Let's review camping pillows by way of comparison. Why? Well, a comparison is an excellent way to highlight differences and similarities. So, why carry a pillow when using spare clothing or a backpack, or nothing suffices for most people? Getting a good night's sleep is worth carrying extra weight. For most outdoors people, sleep gear will be a significant part of their base weight.
The two pillows I'll compare the Nemo Fillo Elite Ultralight Backpacking Pillow and the Black Wolf Air-Lite Pro Pillow. The Fillo UL costs about 40% more than the Black Wolf.
The Fillo UL weighs 84g (2.96 oz) on my scales. The Fillo UL has an integrated stuff sack - which the gram weenies could cut away. There are larger versions of the Fillo that weigh more with more features.
The Air-Lite Pro weighs about 138g (4.87 oz) with its stuff sack.
And, about 10g lighter without the stuff sack.
The pillows are about the same size. The Fillo UL is rectangular, while the Air-Lite Pro has some rounding. The Air-Lite Pro is also a bit thicker. The far-surface coatings are soft and feel great against the skin, though I prefer the double-fabric feeling of the Fillo UL.
Both have functional valves that make it easy to adjust the air pressure. The Fillo UL has a stem and twist valve that makes micro-adjustments easy. I like the simplicity of the Air-Lite Pro's flap valve. After leaving both pillows inflated for weeks, neither valve appears to have leaked much.
Here is the Nemo rolled into its tiny integrated stuff sack for comparison.
Preference
I have slept using both pillows, and my preference is the Black Wolf Air-Lite Pro. The pillow shape makes it easy to handle and keep my head in place. But there isn't a lot in it. Neither pillow was thick enough for me as a side sleeper, so I was still adding clothing (or flip flops) under or over the pillows.
Conclusion
The Air-Lite Pro wins slightly on comfort and mostly on budget-friendliness. On the other hand, the Fillo UL wins on compactness. So, which would I carry?
If I intend to camp for a few days, then a bit of extra weight for the comfort benefit is worth it. However, the Fillo UL would be the best choice if I was hiking some distance or putting a "just in case" sleeping set into a day bag.
But, there is not much in it. If I owned either of these pillows, then the differences between them probably won't justify buying the other too.
I hope you found these gear comparisons helpful. Until next time.
. Keep up the fantastic work
