SLEEPING PADS $7/dayAll of our sleeping pads are self-inflating Thermarest pads. Colors and sizes vary, please call or come by the shop for more information or to make a reservation. Trail LiteAvailable in Reg., Long, & WomensWeight: 1lb 12oz - 2lb 7oz The Trail Lite self-inflating mattress offers an outstanding combination of comfort, compactness and value making it one of the best all-around camping mattresses available. Die-cut foam reduces weight and bulk while self-inflation adds convenience you’ll appreciate at the end of the day. ProliteAvailable in Reg., Long, & Women'sWeight - 1lb - 1lb 6oz The self-inflating ProLite™ mattresses are tailor-made for anyone seeking lightweight and convenient three-season comfort. Self-inflation keeps set-up super-easy and its die-cut foam packs small, easily fitting inside the most ultralight packs. The result is a mattress that’s ideal for high-mileage, high-speed journeys where lightweight, three-season warmth is key.
BasecampAvailable in Regular and LongWeight: 2lb 6oz - 3lb 3oz The BaseCamp mattress is the straightforward, workhorse of car camping comfort. It’s based on our trusted self-inflating design that’s been providing comfort under the stars for over 40 years. Crafted on this foundation of time-tested materials and components, the BaseCamp™ mattress is lightweight, compressible and now softer than ever, making it an even better travel companion. ToughSkinAvailable in "one size fits most"Weight: 2.9lb Thorns and sharp rocks won't give you grief when you're sleeping on Therm-a-Rest's ToughSkin Sleeping Pad. The multilayer construction's closed-cell foam bottom layer is thick enough to prevent thorns from piercing the air-holding seal, so you won't wake up with a deflated sleeping pad when you're camping on desert terrain or Rocky Mountain snow. Light enough to bring on backpacking adventures, Therm-a-Rest's ToughSkin Pad gives you an easily transportable, comfortable place to rest.
ExpeditionAvailable in Long onlyWeight: 2lb 15oz The best combination of comfort and compactness. Versatile enough for backpacking or car camping. Extra-thick for increased warmth and comfort. Die-cut foam reduces weight and pack size. Neo AirAvailble in "one size fits most"Weight: 1lb 3oz - 1lb 9oz Lightweight, durable and extremely warm, the NeoAir All Season mattress is the ultimate solution to year-round backcountry comfort. *descriptions and images thanks to respective vendor websitesWe receive free products to review and participate in affiliate programs, where we are compensated for items purchased through links from our site (at no cost to the buyer). See our for our list of comped products and affiliate programs. REI’s Self-Inflating Travel Pillow will keep you comfortable both on and off the road. The versatile inflatable pillow has an additional foam filling and durable cover so you can use it on a plane, in a tent or in a pinch if your hotel pillow just won’t do.
We’ve got just one sizable complaint. Read on to find out. Check out my best travel pillow page for more recommendations. REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) is a well-known and reputable outdoor gear, clothing, and footwear company. They sell a wide array of camping and travel products from several brand names including their own. The REI self-inflating pillow is a durable and good-looking travel and camping pillow. The pillow’s filling is a combination of air and foam, which makes it extra comfortable and slightly more responsive than a pillow that is only inflatable. The shape and the filling of the pillow reminded me of both the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow and the AirComfy Inflatable Travel Pillow. The pillow inflates itself very quickly and I like that I can add extra air manually if I want it to be super firm. The valve is also pretty easy to use and there are instructions on the valve itself so you know how to pull and/or twist it on and off to inflate or deflate.
There are also detailed instructions and extra tips on the back of the packaging the pillow comes with. It includes helpful information for storing (make sure you to leave the valve open!). The silicone striping on the back of the pillow is unique and not something I’ve seen in other travel pillows. I think it is especially handy for this pillow specifically because the stretch-knit polyester fabric cover is soft and comfortable but is prone to slipping. This will definitely help keep your pillow in place if you have it up against the window of a plane or car. The pillow is not machine washable or dryer-friendly and the care instructions are a bit detailed. REI says you should fully inflate the pillow and use a soft brush with mild detergent to clean it. Then rinse it off, towel and air dry. It will take some time to get the pillow fully cleaned and dried so that’s worth keeping in mind if you’re a frequent traveler. Another way you can protect your pillow from germs and help keep it clean for longer is to use the travel case (or “stuff sack” as REI calls it) with your pillow.
It was a little hard for me to fully deflate the pillow, probably because of the foam filling, and get it tight enough to fit in the case. On REI’s website, they show you how to deflate and scrunch the pillow, but I would recommend following the instructions written on the package and place the pillow on a flat surface and roll the air out like you would roll up a sleeping bag. Once the travel case is in its travel case it’s very compact and can easily be attached to a piece of luggage or thrown into a carry-on bag. I like the versatility of this pillow. I can use this traveling and I can also use it as a pillow replacement if I need a better pillow in a hotel (or if I’m camping). The biggest flaw seems to be the shape of the pillow. The pillow has wide edges and a narrow center, so the surface area where you’d rest the back of your head (or the side of your face if you are a side sleeper) is limited. Other reviewers had similar issues with the limited surface of the pillow.
I think the shape of the REI pillow saves on space and allows it to be compact, but for personal comfort I’m more inclined to like a full rectangular or square-shaped pillow like the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow (which can also be found at REI). The pillow cannot be machine washed or dried so you will need to allow time to hand wash it and let it air dry. The pillow has a unique shape wider ends and the center is the most narrow and has the least surface area. Some reviewers found this shape made it hard to get comfortable. It took a little bit of work to compress the pillow enough to fit it into its travel case. The instructions recommend laying the pillow onto a flat service and pressing down/rolling up the pillow to squeeze the maximum amount of air out. This will work if you really apply pressure but I worry it might be tricky to do this in a small airplane seat with just a tray table as a flat surface.This pillow is priced closely to the Therm-a-Rest Compressible pillow which is a similar pillow (and another nice option).