DIY Backpacking Pillow: How to Make Your Own Lightweight Pillow

If you love camping, you know how important it is to have a good night’s sleep. But carrying a bulky and heavy pillow can be a hassle, especially if you have limited space in your backpack. That’s why many campers opt for making their own DIY backpacking pillow using lightweight and easy-to-find materials.

A DIY backpacking pillow can be a great way to save money, reduce weight, and customize your comfort level. You can choose the size, shape, and filling of your pillow according to your preferences and needs. Plus, making your own pillow can be a fun and rewarding project that you can do at home or on the road.

In this article, we’ll show you how to make a DIY backpacking pillow in four different ways. We’ll also give you some tips and tricks on how to optimize your pillow for comfort, durability, and packability. Whether you’re looking for a simple, self-inflating, quilted, or inflatable pillow, we’ve got you covered.

How to Make a Simple DIY Backpacking Pillow

The simplest way to make a DIY backpacking pillow is to use a piece of fabric and some stuffing. You can use any fabric you like, such as cotton, fleece, flannel, or nylon. For the stuffing, you can use synthetic or natural fibers, such as polyester, wool, down, or cotton. You can also use scraps of fabric or clothing as stuffing.

Here are the steps to make a simple DIY backpacking pillow:

1. Cut the fabric into two equal pieces of the size and shape you want your pillow to be. You can make it square, rectangular, circular, or any other shape you like.
2. Place the two pieces of fabric on top of each other with the right sides facing inwards. Pin them together along the edges.
3. Sew along the edges with a sewing machine or needle and thread, leaving a small gap for turning the pillow inside out.
4. Turn the pillow inside out through the gap and fill it with your stuffing of choice. You can adjust the amount of stuffing to make it firmer or softer.
5. Sew the gap closed with a sewing machine or needle and thread.

That’s it! You’ve just made your own simple DIY backpacking pillow. You can use it as it is or add some extra features like buttons, snaps, Velcro, or drawstrings to make it more secure and adjustable.

How to Make a Self-Inflating DIY Backpacking Pillow

Another way to make a DIY backpacking pillow is to use memory foam as the filling. Memory foam is a type of foam that molds to your shape and provides excellent support and comfort. It also has the ability to self-inflate when compressed and released.

To make a self-inflating DIY backpacking pillow, you’ll need:

• A piece of memory foam
• A gallon-size ziplock bag
• Some foil tape
• Some cloth

Here are the steps to make a self-inflating DIY backpacking pillow:

1. Cut the memory foam into a piece of the size and shape you want your pillow to be. You can use scissors or a knife to cut it.
2. Insert the memory foam into the ziplock bag and seal it shut.
3. Cut off one corner of the ziplock bag with scissors or a knife. This will create an opening for air to enter and exit the bag.
4. Cover the opening with foil tape and poke a small hole in the center with a pin or needle. This will create a valve for inflating and deflating the pillow.
5. Cut the cloth into two equal pieces of the same size and shape as the ziplock bag.
6. Place the two pieces of cloth on top of each other with the right sides facing inwards. Pin them together along the edges, leaving a small gap for inserting the ziplock bag.
7. Sew along the edges with a sewing machine or needle and thread, leaving the gap open.
8. Insert the ziplock bag into the cloth cover through the gap and align the valve with the gap.
9. Sew the gap closed with a sewing machine or needle and thread, making sure to secure the valve in place.

You’ve just made your own self-inflating DIY backpacking pillow. To use it, simply roll it up and secure it with a strap or elastic band. When you unroll it, the memory foam will expand and inflate the pillow. To deflate it, press on the valve and squeeze out the air.

How to Make a Quilted DIY Backpacking Pillow

If you want to make a more luxurious and cozy DIY backpacking pillow, you can try making a quilted one. A quilted pillow is made of two layers of fabric with some batting in between. The batting adds extra warmth and cushioning to the pillow.

To make a quilted DIY backpacking pillow, you’ll need:

• Two pieces of fabric
• Some batting
• A zipper
• A sewing machine or needle and thread

Here are the steps to make a quilted DIY backpacking pillow:

1. Cut the fabric into two equal pieces of the size and shape you want your pillow to be. You can use any fabric you like, such as cotton, fleece, flannel, or nylon.
2. Cut the batting into a piece of the same size and shape as the fabric.
3. Place one piece of fabric on a flat surface with the right side facing up. Place the batting on top of it and pin them together along the edges.
4. Quilt the fabric and batting together with a sewing machine or needle and thread. You can use any quilting pattern you like, such as straight lines, zigzags, or curves.
5. Place the other piece of fabric on top of the quilted piece with the right sides facing inwards. Pin them together along the edges.
6. Lay out the zipper along one edge of the fabric and mark where it starts and ends with pins.
7. Sew along the edges with a sewing machine or needle and thread, leaving a gap between the pins for inserting the zipper.
8. Turn the pillow inside out through the gap and insert the zipper into it. Pin it in place along the edge.
9. Sew along the edge with a sewing machine or needle and thread, securing the zipper in place.
10. Zip up the zipper and turn the pillow right side out.

You’ve just made your own quilted DIY backpacking pillow. You can use it as it is or add some extra features like buttons, snaps, Velcro, or drawstrings to make it more secure and adjustable.

How to Make an Inflatable DIY Backpacking Pillow

The last way to make a DIY backpacking pillow is to use an inflatable bladder as the filling. An inflatable bladder is a plastic bag that can be filled with air and sealed shut. You can use an empty wine bladder, a water bladder, or any other type of bladder that can hold air.

To make an inflatable DIY backpacking pillow, you’ll need:

• An empty wine bladder
• A straw or valve
• Some duct tape
• Some cloth

Here are the steps to make an inflatable DIY backpacking pillow:

1. Rinse out the wine bladder and let it dry completely.
2. Cut off one corner of the wine bladder with scissors or a knife. This will create an opening for inflating and deflating the bladder.
3. Insert a straw or valve into the opening and secure it with duct tape. This will create a valve for inflating and deflating the pillow.
4. Cut the cloth into two equal pieces of the same size and shape as the wine bladder.
5. Place the two pieces of cloth on top of each other with the right sides facing inwards. Pin them together along the edges, leaving a small gap for inserting the wine bladder.
6. Sew along the edges with a sewing machine or needle and thread, leaving the gap open.
7. Insert the wine bladder into the cloth cover through the gap and align the valve with the gap.
8. Sew the gap closed with a sewing machine or needle and thread, making sure to secure the valve in place.

You’ve just made your own inflatable DIY backpacking pillow. To use it, simply blow into the valve to inflate it to your desired firmness and close it shut. To deflate it, open the valve and squeeze out

the air.

Conclusion

Making your own DIY backpacking pillow can be a great way to save money, reduce weight, and customize your comfort level while camping. You can choose from four different methods: simple, self-inflating, quilted, or inflatable.

Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences best. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a DIY backpacking pillow method:

• Weight: The weight of your DIY backpacking pillow will depend on the materials and techniques you use. Generally, the inflatable and self-inflating methods are the lightest, followed by the simple and quilted methods. However, the weight difference may not be significant if you use lightweight fabrics and fillings.
• Bulk: The bulk of your DIY backpacking pillow will also depend on the materials and techniques you use. Generally, the inflatable and self-inflating methods are the most compact, followed by the simple and quilted methods. However, the bulk difference may not be significant if you compress your pillow well and pack it efficiently.
• Comfort: The comfort of your DIY backpacking pillow will depend on your personal preferences and sleeping habits. Generally, the quilted and simple methods are the most comfortable, followed by the self-inflating and inflatable methods. However, the comfort difference may not be significant if you adjust your pillow’s firmness and shape to your liking.
• Durability: The durability of your DIY backpacking pillow will depend on the quality and strength of the materials and techniques you use. Generally, the quilted and simple methods are the most durable, followed by the self-inflating and inflatable methods. However, the durability difference may not be significant if you take good care of your pillow and repair any damages promptly.

We hope this article has helped you learn how to make a DIY backpacking pillow in four different ways. Now you can enjoy a better sleep while camping without compromising on weight or space. Happy camping!