An inflatable pillow saves space, but it never feels like the one at home. The Accuratex Camping Pillow gets much closer: it’s filled with shredded gel memory foam in a soft cotton cover, it squashes down into a bag with a carry rope, and you can add or take out foam to set the height. It cost us $35.
What’s in the box
A 46 × 33 cm pillow with a removable 100% cotton jersey cover over an inner bag of shredded gel memory foam, which has its own zip so you can adjust the fill. It comes in a matching stuff sack with a long rope that doubles as a strap, and in grey, army green, navy, blue and pink.
What we like
- Feels like a real pillow
- Shredded gel memory foam
- Add or remove foam to set the loft
- Soft, washable cotton cover
- Rope on the bag straps to a pack
- Good value at $35
What we don’t
- 526 g, bulky next to air
- Needs time to puff up at first
- Foam can feel warm on hot nights
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Accuratex |
| Material | Cotton jersey coverShredded gel memory foam |
| Colour options | GreyArmy GreenNavyBluePink |
| Weight | 526 g |
| Size | 46 × 33 cm |
| Packed size | 37 × 12.7 cm |
| Included | Bag with carry rope |
| Features | Adjustable fillWashable cover |
Shredded foam you can adjustAdjustable foam
Inside the cover is a white inner bag full of blue shredded gel memory foam. The shredded pieces mould to your head and neck without bottoming out, and they let more air through than a solid block of foam. The inner bag has its own zip, so you can take some foam out for a flatter pillow or push it around until the height suits your back or side.
Fresh out of the bag it’s squashed flat and needs a while to puff up the first time; after that, a shake and a few minutes do it.
A cotton cover that zips off
The cover is 100% cotton jersey, soft like a favourite t-shirt and much nicer against your face than the synthetic fabric of most camping pillows. A long zip with a blue pull runs along one side, so it comes off easily for the washing machine. Memory foam holds a little warmth, so on a hot night it can feel warmer than an air pillow.
Packs into a bag with a ropePacking
Squash it down, fold it and it rolls into its stuff sack, about 37 cm long and 12.7 cm across. Getting it back into the bag is easy, with none of the wrestling some compressible pillows need. The bag’s long rope works as a shoulder strap, or to tie it to the outside of a pack or a suitcase handle. At 526 g it’s heavy next to an inflatable, so it’s a pillow for the car, a base camp or a flight more than for a long hike.
How it compares with other memory foam pillowsVs memory foam pillows
We’ve tested three other memory foam pillows. The Naturehike Washable is the biggest, with a velvet cover, but weighs 790 g; the grey Hikeman Memory Foam is the lightest, with a cotton side and a fleece side; and the Hikeman Memory Foam Camping is shaped for your neck. Only the Accuratex lets you adjust the fill.
This one Accuratex | Lightest Hikeman Grey | Shaped Hikeman Yellow | Biggest Naturehike Washable | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjustable loft | Yes | No | No | No |
| Size | 46 × 33 cm | 38 × 25 × 10 cm | 43 × 22 × 12 cm | 50 × 32 × 11 cm |
| Packed size | 37 × 12.7 cm | 25 × 12.5 × 12.5 cm | 21 × 14.5 cm | 30 × 15 cm |
| Fill | Shredded gel memory foam | Memory foam | Slow-rebound memory foam | Memory foam |
| Cover | Cotton jersey, removable | Cotton & fleece, removable | Removable, washable | Velvet, removable |
| Weight | 526 g | 360 g | 445 g | 790 g |
| Price paid | $35 | $85 | $75 | $67 |
| Our score | 8.7 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.8 |
Conclusion: Accuratex Camping PillowConclusion
The Accuratex Camping Pillow is the closest thing to your pillow at home that still packs into a bag. The shredded gel memory foam moulds to your head, you can add or take out foam to set the height, and the soft cotton cover zips off to wash. At 526 g it’s heavy next to an inflatable, it needs time to puff up the first time and it can feel warm on a hot night, but for $35 it’s a very comfortable pillow for the car or a base camp.
The closest thing to your pillow at home that still packs into a bag.
Shredded gel memory foam moulds to your head, you can add or take out foam to set the height, and the soft cotton cover zips off to wash. At 526 g it’s heavy next to an inflatable, and it needs time to puff up the first time.
- Car campers
- 4WD tourers
- Travellers
Yes, if comfort comes first. $35 buys a pillow that feels real, with adjustable shredded foam and a washable cotton cover. At 526 g it’s for the car more than the pack.
