Side sleeper pillow options

[dcdennis]

I am a side sleeper. I have finally found a pad that I am happy with (neoAir xLite Large) but I have yet found the perfect pillow solution. I have tried the 'stuff sack full of clothes', the 'fleece-lined inside out stuff sack full of clothes', and the inflatable pillow and none really work well. Are there any other creative pillow solutions that people have found? Or is this just one of those areas where youve just gotta make the best of what youve got?

[FiftyNine]

Puffy jacket in stuff sack inside a buff.
The jacket will compress into one of the pockets but it's to compressed that way to use as a pillow. So I use a bigger stuff sack and with the buff over it, it works well. I'm also a side sleeper.


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[Don H]

Clothes bag stuffed with as many clothes needed for comfort.

[DuneElliot]

I am also a side/front sleeper that really needs a good pillow. I picked up a Walmart travel pillow and zippered case...very light but bulky...but it fits perfectly at the bottom of my Arc Haul and I am certainly not lacking for space despite having a bulkier pillow.

[Traveler]

Sounds like you have experimented with the usual pillow solutions, but more information may be needed. It may not be the pillow per se, it can be something inherent with the pillow, placement, or something else going on that the pillow then becomes uncomfortable as a result. Some questions:

Do you place the pillow on the pad or directly on the ground/floor?
Does the pillow slide around easily on the pad/ground/floor and wakes you up?
Pillow doesn't raise your head enough or too much?
Does the pillow also support the neck?
Is the pillow surface rough or causes skin to sweat when in contact for any amount of time?
Is the pillow "loud" to the ear that is on the pillow itself?
Does the pillow have an odor?
Do you try to sleep before your body says its ready?
Do you eat immediately before trying to sleep?
Do night sounds when you are alone cause you to not sleep or wake/worry?
Have you tried using your camp pillow in your home bed to acclimate to it for a while?

These are small issues, but one or more could be the key to solution. They are all solvable once you identify the issue. Sometimes something as simple as a soft cotton tee over the pillow will do the trick. Sleep is important, if not THE important element of a long distance hike, carrying a few extra ounces of sleep comfort like a Tee shirt is well worth the effort.

[johnnybgood]

Have you tried partially inflating your pillow so it allows for a cushion that still supports your head.
A hiking buddy swears by the Sea to Summit Aero Premium pillow but it is expensive.

I use a Therm -a -Rest regular camp pillow and it does fine

[johnnybgood]

Edit : Delete double post .

[T-Rx]

Have you tried partially inflating your pillow so it allows for a cushion that still supports your head.
A hiking buddy swears by the Sea to Summit Aero Premium pillow but it is expensive.

I use a Therm -a -Rest regular camp pillow and it does fine

I am also a side sleeper. The Sea to Summit Aero Premium pillow is one of the best purchases I made during my 2015 hike. It is expensive but a good nights sleep is well worth it! Also, the pillow works much better for me and doesn't slide around as much when it is only partially inflated.

[G-FOURce]

I have the S2S Aeros pillow and I like it. If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten the premium pillow

[cmoulder]

I agree with Traveler — nobody will be able to help unless you tell us what pillows you've tried and identify specifically what it is you don't like about them.

[Leo L.]

Usually I stuff most if not all of my day clothes into the stuff sack of the Thermarest.
This gives me a more or less reasonable pillow, depending on my skill how to stuff the sack, and if I've forgot some items in the clothes pockets.

The perfect pillow I get when I use my down jacket, which, if not wearing it in the evening, I'd take out of ist own small stuff sack and put it into the Thermarest sack.
Gives a really perfect cushion and size, plus, the down jacket is warmed up from my body in the morning and first thing I'd do is put on my warm down jacket - so cozy.

[Uriah]

https://www.amazon.com/Ultralight-Ba...r+light+pillow

$20 and 2.4 ounces for a deep sleep. Prop up as necessary, with a sit-pad or some clothing.

[Greenlight]

A trick I've learned, quite an easy hack, when my "pinned" arm starts complaining, is to put that arm behind me. It relieves the pressure, and actually puts my head down a little bit lower, so that my pillow requires less loft. YMMV. Also, and maybe not what you're looking for, but I've found as a hammock hanger, I do just fine on my back. A good diagonal lay hammock eliminates a lot of the pressure points created by sleeping on the ground, and is similar to being cradled. No troubles for me drifting off to sleep in my hammock, though in a bed, I'm a side sleeper too, for the most part.

I am a side sleeper. I have finally found a pad that I am happy with (neoAir xLite Large) but I have yet found the perfect pillow solution. I have tried the 'stuff sack full of clothes', the 'fleece-lined inside out stuff sack full of clothes', and the inflatable pillow and none really work well. Are there any other creative pillow solutions that people have found? Or is this just one of those areas where youve just gotta make the best of what youve got?

[MisterQ]

I tried everything until I hit on the right solution for me- Empty pack, StS inflatable pillow on top of that, and small foam camp pillow on top of that. The inflatable alone did not prop my head up enough. The pillow takes up a lot of room but it's the only way I sleep well.

[Lyle]

Shoes at my head, toes pointing toward me. Stuff sack stuffed with whatever you have cradled on top of the toes of the shoes. This holds the stuff sack in place, plus adds an extra little bit of height to it. Works pretty well for me.

[tflaris]

Sea to Summit inflatable pillow


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[HooKooDooKu]

I've done fine with either the 'Exped Air Pillow UL' and the 'Sea to Summit Aeros' as a side sleeper.

I don't inflate the pillow fully, and I prefer (and currently use) the Aeros because of the cloth feel.

[saltysack]

Shoes at my head, toes pointing toward me. Stuff sack stuffed with whatever you have cradled on top of the toes of the shoes. This holds the stuff sack in place, plus adds an extra little bit of height to it. Works pretty well for me.

Tried this last trip...shoes helped considerably...added a 2l evernew dirty water bag w lil air covered by a buff worked well.


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[carouselambra]

I use a dirty water bag partially inflated and then wrapped with my rain pants or jacket inside of a stuff sack.

[JC13]

We used the Nemo Fillo, has the inflatable portion, a section like a sleeve that lets you give it more loft and the sleep surface is 1/2" or so memory foam. Problem is that it is heavy at 9.x oz, opting for something lighter this year but the weight might be worth it to you.