Therm-a-Relaxation Compressible Camp Pillow Overview

Backside Line

The Therm-a-rest Compressible Cinch Pillow is a comfortable various to firmer air pillows – a few of which really feel like balloons, chip baggage, or pool toys when totally inflated. This pillow’s compressible foam blocks make it a softer-than-average pillow that lets our heads sink right into a sea of cushion.

It additionally encompasses a cinch system to compress the pillow for extra help. This adjustable foam pillow – with a doubtlessly good mix of consolation and help – has a sense that we will get behind. In any case, this pillow was beforehand our Editor’s Choose as the most effective general tenting and backpacking pillow. However its weight and packability make it a a lot harder promote for backpackers. See how this selection compares to our different favorites on our information to the most effective tenting pillows of the 12 months.

With its weight, packability, and help lagging behind most backpacking pillows we suggest, we’ve bumped it down barely based mostly on our comparative testing mannequin. Nevertheless we’re nonetheless completely satisfied to suggest the Compressible Cinch as a comfort-forward tenting pillow and a risk for backpackers preferring the texture of froth pillows to air pillows – and don’t thoughts carrying additional weight and bulk.

How We Examined

Over the previous few months, we’ve subjected the Compressible Pillow to a collection of side-by-side assessments to check its consolation, weight, packability, help, and ease of use to a dozen different pillows. Gear Analyst Jory Brass backpacked and camped throughout New Mexico’s excessive desert mountains with a ton of camp pillows in tow to see if this best-seller from Therm-a-rest nonetheless deserved its #1 rating by CleverHiker.

Consolation

Consolation is the calling card of Therm-a-rest’s Compressible pillow. Fluffier and bulkier than the everyday tenting and backpacking pillow, the Compressible options floating foam blocks for a distinct really feel than ultralight air pillows. The combo of polyurethane foam and polyester insulation isn’t as lumpy because the REI Trailmade pillow; nevertheless, CleverHiker’s Senior Gear Analyst nonetheless felt it was lumpier than he wished.

Lumpy or not, this compressible foam pillow is noticeably extra cushioned than the inflatable pillows we’ve examined. The pillow’s cinch system additionally permits us to regulate its really feel. Cinching down the wire compresses the froth over a smaller space for a firmer, extra supportive pillow. Loosening the cinch spreads out the froth for a flatter, softer, and fewer supportive nest for our head. That adjustability will increase its consolation. 

Testing the regular-sized Compressible – listed at 18 x 13 x 6 inches – we appreciated its puffiness in comparison with his typical air pillow. Specifically, we seen that the softer, compressible pillow didn’t smash our ears whereas sleeping on his facet – which meant we didn’t must roll over as usually at evening.

Despite the fact that the floating foam blocks didn’t present as a lot help because the air pillows in our testing line up, we felt snug sleeping on his facet with our heads and necks nestled within the regular-sized Compressible Cinch Pillow. We weren’t satisfied that the small-sized Compressible Cinch can be as snug given its thinner construct.

Nevertheless, CleverHiker Founder Dave Collins is extra effusive in his reward for this pillow’s consolation – it’s his private favourite tenting pillow based mostly on years of backpacking expertise.

Weight & Packability

Regardless of that endorsement, the Therm-a-rest Compressible isn’t the obvious choose for backpackers, given its weight and packability. With a claimed weight of 10 ounces, the common Compressible Cinch is heavier than most backpacking pillows. For instance, the backpacking pillows we suggest vary from 1.7 ounces to six+ ounces. 

Likewise, its packed dimension is considerably bulkier than backpacking air pillows and the opposite compressible foam pillow on our listing, the REI Trailmade pillow. The pillow’s built-in stuff sack lets us partially fold the Compressible Pillow into itself and safe it down with a bungee loop and plastic hook. Nevertheless, its smushed dimension remains to be larger than a full-sized soccer, taking over vital pack house. 

For CleverHiker’s founder, the Compressible Pillow’s consolation outweighs the commerce offs in weight and packability – and that’s based mostly on a number of difficult, multi-day backpacking journeys. Nevertheless, ultralight backpackers and thru-hikers might not agree and should as a substitute want the lighter, extra packable air pillows on our listing.

Assist

In contrast with the opposite tenting and backpacking pillows we’ve examined, the Therm-a-rest pillow affords common help. Cinched down to maximise its loft, it’s pretty supportive, given the depth of that foam nest. Even so, these chunks of froth aren’t as agency and supportive because the strong block of gel reminiscence foam within the Weekender pillow, nor do they supply as a lot carry and resilience as inflatable camp pillows.

In the event you’re used to thicker pillows – otherwise you’re a facet sleeper who likes the help of air pillows – you may not like how a lot this compressible foam pillow packs down. Loads of buyer critiques name out the pillow’s restricted help, particularly as these foam blocks pack down all through the evening. 

Nevertheless, Gear Analyst Jory Brass pulled off a pair nights of facet sleeping on this pillow’s floating compressible foam with none neck points. General, although, this pillow is geared extra in the direction of individuals who want a softer pillow over a supportive pillow.

Ease of Use

When you’ve used this Therm-a-rest pillow a number of instances, you’ll really feel snug unpacking it, utilizing the cinch to regulate its loft, reversing its cowl/pocket to partially stuff it and pack it again down. Nevertheless, this pillow has sufficient bungees, cinches, cords, toggles, and pockets to doubtlessly confuse you the primary time you utilize it. Multiple buyer has talked about being mystified by this pillow within the subject, particularly when it’s darkish. Nonetheless, it’s a camp pillow, so issues can’t go too improper.

Ought to You Purchase the Therm-a-Relaxation Compressible Cinch Pillow?

Just about everybody agrees that the Therm-a-rest Compressible is a cushty camp pillow for the campground. Nevertheless, even gear consultants can’t utterly agree if it might probably double up as a backpacking pillow.

Both method, we extremely suggest this product. It’s softer than the usual air pillow, which can be a sport changer for campers or facet sleepers who’re sick of their ears hurting so unhealthy that they must hold flipping sides in a single day. The common Compressible Cinch ought to be supportive sufficient for all again, abdomen sleepers and facet sleepers.

This may be a consolation splurge for backpackers who don’t thoughts packing a pillow that’s larger than their sleeping bag. General, this can be a versatile, snug camp pillow with many advantages that ranks excessive on our listing of the most effective camp pillows.

What Different Tenting Pillows Ought to You Contemplate?

Our full listing of the finest tenting and backpacking pillows has extra choices for each backcountry and frontcountry tenting.  

NEMO Fillo Overview: The Fillo Pillow is a hybrid air/foam pillow that additionally straddles the road between a tenting and backpacking pillow. The Therm-a-rest pillow is softer, however the Fillo is extra packable and supportive.

REI Trailmade Pillow Overview: In our facet to facet testing, all of us prefered Therm-a-rest’s consolation and help, however REI’s compressible foam pillow is rather more packable, cheaper, and half the burden of the Compressible Cinch. 

ExPed Mega Pillow Overview: In the event you’re in search of a greater backpacking pillow with upgraded consolation, the Mega Pillow just isn’t as mushy because the Therm-a-rest Compressible, however it’s nonetheless snug with higher packability and help.