Im a really warm sleeper and I toss and turn at night so finding a good lightweight pillow has been hard for me. I need one that has very poor thermal properties so it can stay cold. I would also like to find one that can be folded and can slide across my neoair so when I am on my back it can be at half thickness, when I am on my side, it can be at full thickness, and when I sleep on my face, can be pushed off easily. ... And it needs to be very light... (i know I know lol)


Does anyone have any suggestions? Ive tried a few pillows and they just dont cut it. I always ended up just pulling out my pants/shirts to make a quick pillow that I can mold in the night. That is getting old very fast.

These are pretty good:

Flex Air

Light and cheap.

Have you tried a Dual chamber flex air pillows they have here in the BPL shop. I really love how light this pillow is for the comfort it provides:) Another nice bonus is that it folds up nicely and is nearly non exsistent in my pack when stored. You also obviously have the option of how much air you decide to blow inside, which will determine the height of the pillow. I have found that I prefer a slightly under inflated pillow. Have slept like a baby ever since; which has is a blessing after a long day on the trail.

Recently posted a message about this very thing after my last trip saw my usual effort of taking my WM sleeping bag stuff bag and putting anything in it I could find not working to my usual satisfaction. I guess my age may be to blame.

May want to read people's thoughts here:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=22516

Anyway, I've tried the BPL product and it is OK - got nasty after a while and it just didn't have enough loft for me.

I decided to buy the Mont-Bell pillow. Got it the other day and while I haven't used it on the trail I have used it at home and am very, very happy with it. For the weight (2.4 ounces), packability (about 3" X 3"), and height (3.5") it just couldn't be beat. The outside is much softer than I thought as well.

From their site:

http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=33&p_id=1124290

Purchased mine from Camp Saver - no reason - I was buying a Snow Peak titanium mug which was on sale with them so I made one big purchase with some other items. The Pillow can be in short supply at times as I recall someone saying....

Good luck.

Edited by VanGo on 07/24/2009 11:28:19 MDT.

Those pillows dont have a plastic surface do they? I need to sleep on something that feels like cloth. If my cheeks start sticking to the pillow I would freak out.

+1 for the montbell pillow - it has a nice non-plasticy kind of feel.

A lot of people try lots of different things before they settle on something. I've tried the BPL pillows (single and dual chamber) and it didn't work for me. When fully inflated, I don't like the shape (although the dual chamber is better). When slightly deflated, I didn't like sloshing. Others love the things. I like the Montbell pillow more, but I'm still not thrilled with it. I've heard of several ideas, including:

1) Make your own out of foam. Drill holes in it (search to find links on how to do this) to save weight.
2) Sit pad plus some softer foam. A closed cell sit pad raises your head a bit (especially if you are completely under a sleeping pad). A little soft foam on top might not weigh much nor need to do much.
3) A nice cover over bubble pack. There are lots of different types of bubble pack, so you could experiment and find the right type.
4) Propore (e. g. DriDucks) style rain jacket/pants inside a nice cover. The idea here is that you never wear your rain jacket to bed, so you aren't carrying extra weight. The DriDucks sold at BPL seem to be made out of a material that is a bit bulkier than the other propore I've bought. Normally, this is a disadvantage, but for this purpose, I think it would work really well. Granite Gear makes a nice looking pillow sack with fleece on one side. You might just as easily use a stuff sack, with a fleece section covering it and save a few grams (assuming you bring the stuff sack anyway). I think the Granite Gear stuff sack is water proof, which would be a bonus if you put a slightly damp rain jacket in it. The cloth might serve dual purpose (bandanna maybe?).

Using clothing with a BPL pillow is not a bad strategy. If it is not that cold, use the clothing. If it gets so cold you want to wear everything, use the pillow. On a week long trip, you might end up doing both.

John,

I've been looking at a solution for a pillow as well.

The other day I got a package from backcountry.com and in the box were these plastic pillows as package filler.

I almost tossed in trash when I realized how light and then laid down in the floor to try out as a pillow. I knew there had to be something out there. Then found the FlexAir on BPL. I've ordered the larger single chamber as I am predominantly a side sleeper. These do have plastic in them but have a textile surface finish.

I will have surplus if you're interested. Just PM me.

I just broke down and ordered the MontBell. I hope it's worth it!
I was thinking about sacrificing an old down comforter for a MYOG pillow. Has anyone done anything like this?

I just started using the Franzia wine box bladders and find that those are working the best for me for side sleeping and when I try to do it on my back. They can inflate to a good thickness or not and you can also use them to store water.

I'll third the montbell pillow. I have a hard time sleeping without one and this one was just what I needed.

Another vote for the Montbell. Best pillow i've ever used. The 'holes' at the corner for fixing it to Montbell mats can also be used to fix it to any other pad with some shockcord.

I just blow some air into my hydration bladder and wrap it in my mid layer.

--scott

I'm using a Wallyworld inflatable camping pillow with memory foam. Just replaced the vinyl bladder with a Flexair pillow from BPL. But I'm thinking it works just was well with my microfleece pullover in it instead of an air bladder.

I like the Flex Air Dual chambers. You can order a box of 50 for $50 from Graham Medical. Normally I take two and fully inflate one, and maybe only half the inflate the other. I sleep on my side like to sleep with two big pillows under my head at home

I am with Ross
4. Propore (e. g. DriDucks) style rain jacket/pants inside a nice cover. The idea here is that you never wear your rain jacket to bed, so you aren't carrying extra weight.


This is what I have been doing. I am a side sleeper and it works great. You could always tie a bandana around anything that has that plastic feel to it and have a comfortable pillow case next to your skin.

Edited by jollygreen on 07/24/2009 17:03:56 MDT.

I noticed some egg shell foam than came in a package I received and thought it would make a great pillow. I cut an approximately 1' x 1' piece that is about 1.5 inches thick and weighs about 1oz. I fold it half and place a rubber band around it. I put the foam in an unused shirt which is used for a pillow case. It is a great light weight pillow out of recycled materials that is free. It also compresses down to nothing. The pillow has improved my sleep and I would highly recommend it.

Edited by Davidpcvsamoa on 07/25/2009 17:42:34 MDT.

I had to revert from the Montbell back to clothing- in- staff sac after 1 night. I prefer a softer pillow, so underinflate the Montbell, but found it really noisy when I was turning over, and I couldn't get it to stay put (I don't have a Montbell pad so it wasn't toggled to my Neoair. Am still looking for the solution, unless it's to stick with clothes.

Edited by Barbara on 07/27/2009 18:46:43 MDT.

The Thermarest compressible pillow isn't "BPL" necessarily, but a nice luxury. They loft big and fold in half like a real pillow for side sleepers. Little one is 9-10 oz., compresses to 3" diameter x 12"

Recently I made several foam pillows using Roger Caffin's design that you can see in this thread:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=20906

I was able to get one down to 3oz but at this weight so much foam was missing that it provides almost no support and is not comfortable for me at all. Another one I made weighs just under 5oz and is perfect as far as support goes and is 6" high. It's very comfortable and feels like a real pillow.