfort.

A rolled up sweatshirt

quote Ausable: "Maybe you've already tried and rejected this non-inflatable pillow, but it works for me: Themarest Compressible Pillow (small)."

Ditto the thermarest. I have the medium.

I am a hammock sleeper and I have found the Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Premium is a fantastic pillow for laying my head down at the end of the day

Used clothes, then older exped pillow/pump, back to clothes, then got a Thermarest compressable fo Christmas a few years ago. It is probably 12x18. I have looked no further. Works for me.

Another vote for the Nemo.

quote Ausable: "Maybe you've already tried and rejected this non-inflatable pillow, but it works for me: Themarest Compressible Pillow (small)."

+1 Have used this pillow for years. Small and light when rolled up and has a sleeve built in that it fits into. Sometimes I use a small pillow case with a some clothes inside the case to give it a little more thickness. Works well.

Exped inflatable. I couldn't sleep without it. Love that thing.

quote DeanL: "Another vote for the Nemo."

ditto

quote gkimball: "

quote Ausable: "Maybe you've already tried and rejected this non-inflatable pillow, but it works for me: Themarest Compressible Pillow (small)."

+1 Have used this pillow for years. Small and light when rolled up and has a sleeve built in that it fits into. Sometimes I use a small pillow case with a some clothes inside the case to give it a little more thickness. Works well."

+2 Love my Thermarest pillow!

quote GraniteCliffs: "Exped inflatable. I couldn't sleep without it. Love that thing."

+1

Another Nemo fan here. I like to add a sweatshirt to the straps on the back.

The older I get, the more I think about bringing a pillow! But for now, I just roll up my PFD and use that as a pillow....

Just find one of those "soft" rocks.
CB

I've had a nemo for three summers now. It, my synmat 9, and EE topquilt have been the best gear upgrades I've made in a long time!

The pillow went back to Nemo last July because the bladder had developed a leak. They replaced the bladder & got the pillow back to me about 7 days after I first dropped it in the mail. That's some customer service!

quote Savage Voyageur: "Another Nemo fan here. I like to add a sweatshirt to the straps on the back. "

I use my Nemo both in the tent and the hammock. I love the thing! This year I bought one for my son, and it didn't have the straps on the back. Perhaps they changed the design recently.

I have an REI down pillow as well, going to be spending 16 weeks sleeping on the thing so I'll let you know how it goes in September!

quote Wables: "

quote Savage Voyageur: "Another Nemo fan here. I like to add a sweatshirt to the straps on the back. "

I use my Nemo both in the tent and the hammock. I love the thing! This year I bought one for my son, and it didn't have the straps on the back. Perhaps they changed the design recently. "

They have two variants now - the regular Fillo which does not have the bungees and the Fillo Luxury which is a little wider and has the straps. Both inflate to the same size.

I also have the Nemo Filo. I like to have mine slightly deflated for a "cushier" feel. THey roll down to practically nothing, and fit amazingly in the "hood" of my sleeping bag and stays put.

That said, I wonder how tiny I could get a travel My Pillow to go down? Might have to try shoving it in a stuff sack.

I think pillows are the same as mattresses: The most comfortable are air + foam + a soft top layer. Foam by itself compresses too much. Air by itself can be hard.

LL Bean used to make a great pillow like this but apparently they no longer do.

A couple of cheaper ones (I refuse to pay $40 for a camping pillow):

Multimat: $14.99 http://www.redsgear.com/multimat-camper-pillow-blue-and-charcoal-60mm20bl-gy.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&scid=scplp14075619&gclid=CjwKEAjwxoG5BRCC7ezlzNmR8HUSJAAre36jSHsS5QOkVfW8QUn0BQwHVX_ht-B2KicCiXdCVtED8RoC0Hvw_wcB

Grizzly $21.90 http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-Black-Pine-Mooncrush-Self-Inflating/dp/B00C4BMTY8

Slept on a kids sized "My Pillow" last night. If last night's sleep was any indication it will my choice. It will pack down about the same size as my exped.

I use an inflatable pillow with a down pillow case cover. It's the cats meow!

The pillow I use is the Exped Air Pillow UL size medium. I found since I occasionally sleep on my stomach and like to put my arms around the pillow it's too hard to do this with a size large. The pillow is blown up too much to go under too.

The down pillow case cover I use is made by GooseFeet Gear. It's a down pillow with a sleeve, just like a regular pillow case has. You can then slip your air pillow inside and the down is all on the top side. There isn't as much down in the pillow case as a regular down pillow will have. The benefit is pillow doesn't collapse as much during the night as a traditional camping down pillow. Usually there's only a couple ounces of down in them, but you can select however much you want.

https://goosefeetgear.com/products/3-down-pillows

Video towards the bottom:
https://sticksblog.com/2013/04/14/goosefeet-gear-stuff-sack-down-pillow-case-large-exped-ul-air-pillow/

quote pswith5: "Slept on a kids sized "My Pillow" last night. If last night's sleep was any indication it will my choice. It will pack down about the same size as my exped."

Pete, I just bought the MyPillow set BOGO and they came with two travel size pillows, we are trying them out this year.

the pillows i like most are travel pillows. pillow store

pswith5: "Slept on a kids sized "My Pillow" last night. If last night's sleep was any indication it will my choice. It will pack down about the same size as my exped."

after all the years of using and selling air pillows, not being comfortable, i too bought the traveler my pillow just for the heck of it and it is my all time favorite tent pillow. packs small. comfy.

Frenchy19: "Another Nemo fan. It's a nice combo of memory foam on top of an inflatable section. "

Another fan here as well

Goose Feet gear pillow with an extra large exped inflatable UL pillow. The whole thing is under 5 oz. and the pillow is huge. I got the goose feet pillow with extra down fill.
Essentially you get the softness of down but you can adjust the support of the pillow with the exped air pillow. I sold my Nemo pillow due to weight and comfort of this one being better...for me. Now exped makes an all contained version that I might look at for my wife... a little heavier at almost 7 oz.

Goose feet gear pillow




Exped down pillow/inflatable

I love my thermarest pillow. Honestly though, since I have switched to side sleeping I need something between my knees. So I bought a cheap inflatable second pillow that packs down to about 2.5 inches just to keep my hips happy.

Funny how it goes from doing what is comfortable to doing what doesn't hurt.

mastertangler: "Ok.....this is sort of embarrassing but I REALLY like a good nights sleep.......I go all day non-stop wether it is fishing or paddling and a comfy nights sleep is imperative if I am to do it all over again the next day.


I have a down pillow (REI)......yes it will set you back a pretty penny but it is supremely comfy and quite packable. Besides it goes nicely with my down booties and down sleeping bag........ahhh, I am smiling just thinking about it. "

Say it ain't so, mastertangler! You're the tough-as-nails woodsy guy. No?
;-)
Keeping with the theme of the subject, I discovered an inflatable pillow which packs small and is the right height for my preference, I like flat over fluffy. It's pricey but it's difficult to find a pillow that doesn't raise my head too high. (Stomach sleeper)


Intex Pillow

I was pretty happy with my Slumberjack camping pillow Slumberjack pillow

It compressed in the sack, small enough to not be a burden.
However, a couple years ago I returned from a trip and put a bunch of my gear out in the back yard to air out. Came out later and found it in various locations, in shreds, as our puppy had found it and decided to have a little fun.

I've always just used my clothes bag as a pillow. It is infinitely adjustable and not another thing to carry (admitting that an inflatable pillow is not a weight issue!) It's a nylon compression sack. Dirty clothes go into it, but in a black plastic garbage bag, so I don't have to contend with my face on top of my dirty clothes.

Mike

in a hammock the medium sized thermarest gets my vote. In a tent....I still haven't found the perfect pillow. They are just not tall enough for me.

I've got the Western Mountaineering Down Pillow and the Cocoon Ultra-light Air Core Pillow. I'm a down pillow guy at home, but find the Cocoon is a little more comfortable in the field. I think there's just not enough down in the WM pillow and it ends up flattening out too much for me.

mc2mens: "I've got the Western Mountaineering Down Pillow and the Cocoon Ultra-light Air Core Pillow. I'm a down pillow guy at home, but find the Cocoon is a little more comfortable in the field. I think there's just not enough down in the WM pillow and it ends up flattening out too much for me."

You could try combining the two pillows. Look at my post about the Goosefeet gear pillow for an example.

Make a pillow case for the western mountaineering pillow to fit the cocoon air pillow under it and you can have the comfort of the down pillow with a little extra support of the air. Adjustable and soft.

T

timatkn: "

mc2mens: "I've got the Western Mountaineering Down Pillow and the Cocoon Ultra-light Air Core Pillow. I'm a down pillow guy at home, but find the Cocoon is a little more comfortable in the field. I think there's just not enough down in the WM pillow and it ends up flattening out too much for me."

You could try combining the two pillows. Look at my post about the Goosefeet gear pillow for an example.


Make a pillow case for the western mountaineering pillow to fit the cocoon air pillow under it and you can have the comfort of the down pillow with a little extra support of the air. Adjustable and soft.


T"

Good idea!

I did it for my wife using an exped UL I think medium size with a Western Mountaineering pillow and it works good. Trouble is she saw my huge Goosefeet gear one and now she wants that...I don't want to tell her the price I paid though for mine :)

T

I use a zippered pillow case liner for my clothes bag and also use it as my pillow. I can make it as fluffy as I need by adjusting the amount of clothes in it at night. Works like a charm. Ya gotta take clothes in a bag anyway, right? Why not use a cotton pillow case and kill two birds with one stone, or two skeeters with one swat as they say up north.

I've tried several camping pillows and nothing comes close. Best camping hack I've ever come up with. Feel free to use that idea if you like it at no charge. LOL.

Terry

I guess I am in the minority... I just bring my standard really nice down pillow from home. Honestly that thing has traveled with me around the world. Just can't sleep on anything hard. I've spent tons of money shaving weight but no matter what my pillow is going to come with.

If weight and packed size are a concern, the answer is an inflatable pillow. Most inflatable pillows are 4" high or less, which isn't enough to support your head. If you want a higher pillow, put two of these in a pillow case: https://www.amazon.com/MARCHWAY-Ultralight-Inflatable-Compressible-Backpacking/dp/B01MTYGFUE/ref=sr_1_7?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1532385006&sr=1-7&keywords=inflatable+camping+pillow

The weight and packed size of two of these is negligible.

I've tried all kinds of head rests for sleeping over the years,,,,even a rock covered with polar fleece.....best pillow I have used came with my Wiggy's sleeping bags that I bought for winter camping....its the "right" one for me. It's about 1/3 the size of a regular pillow stuffed well. I didn't like the nylon cover so a kind friend who sews made a light cotton and flannel cotton pillow cases for me. Stuffs well into my sleeping bag stuff sack as well.

mastertangler: "Ok.....this is sort of embarrassing but I REALLY like a good nights sleep.......I go all day non-stop wether it is fishing or paddling and a comfy nights sleep is imperative if I am to do it all over again the next day.


I have a down pillow (REI)......yes it will set you back a pretty penny but it is supremely comfy and quite packable. Besides it goes nicely with my down booties and down sleeping bag........ahhh, I am smiling just thinking about it. "

Dang, souns like I need to upgrade my Nemo Filo... guess my REI dividend might be spent on a pillow ;-)

I have about ten nights use on a Sea to Summit Aeros pillow and am happy with it. It packs up very small. It does have a bit of a plastic sound to it if you don't fill it up all the way. Not 'crinkly', but if you are a light sleeper you might not like it. The fill has a nice one way valve and there is also a quick deflate.

I've been doing the old fleece blanket wrapped around a stuff sack filled with clothing method up until now. Just picked up the Sea to Summit Aeros. Will be testing it out in a few weeks on either Lake Agnes or Lac La Croix, depending on how early of a start we get!