Rest Assured, There’S A Good Camping Pillow

Sun., Oct. 10, 1999

Dear Gear Guy: I’ve never been able to find a good, lightweight solution for a sleeping pillow. I’ve tried those tiny camping pillows, tried stuffing a gear bag with the spare clothing I had along, even tried to talk my dog into being a pillow, all to no avail. Since I suffer from sinus problems, keeping my head elevated and comfortable would certainly make sleeping in the outdoors more restful. Any suggestions?

John Rishea, Rapid City, S.D.

Gear Guy: I feel your pain, John. I, too, have struggled to find an adequate camping pillow. Although, truth to tell, I’ve found it a little hard to improve on the old fleece jacket stuffed inside a cotton T-shirt. Still, technology presses us ever onward, and there are several good alternatives.

My current favorite for a camping pillow is the Therm-a-Rest Deluxe Pillow from Cascade Designs ($17). It’s adequately plush on its own - 12-by-17 with Quallofil insulation. It also has a built-in pocket so you can add your own cushioning. Cascade Designs also makes a “large” version of this pillow, which is $20 and measures a home-pillow-like 15-by-19. Another pillow that gives you lots of stuff-level choices is the Basic Designs Super Size Self-Inflating Pillow ($20). In inflates up to 5 inches thick, and is filled with foam that pushes the pillow open, hence the self-inflating ability. You can blow in a little extra air for more firmness. Any of these pillows, I suppose, could be doubled-up with a second pillow for extra loft.

Finally, Campmor sells a clever thing that they apparently ripped off from Eastern Mountain Sports. For several years, EMS has included a stuff sack with its sleeping bags that is lined with fleece. Filled with clothes it makes a swell pillow. Now, you can buy a fleece-covered stuff sack alone for $12. That would really let you get your head off the ground. Hope you soon sleep soundly! I bet you snore like a pack of bulldogs, though.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.