Generally, the only problem I have sleeping while camping is keeping my pillow from shifting or moving. Somewhere I saw information about a Thermarest Wrap-It http://www.rei.com/product/719823 and thought it might be the answer to the shifting pillow problem, but I didn't really need the wrapping aspect. So I took the idea, and used some stretchy lycra-type material that I bought at Walmart for a buck a yard and made something kind of similar. The buck a yard part is why it's a delicate shade of lavender. :rolleyes: Anyway, it's a sleeve that is a bit tight on the Thermarest, with the bottom portion-the part that's on the floor side of the thermarest- a bit longer so it might help stabilize it more. Then on the top side, I made a little case, with the opening on the bottom, to stuff pillow stuffing into--things like fleece or a shirt or whatever.

http://www.lssu.edu/faculty/bhronek/outdoors/pillowproject.jpg

I tried it this weekend, and it worked pretty well. I didn't have to chase down my pillow periodically, as I usually do. At this point, I don't really want to modify it much, but I may after I use it a little more. Anyway, if anyone else has the same problem, I thought you might want to give this a shot. (I recommend "delicate lavender" for sweet dreams. ;) )

Beth

That's a good idea. I wonder though, if you could make the pillowcase part at the end of the sleeve so your pillow isn't taking up pad length. Your body weight would help keep the sleeve on the pad.

Try placing a small piece of the mesh which stops the creep on hallway carpets between your mat and your pillow. I know it works on floors of silnylon tents. Sorry, but I forgot what it's called.

Rocket Jones, I thought about that, bit if I did it that way, I'd lose that 1 inch height that my pad already gave me, and I usually put my pack under my lower legs and feet anyway, so I wasn't really losing any pad length. I had thought previously about putting some straps or ribbon around my pillow (stuff sack), and putting the ends of the straps under my sleeping pad, I just never tried it. It'd certainly be easy, and inexpensive if you used ribbon. The Wrap-it Idea struck a chord with me, so I figured I'd give it a try. You, of course, may do it any way you want. :-)

Tinker, I like that idea. I wish I'd heard it before. On the other hand, I do like my little gizmo, but that's a great idea.

Ooh, neat invention, Beth. It looks pretty lightweight, too!

nice thinking,i use a thermarest pillow so i dont need anything to keep it from moving. its like as long as my head and slightly wider than it is long so there isnt anywhere for it to go.

If its not too cold, i usually keep my clothes bag in the hood of my sleeping bag. that seems to work wonders :D. And if it is cold, i just wear a hat :D

In the hood! Now why didn't I think of that? Nice tip, thanks.

Yep, in the hood, like a small neck roll.

Beth,
good idea with the modified pillow case.
in the past, a pillow has caused me trouble.

my fix was: if my crocks are dry I put them under my sleeping pad, I put opposite of how anyone would wear them, this gives a nice rise for my head. not as good a a full size pillow but... if i get up in the night i know where my crocks are.

Sandy B

I sewed a pillow pocket into my sleeping bag.

Alligator thats a great ideah too.....did you find that sewing a piece of cloth to your sleeping bag affected the waterproofing/condensation factor that would creep inside the bag...does that ? make sense

Alligator thats a great ideah too.....did you find that sewing a piece of cloth to your sleeping bag affected the waterproofing/condensation factor that would creep inside the bag...does that ? make senseI think I still drool about the same.

I'm a stomach sleeper but can sleep on my side sometimes. So I tend to keep my sleeping bag hood fairly open in general. I'm not sure it affects it one way or the other. Having used a pillow under the bag in the past, the amount of moisture for me is strongly dependent on how cinched up the hood is. If you are not chasing your pillow, you are less likely to be getting your face out of the bag. Even in my winter bag I tend to keep the chest baffle tight but the top string loose and simply wear a hat and maybe a neck gaitor. I get a little freaked out when I have the bag cinched too tight, particularly if I gotta go:eek:.