When I went on my first moto camping trip, in the flurry of packing, organizing things on the bike, and seriously considering weight… I completely forgot about the wonder of a good pillow. I rode off into the cold without one. However, on the trip I discovered (thanks to a fellow camper) the pillow I wanted to buy for moto camping. The Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow.
When I went on my first moto camping trip, in the flurry of packing, organizing things on the bike, and seriously considering weight… I completely forgot about the wonder of a good pillow. I rode off into the cold without one. However, on the trip I discovered (thanks to a fellow camper) the pillow I wanted to buy for moto camping. The Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow.
Pillow Sizing
After looking at the different sizing options and doing some quick measurements, I decided on the medium pillow. Weighing in at just 9 ounces, measuring 14 by 18 inches when open, and compressing down pretty small, this pillow is perfect for moto camping.
The pillow itself doesn’t have anything special or separate to pack it in. It folds into itself and there’s a cinch cord to hold it folded. The foam inside does compress super small though. So even after folding into itself, you can still do a “stuff into some empty space” type of thing to get it compressed even more if needed.
Comfort
Is the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow comfortable? It’s a pretty comfortable pillow for a small, lightweight camping pillow. The pillow has a super soft cover and the foam it’s stuffed with does a good job supporting my head comfortably.
I did consider some of the blowup pillow options. However, I personally find them to be a little hard on my head and really prefer actual stuffing to the blowup material. The Therm-a-Rest pillow has a super soft cover and does a good job supporting my head comfortably.
The Takeaway
For under $30, this is a fantastic pillow! It compresses small, it fluffs up decently big, and it’s lightweight. It really is a great pillow for moto camping – probably good for backpacking too.
As of now, I would recommend this pillow. We’ll see if that’s still the case after a few seasons of camping use… I hope it maintains it’s fluffiness and comfort long term!
Before Use & Info
Prior to even trying the pillow, I put it in the dryer on low with zero heat for almost an hour. It arrived super compressed. Using the dryer to fluff it worked great!
I would not recommend storing the pillow compressed. Doing that could make it less fluffy when you need it camping. I’m storing mine fully open in the loose mesh bag I also keep my sleeping bag in. Storing it with my sleeping bag is a great way to ensure I don’t forget it on my next moto camping trip, haha!
For info on other pillow sizes and full specs, visit thermarest.com.
Pillow pre-fluffing
Pillow post-fluffing
