Dual-purpose Pillow

[bernieq]

When bushwalking, I spend a fair part of the night wrestling with my pillow – and, consequently, a myriad of design ideas. For some time, I’ve settled with clothing folded and laid flat at the top of the mat. With my recent deployment of a thicker ‘self-inflating’ mat, the clothing pile was not high enough so I pulled out an old fabric-covered inflatable pillow and wrapped it in my polar-fleece jacket to bulk it up – it worked OK, but just.

Yet to be field-tested, but looking good, is this design – which doubles as a seat during the day.

piece of PU-coated nylon 320mm x 430mm
piece of 8mm high-density closed cell foam 300mm x 350mm
Total weight 54g

Pillow components

1.jpg (346.32 KiB) Viewed 85188 times

Simply fold the nylon in half (to make a piece 320mm x 215mm) and sew down both short sides (double sew for strength), leaving the long side open. Fold the HHCC foam in half (300mm x 175mm) and slide into the nylon sleeve (as in the photo) – voila! a seat.

To turn into a pillow, simply roll up clothing and put into the opening. Place it under the neck and/or head – the open base keeps it stable and static.

finished product

2.jpg (158.36 KiB) Viewed 85188 times

Attributes : dual function, light weight, low bulk, waterproof, firm but comfortable, simple, cheap, noiseless

Comments and Enhancements
Ensure that the PU-coated surface is on the outside.
Adjust the 430/350mm dimensions to adjust the height of the pillow.
Sew 20mm hems at each end to the nylon and put a button-hole in each seam – a small carabineer allows you to clip the seat to the pack so it’s readily accessible (see inset, 1st photo).

[andrewa]

Good idea using your sit pad. I don't normally have enough spare clothing to fill it, so use a 10l bladder. Maybe some fleece on the top, and nylon below......

A

[bernieq]

OK, I've field-tested the pillow (well, one night) with good results. It was very comfortable, didn't move around and worked well when I was on my back or side.

[Strider]

Looks really good mate! Though why did you go with PU coated nylon and not something softer to the touch?

[bernieq]

Using it as a seat as well so I don't want the material absorbing moisture (and I had some PU nylon at hand :)

It feels quite comfortable against the face - although, I admit it wasn't hot last night !

[Strider]

Using it as a seat as well so I don't want the material absorbing moisture (and I had some PU nylon at hand

It feels quite comfortable against the face - although, I admit it wasn't hot last night !

But couldn't you just use the foam by itself for a seat, no cover required?

[bernieq]

Ha - thank you for the opportunity to get onto my favourite high horse.

As a seat, it needs to be accessible so is carried on the outside of the pack. If the HDCC foam is not covered, pushing through scrub tends to rip out small pieces and deposit the bright blue non-decomposing flakes (and even sizable pieces) on the ground.

It is a rare walk where I return without a collection of the stuff (see this thread : viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9108 )

Thus, the foam needs to be covered while on the outside of the pack - so the material need to be water-proof (or at least -repellant). I could carry an extra sleeve of polar-fleece (et al) but that would be an extra 30g !

[Strider]

Ha - thank you for the opportunity to get onto my favourite high horse.

As a seat, it needs to be accessible so is carried on the outside of the pack. If the HDCC foam is not covered, pushing through scrub tends to rip out small pieces and deposit the bright blue non-decomposing flakes (and even sizable pieces) on the ground.

It is a rare walk where I return without a collection of the stuff (see this thread : viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9108 )

Thus, the foam needs to be covered while on the outside of the pack - so the material need to be water-proof (or at least -repellant). I could carry an extra sleeve of polar-fleece (et al) but that would be an extra 30g !

Makes sense - thanks!

[bernieq]

Time for an update - I'm still using the pillow and still find it comfortable.

why did you go with PU coated nylon and not something softer to the touch?

I have, however, taken Strider's (implied) advice and added a polar fleece sleeve - not only is it more comfortable but it also holds the stuffed pillow together and helps keep it's shape overnight.

Total weight (HD foam, PU & polar fleece sleeves) = 85g

[photohiker]

Looks to be a good solution bernieq

Climate Change is like Gravity

You haven't heard of Intelligent Falling, have you?

[bernieq]

Nice one, photohiker – I obviously don’t get out enough !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_falling

The ‘it’s only a theory’ thought is the reason behind my tag. (To spell it out to anyone whose puzzled) the meaning of ‘Theory’ in science, methematics etc is not the same as ‘theory’ in general language.

In science, a Theory is a know testable body of knowledge concerning some aspect of the natural world.

In general language, a theory is an hypothesis – something that is suggested as an explanation of some aspect of the natural world. To become a Theory, the hypothesis must be testable and repeatable.

[Leiothrix]

The problem with just saying "climate change" is you're not differentiating between natural causes and anthropogenic climate change.

The former is a fact, later is very much a hypothesis.

Kinda hard to do too much in the way of experimenting to prove it either way though, and we've unfortunately only got one Earth to play with.

[photohiker]

this thread is about a Pillow, Leiothrix. I wouldn't have made the joke about Intelligent Falling if I thought the thread would descend into a climate change discussion.

There are threads about CC, or you can make your own IMHO.

[Leiothrix]

Hey, I'm not the one that started the off topic, just continuing from the previous several posts before mine.

Plus I'm not even debating climate change (because that's largely pointless for several reasons), just trying to expand on the previous post.

[Moondog55]

I'm looking at this and thinking there is something wrong with me that I haven't done this yet.
I'm also wondering if it would be worthwhile making it reversible with permanently attached fleece
Time to look in my stash as I have the machine out at the moment doing stuff for the big winter fly