---
title: "3 Things to Look for in a Travel and Camping Pillow"
description: "There's nothing better than having a soft, comfortable place to lay your head when you're going to sleep in the outdoors. Not only will a good pillow help keep you in a deep slumber, it can help prevent nasty neck aches and pains accompanying an uncomfortable night's sleep. Here are a few other things to consider when searching for a camp pillow, and a selection of some of the finest models available."
date: "2019-08-25"
modified: "2021-04-20"
authors:
  - name: "The Editors"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/the-editors/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/things-to-look-for-in-travel-and-camping-pillow/"
categories:
  - "Camping Gear"
  - "Gear"
---

# 3 Things to Look for in a Travel and Camping Pillow

![Therm-a-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow for Camping in tent.](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/25/DF5OXXMRDNE4BCIMDJO63Q2H2Y.jpg>)
*A soft spot to lay your head down after a long, outdoor day. Therm-a-Rest*

Whether you sleep outdoors on an inflatable mattress, in a hammock, or just curled up on the ground like a wet retriever, a travel pillow is going to give you a better night’s rest. Selection depends on whether you want a little extra padding for wherever you lay your head, or you’re shopping for a specific use, like wilderness camping. Here are several highly rated options to choose from.

Though still very compact compared to a household pillow, [compressible travel pillows](<https://www.amazon.com/Therm-Rest-Compressible-Backpacking-Airplanes/dp/B07YTYHRV9/ref=as_li_ss_tl?tag=camdenxodl-20&pd_rd_i=B083BPBR2N&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&linkId=11249ea4067956f0405a21cef714a0ab&language=en_US%2F%2F>) are the bulkiest type of camping pillow. Great for car camping, long flights, or for whenever you just have to grab forty winks, keep a couple of these around the house, camp, or car to ensure you always have a proper place to lay your head.

The advantage of an [inflatable camp pillow](<https://www.amazon.com/Trekology-Ultralight-Inflatable-Camping-Travel/dp/B07MG5YCHJ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?tag=camdenxodl-20&ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&linkId=3a71f6b9707cc8dff70fdaa52c577339&language=en_US%2F%2F>) is that it is adjustable. An air cushion may not be as downy as the compressible variety, but they are customizable to your own preferred firmness level and, deflated, take up far less space. They come in both manually inflatable and self-inflating models.

If you are counting ounces, [the lightest travel pillows](<https://www.amazon.com/Inflatable-Camping-Travel-Air-Pillow/dp/B07JL5DMNW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?tag=camdenxodl-20&ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&linkId=4c70fb52ec3492b9817f7ea9d6002e84&language=en_US%2F%2F>) are the inflatables that weigh in at a mere 2.5 to 4 ounces. Some come with their own stuff sack and won’t take up any more room than a bag of peanuts.