5 Clever Camping Pillow Alternatives

There are only a few things you need to make a good camping trip: good food, good friends, and good sleep. Along with the other necessities, a pillow for camping is pretty darn important. Bringing a regular pillow is easy enough for car camping, but hauling it across the wilderness for days might not be so practical. So, what are some camping pillow alternatives to the best camping pillows?

Camping pillow alternatives from your own gear

1. A regular pillow

This answer might be the opposite of what you are looking for, but it works. While I do appreciate minimalism, a full-sized pillow can be fine even for backpacking on a short overnight. I wouldn't do it on longer trips.

Don't bring the pillow you use at home. An old, raggier pillow kept just for camping is the better choice, because you won't mind getting it dirty or even losing it. Losing one on the trail is easy to do when everyone is too tired to backtrack.

Of course, there are a lot of potential issues with bringing a regular pillow backpacking. The main issue is its size. Pillows aren't small and can't exactly fit in your pack. The usual fix is to attach the pillow to the outside with two small bungee cords. I have a tutorial on how to attach bungees to your backpack.

Besides the size issue, there are two other issues. The first is that when the pillow is attached to the outside of your pack, it can get wet. If there is any potential for rain, I would not use this option at all.

The other issue is the weight. Pillows weigh about 2.5 pounds, which is significant on longer multi-day treks. If a trip is long or has a sizeable elevation gain, I would consider other pillow options.

2. Trekker pillowcase

This is a clever pillow option for camping. The Trekker Pillow Case is a pillowcase that is stuffable. It folds up small enough to fit in your pocket. When you are ready to use it, simply take it out and stuff your clothes inside.

You can stuff the pillowcase with anything soft, such as your down jacket, towels, clothes, hats, gloves, and anything else.

When you aren't using the pillowcase as a pillow, many hikers use it as a stuff sack for their clothes. It can even help organize your clothes by keeping your daytime and nighttime wear separate.

The Therm-a-Rest Trekker Pillowcase is super light, weighing only 2.3 ounces. It's quite convenient compared with inflatable camping pillows because it won't get punctured and doesn't require any inflation.

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3. Stuff sack or dry bag

If you are already carrying a stuff sack or dry bag, you can use that too. Stuff it with clothes and you are good to go. You could even bring a pillowcase to wrap around the bag or use a T-shirt for extra comfort. Since you are already carrying it, this would be the lightest option. Even an extra garbage bag could work.

Similarly, you can wrap soft items or clothes in a jacket, t-shirt, or zippered fleece. Fleece is nice since it's soft, zips up, and the arms can be tied. Honestly, I'd argue this is the best value of the lot, because it costs nothing and adds no weight.

4. Camelback or empty wine bag

Another option is to use a water bladder like Camelback or any other brand. I prefer to carry water bottles, but if you do have a water bladder, it can work as a pillow.

When you do use your water bladder as a pillow, fill it up to almost full. This will give it enough thickness and firmness, but not too much firmness. You can even wrap your bladder in a t-shirt or fleece for extra softness. As a bonus, if you fill the bladder with water, you can be ready in the morning to boil water or make coffee.

Another neat trick is to use an empty wine bag instead of a bladder. Make sure you rinse all the wine from the bag so you don't get any smells. Then, fill it with air instead of water.

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A backpacking pillow

After the free and cheap options have been covered, investing in a quality backpacking pillow may be just what you need. While I can get away with a lot, having a comfortable night's sleep is something I won't skimp on.

Here are some popular options among backpackers:

Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow

The Aeros Pillow is quite popular, giving hikers the comfortable sleep they need. It's easily inflatable, compact, and comfortable. What's also great about the Aeros Pillow is that it has added synthetic fill for extra comfort and to wick away moisture. Its soft 50 denier polyester outer and curved stability make sure you get a good night's sleep.

Places to buy:

• Amazon
• REI

Trekology Camp Pillow

The Trekology Camping Pillow is probably one of the best affordable camping pillows. It inflates in just 3 breaths and can be easily deflated and rolled up to put in its stuff sack. The valve has a special "button" to make for fine-tuned adjustments to its softness.

Places to buy:

• Amazon

Thermarest Compressible Pillow

Thermarest is known for its camping sleep system. Their pillows are no exception. The Thermarest Foam Pillow is another popular pillow that is larger than the rest. If you're looking for more of a real pillow, this is a good option. Instead of being inflated, it uses expandable foam that can be rolled into its stuff sack to save space. This is ideal for someone who wants a big pillow with space savings.

Places to buy:

• Amazon

For more camping materials, you should read:

• Do You Need a Sleeping Pad for Camping? (And Alternatives)
• Cot vs Sleeping Pad (And 3 Other Options)
• Yoga Mat as a Sleeping Pad - Can It Work?

How to choose between pillow alternatives

The right camp pillow depends on three things: how much pack space you have, whether you're a side, back or stomach sleeper, and whether you prioritise comfort or weight.

• Car camping: bring your actual pillow from home. No real substitute.
• Backpacking: clothes in a stuff sack is the classic, weighs nothing, works fine for most sleepers.
• Side sleepers: need more loft. A proper inflatable pillow or a thicker clothes stuff sack.
• Back sleepers: need less loft. Even a bundled jacket works.
• Ultralight obsessives: the inside-out stuff sack filled with a puffy jacket is the canonical solution.

Making the clothes-in-stuff-sack pillow comfortable

The biggest complaint about the clothes-bag method is that the outer fabric is slippery and crinkly. Fixes:

• Use a fleece-lined stuff sack. Brands like Sea to Summit and Therm-a-Rest make stuff sacks with a soft inner surface specifically as a pillow cover.
• Turn the sack inside out. A DCF or silnylon sack inverted puts the smoother fabric against your face.
• Wrap it in a buff or merino layer. Softens the surface and adds warmth under your head.
• Tight, not loose. A loosely-filled sack collapses. Stuff it firmly.
• Down jackets work best. Synthetic puffies feel lumpier. A compressed down jacket is the closest to real pillow feel.

Inflatable camp pillow pros and cons

• Pros: light (1-3 oz), packs to a golf ball, adjustable firmness, consistent loft. Best ones (Sea to Summit Aeros Premium, Nemo Fillo) are genuinely comfortable.
• Cons: can slide around, crinkly in some fabrics, can deflate overnight if the valve isn't perfect, and cold if your head touches the fabric directly.
• Price: $30-$50 for decent ones, $10-$20 for budget models.
• Weight: Aeros Premium is 2.8 oz, about the same as a clean pair of socks.
• Durability: sharp tent floor debris can puncture them. Carry a patch kit.

Hybrid options and what to avoid

A few combinations are worth trying:

• Foam-filled compressible pillow. Therm-a-Rest Compressible, Nemo Fillo Luxury. Heavier (8-10 oz) but most like a real pillow.
• Inflatable pillow + jacket on top. Air pillow for support, puffy jacket for softness. Best of both worlds.
• Cut-down travel pillow. A neck travel pillow repurposed. Works well for back sleepers.
• Stuff sack + inflatable combo. Inflatable inside a small stuff sack you also fill with socks. Padding plus adjustable loft.

And a few ideas to skip:

• Pillows filled with straw or leaves. Old backpacker trick that looks romantic and works poorly. Bugs, prickly, doesn't hold shape.
• Pillows filled with food. Smell attracts animals. Never do this in bear country, and see the Leave No Trace guidance on storing food.
• Pillows made of wet gear. Wet socks or damp fleece under your head dumps moisture into your sleeping bag.
• Your boots as a pillow. Uncomfortable and also it's where you don't want rodent attention.
• Foam from a cheap pool noodle or seat cushion. Heavy, bulky, and doesn't compress.

Camp pillow FAQ

Do you really need a camp pillow?

For multi-night trips, yes. Quality of sleep drops noticeably without one. For a single overnight, a bundled fleece works fine.

What's the lightest camp pillow?

Inflatable pillows like the Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight are around 2 oz. A clothing stuff sack is zero extra weight if you're already carrying a stuff sack.

Can I use my backpack as a pillow?

Yes, and plenty of ultralight backpackers do. Drape a fleece over the hipbelt area and use that as the soft zone. Not as comfortable as a real pillow but free and uses gear you're already carrying.

Are camp pillows bad for your neck?

Inadequate loft is the usual issue. Side sleepers need 4-6 inches of pillow thickness; back sleepers 2-3. Clothes stuff sacks often come up short on loft for side sleepers, which is why many end up buying inflatable pillows.

How do I clean an inflatable camp pillow?

Wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap, then air dry inflated. Don't put it in a washing machine, because the seams aren't designed for it.