Hi all,

So I've been trying out different inflatable pillows and find both the Kooka bay one and the flexair single chamber uncomfortable. Mostly I think this is due to my head wanting to roll off of the thing and never quite coming to a comfy spot, even when underinflated. I was thinking of trying to find a way to maybe bond the very middle of the fabric of the kooka bay to the other side, giving it a middle dimple. I was thinking that if small enough it shouldn't make my head hit the group (the surrounding area would hopefully prevent that.

A) Is this a dumb idea?

B) Do you have any other ideas?

C) What would be a decent way to go about this? I'm thinking just a small puncture in the middle and some seam sealer inside and out.

I have tried the Mike C. ziplocks and a stuff sack method to no avail

Edited by Trout on 07/19/2011 15:48:12 MDT.

Is it heat bondable polyurethane coated nylon? Maybe you could heat seal a dot into the middle?

I wish I knew more about fabrics to help address that question, but all I know is that it looks like http://kookabay.com/pillows.html and the manufacturer doesn't say.

I assume you've tried under-inflating the pillow and that doesn't work for you?

had the same issue, underinflating the pillow a bit and a hair tie tight around the center makes an ok quick fix

What about Mike's tip of using several gallon zip top bags partially inflated?

I've had the same problem, head rolls around, I just use a foam pillow but it's kind of heavy - about 5 ounces

Sorry I should have said that yes, I under inflate and it's still pretty bad to me. I've also tried Mike C's advice with the zip locks but it wasn't something I did well with.

I'll have to try the hair tie thing! I think that might actually be pretty perfect to sort of sandwich me in the middle

Edited by Trout on 07/19/2011 15:40:34 MDT.

Hair tie is pretty stinkin' ingenious. I've been putting the flexair pillow inside my $5 Walmart fleece pillow with memory foam (tossed the plastic air pillow that came in it). Trying a WM pillow next.

Edited by skinewmexico on 07/19/2011 16:23:44 MDT.

Yep, I second the hair tie. That's lighter than my idea: I had planned to try a light cable tie for the same thing. If the hair tie works it would be more comfortable and probably lighter.

Well, I can tell you my experiences so far. Tuesday I tried out the Kooka Bay pillow, woke up a bit unhappy due to tons of sweat. Last night I tried the hair tie idea with a buff wrapped around the pillow, which was a LOT better. I eventually got another hair tie (yes, I bought a pack for backpacking) and made a sort of tiny middle, big sides, type pillow, that was pretty killer! WAY better than a single pocket inflatable and I didn't wake up all sweaty gross

Edited by Trout on 07/21/2011 09:02:35 MDT.

Have you tried these?

http://www.ultralightdesigns.com/products/sleeping/flexAirPillow.html

I used one last weekend in Mammoth for four days and it worked great. I just under inflate it some and my head stays on no problem. Well worth the extra .5 oz

oops, sorry I didn't see that you mentioned this type of pillow in your original post. Disregard my post.

Edited by erikdtz on 07/21/2011 12:46:00 MDT.