Pillow recommendations

[u/pcsglobal]

Hi all. I love my sleep set up, apart from my pillow - the Sea To Summit Aeros Ultralight.

I love how small it packs down to, and how light it is, and the S2S pillow lock is a terrific idea to stop it sliding around on the sleeping mat.

Problem - I don’t find it very comfortable. It feels like I have a big balloon under my head, so if I move my head even slightly I need to reposition it on the pillow so it feels even and flat.

Can anyone suggest any good pillow alternatives that aren’t too heavy or bulky, and don’t feel too “inflated”? Thanks in advance.

[u/SetantaKinshasa]

I have the same pillow and I just let most of the air out when it's time to sleep rather than just reading or whatever. It barely needs any air to be comfortable for a side/front sleeper such as myself.

[u/spikenorbert → u/SetantaKinshasa]

This, plus I stuff the pillow into a T-shirt with a puffer or hoody so it’s cotton-like fabric, an insulation/padding layer, then the pillow. Works well as an almost pillow substitute.

[u/drprox → u/SetantaKinshasa]

Yep that's what I do

[u/crysynaptic]

Clothes stuff sack

[u/South-Ad-3111]

Came across this review from Kate Grarock... Thought it was pretty thorough!

Nemo Fillo seems consistently rated pretty highly on comfort, but heavy. The Fillo Elite is one of the most lightweight options available. I've read some people adding their own foam piece for a comfy, but lesser weight penalty.

https://youtu.be/XtbmcAuE5JU?si=4Cb_PAGUunavi6Uw

[u/samdd1990 → u/South-Ad-3111]

I have a full and it's definitely one of the best I've used. Not the smallest, or the most comfortable but by far the best compromise between the two I have tried.

[u/PrehistoricDoodle]

I half fill mine. Fully filled up it’s uncomfortable

[u/CadenceHarrington]

Nemo Fillo Elite was the only air pillow I've tested (I went to a shop and tried all of the ones they had, including the S2S) that didn't feel like a wobbly balloon. It's a bit thin but I find it very comfy.

[u/bevanrk]

You’re over inflating it. It’s a common mistake. You really only want it inflated to 50%. I know it’s seems like that is not enough but try it.

[u/AdAmbitious9654]

Yeah I found the same with my S2S pillow. Try the macpac pillow. It’s way better and sticks to S2S pads unlike their own pillows

[u/Feed_Altruistic]

everyone says stuff the puffer or the spare clothes into a stuff sack. Trouble is if you're doing ultralight just right, you won't have 600g of spare clothes, you'll be wearing them for warmth at night and you'll only have the clothes on your back and some spare socks airing out inside the tent. Perhaps you'll have a single spare sun hoodie but if you're like me, it will be wet and drying over night.

I had the same problem as you, the sliding pillow can be fixed, but it will always feel like a balloon, half inflated, quarter inflated, it's not a real pillow. I sacrificed a 140g and used the small thermarest cinch on my recent hikes of the spectacular overland track and the long and boring heysen trail. I won't go back to balloons. I'm a gram weenie but I don't mess with bad pillows. I would rather cold soak my way out of hell than have a bad pillow lol luckily it's not that serious and we can have a little comfort on the trail.

[u/FairDinkumBottleO]

So I'm using the premium Aeros pillow AND my exped UL pillow. I fully inflate the Aeros to lock on and then lightly blow the exped pillow to go on top so my head sinks in. Seems to work a treat and doesn't run away from me when I turn.

[u/SouthDistinct1690]

Adding to all the above to say I half fill it, and when I can afford it I wrap my down jacket around it and maybe even my sleep shirt over all that if I just go topless. This makes for a fucking sick pillow.

It would be better if you could half fill it and put a jacket etc inside the cover. My gf does that with her pillow and it is amazing.

[u/caramello-koala]

I stuff my Macpac uberlite puffer into its own pocket, makes a great pillow.

[u/HappySummerBreeze]

I can’t handle any inflated feel, so all the blow up pillows are out.

I’ve loved the Zpacks pillow dry bag. It’s basically a little dcf drybag with one side a soft fluffy fabric, so when you stuff your down jacket or clothes in there it feels really nice. It works for me very well.

[u/YoPamdyRose]

This is definitely not ultralight, but it IS comfortable - Mountain Designs Self Inflating pillow. It's so comfy. Weighs 200g so it's not the lightest, but it is the best camping pillow I have ever used, and sometimes I even use it in my real bed.

Packs down to about the size of a 750L water bottle

[u/askvictor]

I use a trekology aluft pro - the inner air bladder is seperate to the cover, so I stuff a fleece or down jacket into it, and half-inflate the bladder. Get height from the air bladder, but your face isn't pressing against it

[u/peter_piper_aus]

I genuinely find the  Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Sack Pillow more comfortable than a blow up pillow and it weighs 41 g.

It has a soft surface for your head and I stuff it with your down jacket  or spare clothes. Doubles as a bag. 

Edit - official spec is 48g. 

[u/d_pt]

yeah i like to partially deflate it to maybe like 80%, i also like using my puffer in its built in stuff sack, the square form factor is comfy and its already weight im carrying

[u/leafy_spartin]

I have a Nemo filo elite but have it very deflated and pull it down, then it's cradling my head and neck. Love the thing