Hiking Pillows

[Betty The Sheep]

I’m wondering if anyone can recommend a quality hiking pillow.

For me a good pillow if very important for a good night sleep when hiking, a rolled up jacket or wine bag just doesn’t cut it.

In the past I have used those cheap blue inflatable pillows you can get from the lower end camping stores and inserted that into a cheap hiking cotton pillow (to help reduce the noise of the inflatable pillow and for extra height) – on top of that I would also wrap my jacket around the pillow.

I was looking at the WM Cloudrest pillow, however it looks as if it offers little neck support.

Does anyone know if there is a product like the Cloudrest, but is also inflatable for added neck support?

[Ent]

Hi

The best thing I have come across is the rectangle dry sacks with the air release valve like on the Therma-rest mats. I use mine to store a dry set of clothes and down jacket when walking. I use the down jacket for night camp wear and at bedtime I put the down jacket in with any other spare clothes and let out the air until comfortable. I use my Windpro top as a pillow case. This results in a pillow about the size of a regular pillow that unlike round bags does not wander off in the night. Highly recommended. Trouble is I can not seem to find the rectangle dry bags any more as I would like a spare one. My friend uses the same system but she scored a lighter weight dry sack that is almost as tough as mine. Kick myself I did not order one as well. I have only seen them on USA mail order sights, none locally.

Cheers

[sthughes]

Heavy down jacket in a cotton t shirt works a treat for me. But heavy in the summer when you don't need the jacket.

I've heard the Exped inflatable down pillows are comfy.

[icemancometh]

a pillow is one of the few luxuries I will now take. It is that important. Except for sitting bivies of course and even worse the standing ones.

But back to the original post, I've found the Kathmandu SI Pillows surprisingly good. And cheap (relatively speaking). Not as light as those air ones but a lot comfier and the shape I find is the most important and best feature to it as it accommodates the neck well (I am a side sleeper when given the chance). I trialled a bead pillow last year on the Overland and found it disappointing.

So even when I go a half bag and a half mat I will go a pillow, a Kathmandu SI one. I also suggest storing unrolled, flat pack in the frame of the pack and using as a seat when you stop. Saves me pulling out the pack's bivy pad/frame, which is invariably well jammed in and a lot more annoying to get one.

I recommend you try one.

[Aushiker]

I am looking at purchasing an Exped Pillow Pump as I want it as a pump for my Exped Synmat UL 7s and as a pillow. Yet to find out how well it works as a pillow but.



Andrew

[Penguin]

Heavy down jacket in a cotton t shirt works a treat for me. But heavy in the summer when you don't need the jacket.

I've heard the Exped inflatable down pillows are comfy.

Two words

Exped Pillow.

Used on the last 6 or 7 hikes. Light, easy to inflate and shaped like a tri pillow. I find it very comfortable. In hindsight I would have bought the larger size.

P

[Franco]

The search for the perfect pillow...

I took this shot sometime ago. Later on I found more...
Since then I sort of settled on two solutions.
1) With the Neo Air I use the Mont Bell pillow (the red one, top right corner) as an extension to the Neo because that mat (168cm) is shorter than I am and the pillow is thicker than the mat.
So I use that outside the sleeping bag.
The MomtBell is shaped , around 60g and can be attached to the Neo so it stays in place
2) with the Exped 7 (6' version) I shove something under the mat (head end) to give it a lift
So rather than looking at the pillow itself as I did for years, I look at the sleeping system.
I eventually realised that I don't like a pillow inside the hood and don't mind an air pillow if I have something soft in between (the hood..)
Because I slobber and to avoid washing the bags too often, I have a pillow case sized bit of silk (part of an old liner) under my head inside the hood.
The two above solutions also avoids the wandering pillow situation.
Franco

[Gusto]

I'm eyeing off this a Kookabay Pillow. I've never tried it, so it's a bit of a gamble http://kookabay.com/pillows.html

[Bluegum Mic]

I've got a down mat from him and bender from kookabay makes great products and he stands by them.

[forest]

Just picked up a Exped UL inflatable pillow. Only weighs 76 grams so no big hit for the comfort.

Really like it and it doesn't get all slippy on my mat.
Got sick of the stuff sack sliding all over the mat.... This pillow is heaps more comfortable.

I don't normally take a whole heap of extra clothing anyway now so I was having trouble getting a good pillow height.
This was more of an issue when my rain gear was wet as it makes a great pillow filler when dry.

[Betty The Sheep]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I have taken icemancometh suggestion and have just purchased a Kathmandu SI pillow – it is surprising light, supportive and relatively inexpensive.

And im not a fan of Kathmandu.

I will have to report back after I have used it on the track.

[icemancometh]

Haha

you don't have to be a fan, but you can enjoy the odd bit of gold from them. There have been lots of duds over the years and the fit of the clothing doesn't really do it for me but sometimes there are some gems.

Most of it is probably geared at travellers and of course you get it on sale but here are some of my favourites...
1 the 48.6g Ti stove, which is even lighter/cheaper and seems better built than the Kovea offering everyone goes on about ...
2 hiker's towel which is a staple hanging on my pack ,
3 the new flint they make has better range than the LMFs and give me more confidence that I won't burn myself but I would string the two pieces together so they don't get dropped/lost
4 the Activist Shorts, tough, light, comfy, great for active use incl walking and they don't get in the way of high stepping and the internal zip pocket is great so I don't lose my stuff
5 the Kinabalu pants which are a stretchy and nice walking,climbing, backcountry skiing and flying (paragliding) pant for me. They could overlap the fabric in the bum area and put the rear pocket on the right side but otherwise it's not bad. I roll them up when it's hot to be 3/4s or shorts
6 and now this pillow. Not the lightest pillow out there but I'm willing to lug a little bit more for better sleep when I walk. Still in the process of testing but seems to be the best to date and it's cheap (on sale)

Hope you like it and can't wait to hear what you think

[Miyata610]

Yeah I agree re some gems from Kathmandu... I have the little ti stove, it's great and I think cost less than $60. It's odd that people have blanket opinions about things... sure there's some expensive crap, but there's also a high level of convenience.. lots of stores etc.

I use an Exped UL pillow... it works, never a fan of inflatables, if I have spare clothes they go in to a stuff bag for my pillow.

[icemancometh]

I used to DIY pillow at camp but over time found I never had enough spare clothes to make a decent pillow.
I learn not to carry excess to cut weight

[roysta]

Exped Airpillow M, comfortable and weighs 90g.

[Dale]

I eventually landed on the Exped Stuff Pillow which doubles as my clothes bag. It has separate compartments so you can 'tweak' your pillow for comfort. Previously went through two of the exped inflatables - they leaked after a couple of nights.

[Turfa]

Being fairly weight conscious I'm a fan of the DIY pillow approach, but I do like a fairly substantial pillow & this is a challenge as I do not carry excess clothing. I use the UL dry bag that my sleeping bag gets packed into & stuff it with all my clothing, including my rain gear if it's dry (tend to have flatter pillow in wet weather !) as well as all the various stuff sacks for sleeping bag, mat, tent etc. I also put in my spare 2l platypus bladder fully inflated with air. The extra bladder is one of the very few "spares" that I will hike with, (on the theory that it is not possible to walk much without a portable water supply). This really bulks up the pillow.

To stop the pillow from sliding around I zip up my fleece jumper & push the pillow inside right up to the neck hole/shoulders. I then place the body of the jumper & the arms under my sleeping mat. When my body weight is one the mat this holds the fleece & pillow in position............works for me !

[JohnM]

Thermarest makes a nice pillowcase. I pretty much always hike with a down vest or jacket, so together they make a great pillow. Just add a layer of other clothing underneath the down jacket, and it's just like home.

I used to carry a thermarest foam pillow. It compressed down nicely, but it's the same size in the pack as a down jacket, so it makes far more sense to take something that's multi-use.

I get very sore ears (the pain wakes me up) if I sleep on anything too firm... Side sleeper. So a soft pillow is great for me.

[Strider]

But back to the original post, I've found the Kathmandu SI Pillows surprisingly good. And cheap (relatively speaking). Not as light as those air ones but a lot comfier and the shape I find is the most important and best feature to it as it accommodates the neck well (I am a side sleeper when given the chance). I trialled a bead pillow last year on the Overland and found it disappointing.

So even when I go a half bag and a half mat I will go a pillow, a Kathmandu SI one. I also suggest storing unrolled, flat pack in the frame of the pack and using as a seat when you stop. Saves me pulling out the pack's bivy pad/frame, which is invariably well jammed in and a lot more annoying to get one.

I recommend you try one.

Took your advice and pulled the trigger on one of these today. Seems nice and comfy, but a trip up Frenchmans next weekend will tell for sure

[icemancometh]

I;m now eyeing off the Exped Air Pillow as the Kathmandu weighs more than my mat!
http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_ho ... endocument

And/or making my own or chopping a real pillow down to size...maybe go to a form and rubber place as I like a bit more height and a dip in it being a side sleeper.

[dannnnn]

how many g is the kathmandu pillow??

[Liamy77]

I use my down jacket but i need to work on this more (i add tent bags spare clothes etc too- i find the jacket compresses and ends up too flat....

[Strider]

how many g is the kathmandu pillow??

235g

[icemancometh]

My scales said 240...

Anyway, went to Ikea the other day and got a cheap foam pillow which I've been sleeping on last few nights at home. Good sleep.

Now to cut it in half (roughly) and shape to trim more weight (still deciding on size/shape). Original pillow and cover is 330g so looking at the 150g mark for end product.

Think it's the Gosa Klatt for those who are interested.

Pros: comfy! (real pillow that is higher than any camp pillow with support for side sleepers and back sleepers) and cheap ($13...for 2 or maybe 3 pillows once I cut it...a mate is bugging me to see what I do...he probably wants the other half of it!), light enough (lighter than any SI pillow I've seen out there)
Cons: Bulky (obviously), don't know how much stuffing it would take over time,

Reckon I will finally be able to sleep well out there.
(fingers crossed. Then my 2 in 1 and SI Kathmandu pillows will have to be moved on to greener pastures.)

[Onestepmore]

I too need to have a 'proper' pillow, not even down clothes rolled up do the trick. I have just bought two pilows off E-bay - used but new - if that makes sense (even if they have been used I've slept on worse things!)

1. a Sea to Summit dacron filled drawstring compressible pillow for $11.20 (usually approx $32) that weighs 195g
2. a Flex-Air Ultralight pillow for $2.99 that weighs 16g - (usually $9 from backpacking light)

I'll pronounce my verdict after they've had a test-drive
I'd like to try some of the other suggestions here too
Thanks for the tip of pushing a pillow up into the shoulders of a fleece and using your weight on the body of the garment under your sleeping pad to keep it from 'migrating' upwards away from your body
I like the idea of physically attaching the pillow to the sleeping mat somehow, under the sleeping bag hood
I even had this problem on the weekend at Bungonia, car camping with a traditional bed pillow. The tent site must have been on a slight downhill slope, and I spent all night chasing after my pillow as it crept silently into the nether regions of the tent crevices.

[ninjapuppet]

3 bucks is great value for that flex air pillow. The only deals I've seen them only sell in bulk.

I've been just using my platypuses zip lock hydration bladder as a pillow. Fill it up with warm heated water and a warm head makes it very to sleep. I have A feeling it should leak, but it has survived over 40 nights so far.

Then ther are those new exped ultralight pillows.,wonder How effective they are

[Gusto]

I have an Exped UL pillow. I like it lots. It's the only hiking pillow I've ever owned, so nothing to compare it to.

[Bluegum Mic]

Im about to experiment. I personally don't like inflateables as they are often too firm for me (even when partially inflated). I also often sleep with my down jacket on so there goes my other option. I've got a flexair and Im going to make it a custom pillow slip from momentum (got some on order for another DIY project) with a small layer of climashield apex insulation sewn in. Should give the best of both worlds, weigh very little and still compact right down.
For hammocking I use the arrowhead equipment snoring cub pillow and its perfect.

[bailz66]

I have been using the Exped pillow Comfort Foam and its been pretty good. Don't like the air inflated ones either as there is no give.

Recently got a new Montane Flux jacket (Synthetic Down) http://www.montane.co.uk/products/men/i ... jacket/870
It actually folds up into its own pocket for pack size and also to use as a pillow so I will be trying that out next trip

[hikingoz]

I've also got an exped comfort pillow. http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage_int.nsf
It's heavy but has a very close feel to a real pillow but the right shape to fit into the hood of a sleeping bag.

I've also been considering a Mountain Designs down pillow if I find one on sale. They are simple and look comfy. Can't find a link.