Choosing the best camping pillow for UK adventures can be the difference between a great night’s sleep and a nightmare of a trip.
There’s not much worse than rocking up to your campsite, getting everything set up before settling down to sleep only to realise you’ve not got a camping pillow.
It’s an easy mistake to make and in the ideal world of camping – a pillow is an unnecessary accessory. Only in the real world, that pillow feels just as important as the sleeping bag you’re going to use when the day turns to night.
But not all travel pillows are created equally. Some are made from what can only be described as hot water bottle offcuts. Sure they’re inflatable, but they’re so uncomfortable that you just end up balling up your fleece in replacement.
The best camping pillows are those that you look forward to climbing into your sleeping bag with – not those that you want to hurl into the woods after your first night’s kip. This is often easier said than done – but by carefully choosing your next sleep companion, you too can experience the elusive comfortable camping pillow.
Below we’ve highlighted some of the best camping pillows available – from the budget to the very best options when camping in the UK.
Our number one pick for the overall best camping pillow for UK adventures is the Hikenture camping pillow.
The travel pillow stands as one of the best options for in-tent sleeping and is the perfect addition to the sleeping bag and sleeping mat combo. The Hikenture offers top quality at an affordable price making it our clear pick for the top option on the market.
The Hikenture takes the standard camping pillow and refines it – thickening the TPU construction and boosting the durability of the inflatable pillow. As well as the strength increases, the Hikenture pillow includes a removable soft pillow cover, making it easy to clean and more comfortable compared to its competitors.
With such good reviews, the inflatable camping pillow is sure to be one of the hot picks of the camping season!
The Hikenture Camping Pillow has everything we look for in a top-quality camping pillow at a sensible price point. With a removable soft cover, the inflatable camping pillow is our best value top pick for UK adventures.
*Pricing accurate at the time of publishing.
Likely to sell out in the summer months
An inflatable camping pillow is a great choice for campers and backpackers looking to save space on their camping trips.
Thi blow-up pillow for camping from Trekology is one that we’ve talked about before on Adventure Pending and it’s one that still stands as one of the best options for UK camping. The Amazon bestseller is available in 7 different colours – black, blue, red and orange are all available to the fashion-conscious napper.
The camping pillow can be inflated with just 3-5 breaths, depending on the size of your lungs, for a super speedy set-up. The pillow can be deflated just as easily, clicking the button to open the valve to release the air.
The pillow is made from a water-resistant TPU material which, as we’re sure you’re aware, is a must when camping in the great British weather. Condensation are leaky tents are real problems that require real solutions – the water-resistant camping pillow solves the problem.
The TREKOLOGY Ultralight inflatable camping pillow is small in size but big in comfort with an inflatable design that’s perfect for lightweight camping. The water-resistant construction is ideal for the UK weather and prevents a soggy night’s sleep.
*Pricing accurate at the time of publishing.
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We are firm believers that there really is no substitute for a good night’s sleep and unless you’re really roughing it on a backpacking trip, a good camping pillow on a UK campsite will change your life for the better!
Our best overall camping pillow comes from Sea to Summit and offers a premium camping pillow that really earns its keep in the tent. With three different sizes available (we’d personally always recommend the deluxe option), campers can be certain that they’ll be sleeping as soon as their head hits the camping pillow.
The perfect firmness can be achieved by first blowing up the camping pillow before using the fine-tune button to reach the optimum level of firmness. Moisture-wicking material keeps the pillow nice and dry, avoiding sweaty nights and condensation-filled tents from interrupting the midnight snooze.
Once you’re done with the travel pillow, simply deflate and pack away. It’s super quick, super easy and super comfortable. If there’s one luxury that you take with you camping, make sure it’s one of these pillows!
The Sea to Summit Aeros is our upgrade pick and a true premium camping pillow that’s really worth the extra change. With moisture-wicking material and extra soft padding, you really can’t go wrong with the top travel pillow for UK camping.
*Pricing accurate at the time of publishing.
Not everyone is looking for the best possible travel pillow when they’re heading out on a trip into the wilderness.
That being said, not all camping pillows are created equally and if the interest is in saving money over space, the best bet might just be to grab the pillow off of your bed before heading out of the door!
That being said, if you are looking for a cheap, camping-specific pillow and the TREKOLOGY Ultralight is just a little too far out of budget, don’t fret! The Quechua Camping Pillow from Decathlon.
The camping pillow offers a simple design at an inexpensive price tag that’s perfect for budget campers looking for a dedicated sleep companion. Unlike others on the list, the portable pillow is not an inflatable option – meaning that the fabric is machine-washable with a waterproof groundsheet to prevent a soggy nights sleep.
The Quechua Camping Pillow is our top pick for UK campers looking for a budget camping pillow that they can rely on. The simple travel cushion is a great choice for those looking for an inexpensive, dedicated camping pillow.
*Pricing accurate at the time of publishing.
Although they are often incredibly simple in their design, UK campers do have a handful of factors to consider before committing to their next camping pillow.
The biggest difference between the different types of camping pillows that can be chosen for UK camping is whether you go for an inflatable or a non-inflatable option.
The inflatable camping pillows are great for taking up the least amount of space possible. This is ideal if you’re looking for wild camping or trekking where the space in your camping backpack is limited. These pillows are lightweight, but they do lack a little bit of comfort compared with a traditional home pillow.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are the non-inflatable camping pillows. Now, these do take up a lot of space compared to the inflatable options, but what they take in space they make up for in comfort. These are much more similar to the typical bed pillows that you’re used to at home, only a little more substantial to deal with condensation etc.
Chances are that you’ll already know exactly which type of camping pillow that you’re looking for. If you want to minimise the weight and space taken – it’s the inflatable pillow that you’re going to want. However, if there’s plenty of space in your car/van for camping accessories, the non-inflatable camping pillow is the best for a good night’s sleep.
If you spend enough time in the Great British weather, it’s only a matter of time before your camping pillow is going to be in need of a bit of a clean.
Not all of these travel pillows can be quickly and easily washed and different pillows come with different washing options. Budget camping pillows are typically made of TPU and can be wiped clean easily whereas other higher-quality options feature a soft fabric sleeve for maximum comfort.
If you are planning multi-day trips in poor weather, it may be best to opt for an easy-clean option. However, if you’re aiming for spring and summer camping without too much concern for getting caught in the worst weather, a fabric pillow will be just fine.
Although it may not be your first thought when choosing a camping pillow – the waterproof rating is incredibly important.
Camping pillows can become wet or damp for a number of reasons. Sure, the tent could flood and your sleeping gear ruined – but it’s much more likely that condensation will be the real challenge. A standard home pillow will become damp and likely stay that way for the trip if condensation makes its way in – ruining any chance of a comfortable sleep.
To combat this, the majority of dedicated camping pillows are waterproof. This is perfect for keeping your sleeping gear dry – avoiding a cold sleep in the evening.
Have a question about any one of the top best camping pillows for UK camping? Check our frequently asked questions section below where we’ll aim to answer all of your questions about sleeping with an inflatable travel pillow.
The simple answer to what to use as a pillow when camping is a dedicated camping pillow.
There are plenty of different options on the market, but a good-quality inflatable travel pillow is typically recognised as the top choice. Alternatively, a water-resistant standard camping pillow can be used as an upgrade pick if space is not an issue!
An inflatable camping pillow can easily be packed away when deflated. A number of these inflatable travel pillows will also come with a travel bag, keeping things organised on the campsite.
Alternatively, if the camping pillow is not inflatable, these can simply be packed much in the same way as a cushion. These can be particularly useful when driving long distances for a little extra comfort.
Still searching for the answer to a question about the best camping pillows? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Adventure Pending team via email or through our social media channels!
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