NEMO Fillo Elite Huge Backpacking Pillow Assessment

Backside Line

The NEMO Fillo Elite Huge Pillow is lower than half the burden and packed measurement of the traditional 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, based mostly on its thinner, 3-inch deep profile. On high 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 Huge Pillow stands out as the perfect backpacking pillow for again sleepers in our record of the perfect 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 piece of the Continental Divide Path. He additionally evaluated its consolation, weight, packability, assist, and ease of use in a sequence of side-by-side checks with 11 different tenting pillows.

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

Consolation

The consolation stage of the NEMO Fillo Elite Huge Backpacking Pillow largely depends upon your sleeping model. For those who’re a backpacker who sleeps in your again, this could be essentially the most snug tenting pillow you should buy. Nonetheless, when you’re a aspect sleeper, you may wish to take into account a thicker pillow that gives extra neck assist. 

The Fillo Elite Huge Pillow options the identical base as the unique Fillo Pillow – a baffled air cell with I-beams to keep up the pillow’s form. Our subject checks verify NEMO’s claims that these air baffles eradicate the balloon or beachball impact of unusual 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. 

Nonetheless, the pillow’s dimensions are vital to contemplate. With a sleeping floor of 21 x 11 x 3 inches, the Elite Huge Fillo is wider than the Fillo Elite. Nonetheless, that 3-inch depth is way 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 peak for again sleepers. Nonetheless, aspect sleepers typically require added bulk to assist their neck and maintain their higher physique in an ergonomically appropriate place.

For our back-sleeping gear analyst, the Fillo Elite Huge 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 piece of the Continental Divide Path so as to add some assist. His spouse – who believes much less is extra with pillows – additionally favored the texture of the Elite Huge Pillow (as did the couple’s cat). General, 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 Huge Pillow is considerably lighter and extra packable. With a packed weight of 4.2 ounces, the Fillo Elite Huge is the third lightest choice 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 big 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.

When it comes to its measurement, the NEMO Fillo Elite Huge stuffs into its built-in stuff sack and packs all the way down to a palm-sized wad that’s just a bit bit larger than the lime-sized stuff sack of the Aeros Premium Pillow. Most ultralight backpackers wouldn’t hesitate to hold the NEMO Fillo Elite Huge Backpacking Pillow on a long-distance path.

Assist

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

Nonetheless, 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 may trigger knots, kinks, and stress complications.

Ease of Use

Like the unique NEMO Fillo, the NEMO Fillo Elite Huge 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 evaluate lineup. 

Truthfully, the valve isn’t our favourite. It twists to lock and unlock into place, and it have to be popped out to inflate after which pushed again in – and locked – to shut up tight. These further steps appear pointless and make it more durable to dial in your most well-liked 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 might be onerous to seek out, because it’s hidden contained in the pillow’s comfortable lining. These items sack helps the Fillo Elite Huge obtain a powerful packed measurement, but it surely takes some endurance cramming to get the pillow stuffed into that ambitiously tight area. General, the pillow’s design is okay, but it surely’s excessive upkeep in comparison with tenting pillows from different main manufacturers.

Ought to You Purchase the NEMO Fillo Elite Huge Pillow?

For those who’re doing extra backpacking than automotive tenting, the Elite Huge model of the favored Fillo Pillow is a transparent improve over the unique Fillo. On the similar time, it’s most likely not the most suitable 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 choice for again sleepers and abdomen sleepers who don’t want a thick pillow for further neck assist. Certainly one of our Gear Analysts clearly most well-liked the Elite Huge to be definitely worth the little bit of additional weight in comparison with the Fillo Elite. If this pillow matches your climbing model and sleeping model, then it’s a transparent winner.

What Different Tenting Pillows Ought to You Contemplate?

For extra choices to contemplate on 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 Assessment: Are you a side-sleeping backpacker who needs a light-weight pillow with extra assist than the Elite Huge Pillow? We’d begin with the Aeros Premium, our high air pillow for backpacking. 

NEMO Fillo Assessment: Would you somewhat have a NEMO pillow that leans extra into consolation and assist? The unique Fillo just isn’t as gentle or packable because the Fillo Elite Huge, but it surely’s way more comfortable, supportive, and aspect sleeper-friendly.  

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