texasbb
Trail Wise!
Hates chicken
Posts: 1,221 
|
Post by texasbb on Jun 6, 2020 9:09:34 GMT -8
my down jacket, which took special delight in oozing right back out of the stuff sack slowly all night Perhaps you haven't tried the modern-technology stuff sacks with a cinch cord.  |
|
|
|
Post by hikerjer on Jun 6, 2020 17:47:06 GMT -8
I started using a Exped inflatable pillow a few years ago. Ever since then, I’ve considered it an essential piece of gear.
|
|
daveg
Trail Wise!
Michigan
Posts: 565
|
Post by daveg on Jun 6, 2020 19:53:40 GMT -8
Over time I've evolved into a pillow user. For years I used extra clothes in a stuff sack as a pillow. But I eventually decided I didn't like the feel of nylon under my head so I made a stuff sack out of an old cotton pillow case. That felt a lot better. But then, as a fine tuned my clothing, I discovered there were cold nights when I was sleeping in all of my clothing except for my pants and spare socks and underwear and they weren't bulky enough to support my head like I wanted. So I started taking a REI inflatable pillow. The inflatable pillow plus my pants in my pillow case stuff sack is good enough on those nights when I'm wearing all my other clothing to bed. And on warmer nights, I use the inflatable pillow plus softer clothing, like a puffy jacket, in my pillow case stuff sack to get a more comfortable head rest.
|
|
|
|
Post by georgeofthej on Jun 6, 2020 20:43:07 GMT -8
Also, I don't want to have to deal with anything which could suffer a leak, like an air mattress or an air pillow, which is why I also "practice" with a CCF pad. I'm the same way |
|
|
|
Post by georgeofthej on Jun 6, 2020 21:04:08 GMT -8
Dialing in the pillow is critical for a good night's sleep. I've tried some different things that didn't work well for me, including using a plastic trash bag partially filled with air and wrapped in clothes, all in a stuff sack. Also, just clothes in a stuff sack, which can be lumpy and--as others mentioned--the nylon is uncomfortable.
I've got a Feathered Friends down pillow that is not big enough on its own; it compresses too much with my head on it and I can't get my neck at the proper angle. But, when I wrap my light fleece shirt around it, it's perfect. Only problem is I don't want to carry the pillow in a backpack, so I've only used it a couple times lately when winter camping with a pulk or bike packing.
So what I've settled on for backpacking is a stuff sack with clothes, wrapped with my light fleece shirt. The fleece on the outside of the stuff sack is comfortable. It's not perfect and I have to do a lot of adjusting during the night, but heck, I kind of do a lot of adjustments at home in my own bed anyway.
|
|
ErnieW
Trail Wise!
I want to backpack
Posts: 9,851
Member is Online
|
Post by ErnieW on Jun 7, 2020 4:49:39 GMT -8
I've been liking the Nemo pillow. Partially inflated, so it is soft, on top of some other stuff like my shell to get the height right and it pretty comfy.
|
|
crawford
Trail Wise!
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
Posts: 1,775
|
Post by crawford on Jun 7, 2020 16:31:01 GMT -8
I started with an inflatable pillow about 2 years ago. Fleck in on one side. With my gathered end hammock, I make it just over half full, sleeping on the ground it's just over 3/4 full. My clothing bag worked for years bit at only a couple ounces, it added to more comfort when sleeping.
|
|
rangewalker
Trail Wise!
Agitate, organize and educate.
Posts: 1,029
|
Post by rangewalker on Jun 7, 2020 19:33:39 GMT -8
Thermarest fleece lined stuff sack. I do not know if they still make it. Simple reversible grid-stop nylon fabric and plus pile liner. Big enough to stuff my WM Alpinist 15 (25EN) down bag or my 40 deg synthetic Go-lite. My puffy pillow stuffer is a Patagonia Micro Puff 1/2 zip, sometimes an ancient Go-Lite vest. It is not big enough for my zero degree down bag and in winter becomes the sleeping clothes stuff sack during the day.
Three season WY/MT I love having my puffy pillow in that sack. Easy drool cleanup. I like having the puffy close at hand when I need to exit the bag anytime. I am a side sleeper, by necessity with obstructive sleep apnea, so my head has to be positioned with block or pillow just so.
Addenum: I have used in winter a 4 liter MSR Dromedary bladder wrapped in a fleece vest about 2/3 full to keep it from freezing in zero F deg winter camping. It works ok. The bonus is you have water to drink over night and have some to start breakfast and melt more.
|
|
|
|
Post by bradmacmt on Jun 8, 2020 4:34:09 GMT -8
This is just my opinion but if an inflatable pillow was more comfortable than a down/down-alternative one, we'd all be using them at home... You use a down sweater in a nylon stuff sack at home? |
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,876
|
Post by zeke on Jun 8, 2020 4:46:59 GMT -8
Many people use down pillows at home, or down alternative ones. Does anyone use an inflatable pillow at home? I think that was the point, and you knew it. Statements that begin with, "This is just my opinion", are just that.
|
|
jazzmom
Trail Wise!
a.k.a. TigerFan
Posts: 3,059 
|
Post by jazzmom on Jun 8, 2020 5:04:40 GMT -8
This is just my opinion but if an inflatable pillow was more comfortable than a down/down-alternative one, we'd all be using them at home... You use a down sweater in a nylon stuff sack at home? I use a down pillow in a cotton/linen/silk pillowcase at home. Same on the trail, though smaller. I bring a lightly padded DIY pillowcase, 1.5oz. |
|
|
|
Post by bradmacmt on Jun 8, 2020 6:23:57 GMT -8
Same on the trail, though smaller. I bring a lightly padded DIY pillowcase, 1.5oz. That's awesome. My wife doesn't use an inflatable, rather a small cotton covered travel pillow. |
|
|
|
Post by bradmacmt on Jun 8, 2020 6:24:46 GMT -8
Many people use down pillows at home, or down alternative ones. Does anyone use an inflatable pillow at home? I think that was the point, and you knew it. Statements that begin with, "This is just my opinion", are just that. Hey Zeke, lighten up man. I frankly was not sure WHAT she was saying, hence the question. |
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,666
|
Post by rebeccad on Jun 8, 2020 6:38:03 GMT -8
The thing between a down pillow and an inflatable is that a down pillow that packs small will also just sort of disappear under your head. An inflatable gives you more loft/lift for less weight and bulk. It’s not as comfy as the pillow I use at home, but it’s better than any “real” pillow I could actually carry.
|
|
|
|
Post by trinity on Jun 8, 2020 7:13:37 GMT -8
The thing between a down pillow and an inflatable is that a down pillow that packs small will also just sort of disappear under your head. Exactly. Many years ago my wife bought me a Western Mountaineering down pillow to use for backpacking. It was a thing of beauty, but it pretty much squished flat when I lay my head on it, and I wound up returning it. If I cared enough about having a comfortable backpacking pillow, I might purchase a Goosefeet Gear down pillow with a pocket, in which you can place an inflatable pillow. This would likely make for an extremely comfortable pillow with a minimal weight penalty. I've also heard the Nemo Fillo is very comfortable. But for me my 1.7 ounce Exped UL works just fine. |
|
Image Credit / Coolkat
