Why I finally stopped hating on those tiny backpacking pillows

I spent 3 years thinking they were a total waste of money and just used my puffy jacket rolled up. Then I was camping up near Lake Tahoe last fall and this older guy at the site next to me let me try his Sea to Summit pillow for one night. Woke up without my neck feeling like a pretzel for the first time in forever. Has anyone else had one of those gear items they swore off for years but finally gave in?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_anthony2mo ago

Wait, you actually sleep well with a rolled up jacket?

margaret3042mo ago

oh man, same here. i can never get comfy with a jacket pillow, always end up with a sore neck. glad i'm not the only one who struggles with that hack.

park.abby1mo ago

Right there with you, seriously. That rolled up jacket thing always sounds so clever but it never works out for me either. My neck ends up crooked and I wake up worse than before. @the_anthony probably had the same thought, like who actually finds that comfortable? I've tried folding it different ways and it's just not happening. At this point I just bring a real travel pillow or use my bag as a footrest instead.