You’re ready to hit your favorite trekking route in the mountain next weekend, and you want to spend quality time in nature. You even plan to sleep under the stars this time a.k.a camping.
But the difference between a sweet sleep outside, and an awful night staying awake between two rocks is having the right camping pillow. Of course, there is much more than that, but the camping pillow is a critical factor in having a pleasant experience.
Sea To Summit Aeros Pillow Premium – Our Pick!
Sea To Summit Aeros is our top pick for the best camping pillow for this year. And there are a lot of reasons for this decision. First of all, this inflatable pillow is super comfortable and gives a unique sleeping experience. I simply love it!
It’s super small to carry ( takes 0.4L of space ), and the weight is just 2.8 ounces, which will not add much to your load. Some users say that they don’t find it comfortable enough, but in my experience, Sea To Summit is a top choice.
The pillow is made of high-strength thermoplastic polyurethane bladder and a very lovely synthetic fill between the bladder and the case. Also, the pillow itself is curved, so it creates a comfortable cradle for your head.
It’s available in two colors – green and blue. I personally like the blue one. The price usually is between $35-50 on Amazon, and I should also notice that Sea To Summit Aeros is one of the best-rated camping pillows online.
So in conclusion, I will say that Sea To Summit Aeros is one of my favorite camping pillows and one of the best in this list. The verdict and the final score for this camping pillow are 8.7. All these things make the Sea To Summit Aeros the best inflatable camping pillow.
Nemo Fillo Camping Pillow
Nemo Fillo Camping Pillow is another favorite of mine hybrid camping pillow. I like the comfort and the support of my head. This is the pillow which I would take directly to my bedroom. It comes close to my full-size everyday pillow.
The thickness is adjustable, which makes the Nemo Fillo perfect for many different camping settings and sleeping styles. Another great benefit of using this camping pillow is that it’s super easy to use. It’s tiny, almost like an inflatable pillow, and it takes very little space in your backpack – only 1.4L.
Unfortunately, there is a downside to this pillow – the weight. It weighs around 9.0 oz, which is quite a lot if you are planning multi-day trekking or hiking. If you are camping close to your car or you are planning just one-day hiking, Nemo Fillo is tough to beat.
In our calculations, Nemo Fillo gets an average result of 8.0 which is a good result indeed.
TETON Sports ComfortLite
Teton Sports ComfortLite is an inflatable camping pillow that inflates automatically when you open the easy twist rapid inflation valve. This makes the pillow one of the easiest to use on our list.
But this is not the reason why I like it. The best thing about it is the price. It’s the cheapest one on our list, with a cost of around $18. Teton Sports ComfortLine is also a very well-rated product on Amazon.
The pillow is comfortable enough for camping, but it’s also a perfect option for long flights. The bottom is non-slip, and the top is made of a microfiber top for extra comfort. It comes with a lifetime warranty as most of the Teton products.
Unfortunately, despite all these useful features, there are some downsides as well. Teton Sports ComfortLite weights around 11.2 oz, which is quite a lot if you plan to make big hikes.
In general, Teton Sports ComfortLite is a lovely camping pillow that you should shortlist when you look for one. Especially if you need for short one night hikes or you want to put it in your RV or car just in case.
Teton Sports ComfortLite gets an average result of 7.0 points for the three categories.
Klymit Luxe Pillow
Klymit Luxe Pillow is another great contender in our list of the best camping pillows for 2020. What I endorse this pillow for is a perfect comfort that gives. The camping pillow is quite large when unpacked, but it gets minimal when it is packed. It takes only 0.8L of space in your backpack.
The camping pillow is inflatable one but a little bit on the heavy side. The manufacturer claims that the weight is 6.4 oz, which is an average weight for camping pillows. If you are a minimalistic hiker, maybe you should check for another option.
Despite some of the downsides, Klymit Luxe Pillow is a perfect camping pillow that is extremely comfortable and very close to the size of the standard bedroom pillow. I prefer more the Nemo Fillo and Sea to Summit, which in general are better camping pillows.
Klymit Luxe Pillow gets an average rating of 7.7, which puts it in the middle of the range. Also, note that it’s on the pricey side of the spectrum with a price of $40.
Therm-a-Rest Compressible
Therm-a-Rest Compressible is a large, relatively lightweight camping pillow. The quality of the materials is outstanding here compared to the other camping pillows. The size of the unpacked pillow is close to the size of a standard pillow.
When packed, the Therm-a-Rest takes around 2.6 L of space, which is too much for trekking. Another downside of this camping pillow is the weight – 8.6 oz. Some verified purchasers complain that the silky outer fabric is sometimes sliding, which causes the entire camping pillow to slide around when you sleep.
But when we talk about comfort, this camping pillow is a top pick. Of course, it’s an inflatable pillow, but the manufacturer somehow made it one of the most comfortable ones in the market. It’s also effortless to use because of the design – built-in stuff sleeve.
Another great thing about the Therm-a-Rest camping pillow is that it is filled with recycled mattress foam, which makes it eco-friendly.
It gets an average of 7.0 points across the three categories, which are quite a good result. Also, I forgot to mention that Therm-a-Rest is the best camping pillow for side-sleepers.
Big Agnes AXL Air Pillow
You know the name and the brand, so it should come as no surprise that Big Agnes makes a pillow that even Goldilocks would rave about, according to Big Agnes.
This nylon camping pillow, weighing just 1.6 ounces, is designed to be customized using the micro-release button that allows you to keep adjusting the amount of air inside the chamber until it feels perfect.
Finding a good position for your head is easy thanks to the ergonomic shape and minimalist offset I-Beam construction so that campers can count on consistent stability and comfort.
Manufactured of 4-way stretch nylon and treated with an antimicrobial agent that inhibits the growth of bacteria (is anything worse than a smelly pillow?), so if you tend to put off hand-washing and air drying this pillow, you can probably still get a good night’s sleep.
Best of all, this 16- x 10 -x 4-inch Big Agnes pillow not only feels good next to your skin, but the fabric used to craft it is strong enough to prevent tears. It can’t be punctured either because aviation-grade thermoplastic polyurethane laminate is practically invincible.
Blow it up and take it down quickly thanks to the handy micro-release fitted with a silicone flap valve. If you camp in cold weather, the advanced heat-reflective technology built into the textile retains warmth in severe conditions.
This pillow comes with a handy stuff sack if you want to tote this pillow in your backpack or slide it into the pocket of a Big Agnes sleeping bag, so you never forget to bring it along.
Therm-a-Rest Air Head Lite Inflatable Travel Pillow
You are looking for a pillow that does more than keeping your head supported on your next camping adventure? This Therm-a-Rest pillow is also a great companion on your next road trip or airline flight.
It measures 11- x 15.5- x 4-inches, so even if you’ve got a big head, this inflatable has room to spare. The company has been around since 1972 and its mission to “create a better way to sleep outside; because when you rest better, you play better,” is not lost on brand fans.
Plush, affordable, ultralight and packable, this travel pillow is small enough to fit into a pocket when deflated, so even if you tend to overpack when preparing for camping trips, there will always be enough room to bring this pillow along.
Offering 4-inches of air padding when fully inflated, you can dial down the thickness if you’re not wild about how it feels beneath your head. The soft-knit stretch fabric covering the pillow won’t slip around when you’re trying to sleep like so many other camping pillows do.
Weighing a little over 2-ounces, even the precise shape on this blue, made-in-the-USA pillow is sleeping-bag friendly: slide it into the hood of your bag, and it won’t budge during the night.
When it’s time to pull up stakes, the pillow collapses down just 2.25- x 3.75-inches for insertion into the stuff pack that comes with the camping pillow, so it’s ready for your next camping adventure.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Sack Pillow
It’s hard to resist taking a look at a pillow that one reviewer tossed into the air upon its arrival and then watched it come down “like a feather,” but that’s precisely the experience you may have if you opt for this Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Sack pillow.
Manufactured of waterproof Dyneema® composite fabric that repels water and sweat, even the fully-taped seams work to keep out the elements that can ruin a good night’s sleep.
Not only was this fabric chosen for its weight and ability to rebuff the elements, but the feeling of the outer covering against your skin that’s courtesy of Polartec® 100-weight fleece on the pillow’s reverse side has been described as heavenly.
You’ll spend more for this pillow than you would for either product described above, but you might be willing to make that compromise in return for a giant pillow that measures 17- x 12-inches, feels cozy against your skin, and comes with a handy zippered carry bag.
Marketed as the stuff sack pillow that does double duty, secure your camping pillow by day, so it’s ready for snooze duty that night, and while you sleep, the sack is roomy enough hold clean clothing that you’d prefer to put on without discovering spiders in the sleeve. Need verification of its quality?
Visit the company website to find over 100 rave reviews; 99-percent of them 5-star ratings. Each pillow is hand-built in Biddeford, Maine, so you’ve assured a quality product, even if you have to spend a little more.
REI Co-op Trailbreak Foam Pillow
This proprietary REI foam pillow comes in a couple of sizes if you like choices, and if you’re into aesthetics, you also a selection of attractive exterior patterns. That stated, you will pay about half the cost of the Therm-a-rest above, which offers you no sizing or pattern choices. Ideal for camping and travel, this pillow compresses down to 1/5th its size, so it fits into the storage pocket that is included.
True, you can’t inflate and deflate the pillow, but if you prefer not to sleep on air for any reason, this pillow makes a great alternative. Since no inflation is required to get this pillow ready for a nap, you can subject it to all sorts of rough treatment, and it is even machine washable.
You may have to search for the size you want — it’s available in either large (21- x 17-inches) or regular (18- x 14-inches) — and once you locate it, not every pattern or color may be available, but if it pleases your budget, you may not mind compromising.
The Trailbreak pillow’s foam stuffing consists of remnants of the high-quality foam REI uses to manufacture its self-inflating sleep pads. So not only do you get a great night’s sleep without worrying that your pillow could collapse or run out of the air during the night but by purchasing one of these, you keep these scraps out of landfills.
This pillow is the quintessential win-win product: Save money, be a steward of the earth, and sleep like a baby, too.
Cocoon Ultralight Air-Core Pillow
If you’re considering every pillow in this review as a candidate for your hard-earned dollar, you’ll notice that this pillow looks different from the others, and it feels different too. The Cocoon pillow is a hybrid, a mix of air, and polyester fill. You inflate the core with air to expand the fill, a combination that gives you a different way of achieving the comfort and support you crave, and you can even hand wash it.
Choose the Cocoon and customize your sleep experience in synch with current weather fluctuations courtesy of this camping pillow’s unique mix of fill materials. When it’s cold, sleep on the microfiber side to keep your face warm.
When it’s hot, opt for the micro-ripstop nylon side for a more refreshing experience. Because this pillow is made with surrounding baffles, it can feel more like the pillow you left at home, yet it packs down to the size of a baseball and stows in a stuff sack with a hidden zipper.
This pillow comes in two sizes and two colors. Depending upon product availability, you may have to settle for one size or color over another, but both fit into the mid-price range if saving money is one of your objectives.
That said, both sizes will still cost less than the Hyperlite mentioned above pillow, though we feel duty-bound to let you know that if you’ve had issues with pillow slippage in the past, the nylon covering the side of this product could cause the Cocoon to roam. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
How to choose the best camping pillows for hikers
Sleeping outside on the mountain could be a delightful and relaxing thing, and you should not spoil it with being underprepared.
I can tell you from my own experience that having a good, quality sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and beautiful camping pillow can change the feel and the quality of your sleep under the stars.
That’s the reason I decided to test and review some of the most popular camping pillows on the market these days. I just want to make your decision much more comfortable, so you don’t waste time researching.
I will give points for each of the pillows for the following categories: comfort, weight, and size. Each fo the camping pillows will get an average final score, and this way, I will tell you which one is the best for your needs.
Camping Pillow Types – Inflatable vs. Compressible vs. Hybrid
Inflatable Camping Pillows
Before starting with the reviews itself, let me explain the three most common camping pillow types and the pros and cons of each of them. The first type, which is the most common these days is the inflatable camping pillow.
Inflatable camping pillows are very convenient. They are made by some kind of foam, which expands when you want it. The most significant advantage is that they are small in size and don’t take much space. Also, they can be very lightweight and suitable for backpackers and trekkers.
As we know, the weight of every unit we carry on our hiking is significant, and we should limit that as much as possible. If you use your camping pillow in your car or RV, the weight won’t be so important.
But they have one big downside – comfort is not on par as on the hybrid and the compressible pillows. Also, you have to inflate them with your breath, which is not very helpful too, especially if you are at high altitudes.
Such inflatable pillows can accumulate moisture and bacterias inside, which can be dangerous in the long-term.
Compressible Camping Pillows
The compressible camping pillows are a different thing. They are usually filled with down feathers, different types of foam, and synthetic fiber. Or, in many cases, a combination of them. Compressible camping pillows are very soft, and they are the closest to standard pillows possible.
Compressible camping pillows are very easy to use – you just have to take them out of the bag. But they have one big downside – they are heavier and make much more space in your backpack than an inflatable camping pillow.
Also, it seems that compressible pillows cost more than the others. Generally speaking, they are suitable for car camping, one-day adventures, etc.
Hybrid camping pillows
Hybrid camping pillows are as the name implies – a hybrid between an inflatable and compressible pillow. They usually have a compressible top layer and inflatable bottom side for more support and less packed volume.
I personally like very much most of the hybrid pillows because they make a good compromise between size, weight, and comfort.