10 Best Camping Pillows

Looking for a new pillow for your camping or backpacking trip this summer? Don’t worry, I got you covered! No more bundling up your clothes into a ball to stay comfortable at night. This list has the best camping pillows on the market! I have listed air pillows, down pillows, foam pillows, lightweight pillows, and the most comfortable pillows out there. Sleep is one of the most important things when you camp and backpack. Great sleep will help you crush that mountain hike the next morning. Picking the perfect pillow just for you will help out tremendously. Keep reading on to pick the best pillow just for you.

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Camping Pillow Reviews

My Pick For Best Camping Pillow

The Nemo Fillo is my pick for the best camping pillow out there. What I love about the Fillo is that it is comfortable yet lightweight enough to go on short backpacking trips. I am all about versatility, so I love that I can take this pillow on my different types of trips.

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10 Best Camping Pillows

Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow

The Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow is an excellent option if you are a car camper or need a good travel pillow. This pillow is one of the comfiest pillows on this list, and it is very inexpensive.

But the main drawback of the Thermarest camping pillow is that it is not the best for backpacking or long treks. This pillow is not as compact or light as some of the other pillows on this list. Still, if you are looking for a super comfy pillow that you can throw into your car or use on an airplane, then this is your pillow!

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Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow: Best Inflatable Camping Pillow

The best inflatable pillow award goes to Sea To Summit Aeros! The Sea to Summit Aeros is one of the best backpacking pillows on this list. It is lightweight, extremely packable, and has excellent support. It also fits perfectly inside your mummy sleeping bag. Out of all the lightweight air pillows on this list, this one is probably the most comfortable one.

But keep in mind that like most air pillows, it is not as comfortable as a fluffy foam pillow, so I would not consider this for a car camping pillow.

If you need a durable, tiny, compact, and lightweight pillow that you will barely even notice in your backpack, then this pillow might be for you!

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NEMO Fillo Pillow

Do you want a combination of the best of both worlds of an air pillow and a foam pillow? Lightweight and comfortable? Well, the NEMO Fillo is pretty much that! This pillow is incredibly soft, compact, and lighter than most foam pillows. It’s very versatile as you can use it for camping trips and shorter backpacking trips. This is honestly my type of pillow! I am all about versatility.

But this pillow is not for everyone. I would not recommend it on long-distance backpacking trips where every ounce and compatibility counts. It is pretty lightweight for being a foam hybrid pillow, but it is not enough for backpacking the PCT, for example. But it is still a great comfortable option for most of my 2-4 day backpacking trips.

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Exped Air Pillow

One of the most lightweight designs on this list is the Exped Air Pillow. It is pretty much weightless, durable, comes with its own stuff sack, and it is incredibly compact. I have had this pillow for around six years, and it still looks brand new.

But the thing with this pillow is that it is not comfortable. The pillow slips and slides everywhere, and since it was made to weigh almost nothing, the comfort is just not there. But if you are a backpacker looking for something weightless, then this might be the pillow for you. But I will say that the Sea To Summit Aeros is probably a better buy because it is more comfortable.

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Big Agnes AXL Air Pillow

Are you going to be backpacking for months on end, and every single little ounce and space is especially crucial for you? If you said yes, then this Big Agnes AXL is the perfect pillow for you. It is known to be one of the most lightweight and compact pillows on this list. It only weighs 1.6 ounces!!!!!

But if you are not a thru-hiker, I would not get this pillow. This pillow is one of the most uncomfortable ones on this list. There are better air pillows that are better fit for shorter backpacking trips like the Sea To Summit Aeros. Lightweight is suitable when it comes to long backpacking, but I feel like you have better options for short backpacking trips.

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Therm-a-Rest Down Pillow

The Thermarest Down pillow is one of the most interesting pillows on this list. It is comfortable, soft, very compact and light. But the reason the pillow can compact so small is because there is not much down in the pillow.

The pillow is made only to be comfortable with the addition of your clothes. Behind the pillow, you can stuff your down jacket or shirts into it and tighten it with a drawstring. This isn’t the ideal choice for everyone. I feel like you would have to experiment with your clothing before any of your camping or backpacking trips.

I am particularly lazy after long backpacking treks already, so adding this step to my bedtime routine does not sound fun to me, but it might be ok with you. Overall the pillow is a very average pillow, and I feel like you can get a more comfortable and compact pillow like the Nemo Filo.

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Cocoon Ultralight Air-Core Pillow

Are you looking for a comfy inflatable camping pillow to take on your camping trips? Cocoon has a great option. The Air Core Pillow is great when traveling and on short one-day backpacking trips. It is a lot more comfortable than some of the other air pillows on this list.

I will warn you that it is on the heavier and bulky side of the air pillow spectrum, but if weight isn’t an issue, it is still a great pillow. Mainly because it has two different sides of material, you can use. On cold nights, sleep on the microfiber side; on warm nights, relax on the cooling, nylon side.

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REI Co-op Trailbreak Foam Pillow

The REI Trailbreak is one of the most comfortable foam pillows on this list. This pillow is comfy, warm, supportive, inexpensive, and soft. It is somewhat compressible and perfect for camping and traveling.

It is on the heavier side, so I would not use this for backpacking, but if you are only a camper or a traveler, I would get this pillow. Especially at this low price!

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Klymit Luxe Pillow

The Klymit Luxe pillow is the largest pillow on this list. It is almost the size of a regular pillow, but it compacts pretty small. It is comfortable, gives excellent support, and it is machine washable. It is the perfect inflatable pillow for camping.

Since the size is too large, the pillow does not fit inside of mummy sleeping bags. This is especially important for when you are backpacking in the spring, winter, and fall. When the weather is chilly, having the pillow inside your sleeping bag is crucial for a good night’s sleep.

But if you are camping in the middle of the summer, this pillow is an awesome choice, especially if you want the comfort and size of a regular pillow and the compatibility of a camping pillow.

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TETON Sports Camp Pillow

Teton Camping Pillow is a comfortable, inexpensive camping pillow. It is a reliable option for someone that is primarily using it for car camping. Its packed size and weight make it less ideal for any backpacking trip. But if you are only going to use it for camping where size does not matter, then why not get this comfy pillow? It is a great price! And it even comes with its pillow case that you can take off and wash after your camping trip.

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More Information on Camp Pillows

Weight and Comfort

The more lightweight a pillow is, the less comfortable the pillow might be. Let’s face it, air pillows are just not as comfortable as a nice fluffy foam pillow. It is like comparing an air mattress to a regular mattress. The regular mattress always wins when it comes to comfort.

But sometimes you need that lightweight pillow. Backpacking is a good example of this. Weight is crucial when it comes to backpacking. Overpacking heavy equipment can make or break your trip, and that is why air pillows are the clear winners for extended backpacking trips.

When you buy your pillow, you have to think about where you will be using your pillow. On camping trips, short backpacking trips, or long thru-hikes? That is how you choose your pillow.

Types Of Pillow

There are mainly three types of pillows I have listed here. They are:

• Air Pillows: Inflatable pillows that are lightweight and compressible but not as comfortable as foam or down pillows.
• Foam/Down Pillows: Very comfortable but not as compact or light as air pillows.
• Combination of Foam/Down and Air Pillows: These tend to be on the more expensive side, but they combine the comfort and lightweight capability of air pillows and down/foam pillows.

Compressibility

When it comes to backpacking, compressibility is king. Being able to stuff your pillow in the corner and not having to worry about packing is essential. That is why I usually opt-in for an air pillow when I am backpacking. Mainly because my backpack is on the smaller liter size.

When it comes to car camping, who cares about how compressible your pillow is, you can just throw it in your car. But it is nice to have a packable pillow. At least compared to your big bulky one at home. Plus camping can be a not so clean experience. You probably don’t want your nice clean white pillow out in the wilderness. Having a pillow specifically for camping is a great option.

Price

You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg on camping pillows. An inexpensive, comfortable pillow is still a lot better than using your clothes for a pillow. The more compact and lighter pillows tend to be, the more expensive they are. So if you are only car camping, no need to get an expensive ultralight pillow.

Noise

Many of the lightweight pillows tend to make noises. If you are a light sleeper, I would try out your air pillow before your camping or backpacking trip to see if it is too noisy for you.

Moving

There are times that pillows are kind of annoying at night. They can slip and slide away from your head, depending on the material. An excellent way to prevent this is to get a type of pillow that uses material that isn’t as slippery. Or you can always put your pillow inside of your mummy sleeping bag. You can also add a velcro adhesive to prevent this as well.

Final Thoughts On Best Travel Pillow For Camping

Thanks for checking out this article on the best camp pillow for your adventures. I hope you find the most comfortable and the most fantastic pillow for you. If you need some help on finding other products, check out some of my other posts:

• Best Hiking Sandals For Women
• Best Sleeping Bags For Women
• Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads
• Best Hiking Boots For Women
• 60 Amazing Tips On Camping For Beginners
• Beginners Guide To Winter Backpacking

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