The Ultimate UL Pillow?

[David White]

I’m a side/back/stomach sleeper (yeah…I move a lot) — and I CAN’T sleep without a good, firm pillow.

I just discovered a very light inflatable pillow that I think might be the answer I’m looking for at http://www.flexair.com/

They’re reusable (although not indefinately), cheap (< $0.50 each in quantity), and very light (< .75 oz). They're SO light that I could easily carry a spare in case one pops on a trip and still save 5-6 ounces. Has anyone tried these before? They look like they might be the same as the core used in the Luxury Lite pillows.

[EndoftheTrail]

Interesting, thanks for the link.

Hmmm… wouldn’t mind giving it a try, but a minimum order of 50 pillows???

[jacob thompson]

I hate to say it but has anyone used an empty bag from a wine cask? I’m not sure if it’s a worldwide thing to have boxed wine. I’ve mentioned it before but I live in a college and I get to see all manner of wierd and wonderful things. One of them just happens to be students using empty goon bags as a pillow.

[Ryan Faulkner]

I use platypus bottles as pillows

[Vick Hines]

Jacob,
Yes, the bladders from boxed wine make fine pillows as well as reliable water carriers. And they keep that pleasant, faint overtone of the oak barrels in which the wine was aged. Look for the kind with rubber valves. They look like thick disks. The plastic stopcock-type valve assemblies found on some brands do not come off easily and stop sealing after a few uses. Platypus containers work well, too, and that’s what I am using these days.

[David White]

I’ve tried both the platy bottle and wine bag pillows in the past. While they work okay, the “krinkly” noise whenever I turn is slightly annoying and the silnylon stuff sack “pillow case” tends to get a little sweaty and slick when its warm.

I’m guessing (hoping???) that the fabric texture on these pillows might eliminate both of those problems.

Like Benjamin said, having to buy 50 of these (even though they are cheap) is a bit much — so I was hoping to see if anyone had experience with them before placing an order. My wife reminds me that I already have lots of stuff that “almost” worked and was later replaced by something even better ;-)

Thanks Vick for the heads-up about the rubber gaskets on the wine bags. Mine current bag doesn’t have one and I was worried about how long it might last. Guess I’ll have to change my brand of wine!

[Vick Hines]

DW,
The things we do for our hobbies. Such as drinking wine out of a box.

Fixes for the pillow: 1. Spare T-shirt; 2. pillowcase/stuff sack made with Taslan or any other ‘cotton-like’ fabric. If you make a stuff sack that gets unpacked everynight out of something that feels OK on your face, the small difference in finished weight beteen a Taslan sack and a spinniker weight sack may be worth it. Of course, the Taslan isn’t (and shouldn’t be) coated, so it has to be a sack that lives inside the pack. My S.O. uses this system. She can put a liner bag inside the pillowcase-stuff sack if the weather demands it. Theoretically. Never had to.

[John Chan]

I have a softshell made of Powershield with a fitted hood (climbing fit). When I ‘m out with it I can “invert” the hood around the Platypus bottle to form a pillow that “breathes”. When its cold, I simply cinch the hood around my head. Since there’s always a layer of breathable fabric between me and the bladder I stay comfortable.

[Mark Hurd]

Ok, I’m intrigued, so I just ordered a box of the Flexair pillows as mentioned by David. I’d be glad to “share” (at cost) with anyone that wanted to test them out. They are supposed to be here late next week. I think the cost should be about $1 each to cover the pillow and mailing.

-Mark

[Curt Peterson]

Mark –

Let me (us) know how to handle the details. E-mail address?

I’m in for a couple…

-Curt

[David White]

Put me in for 5 (since I started this whole thing, if you need me to get 10 or more to make you whole, that’s okay too).

Just let me know how you want to handle it.

[Craig Shelley]

Craig Shelley
[email protected]

[Mark Hurd]

Ok, Curt, David, Craig, and anyone else that is interested, email me (address below) with the number you want and where to send them. First come, first serve.I will post here when the pillows arrive and try to get them out as soon as possible. I will mail them out and trust you folks to send payment when you get them. Any other question can be directed to the email address below.
-Mark
[email protected]

[Mark Hurd]

P.S. please use the word “pillow” in the subject line so my spam filter doesn’t throw the message away.
Thanks
-Mark
[email protected]

[Mark Hurd]

Thanks to everyone that emailed me. The pillows are all spoken for at this time, (now I won’t be stuck with 50 pillows #:-) so I can’t take anymore requests.

When they arrive (hopefully late this week) I will post here and start mailing them out.

When people get them it would be nice if they would post a review or comment. If they turn out to be reasonable I would be willing to repeat the offer.

-Mark

[paul johnson]

Mark, a kind and generous offer. thank you.

[Richard Nelridge]

Mark,

If people like the pillows and you place an additional order you can count me in.

Rich

[Bob Gabbart]

Wow, those went fast. If there is another order, count me in as well. I’m sorry I missed it.

Bob

[Tony Burnett]

Did you get the “large” or small pillow? What are its dimensions (when inflated)? Is it firm, and tall (maybe placed on end??), enough to hold your head up when you side sleep?

[Mark Hurd]

Tony,
These are the smaller size 14.5 x 10.5 pillows. I’ll post all the particulars when I get my hands on them. For a review of sorts check out:

http://www.merginet.com/index.cfm?pg=products&fn=flexairpillow

-Mark

[Mark Hurd]

Rich, Bob, and anyone else thats interested,

These pillows look pretty good, but I really don’t know how appropriate or comfortable they will be. So I’ll wait until they arrive and see how they perform before I order more.

If you would like me to put you on a waiting list: email me at the address below with the number of pillows you might want. There will be no obligation on your part, ‘ just trying to measure the demand.

If they turn out to be ok I will email you to see if you’re still interested and the cost (I’m still figuring around a dollar (U.S.) each).

-Mark
[email protected]

[R Jenkie]

http://www.datasync.com/~wksmith/pillow.html

Here’s a couple of pictures of the new even lighter 1.0 oz. inflatable pillow I made from a set of 88 cent kid’s water wings from Wal-Mart.
Just cut the flat piece of plastic out where the tubes join to form the loop, and you have a 1.0 oz. pillow.
The inflated pillow is 12″ long, 5″ wide, 3″ thick and will cradle your head nicely.
Wrap it up with a spair piece of clothing and sleep like a baby on it, or you could add a fleece cover for comfort.
The best part is I got two water wings for 88 cents at Wal-Mart, so each pillow will cost 44 cents!
If it starts leaking, throw it away at home and make another.

[Bob Gabbart]

Very clever with the wing pillow… The other pillow seems like it works like that inflatable packing material

[B. Kelly Saine]

I’ve got some of the large versions coming. I’ll post when they get here for those interested.

[B. Kelly Saine]

Double posted…sorry.

[Author]

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