Topic

Inflatable down pillow

  • This topic is empty.
Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
PostedAug 4, 2014 at 6:41 am

I've upgraded my cold-weather gear and have gotten two ExPed mattresses. All set there. I am surprised that ExPed doesn't make an inflatable down pillow. Being inflatable, you could adjust the cushioning to your own liking and it would contain down and thus be warm. They're already making it…but in a mattress form.

Western Mountaineering has its Cloud Rest down pillow but it is all down. The closest I can find is Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Pillow but it is synthetic.

Any other options for a down-filled inflatable pillow?

Donna C BPL Member
PostedAug 4, 2014 at 8:43 am

Exped inflatable pillow slipped into the pocket of Goosefeet down pillow.

Dena Kelley BPL Member
PostedAug 4, 2014 at 11:23 am

I'd be thrilled if any one of the UL sleeping pad manufacturers would incorporate a built in pillow right into the design of the air mattress. Overall it would add less weight, I think, than a separate pillow. It looks like a couple (REI, NEMO) sort of add a bit of a bump at the top of the pad, but that's about all I see. Perhaps pillows are so subjective that mfrs don't want to incorporate them.

Ralph Burgess BPL Member
PostedAug 4, 2014 at 12:00 pm

to expand on Donna's suggestion:

Goosefeet Gear (Ben Smith) has a stuffsack down pillow listed on the website, sized to insert the Exped UL Large.
I wanted one for the Exped UL Medium, which Ben made for me in custom size last year.
The size to fit the Exped UL Medium perfectly was 14" x 18". I also requested both ends open & cinched – cinching both ends gives a snug fit around the Exped and keeps the down where you want it. Very comfy.

And a simple alternative:
A standard sized "Buff" fits perfectly around the Exped UL Medium as a pillowcase, with room to stuff clothing in there. If the temperatures are such that I'm likely to be carrying a down jacket, but unlikely to be wearing it at night, stuffing the down jacket inside the Buff on top of the Exped is ultra-plush.

PostedAug 5, 2014 at 4:42 am

Necessity is the mother of invention. All great ideas. I particularly like Ralph's idea of using the Exped pillow, buff, and down jacket in concert together.

There must be a business reason why Exped doesn't make a down-filled pillow particularly when the same products used to make the mattress would be the same products used to make the pillow. Call me crazy.

Marc Shea BPL Member
PostedAug 5, 2014 at 7:39 am

From the looks of it, the Exped pillow is heat sealed with a die. In other words, both pieces of fabric place under a form that that is the shape of the pillow and then they are essentially stamped (with heat) together. Trying to add down would probably not be optimal based upon the design.

I would think that the best design would be like the Cocoon Air Core pillows only with a down outer layer, like Goosefeet is doing with their Exped Stuff sacks. Stuffing the down in the air chamber, although it would provide insulation, wouldn't be as comfortable as the down on the outside.

Ralph Burgess BPL Member
PostedAug 5, 2014 at 11:45 am

I just got the new StS pillow – Aeros Ultralight. It's a similar size and shape to the Exped UL Medium, except that the Aeros is much thicker – 1.5-2" thicker I'd say. As a side sleeper who needs good head support, I'll definitely be switching. The surface is also better — rather than just the plastic, it has a slightly plush coating that I think will be ok to sleep on without a cover. I'll still generally use my Buff as a pillowcase, though – the Buff is either on my head as a balaclava (if cold), or around the pillow, so either way my head's not directly on the pillow.

on my scale,
Exped UL Medium – 1.6oz
StS Aeros Ultralight – 2.0 oz

Aside from the thickness of the pillow and the plush coating on one side, the construction is almost identical – I'd guess that these are made in the same factory.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
Loading...