Looking for that little bit of comfort for your next camping trip? Do you suffer from a stiff neck when camping? Are you on a tight budget yet like your creature comforts? Suppose the answer is yes to any of these questions. In that case, you might be interested in our Trekology ALUFT 2.0 Review: A ultralight, inflatable camping travel pillow that packs down small and makes those outdoor nights that little bit easier.

Quick Summary Trekology ALUFT 2.0 Review

The Trekology ALUFT 2.0 Ultralight Inflatable Camping Travel Pillow is budget-friendly and available in 6 colors. If you are prone to waking up with a stiff neck or back pain when camping, this inflatable pillow could be just the solution for you – especially if you are a back sleeper. You find an incremental improvement over Trekology’s Aluft 1.0 model; this inflatable pillow looks a little better and has a couple of anti-slippage features which might appeal to you.

The fullness of the Trekology ALUFT 2.0 Ultralight Inflatable Camping Travel Pillow is excellent, and with practice, you can easily make minor adjustments to the firmness. If you already own the Aluft 1.0 and it still works fine, there is probably no need to upgrade. However, keep reading if you need a new camping pillow at a reasonable price.

Pros & Cons

  • Affordable and budget-friendly camping pillow
  • Ultra-compact and won't take up to much space in your back
  • Excellent neck support for back sleeping campers
  • Quick to inflate and deflate
  • The material is super easy to clean down and dry
  • Lightweight
  • Lightweight
  • Can move around a little during the night

In A Nutshell - Our Verdict

5/5

If you need or use a camping pillow, this one is a great choice – easy to use, durable and budget-friendly.

Trekology ALUFT 2.0 Full Review

It’s time to dive in a little deeper with a more comprehensive review of the ALUFT 2.0 – nothing too crazy; after all, it is only an inflatable pillow. If you interested in self-inflating camping pads – take a look at our INVOKER review.

Is The ALUFT 2.0 Comfortable?

The quick answer is yes; at 4 inches thick, the pillow will provide you with a decent amount of neck support when sleeping. However, due to the pillow’s shape, it suits back sleepers better than side sleepers. That’s not to say side sleepers won’t be able to use it; they most certainly can. This pillow is also great to use during the day too. You can use it as a pillow on the beach, as a neck rest when reading a book, or just enjoying your surroundings. When factoring in performance and quality based upon price, the ALUFT 2.0 scores highly.

Lightweight & Packable

In terms of weight, the Trekology ALUFT 2.0 is about four ounces and packs down to 5 x 2 inches in diameter into a sack – so it won’t hog too much space in your pack. So, if space-saving properties are important to you, this ticks that box off.

We found the stuff sack is pretty handy for hauling and storing the pillow. That’s nothing special, though; most decent pillows will come with one – I just thought I would mention it. When it does come time to pack the pillow away, make you have fully deflated it; if too much air is left in, it can be tricky to pack.

However, one extra helpful feature on the sack is a small loop so you can attach it to your backpack using a carabiner. If you’re carrying extra camping gear and your backpack is packed to the brim, having the option to attach items on the outside is cool.

Doesn't Move Around Too Much - Anti-Slip Bottom

Just like the first model by Trekology, the Aluft 2.0 is polyester and thermoplastic polyurethane in construction. Due to the material used, the surface can be pretty slippery, resulting in the pillow sliding a bit when sleeping. To minimize this, the Aluft 2.0 includes a textured bottom (rubber dots) and comes with a detachable sleeping pad strap.

The rubber dots on the bottom help increase friction while the strap is attached to your sleeping pad to lock the pillow into place. The strap can be easily removed or swapped for another strap if you set up your own system.

Unlike Velcro anti-slippage solutions, the strap on this pillow is textured on the bottom and, to be honest, does not do much to help stop vertical movements. The strap on this inflatable pillow is undoubtedly one of the few negatives. This is not a massive issue for me, because I tend to lay in different persons through the night and move my pillow to suit my sleeping style. So, for the most part, I leave the strap detached – the options there if you need it, though.

How Does The Aluft 2.0 Inflate

The valve system is positioned on the underside, out of the way, so it won’t rub on your head and skin. The valve also features a button and a rubbery seal cap. With a single click, you will be able to quickly inflate or deflate the pillow in a matter of seconds. However, making minor adjustments to the fullness of the pillow can be slightly tricky at first, as you need to press the button and release it rapidly until the desired firmness has been attained. The button should be in the up position for inflations, and for deflations, it should be in the down position.

When Trekology releases the 3.0 (if they do), one suggestion we would like to see is a better fine-tuning mechanism – it is not a deal-breaker, though. All it takes is about 5 or 6 deep breaths and blows to get this pillow fully inflated and ready to use.

Product Dimensions - Is It Big Enough

The Aluft 2.0 is 16 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 4 inches thick at full firmness. If you are someone who likes sleep on your back, then contoured profile work wonders at providing head-cradling support and comfort. It can be used as a chillout pillow on the beach or lying down in the sun to read a book.

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Tips To Avoid Back Pain When Camping

Protect Your Back: Ensure your back is protected against a hard and potentially damp surface by sleeping on a quality-approved camping mat – read our SleepingGo Camping Mat Review and Gear Doctors Self-Inflating Mat. Try to also take a pillow – an inflatable pillow is the most portable.

Properly Prepare Your Sleeping Area: Find an area to pitch your tent which is relatively flat and even. Before setting up your sleep system, make sure to clear large stones or sticks that could dig into your back.

Sleep In The Correct Position: You should try to sleep in a position where your spine is in a straight line because this helps to prevent neck and back pain.

Stay Hydrated: Drinking water is vital and offers us numerous benefits. It helps stem fatigue, keeps your muscles relaxed, and helps with blood circulation. If your muscles are tense and sore, this could affect your ability to get a good night’s sleep. Therefore, staying hydrated on a camping trip will improve the quality of your sleep, all of which can help prevent pain or ease pre-existing back pain.

Stretch Before Activities: Walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, and outdoor activities are great forms of exercise, but if you are not used to them, they also have body and muscles moving in different ways than what you are accustomed to. These activities could cause your back or neck to act up if you don’t warm up and stretch before engaging in strenuous activities. 

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