Camping Pillow

[ChrisFS]

Recently I have been having an overview/overhaul of my camping equipment. I should point out that I am not an all-weather camper so any opinions I offer are always going to be based on that principle.

Anyway, I have pretty much decided that I am going to replace some/many of the key components. I have just purchased a new tent and an airbed, a new propane stove to compliment my ancient but trusted trangia meths burner set up, some new bungees and velcro straps as well as a couple of other bits and pieces. I am actively looking for a new sleeping bag amongst other things. What I have noticed is that there are so many different brands of pillows for camping. I have to say I like a pillow when I'm camping, I'm just not one of those people who can sleep without one. At home I have 3 pillows on my bed!

I don't know about the rest of you but I fail to see the benefits of a branded camping pillow at silly money ranging from a couple of ££'s to ridiculous amounts when the best pillow is absolutely free of charge. I simply carry a nice soft empty pillowcase and at night I put some of my clothes into it. If you get the correct amount of clothing (and it doesn't really take much effort) then it'll be better, so much better, than any of the camping branded specialist items.

Having said that, my solution does have it's own drawbacks. For example, it might be 1 gram heavier than your specialist product which in turn will decrease your mpg by 0.0000000000001 percent, it could reduce your top speed by 0.0000000000000000001 mph and in corners it might even be the difference between you staying upright and falling over so please bear those details in mind before copying my behaviour!

[ta-rider]

Originally Posted by ChrisFS

What I have noticed is that there are so many different brands of pillows for camping.

I allways use my jacked or spare t-shirt as a pillow. No need to carry extra luggage for that.

[ChrisFS]

Originally Posted by ta-rider

I allways use my jacked or spare t-shirt as a pillow. No need to carry extra luggage for that.

I agree, , but if they're for sale then someone must be buying them!

[g6snl]

+1 for the jacket-pillow. I make sure the back protector in my jacket is on top an put sleeping bag on top of that, with what ever extra stuff is required to get the ideal height under jacket.

I've tried a few camping pillows over the years and not found one to suit me. Also it's one less thing to take. So yes I bought one, or two....

[tmotten]

I can't sleep unless I have a pillow that somewhat matches my pillow at home. I use the Nemo Fillow. I've used the Sea to Summit on as well which is similar in that it has an inflatable pad with some soft foam on top for comfort. But the Fillow has some stretch cord on the back that you can put a jacket or sweater under it for extra bulk. I actually put a Klymit Cush Inflatable Pillow Seat under it. That thing is amazing in itself.

[ChrisFS]

Originally Posted by tmotten

I use the Nemo Fillow. I've used the Sea to Summit on as well which is similar in that it has an inflatable pad with some soft foam on top for comfort. But the Fillow has some stretch cord on the back that you can put a jacket or sweater under it for extra bulk. I actually put a Klymit Cush Inflatable Pillow Seat under it. That thing is amazing in itself.

Do you realise that you're proving my point about people actually buying this stuff?????

Klymit Cush........complete with a 'body mapped ear pillow'

[backofbeyond]

Don't buy one from Poundland - at the very least it'll save you a pound because it's useless.

I've tried a number of inflatable ones over the years - just when the muse strikes and I'm in the local camping shop, and none of them have been all that good. There's no weight to them and more often than not I wake in the night with my head on the floor and the pillow elsewhere in the tent. To get any sort of comfort you have to only half inflate them and judging how hard they should be every night is a bit hit and miss.

I keep thinking there must be something out there that actually works as a pillow but piling my clothes up seems to work just as well as anything (except when it's wet or so cold I need to wear most of it).

[duibhceK]

For the past 5 months I've been using a small pillow cover, slightly larger than A5 sized and sewn to size by my mother-in-law from a larger pillow case. I just stuff it with a fleece sweater/towel/whatever clothes I have at hand.

[tmotten]

Originally Posted by ChrisFS

Do you realise that you're proving my point about people actually buying this stuff?????

Klymit Cush........complete with a 'body mapped ear pillow'

I feel like that about a camping chair. Waste of space. Out of the luxury items. Pillows take up less space and weigh less. I don't mess with sleep. Plus, I ride predominantly dirty so my riding gear is filthy.

I was dubious about that ear hole too but it bloody works. Air pillows often cut my bloody circulation off. This thing didn't. It's multi purpose too.

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[tmotten]

Originally Posted by backofbeyond

I keep thinking there must be something out there that actually works as a pillow but piling my clothes up seems to work just as well as anything (except when it's wet or so cold I need to wear most of it).

Exactly the reason I added an air pillow to mine.

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[Thisll do]

I always used clothes rolled up in a bag, but getting older I found it wasn't working so well. Then I was given a Fillow!
Sceptical at first, but now converted! The memory foam layer makes a real difference. It rolls up into its own fist sized pouch, and best of all, it fits inside the hood of my mummy sleeping bag. When I turn over in the night, it turns with me, rather than wandering off somewhere else!
Hard to justify the price, but a brilliant present

[backofbeyond]

Originally Posted by Thisll do

I always used clothes rolled up in a bag, but getting older I found it wasn't working so well. Then I was given a Fillow!
Sceptical at first, but now converted! The memory foam layer makes a real difference.

Hard to justify the price, but a brilliant present

That looks a lot better than anything I've seen and may well be the answer but typical of much "performance" camping equipment costs way beyond what you'd think reasonable. £35+ for one in-tent pillow vs £20 for four real ones for your bed. Argos will even sell you a goose down pillow for £27 (which might well fold up small enough for bike use)

It's not that I want to penny pinch these things but I do dislike feeling I'm being taken advantage of just because I'm buying a "leisure" product rather than an everyday functional one.

[EMBEE]

Look in the likes of Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi, etc, I got an inflatable pillow from Morrisons years ago for about £1.99. Once you inflate it to what you decide is comfortable it works a treat.

[tmotten]

Originally Posted by backofbeyond

That looks a lot better than anything I've seen and may well be the answer but typical of much "performance" camping equipment costs way beyond what you'd think reasonable. £35+ for one in-tent pillow vs £20 for four real ones for your bed. Argos will even sell you a goose down pillow for £27 (which might well fold up small enough for bike use)

It's not that I want to penny pinch these things but I do dislike feeling I'm being taken advantage of just because I'm buying a "leisure" product rather than an everyday functional one.

Standard pillows are made by the millions. You could buy more to bring the price down.
The fillow will last longer too.

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[ChrisFS]

For those of us in UK there's always this.....a good sized self inflating pillow for less than £5. If it had a fancy 'outdoor' name it would probably be 10 times the price!

Buy Inflating Camping Travelling Pillow at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Camping accessories, Camping and caravanning, Sports and leisure.

or this for £3.50. It also has a type of "body mapped ear pillow"

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/air-basi...d_8055369.html