My Camping Pillow Journey - from Crappy to Comfy

Рет қаралды 14,555

Күн бұрын

I've had such a love-hate relationship over the years with camping pillows. While I consider them to be a necessity to get a good night's sleep while backpacking, finding the "right" camping pillow has proved challenging. Follow along as I discuss my camping pillow journey in search of the "perfect" pillow (or, at least, perfect for me).
I mentioned the KZfaq channel, Schill Brothers Outdoors, in this video. If you haven't checked them out, do so!
/ @schillbrothersoutdoors
GEAR MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO
Cocoon Air Core Sleeping Bag Hood Pillow: amzn.to/2Hhl69P
Exped Pillow Pump: amzn.to/2Hkp3e4
Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow: amzn.to/30liyiE
GEAR I USE AND RECOMMEND
- Garmin InReach Mini satellite messenger: amzn.to/2Y9kbOz
- Helinox Chair Zero: amzn.to/2vL3kFA
- Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape tent/poncho: amzn.to/2UQQ78b
- Outdoor Research Helium II rain jacket: amzn.to/2GM5xFM
- Exped AirMat HL sleeping pad: amzn.to/2Lb6Ovr
- Nitecore NU25 headlamp: amzn.to/2LfvG5v
- Columbia Silver Ridge Lite hiking shirt: amzn.to/2UPPETP
- Opsak odor proof food bag: amzn.to/2GWnnHD
- Leatherman Squirt PS4 multitool: amzn.to/2XX1TA4
- Deuce of Spades trowel: amzn.to/2DTnLo9
- Suunto A-10 compass: amzn.to/2VD3rS6
- Thermarest Compressible pillow: amzn.to/2WfBn4r
- Sawyer Squeeze water filter: amzn.to/2Lb8sgB
- CNOC Outdoors Vecto water container: amzn.to/2GPPBCz
- Anker Powercore II external battery: amzn.to/2vGTFzO
- Saramonic SmartMic microphone: amzn.to/2VRpyEC
- BOYA BY-M1 lavalier microphone: amzn.to/2VNvu19
*At no cost to you, help support my channel by buying your gear using the Amazon links above. Click the link, buy your stuff, and Amazon will contribute a small portion of the sale to my channel, which helps me do more gear reviews and backpacking trips. Win-Win! Thanks, all!*
Filmed on a Google Pixel 2 with BOYA BY-M1 external mic
----------------------------------------------------
Welcome to my random musings on all things backpacking. If you haven't already guessed, my name is Dan. I was bit by the backpacking bug in 2014 and since then haven't gone one day without thinking about my next adventure. I'm from Chicago, a great city but...not so much known for its bountiful backpacking opportunities. Nevertheless, I haven't let that stop me from enjoying the outdoors. Hope my videos leave you with one or two takeaways, or even better, inspire you to head out on the trail. Thanks for watching! Have fun out there!
- Dan

Пікірлер: 35

@jjhikespa3600 11 ай бұрын

I agree! The Thermarest compressible pillow is my favorite pillow. I have tried to like the inflatable pillows but I feel like I am sleeping on a brick. I am also a side sleeper and I need a real pillow to get sleep in the backcountry. Great video! Hope you are doing well!

@20Hikecdt23 Жыл бұрын

Haw haw! I'll keep my old Thermarest pillow! Thanks for the great fun video.

@Funkteon 3 жыл бұрын

Wanna know an Army Reservists' opinion on what the best camping pillow is? Well, all I ended up taking on a bivouac is a very nice cotton pillowcase from home, and upon arriving at camp and setting up for sleep, I would stuff it with my folded jacket as a first layer and softer undergarments as a top layer where my head rests against - My idea caught on so well that the rest of the regiment began doing this, considering it has the added benefit of warming up your next day's clothing. The other big plus is that it only costs as much as a cotton pillowcase which folds down VERY small into your bergen.

@switter1999 2 жыл бұрын

I used to be a slide sleeper, always had my lower arm stretched out and my pillow between my arm and head. For 30 years I slept this way, but then my hands started going numb, especially when I wasn’t sleeping in my home bed. It started getting so bad that I had to force myself to sleep on my back. Surprisingly it was only hard for about 1 week, and now I fall asleep fast and stay on my back all night no problem. Every once in a while I will want to turn on my side but don’t do it. The best part is that when I used to sleep on my side I would wake up with bad back pain, but now I don’t have any pain at all in the morning.

@arlenbyrd 3 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate your candid, friendly, but also serious style and excellent information in your videos. Definitely one of the top reviewers I’ve seen. Thank you!

@ModelInAVan 3 жыл бұрын

I can relate to all your experience! The ear pain is the worst! Cant beat pillows with no air..most comfortable

@kirsten85409 2 жыл бұрын

I love the thermarest compressible pillow! I bought it before I went to iceland (where I slept on it for 2 weeks) and I love it! Great for backpacking, as well as airplane rides. Definitely worth the space and weight in my pack!

@kerry1383 5 жыл бұрын

I've used that same foam thermarest model for about 5 years and it makes a great pillow for hammock camping as well.

@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING 4 жыл бұрын

Nice video. Good choices of pillows. Great information ✌️

@DecideOutside 5 жыл бұрын

:D Found your video entertaining, including the bloopers at the end. Thanks for sharing your analysis!

@DanGoesHiking 5 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

@stevescope1037 4 жыл бұрын

I did the same routine as you. Side sleeper as well. Went through 5 inflatable pillows before I got the thermarest. The thermarest was a game changer! I have the small and the medium sizes. The medium is much better, more filling. I count ounces on everything else in my pack but when it comes to my pillow, I'll make it fit. It's that good!

@bimchi 4 жыл бұрын

Steve Scope did you try the nemo fillo?

@stevescope1037 4 жыл бұрын

No I haven't. I'll check it out. Tough to beat the comfort of the thermarest. Would be nice if it packed smaller and lighter.

@justo316 Жыл бұрын

The thermarest didn't provide my neck nearly enough support to side sleep with it. It compressed too easily. I much prefer the sea to summit foamcore pillow. But either way, I've ditched both because they're just too big. If I was car camping, sure, I'd bring them.

@bobbyboombeck 5 жыл бұрын

I wound up getting the REI Trailbreak Foam Pillow. I went and tried the thermarest and it was nice for sure, but the chunks started to bug a bit and I knew would wake me at night. The REI pillow is solid foam and compraible in size/weight (10oz for the regular). This is my one luxury item, but with it, I'm a happy camper :) I got to this pillow from your review and thoughts so THANK YOU.

@DanGoesHiking 5 жыл бұрын

Glad it worked out! The solid foam sounds nice. As much as I prefer the thermarest over air pillows I'm not in love with the foam pieces.

@richarddaugherty8583 5 жыл бұрын

I use one of those Thermarest pillows every night at home, between my knees! It's the perfect size and keeps my ankles from flaring up. Interesting thing... I'm a side sleeper at home in bed, on the trail, in my hammock, I'm a back sleeper, no problem. Seems to be a common thing. In the hammock I use the Aero pillow. I agree with you, I think that would be both too hard and too low sleeping on my side on the ground. At 63 I don't want to do that anymore. I'm a hammock convert!

@DanGoesHiking 5 жыл бұрын

I hope to give hammock camping a try soon! It would be awesome to be able to sleep on my back.

@richarddaugherty8583 5 жыл бұрын

@@DanGoesHiking Check out Shugemery's channel or Backpacking With a Hammock. Both excellent sources of info. And be patient (Shug's advice). It takes a bit of time to get the hang of it (pun intended)! Not cheap either but I've been out twice with it now and even not doing it 100% right it's been the most comfortable night in the woods ever. I've got the Warbonnet Blackbird XLC, Wookie zero degree underquilt, Superfly tarp, and various other bits... those are the critical ones. I use a quilt vs. sleeping bag which is better both on the ground and in a hammock. Good luck!

@hikingwithjoe1789 5 жыл бұрын

I'm a side/tummy sleeper and very rarely get good sleep out on the trail. I used the stuff sack/clothes solution for years (and hated it) but then I got the same Thermarest pillow a few years ago and liked it a lot. I got caught up in counting grams and moved to a Trekology inflatable last summer and... well, now I'm thinking I should go back to the Thermarest, grams be damned! Great video, Dan!

@DanGoesHiking 5 жыл бұрын

A better night's sleep is worth those extra grams! I wouldn't be surprised if I one day start bringing my 5lb feather pillow from home...sigh...

@BlueBoyBackpacking 5 жыл бұрын

Good vid man. I have been on a longer pillow searching journey than you have. I must have 10 pillows or more that I have tried... and you know what ! I have ended up with the same pillow as you. The Thermarest compressible foam pillow - but in Medium size at 250grams. I am still conflicted about carrying that much weight for a pillow. I would love to carry an inflatable pillow but I just can’t sleep on any sort of inflatable pillow, not for the reason you state(sore ear) but they are all too high for me(I side sleep to but strangely need a low pillow!?) and when you let some air out of any inflatable pillow to reduce its height it becomes very wobbly and unstable, so my mind can’t trust it and I just can’t fall asleep at all. Doughhh...

@DanGoesHiking 5 жыл бұрын

I have the same wobbly issue with the Cocoon. It would be nice if thermarest released a version of the compressible pillow using an ultralight face fabric. As much as I like the fabric they use, it's gotta be fairly heavy and probably accounts for a good portion of its weight.

@BlueBoyBackpacking 5 жыл бұрын

@@DanGoesHiking Yes I completely agree. I have thought about making my own shell and removing the foam inside of the thermarest and using that instead.

@Taffer-bx7uc 4 жыл бұрын

You remind me of a combination of Don Knotts and Steve Buscemi. Because of this I'll sub to your channel.

@DanGoesHiking 4 жыл бұрын

Haha! 😂😂 I like both of those people so I'll take that as a compliment 😁

@Taffer-bx7uc 4 жыл бұрын

@@DanGoesHiking What type of sleeping bag would you recommend for side sleepers?

@DanGoesHiking 4 жыл бұрын

Do you mean bag or pad? For bags, they generally don't matter for side vs back sleepers as long as they're wide enough to fit your torso when you're on your side. For pads, I feel the thicker the better when it comes to side sleeping. I personally love Exped pads for this reason. I use an Exped AirMat HL in summer and a UL Winter for cold weather. I've also heard great things about the Sea to Summit Ether Light in terms of comfort, and of course the Therma-a-Rest NeoAir pads are arguably among the most popular for backpackers.

@Taffer-bx7uc 4 жыл бұрын

@@DanGoesHiking thanks for the info!

@Andyb2379 5 жыл бұрын

No - I have this pillow & it’s crap. Not nearly enough stuffing inside.

@DanGoesHiking 5 жыл бұрын

Sorry you don't like it! I do wish it had a little more stuffing. It'd be nice if it were made with an opening so you can add or remove as much foam as you'd like.

@treal512 4 жыл бұрын

Sucks not enough height for side sleeper

@kcapkcans 3 жыл бұрын

"Schnozzle"

@TheToscanaMan 5 жыл бұрын

Dan... I am a side sleeper and need a pillow too. Just a thought, I just watched this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nMxkm7yqrsrVYo0.html and then I watched yours on the Opsak oder proof bag. Besides the bear proofing use the guy in the other video said he uses his filled with air as a travel pillow. The pillow idea sounds good, the bag is very light weight to carry. He carries a small pillow slip cover to put the Opsak in to make it feel nicer on the skin. I might try one of mine that way next time I'm out. He carries water in one too. Nice back-up canteen. And for those who travel "on" water it could perhaps be used in an emergency as a flotation device when filled with air I would imagine. Nice multi-use item. Thanks for the videos.