Luno Packable Camp Pillow Review

Bottom Line

The Luno Packable Camp Pillow is so cushy that it makes most camping pillows – and plenty of home pillows – jealous. This pillow just oozes comfort, even before pairing it with Luno’s custom Air Vehicle Mattresses. 

After a month of testing, we’re big fans of this pillow’s shredded memory foam. Plus, the pillow’s dual-sided temperature control scores bonus comfort points: sleep with the darker side up on warm nights and the lighter side up on cold nights. Our first nap on this premium pillow turned into two surprising hours of deep, drooly sleep. Our first full night on it extended our normal sleep time by almost two hours. That’s not normal – in a good way.

This is far from the cheapest option on our list of the best camping and backpacking pillows. It’s also too heavy for backpacking, and its stylish stuff sack is only practical for car camping. But the Luno packable pillow runs neck and neck with the best for the most comfortable camp pillow we tested. We recommend it as a luxury pick for car campers, glampers, and van-lifers who want a premium pillow for their home away from home.

How We Tested

We evaluated this pillow’s comfort, weight and packability, support, and ease of use through a series of home tests and campground excursions in New Mexico’s Cibola National Forest and Santa Fe National Forest. We weighed and measured it and compared it with other camping pillows through side-by-side field tests. 

Comfort

The most important thing we look for in a camping pillow is comfort, which is the category where the Luno Packable Camp Pillow stands out. We tested the regular size, not the large (which would be the bigger comfort splurge). Overall, it ranks near the top of the list for comfort in our lineup. For many campers, it easily could be the best. 

This is the softest camp pillow our gear analyst slept on over months of testing. The pillow’s shredded memory foam fill expands when it airs out and then compresses around the contours of the head as our weight sinks into its cushy goodness. If anything, our tester almost found it too soft, not quite as supportive as our other top comfort picks. But if plush pillows are your thing, this would probably be your camp pillow of choice. 

The face fabric is also gentler on the skin than the competition. The light gray side – a heavier, polyester-spandex blend – supposedly has a warming effect on cool nights with a skin feel that’s similar to the HEST Pillow, our comfort splurge pick. The dark gray side – a lighter, polyester jersey blend – has a cooling effect on warm nights with an even softer skin feel. We can vouch for the soft fabric, but we can’t confirm the brand’s dual-sided temperature claims since we only tested this pillow on cold spring nights in the high desert mountains of New Mexico. 

We mostly tested this pillow while tent camping. However, we also paired it with Luno’s Air Vehicle Mattress for a totally tricked-out car camping sleep experience in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. That comfort combination was ludicrous – even better than pairing the Packable pillow with one of our favorite camping mattresses, the Exped MegaMat. If you’re looking for a luxurious night of sleep, we’d steer you toward the Luno Packable Camp Pillow. 

Weight & Packability

All that comfort costs the Luno Packable Pillow in weight and packability. We tested the smaller, regular size (16.5 x 11 in) to see if it would be light enough or packable enough for backpacking. Nope. Luno doesn’t publish a claimed weight, but our test pillow weighed 1 lb 11 oz packed on our gear analyst’s kitchen scale. That made it the heaviest pillow we tested by a wide margin. Obviously, the large Packable pillow would be even heavier and bulkier. 

Its packed size – 6 x 12.5 in for the regular, 8 x 15 for the large – also limits this pillow to car camping. It’s bulkier than good, 4-season sleeping pads and even some summer-weight sleeping bags. On the plus side, the Luno Packable Pillow comes with an attractive stuff sack, which does make it more portable and easier to store. Just remember that the word “packable” in this pillow’s name refers to car camping, not backpacking.

Support

This pillow’s support is good, not great. It’s more comfortable than inflatable camping and backpacking pillows, but its shredded memory foam fill doesn’t dole out as much support as their air-filled bladders. Likewise, the Luno Packable Pillow isn’t as firm or as thick as two of the compressible foam pillows we tested – the HEST Pillow and Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow, which each edged this pillow in support. This is a plush pillow, not a firm one.    

Our tester found the Luno Packable Pillow just supportive enough for side sleeping. He slept on his side for a night in the Santa Fe National Forest but preferred this pillow’s profile when sleeping on his back. If you like your camping pillows firm, this one’s probably too cushy for you. It stresses comfort more than support. 

Ease of Use

The Luno packable pillow couldn’t be any easier to use. There are no valves, cinches, straps, or hidden stuff sacks – just a cushy foam pillow. The Packable pillow rolls up easily to store inside its generous stuff sack. Once you’ve unpacked it, it only takes a few seconds for the compressible foam to expand into a comfy resting place for your head. Even by pillow standards, this one’s simple.

That being said, this pillow’s so well made that I initially missed two small hidden zippers. First, the pillow cover is removable for easy washing – just look for the small zipper buried in the seam to zip off the cover and throw it in the washing machine. Once you’ve removed the cover, you’ll see a second hidden zipper, which you can open to add or remove foam fill to make your pillow thicker or flatter. These unobtrusive yet functional zippers are nicely done, not getting in the way of your sleep, yet letting you clean and customize your camp pillow.

Should You Buy the LUNO Packable Camp Pillow?

The short answer is that car campers absolutely should give the Luno Packable Camp Pillow a long look, but backpackers should see our full pillow guide to find something lighter and more packable. This luxurious pillow is slightly softer than our best splurge for the campground and costs less, too. We loved testing the regular size but imagine the large Packable Pillow would be even better for the total cushion sluts among us.

Sadly, it’s packable by car camping standards but not by backpacking standards. And its support is fine, but not a strength. Overall, this pillow is a top pick for comfort, the most important attribute of a camp pillow. We definitely recommend it for car campers, overlanders, and weekend warriors who prioritize campground comfort. 

What Other Camping Pillows Should You Consider?

If you’re looking for something different, you’ll find plenty of options in our full guide to the best camping and backpacking pillows, including these pillows:

HEST Camp Pillow Review: Our top-rated camping pillow, the HEST Pillow, barely beats the Luno Packable pillow in comfort and support, but costs a bit more.  

Therm-a-Rest Compressible Cinch Review: If you’re looking to spend less on a comfortable camping pillow, this compressible foam pillow costs half as much and can pull off backpacking in a pinch, too.

Sea to Summit Aeros Down Deluxe Review: For a comfort splurge that’s appropriate for both the frontcountry and backcountry, the Aeros Down delivers deluxe comfort in a lighter, more packable profile.