Frequently Asked Questions

Pillow Strap is a soft, stretchy camping pillowcase that straps to your sleeping pad with an elastic strap and an adjustable buckle. Slide your camp pillow in, secure the strap under your pad, and your pillow stays where you put it all night. It works with sleeping bags and quilts.

The culprit is almost always the combination of a slick inflatable pad surface and an equally slick inflatable pillow. Add in our natural movement during sleep and there's nothing to stop it from drifting away. Pillow Strap solves this by strapping the pillow directly to the pad.

• Small — 1.8 oz (52g)
• Medium — 2.3 oz (65g)
• Large — 3.3 oz (93g)

We've explored lighter fabric options and the honest answer is that the tradeoff wasn't worth it. Durability dropped noticeably and the feel suffered, all for a difference of 8 grams at most.

We landed on a fabric we're confident in, and for most ultralight setups the weight is easy to justify for a full night of sleep. If you really need to cut every gram, pack the Small Pillow Strap and stuff a puffy or fleece instead of a dedicated pillow. Nothing comes close in weight and comfort.

Pillow Strap works for both. The strap goes around your sleeping pad, so there's nothing to worry about on that front. For sleeping bag users, there's a bonus: you won't be tempted to use your hood to hold your pillow in place and can use it to lock in warmth on chilly nights instead.

Absolutely. Insert your puffy jacket or clothing layer first, then stuff your inflated pillow into the enclosure and adjust as needed. You'll end up with a softer, more natural-feeling pillow with plenty of height. This is what we call a Pillow System.

Yes. If you're going ultralight and don't carry a dedicated pillow, you can stuff a puffy jacket or fleece directly into the Pillow Strap enclosure and use that as your pillow. The Small size is best suited for compact puffy jackets, while the Medium works better for slightly bulkier, colder-weather jackets that are still packable.

A pillow system is the combination of gear and layers you use to support your head and keep it in place all night while camping. At its simplest, it's your camp pillow inside the Pillow Strap, with the elastic strap secured around your sleeping pad to keep everything where you put it.

The system part is really about customization. Layer a puffy jacket or fleece on top of your pillow to dial in more height and softness, or skip the inflatable entirely and stuff a jacket in if you're going ultralight. However you set it up, Pillow Strap holds it all together and under your head.

• Small — fits pillows 10” to 15” wide
• Medium — fits pillows 15” to 18” wide
• Large — fits pillows 19” to 24” wide

If you're not sure about your pillow's dimensions, check our Fit & Sizing page — it has a Pillow Compatibility Finder with 70+ pillow models across 13+ brands. Or reach out to us with your pillow brand, model, and width and we'll help you find the right size.

Both will work. Go with the smaller size if you want the most lightweight, compact kit and aren't planning to add a layer. If you want room to stuff a puffy on top, size up. We generally recommend the smaller size as the default.

• Small & Medium — pads up to 25” wide and 4” thick (58” total circumference)
• Large — pads up to 30” wide and 5” thick (70” total circumference)

If you have an unusually wide or thick pad, check your measurements to see if you need an extension strap.

Absolutely. Since loose-fill pillows compress more easily than inflatables, sizing works a bit differently. For pillows like the Thermarest Cinch, we have a dedicated post on sizing for loose-fill pillows that will help you decide the right size for your preference.

We've listed over 70 pillow models across 13+ brands in our Pillow Compatibility Finder on the Fit & Sizing page. You can also reach out to us with your pillow brand, model, and width and we'll help you find the right size.

The Large size works with standard bed pillows. It compresses a standard loose-fill bed pillow a bit, giving you a little more loft. Stick to a basic bed pillow rather than an extra-thick style for best results.

Pillow Strap works great with camping cots. Just strap it around the cot frame right where you want your pillow. Check the total width, as some cots may require an extension strap. Reach out if you have any questions.

The pillowcase portion is made of a soft, stretchy nylon fabric. The strap is elastic with a plastic side-release buckle. The fabric stretches roughly 75% in all directions from its unstretched dimensions, which is why it accommodates a range of pillow sizes and shapes.

Every Pillow Strap is made in the USA.

Machine wash in a garment bag in cold water with mild detergent, or hand wash in cold water. No bleach. Hang to dry. Do not iron. See our post on How To Care for Your Pillow Strap for more detail.

We sourced the best materials, threads, and parts we could find and focused on lasting durability in construction. We haven't had a single failure yet. We offer a one-year warranty on manufacturing defects. If something goes wrong, email us and we'll make it right.

Standard shipping is $6 within the US. Orders typically ship within one business day via USPS Ground Advantage and arrive within 4–8 business days.

We ship to the US, Canada, and Japan through our website. For everywhere else, our Etsy store ships to most countries worldwide. See our International Shipping page for full details.

We accept returns within 30 days on unused products. The customer is responsible for return shipping. If you ordered the wrong size, we'll work with you on an exchange. Email us and we'll sort it out. See our Shipping, Returns & Warranty page for full details.