REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Comfortable
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Large packed volume
Becomes lumpy after extended use
TETON Sports XL Review
If you need a simple and comfy pillow strictly for car camping, this is a solid and affordable choice
Credit: TETON Sports
RELATED: Best Camping Pillows of 2023
Our Verdict
The TETON Sports model most closely resembles a pillow made for four-walled bedrooms. Its traditional design of pillow and pillowcase proved comfortable and supportive for most sleepers. It's also easy to use; pull it out of its stuff sack, and it's ready for your melon. Ideal for car camping rather than backpacking, it has its drawbacks in packed size and weight; however, if these are not significant factors for you, this contender makes for a dependable and affordable choice.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
TETON Sports XL | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | ||
| Price | $15.00 List $17.99 at Amazon | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $29.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $20.00 List | $18.00 List $17.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Inexpensive, comfortable, easy to use | Very comfortable, great support, easy to adjust thickness, washable exterior | Great value, very comfortable, easy to use | Inexpensive, very comfortable and supportive, easy setup | Creative design features, packs up small, lightweight, inexpensive, ergonomic shape |
| Cons | Heavy, large packed volume, becomes lumpy after extended use | Heavy and bulky, not for extended backcountry trips | Heavy, large packed size | Large packed size, not adjustable | Noisy to sleep on, lacking in comfort |
| Bottom Line | If you need a simple and comfy pillow strictly for car camping, this is a solid and affordable choice | This pillow will please the vast majority of campers due to its superb comfort, adjustable support, and washable external layer | For those who don't travel far from their vehicles to the campsite, this model is inexpensive and comfy | Supremely comfortable and very affordable, this model is a great option for enjoyable nights at the campground | We love this pillow because it offers innovative features most backpacking inflatables don't have, all at a great price |
| Rating Categories | TETON Sports XL | NEMO Fillo | Therm-a-Rest Compre... | REI Co-op Trailbrea... | Trekology Aluft 2.0 |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Weight (20%) | |||||
| Packed Size (20%) | |||||
| Support (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
| Specs | TETON Sports XL | NEMO Fillo | Therm-a-Rest Compre... | REI Co-op Trailbrea... | Trekology Aluft 2.0 |
| Type | Compressible | Hybrid: compressible and inflatable | Compressible | Stuffable | Inflatable |
| Measured Weight | 10.0 oz | 9.0 oz | 8.6 oz | 10.1 oz | 3.8 oz |
| Packed Volume | 4.5 L | 1.4 L | 2.6 L | 6.3 L | 0.5 L |
| Length | 16 in | 16 in | 15.5 in | 18 in | 17 in |
| Width | 9 in | 9.5 in | 9.5 in | 14 in | 12 in |
| Thickness | 4 in | 4.5 in | 6.75 in | 7 in | 4 in |
| Stuff Sack included? | Yes, with drawstring | Integrated Stuff Sack. Velcro strap as well. | Yes, built in with drawstring | Built in stuff pouch | yes, with drawstring |
| Materials | Fill: SuperLoft Elite 4-Channel Hollow Fiber; Inner Shell: P5 Poly Hi–Count; Outer Shell: 100% Brushed Flannel | Polyester, microfiber / microsuede outer layer, inflatable bladder | Outer: Polyester; Inner fill: Upcycled foam | Polyester, foam | Shell Material: Polyester; Bladder: TPU/thermoplastic Polyurethane |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The TETON Sports XL is a low-priced compressible pillow. It features a fill of synthetic fiber contained in a polyester inner shell and a pillowcase made of brushed flannel. Despite having the largest packed size and highest weight of all pillows in this review, we like this pillow for car camping, as well as for daytime naps. When used in these applications, this pillow performs very well.
Performance Comparison
Campers young and old will enjoy the comfort the TETON Sports model brings to the campsite.
Credit: Kyle Wachter
Comfort
This is a comfy pillow. Its large size gives your head plenty of surface area to move around at night. We also like the flannel pillow case, which was soft against our cheeks without getting too hot. The fill of this pillow is designed to maintain its loft, even after being compressed in its stuff sack, which worked well in our testing. The only drawback we found in this pillow's comfort was that the fill material bunches up in some areas over time, making the pillow slightly lumpy.
Justin Williams takes a relaxing break from guiding a group on the rocks of Blue Mounds State Park in Minnesota.
Credit: Katie Heimer
Weight
The TETON is the heaviest pillow in this review; it weighs in at ten ounces. If used for car camping, though, where you don't need to transport your gear more than several yards from your vehicle, this shouldn't factor into your purchase decision.
Packed Size
The TETON Sports pillow scored the poorest of all pillows we tested in this category, having a volume of 4.5 L when packed in its stuff sack. Again, this is a key aspect for backpackers, but not so much for folks over-nighting at most park campgrounds.
Car camping in Wyoming goes well with this model from Teton. It's large packed size and heavy weight aren't an issue at drive-up campsites.
Credit: Kyle Wachter
Support
The TETON pillow provides moderate support. It compresses under the weight of one's head, yet doesn't completely flatten out. In this metric, it falls in the middle of the pack.
This pillow provides decent support, compressing but not flattening out.
Ease of Use
This is the easiest pillow to use in our tests. Just unpack it from its sack, and it's ready to go. The stuff sack is large enough to make packing it back inside a breeze, too. It doesn't slide around on a sleeping pad and fills the hood space of most sleeping bags to prevent it from moving around in your sleep. Lastly, the flannel pillowcase is easily removed for machine or hand-washing.
This pillow was the most similar to a bed pillow. Having a removable pillow case, it was easy to remove, clean, and slide back over the inner pillow.
Credit: Jenna Rae Ammerman
Value
For the price, the TETON Sports model is a good value, especially if you primarily car camp. It fell shy of our Best Buy Award, yet we were still impressed with the comfort, ease of use, and support it provides for its modest price.
Conclusion
The TETON pillow is a solid option. Sure, we wouldn't take it along on multi-day excursions. Yet, it serves its purpose very well at car-accessible campsites and even campsites with a short hike away from the parking lot.
Katie Heimer testing out the TETON on a weekend camping trip. This comfortable and affordable pillow is perfect for car camping.
Credit: Katie Heimer
—
Ross Robinson
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