Head support

**sc_rupiper** · 09-07-2009, 06:37

What's everyone using for head support in their hammocks. I've tried nothing, a camping pillow (thermarest), and my arm, but is seems like I'm unable to find something that really knocks me out

when I first get in there. The thermarest almost makes my neck hurt after a little while because it props it up so much. Comments/suggestions are very appreciated

**Bunn** · 09-07-2009, 06:57

I like to use a fleece covered, "U" shaped inflatable travel pillow becuase I can adjust how much, or little support there is. Of course, never underestimate the comfort of a balled up piece of fleece or poly pro.

**Just Jeff** · 09-07-2009, 07:18

I've used lots of things. When I carried a fleece jacket I'd stuff the jacket down into an arm hole and use that. Now I use a clothes bag, a 48oz soft-sided Nalgene canteen (solid cap with no water tube) and one of those little white inflatable pillows that Ed and JRB has. Things I'm already carrying anyway.

In the winter I usually use the clothes under my neck so it's insulated, and I'll have warm water in the Nalgene inside my quilt. In summer, it really doesn't matter. If I don't have enough clothing to fill out the bag enough to provide good support, I'll put the Nalgene inside the clothes bag.

One pillow under my neck and one under knees, or between my knees or under my waist if I'm sleeping on my side.

**Scratch** · 09-07-2009, 08:45

My recommendations are with 'lightweight' in mind.
1) I don't always have spare clothes to stuff into a stuff sack. So, I like the Flexair pillow, inflatable, packs down to nothing and can change the 'feel' based on amount of air.
2) If I don't mind adding an extra few ounces to the pack, I also have a Down, CloudRest pillow from WM. (pgilson on the forum is making a similar product.)
3) You might also experiment with how the hammock is hung. I'm one of the few on this forum that prefers my head a little higher than my feet. In the right position, I can sleep just fine without a pillow.

**Beast 71** · 09-07-2009, 08:53

I like a rolled up t-shirt just under my neck.

**Just Jeff** · 09-07-2009, 08:56

Get inflatable kids water wings (the arm band kind) and cut the bonded part so it'll lay flat.

**Mustardman** · 09-07-2009, 09:14

If car camping, I use one of those airline neck pillows they sell at the newstands in the airports. It's got a sort of beanbag type filling to it so I can shift it around to get the support I want. If hiking in, I'll use a thermarest neck pillow, if I remember to pack it, or a rolled up bit of clothing. T-shirts and down jackets work pretty well for this.

**Ordin_Aryguy** · 09-07-2009, 09:53

The Wal-Mart stuff sacks filled with clothes make a great pillow, at least for me. On trips, I always bring two of the stuff sacks, one for clean clothes and the other obviously for the nasties I have to ditch at the end of the day.

Surprisingly enough, the smell of the dirty clothes doesn't really get through the stuff sacks. Could be that I'm just too tired to notice, too. Naaah, I'd notice.

Although the packaging on the Wal-Mart stuff sacks says they're water proof, ignore that boastful claim. Very water resistant, yes. When camping just about everything that goes into my backpack is put in to one of them, as much to provide a great deal of water resistance as for the organinzation they provide. Attempting to find that specific "something" while digging through a backpack that looks like all the gear has just been haphazardly poured into it, as is always the case after about 2 days, is a genuine PIA.

Stuff sacks. Good pillows and more.

Ordin

**pgibson** · 09-07-2009, 10:14

I had the same problem a couple of months ago, to much pillow and it felt like my neck was getting pushed forward, nothing and my neck began to acke. I gave a stuff sack full of clothes a try but that is lumpy and sucks when you wake up with a zipper pressed into the side of your face. And I am usualy wearing most all my clothes when on a pack trip, if any thing I don't have on my hiking socks (don't want them by my face even in a stuff sack) my wide brimed hat and my rain gear-not soft and there are those dang zippers to try and fold under. So that was what spured me to start making my hammock pillows. I wanted somthing that was light, comfortable, and packed down to a good small size. Here is a link to the discussion on them. http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=9985

I have done up two sizes, the smaller one is what I like to give extra support right under my neck, but the large is nice for more a little softer full size pillow.

Paul