Five years ago, at the age of 60 something and admitting I was getting older, I started using an air mattress on almost all of my backpacking trips. Prior to this I usually used a simple foam pad. I had, over the years, tried a few thin air mattresses but they were too bulky and heavy and always got relegated to the car camping gear inventory. With a foam pad or these older air mattresses a pillow wasn’t necessary. Spare clothing always sufficed. But in 2010, I purchased a Therm-A-Rest NeoAir mattress, which is 2.5” thick when inflated. Being a side sleeper this mattress, unlike the thin mats of the past, required a pillow placed on top of the air mat. So I bought an inexpensive inflatable pillow. Keeping it on the mat during the night wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t irritating enough to investigate a solution, until this trip…

I opted not to sleep in a shelter. After a night of consistent 40 mph winds and even stronger gusts, I awoke around 6:00 am, sans pillow. Fortunately, my friend Chad found the pillow had been captured by a greasewood bush. Not that the pillow would have been a great lose, but littering the desert with a lost pillow wasn’t appealing. I needed a solution.

Simple Solution

Instead of fooling around with the existing pillow, it was time to start from scratch: find a new pillow that would be easy to attach to the Neo Air. After a bit of Internet window shopping, there were no “off the shelf” solutions, and ended up purchasing an Exped brand pillow that looked to be very comfortable, light, and had a tab on each side that would make it simple to attach to my air mattress.

I ran a piece of 3mm cord through the tabs with a toggle at each end of the cord. The toggles would make it easy to adjust the tension, even during the night.

I have used this system for the past 5 years on my original NeoAir and also on my cold weather NeoAir Therm. The pillow stays secure on the mat and the 3mm cord hasn’t damaged the mat. Simple. Effective.

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Exped Ultra Pillow | Premium Ultralight & Compact Camping Pillow | Packable Sleeping Pillow | Inflatable Backpacking Pillow, Lichen, Large

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(as of February 7, 2025 06:05 GMT -08:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Ultralight & Comfortable – The EXPED Ultra Pillow is a premium, ergonomic pillow that is compact, easy to pack and inflate, so you can get your best s… read more

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Camping and Backpacking Sleeping Pad, Solar Flare, Regular

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$209.95 $199.00 (as of February 7, 2025 06:05 GMT -08:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

The standard for ultralight backpacking. The XLite NXT mattress delivers unrivaled comfort and warmth for minimal weight Foam-free NeoAir design weigh… read more

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Ultralight Camping and Backpacking Sleeping Pad, Neptune, Regular

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$239.95 (as of February 5, 2025 15:24 GMT -08:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

3-inch-thick ultralight air mattress trusted by alpinists and mountaineers looking for extra warmth and durability in the backcountry Reflective Therm… read more

Nite Ize ShineLine Reflective Cord – Heavy-Duty Reflective Nylon Rope – Utility Cord for Hiking, Camping, Boating & Backpacking Essentials – Green, 50 Feet

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10% Off $13.99 ($0.28 / Foot) $12.59 ($0.25 / Foot) (as of February 7, 2025 06:05 GMT -08:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Great for Camping Supplies: With 50' of cord to work with, you'll have plenty for setting up your tent, tarp, or shelter; perfect addition to camping,… read more

DYZD Plastic Cord Locks End Spring Stop Toggle Stoppers Multi-Colour (10PCS, Black)

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$4.98 (as of February 7, 2025 06:06 GMT -08:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Cord Locks Dimensions:31 x 17mm / 1.2" x 0.6" ( L x W ) Package Include: 10 PCS x Cord Locks Plastic single hole cord lock is for locking cord for con… read more