It is important to be very comfortable at night so that we can have more energy in the morning. This is one of the reasons why a lot of people are getting hammock pillows. Sleeping is just a lot easier if you have a good pillow. Unfortunately, the pillow has to be compact, lightweight, and comfortable so we cannot bring our normal pillows while backpacking. I have listed some amazing backpacking pillows that I know of. The outdoor pillows below are constructed with superior quality materials which is why I am confident you will be happy with one of them.
Best Hammock Pillows – Quick Chart
Hammock Pillows | Weight | Material | Dimensions | Compact |
1. Therm-a-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow | 9 oz | Brushed polyester cover | 14″ x 18″ x 4″ | Yes, 14″ x 5″ x 6″ compressed |
2. Klymit Pillow X Inflatable Camp & Travel Pillow | 1.95 oz | 30D polyester top with a 75D polyester bottom | 15″ x 11″ x 4″ | Yes, 4.5″ x 2.5″ x 1″ |
3. TETON Sports ComfortLite Self Inflating Pillow | 11.2 oz | ComforTech microfiber | 46 x 25 x 10 cm | Yes, 33 x 9 x 9 cm |
4. Trekology Ultralight Inflating Travel/Camping Pillow | 2.75 oz | elastic TPU fabric | 16″ x 12″ x 4″ | Yes, 5″ x 2″ |
5. Sea To Summit Aeros Pillow Premium | 2.8 oz | 50D polyester knit | 14″ x 10″ x 5″ | Yes |
6. ALPS Mountaineering MicroFiber Camp Pillow | 8 oz | Soft outer Microfiber fabric | 10″ x 20″ | Yes, 6.5″ x 9″ |
7. Cocoon Air45, Core Pillow Ultralight | 4 oz | Shell100% Nylon Front & 100% Polyster Back Filling100% Polyester Bladder100% TPU | 13″ x 17″ | Yes, 2.5″ x 2.5″ x 5.25″ |
8. REDCAMP Outdoor Camping Pillow | 8 oz | Flannel top and a polyester bottom | 12″ x 20″ | Yes, 10″ x 6″ |
9. Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Travel Pillow | 9 oz | Polyester / Memory Foam | 12″ x 16″ | |
10. NEMO Fillo Inflatable Travel Pillow | 9 oz | Microsuede covers, striped covers are jersey knit | 10.5″ x 17″ | Yes, 4″ x 6″ x 6″ |
How To Choose A Hammock Pillow
Types Of Outdoor Pillows
Foam Pillows
Foam pillows are usually made out of memory foam. This type of pillow is very comfortable and feels good to snuggle with. This type of pillow is not very compact though and not ideal for backpacking if you are packing a lot of items. Foam pillows can be inflatable pillows as well with the top having a layer of foam.
Inflatable Pillows
Inflatable pillows are pillows where you put air inside it to inflate it like a balloon. The pillow when inflated becomes very comfortable and soft. This type of pillow is great for the back of the head and in between legs. These pillows are very compact and lightweight too.
Travel Pillows
Travel pillows are often called neck pillows. They can be made out of memory foam, or just a soft fabric. These pillows can be inflatable as well. You basically wrap this pillow around your neck to allow your body to be more comfortable and to sleep better.
Built In Pillows
Built-in pillows are pillows that are connected to the outdoor mats or sleeping pads. There are inflatable sleeping pads with a pillow on the top or head part. You can just use these inflatable beds and not get a pillow anymore.
Outdoor Activity Considerations
Car Camping / RV camping
If you are car camping or RV camping, you do not need to worry about the weight of the gear that you are going to bring. You can bring different kinds of pillows. You can bring memory foam pillows and you can even bring pillows that you use in your own home.
Backpacking
If you are going backpacking, you will need to carry a lot of other gear with you. You will have a limited amount of backpack space and you cannot carry a lot of weight. Most people would bring an inflatable pillow if they are backpacking. However, if you are not hiking very far, you can also bring bulkier pillows like memory foam and other similar items.
Minimalist Backpacking
Minimalist backpackers do not bring a pillow. They are very concerned with the amount of weight that they are going to carry. Minimalist backpackers try to carry as little weight as possible. However, if a minimalist would carry a pillow, it would be an inflatable pillow. These pillows are very lightweight and very compact.
Pillow Features To Think About
Weight Capacity
If you are getting an inflatable pillow, it will often have a weight capacity. It cannot handle a lot of weight. You can put your head on top of it but if someone heavy sits on it, it may get destroyed. Now this is something to think about if you have a habit of sitting on pillows. This is how a lot of inflatable pillows get destroyed.
Cover
A lot of pillows would have a soft cover also that is usually made out of silk or microfiber. These covers provide softness and comfort. So rather than hugging a very hard, and smooth surface, your skin will feel soft, warm and very comfortable texture.
Inner Filling
Some outdoor pillows would have an inner filling just like the pillows you have at home. These fillings can either be down or synthetic. Down fillings are made out of feathers from an animal. Down provides a lot of warmth and insulation but they lose that insulation when they get wet. Synthetic are often made out of polyester fibers. This is very affordable and provide a lot of warmth and comfort as well.
Backpacking Features That We Should Consider
Lightweight
There are a lot of pillows to choose from. We can get comfortable foam pillows, travel pillows, airplane pillows, inflatable pillows and so on. However, we need to consider the weight of the item we are going to get. The lighter the weight, the better. It is because we really don’t want to become too tired when backpacking. We want to have a lot of energy to have fun, enjoy the outdoors and socialize.
Inflation / Setup
The inflation of the pillow is important. You don’t want to spend too much effort and energy on inflation. The more effort you put, the more energy you will waste. You may even get annoyed or frustrated. It is important that the pillow that you are getting is simple to inflate and deflate so that it will not give you any stress while in the outdoors.
Comfort
The pillow has to be comfortable. If it is not comfortable, you are going to have lots of problems. This is the simple fact. You want a pillow to be able to sleep more comfortably. If the pillow is not comfortable, you are going to get frustrated, annoyed and not be able to sleep like intended to do. Testing your pillow if it is comfortable while you are at home is a good idea. This way, you can return it if you want to.
Durable
The durability of the pillow matters a lot since some pillows burst, break, gets holes and so on rather easily. It is important to test your pillow and make sure it can handle a lot of weight. You don’t want it to burst while in the wilderness if it is inflatable. There are a lot of pillows that are fragile and a lot of pillows that are pretty good and durable.
Compact
You have a limited amount of space in your backpack. Make sure that the pillow is packable, foldable or compact. This way, you can save a lot of space in your backpack. Remember that your backpack has a finite amount of room and you are bringing other backpacking gear like sleeping bags, hammocks, cookware and so on.
Best Hammock Pillows
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1. Therm-a-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow
Weight: 9 oz
Material: Brushed polyester cover
Dimensions: 14 x 18 x 4in.
Compact: Yes, 14 x 5 x 6in. compressed
Feature Summary: Foam filling expands into a 4-inch thick pillow for head, neck, and back support, compact design packs into a backpack, duffle, suitcase, or tote, brushed polyester cover is soft against skin for comfort
Short Review: The fact remains that this hammock pillow is very good. This is a compressible travel pillow with soft foam filling that packs down small for road trips. This features foam filling that expands into a 4-inch thick pillow for head, neck, and back support in tents. This is very light which is great for backpacking but can be used for airplanes, rv, camping and other outdoor activities as well. The cover is made out of brushed polyester which is very soft on the skin. It is very comfortable and helps people fall asleep rather well. The item is easy to clean because it is machine washable. Made in the USA also.
2. Klymit Pillow X Inflatable Camp & Travel Pillow
Weight: 1.95 oz
Material: 30D polyester top with a 75D polyester bottom
Dimensions: 15 x 11 x 4 Inches
Compact: Yes, 4.5” x 2.5”x 1”
Feature Summary: Supportive and ultralight, durable and incredibly comfortable, perfect inflatable pillow for camping, backpacking, hunting, and traveling, features an innovative self centering x design to keep your head perfectly oriented on the pillow
Short Review: This Klymit pillow is one of the best that I know of. Klymit is pretty famous for their camping pads. I have a couple of them, they are easy to inflate and deflate. They also have this pillow which has the same design and technology. The pillow is very comfortable just don’t expect comfort the same as the pillow you sleep at home. The inside is basically air and not feathers, cotton and so on. Having said that, this is pretty good. I like it. It is lightweight and very compact so it is one of the best to have for backpacking purposes. A very versatile item that helps people fall asleep while in a backpacking trip.
3. TETON Sports ComfortLite Self Inflating Pillow
Weight: 11.2 oz
Material: ComforTech microfiber
Dimensions: 46x25x10 cm
Compact: Yes, 33x9x9 cm
Feature Summary: Wake up comfortably even in the car or airplane, microfiber top feels soft against your face, grey non-slip bottom keeps pillow in place, open the twist valve and watch the pillow fill itself up
Short Review: This pillow is amongst the finest that you can get. I know that this high quality item surpassed my expectations and I know it will surpass yours as well. Teton makes a lot of good outdoors items from backpacks, to tents, to clothes and so on. This is a pretty good pillow that is pretty comfortable to use. The microfiber top feels good on the face and skin. This is also self-inflatable so no need to huff and puff or put a lot of effort into the inflation. The price is pretty decent and very lightweight also which is great for backpacking or other outdoor activities.
4. Trekology Ultralight Inflating Travel/Camping Pillow
Weight: 2.75 oz
Material: elastic TPU fabric
Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 4in.
Compact: Yes, 5x2in.
Feature Summary: Inflates to a comfortable pillow for head or lumbar support, improved ergonomic design with enhanced neck support for a restful night’s sleep, enhanced design with added layers for head support that is constructed from highly durable elastic tpu fabric that boasts water resistance
Short Review: This pillow for camping is among the finest that I have ever tried. I received this pillow a long time ago and now I am already in love with this. Made out of highly durable elastic TPU fabric that offers a lot of durability and comfort as well. This is water resistant so even if it rains when you are on a backpacking trip, this won’t absorb water. Slip resistant that can help avoid head injuries and keep it in place for a comfortable night sleep. Easy to inflate also, just need around 3-5 breaths and should be good. Pretty good pillow for the outdoors.
5. Sea To Summit Aeros Pillow Premium
Weight: 2.8 oz
Material: 50D polyester knit
Dimensions: 14 x 10 x 5 in.
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Inflate pillow in just a couple of breaths with the multi-functional valve. Brushed 50d polyester knit is very soft and durable, curved internal baffles create contours that cradle your head, synthetic fill between pillow case and tpu bladder increases comfort and wicks away perspiration
Short Review: This outstanding outdoor pillow should help you fall asleep. So I was hesitant to try this item to start with however this works very well. Sea to summit is a pretty good company and they have a lot of outdoor items that they sell. This is made out of brushed 50D polyester knit is very soft and durable. The material makes this pretty comfortable to use also. Easy to inflate as well, just a couple of breaths and it is fully inflated. It is actually pretty big once fully inflated then very compact once deflated. I love this item overall.
Check Out My Other Reviews – backpacking food kits – backpacking flatware – backpacking face masks – backpacking blankets – backpacking hammocks with bug net |
6. ALPS Mountaineering MicroFiber Camp Pillow
Weight: 8 oz
Material: Soft outer Microfiber fabric
Dimensions: 10″ x 20″
Compact: Yes, 6.5″ x 9″
Feature Summary: Soft outer microfiber fabric allows you to sleep comfortably through the night, filled with our techloft insulation, making the pillow warm and soft to lay on, standard stuff sack included so you can easily bring extra comfort anywhere you go
Short Review: There are many hammock pillows that I like however this is one of my favorites. The amazing compact and space saving construction is very useful for people who love the outdoors. The outside is made out of soft Microfiber fabric that feels good on the skin which in turn makes this pillow very comfortable. The pillow is also available in multiple sizes and in two colors. So you have a little bit of room when it comes to choosing the design that you want. A nice backpacking pillow that is pretty comfortable.
7. Cocoon Air45, Core Pillow Ultralight
Weight: 4 oz
Material: Shell: 100% Nylon Front & 100% Polyster Back Filling: 100% Polyester Bladder: 100% TPU
Dimensions: 13″x17″
Compact: Yes, 2.5 x 2.5 x 5.25 in
Feature Summary: Ultralight and compact travel pillow, air-core inflatable design, shaped for use with a sleeping bag hood or hammock, gives you on the spot comfort with a synthetic insulating layer over an inflatable air-core
Short Review: If you do your homework, you can certainly realize that lots of people love this pillow for camping. This is made out of 100% polyester which makes it very durable and puncture resistant. A good inflatable pillow that compresses into a very small item. Great for backpacking, travel, airport, and other outdoor activities. The item is pretty lightweight also which makes it very easy to carry for backpacking purposes. A good pillow that will help people fall asleep.
8. REDCAMP Outdoor Camping Pillow
Weight: 8 oz
Material: Flannel top and a polyester bottom
Dimensions: 12 x 20in.
Compact: Yes, 10 x 6in.
Feature Summary: Comfort and luxury of our bestselling pillow anywhere you go, travel camping size pillow provides complete support and comfort, you can put in your backpack with a storage bag and you can’t feel this weight from your back
Short Review: A very important factor I know without a doubt is that this pillow is incredibly good. Redcamp is a pretty good company and they have nice outdoor items that they are selling. This is a pretty comfortable pillow. It features Omega II fill that allows this pillow to be durable, and comfortable at the same time. A good pillow to have for camping, backpacking, hunting and other outdoor activities. It compresses also so we can save some space in our backpacks. A good pillow that feels good to put my head in and feels very comfortable.
9. Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Travel Pillow
Weight: 9 oz
Material: Polyester / Memory Foam
Dimensions: 12 x 16 inches
Compact:
Feature Summary: Hammock pillow will give you a great night’s sleep wherever you lay your head, made with cushioned memory foam wrapped in a soft, micro-suede cover, ultimate support and comfort, designed for hassle-free cleaning
Short Review: Simply by going through the positive customer testimonials, it is easy to see that this pillow is incredible. Comes with a waterproof stuff sack that protects the pillow when not in use. The pillow is not water resistant because it is made out of cushioned memory foam wrapped in a soft, micro-suede cover but the materials make this one of the most comfortable pillows that there is. It is very very comfortable. The pillow is easy to clean as well because it is machine washable and can be dried using the dryer. A very good camping pillow that helps people fall asleep easily. Another drawback is the it is not very compressible. It is compact but other items are more compressible than this one. Like I said, this is pillow offers superior comfort but sacrifices other features for it.
10. NEMO Fillo Inflatable Travel Pillow
Weight: 9 oz
Material: Microsuede covers, striped covers are jersey knit
Dimensions: 10.5″x17″
Compact: Yes, 4 x 6 x 6in.
Feature Summary: Amazing company that makes a lot of items, fresh new fabrics and an ergonomic valve, I-beam baffled air cell, packs down to about the size of a potato
Short Review: This is an amazing pillow for camping. This item comes in various colors and extremely comfortable. Space saving design is amazing. This features baffled air cell, thick luxury foam, a soft, washable microsuede or jersey cover which makes it very comfortable and durable. The pillow is very durable, very compact while also being very comfortable. A good pillow that works well for backpacking, camping, travel and other outdoor activities. Packs into a very very small size which allows us to save space in our backpacks. A pretty good pillow but a little bit expensive as well.
Check Out My Other Reviews – backpacking chairs – backpacking wire saws – camping tent fans – hiking gaiters – travel scissor |
These pillows are great! Very comfortable.