Sea to Summit Aeros Down Pillow Review

Bottom Line

The Sea to Summit Aeros Down Pillow elevates the standard Aeros backpacking pillow with a down cushion top, which boosts comfort without adding weight. 

The Aeros Down Pillow is the lightest, most packable backpacking pillow we tested and reviewed. Just make sure to buy the regular size – not the XL size – for the best weight savings and packability. 

We found the Sea to Summit Aeros Down comfortable for its size. The thin down padding on top takes the edge off this inflatable pillow. However, the regular size does have the smallest sleeping surface of the pillows we tested and reviewed. If you prefer a larger, more supportive camping pillow, go with the XL Aeros Down. 

This pillow’s rectangular shape is a potential drawback, especially if you sleep on your side. We’ve found side sleepers often prefer a curved backpacking pillow for better neck support. So consider your sleeping style before pulling the trigger on the Aeros Down. 

Overall, we ranked the Sea to Summit Aeros Down the best down-top backpacking pillow in our camping pillows gear guide because it’s lighter and more packable than the Therm-a-Rest Air Head Down. Weighing only 2.5 ounces, this pillow stands out for backpackers looking for plenty of comfort in a small package. 

How We Tested

We tested both the regular and XL Aeros Down pillows while backpacking the Gila Wilderness, Continental Divide Trail, and Pecos Wilderness in New Mexico. We weighed them on a kitchen scale and tested them side by side with other camping pillows to rank their comfort, weight, packed size, support, and ease of use. 

Comfort

As its name suggests, the Sea to Summit Aeros Down pillow’s claim to fame is its down top: thin baffles filled with duck down to soften the pillow’s air bladder. The down cushion top makes a subtle difference in comfort – nothing mindblowing. The Aeros Down feels slightly softer against the skin than the Aeros Premium, our top pick. Plus, the down top didn’t smush our ears as much as other air pillows when we slept on our sides. 

Overall, the addition of down padding to an otherwise firm air pillow is a comfort plus. Even so, we rated the Aeros Down’s main competitor higher for comfort, the Therm-a-Rest Air Head Down. We preferred its ergonomic, crescent-moon shape to the Aeros Down’s rectangular design, especially when sleeping on our sides. 

Size also affects comfort. Over the past two years, we’ve tested two sizes of the Sea to Summit Aeros Down: the regular and the XL. The regular size, which we recommend for most backpackers, runs smaller than the other pillows in our guide at 13.4 x 9.4 x 4.7 inches. We found the regular Aeros Down just barely big enough for comfort. 

On the flip side, the XL Aeros Down has one of the largest sleeping surfaces we tested and reviewed at 23.2 x 15 x 4.7 inches. This size may potentially be too thick for many back sleepers to sleep comfortably. At the same time, that extra thickness might provide comfortable neck support for side sleepers. 

Overall, we ranked the Sea to Summit Aeros Down in the middle of the pack for comfort. We were much more impressed with its weight and packability. 

Weight & Packability

Outside of the Hyperlight Mountain Gear Stuff Sack Pillow – which isn’t a true camping pillow – the Sea to Summit Aeros Down is the lightest, most packable backpacking pillow we tested and reviewed. 

The regular size Sea to Summit Aeros Down Pillow weighed just 2.5 ounces on our tester’s kitchen scale. That’s a big reason why CleverHiker Gear Analyst Casey Handley spent 75 nights sleeping on the Aeros Down while thru-hiking the Colorado Trail and Long Trail. It’s a legit featherweight. 

The packed size of the Aeros Down also pops off the page. Curled up in its stuff sack, the Aeros Down takes a cylindrical shape that’s only 4 inches long with a 2-inch diameter. This is small enough to cradle in the palm of your hand or slip into the front pocket of your hiking pants. 

In other words, the Sea to Summit Aeros Down is the backpacking pillow for those types who post their pack weights on social media or saw down their toothbrush handles to shave a couple more grams. 

Support

Even though the Aeros Down Pillow is on the small side, it’s still supportive for a backpacking pillow. Two features come into play here: First, it’s an inflatable pillow. These are generally more supportive than compressible foam pillows since their air pressure provides significant resistance to hold up hikers’ heads and necks. 

Second, the Aeros Down is 4.7 inches thick. We’ve found that pillows in the 4-inch-plus range usually provide enough support for side sleepers, who generally prefer thicker pillows for neck support. 

We confirmed this support in our field testing. Gear analyst Jory Brass is a side sleeper with a history of back and neck problems. He noted the Aeros Down supported his head and neck in a natural position while backpacking the Continental Divide Trail and Pecos Wilderness. At the same time, the Aeros Down’s rectangular shape didn’t wrap around his neck and shoulders like the curved backpacking pillows he tested, such as the Aeros Premium or Therm-a-Rest Air Head Down. 

Ease of Use

Like most camping and backpacking pillows, the Aeros Down is easy to use. It’s a straightforward air pillow with a separate stuff sack. Our gear analyst likes this pillow’s dual valve system, which includes a multipurpose valve on top to inflate and fine-tune the air pressure and a bottom dump valve to deflate the pillow rapidly. The valves are easy to use and lie flat to stay out of your way. 

In case you have any trouble, Sea to Summit’s stuff sack has printed instructions that illustrate how to inflate, adjust, and deflate the pillow. The down baffles might require the occasional TLC to maintain the little bit of loft they add to the pillow. Sea to Summit recommends hand-washing. The Aeros Down Pillow includes the Sea to Summit PillowLock System (self-adhesive hook-and-loop patches) to attach the pillow to most sleeping pads.

Should You Buy the Sea to Summit Aeros Down Pillow?

The Sea to Summit Aeros Down Pillow is one of our top recommendations for backpackers because it provides solid comfort and good support despite being smaller and lighter than most camping pillows. If you want to carry a true camping pillow into the backcountry, this is the lightest, most packable one we tested and reviewed. The down top isn’t a revelation, but it does make the Aeros Down a little softer and easier on the ears than the typical inflatable.

If you’re torn between the two down-top backpacking pillows we recommend, we prefer the weight, packability, and valve of the Sea to Summit Aeros Down but the comfort and support of the Therm-a-Rest Air Head Down. If you’re stuck on size, the CleverHiker team prefers the regular size Aeros Down Pillow to the XL for backpacking. However, the XL Aeros Down is a comfortable and supportive option for those who prefer an extra-large sleeping surface for frontcountry or backcountry camping.

What Other Camping Pillows Should You Consider?

See our full guide to the best camping pillows for a dozen alternatives, or browse these three reviews of similar pillows:

Therm-a-Rest Air Head Down Review: If you dig the idea of a down top and want to cover all the bases, the Air Head Down is another one of our favorite backpacking pillows. 

Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Review: If you’re not sold on the down top, we’re also big fans of the OG Aeros Premium – our top pick for backpacking. It’s an ounce heavier than the Aeros Down but gets the slight edge in comfort and support.

NEMO Fillo Pillow Review: If you like the idea of an air pillow with a cushy pillow top, the popular Fillo Pillow features a layer of luxury foam that’s thicker and softer than the duck down baffles of the Aeros Down Pillow.