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Inflatable pillow?
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Nov 22, 2007 at 6:00 am #1225929
I am a side sleeper and have found that by my becoming lightweight that the clothes pile I used to use as a pillow is not meeting its need anymore by becoming to small to support my head properly. Is there any inflatable pillows out there anyone would suggest that inflate to 4-6" and are pretty lightweight? Thank you.
Nov 22, 2007 at 6:07 am #1409878Check out the FlexAir Pillows in the BPL Gear Shop under Sleeping. I've been using the small version and keeping it underinflated.
Large Version:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/flexair_plus_ultralight_pillow.htmlNov 22, 2007 at 6:30 am #1409881I bought this one a few months back, and it is fantastic. It is very large, and has a dimple in the middle for your head to rest in. If you have a MB pad, the pillow attaches to it and keeps it from scooting out from below your head. The setup really is quite comfortable. I think my pillow comes in at about 2.4 oz.
http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=33&p_id=1124290
Nov 22, 2007 at 6:32 am #1409882Brett,
I love the Montbell. I'm a side sleeper also. It's sized right. It has internal baffles to give it a pillow shape as opposed to baloon shape and it stays under your head at night instead of squirting out.
Nov 22, 2007 at 7:28 am #1409886One of my round-to-it projects is to adapt the Mont Bell pillow to use with other pads using Velcro to attach to my pad or perhaps a fabric "tail" to just tuck under my pad to keep it from getting away in the dark.
One thing for sure– a pillow made all the difference for me sleeping on the ground. I sleep warm and I don't need a lot of padding other than protection from sharp lumps and cold, but getting my head propped up to the right angle turned my shelter into the Hilton :)
Nov 22, 2007 at 12:08 pm #1409904Brett, another vote for the Montbell. It has toggles you can use to attach to your mattress, or attach as designed to the Montbell mats. It is asymetric. One side has a notch for your head so it will stay centered through the night, as the pillow stays attached to the mat through the night. Expensive but worth it in my mind.
Nov 22, 2007 at 12:24 pm #1409906Brett P.
I started out with the FlexAir small pillow then switched to the FlexAir Large pillow available here at BPL. I used it for about a year, but then moved to the MontBell like a lot of folks. The FlexAir only weighs 1 oz whereas the MB is about 2.4 oz, but as Brett above and others have noted if you integrate it with an MB sleeping pad it is a great combo. Even if you don't the MB pillow is thicker than than the FlexAir and "sculpted" better to cradle you head than the FlexAir. The FlexAir, however, is cheaper and lighter, and reasonably durable. Can't go wrong with either one.
-Mark
Nov 22, 2007 at 5:39 pm #1409915Cheap, light, but just OK comfy – BPL Flex Air pillow (comes in two sizes).
Cheap as heck, not so light (6 oz) but really comfy – REI Entex pillow
Expensive, but very light and comfy – aforementioned MontBell pillow
Nov 22, 2007 at 5:46 pm #1409916nm
Nov 22, 2007 at 9:13 pm #1409923Im usually a side sleeper and found that a bag or stack of clothes on top of my shoes makes for a good pillow. I prefer a bag though for dirt protection.
Nov 23, 2007 at 7:26 am #1409941I would be very interested in hearing more about adopting the MB pillow to other pads. I've been toying with options for doing this as well.
On a side note, I've tried number of lightweight backpack pillows in my quest for a goods night's sleep and like the MB the most. I insert it in a t-shirt as a means of having a pillow cover.
Nov 23, 2007 at 12:57 pm #1409958>>I would be very interested in hearing more about adopting the MB pillow to other pads. I've been toying with options for doing this as well.
It's pretty easy to do. For my closed- cell pads, I just lined up the pillow with the pad and made small slits in the pad which correspond to the toggles on the pillow.
For my Thermarest UL pads, I punched holes in the corners of the pad to fit the toggles. Be careful to not damage the inflatable part of the pad.
Nov 23, 2007 at 1:15 pm #1409959Brett,
If like many UL hikers you carry two platypusses, you could fill one with water for the night and morning and you could use the other as a pillow.
Just a thought,
Eins
Nov 23, 2007 at 1:15 pm #1409960I love the BPL inflatables. I use the larger size.
I've sewn a loop of noseeum mesh at the head of my inflatable pad (about 10 inches wide) and big enough to fit the pillow in (and a tshirt if needed) Everything stays in place wonderfully during the night. Very comfortable.Nov 23, 2007 at 1:32 pm #1409964AnonymousInactiveI too am a side sleeper and have lost my usually head support since migrating to lightweight gear. I used the BPL double inflatable pillow this past summer on my JMT hike and found it to be an aggravation when attempting to pack it up after it’s first use. The main difficulty for me was deflating the pillow in the morning when packing up. Never could get all of the air out and finally split it open with a knife so I could fold it up and insert it into pack. This may be a personal problem peculiar only to me. Also had trouble keeping track of the straw used to inflate and deflate. This pillow otherwise seemed durable and was comfortable during it’s brief, one-night use. Beside comfort, this pillow is attractively priced.
Nov 24, 2007 at 5:31 am #1410029The MEC makes a nice little down pillow. It's not inflatable… but it compresses very small… and it's very small… so it doesn't weigh much. Mine is packed away right now and the site doesn't list the weight… but I recall it being in the 4 oz range… maybe 5. But it's a REAL pillow. Small… but real. I love mine… tho' I still may buy that Montbell.
Nov 24, 2007 at 2:53 pm #1410066I have been using a Cocoon Aircore travel pillow for about 6 months and love it. It is a 13"x17" inflatable pillow surrounded by an envelope of synthetic down. Deflates and packs up at about 4"x5" and weighs about 6 oz. Yes, it is not the lightest solution but when I blow this puppy up and lay my tired head down on it, I really don't care that it is 2 or 3 oz heavier than other pillow choices. I have had the best night's sleep on this pillow that I have ever had in the wilderness. Cocoon also makes an all down and an all primaloft pillow which are lighter and compress a bit more, but they are more expensive.
Nov 24, 2007 at 5:50 pm #1410079It seems that the Montbell is out of stock but I don't think it would work that well anyways as I would need more like 6". Home durable are the Flexairs?
Nov 24, 2007 at 8:04 pm #1410095I used the same FlexAir pillow for a year (about 30 to 40 nights) and it was still going strong. They are made to be disposable, but are quite tough and if you take care of them they could last several years. You get 3 of them if you buy 'em from BPL. I recommend the large with two tubes- more comfortable.
-Mark
P.S. Montbell is available HERE
Nov 24, 2007 at 9:19 pm #1410100I had a similar experience, they seem to last some time (at least weeks) each. I also agree on the double tube vs. the single pillow, much more comfortable and stable.
Nov 26, 2007 at 3:42 am #1410181I am a side sleeper, and have tried a MB pillow, and although it looked great, I haven't found it that comfy. The flexair pillows are too thin.
The best, and perhaps ultimate, pillow I have had to date is a 50l Wtex drybag (the 25l one is just a little small), which is as close to a home pillow as you can get, and also doubles as a dry bag, and/or a rucksack, if you get the BPL conversion, and second to this was a partially inflated 10l "wine cask", with something over it to stop your head getting too sweaty. Using spare clothes as a pillow doesn't work for me, as I generally wear all my clothes at night with an ultralight sleeping bag, so the only "spares", as such, are a pair of socks and some waterproof gear, which a good pillow don't make.
Nov 26, 2007 at 10:31 am #1410208I also use the 25 liter P.O.E. Lightweight Wtex bag for a pillow. I use the bag when kayaking/camping. I make it more comfortable by wrapping a piece of crossgrain with a buckle around the middle, making the partially inflated bag look like a bow-tie.
Nov 26, 2007 at 3:42 pm #1410247G'Day
Another vote here for the flex air dual compartment pillow. For me a pillow is the most important part of a good night sleep and these are great. I adjust the compartments so they are slightly different then put the pillow in the hood of my bag. I could sleep on bed of thistles with a good pillow. I’ve been using the same one for ages and its still ok, just a little grubby. As far as collapsing goes I let down one side as much as I can then the other then repeat massaging all the air out. It’s simple once you work it out and I’m so well rested I don’t care any way.
DarrenJul 17, 2008 at 7:22 pm #1443396Just a thought on the flex air pillows? Could you create the montbell cradle shape with two elastics around the pillow vertically?
Jul 18, 2008 at 6:38 pm #1443508I don't think that would work… but I used to take two small flexair's and sew them together. That worked exceptionally well.
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