Bottom Line
The Therm-a-rest Compressible Cinch Pillow is a cozy alternative to firmer air pillows – some of which feel like balloons, chip bags, or pool toys when fully inflated. This pillow’s compressible foam blocks make it a softer-than-average pillow that lets our heads sink into a sea of cushion.
It also features a cinch system to compress the pillow for additional support. This adjustable foam pillow – with a potentially good blend of comfort and support – has a feeling that we can get behind. After all, this pillow was previously our Editor’s Pick as the best overall camping and backpacking pillow. But its weight and packability make it a much tougher sell for backpackers. See how this option compares to our other favorites on our guide to the best camping pillows of the year.
With its weight, packability, and support lagging behind most backpacking pillows we recommend, we’ve bumped it down slightly based on our comparative testing model. However we’re still happy to recommend the Compressible Cinch as a comfort-forward camping pillow and a possibility for backpackers who prefer the feel of foam pillows to air pillows – and don’t mind carrying extra weight and bulk.
How We Tested
Over the past few months, we’ve subjected the Compressible Pillow to a series of side-by-side tests to compare its comfort, weight, packability, support, and ease of use to a dozen other pillows. Gear Analyst Jory Brass backpacked and camped across New Mexico’s high desert mountains with a ton of camp pillows in tow to see if this best-seller from Therm-a-rest still deserved its #1 ranking by CleverHiker.
Quick Specs
Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow Cinch
Best Budget Camping Pillow
CleverHiker Rating:
4.5/5.0
Price:
$37
Weight:
10 oz.
Pillow Type:
Compressible foam
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Less expensive
- Very durable
- Machine washable
- Fun pillowcase patterns
Cons
- Bulky
- A bit heavy for backpacking
Comfort
Comfort is the calling card of Therm-a-rest’s Compressible pillow. Fluffier and bulkier than the typical camping and backpacking pillow, the Compressible features floating foam blocks for a different feel than ultralight air pillows. The mix of polyurethane foam and polyester insulation isn’t as lumpy as the REI Trailmade pillow; however, CleverHiker’s Senior Gear Analyst still felt it was lumpier than he wanted.
Lumpy or not, this compressible foam pillow is noticeably more cushioned than the inflatable pillows we’ve tested. The pillow’s cinch system also allows us to adjust its feel. Cinching down the cord compresses the foam over a smaller area for a firmer, more supportive pillow. Loosening the cinch spreads out the foam for a flatter, softer, and less supportive nest for our head. That adjustability increases its comfort.
Testing the regular-sized Compressible – listed at 18 x 13 x 6 inches – we appreciated its puffiness compared to his typical air pillow. In particular, we noticed that the softer, compressible pillow didn’t smash our ears while sleeping on his side – which meant we didn’t need to roll over as often at night.
Even though the floating foam blocks didn’t provide as much support as the air pillows in our testing line up, we felt comfortable sleeping on his side with our heads and necks nestled in the regular-sized Compressible Cinch Pillow. We weren’t convinced that the small-sized Compressible Cinch would be as comfortable given its thinner build.
However, CleverHiker Founder Dave Collins is more effusive in his praise for this pillow’s comfort – it’s his personal favorite camping pillow based on years of backpacking experience.
Weight & Packability
In spite of that endorsement, the Therm-a-rest Compressible isn’t the most obvious pick for backpackers, given its weight and packability. With a claimed weight of 10 ounces, the regular Compressible Cinch is heavier than most backpacking pillows. For example, the backpacking pillows we recommend range from 1.7 ounces to 6+ ounces.
Likewise, its packed size is significantly bulkier than backpacking air pillows and the other compressible foam pillow on our list, the REI Trailmade pillow. The pillow’s integrated stuff sack lets us partially fold the Compressible Pillow into itself and secure it down with a bungee loop and plastic hook. However, its smushed size is still bigger than a full-sized football, taking up significant pack space.
For CleverHiker’s founder, the Compressible Pillow’s comfort outweighs the trade offs in weight and packability – and that’s based on several challenging, multi-day backpacking trips. However, ultralight backpackers and thru-hikers may not agree and may instead prefer the lighter, more packable air pillows on our list.
Support
Compared with the other camping and backpacking pillows we’ve tested, the Therm-a-rest pillow offers average support. Cinched down to maximize its loft, it is fairly supportive, given the depth of that foam nest. Even so, those chunks of foam aren’t as firm and supportive as the solid block of gel memory foam in the Weekender pillow, nor do they provide as much lift and resilience as inflatable camp pillows.
If you’re used to thicker pillows – or you’re a side sleeper who likes the support of air pillows – you might not like how much this compressible foam pillow packs down. Plenty of customer reviews call out the pillow’s limited support, especially as those foam blocks pack down throughout the night.
However, Gear Analyst Jory Brass pulled off a couple nights of side sleeping on this pillow’s floating compressible foam without any neck issues. Overall, though, this pillow is geared more towards people who prefer a softer pillow over a supportive pillow.
Ease of Use
Once you’ve used this Therm-a-rest pillow a few times, you’ll feel comfortable unpacking it, using the cinch to adjust its loft, reversing its cover/pocket to partially stuff it and pack it back down. However, this pillow has enough bungees, cinches, cords, toggles, and pockets to potentially confuse you the first time you use it. More than one customer has mentioned being mystified by this pillow in the field, especially when it’s dark. Still, it’s a camp pillow, so things can’t go too wrong.
Should You Buy the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Cinch Pillow?
Pretty much everyone agrees that the Therm-a-rest Compressible is a comfortable camp pillow for the campground. However, even gear experts can’t completely agree if it can double up as a backpacking pillow.
Either way, we highly recommend this product. It’s softer than the standard air pillow, which may be a game changer for campers or side sleepers who are sick of their ears hurting so bad that they have to keep flipping sides overnight. The regular Compressible Cinch should be supportive enough for all back, stomach sleepers and side sleepers.
This could also be a comfort splurge for backpackers who don’t mind packing a pillow that’s bigger than their sleeping bag. Overall, this is a versatile, comfortable camp pillow with many benefits that ranks high on our list of the best camp pillows.
What Other Camping Pillows Should You Consider?
Our complete list of the best camping and backpacking pillows has more options for both backcountry and frontcountry camping.
NEMO Fillo Review: The Fillo Pillow is a hybrid air/foam pillow that also straddles the line between a camping and backpacking pillow. The Therm-a-rest pillow is softer, but the Fillo is more packable and supportive.
REI Trailmade Pillow Review: In our side to side testing, we all prefered Therm-a-rest’s comfort and support, but REI’s compressible foam pillow is much more packable, less expensive, and half the weight of the Compressible Cinch.
ExPed Mega Pillow Review: If you’re looking for a better backpacking pillow with upgraded comfort, the Mega Pillow is not as soft as the Therm-a-rest Compressible, but it’s still comfortable with better packability and support.
