The 12 Best Camping Pillows That Transform Your Tent Into a Bedroom
Lay your head to rest after a long day of hiking.
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No matter how tired you are after a long day of hiking, biking, climbing, or just hanging by the fire, a good night's rest can be hard to come by when you're camping. There's a lot of emphasis placed on the right sleeping bag and sleeping pad, but your setup is not complete without a camping pillow if you're serious about comfort. Camping pillows are smaller and more packable than your traditional bed pillow, so they can be stuffed into your trunk or backpack without taking up too much space. Like anything else in the outdoor space, options are plentiful. Stop stuffing extra jackets into one another for a makeshift pillow. Instead, rest your head on one of these light and portable backpacking and camping pillows, and you'll finally get a good night's sleep in the outdoors.
Whether you're camping an hour away from home or venturing overseas for a three-week Andean backpacking trip, Therm-a-Rest's pillow is up for the challenge. The huge amount of comfort stuffed into such a small package make this one a favorite extra for nearly all travel.
Tiny in size but super comfortable, the Air Head Lite pillow fits easily in your pocket and weighs just four ounces. The soft, stretchy, knit top fabric is smooth on your face, while the nonslip bottom fabric keeps it in place when you're tossing and turning. From car to flight to bus to backcountry campsite and back, bring this pillow along for the journey.
Klymit's Luxe Pillow is a hybrid pillow that's one part inflatable, one part synthetic fill, and all parts comfort. The secret here is Klymit's X-shaped internal design, which cradles your head and keeps it centered for a better night's rest. Its quilted cover is soft and quiet and can be machine-washed between trips, so you can still bask in the smell of fresh laundry (on the first night), even when home is hundreds of miles away.
If you're a sound sleeper, your camping pillow doesn't need to be anything too fancy. This large pillow inflates to over a foot in width and length. It's made of a strong TPU material that will hold up even if it gets a bit mistreated. Affordable and durable, this is a pillow you'll have for a while.
For car camping, you won't need anything that's made to be lightweight. TETON Sports' camping pillow—which is heavier and larger than many backpacking-angled pillows—will get the job done, with a price that's just right. This option has a foam filling that will keep your head off the hard ground, a stuff sack that lets you toss it in the trunk without picking up dirt, and a soft flannel cover that can be removed for washing when it starts to smell like a campfire.
Just because you want an inflatable pillow does not mean you have to sacrifice comfort—Nemo's Fillo is a near-perfect option for all occasions. The pillow's body inflates easily, while the soft, insulated cover is a dream. At just nine ounces, this pillow is lightweight and packable enough to make the cut when backpacking (though still heavier than some). Meanwhile, it's soft and plush enough to be used at the campground when trunk space is a non-issue. The price might seem a bit excessive to some, but it's easily one of the comfier camping pillows you can find.
If you love the feel of microfiber blankets, this pillow will put you right to sleep–its microfiber outer layer feels like you're resting on a cloud. The insulation holds its shape well, yet compresses small enough for a backpacking pack. It comes in multiple sizes, so you can choose between one that's small and packable for backpacking, or one that's a bit more luxurious for camping near your car.
Sea to Summit has been a big player in this game for quite some time, and their inflatable Aeros is one of the best on the market. The Aeros has curved internal baffles that cradle your head, and a brushed knit-polyester shell for a silky soft next-to-skin feeling. Choose from three sizes—including a “deluxe” option that, when inflated, is nearly the same size as a standard bedroom pillow. But, when compressed, every Aeros size fits easily into your hand, so they never get left behind when you're tight on space.
Down pillows aren't exclusively for the bedroom–now you can rest your head on a cloud anywhere you go. This down pillow puts comfort second to none, and it packs down small enough that you'll always find a place for it in your backpacking pack. The entire pillow is covered in a brushed polyester and filled with down insulation for better sleeping under the stars.
This compressible option from Redcamp offers campers and travelers a pillow that is hard to pass up, due in part to the competitive price. The high-quality flannel is incredibly soft on your face, while the foam filling offers plenty of support and compresses down small. With five colors to choose from, it's a nice blend of comfort, portability, and affordability.
Sleeping on the ground—even with an air mattress—can really do a number on your neck, and that's why an ergonomic camping pillow like this one from Flextailgear is a great choice if you know you need extra support through the night. It's inflatable, offers two height levels, and its soft pillowcase is removable and washable.
Compressible pillows are great for camping because they pack down small but fluff up when it's time for a good night's sleep. This one from Wise Owl Outfitters is available in small or medium, so even if you want more pillow you still won't be carrying a lot of weight in your backpack. The entire pillow is washable and you can even use it as a camp chair seat cushion before turning in for the night.
Hikenture's inflatable camp pillow is a mix of value and luxury. It's durable enough to stay inflated night after night, yet it's lightweight, at only five ounces. Designed to cradle your head and neck whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach, it also has a soft (and washable) cover. Its anti-slip bottom means less pillow wrestling for you and makes it a great pillow for your camping hammock too.
Andrew has been contributing to the outdoors and fitness content on BestProducts.com since 2017; he's a nature lover, peak-bagger, skier, and general good-time haver who lives in Colorado, knows where all the fresh snow is, and what gear you should be wearing for staying warm or looking fresh.
Jessica Dukes is a shopping editor at Hearst Magazines, writing about home goods, tech, fashion, wellness, and more for titles like Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and House Beautiful. Drawing on more than 20 years of digital experience, Jess focuses on curating gift guides, tracking down the best deals, and testing products for candid reviews. Prior to Hearst, her career spanned Bonnier Corp., NBC Universal, and Barnes&Noble.com. As a busy mom of two teenagers (one in college), relaxing looks a lot like gardening, hiking, or planning the next family getaway.
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