Which One?

Expensive, but excellent support and light.

http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=33&p_id=11242905

Kyle,
I think you will find that many people, including myself, are very happy with the Montbell inflatable pillow. IMO, the contoured design makes it perform better then the competition. Mine weighs 2.4 oz.
HTH

I'll second the nomination for the Montbell pillow. They're very light and very comfortable. They have a little 'dip' in the middle that keeps your melon from rolling off in the night….it's a nice design.

I third the MontBell pillow. REI used to sell the Intex inflatable pillow — every bit as comfy as MontBell for just $2 — although heavier at 7 oz. With Intex off the market, MontBell is pretty darn hard to beat for comfort and light weight. Expensive though.

Do you guys really find that the Montbell Pillow is better than just using a stuff sack with come clothes in it?

Obviously the latter strategy doesn't work if you're wearing all your clothes, but…

I find the montbell pillow works great as well. Adjustable support (via inflation), it attaches to their pads so you don't wake up with it by your feet, and its super light!

David,
I would say that it is a tossup. As good as the Montbell pillow is (and I think it the best inflatable) it is no real pillow. But neither is a stuff sack with clothes. One approach worth considering is to take the Flexair (.5 oz.) inflatable along with a stuff stack. If it is really cold, you have to use the inflatable (which isn't as nice as the Montbell, but better than nothing). If it warms up a bit, you have a nicer pillow (one that I would say is as good as the Montbell).

nm

I've been pretty happy using my 2L platypus. I use the drink tube to blow in air, and just slightly under inflate it. Best of all it weighs nothing.

Be careful when using the Platy as a pillow. I agree that it makes a fantastic pillow, even more useful when full of water in winter to prevent it from freezing. I've had a couple bladders leak on me, and I'm nearly certain that it is from placing so much pressure on the bladder when sleeping with my head on it. If you only do overnight trips occassionally, then it may be ok, but on longer trips, and doing these often, it may be an issue. Bummer because they really are perfect.

I usually use my sleeping bag stuff sack and fill it with socks, etc.,
But sometimes, when I’m in the mood for more comfort, I also use the flexair— dual chamber (0.9oz). I put a 1” thick open cell pad on that (1 oz) and slide all that in a pillow case (2oz). I like the lengthwise dual chamber system because then my head stays centered. Plus I can put more air in the front chamber to match the curve of my neck.

-Barry

Hi,
First post here. I really enjoy the forum and all the great insite.

I have a few homemade silnylon stuff sacks. On one of the smaller ones, approx 6 x 14, I sewed a scrap piece of flanel to half of the inside. I just turn it inside out and throw extra clothes in it for a pillow and lay my head on the flanel side.

Count my vote for the Montbell pillow. It is comfortable, nice material to the touch, shaped so your head doesn't roll off.

While not as lightweight as using spare clothes, I hardly ever have any spare clothes. If I did, I had to wear them for warmth, then I wouldn't be able to sleep without a pillow.

So, the extra bit of weight is well worth it to me because a good night's sleep is a key factor in enjoying the outdoors!

I'm a flexair dual chamber fan. For some strange reason the Montbell pillow just doesn't suit my neck.

For decades, I refused to carry a pillow and just used spare clothing in a stuff sack. As I started going lighter and wearing my clothing to bed, there was little left to make a pillow. For a while I used a platypus or other bladder as a pillow. But it was never very comfortable. One night, my Nalgene canteen leaked and soaked my sleeping bag.

So in November of '06 I bought a Montbell pillow at the Boulder Montbell store on my way to a trip in RMNP. I winced as I handed over my credit card and told myself that I was really going off the deep end of gear madness by paying $30 for an inflatable pillow. That night I found myself tent bound for 14 hours because of a snow storm and the long hours of darkness. To my amazement, I found that I was comfortable and able to sleep for 12 of those hours. The Montbell pillow was a major contributor to my comfort. I've carried it on every trip since then. It's probably one of the last pieces of gear I would consider leaving behind.

I cast my vote a few weeks ago by purchasing a Flexair pillow from the BPL store. Comes in a pack of 3 and are very inexpensive – combine with another purchase or you'll pay almost the product price to ship it.
I've only tried it at home but I find the size comfortable and they're certainly ultra light. The downside is they're very thin/fragile and may not last long – that's according to reviews from some others.

I find a lot of inflatable pillows noisy. Is the Montbell pillow noisy?

I have tried several inflatable pillows, including dry bags. IMHO the Montbell isn't noisy compared to other inflatables and if you throw and extra articl of clothing over it, I don't think it's noisy at all. I even use is on top of a POE air mattress, which could really get some resonances going, but it's still quiet.

It is definitely the most comfortable pillow that I have tried.

No, the MontBell is not noisy at all.

Does the montbell pillow connect to any pad, or only the montbell ones?

The Montbell pads have toggles and the pillow also has a toggle. So it is designed only for Montbell pads. Some forums have discussed alternate ways to attach the montbell pillow to non-montbell pads. I am still debating on whether to buy the pillow or not. Should I spend more on a pillow for backpacking than I use every night at home? Although, the silnylon stuff sack with clothes in it just isn't cutting it anymore.

Well, if stuffing a silnylon sack isn't cutting it anymore and other options aren't comfy, then I say give the MB a try. Even if you end up hating it, return postage is pretty minimal.

Ben — The Gear Enabler.

Another vote for the Montbell pillow. It toggles to their mats so it does not move away in the night. No, it's not noisy.

I agree with everyone else about the MB pillow. So far I haven't found anything else which works as well in terms of weight and comfort. You can also attach it to your sleeping mat if your mat as a strap at one end, as MB mats do. I found that when using my bivy the head end of the bivy holds that pillow nicely.

As to the pillow being noisy, I wrap it with a shirt or my bandana or, as I always bring one for the muggy weather here, a neck towel, and the cloth quiets the noise of the plastic pillow surface against my ear. You can also use a longer towel to wrap once around the pillow where you lay your head and then leave the longer trailing end under your shoulder and thereby secure the pillow that way.