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As much as I’ve dedicated myself to ultralight backpacking, the one “non-essential” I’ll never give up is my camping pillow. I’ve spent plenty of trips sleeping on a greasy stuff sack filled with extra layers of clothing as my pillow, but after a long day on the trail, I prefer to blow two breaths into a backpacking pillow and call it a night. And unless you’re counting every gram in your pack, camping and backpacking pillows are so compact and light that I’d recommend them to anybody spending the night in a tent.
Camping pillows come in a wide range of weights, styles, and sizes, so they can be used for everything from backpacking trips, to road trips, to front-country camping. My favorite camp pillows inflate with just two or three breaths, weigh less than three ounces, and can be adjusted for different fill levels (I over-inflate for reading and then reduce the inflation for sleeping). I’ve used every pillow on this list and can personally recommend them all, regardless of what kind of camping trip you have planned.
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This is my top pick for a lot of reasons, but mostly because the extra weight of the plush cover, added baffles, and flat surface that feels more supportive than some of the springier air pillows, are 100 percent worth it. For such a lightweight pillow, the Aeros Premium has plenty of features like a knit polyester exterior, a contoured TPU air bladder that mimics a standard pillow, and a proprietary valve for maximum air fill customizing.
It also has more structure than the most minimal pillows out there, with actual internal baffles that help support the head and neck whether you’re sleeping on your side, stomach, or back. It has held up really well for more than four seasons of use backpacking, traveling, and car camping, too. Deflating takes just a few seconds, and I can inflate the standard size with just two breaths. This pillow is available in two sizes, but I’ve been very happy with the regular model.
The Details: 13.4 x 9.4 x 4.3 inches | 2.8 ounces | Brushed 50D polyester and synthetic fill
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The two-ounce weight and 15-inch width of this pillow is aligned with the lightest pillows on the market and has a killer size-to-weight ratio. It’s also offered in a large size (2.8 ounces and 18 inches wide), though the regular size works just fine for me for backpacking. It has a non-slip material that keeps it from sliding around on my sleeping pad or sleeping bag, and it’s actually so tiny it gets lost in my bag when I’m digging through my gear at camp — a problem solved by tucking it into the bottom of my sleeping bag in the morning before I pack up.
The Details: 15 x 11 x 4 inches | 2 ounces | Polyester
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This half-foam-half-inflatable pillow is one of my must-have items for road trips, and it has a permanent place in my car-camping setup. It doesn’t roll up to the tiny size of air-filled pillows, but it does lie flat thanks to the memory-foam panel that provides a supportive backing when you inflate the front half. I usually leave this flat and roll it up inside my car-camping mattress, then have it immediately available when I unroll my mattress at night. It has a plush cover with a little bit of density, and the memory foam support feels close to a home pillow without the bulk of packing a non-inflatable. If that doesn’t convince you, it comes with its own stuff sack and has a removable, washable cover.
The Details: 17 x 11 x 4 inches | 9.2 ounces | Polyester or microsuede and memory foam
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The Aeros Down Pillow has a customizable inflation valve that drops micro amounts of air with just a light push, then seals immediately when released. It has a layer of ultralight down feathers for a top cushion that feels as close to my at-home pillows as anything I’ve used outdoors, and the standard size still weighs just 2.5 ounces. Sea to Summit saves a bit of weight by using the same technical polyester materials they use in their ultralight Spark Sleeping Bags, so it’s lightweight and durable, but a little more slippery than the brushed polyester face fabric of most other camping pillows.
The Details: 13.4 x 9.4 x 4.7 inches | 2.5 ounces | Polyester and down fill
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This is a hardy, machine-washable pillow good for front-country camping, road trips, and air travel.
This classic pillow is really nice for front-country camping, overnighters, and even use in hostels. With a plush-yet-supportive synthetic fill and a soft polyester surface, this is my pick for base camping and extended trips. This is one of the original camping pillows, and I have plenty of outdoorsy friends who have had this in their front-country tent and hammock setup for years. It compresses down into its own pocket for easy stashing, and the whole pillow can be tossed in the washing machine when you get home. It has a layer of insulation over the fill that provides more structure and support, and it comes in fun patterns and designs.
The Details: 18 x 13 x 6 inches | 10.1 ounces | Polyester and synthetic fill
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Somewhat outside the normal design for camping pillows is this travel-pillow-inspired inflatable model from Outdoor Vitals. It’s just as comfortable for traveling as the most expensive travel-specific pillows, and it also packs down so minuscule I have to keep it in my pocket or else I may lose it. I like the horseshoe shape for unconventional camping systems like hammocks, where an ultralight standard pillow might be prone to flying out of the hammock without a mummy bag or tent walls to keep it in place. Just blow a few breaths of air in, seal it with the flat-lying valve, wedge it around your neck, and it’s not going anywhere. The travel-pillow shape isn’t for everyone, but for hammock camping and airline travel, it’s a great (and affordable) option.
The Details: 16 x 10 inches | 1.1 ounces | 30D stretch nylon
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This ultralight camp pillow from Cocoon is a great budget option, retailing for less than $30, that still holds up in quality when it comes to weight, structure, and air-retention durability. It’s also designed specifically to fit in the hood of a mummy bag, which is really nice since some of the more rectangular pillows don’t wedge inside the hoods as well and can create drafts and slide around. I also love the two-sided material options: one side has a soft microfiber for cold nights, and the other is a nylon with a smoother, cooling surface.
The Details: 11 x 15 inches | 3.8 ounces | Polyester, nylon, and synthetic fill
Tips for Buying a Camping Pillow
Prioritize Comfort
Unlike traditional pillows, camping pillows are designed to be lightweight and compact, but I’m a firm believer that this shouldn’t come at the expense of comfort. Choose a pillow that offers adequate neck and head support, with materials that balance firmness with a nice surface material. Almost all of the pillows on this list are highly adjustable for inflation levels, which will help as well. Lastly, consider the pillow’s size and shape to match your sleeping style, breathable materials, and make sure the pillow has either a washable cover or can be fully hand washed.
Think About your Sleep Setup
You’ll want to make sure your pillow matches your sleep system, especially for backpacking. A mummy bag with a hood will work best with a rounded-top pillow whereas open-top sleeping bags or quilts will be fine with more rectangular, larger pillows. Sleeping pad and sleeping bag materials are also slippery, and paired with a slippery pillow can make for hours of annoying sliding around. Sea to Summit makes compatible sleeping pad and pillow materials to help prevent this, and you can also look for brushed pillow materials to help everything stay in place.
Consider Portability
Your type of outing will directly impact the size of the pillow you get, and whether it has actual fill or is fully inflatable. For backpacking, prioritize ultra-lightweight and compact options, such as inflatable models, which can be easily stowed in a backpack without adding notable weight or bulk. For car camping, weight and space are usually less of a concern so you’ll have more flexibility and can opt for larger, more plush pillows that offer maximum comfort and more support.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why is a backpacking pillow worth it?
I’ve always found that backpacking pillows significantly enhance my quality of sleep on the trail, which improves my energy levels on the whole trip. These pillows are designed to be lightweight and compact, fitting easily into your backpack without taking up space or adding excessive weight. Despite their portability, they do offer superior support and comfort compared to makeshift alternatives like rolled-up clothes, helping to prevent neck and back pain. Additionally, many backpacking pillows are made from durable, quick-drying, and moisture-wicking materials, so they’ll last multiple seasons and can be washed and air dried.
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How do you keep a pillow in place while camping?
The slippery combo of pillow + sleeping bag + sleeping pad can be a pain. I don’t have a perfect solution, but consider your whole sleep system. Some sleeping pads come with built-in pillow pockets or straps where you can secure your pillow, or you can use Velcro strips or elastic bands to attach the pillow to the pad. For mummy bags, you can place the pillow inside the hood to keep it from shifting around during the night, and if you’re having a ton of trouble, try using clothing or extra gear to create a makeshift nest around the pillow. Finally, look for non-slip materials or grip dots on the bottom to help the pillow stay in place on the sleeping pad or tent floor.
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Are inflatable pillows good for camping?
Inflatable pillows are great for camping. They are highly compressible, making them extremely lightweight and easy to pack, and they take up minimal space in your pack. Most also have the option for varying the amount of air inside, allowing you to customize the support level to your preference for a comfortable night’s sleep, and even the lightest models are made from robust materials built specifically to be puncture resistant for long seasons out on the trail.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Maggie Slepian is an avid hiker, backpacker, and bikepacker with more than a decade of professional gear testing experience. She has backpacked thousands of miles, and her hiking and backpacking has taken her from winter peak bagging and coastal backpacking to extended trips in the desert and high alpine. Maggie has spent hundreds of nights in a tent both front-country and backcountry, and tested a variety of camping pillows from the most minimalist ultralight to the plush car-camping models.
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