Going on a journey to a favorite place is mostly an exciting experience for everyone. Whether you are going on a road trip, beach, camping, or hiking, packing the luggage and traveling, everything becomes pleasant with the happiness of visiting the place you like the most. But this experience becomes frustrating if you face trouble while packing.
If you are on a camping trip, then the biggest problem is to pack a pillow in your backpack. Obviously, a backpack may not have enough space in it to adjust a pillow along with other necessary items. We have made it easier by reviewing the best backpacking pillow side sleeper.
The best backpacking pillows for side sleepers are best because they are lightweight, inflated, and tiny in size that will not take much space in your backpack and will let you put other luxuries in it to take along.
Types of the Backpacking Pillows
There are three major types of backpacking pillows.
- Compressible
Some backpacking pillows are compressible. A type of fiber is used in these pillows that can be easily compressed. Down feathers and synthetic foam are mostly used in these pillows as they can be easily compressed. These pillows are comfortable but quite heavy and take much space.
- Inflatable
The inflatable pillows are the ultralight pillows that take the least space. They can be blown up by mouth or the auto-fill pump. The comfort level can be adjusted by filling less or more air in it.
These pillows are comfortable but they are very noisy. It feels as if sleeping on a balloon because they are not stable and can be easily punctured.
- Hybrid
To overcome the disadvantages of the compressible and inflatable pillows, a hybrid pillow maximizes the positive sides of these pillows. This is a lightweight pillow that takes less space and feels comfortable and stable under the head.
Features of the Backpacking Pillows:
Before jumping directly to the best backpacking pillows, first, consider the qualities the best backpacking pillows for the side sleepers must-have.
- Weight
The best backpacking pillows are not more than a few ounces. They are the ultralight pillows for easy packing and comfortable carrying.
- Shape and size
The stomach, side, or back sleepers might be thinking if these backpacking pillows will work for them or not. The contoured pillow will be best in this regard. It will provide more space to place the head on and keep the spine well-aligned.
- Hygienic and comfortable
A pillow can not be comfortable if it is unhygienic or irritable for the skin. The best backpacking pillows come with a washable outer cover and hypoallergenic skin-friendly fabric to keep the pillow clean and comfortable.
- Lift
Some people are concerned about the lift a pillow can provide to them while sleeping. The backpacking pillows come with a customizable height and support. You can always add or reduce the air from this inflatable pillow to get the desired height and lift.
Best backpacking pillow side sleeper options
To bring your problem at ease, here is a collection of some of the best backpacking pillows especially for side sleepers to make your journey and stay memorable and comfortable.
Therm-a-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow for Camping, Backpacking, Airplanes, and Road Trips
Highlights
- 9 ounces
- Compressable
- Compact Design
- 4 sizes
- 13 colors
Our Rating
8.5/10
Overview
Therm-a-Rest has presented a compressible travel pillow that is ultralight with only 9 oz. of weight and has a compact design.
The pillow is filled with a compressed soft foam of polyester that can be packed down into a small compact size for easy carrying. This foam is upcycled mattress material of Therm-a-Rest. For use, this compressed pillow can be inflated and it turns into a 4 inches thick pillow that settles down well below the head, neck, and the back.
The compact design of this pillow makes it easily adjustable in the backpacks, suitcases, and other luggage bags as well. The pillow is available in 4 different sizes, small measures 12×16 inches, medium 14×18 inches, large 16×23, and extra-large 16.5×27. the pillow has 13 attractive and cool colors.
Shake the pillow before using it to get the maximum loft. This compact is very soft for the skin and can be washed in the machine.
What’s so good about it?
- Skin-friendly
- Ultralight pillow
What’s not so good about it
- Sometimes feels too flat
Hikenture Camping Pillow – Ultralight Inflatable Travel Air Pillows for Camping, Hiking, Backpacking
Highlights
- 5.6 ounces
- Lumbar support
- 3 colors
- Highly compressible
- Standard size
Our Rating
9/10
Overview
Hikenture is one of the best brands famous for providing highly compressible pillows for hiking and camping. This inflatable pillow comes with a separate bladder to prevent air leakage. This bladder is made from the high-quality thickened material of TPU.
These pillows can be compressed to the size of a tin can of 3 inches and can be easily inflated with 3 to 5 breaths and deflated within a second with a one-click button.
This ultralight pillow of 5.6 oz. provides plush firmness and perfect lumbar support and can be used for any sleep position. It can also be used for comfortable sitting positions.
This durable pillow has an ergonomic design that makes it get easily fit to the neck. It is available in a standard size measuring 17.3×12.2×4.5 inches and has a built-in detachable elastic band. This elastic band helps to keep the pillow in place.
The pillow has a soft cotton outer cover that is skin-friendly, removable, and washable. The cover is available in black, grey, and blue colors. There is a woven polyester layer inside the pillow that makes the pillow soft and comfortable.
What’s so good about it?
- Easy inflation and deflation
- Detachable Elastic Band
What’s not so good about it
- Little noisy
TETON Sports ComfortLite Self-Inflating Pillow – Backpacking, and Camping
Highlights
- Self-inflating
- 12 ounces
- Non-slip bottom
- 1 color
- Standard size
Our Rating
9.5/10
Overview
TETON Sports has presented this backpacking pillow in collaboration with ComfortLite. This is a self-inflating pillow that does not require a pump or your efforts to blow air into the pillow. Just open the twist valve and let the pillow inflate to the extent you need.
It can be easily used in a car seat, plane seat, camping, or hiking to prevent a sore neck. This pillow comes with a plush firmness, portable size of 13×3.5×3.5 inches, and 12 ounces weight, which can easily fit in a backpack or any other luggage bag.
After opening the twist valve, it can inflate up to 18x10x4 inches of a standard pillow size.
This ultralight backpack pillow comes with a soft, orange-colored, and skin-friendly microfiber top and a non-slip bottom to keep the pillow in place.
An extra stuff sack is also included with this pillow.
What’s so good about it?
- Extra Stuff sack
- Ultralight and soft
What’s not so good about it
- Takes more space
Klymit Luxe Pillow – Luxurious Inflatable Travel Pillow
Highlights
- Extra Large
- 6.2 ounces
- Highly Compressible
- 1 color
Our Rating
9.9/10
Overview
Klymit Luxe Pillows provide highly compressible pillows for backpacking and traveling. This pillow bears a hybrid-fill design that combines the softness of polyester and cushioning of the air and presents a pillow with high loft support and comfortable head cradling.
This pillow has a soft, grey, quilted cover that makes sleeping on it more comfortable. This cover can be washed in the machine easily for hygiene and added luxury. The pillow inflates easily with 3 to 5 breaths and can be adjusted to get the desired loft.
This extra-large pillow measures 22×12 inches with about 5 inches height. It can be packed in a 7 inches small and compact size. It makes it easy to keep in the backpack or a suitcase and a stuff sack is also included with this pillow.
What’s so good about it?
- Easy inflation
- Softcover
What’s not so good about it
- Air bladder feels uncomfortable
SUKCESO Ultralight Inflatable Pillow For Traveling, Hiking, or Backpacking
Highlights
- Compact ergonomic design
- 3.16 ounces
- Pack of 2
- 5 colors
Our Rating
8.9/10
Overview
SUKCESO’s ultralight and compact pillow is one of the best pillows for traveling and backpacking.
The pillow is made from highly durable and elastic TPU fabric to fit for all sleep positions and cradle the head and neck in the best supportive position. This pillow can easily inflate and deflate with a one-click button. After inflation, it turns into a 18x12x4 inches pillow of standard size.
This is a highly compressible pillow that can be easily folded to a 5 inches small pack, equal to the size of a mobile. This size makes it portable and easy to place anywhere in the backpack, even in the pocket.
This must-have inflatable pillow is available in 5 colors and comes with a pack of 2. It will help to get extra support while sleeping or can be given to a friend or your partner.
What’s so good about it?
- Highly compressible
- Ultralight
What’s not so good about it
- Not too high to use on the floor.
RikkiTikki Inflatable Camping Pillow – Hiking – Backpacking Pillow
Highlights
- Portable
- Multifunctional
- 4 oz.
- 2 colors
- Rectangular shape
Rating
8.5/10
Overview
RikkiTikki Inflatable pillows are the highly compressible pillow that can be easy to use during camping and placing in the backpack.
This rectangular pillow comes with a plush firmness. It is a multifunctional pillow is not only used for the head cradle and neck support, but it can also be used for back support on the office chair or a car seat. It provides the correct position for the spine.
This is a big enough pillow of 15x12x4.5 inches measurement and this highly compressible pillow can be folded in a 5 inches bag like a folded pair of socks. The bag carrying this pillow is not more than a coke can.
This inflatable pillow has a reliable valve for easy inflating and deflating and protects the air to escape while using it. This ultralight pillow weighs only 4 ounces and is available in 2 colors, black, and navy blue.
What’s so good about it?
- Big like a normal pillow
- Highly compressible to 5 inches
- Lifetime Guarantee
What’s not so good about it
- Can’t hold air for a long time
Wise Owl Outfitters for Camping & Backpacking – Compressible Foam Pillows
Highlights
- Memory foam
- 3 sizes
- 5 colors
- Lightweight
- Portable
Our Rating
9.2/10
Overview
This compressible Wise Owl Outfitters pillow with cozy memory foam is a great choice to carry for backpacking and camping. It provides a cushioned support to the body and can make any place comfortable to sleep on.
This lightweight pillow is available in 3 sizes so that anyone can select the one that matches their need at its best. The small pillow weighs about 9 oz. and measures 12x 16 inches.
The medium pillow weighs about 11 oz. and measures 14×18 inches, and the large pillow weighs about 13 oz. and measures 16×23 inches like a regular large pillow.
All the pillows provide a high loft of 5 inches when inflated. The pillow comes with a drawstring compact design to minimize the size of the pillow and make it portable with the sizes of 9, 10.5, and 12 inches respectively.
The pillow comes with a portable bag for easy carrying. The outer removable cover is made of soft micro-suede and can be washed in a machine.
What’s so good about it?
- Drawstring design
- Various options of sizes and colors
- Portable bag
What’s not so good about it
- Relatively heavy
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