10 Best Camping Pillows for Comfortable Outdoor Sleep

How to Choose the Best Camping Pillow

The best camping pillow depends heavily on how you camp.

That’s something I’ve learned repeatedly since I started hiking in 2018. Gear that makes perfect sense for one trip can be completely unnecessary on another.

Backpacking vs. Car Camping

This is probably the first question I’d ask.

If you’re carrying your tent, sleeping bag, food, water, and cooking equipment several miles, a 2.9-ounce inflatable pillow looks very different from a 34.6-ounce foam pillow.

For backpacking, look closely at:

• Weight
• Packed dimensions
• Inflation system
• Support
• Durability

For car camping, you can give comfort more importance.

That’s where pillows like the Klymit Drift, HEST Camp Pillow, or Therm-a-Rest Compressible Cinch become more interesting.

If you’re still building your camping setup, our guide to the best camping tents can help you compare shelters for different types of trips.

Think About Your Sleeping Position

Your sleeping position affects the amount of support you need.

Side sleepers generally need more loft because the pillow has to fill the space between the head and shoulder.

Back sleepers often prefer a medium amount of support.

Stomach sleepers usually prefer a flatter pillow because too much height can push the neck into an uncomfortable position.

You don’t have to follow those rules exactly. Your body, sleeping pad, and personal preference matter too.

Inflatable vs. Compressible Pillows

Inflatable

Inflatable pillows are usually the best choice when packed size and weight are important.

The main advantage is obvious: remove the air and they become tiny.

The disadvantage is that an air chamber doesn’t always feel like a traditional pillow.

Compressible

Foam and synthetic-filled pillows generally feel more familiar.

They’re simple to use and don’t need inflation, but they usually take more room in your pack.

Hybrid

Hybrid pillows combine air with foam, down, or another cushioning layer.

For many campers, this is the compromise that makes the most sense.

The NEMO Fillo is a good example: you get the packability of an inflatable system along with foam cushioning.

Check the Weight

A pillow might look small in an online product photo, but the weight can vary dramatically.

The models in this guide range from roughly 2.9 ounces to 34.6 ounces, and the HEST Camp Pillow is even heavier at 51 ounces.

That difference matters.

If you’re driving to a campground, it probably doesn’t.

If you’re hiking 15 miles with everything on your back, it absolutely can.

Don’t Ignore Packability

Weight isn’t the only consideration.

A pillow can be relatively light and still take up an annoying amount of room.

For backpacking, look at the packed size as carefully as the listed weight.

Inflatable and hybrid designs generally have an advantage here.

Consider Cleaning

Outdoor gear gets dirty.

Your pillow can collect sweat, dust, sunscreen, and moisture just like the rest of your sleeping equipment.

A removable and washable pillowcase is therefore more useful than it might sound when you’re reading a product description.

What Makes a Good Camping Pillow?

A good camping pillow doesn’t necessarily need every possible feature.

I’d focus on five things:

Comfort

If you can’t sleep comfortably, the rest of the gear doesn’t matter much.

Support

Your head and neck should feel supported without the pillow pushing your head too far forward.

Weight

More important for backpackers than car campers.

Packability

A good pillow shouldn’t consume a huge portion of your backpack.

Ease of Use

Inflation, deflation, storage, and cleaning should not become a nightly chore.

OutdoorGearLab uses the same five broad categories in its current testing system, weighting comfort at 25%, weight at 20%, packed size at 20%, support at 20%, and ease of use at 15%.

How to Get Better Sleep With a Camping Pillow

Buying one of the best camping pillows is only part of the equation.

Match It With Your Sleeping Pad

Your pillow and sleeping pad work together.

A very thick sleeping pad can change the height your head needs from the pillow. A thin pad can require something different.

Try your complete sleep system together before a major trip if possible.

Adjust the Air

If you’re using an inflatable pillow, don’t assume that completely filling it is automatically the most comfortable setting.

Try slightly less air.

Lie down in your normal sleeping position and adjust it from there.

Keep the Pillow Inside the Tent

A pillow left outside can pick up moisture, dirt, insects, or other debris.

If your pillow has a protective travel cover, use it while transporting the pillow to and from camp.

Test New Gear Before a Long Trip

This is one of the simplest lessons I’ve learned from making outdoor mistakes.

Don’t make the first night of a week-long trip the first time you use a new pillow.

Use it at home or on a short weekend trip first.

You’ll find out whether you like the firmness, size, fabric, and sleeping position before you’re miles from the trailhead.

If you’re putting together a complete hiking kit, our guide on how to choose hiking boots follows the same basic idea: match the gear to the trip rather than buying something simply because it looks impressive.