Graham FlexAir Disposable Medical Pillow

[Dan]

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BPL Listing ID: 2026-01-13 23:30:33 UTC / 149c76e898

[Dan]

These inflatable pillows are not for everyone, because they’re not padded or insulated, and some people don’t need a pillow (they just put clothes in a stuff sack). But I have been using them for many years and I like them. I would probably be embarrassed to recommend them to anyone in person, because they would probably mock me for using them. But since I’m anonymous here, I’ll recommend them. If you’re not super picky, and you want to bring some sort of pillow (but not a fancy expensive one), this is a good minimalist option.

They are basically a heat-sealed plastic bag with a bonded soft flocked cover. You inflate and deflate them with a straw (three breaths max), so you can choose how full to make them. They’re really not meant to be reused, but I have used a single pillow dozens of times and never had a failure. The “valve” is just a hole in a piece of plastic, but amazingly it doesn’t leak. You would think that durability would be an issue, but that hasn’t been my experience.

They weigh about half an ounce each, take up no space, and cost about a dollar, although you do need to buy them in quantity, either from a medical supply company or on eBay (a lifetime supply case of 50, or sometimes eBay sellers repackage them in smaller amounts). They come in two sizes, I use the larger one.

I discard the old one at the end of the year and start with a fresh one the next season. I could probably continue to use the old one, but they get dirty after a while and they only cost a dollar – so why not?

I have used various insulated inflatable pillows from outdoor gear brands and lightweight stuffed pillows with synthetic filling also from outdoor gear brands. They are probably slightly more comfortable TBH, but not enough for me to justify the volume and extra weight. Sometimes I have enough extra clothing to create a makeshift pillow, but not always, and the inflatable pillow allows me to prop myself up higher if desired.

To carry it in my pack, I fold it to the right size for a quart zip-lock and put my Kindle inside it for protection along with the straw, so it’s slightly dual use.

That’s my review.

Recommended 9/10Field performance 8/10Use again 10/10

My experience: Expert·Product days in field: 300

Disclosures

Obtained independently: I paid for this product or received it as a personal gift from someone not affiliated with the brand.

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