EVERY OUNCE COUNTS
There is a term with backpackers and adventurers – Every ounce counts! We are always looking for ways to shed pounds and even ounces in our packs. So we look for gear that can be used in multiple ways.

PACKPILLOW REVIEW
When a product like PackPillow comes along, I get excited. But, a little skeptical! Will PackPillow actually help reduce the amount of weight we carry? Can PackPillow be used for multiple things and reduce the need to carry other items? Or, is PackPillow just one more thing to carry and extra weight? Is the PackPillow better than a blowup camping pillow?

WHAT IS PACKPILLOW?
PackPillow markets itself as a large, comfortable and lightweight backpacking pillow, a water-resistant seat cushion, a hiking summit backpack, and a stuff sack for transporting small items in a large backpack.

AS A LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACKING PILLOW

For someone like me who likes a thinner pillow and hates blowup pillows, PackPillow is great to sleep on. The foam in the pillow is very soft and actually more comfortable than I ever would have expected! The cushion pillow is made of 1-inch foam. If you like a thicker pillow, the top of the pillow unzips and allows you to add a T-shirt or other soft item to make the pillow thicker. As lumpy as that sounds, the foam construction of the pillow evens the lumps out and it is comfortable. And, at 14-inches wide, the pillow is large enough for two to share if you are close enough. It is perfect for a couple to enjoy with a double hammock! And, it is far more comfortable than any blowup pillow!

AS A WATER-RESISTANT SEAT CUSHION

Small camping chairs have gotten smaller and lighter over the last few years. But, they are still a one-use item and adds weight and take space in a pack. PackPillow is very light (marketed at only 4.5 oz) and is great to sit on to stay dry. And, with its water-resistant fabric, your foam pillow on the inside doesn’t get wet. That means it goes from seat to pillow in seconds. PackPillow is 14-inches by 10-inches at the widest point, making it wide enough to sit on and shift around without getting wet.

AS A HIKING SUMMIT BACKPACK

If you purchase the clip-on sling accessory, you can use PackPillow as a lightweight 6-liter backpack. The pack even has a hydration hole for a water bladder. It is great to carry water and other items for a quick summit, nearby hike, or trip to the beach! Then, as you sit on a mountain top or sandy beach, it converts to a seat.

AS A STUFF SACK
When you backpack, stuff sacks are key to keeping items organized. PackPillow is great to carry the important items you need when you first get to camp. Once the items are unloaded, it is easily converted to a seat and later a pillow. The foam pillow is compressible and does not take up too much room.

THE TESTING AREAS
AT THE BEACH IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Conditions: Sunny, 77-degrees, and dry!
I used PackPillow to sleep on during an overnight beach camping trip at Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina. I also used it to carry water, sunscreen, keys, dog food, a tennis ball and other dog toys to the beach. It was about a 100-yard walk from campsite to the beach. Sand did not stick to the bottom of the slick fabric. I was impressed with its ease of shedding sand! It transitioned well from a pack, to a seat placed directly on the sand, to a pillow after a blanket was placed on the sand. In this case, I did not want sand on the inside and directly on the foam pillow. The pillow is still comfortable lying directly on the outside water-resistant fabric.

NEAR THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA
Conditions: Cold, wet, rain and sleet, with a snow melt the day before.
PackPillow was perfect to sit on while viewing the magmatic Smoky Mountains National Park from a nearby mountaintop campsite. The snow was still present on the mountain peaks and made a beautiful setting. Once it was time to sleep, the dirt, water, and mud quickly rolled off the outside nylon fabric. I reversed the PackPillow to expose the foam pillow on the inside and was comfortable sleeping on it all night.

THE PROS OF PACKPILLOW
• Very light
• Water-resistant
• Rolls up tight
• Can be used as a stuff sack in a backpack
• Can be used as a seat which reduces the need to bring anything else to sit on.
• Has a hydration hole for a water bladder
• Very versatile
• The nylon fabric is resistant to sand, dirt, and mud sticking.
• The water-resistant fabric is reversible to protect the foam pillow on the inside.
• The optional strap has a pocket for a phone, small point-and-shoot camera, keys and other small items. My iPhone 7 and keys fit perfectly inside the stretchable fabric.

THE CONS OF PACKPILLOW
• The zipper area is not as large as I would like for it to be. The pack itself is large enough for a frisbee to fit in. But, the zipper area is not large enough for it, or other larger items. It’s good for water and small items, but nothing large.
• At first, I didn’t realize the PackPillow was reversible. The rubbing noise from the outside of the water-resistant fabric was loud. But, once I reversed the fabric I found the pillow and inside fabric to be soft and quiet!

CONCLUSION

WHERE TO PURCHASE PACKPILLOW
• Getpackpillow.com: LINK
• Amazon: LINK