The Best Camping Pillows in 2024 (Reviewed & Compared)

Nemo’s Fillo King is a 6″ high pillow filled with air and upcycled, premium foam, covered neatly with a soft jersey blend that provides coolness. The company claims that this is the best camping pillow for a side sleeper with broad shoulders. 

Often referred to as the “king of the hill,” this pillow is pretty versatile, making it ideal for all sorts of camping and traveling. In fact, you can sleep on it while traveling via plane, train, or car, using it as a travel pillow. Moreover, you can use it for lumbar support.

Since the pillow is inflatable, you need to blow air into it until you get the shape you want. This only takes a second. To deflate it, let the air out and roll the pillow into a stuff sack.

While the Fillo King is one of the most comfortable camping pillows on the market, we need to mention one inconvenience. The pillow is large (17″ x 14″), and it might be too heavy for backpackers, who might prefer one of the top-rated backpacking pillows.

Therm-a-Rest is a notable company that offers a cheap camping pillow ideal for short trips in the outdoors. The pillow is made of thick, soft polyester and filled with upcycled foam. That said, you can pick from any of the seven colors offered, and it comes in three sizes, small (16″ x 12″), medium (18″ x 14″), and large (23″ x 16″).

The Therm-a-Rest pillow is compressible, so it won’t take up much space when you pack it in your bag. You just need to roll it and tuck it. What’s more, it’s extremely easy to use. Uncompressing it takes only a few seconds. However, since it isn’t a self-inflating camping pillow, you won’t be able to adjust it perfectly. 

Nevertheless, side and back sleepers should feel comfortable enough since the pillow offers sufficient support. 

The biggest downside to this pillow is that it’s bigger than other camping pillows, so we wouldn’t advise you to take it on longer trips. Despite this small inconvenience, the pillow is actually very soft and cozy. So if you’re on a budget and looking for cheap camping pillows, Therm-a-Rest should hit the spot.

If you’re a regular backpacker looking for a great down pillow that’s pocket-sized and, most importantly, comfortable, Sea to Summit is an excellent choice. 

The Aeros Down is the best ultralight camping pillow that’s also soft. Its cover is made of a thin 10-denier cushion top that comes in two colors: grey and lime. Moreover, you can choose the size that suits you the most, regular (13.4″ x 9.4″ x 4.7″), large (16.5″ x 11″ x 4.7″), or deluxe (23″ x 14.9″ x 4.7″).

That said, not only does this pillow have a lock system that will prevent it from sliding off your mat, but it also has a multifunctional valve on the bottom. You just need to blow air into it and adjust it to the firmness that suits you. This is one of the best inflatable pillows for camping that’s ideal for both back and side sleepers.

The biggest downside of this pillow is probably its high cost. But does the price match the value? Absolutely. Not only has this pillow left its competition in the dust when it comes to coziness and lightness, but it also comes with a lifetime warranty and free shipping. You do the math.

As important as it is to have a nice, comfy mattress or even an adjustable bed in your bedroom, you can’t underestimate the importance of a pillow. If you also want to achieve equally sweet dreams during your outdoor adventures, begin with good, soft support in your pillow.

Many camping pillow reviews mention Hyperlite on their “best of” lists, and for good reason. This waterproof sack pillow has a nice touch of fleece when you sink your head into it. What’s more, it comes in two sizes: small (10″ x 14″) and large (12″ x 17″). 

With this pillow, you’ll have complete freedom to adjust it the way you want. You just have to unzip it, turn it inside out, and fill it with clothing. You can adjust the firmness and softness by adding or pulling clothing out until you create your ideal pillow.

This versatility makes Hyperlite the best backpack camping pillow for all sleeping positions. 

However, with every pro comes a con or two. As you can imagine, you need to take enough extra clothing with you to be able to fill your pillow, and that can be a big problem if you’re going on long trips and you need that extra space for other essential items. Moreover, the pillow traps heat inside, so be prepared to wash your clothes if you don’t want them to get smelly.

Cocoon’s Ultralight Air-Core Pillow is, without a doubt, the best travel pillow for car camping since it’s almost as big as the regular pillow you have at home. It comes in two colors, wasabi and light blue, and two sizes (14″ x 18″ and 16″ x 22″).

If you’re a back sleeper who likes your pillow firm and big, the Ultralight Air-Core should be your first pick. That said, there’s one feature that makes this pillow unique: its sophisticated valve. 

If you want to sleep on the most comfortable camping pillow possible, you need to control the firmness and loft, i.e., the amount of air inside. To add in more air, turn the valve to the left. If you need to close the valve, simply turn it to the right.

With two sides to choose from, the Air-Core pillows are the best hybrid camping pillows. In summer, when you need a nice cooling pillow, sleep on the nylon side (blue, green). In winter, when you need your pillow to bring you some warmth, sleep on the microfiber side (gray).

Due to its large size, Cocoon’s Ultralight Air-Core might be the best pillow for hammock camping or car camping. However, it might be too big to fit in the hood of a mummy sleeping bag.

Klymit takes the cake thanks to this pillow’s small packaging. In fact, while the inflated pillow looks almost like your regular pillow (22″ x 12.5″ x 5″), when packed, it’s small enough to fit in your pocket (3″ x 7″).

These are the best camping pillows for neck support thanks to their X design. In short, the design will allow your head to sink right in the middle without slipping off. 

Not to mention, it takes only five breaths to inflate the pillow, while the firmness can be adjusted by turning the valve and letting the air out. The cover is removable and it can be washed in a machine.

However, Klymit Luxe isn’t the absolute best inflatable camping pillow on the market because it’s too heavy (6.4 ounces) when compared to other pillows.

Like most air pillows for camping, the Mega Pillow is easy to inflate and deflate (just use the deflation pin when you want to change the firmness). However, what distinguishes it from other inflatable pillows is its softness. In other words, the fleece pillow padding offers a squishy, warm feeling.

The pillow comes in two colors, moss green and ruby red, and it inflates to the size of a traditional pillow (20.9″ x 12.6″). With this in mind, if you’re looking for the best small camping pillows, forget about Mega. As the name suggests, this pillow is big and thick. However, you can attach it to your sleeping mat with the help of three eyelets to make sure it won’t move during the night.

In addition to adjusting the firmness, you can adjust its height as well, making it perfect for your preferred sleeping position. When it comes to washing, simply remove the cover and clean it with a cloth.

Keep in mind, this may not be the very best blow-up camping pillow for ultralight camping trips due to its size.

Sierra Designs has one of the top-rated camping pillows on the market thanks to its two-in-one design. In other words, you can sleep on the inner pillow, or you can add your clothing to make the support firmer. What makes it so soft is its polyester taffeta filling. However, this material tends to compress during the night, flattening the pillow.

Then again, the pillow itself is pretty small (12.5″ x 8.5″), and it can fit into any hooded mummy bag or a hammock. It comes in two colors, red and blue, and there’s no setup needed. To get the best and lightest camping pillow, remove the inner pillow based on your needs. 

While side sleepers might find the pillow too small, stomach sleepers should get the most benefits, from warmth to snugness. 

However, due to its lower loft, don’t expect it to help you with your snoring. Furthermore, the cover retains heat, so it won’t be a good option for sleepers who prefer a cool surface.

Big Agnes has created nearly the best inflatable pillow for camping that’s resistant to piercing. The stretch nylon itself has a built-in technology that provides heat and coziness. Moreover, the pillow can be easily adjusted. Just use the micro release button.

That said, Big Agnes has a significant weight reduction function. In other words, the small l-beams on the pillow keep your head stable. On top of that, the pillow is quite large (20″ x 14″ x 4.75″). 

Inflation is easy and deflation is super fast. According to reliable inflatable camping pillow reviews, Big Agnes has nearly the best pillow for camping and backpacking. Although its size might not fit into a hooded mummy bag, it will be a great addition to your hammock.

When it comes to finding the best camping pillow, reviews note that TETON Sports has a unique self-inflating pillow ideal for all sorts of traveling and camping. To inflate it, you need to turn the valve to get your desired level of firmness and loft (3″–7″ high). That said, its deflation takes only a few seconds.

The top of this pillow is made of microfiber. It feels soft and warm, but it doesn’t overheat, and it will absorb sweat. What’s more, with the help of the non-slip bottom, this small (18″ x 10″) pillow won’t slide off your sleeping bag.

On the downside, when we make a camping pillow comparison, TETON Sports might be a bit too small for some campers.