Pillow issues

[Chaco Taco]

My biggest problem with pillows is that I need my neck to stay straight if I have any chance of sleeping. I always used my clothes bag, but in an effort to go lighter I decided to try different UL options. The Antigravity Flex air pillow, ($4.00) is not even worth the purchase. I figured Id try them out just to see and yea, the pillow deflated within 30 minutes out of the bag. I then decided to use my thermarest pillow, but Im modifying it. This pillow is not stiff enough to support my head. I cut it in half and safety pinned the half I was going to use and stuffed some of the prolite material from the other side to make it more firm and am sewing the seam back in to make it half the size, but more firm. Seems Ill cut about 4-5 ounces as well. I don't really want to spend money on a new pillow when I like my old one but want it to take up less space but be the answer to my main problem with sleeping on the trail.

[mikec]

Having a good pillow on the trail has always been a problem for me. I've tried inflatable pillows, wine bladders, wadded up clothes. I'm currently using a pillow case stuffed with everything that is in my pack that is soft. That seems to work OK but I'm willing to try alternatives.

[daddytwosticks]

Same problem here with pillows. As I try and go lighter and lighter, I have few spare clothes to use as a pillow. I'm looking for solutions also. :)

[Chaco Taco]

The pillow I just stitched together out of an old thermarest pillow seems to work great and compresses down. Just need to make sure the seam is stitched up nice and tight

[VT-Mike]

I've had similar pillow issues, sore neck equals bad hike. Use to do extra clothes in a stuff sack, until one night I needed all my clothes to stay warm. Then did inflatable, too noisy. So comfort has trumped weight. I now use an Equinox Armidillo pillow. Super comfy and in compression sack gets small.

[Spokes]

I consider this the most vexing problem facing the long distance hiker- finding the ultimate lightweight, packable, and comfortable pillow.

[Chaco Taco]

I consider this the most vexing problem facing the long distance hiker- finding the ultimate lightweight, packable, and comfortable pillow.
Seriously. Neck Pain is no bueno when having to carry a pack. It can do some serious damage.

[aaronthebugbuffet]

I use some clothes tied up inside a bandana. It's pretty hard but it keeps my head up.

I've had the problem that has already been mentioned though about wearing the clothes for warmth and not having anything to use for stuffing. In really warm weather when maybe my only pieces of extra clothes are a wind shirt or rain jacket, adequate stuffing is also an issue.

[MaggieMaeFlower]

I have a HMG cuben stuff sack pillow and I really like it. I put my down jacket inside and it isn't too firm or too soft. It is reversible so your face is against fleece and it's only 1.2 oz! The price, at $25.00, isn't bad for cuben. I hope this helps someone.

http://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/cuben-stuff-sack-pillow.html

[hopetofinish]

I use a Cocoon Air Core. 13" X 17", 3.7 oz. Well worth the weight in my book. Sleep much better! It can be inflated either soft or firm and has fleece side. Packs down to about 3" X 4" in it's own stuff sack.

[Oaks]

I'm thinking of stealing the airline pillow when I fly back to the States. They seem small, light, and compressable.

[rocketsocks]

Or you could just spend the $5 bucks and insure your hike wont be around a the jail house court yard.;)

[MaggieMaeFlower]

I was a flight attendant for 3 years. You'll have a better chance of getting giardia from that pillow than most water sources. :P The stuffing is cheap and will compress after a short time and get very lumpy. And don't quote me, but when people take those pillows and blankets, I feel they are doing a public service because then we actually have to replace them with clean new ones. :)

[Spokes]

I was a flight attendant for 3 years. You'll have a better chance of getting giardia from that pillow than most water sources. .......

Perhaps but I say never, ever eat out of someones food bag. When I hear another hiker say "Hey, you want some GORP?" I run the other way.

[bflorac]

After trying all sorts of air filled and stuff sack pillows I finally settled on a Thermarest Pillow (Med). At 11.5oz it is a lot of weight but as far as I'm concerned, worth it. It does take a lot of room in the pack and it looks like the Equinox Armidillo could be as good with slightly less weight and less space.

[MuddyWaters]

Ive found I like a good pillow. The best are bulky. Inflatables generally ..suck. They are all heavier than I would like.

I just stick with clothes in a mesh stuffsak, not sil or cuben. Put shoes under back of sleeping pad to tilt up works OK too on back when wearing all clothing.

[Tinker]

My friend, Mariano, brought a liner from a Dunkin' Donuts Box O' Joe on our last trip and said it worked fine as a pillow. Has tight sealing screw on cap, and could be put inside something soft like fleece or polyester top.

[Tinker]

btw: Since it was very dry in Pa. he used the Box O' Joe liner for extra camp water on our last night. Worked perfectly.

[rocketsocks]

btw: Since it was very dry in Pa. he used the Box O' Joe liner for extra camp water on our last night. Worked perfectly.cool,you could even rig a solar heater for a water pillow.:D

[TyTy]

I use the Exped Pillow pump in conjunction with my Exped Synmat UL. It weights about 5.5 oz but it doubles as my pump so oh well. It's not like any old inflatable pillow because it has foam inside of it which is I guess what expands to pull the air in when you use it as a pump. When I am done pumping up my mattress I put an extra 1/2 breath in the pillow, cap it off and whalla.

[Chaco Taco]

Problem solved. I got the Exped UL pillow and its perfect

[Chaco Taco]

After trying all sorts of air filled and stuff sack pillows I finally settled on a Thermarest Pillow (Med). At 11.5oz it is a lot of weight but as far as I'm concerned, worth it. It does take a lot of room in the pack and it looks like the Equinox Armidillo could be as good with slightly less weight and less space.
Did the same but my head sinks down into the pillow and causes my C1-C5 to bend too much.

[Kitecop]

I think the only true pillow solution is using a hammock. Then ur head is naturally higher than ur body and the flimsy flat pillows are actually enough support. My hammock pillow is much smaller and lighter than my ground pillow.

[slovakiasteph]

I'm a side sleeper and haven't really found a good solution. I tried a stuff sack with clothes, but it was pretty hard. Woke up with a stiff neck. Also have a backpacking pillow, but it weighs 9 oz and takes up quite a bit of space. I haven't taken it with me because of that, but it does look comfy.

[Gimme5Minutes]

Havent tried this yet but i was thinking about doing the ol' stuff a pillow case with your clothes but with a slight twist...cut out a peice of foam (i like somewhat firm and flat pillows) to go on the top of the clothes inside the pillow case. Giving it a little more body and a uniform /kooshy surface. Plus it could be easily compressed by putting in on the bottom of the pack.

[Rocket Jones]

I've been experimenting lately and think I've found a solution that works for me as a side sleeper. I cut a small piece of 2" firm foam, then set my Exped Inflatable pillow on top of that. It gives me enough height to be comfortable and is half the weight of my old Thermarest compressible pillow (and I keep trimming a little here and there to see just how small I can make the foam and still be usable). I originally thought I'd need a pillowcase or straps to keep everything from sliding around, but after several nights on it with my NeoAir Trekker I don't think I'll need it.

[Sara]

I have a HMG cuben stuff sack pillow and I really like it. I put my down jacket inside and it isn't too firm or too soft. It is reversible so your face is against fleece and it's only 1.2 oz! The price, at $25.00, isn't bad for cuben. I hope this helps someone.


I recommend the very similar Zpacks Pillow Dry Bag.
It is 1.65 oz, 5.6 Liters and $25.95

I stuff my quilt into it during the daytime.

http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/dry_bags.shtml