Gear Review: Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Premium
After 2,000 miles of sleeping on my clothes bag on the Appalachian Trail, I decided to get a Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Premium. The Aeros has a really nice soft exterior, and a TPU bladder, which makes it strong. It can be washed. You can inflate it and deflate it really quickly. It’s totally worth the 2.8 ounces.
MSRP: $42.95
Weight: 2.8 oz (R)
Material: 50D Polyester
Pros: It’s very comfortable and doesn’t weigh a whole lot.
Cons: None.
Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Premium Highlights
Blue and green options
Contoured
Quickly inflates and deflates
Wicks away moisture
Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Premium Comfort
This pillow was life-changing for me. I went from sleeping to sleeping comfortably. And it’s all because of this pillow. Seriously.
Reliability and Durability
After nearly 500 miles of use on the Colorado Trail, this pillow was still in excellent condition. There’s barely any sign of wear at all. I’d happily take this pillow on another extended backpacking trip.
Fit and Sizing
It comes in a regular and a large. The regular was sufficient for my purposes, but I can certainly understand the desire to purchase a bigger pillow.
Other people who reviewed the Aeros Pillow Premium said:
A number of reviewers had some valve issues, saying that the valve sometimes separates from the pillow and leaks. And it’s difficult to patch because the cover is soft. But it’s easy to fill and deflate. It’s very packable. And overall, it’s rated at 4.3. After 500 miles of use on the Colorado Trail, I still have not had any issues.
Backpacking Pillow Weight
2.8 ounces is on the low end of backpacking pillow weights. If you’re going to carry an inflatable pillow, the Aeros Pillow Premium offers a pretty awesome option.
Price
While I realize that backpacking gear isn’t cheap, $42 isn’t a bank-breaking number for the amount of comfort that this backpacking pillow provides.
Compare and Contrast: Sea to Summit Backpacking Pillows
Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Deluxe
MSRP: $39.95
Rating: 4 star
Weight: 2.1 ounces
Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Deluxe
MSRP: $59.95
Rating: 4 stars
Weight: 4.8 ounces
Compared to similar products, the Aeros Pillow Premium falls right in the middle of both cost and weight. I haven’t had the opportunity to test out the Aeros Ultralight Deluxe, but my guess is that the exterior fabric isn’t as comfortable as the Aeros Pillow Premium, which comes with a nice soft fabric on top. That’s not to say that the Ultralight Deluxe wouldn’t do the trick.
Is the Aeros Pillow right for you?
If there’s any doubt in your mind about whether or not your life will be changed by the Aeros pillow, borrow one from a friend. Go take a look at one in a shop, somewhere. But I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
Final Thoughts
As an ultralight hiker, I’m generally looking for ways to slice the weight of my setup. My personal experience has been downright perfect, and I wouldn’t trade this pillow in to shed the 2.8 ounces. This pillow will always be my luxury item because of its impressive performance, it’s weight efficiency, and the amount of comfort it provides.
Disclosure: This product was donated for the purpose of this review. But the generosity in no way affects my analysis and overall opinion of the product.
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Comments 1
I have the same pillow but had to trade it for another one. The biggest con of the pillow is if you use it under inflated so its not so firm the valve pokes you. I do this in my hammock and that valve being in the center of the pillow pokes me in the neck and back of the head. Other than that this is a comfy lightweight pillow. I tried using my clothes in a stuff sack back when I was a tent sleeper and switching to pillows was a game changer for sure and worth every ounce!