Best Backpacking Pillows of 2024

JUMP TO:  SEA TO SUMMIT AEROS PREMIUM | COCOON HYPERLIGHT AIR-CORE | ZPACKS PILLOW DRY BAG | HMG STUFF SACK PILLOW | THERM-A-REST COMPRESSIBLE | NEMO FILLO | BUYING ADVICE | COMMON QUESTIONS

Author: Sam Brilleman | Updated: Jan 27, 2024
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. Learn more.

The Short Version

The Long Version

Modern materials and improvements in design mean that backpacking gear just seems to get lighter year after year. Lighter gear translates into a lighter pack, which translates into a more enjoyable and safe experience on the trail.

But as the weight of your pack shrinks, it becomes tempting to add a few luxuries. Luxuries that remind you of home. Luxuries that you might not have previously thought possible.

And one of those luxuries is a backpacking pillow.

 
 

On any multi-day backpacking trip, having a pillow with you can change the whole experience.

Sure, you can scrunch your jacket up into a ball and stuff it under your sleeping bag hood. Or you can get those stinky hiking socks and t-shirt and ram them into your dry sack and lay your head against the sticky waterproof fabric. But none of that even comes close to the bliss of having a proper, good quality, backpacking pillow to rest your head upon.

Trust me, a backpacking pillow can be the difference between just making it through the night, and sleeping peacefully through the night.

And backpacking pillows don’t need to add a ton of weight to your pack. Many are ultralight and tiny when packed away. And with a variety of backpacking pillows now available you can dial in the perfect compromise between weight and comfort.

Keen to check out some of our other gear-fiend related articles? How about the following:

 

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Most people are relatively experienced with pillows, owing to the fact that they sleep on one each night at home. You probably know what you like in a pillow — and I’m not here to tell you otherwise!

However there are a few quirks unique to backpacking pillows that you might want to consider before purchasing one. Our buying advice at the bottom of the page aims to point you in the right direction.

 

DIMENSIONS:
13.4 x 9.4 x 4.3 in / 34 x 24 x 11 cm (Regular)
16.8 x 11.8 x 5.1 in / 42 x 30 x 13 cm (Large)
23.5 x 16 x 5.5 in / 60 x 41 x 14 cm (Deluxe)

WEIGHT:
2.7 oz / 77 grams (Regular)
4.0 oz / 114 grams (Large)
6.9 oz / 196 g (Deluxe)

FILL TYPE: Air (with a synthetic fill layer between the pillowcase and air bladder)

PRICE: $$

PROS: Lightweight, Comfortable

CONS: May not be high enough for all side sleepers, Can be punctured

At Ultimate Gear Lists, the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow is our favourite backpacking pillow. This pillow is epic! We take it on all our multi-day adventures, regardless of the expected temps, location, or the remainder of our sleep system (e.g. quilt, sleeping bag, etc).

We believe the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow provides the perfect compromise between weight and comfort. In the regular size — which is the size we’d recommend for all backpackers — this pillow weighs in at just 2.8 ounces (79 grams). That is amazingly light for how much comfort this pillow manages to pack in!

The brushed polyester pillowcase is soft to the touch, and much more comfortable than the material of a sleeping bag hood, dry sack, or other make-shift pillow. Couple that with the thin layer of synthetic fill located between the air bladder and the pillowcase and — for it’s weight — this is one plush ride.

The polyester material is also comfortable in sweaty or damp conditions. And although after a long trip the top layer may start to smell a bit funky — this can’t be blamed on the pillow! — and it’s easy to just hand wash this pillow with a little soap and air dry it. The thin pillowcase and thin synthetic mean that it dries in no time.

 

If you want to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth, here is Sea to Summit describing the Aeros Premium Pillow range for themselves.

 

The Aeros Premium uses a multi-function valve for inflation / deflation. This works well and allows you to inflate the pillow using one or two big breaths and deflate the pillow in about one second. The valve also allows you to dial in the exact amount of air pressure you desire. Personally we find it most comfortable when the pillow is not quite fully inflated since this provides more stability when laying our head down.

We believe the Aeros Premium is suitable for both back and side sleepers. If you are a side sleeper who has broad shoulders and/or prefers a thick pillow then you may want to consider the large size, or look elsewhere, but for most backpackers the regular size is fine. If you are exclusively a stomach sleeper, then this probably isn’t the pillow for you — but then again — perhaps no pillow is.

Although there are the occasional reports of faulty valves or easy punctures, these seem rare, and we’ve had absolutely no issues with our Aeros Premium. After several years of use, this pillow is still going strong. In any case, Sea to Summit offer a lifetime warranty and seem reliable at following through with any warranty claims.

Included with the purchase of this pillow is a lightweight tiny stuff sack with a drawstring. Personally, we find it easier to just deflate the pillow and throw it into the same dry sack where we store our sleeping bag.

DIMENSIONS:
15 x 11 in / 38 x 28 cm

WEIGHT:
2.7 oz / 77 grams

FILL TYPE: Air (with a synthetic fill layer between the pillowcase and air bladder)

PRICE: $$

PROS: Lightweight

CONS: Ripstop nylon pillowcase isn’t the best, Can be punctured

The Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core Pillow is also an inflatable pillow with a thin polyester fill between the air bladder and the pillow.

It is therefore similar in design to the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium described above. Both the Sea to Summit and Cocoon offerings are similar in terms of dimensions and weight. Specifically, the dimensions of this Cocoon pillow are placed somewhere between the regular and large sizes for the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium.

While the baffles on the Aeros Premium are curved in an arc to try and cradle your shoulders and head, the design of the Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core is more rectangular. The pillowcase on the Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core is made from a ripstop nylon. We tend to find to find this fabric a little bit slippery, and not nearly as comfortable as the softer polyester fabric found on the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium range. We also find the inflation / deflation valve superior on the Aeros Premium, but this is only a small gripe.

If you are using Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core with a sleeping bag that has a hood, then placing the pillow inside the hood should keep everything in place during the night. However if you opt for a backpacking quilt or a hoodless sleeping bag, like we tend to, then you may find the Cocoon Hyperlight slips off your sleeping pad frequently during the night. Although, the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium also suffers this fate! Albeit to a lesser degree.

Overall, we think the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow has the edge over the Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core Pillow, owing to it’s softer face fabric and better shaped baffles leading to a more comfortable ride. But the Cocoon Hyperlight is definitely the front-line competitor and holds a close second place due to it’s ideal balance of weight and comfort.

Best Stuff Sack Pillow: ZPACKS PILLOW DRY BAG

DIMENSIONS (when laid flat, unrolled):
18.8 x 10.0 in / 48 x 25 cm (Medium)
19.8 x 11.3 in / 50 x 29 cm (Medium-Plus)

WEIGHT:
1.4 oz / 40 grams (Medium)
1.8 oz / 51 grams (Medium-Plus)

FILL TYPE: None (fill it with clothes)

PRICE: $$

PROS: Ultralight, Pillow can’t be punctured

CONS: Not that comfortable, No spare clothes = No pillow

The Zpacks Pillow Dry Bag is a great solution to a common problem. Most backpackers have — at one time or another — filled a stuff sack with clothes and used that as their cushion-like pillow. But if you’ve done that, you’ll likely know how uncomfortable the sticky, sweaty, drool-non-absorbing, feel of water resistant nylon is.

So Zpacks thought… why not take our medium-sized dry sack — supplied free with all sleeping bag purchases — and line the inside of it with soft micro fleece.

The outcome? Every backpackers dream. Namely, a multi-functional piece of kit! By day, this dry sack is used to store your sleeping bag, and by night it becomes a luxury addition to your overall sleep system. Simply turn the dry sack inside out, fill it with whatever spare clothes you have available, roll the top down, clip it, and you’re good to go.

Since you are likely to be carrying a dry sack for your sleeping bag anyway (or at least you should be!), the weight penalty for this pillow really only amounts to 0.7 ounces (20 grams). In other words, the weight of the piece of fleece.

The micro fleece used on this pillow is soft, and we find it comfortable against our skin. The manufacturing standard is also high. The fleece is sewn in with awesome craftsmanship, and all seams are taped so that the dry sack remains fully waterproof. Even though we have been pulling our sleeping bag in and out of this dry bag for several years with little care or patience, the fleece lining hasn’t ever torn or separated at the seams.

It seems like this Zpacks Pillow Dry Bag will go the distance. There are downsides though. First, this pillow is only ever going to be as comfortable as the clothes you stuff inside it. The upside of course is that most clothes are soft. Nonetheless, the pillow can sometimes get lumpy or lack support. Which brings us to the next downside…

You need to have spare clothes!

In colder climates we will often sleep with all of our hiking clothes on (except for maybe our stinky hiking socks and potentially muddy trousers). This is common practice amongst lightweight backpackers since it means you don’t need to carry unnecessary quantities of spare clothes. But if you don’t have spare clothes, you don’t have a pillow.

Lastly, the Zpacks Pillow Dry Bag is relatively expensive. If you are in the market for a cuben fiber dry sack anyway (they are lighter than sil-nylon dry sacks and just as waterproof) or if you are purchasing a sleeping bag from Zpacks, then the extra few dollars to upgrade to a fleece-lined Zpacks Pillow Dry Bag is a bargain and — we believe — a worthwhile investment.

But, if you aren’t planning on purchasing a cuben fiber dry sack anytime soon, then the cost for what amounts to a thin layer of fleece may be too much to swallow for some.

Runner-Up Stuff Sack Pillow: HMG STUFF SACK PILLOW

DIMENSIONS (when laid flat): 17 x 12 in / 43 x 30 cm 

WEIGHT: 1.7 oz / 48 grams 

FILL TYPE: None (fill it with clothes)

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Ultralight, Pillow can’t be punctured

CONS: Not that comfortable, No spare clothes = No pillow

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Sack Pillow is based on the same design principle as the Zpacks Pillow Dry Bag described above.

In short, this a cuben fiber dry sack with a fleece lining sewn along one half of the inside. Flip it inside out, stuff it with clothes, zip it back up, and you’re good to go.

As with all HMG gear, this is a high quality piece of kit made with care and offered with a one year warranty against defects or workmanship (this is the same warranty as offered by Zpacks).

The key difference between the HMG and Zpacks offerings is the type of closure used. The HMG Pillow Stuff Sack uses a water-resistant #5 YKK zipper located about half way down the stuff sack, whereas the Zpacks option uses a typical dry sack style roll top with a clip closure.

 

This quick vid from HMG gives you an idea of the relative sizes and design of their Stuff Sack Pillows.

 

This means that the HMG stuff sack is going to be less suitable for storing your sleeping bag, and more suitable for storing clothes or something similar. This may make more sense for a pillow stuff sack, since you are going to be stuffing clothes into it during the night anyway, but really it’s all much of a muchness, and it just comes down to personal preference as to how you want to arrange and pack your gear.

Best Compressible Pillow: THERM-A-REST COMPRESSIBLE

DIMENSIONS:
16 x 12 x 4 in / 41 x 30 x 10 cm (Small)
18 x 14 x 4 in / 46 x 36 x 10 cm (Medium)

WEIGHT:
7 oz / 200 grams (Small)
9 oz / 260 grams (Medium)

FILL TYPE: Compressible foam (upcycled from manufacturing their sleeping pads!)

PRICE: $$

PROS: Super comfortable, Inexpensive

CONS: Bulky and heavy relative to lightweight options

The Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow is one of the most comfortable backpacking pillows you’ll find. This is owing to it’s use of compressible foam — to provide support — rather than any inflatable chamber.

The brushed polyester used for the face fabric is soft against the skin. The combination of the soft face fabric and the soft compressible foam results in a pillow that is not only comfortable, but also quiet to sleep on — something that many other backpacking pillows can’t claim!

The obvious downside of using foam as opposed to an inflatable chamber is that the packed size of the pillow is larger… and by that, I mean much larger. You can expect a 5-10x increase in packed volume relative to some of the ultralight inflatable pillows.

Having said that, it isn’t at all infeasible to fit the Therm-a-Rest Compressible in your backpack. The packed volume of the small size is somewhere just over two liters. So if you have a reasonable volume backpack, or are just heading on a weekender, then it might be fine. On the other hand, for ultralight backpackers with a smaller volume backpack the packed size might be an issue.

This short video from Therm-a-Rest gives you a feel for the slightly unique method of rolling up the Compressible Pillow:

 

This short video from Therm-a-Rest gives you a feel for the slightly unique method of rolling up the Compressible Pillow.

 

This pillow boasts 4 inches of vertical support. But due to the compressible foam, much of that evaporates once you place your head on it. In it’s natural form it is more suited to front and back sleepers. But as a side sleeper myself, I’ve found that you can fold the pillow in half over itself (even with the small size) and get enough support to comfortably sleep on your side.

This makes it pretty flexible — being one of the few backpacking pillows that can easily transition between front to side sleeping without too much hassle. Most inflatable pillows require plenty of air for side sleeping, and then need to be partially deflated for front sleeping — but you can’t do that transition in the middle of the night. Whereas switching the Therm-a-Rest Compressible between flat and folded is easy to do and means you have a comfortable and supportive pillow no matter how much you toss and turn during the night.

At 7 ounces, and with a slightly larger packed size, the Therm-a-Rest Compressible might be too much of a stretch for some. But if you are willing to accept the slight weight and volume penalty, it is a super comfortable, quiet, and inexpensive pillow to take backpacking — perfect for the weekend backpacker or those who value a good night’s sleep.

Best Luxury Pillow: NEMO FILLO

DIMENSIONS: 16.9 x 10.6 x 4 in / 43 x 27 cm x 10 cm

WEIGHT: 9.2 oz / 260 grams

FILL TYPE: 3 inch air chamber + 1 inch memory foam

PRICE: $$

PROS: Very comfortable

CONS: Heavy and bulky

Truth be told, the NEMO Fillo Pillow doesn’t exactly belong on a list of best backpacking pillows. It’s not that this isn’t a comfortable pillow. Hell — without a doubt — it is the most comfortable pillow on this list.

No, rather, the NEMO Fillo doesn’t belong on this list because most rational backpackers wouldn’t be willing to carry a 9 ounce (260 gram) pillow in their pack during the day. But then again, can you really put a price on a good night’s sleep?

Although the NEMO Fillo doesn’t exactly fall into the ultralight, lightweight, or “even a little bit fucking light” category, there is no denying that this pillow is very comfortable for an inflatable hybrid. If you are a backpacker who prioritises comfort over weight, then this pillow may be just what you were looking for. It is also a great choice for travelling, car camping, bike touring, or kayaking trips.

The NEMO Fillo consists of an inflatable chamber that allows you to choose exactly how much air pressure you want inside the pillow. That means that it is suitable for front, back or side sleepers, since you can dial in the perfect height for your sleeping style.

The inflatable chamber is then covered with a one inch thick layer of memory foam. This is the real joy of this pillow, since it leads to a much softer, more dreamy and more stable ride than the other (lightweight) inflatables on our list like the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium. With the NEMO Fillo we find it much less likely for our noggin to roll off during the night.

The microsuede pillow case is a joy to sleep on. And the pillow packs down into an integrated stuff sack about the size of a one litre water bottle.

If you want to ensure a good night’s sleep on your next outdoor adventure, then the NEMO Fillo Pillow is your ticket.

BUYING ADVICE FOR BACKPACKING PILLOWS

Type of Backpacking Pillows

There are four main types of backpacking pillows: stuff sack pillows, inflatable pillows, compressible pillows, and hybrid pillows.

INFLATABLE PILLOWS: Inflatable pillows use an air sack as the main form of support. The upside is that they are generally quite lightweight and packable, and provide a reasonable amount of comfort. This makes them a great choice for backpacking. The downside is that they can lack stability and support — they are kind of like sleeping on a balloon. The other downside is they can be punctured.

 

The Sea To Summit Aeros Ultralight is an example of an inflatable pillow. It is essentially a contoured balloon, with no additional padding at all.

 

COMPRESSIBLE PILLOWS: Compressible pillows use some form of compressible fiber to provide support. For example, synthetic foam or down feathers. Compressible pillows are the most similar to what you are used to at home, and that means they are generally quite comfortable. The downside is that they are bulky and heavy, and in most cases not really suitable for ultralight backpacking. But if you prioritize comfort over weight, they might be the right choice.

 

The Therm-A-Rest Compressible Pillow is an example of a compressible pillow. There is no air sack at all, just upcycled foam (off cuts from Therm-A-Rest sleeping pads). It is a rare example of a compressible pillow that isn’t excessively heavy.

 

HYBRID PILLOWS: Hybrid pillows attempt to maximise the upsides of the inflatable and compressible categories, whilst minimising their downsides. Hybrid pillows use an inflatable air sack for the main support, whilst having a thin layer of compressible material against your face to increase comfort. This reduces the “balloon” sensation, which is a real positive. But it also makes these pillows slightly heavier and less packable than pure inflatable pillows.

Manufacturers use varying combinations to try and find the ideal balance. For instance, both the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium and NEMO Fillo Backpacking Pillow use a hybrid design, but they have dramatically different weights. The former uses a small amount of down feathers under the face fabric, whilst the latter uses a one inch thick piece of memory foam.

 

The Sea to Summit Aeros Premium is an example of hybrid design. It uses an inflatable air sack for the main support, but has a thin layer of down feathers under the face fabric to improve the comfort.

 

STUFF SACK PILLOWS: Stuff sack pillows are, well, not really pillows at all. Rather, they are sacks for you to stuff your own clothing or cushioning into. They often consist of a soft face fabric, such as polyester fleece. They are lightweight, packable, and can’t be punctured. They are also multi-purpose too — since they double as a stuff sack in which to store gear when you aren’t sleeping!

The downside is that they are only as comfortable as the items you stuff inside them. They work best when they are filled with something like an insulated down jacket, since the down is soft and compressible, but they will also work when filled with other clothing albeit maybe not as comfortable. Of course, in cold weather you might be wearing all your clothes to bed, which effectively means no pillow at all!

 

The HMG Stuff Sack Pillow is a water resistant stuff sack by day, whilst at night it can be turned inside out and filled with clothes to make a pillow — with the attached fleece providing a soft face fabric.

 

Face Fabrics

On a backpacking pillow the face fabric is effectively the pillowcase, and therefore the choice of face fabric can dramatically affect how comfortable the pillow is. A variety of face fabrics are used on backpacking pillows with the most common being polyester and nylon.

POLYESTER: The most comfortable face fabric is generally some form of brushed polyester or fleece. This material is soft against the skin, and will absorb some degree of moisture — so your drool or sweat won’t make the pillow unbearable during the night!

NYLON: A less comfortable alternative is ripstop nylon — it is more slippery and/or sticky than brushed polyester and therefore a sub-optimal choice for those who drool during the night, who — let’s admit — is probably most of us. It goes without saying that we also recommend avoiding even slipperier fabrics, e.g. silk or rayon.

Size & Support

This one is a bit of a balancing act. The smaller and thinner the pillow, the lighter and more packable it will be. But a pillow that is too narrow or too thin will provide inadequate support and might lead to you slipping off it constantly during the night.

WIDTH: In terms of pillow width, a backpacking pillow around 13-15 (33-38 cm) inches wide should be adequate for most people. However, if you are a particularly restless sleeper, then consider sizing up. Most pillows designed for backpacking will be relatively similar in width. Whereas pillows targeted at general camping use (e.g. car camping) will be larger since the weight penalty isn’t as important.

HEIGHT: In terms of pillow height, front sleepers should be able to get away with a thinner pillow and, therefore, a stuff sack pillow might be a reasonable choice for a front sleeper. Side sleepers (and some back sleepers) will likely require more support, and should look at thicker hybrid inflatables like the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium and Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core.

 

There isn’t too much variation in surface area, but a bit of difference in shape. From left to right: 1) Therm-A-Rest Compressible Pillow, 2) Sea to Summit Aeros Premium, 3) HMG Stuff Sack Pillow, 4) Zpacks Pillow Dry Bag.

 

Stability

Backpacking pillows can differ dramatically in their stability. The main culprit is an inflatable component, which can induce an unstable “balloon” feel to the pillow. For most people this isn’t too significant an issue, and usually letting a bit of air out of the pillow will reduce the problem.

But if you find an unstable pillow irritating and enough to ruin your sleep, then aim for a stuff sack pillow (if weight is a concern) or a compressible pillow (is weight isn’t a concern).

Trail weight

There is no perfect recipe for lightweight backpacking. Each backpacker needs to decide for themselves what sacrifices they are willing to make to minimize the weight on their back — obviously the lightest pillow is no pillow at all. But a comfortable night’s sleep is paramount when you are out hiking and many people require a pillow to sleep comfortably (I know I do!).

MINIMIZING WEIGHT: Stuff sack pillows are the lightest option — usually weighing around 1.2 to 1.8 ounces. But even better, you may be able to use the stuff sack for storing items during the day. Suppose you use the stuff sack to store your sleeping bag during the day, then the marginal weight of carrying a pillow is essentially zero. But stuff sack pillows do make some sacrifices in terms of comfort and support, particularly for side sleepers. Several inflatable options are only slightly heavier than a stuff sack pillow and often provide better support.

MAXIMIZING COMFORT: With the current state of backpacking pillow technologies, 2.8 ounces (i.e. 80 grams) is a reasonable maximum weight for a backpacking pillow if you want to minimize trail weight. If you opt for a backpacking pillow heavier than several ounces then sleep comfortably knowing you are treating yourself to luxury on the trail!

Packed size

Even though many backpacking pillows are similar in width when used for sleeping, they can vary dramatically in size when packed away during the day. This is owing to the different materials used for providing the pillow’s support, with oxygen obviously being the most compressible type of fill for packing away!

STUFF SACK PILLOWS: The packed size for a stuff sack pillow is essentially negligible, especially if you plan to use it for gear storage during the day.

INFLATABLE & HYBRID PILLOWS: The packed size of an inflatable or hybrid backpacking pillow is usually pretty minimal. Particularly if the compressible component in the “hybrid” is a highly compressible material like goose down (and often the down fill is a small component anyhow).

COMPRESSIBLE PILLOWS: Compressible pillows are generally the bulkiest. And the volume penalty can be significant, for e.g. the Therm-A-Rest Compressible Pillow being 5 to 10 times as large in packed volume when compared to some ultralight inflatables. But this is the trade off you will be making for the added comfort!

 

Here you can see the dramatic difference in packed size between the Therm-A-Rest Compressible Pillow and the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium.

 

Noise (and a peaceful night’s sleep)

Some backpacking pillows are painfully noisy — second only to noisy sleeping pads. But not all are like that. If noise is a major concern, then a compressible like the Therm-a-rest Compressible Pillow is about as silent as they get. The use of compressible foam and soft fabrics make it as quiet as your pillow at home.

Stuff sack pillows — particularly those made from waterproof materials like Dyneema Composite Fabrics (DCF) — are likely to be some of the noisiest. As are ultralight options with crinkly nylon base fabrics. If you are a light sleeper, you might want to avoid those.

Durability

Durability shouldn’t be a major consideration if you stick to one of the backpacking pillows reviewed in this article. Inflatable pillows are of course at risk of punctures or leaky valves, but most of the manufacturers should be relatively reliable in providing a replacement or repair if that happens. If you are particularly weary of punctures or leaky valves then stick to a stuff sack pillow or compressible.

Washing Care

Stuff sack pillows, inflatable pillows, and hybrids, are generally all easy to wash. Just use a soap or detergent to hand wash your pillow and then lay it flat on a clothes rack (or something similar) to air dry. If you are a washing an inflatable pillow or hybrid, be sure to close the valve before washing it — and then don’t forget to open the valve again before storing it away for a long time.

If your hybrid or compressible contains down fill, then you might want to take care with the choice of soap or detergent — ideally using something suitable for washing goose down. Also if there is a significant foam component in your hybrid or compressible, then you will want to allow longer for the drying time or check that the manufacturer’s washing instructions even allow for the compressible foam to get wet.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Why bring a backpacking pillow on hiking trips? A backpacking pillow can significantly improve the comfort and quality of your sleep on multi-day trips. The best backpacking pillows are very light and and easy way to improve the overall enjoyment of any backpacking trip.

What types of backpacking pillows are there? Backpacking pillows are divided into four general categories: inflatable compressible, hybrid, and stuff sack pillows. Each has different advantages in comfort, weight, durability, and price; the best choice comes down to your preferences.

How do I clean and maintain my backpacking pillow? Cleaning and maintenance depends on the type of backpacking pillow, but it is generally quite easy. Hand wash the pillow with soap or light detergent and air dry. For inflatable or hybrid pillows, ensure the valve is fully sealed before washing.

What is the best ultralight backpacking pillow? While not really a pillow, stuff sack pillows are the most ultralight option. However, high quality inflatable backpacking pillows are more comfortable, and we find the extra 2 or 3 ounces are usually worth it.

MORE INFORMATION

If you loved this gear review article, then you'll likely love traversing some of our other hiking and backpacking content:

Or check out our entire list of Gear Reviews, Knowledge Base Articles, or Destination Guides for more hiking, backpacking, and outdoors related content.