Therm-a-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow for Camping, Backpacking, Airplanes and Road Trips, Amethyst

So, I'm not sure if this will show up verified, because I ended up returning this pillow to exchange it for a Nemo Fillo. The nemo suits my needs better, but I was really reluctant to return this guy because he's pretty awesome. I got the large size because it was actually cheaper and prime at the time in comparison to the more popular medium size, and I wanted to compare it to the medium reviews I've seen. This pillow was awesome. It felt great, slept great, compressed into more than half it's size without too much effort, and if you're car camping or stay over at other peoples' places often this pillow is a great thing to roll up into your car and unpack when needed. Just give it a few for the loft to return to it. I am a side sleeper, and I loved it. I compared this on a camping trip to Exped's compact pillow. They are about as opposite as you can get... The thermarest stayed cool throughout the night while exped being basically a fancy balloon heated up and made my cheek sweaty (nothing a pillow case couldn't fix for comfort), the exped is incredibly light weight and packs down into something the size of my palm while the thermarest is giant even compressed. The mediums are more popular, and there is a size difference, but honestly not that much of one. I'd probably stick with the large if space wasn't a factor at all. The thermarest was more suitable for side sleeping, but the exped did better on airplane rides where one is sitting upright. In comparison to the medium pillow that I tried out at REI, the large has a bit more width and oomph to it, and I like truly being able to switch side to side without having to adjust my pillow to follow my head. To me, if weight/size isn't an issue at all (and really, it probably isn't if you're using this thing) then go ahead and go with the large. The small pillows are actually great for kids and slumber parties, but I'm a small adult and I still think the large offered the right amount of luxury and comfort to packability. To me, the medium and large aren't THAT huge of a difference compressed down, but the large felt more like at home than the medium when expanded. The thing is, if you're camping for size of items this is NOT your thing. I think if you want a good blend of comfort and compression, go with a Nemo Fillo .. more pricey than the thermarest, but there's a layer of memory foam and comfortable fabric with an inflatable element underneath to adjust the softness or firmness. If you're looking for size and compact ultralight, exped was absolutely amazing and I'll write a review of it as well. But if you want comfort in your camping/glamping, a pillow to offer guests that will stow away after, a minimalist that wants their bedding at home to double up on functionality by being more portable, or car camping... this guy is really incredible and will offer a great night's sleep no matter where you are.

I camp and travel a lot, so does my family. We like to be comfortable. I've tried every method of pillow. I motorcycle camp a good bit, so I used to have the "jacket with your spare clothes tucked in" method, then I tried the inflatable pillow method, then I tried the inflatable wrapped in your fleece jacket method. Well? None really worked. Were they better than nothing? Yeah, I suppose so, but being in mid 40's I just wasn't getting a good night's rest on those pillows anymore. Upon the recommendation of a friend, I decided to try these. I guess I have been using the brand Therm-a-rest since I started Scouting in the early 80's, and they've always made a quality product. I've owned quite a few pads over the years (of every description and I have always been pleased with them) and I was impressed to see the pillow was about the cheapest you could get. Why not? When the item arrived I was really pleased to see the fabric. It's poly, but not that slick, noisy junk that SO MANY of these pillows are covered with, it was more like a faux suede, soft, supple, and comfy on my cheek. The pillow doesn't pack down tiny, like some of the inflatables, but it isn't heavy either. When I first pulled it out, it was lumpy and rather under-filled... but after sitting for 15-20, it filled up. Therm-a-rest right? The pillow felt good enough for an overnight, so I decided to keep it and take it on an upcoming 3 night motorcycle camping trip. Well, to make a long story short, I've never slept so well. I am a bit of a sleep gear snob, I like fine sheets, quality blankets, and good pillows... this pillow is a no compromises, home-like sleeping experience. I guess pillows are subjective, but to me, this is hands-down the best camping pillow that I have ever used. How much do I like it? Well, if it is any clue, I purchased one for my wife, each of my kids, and I give them out as gifts. We never go on a road trip without them anymore. When I car camp, and can take whatever I want, I take these pillows. Combined with my Byer of Maine cot, my memory foam sleeping pad, and my Slumberjack "Country Squire" bag, I get a night's rest that's comparable to just about any road-sleep I could buy in a hotel or resort. Yes, I know backpacking gear has its place, and this may not be the perfect pillow for that (though I will never be without one on the trail), it's kind of bulky, even packed down (think about the size of a oil-can of Foster's lager) and it's probably not the lightest for weight-weenies, though it is not heavy, but it's the best "camp-pillow" you can get. Period. Also, it's totally machine washable and handles it just fine (ours have probably been washed 100 times), and loses no comfort over time (we've had them for several years now). Try one out, they're fairly cheap, and I promise you will not be disappointed.

I ordered the Thermarest pillow to use while motorcycle camping. I have tried several other pillow methods, always with the same poor results: either the pillow was too small and too uncomfortable, or it was way too large for carrying on a bike, along with all the other gear. So I took a chance on the Thermarest. My results: First and foremost, it is comfortable - very comfortable. I bought the largest size, and once it reaches its full loft, it's the size of a standard pillow, and nearly as comfortable as one. It does feel a bit lumpy, as if there are a few ping pong balls inside. But compared to laying your head on a rock, that's a very acceptable compromise. I was leery at first. When I first bought the Thermarest and opened it up, I was disappointed; it seemed too small, too flat. But once it had been left unrolled for 3 hours or so and gained its full loft, I was pleasantly surprised. So the lesson here is -- when you reach your campsite and get your tent pitched, open the pillow and give it time to do its thing. Let's talk about travel size. As I mentioned, I bought the largest pillow. As you can see from the picture, it rolls up and simply tucks into a permanent pocket. So, there's no extra pieces rolling around inside your tent, no stuff bag to get lost. Rolled up, it is maybe 4" in diameter - plenty small enough to store on the back of a midsized bike along with other sleeping gear. The Big Test - I just got back from 10 days and 2,000 miles of motorcycle camping in Colorado and New Mexico. Using the Thermarest in combination with my Stansport air mattress, I slept like a baby every single night. Absolutely the best I've slept, while tent camping, in many years. In fairness, the pillow isn't thick enough to lay on the ground at the end of an air mattress. I had to wad my riding jacket up to bring it even with the mattress, so to speak. But the Thermarest was plenty thick enough that I didn't feel the jacket's armor. It just felt like, well, a pillow. The Thermarest pillow is definitely a success, and definitely a great value at Amazon's price. Whether you're a motorcycle or bicycle camper, or a backpacker, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Three Stars for my primary use (camping), Five stars for secondary use (travel) - hence Four stars. The extra large version of this pillow is extremely comfortable, but is also very large when compressed. There are always compromises when choosing gear, and in this case, it is size/weight vs. comfort. When backpacking, or camping in general, a good nights sleep is priceless, so I will carry a bit more weight, or spend the extra money to get the right stuff. I am concerned about the durability of this Therm-a-rest pillow. The draw string seems cheap to me, and the stitching around the stuff portion of the pillow seems weak. However, the worst part about this pillow is the fact that, once it gets wet, it takes days to air dry in the sun, or multiple cycles in the dryer to dry out. It may seem dry, and then if you put it in your pack, everything packed around it comes out mysteriously wet, until you figure out that it is the pillow causing the problem. Seriously, dry this thing and dry it some more and some more before packing it. It is a comfy pillow, and while others have stated that it is lumpy, I do not find that to be the case. The fabric is not scratchy or itchy on the skin, and seems quite durable. My kids love this pillow on long car trips, and it is quite convenient to have in the car - I should order another one so the kids won't argue over who gets it.

I am the type of person when I travel I always take my own pillow and a blanket. If I am going to be stuck in a car or whatever for an extended period of time I want to be comfortable. Also when getting to the destination I would rather rest my head on my own pillow instead of one in the hotel. I have used other types of pillows before when traveling. The traditional pillow and the typical neck pillows. While traditional pillows are comfortable they aren't really practical for travel. And the neck pillows while practical for travel they aren't particularly comfortable. So in comes this therm-a-rest compressible pillow. I have to say I am a fan of this pillow. It works well and it's surprisingly comfortable and it stores inside itself. The pillow itself is a microfiber soft exterior on one side and typical soft cloth on the opposite. It does come in various sizes. Inside the pillow is memory foam but it's not a solid piece. The foam inside is cut up into small pieces. I am assuming rectangular pieces. I thought that if they were cut into pieces that it would sacrifice comfort well it doesn't. The foam expands and fills up the pillow nicely. It's very comfortable and I had no trouble sleeping throughout the night. The only downside I had experienced with this pillow was that they suggest before first initial use to wash it so the foam expands fully. Now what they don't tell you that when you do wash it is that the foam inside retains the moisture. It took forever for the pillow to fully dry. I ran it through the dryer several times and when inwiukd compress it down to store it inside itself it would still be damp. So quick recap: Pros: Ultra portable Stores within itself Comfortable Cons: Retains moisture when washing making it take forever to dry. So that's it it's a great travel pillow that's comfortable, easy to pack up and doesn't take up much room.

UPDATE: I’m giving this 5 stars, because I actually love this pillow and have made it my primary, full time, sleeping pillow. I think it’s just one of those things that you have to give time. YES, it comes compacted and YES, the memory foam takes awhile to puff up. Please give it some time to reach it’s full potential. The chunkiness I complained about before (as others have) is barely noticeable now. I would say that I can’t even tell. It seems pretty uniform in shape these days, but I never pack it back into it’s compressed form. I keep it out all the time. I just purchased a larger one that I will be using full time at home (and I will be making a pillow cover for). The small one will become my outdoor, camping pillow. I will probably be compressing it more frequently and packing it into my backpack to take on my hammock camping trips from now on. One thing I have noticed is that it can get a bit warm in the summer (the “THERM” in Therm-a-Rest). I just rotate it, the way I would any pillow to the “cold side”. Again, I will be experimenting with making pillow cases for these pillows, so that may make a difference. PREVIOUS REVIEW: So far, I think this may just be the perfect hammock pillow (for home and camping). It’s soft and the bits in it puff up pretty good after a few minutes. It feels warm and very comfortable and the small size seems very versatile. (I’m using it in a single hammock.) (I would give this 5 stars if it were a little less chunky although I don’t really seem to notice it that much.)

The value of this depends entirely on if you fit within its target audience. Do you want to keep a pillow in your truck/car "just in case," but don't want it taking up a ton of space? Do you want to go backpacking and save space in your sack, but don't want to invest in an air pillow? This pillow is good for that. It's better than nothing in a pinch, but it's no substitute for what you have at home or a proper backpacking pillow for serious backpackers. However, if you're not sure if you like backpacking yet or you're on a budget, it's a great starter. The fabric feels nice on your skin while also looking nice--another plus. Some criticisms: When in its compressed form, the pillow is bulkier than expected--much to my disappointment--but as you roll it out it almost seems to shrink rather than get bigger, going in the face of what one would typically expect of something that's been compressed. It's worth noting that many foam pillows/mattresses will compress to fit their packaging and then fluff up after being taken out and allowed to air out. That is the case here as well; the size seen when you first unroll it is not its final size. While it DOES expand (over a relatively short period of time), it still winds up being way smaller than a standard pillow, even in a size large. It's absolutely not side-sleeper friendly, and if you need a lot of neck support, you'll probably want two. Yes it's 4" high, but it's got less filling than a typical foam pillow, so when you rest your head on it, it goes down by quite a bit. Expect to be able to feel the ground through it. Best Use: Camping, especially out of your car. If you buy 3-4 of them, you'll have more than a regular pillow's worth of cushion for the same amount of space as one standard size pillow. I did the math: 3 larges combine to just under 2x the volume of a normal pillow while taking up LESS total space than a normal one would in your trunk. 4 larges would be just over twice the volume when unrolled. It's a shame the manufacturer didn't anticipate this and offer a way to store them together in one bag or daisy chain them together while rolled up. It's almost uncanny how perfectly 3-4 rolled up ones line up to the dimensions of a regular pillow; I have to believe that was by design. Closing thoughts: I think the idea is that you buy several and bring them with you rather than one pillow to each person. This works beautifully when you're camping in the bed of a truck and want to nestle up with several pillows and blankets to make it cozy, but don't want to sacrifice precious storage space that could be used for extra food, tools, or blankets. If they were sold in packs of two, or this were somehow reflected in the product description more clearly, then I would have given the pillow 4 stars instead of 3. Because it wasn't, and only one was purchased for the current trip, I feel like I missed out on the best this product has to offer. On top of that, the fill is lacking in both quality and quantity; you shouldn't need to buy two just to avoid feeling the ground against the back of your head. When purchased as a single entity, this pillow is--at best--an entry level backpacker pillow or something to keep in your car if you get stranded or want to take a nap on a long drive. A higher quality foam would allow for more fill with the same level of compression. The U-shaped travel pillows intended for airplanes are a great example of this; they cost more per cubic inch, but the compression, density, and neck support combined blow what this pillow can do out of the water. I would love to see them use that type of fill material in this exact same concept of a roll up, stowaway pillow.

I have been trying to lighten the weight I bring to the outdoors, but I also want to be comfortable at the same time. The king-size pillows I have on my bed are way too heavy to lug around so I started looking at pillows specifically made for camping. More importantly, I needed to find something my very picky girlfriend would like as well. I read some great reviews about this pillow on Amazon so I figured I would give it a try. When I first received the large size pillow, I was underwhelmed. I unrolled it from its compressed state and fluffed it up a bit. I knew it would take a while to reach its full loft, but it felt lumpy and it did not seem like it would be comfortable. A few hours later, I got back to the pillow and it seemed fuller but still seemed lumpy to me. Merely squeezing it in my hand caused it to flatten out. I just left it where it was and waited for my girlfriend to get home and test it out. The first thing she said when she laid on it was "it's a little noisy". She did not mention the lumpiness that I felt but she commented that the pillow was very soft. We were about to go to bed by this time so she figured she would give it an overnight test. She did not mention anything about the pillow that morning, but the next evening, she made sure the camping pillow was under her head. I asked her how she liked it and said, "You may not be getting the pillow back." The following evening, she was kind enough to allow me to use my new pillow and I have to agree with her; it is very soft and I do not notice the lumpiness I can feel with my hands when I lie on it. Also, the fabric is very soft and the pillow does not compress as much as I thought it would, even under my big head. Overall, this pillow was a great buy and I can highly recommend it to anyone who wants a compressible, light weight pillow for camping or traveling.

Das Kissen erfüllt für Camping und Outdoor genau den Anspruch den ich hatte. Bin sowieso schon ein Thermarest Fan. Natürlich könnte es größer sein, aber es soll halt immer dabei sein und daher optimal! Danke, gerne wieder.

hatte das kissen im fachhandel gesehen und bestellt, geht zurück aufgrund starker chemischer gerüche, leider und schade. daher nur 1 stern

Ho comperato questo articolo per la sua comprimibilità e per il fatto che conosco come lavora Thermarest, perché avevo bisogno di un cuscino che non occupasse tanto spazio nella mia macchina adibita a camper. Il risultato è eccellente: il cuscino è facilmente comprimibile anche dopo essere stato aperto, cosa fondamentale, ma più di tutto è comodissimo durante la notte, il che ti fa dimenticare di non essere nel tuo solito letto. Consigliato a chi come me cerca il confort di casa in poco spazio.

Bisher hatte ich immer preiswerte Camping Kissen und war nie zufrieden. Das Therm-A-rest Kissen würde mir von einer Freundin empfohlen und ich ärgere mich das ich das nicht früher kennengelernt habe. Es ist super bequem, passt sich dem Kopf an und man liegt vernünftig die ganze Nacht. Einzig das zusammen rollen war nach 3 Tagen nicht ganz so einfach wie gedacht, ist aber sicher eine Übungssache.

Calidad, es tal como indican en la publicidad