Bottom Line
The Luno Packable Camp Pillow delivers the deep, cushy feel of a bedroom pillow at campsites close to your vehicle. Its shredded memory foam and reversible warm- and cool-feeling fabrics stood out during testing, although its weight and compressed volume rule it out for nearly all backpacking trips.
Our analyst was so comfortable on the Luno that a first test nap stretched into hours, and he slept well on subsequent outings in the Santa Fe and Cibola national forests. The shredded memory foam feels softer than the competition, and the reversible case presents two distinct fabric textures. It is a good fit for someone who would rather bring a pillow from home than sleep on a stiff inflatable.
The reversible cover offers two distinct textures, making it easy to choose the side that feels best against your skin. The Regular’s 1-pound-11-ounce weight and bulky carrying case also confine our recommendation to camping close to a vehicle. For more neck support and a firmer premium foam feel, the HEST Camp Pillow is a stronger choice.
Find alternatives for softer, more supportive, or considerably lighter sleep setups in our best camping pillows guide.
How We Tested
We evaluated this pillow for about a month at home and during trips to New Mexico’s Cibola and Santa Fe national forests. We compared its softness, neck support, packed bulk, and ease of handling with other camping pillows.
Our month of evaluation included a combination of nights inside tents and time on a Luno vehicle mattress near the Sandia Mountains. We compared the pillow’s feel to both premium foam and air-filled models, assessing how far a side sleeper’s head settled into the soft fill. The cool/warm fabric claims were considered separately from the textures we could actually evaluate.
Quick Specs
Luno Packable Camp Pillow
Best Car Camping Pillow
CleverHiker Rating: 4.2/5.0
Price: $60 – $70
Weight: 1 lb. 11 oz. (Regular)
Pillow Type: Memory foam
Pros
- Exceptionally soft memory foam
- Reversible fabric
- Good car-camping comfort
Cons
- Heavy
- Bulky
- Less supportive for some side sleepers
Comfort
Soft shredded memory foam allowed our tester to settle into the pillow rather than rest on a taut air chamber. We enjoyed unusually restful naps and full nights on it. The two-sided cover adds comfort flexibility, although the very soft fill may not appeal to sleepers who want a firmer sensation.
The first nap our analyst took on the Luno stretched to roughly two hours, and his first overnight trial lasted substantially longer than his usual night’s sleep. Those experiences help explain why we describe it as one of the softest pillows in the group rather than relying only on the advertised memory foam. We tested the Regular; the Large offers an even broader surface but brings more weight and volume.
This pillow’s unusually soft fill created particularly restful nights for our tester but would not suit everyone. People who want a firm, high position for their head may be better served by denser foam or an adjustable air core.
Comfort Score: 4.7/5.0
Weight & Packability
Even the smallest Regular weighs 1 pound 11 ounces, and its carrying case is designed for car-camping practicality, not a tiny backpack pocket. We would never choose it to save pack space, especially with much lighter inflatable models available.
The Regular’s approximately 6-by-12.5-inch packed form is more like a substantial foam bedding accessory than a backpacking pillow. Our tester found its carry case attractive for vehicle organization, but the size exceeded even some sleeping pads and compact summer bags. Travelers planning to walk far from a parking area should choose a much smaller inflatable rather than hope the word packable means ultralight.
Despite its name, the Packable’s case doesn’t reduce a 1-pound-11-ounce pillow to backpacking dimensions. It is genuinely convenient in a car, where the small travel bag helps keep the foam bedding organized.
Weight & Packability Score: 3.4/5.0
Support
The Luno offers substantial cushioning, but its softness can allow the head to sink more deeply than on a firm air pillow. Side sleepers requiring high elevation may prefer a more supportive shape, whereas those who like plush, yielding fill may find it ideal.
We slept comfortably on our sides with the Luno in Santa Fe National Forest, but found it more naturally suited to sleeping on our backs. Its foam doesn’t spring back as forcefully as the firmer HEST or Therm-a-Rest Compressible Cinch, so the surface cradles the face while sacrificing some neck height. Someone who wakes with neck discomfort from a low pillow should treat that softness as a potential disadvantage.
Our analyst managed to sleep on his side with this pillow, but liked it more on his back. Because the fill yields so readily, loft and support are not interchangeable; the sensation is cushy rather than propped up.
Support Score: 4.2/5.0
Ease of Use
There is no inflation required. The reversible outer fabric offers a choice of temperature feel, and its attractive carrying case organizes it for vehicle travel. Stuffing it back into its case takes more effort than deflating a small air pillow.
The darker jersey side and lighter spandex-blend side have different textures and are promoted as cooling and warming surfaces. We preferred thinking of the reversible fabric as a choice between two comfortable textures.
The reversible case offers a practical texture choice on different nights. The difference in surface texture is pleasant, but the pillow’s softness is the bigger reason to buy it.
Ease of Use Score: 4.6/5.0
Should You Buy the Luno Packable Camp Pillow?
If your camping pillow can stay in the car until you make camp, the Luno deserves a close look. It is the softest model our gear analyst used during months of comparisons, with a yielding foam feel that may rival a pillow from home. Its reversible fabric offers two distinct textures, letting you choose the surface that feels best.
This is not a purchase for someone who needs a firm, high-loft neck platform; our side sleeper found it more comfortable on his back. At 1 pound 11 ounces for Regular and with a bulky carrying case, it is also unsuitable for backpacking. HEST offers a firmer luxury-foam alternative, while Wise Owl’s The Snoozy offers plenty of softness for less money. Choose the Luno when pillow feel matters more than portability.
What Other Camping Pillows Should You Consider?
HEST Camp Pillow Review: HEST is our highest-scoring comfort splurge, and its denser foam offers a little more support than the very soft Luno. Luno is less expensive and offers a reversible cover, but choose HEST if you prefer a less yielding pillow at a car campsite.
Wise Owl The Snoozy Review: If you want soft memory foam without Luno’s relatively high price, consider The Snoozy. It lacks the Luno’s distinctive two-sided fabric and isn’t quite as luxurious, but its comfort and affordability make it our budget campground pick.
Exped Mega Pillow Review: The Mega is the choice for campers who want high air-pillow support with a broad sleeping surface instead of soft foam. It is appreciably lighter and more compact than the Luno, yet cannot imitate its deep, home-pillow cushioning.
