NEMO Fillo Elite Extensive Backpacking Pillow Evaluate

Backside Line

The NEMO Fillo Elite Extensive Pillow is lower than half the load and packed dimension of the conventional Fillo pillow – a tenting pillow that additionally charges excessive in CleverHiker’s finest tenting pillow information. That makes it a premium backpacking pillow – one which’s a greater match for again sleepers, primarily based on its thinner, 3-inch deep profile. On prime of that weight financial savings, we like this pillow’s ultra-soft jersey cowl, which supplies this pillow a luxurious really feel.

Our Gear Analysts agree – the NEMO Fillo Elite Extensive Pillow stands out as one of the best backpacking pillow for again sleepers in our record of one of the best tenting pillows.

How We Examined

Gear Analyst Jory Brass has examined each NEMO pillows over a number of backpacking journeys in New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness, Organ Mountains Nationwide Monument, and a bit of the Continental Divide Path. He additionally evaluated its consolation, weight, packability, help, and ease of use in a collection of side-by-side assessments with 11 different tenting pillows.

On prime of our most up-to-date assessments, CleverHiker Senior Gear Analyst Casey Handley beforehand examined the Elite Extensive Pillow over 500 miles of the Arizona Path. 

Consolation

The consolation degree of the NEMO Fillo Elite Extensive Backpacking Pillow largely depends upon your sleeping model. Should you’re a backpacker who sleeps in your again, this may be essentially the most snug tenting pillow you should purchase. Nevertheless, should you’re a aspect sleeper, you would possibly need to contemplate a thicker pillow that gives extra neck help. 

The Fillo Elite Extensive Pillow options the identical base as the unique Fillo Pillow – a baffled air cell with I-beams to take care of the pillow’s form. Our area assessments affirm NEMO’s claims that these air baffles eradicate the balloon or beachball impact of extraordinary air pillows. As a substitute of topping this pillow with an inch-thick sheet of froth, like the unique Fillo, NEMO has added a skinny layer of Primaloft insulation for added heat and cushiness. The face cloth is arguably the softest sleeping floor we examined – an ultra-soft polyester jersey that feels fairly posh, particularly for a camp pillow. 

Nevertheless, the pillow’s dimensions are essential to think about. With a sleeping floor of 21 x 11 x 3 inches, the Elite Extensive Fillo is wider than the Fillo Elite. Nevertheless, that 3-inch depth is far thinner than the opposite inflatable pillows we’ve examined, which vary from 4.3 to five inches. 

That’s the place your sleeping model comes into this pillow’s consolation equation. Three inches is loads of top for again sleepers. Nevertheless, aspect sleepers usually require added bulk to help their neck and maintain their higher physique in an ergonomically right place.

For our back-sleeping gear analyst, the Fillo Elite Extensive Pillow was snug for the lengthy haul on the Arizona Path. Our side-sleeping analyst wanted to stuff spare garments beneath the pillow on a bit of the Continental Divide Path so as to add some help. His spouse – who believes much less is extra with pillows – additionally favored the texture of the Elite Extensive Pillow (as did the couple’s cat). Total, this pillow’s consolation traits clearly favor backpackers who principally sleep on their again.

Weight & Packability

In comparison with the unique NEMO Fillo, the Fillo Elite Extensive Pillow is considerably lighter and extra packable. With a packed weight of 4.2 ounces, the Fillo Elite Extensive is the third lightest possibility on our record of the 13 finest tenting pillows. It’s solely half an oz heavier than the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow and a couple of.5 ounces greater than our minimalist answer, the Hyperlite Stuff Sack Pillow. That’s a major improve in weight financial savings in comparison with the unique NEMO Fillo, which weighs greater than 9 ounces – heavier than we usually suggest for backpacking.

By way of its dimension, the NEMO Fillo Elite Extensive stuffs into its built-in stuff sack and packs right down to a palm-sized wad that’s just a bit bit greater than the lime-sized stuff sack of the Aeros Premium Pillow. Most ultralight backpackers wouldn’t hesitate to hold the NEMO Fillo Elite Extensive Backpacking Pillow on a long-distance path.

Assist

The Fillo Elite Extensive Pillow offers loads of help for again and abdomen sleepers, however aspect sleepers ought to discover a thicker air pillow to sleep in an ergonomically right place. Inflatable pillows present loads of help (typically extra successfully than foam ones). In our most up-to-date rounds of testing, the gear analyst couldn’t fault the Extensive Elite Pillow when sleeping on his again.

Nevertheless, sleeping on his aspect was one other story. As touched upon within the consolation part, this pillow’s 3-inch depth is 1.5 to 2 inches thinner than the opposite air-filled pillows we suggest. Our tester’s neck clearly slanted downhill when making an attempt to sleep on this pillow on his aspect, which might trigger knots, kinks, and pressure complications.

Ease of Use

Like the unique NEMO Fillo, the NEMO Fillo Elite Extensive Backpacking Pillow combines a number of options. Its design isn’t as convoluted as the unique Fillo, however there’s nonetheless a hidden stuff sack, detachable cowl, and finicky valve that’s not as easy as different camp pillows in our overview lineup. 

Truthfully, the valve isn’t our favourite. It twists to lock and unlock into place, and it should be popped out to inflate after which pushed again in – and locked – to shut up tight. These further steps appear pointless and make it harder to dial in your most popular air strain with out dropping air within the course of. Even after mastering the twists/turns and pulls/pushes required to explode the pillow, the valve generally popped out after we laid down, releasing all of the air. 

The built-in stuff sack could be exhausting to seek out, because it’s hidden contained in the pillow’s cozy lining. These things sack helps the Fillo Elite Extensive obtain a formidable packed dimension, but it surely takes some persistence cramming to get the pillow stuffed into that ambitiously tight house. Total, the pillow’s design is ok, but it surely’s excessive upkeep in comparison with tenting pillows from different main manufacturers.

Ought to You Purchase the NEMO Fillo Elite Extensive Pillow?

Should you’re doing extra backpacking than automobile tenting, the Elite Extensive model of the favored Fillo Pillow is a transparent improve over the unique Fillo. On the identical time, it’s most likely not the best choice for aspect sleepers – who will doubtless need a thicker, extra supportive backpacking pillow.

We like this pillow as a light-weight, snug, and supportive possibility for again sleepers and abdomen sleepers who don’t want a thick pillow for further neck help. One in all our Gear Analysts clearly most popular the Elite Extensive to be well worth the little bit of additional weight in comparison with the Fillo Elite. If this pillow matches your mountain climbing model and sleeping model, then it’s a transparent winner.

What Different Tenting Pillows Ought to You Think about?

For extra choices to think about to your sleep system, try our full information to the finest tenting pillows. You may also begin with these comparable merchandise:

Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow Evaluate: Are you a side-sleeping backpacker who desires a light-weight pillow with extra help than the Elite Extensive Pillow? We’d begin with the Aeros Premium, our prime air pillow for backpacking. 

NEMO Fillo Evaluate: Would you quite have a NEMO pillow that leans extra into consolation and help? The unique Fillo will not be as mild or packable because the Fillo Elite Extensive, but it surely’s way more soft, supportive, and aspect sleeper-friendly.  

ExPed Mega Pillow Evaluate: Is your thought of luxurious a full-sized, delicate, and supportive air pillow that’s nonetheless packable sufficient for backpacking? Then try ExPed’s luxurious air pillow for the backcountry and frontcountry.