Pad+Pillow?

[michael adamski]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Long ago, I gave up on the “clothes in a stuff sack” pillow. Striving to not carry extra clothing, I found myself waking with a sore neck due to the inadequate support provided by stuff sack with a pair of socks and a rain jacket. So I caved and bought an inflatable pillow. Oh, yes! So nice with both CCF or inflatable sleep pads. I’ve now been (mostly) happy using an assortment of inflatible pillows for years.  I am a dynamic sleeper, though. And with a hoodless quilt/bag, I am tasked with designing an attachment system for each of my configurations of a pillow plus a pad. The best and easiest is to slip my hiking shirt over the pad’s end, but again, I may need to sleep in this shirt.</p>
So, my question is… with many of us using both inflatible pads and inflatible pillows, why aren’t more pads made with built-in pillows? It seems like it would be simpler, lighter and cheaper.

[Paul S.]

Most pad/pillows I’ve seen are pretty low so only a partial solution for side sleepers.  Some don’t like any pillow, like stomach sleepers.  So it only really works for back sleepers.

A pillow attachment standard would be a better solution.

[michael adamski]

Paul, I wonder why the pad w/ pillows are low. I agree, not sufficient for side sleepers. Seems like they could be made taller.

I like the idea of a standard attachment. Although, I also like the idea of a combo being lighter and cheaper.

[Paul S.]

There was a recent topic about folding over the excess length of you pad to make a pillow.  I’ve yet to try it out but I have the same pad and am looking forward to the potential.

[J R]

I wonder why the pad w/ pillows are low. I agree, not sufficient for side sleepers. Seems like they could be made taller.

But if so then it would be too tall for back and stomach sleepers…

[Jeff W.]

Michael, on Stick’s blog he has a video of the attachment system he uses for his pillow setup.  It’s an Exped UL inflatable pillow covered with a Goosefeet Gear down sleeve.  I thrash around all night, too, and bought the same setup, only I got the smaller, medium size Exped UL.  Comes in at a total of 4 oz, which I consider to be my luxury item.  The attachment is super light and easy.

[DGoggins]

I went to pretty deep length about pad/pillow attachment issues and believe I came up with a great solution. (see page 2 for the final solution) ->

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/incessantly-annoying-pillow-off-my-pad-problem-with-solution/

And….the big sky dreamsleeper pillow is very tall. No problem for side sleepers.

[Monty Montana]

Check out the pads and pillows at Montbell, as they’ve solved this problem decades ago: their pads and pillows are provisioned so that they can attach to each other!  Who woulda thought…

[michael adamski]

Got derailed a bit… my original post wasn’t so much about attaching a pillow to a pad. Instead, I asked why you can’t buy a quality pad with a built in pillow. Potentially lighter, cheaper and simpler?

[Ken Thompson]

They’re out there,

https://www.rei.com/product/845301/rei-co-op-incamp-insulated-air-sleeping-pad

http://www.camtoa.com/de/Inflatable-Sleeping-Pad-Ultralight-Camping-Sleeping-Pad-or-Mat-Outdoor-Inflatable-Air-Mattresswith-Built-in-Pillow-Ultra-Compact-and-Comfortable-for-Camping,Backpacking,Hiking-etc_-p-66.html

https://www.winterial.com/products/winterial-double-self-inflating-sleeping-pad-with-pillows

Just the first ones I could find.

[michael adamski]

Thanks, Ken. I guess I was thinking of the major manus. I didn’t even think to look at off-brands. But really, I wonder what’s wrong with this one?

Cheap

17 oz. Pad+Pillow

No chasing the pillow in the middle of the night

 

[Valerie E]

I just use a piece of thin elastic bungee cord and a cordlock that is attached to either side of my pillow (I also use an Exped UL + Goosefeet case).  I loop the bungee cord around the top end of my pad, right where I want my pillow to be, and cinch it with the cordlock. Doesn’t move until I loosen it in the morning.

Ahhhhhhhh, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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