Top Rated Camping Pillows - Adventure Gearheads

Yes, you could just stuff your puffy jacket under your head at night, but why not sleep a little better in the wilderness with these Top-Rated Camping Pillows! It’s true, camping pillows are a luxury item, especially for backpacking trips, but I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how small and packable many of these pillows are.

Our top picks for camping pillows:

1. Therm-a-Rest Compressible Camping Pillow

This is our top choice for camping pillows. It’s made with a soft foam filling that compresses and packs down into a compact roll. The foam filling provides cozy insulation so you can snuggle up and stay warmer at night. (Bonus, the foam is made from an upcycled byproduct of Thermarest mattresses.) When it comes down to it, the inflatable pillows don’t offer the same comfort and warmth.

The super-soft pillow cover doubles as a drawstring compression strap, so you can pack the pillow down into its compressed size. It also comes in four sizes, so you can choose the size and weight that works for your pack and travel plans.

FEATURES

Expandable foam filling
Integrated drawstring and cord for compressing
Machine washable
Small – 12″ x 16″ x 4″ expanded; 13″ x 4″ x 4″ compressed, and weighs 7 oz
Medium – 14″ x 18″ x 4″ expanded; 14″ x 5″ x 6″ compressed, and weighs 9 oz
Large – 16″ x 23″ x 4″ expanded; 16″ x 7″ x 7″ compressed, and weighs 12 oz
XL – 16.5″ x 27″ x 4″ expanded; 18″ x 7″ x 7″ compressed, and weighs 15 oz

Plus, the Thermarest Camping Pillow comes in a bunch of colors and patterns.

Shop Therm-a-Rest Compressible Camping Pillows – Starting at $24.95

2. Nemo Fillo Inflatable Travel & Camping Pillow

The Nemo Fillo camping pillow combines an insulated foam layer with an inflatable option, making it fully adjustable for thickness and firmness. The pillow cover made of polyester is easily removable and washing machine washable, which is ideal after camping trips and traveling.

For a medium-sized pillow (10.5″ x 17″) with foam insulation, it is fairly light at only 9 oz and compresses into a small stuff sack.

FEATURES

Inflatable + foam layer
Machine washable pillow cover
Integrated stuff sack
Packed Size – 5.9″ x 3.9″
Thickness – 4″
Weight – 9 ounces
Size – 10.5″ x 17″

Shop Nemo Fillo Inflatable Travel & Camping Pillow – $44.95

3. Cocoon Sleeping Bag Hood Camping Pillow

This is another combo fill/inflatable camping pillow option, but it is much lighter weight (3.8 ounces). The inflatable core is surrounded by polyester fill, which means you can also adjust for firmness by inflating or deflating the pillow. With a curved and beveled design, the Cocoon Camping Pillow fits snuggling in the hood of your sleeping bag and cradles your head and neck. Love that!

The pillow cover is two-sided with warmer quilted microfiber on one side and micro-ripstop nylon on the other. The cover zips off and can be machine washable. Also, the pillow comes with a little stuff sack for easy portability.

FEATURES

Inflatable + polyester fill
Double-sided, machine washable pillow cover
Stuff sack
Curved designed to fit sleeping bag hood
Weight – 3.8 ounces
Size – 11″ x 15″

Shop Cocoon Sleeping Bag Hood Camping Pillow – $28.95

4. Wise Owl Outfitter Camping Pillow

Wise Owl makes a foam camping pillow in three sizes so you can choose the right size for your purpose. Similar to the Thermarest pillow, it also compresses for easy packing and comes with a small stuff sack. And at five inches thick, it’s a decent thickness, especially for a camping pillow, but that does mean it is a bit heavier.

FEATURES

Compressible Foam
Drawstring Water Resistant Stuff Bag
3 Sizes to Choose From
Small 12″ x 16″ (9 oz in weight)
Medium 14″ x 18″ (11 oz in weight)
Large 16″ x 23″ (13 oz in weight)
Soft microfiber pillowcase
Washable & Dry-able
All Pillows are 4″ Thick
Packs Down: Small 4 1/2″ x 10″, Medium 5 1/2″ x 10″, Large 6″ x 12″

Shop Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Pillow – Starting at $18.99

5. Inflatable Camping Pillows

Ok, there’s a whole other group of camping pillows on the market we should talk about: inflatable pillows. These are great if you are simply looking for the smallest, lightest camping pillow option, but they don’t provide the best comfort or insulation. However, if you’re still willing to give up your puffy jacket at night, combining an inflatable pillow and your jacket for warmth might do just fine!

Inflatable camping pillows: