Best Pillows for Camping

If you like to camp, then you know the experience of trying to minimize your camping materials, but still create a comfortable experience. This is especially true if you are hiking and carrying your gear. What you lay your head down upon each night can make the difference between the rest you deserve after a long day of fresh air, or dragging yourself around in exhaustion the next.

Unfortunately, the pillows we are used to are larger and cumbersome, and hardly conducive to a camping and/or backpacking trip. Investing a good camping pillow is most definitely worth the investment, as it most likely last you the rest of your camping lifetime due to its more irregular use. The best camping pillow is one that will help support your sleep position, and yet pack down small enough to be lightweight and take up little space- leaving you more room for other necessities. That’s why we have compiled a list of some of the best camping pillows for you to take a closer look at.

Rank	Product	Highlights	Warranty
#1	REDCAMP Outdoor Camping Pillow check price	Small compression, but larger pillow size Very lightweight Washable cover is soft and convenient	1 year
#2	Chillax UltraLight Camping Pillow check price	Easily adjustable Very light and easy to pack Durable construction	100% lifetime guarantee
#3	Trekology Ultralight Inflatable Camping Travel Pillow check price	Fast and easy to inflate, deflate, and pack Soft sleep surface Wipes clean easily	N/A
#4	Cozy Hut Portable Memory Foam Camping Pillow check price	Very conforming Washable cover is a perk Rolls up easily but doesn’t flatten when in use	30 day distributor returns
#5	COOP Home Goods Camping Pillow with Bamboo Cover check price Read Our Review	Fully adjustable Machine washable Full size feel in a compact package	30 day guarantee
#6	Klymit Luxe Pillow – Lightweight Luxurious Inflatable Travel Pillow check price	Easy to pack and quick to inflate Washable softcover is a nice touch Wipes clean easily	N/A

Our Top Best Camping Pillow Picks

The following choices were taken from the best camping pillow reviews provided by consumers who regularly use their products. Although there are many different pillows you can choose from for camping, these are considered some of the most comfortable, quality picks on the current market. And they provide you with the variable choices you have in order to find what may work best for you.

#1. REDCAMP Outdoor Camping Pillow

SPECS

• Filling: poly fiberfill
• Size: 20 x 12 inches
• Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Warranty: 1 year

The REDCAMP outdoor camping pillow is designed specifically for any type of camping you enjoy. Weighing in at only 0.70 lbs, this pillow can expand to 20×12 inches- one of the largest available at this weight. It also compresses down into its own stuff sack for easy transportation. Simply attach to your bag, or toss into your gear.

The softer feel is made for stomach and side sleepers, and can be used to further support the neck when needed. The soft, cotton flannel casing is removable and machine washable, making it an even more convenient choice.

Pros

• Small compression, but larger pillow size
• Very lightweight
• Washable cover is soft and convenient

Cons

• Very thin and soft for some people

Any camper will find this to be a comfortable choice as it is easy to travel with no matter your camping preference. It may be a bit soft for side sleepers, but perfect for back and stomach sleepers.

#2. Chillax UltraLight Camping Pillow

SPECS

• Filling: Air
• Size: 14 x 12 inches
• Weight: 2.8 ounces
• Warranty: 100% lifetime guarantee

The Chillax UltraLight Camping Pillow is the perfect backpacking choice as it only weighs 2.8 ounces, but expands to 14 x 12 inches from a compact 5×2 inch travel size. Fully adjustable as it requires 3 to 5 breathes to inflate, it has an easy decompression button to find the perfect comfort for you.

With a slight u-shape, the pillow helps hold your head in place, and also can double as a lumbar support when in a seated position. The back has a non-slip surface, and the top is a soft, velour feel for against your skin. The pillow also comes with a sleep mask to aide you in your rest.

Pros

• Easily adjustable
• Very light and easy to pack
• Durable construction

Cons

• Chemical smell upon opening due to storage
• Weak seam leakage may occur- covered by warranty

Back and side sleepers would get the most out of this pillow, especially when backpacking due to its incredibly compact size. Backed by a No Risk Purchase guarantee, you have nothing to lose if it isn’t the comfort you are looking for.

#3. Trekology Ultralight Inflatable Camping Travel Pillow

SPECS

• Filling: Air
• Size: 16 x 12 x 4 inches
• Weight: 3.88 ounces
• Warranty: N/A

There is nothing worse than getting ready for a camping trip and reconnecting with nature but failing to find the right pillow to support your head during those nights of roughing it. Having the proper camping pillow can mean the difference between a hard trip in the woods and a good trip in the woods. You want to wake up refreshed, pain free, and ready to see all of nature’s beauty and what she has to offer.

That is why you want to check out Trekology’s Ultralight Inflatable Camping Travel Pillow. This pillow folds easily into a small bundle that fits nicely in your knapsack. Once you have your campsite set up? Use a small air pump to bring this pillow to full size and experience lumbar support even while sleeping on the ground. It’s made from a durable elastic TPU fabric that is guaranteed to last in the roughest conditions.

Packing up your campsite to head back to civilization? Use the plug to deflate the pillow, roll it up, up it in its carrying bag, and strap it to your knapsack. It’s that easy!

Pros

• Folds down to 5×2 inches when deflated.
• Dot and latch design prevents the head from slipping off the pillow.
• Made from durable fabric to withstand the elements.

Cons

• Does not come with an air pump.

The Trekology inflatable camping pillow is ideal for the nature buff in your life (even if that person is yourself!). Lightweight, easy to use, easy to store – it’s everything you need and want in your camping pillow.

#4. Cozy Hut Portable Memory Foam Camping Pillow

SPECS

• Filling: Memory foam
• Size: 16.5 x 8 inches
• Weight: 16 ounces
• Warranty: 30 day distributor returns

Made with a soft, conforming memory foam, the Cozy Hut camping pillow expands to 16.5 x 8 inches, but compresses to only 5 x 8 inches to fit in its stuff sack. At only 1 lb in weight, this is an incredibly lightweight find for easy traveling and camping purposes. It is also contoured to provide you with variable lofts in order to better meet your sleep comfort needs.

The soft velor cover is layered with a thinner inner cover, both of which are machine washable. This help increase airflow, and protects your foam from moisture. Because of the shape and conforming properties, it works well as a lumbar support also, and is best for the neck support of back and side sleepers.

Pros

• Very conforming
• Washable cover is a perk
• Rolls up easily but doesn’t flatten when in use

Cons

• May be too thick for some people
• Slight offgassing

This is definitely a comforting camping pillow that can be used in a variety of situations. Although not as lightweight and compact as other choices, it works well when hiking and packing is not the main focus, and is perfect for other travel situations.

#5. COOP Home Goods Camping Pillow with Bamboo Cover

SPECS

• Filling: Shredded memory foam
• Size: 19 x 14 inches
• Weight: 32 ounces
• Warranty: 30 day guarantee

Like its big brother, this shredded memory foam camping pillow is 100% adjustable, making it a great choice for any and all sleep positions. The contouring memory foam can be removed or added to to better fit your needs, and at 19x 14 inches is almost the size of a full standard sized pillow, yet compresses down to only 10 x 6 inches to fit into a stuff sack.

The 32 ounces this pillow weighs makes it a possible choice for packing- especially if comfort is a priority and there is room. Plus, the bamboo cover is highly breathable, and naturally antimicrobial, and the entire pillow can be washed.

Pros

• Fully adjustable
• Machine washable
• Full size feel in a compact package

Cons

• Slight offgassing
• Adjusting may take some time

When comfort is a must, this smaller version of a best seller is well worth considering for any sleep position on any camping trip.

check price

Review

#6. Klymit Luxe Pillow

SPECS

• Filling- Air
• Size-  25 x 22 inches
• Weight- 6.2 ounces
• Warranty- Lifetime guarantee

Best Full-Size Inflatable Travel Pillow

When you are not interested in sacrificing pillow size when camping, this is the choice you want to consider. This full-size pillow expands to 25 x 22 inches with just 3 to 5 breaths, yet packs into a 3 x 7-inch compact space and weighs only 6.2 ounces. Wrapped in a soft, quilted material, this pillow is fully adjustable and provides you the opportunity to feel like you have a more traditional pillow on hand. The cover also can be removed for washing, and the inside is durable and wipes clean as well. Inflatable pillows are amongst the best for lightweight packing, and this is no exception. Plus the overall size makes it ideal for anyone requiring more support.

Pros

• Easy to pack and quick to inflate
• Washable softcover is a nice touch
• Wipes clean easily

Cons

• A little longer to pack than similar items

check price

What is a Camping Pillow?

A camping pillow is a small pillow made specifically for travel situations. It is usually much smaller than your regular sized bed pillows you are used to. It is often compressible in nature and fits into smaller spaces, or clips onto backpacks with ease. It also is usually very lightweight in order to keep from adding unneeded additional heft to your pack. It usually is only large enough to hold your head in one position, and is not made for side to side movement, but is much more comfortable than going without.

You may be interested in: The Best Sleeping Bags for Camping

Types of Camping Pillows

There actually are quite a few different type of camping pillows that you can choose from in order to find what is most comfortable for your sleep position. Camping pillows can also fit your style of camping as you may have more room when traveling by vehicle compared to backpacking, and carrying all your needed supplies

Inflatable

Inflatable pillows may either be self inflating, or needs a pump (or your own power) to inflate. Those that require inflation are actually adjustable to better fit your own personal preferences. Both styles are very lightweight, and have various covers for protection against sharp objects.

Compressible Foam

Foams often compress or roll into a small packages, and then inflate rather quickly when you are ready to sleep upon it. They take up small spaces when compressed, but may weigh a bit more due to the density of the material.

Folding

Folding pillows are often great choices for tent and RV camping when you don’t have to hike from place to place. They fold up to a more compact size, but are still fairly bulky if you are thinking of fitting into a backpack.

Down or Polyfiber Filled

Down and soft down alternative polyfiber compresses easily and can be fluffed back into shape. It also is considered very lightweight and is a popular choice for camping of all sorts.

Travel Pillow Case

A travel pillow case is probably the most lightweight and compactable choice you can make. These cases are designed to be stuffed with your own clothing or jackets to create a soft place to lay your head, and also are fully adjustable.

 Benefits of Camping Pillows

When space and weight is a commodity, a camping pillow is so much more comfortable than using packs or clothing to help support their head each night. Sleeping with proper support is crucial to your physical and mental health as well, and nobody wants to have their travels interrupted by body aches and pains, or poor sleep.

Hauling around your full-size pillows is also inconvenient, even when using a camper trailer or RV. It is simply one more thing to think of packing, and the use of a travel pillow allows you to keep it in place and stored with the rest of your gear; ready to go when you are. Plus, by doing so, you aren’t likely to forget it.

What to Consider When Choosing a Camping Pillow

Like any other pillow purchase, you want to look specifically for a pillow that you feel will best support your sleep position. You also need to consider your camping style, as well as personal preference in reference to the materials used.

What is your sleep position?

Stomach sleepers truly do not need a pillow to keep themselves aligned, but a back sleeper needs a thinner pillow that supports their neck, and a side sleeper needs a thicker, more conforming choice. For higher loft choices, foams and inflatable choices may be the best bet for a more comfortable night.

Do you sleep warm?

If you sleep warm and want to avoid heat retention, choose more natural fibers, such as cotton, as well as polyfills that allow good airflow. Foams can be dense and not breathe as well as other materials. The opposite can be true as well when you are camping in cooler whether: inflatable choices may actually hold cooler air close to your body and create a chill.

What type of camping do you do the most?

As mentioned many times before, the type of camping you enjoy may want to be a driving factor in your pillow making decisions. Most camping pillows will have the weight and compressed size included in order to provide you an idea of how you can best travel with it. You also need to consider how you sleep. For example, if you use a hammock, you will want a pillow that fits within the shape of hammock you have.

When do you camp?

If you camp during the heat of the year, you may want to choose natural fibers that influence airflow and polyfills that help create a cooling sensation. Foams and plastics do not breath well, and can create heat sinks, although inflatable choices may stay cooler as well. For colder climates choose foam options, as well as softly compressional fills for insulating purposes.

Conclusion

Your choice of pillow has more to do with your choice of camping style and comfort than anything else. I provided various types of pillow above, and if they weren’t highlighted in our top rated choices, it isn’t because they aren’t a great choice for some people- but simply are not the most popular choices across the camping enthusiasts. Our top pick was a tough one to pick, but taking into consideration both comfort and weight for a variety of different camping situations, we felt the REDCAMP Outdoor Camping Pillow was a good all-around pick. Of course, if weight and space is not a consideration, then you may want a different choice. The same goes for the opposite as well- especially when hiking long distances.