Why carry a camping pillow?
A stuff sack full of clothes works, but it shifts during the night and never has the right height. A dedicated pillow of around 100 grams keeps your head and neck in place, so you wake up with less stiffness. If you want to combine the two, the Zpacks Dyneema Pillow and Dry Bag in our storage category is a dry bag that becomes a pillow when you fill it with your clothes.
Which pillow?
- Sea to Summit Aeros Premium: an inflatable pillow with a soft fabric cover, 99 grams for the Regular.
- Sea to Summit Aeros Down: the Aeros with a layer of down on top, a bit warmer and softer.
- Enlightened Equipment Cloud 9 UL: a light pillow from the quilt specialist, 101 grams.
Frequently asked questions
How hard should I inflate my pillow?
Softer than you think. Blow it up fully, lie down and let some air out with the valve until your head sinks in a little.
How do I stop my pillow from sliding off my mat?
Put it inside the hood of your jacket, or against the tent wall. Some hikers put a small piece of silicone or a strip of seam sealer on the underside for grip.