10 Best Camping Pillows (Review) In 2021

Features To Look For In Camping Pillows

A good camping pillow can make the difference between a memorably uncomfortable camping trip and one that you remember for all the right reasons. They’re small, light, typically inexpensive and should be on any camper or backpacker’s shopping list. When you’re out there looking for a camping pillow keep the following features in mind.

Size - Some people like their head lifted a good way off the sleep surface. Others like just a couple of inches of lift. You need to know which type of person you are before you buy a particular camping pillow because some camp pillows are quite lofty. If you aren’t sure how much loft might be right for you consider an inflatable camping pillow that provides you some leeway regarding how high up your head sits. Also, if you are heading into the backcountry the packed size of the pillow is crucial. You’ll need to have a camping pillow that either compresses down to almost nothing or an air pillow so you can remove the air before storing it away.

Shape - This is mostly a matter of preference. Some folks, particularly those who tend to sleep on their back, like a pillow that wraps around their head on both sides. Others prefer a more traditional pillow shape that mimics what they have in their bed. The fact is camping pillows today come in an array of different sizes and shapes so there is bound to be one that appeals to your particular tastes and needs. Just keep in mind that bulky pillows and mummy bags don’t really go together.

Material - There are 2 types of material considerations in play when talking about pillows: the shell material and the fill material. Camping pillow shells are normally fashioned from nylon, polyester, fleece, cotton or some similar type of material. They’re designed to be soft and non-irritating to your skin. As for what’s inside, the best camping pillows will use down as their fill. This is incredibly warm and soft and provides extreme compressibility. Others will use a urethane sponge fill that is very comfortable and more affordable and a few use memory foam. Of course, if you want to be sure your camping pillow will disappear effectively into your backpack get an inflatable one. You can set the firmness to whatever level you like and it won’t take up any space in your pack.

Comfort - One person’s comfort is another person’s discomfort. So this is another feature that is a personal call on the part of the buyer. Just keep in mind that it can be difficult to judge the comfort level of any camping pillow without first putting it on the ground and laying your head on it. Obviously, you can’t do that with pillows you find online. But they probably won’t allow you to ‘test drive’ the pillow in a brick and mortar camping store either. So the best thing to do is head for the reviews section and see what people are saying about the comfort level of the pillow you’re interested in.

Weight - Weight is not really a consideration if you’re going to be camping with the car nearby. However, if you plan on hiking into the wild for a week it will become a major consideration. When you venture into the backcountry you have to bring your entire life with you in your pack. As such you have to make sure you don’t load your pack up with relative luxuries like a big camping pillow. But not to fear: there are many inflatable pillows available that weigh almost nothing and won’t take up any space in your pack.

Ease of Use - Spending time in the great outdoors is both exhilarating and labor intensive. The last thing you want is to unnecessarily add to the workload. So it’s important to consider how easy the pillow is to pack, carry, set up and store away. You also don’t want a hiking pillow that’s going to be rendered useless if it gets wet. So if you plan on hiking into the backcountry and you have reason to think rain is in the forecast you might want to leave the down pillow at home and take a self-inflating camping pillow.

Packed Size - Any camping pillow worthy of the title will compress to some degree. But, as we mentioned earlier, if your tent is 20 feet from your car whether or not you have a compressible pillow is not really an issue. Packed size considerations only really come into play when you are heading away from civilization and space within the backpack is at a premium.

Support - Support is a measure of the firmness of the pillow. This is actually one of the factors that determines a pillow’s comfort. There is no set standard for support since everyone has different ideas of what’s comfortable and what works for them. If you like to have the option of adjusting the amount of support the camping pillow provides consider getting an inflatable pillow.

Camping Pillow FAQ

Q: Why do I need a camping pillow?

A: Our guess would be that folks who ask this question haven’t spent much time in the outdoors trying to get a good night’s sleep. The fact is, while there are lots of great sleeping bags out there for just about every person and climate, and there are an equally large number of camping pads to put under those sleeping bags to make the cold hard ground less of an issue, the pillow is the one thing usually missing from the outdoor sleeping equation. If you haven’t tried sleeping outdoors before try putting your sleeping bag on the floor tonight and sleeping in it without a pillow. Chances are you’ll understand before the night is over why having a camping pillow is so important.

Q: What is the difference between camping and backpacking pillows?

A: While there are some points of overlap (backpackers certainly need to set up camp and campers often use backpacks) camping and backpacking are 2 different activities that utilize 2 different sets of gear. Camping is usually defined as a leisurely activity that takes place in public or private campgrounds with the car in close proximity to the campsite. Often times right in the campsite. Because of this size and weight considerations are not as important when it comes to camping gear. Backpacking, on the other hand, requires that you take everything you will need to survive with you into the wild. There are no cars to be found. Typically no roads for miles in any direction. Because you need to carry everything you need to be conscious of what everything weighs and how much space it takes up in your backpack. This includes pillows. If you are going to take a hiking pillow with you on a backpacking trip it should compress down to almost nothing and weigh only a few ounces.

Q: Do these pillows cause allergy problems?

A: The overwhelming majority of camping pillows will cause no allergic reactions. Especially those that are blow up pillows. Stuffed pillows, however, may be on some people’s allergy radar because there are those who exhibit a sensitivity to down and other materials used as fill. Most pillow shells - whether blow up or stuffed - are fashioned from either cotton, fleece, nylon, polyester or similar materials. If you are concerned about possible allergic reactions always check both the shell and fill materials before making your purchase.

Q: How to wash a Camping Pillow?

A: Before you go ahead and toss your camping pillow in the washing machine check the label first. Some manufacturers give very specific instructions about how to wash their pillows and throwing it in the washing machine may, in fact, ruin it. If the pillow says it is machine washable use cold water, the gentle cycle, and a mild detergent. For inflatable pillows, you don’t have to clean anything but the shell and that can be done with a clean cloth dipped in a little warm water containing a bit of mild detergent. Rub the surface with the cloth until clean then wring the cloth out, run it under the faucet to remove the detergent, then soak it again in clean water and wipe down the shell to remove any detergent residue. With stuffed pillows try not to wash them too much. As frequent washing is likely to affect the loft on even the best camping pillows.