Bottom Line
The NEMO Fillo Elite Wide Pillow is less than half the weight and packed size of the normal Fillo pillow – a camping pillow that also rates high in CleverHiker’s best camping pillow guide. That makes it a premium backpacking pillow – one that’s a better match for back sleepers, based on its thinner, 3-inch deep profile. On top of that weight savings, we like this pillow’s ultra-soft jersey cover, which gives this pillow a luxury feel.
Our Gear Analysts agree – the NEMO Fillo Elite Wide Pillow stands out as the best backpacking pillow for back sleepers in our list of the best camping pillows.
How We Tested
Gear Analyst Jory Brass has tested both NEMO pillows over multiple backpacking trips in New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness, Organ Mountains National Monument, and a section of the Continental Divide Trail. He also evaluated its comfort, weight, packability, support, and ease of use in a series of side-by-side tests with 11 other camping pillows.
On top of our most recent tests, CleverHiker Senior Gear Analyst Casey Handley previously tested the Elite Wide Pillow over 500 miles of the Arizona Trail.
Quick Specs
NEMO Fillo Elite Wide
Best Backpacking Pillow for Back Sleepers
CleverHiker Rating: 4.5/5.0
Price: $70
Weight: 4.2 oz.
Pillow Type: Air
Pros
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Very comfortable for back-sleepers
- Wider than most backpacking pillows
- Integrated stuff sack
- Machine washable case
Cons
- Expensive
- Slippery underside
- A bit heavier/bulkier than UL backpacking options
Comfort
The comfort level of the NEMO Fillo Elite Wide Backpacking Pillow largely depends on your sleeping style. If you’re a backpacker who sleeps on your back, this might be the most comfortable camping pillow you can buy. However, if you’re a side sleeper, you might want to consider a thicker pillow that provides more neck support.
The Fillo Elite Wide Pillow features the same base as the original Fillo Pillow – a baffled air cell with I-beams to maintain the pillow’s shape. Our field tests confirm NEMO’s claims that these air baffles eliminate the balloon or beachball effect of ordinary air pillows. Instead of topping this pillow with an inch-thick sheet of foam, like the original Fillo, NEMO has added a thin layer of Primaloft insulation for added warmth and cushiness. The face fabric is arguably the softest sleeping surface we tested – an ultra-soft polyester jersey that feels pretty posh, especially for a camp pillow.
However, the pillow’s dimensions are important to consider. With a sleeping surface of 21 x 11 x 3 inches, the Elite Wide Fillo is wider than the Fillo Elite. However, that 3-inch depth is much thinner than the other inflatable pillows we’ve tested, which range from 4.3 to 5 inches.
That’s where your sleeping style comes into this pillow’s comfort equation. Three inches is plenty of height for back sleepers. However, side sleepers generally require added bulk to support their neck and hold their upper body in an ergonomically correct position.
For our back-sleeping gear analyst, the Fillo Elite Wide Pillow was comfortable for the long haul on the Arizona Trail. Our side-sleeping analyst needed to stuff spare clothes beneath the pillow on a section of the Continental Divide Trail to add some support. His wife – who believes less is more with pillows – also liked the feel of the Elite Wide Pillow (as did the couple’s cat). Overall, this pillow’s comfort characteristics clearly favor backpackers who mostly sleep on their back.
Weight & Packability
Compared to the original NEMO Fillo, the Fillo Elite Wide Pillow is significantly lighter and more packable. With a packed weight of 4.2 ounces, the Fillo Elite Wide is the third lightest option on our list of the 13 best camping pillows. It’s only half an ounce heavier than the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow and 2.5 ounces more than our minimalist solution, the Hyperlite Stuff Sack Pillow. That’s a significant upgrade in weight savings compared to the original NEMO Fillo, which weighs more than 9 ounces – heavier than we typically recommend for backpacking.
In terms of its size, the NEMO Fillo Elite Wide stuffs into its integrated stuff sack and packs down to a palm-sized wad that’s just a little bit bigger than the lime-sized stuff sack of the Aeros Premium Pillow. Most ultralight backpackers would not hesitate to carry the NEMO Fillo Elite Wide Backpacking Pillow on a long-distance trail.
Support
The Fillo Elite Wide Pillow provides plenty of support for back and stomach sleepers, but side sleepers should find a thicker air pillow to sleep in an ergonomically correct position. Inflatable pillows provide plenty of support (often more effectively than foam ones). In our most recent rounds of testing, the gear analyst couldn’t fault the Wide Elite Pillow when sleeping on his back.
However, sleeping on his side was another story. As touched upon in the comfort section, this pillow’s 3-inch depth is 1.5 to 2 inches thinner than the other air-filled pillows we recommend. Our tester’s neck clearly slanted downhill when trying to sleep on this pillow on his side, which can cause knots, kinks, and tension headaches.
Ease of Use
Like the original NEMO Fillo, the NEMO Fillo Elite Wide Backpacking Pillow combines multiple features. Its design isn’t as convoluted as the original Fillo, but there’s still a hidden stuff sack, removable cover, and finicky valve that’s not as straightforward as other camp pillows in our review lineup.
Honestly, the valve isn’t our favorite. It twists to lock and unlock into place, and it must be popped out to inflate and then pushed back in – and locked – to close up tight. Those extra steps seem unnecessary and make it tougher to dial in your preferred air pressure without losing air in the process. Even after mastering the twists/turns and pulls/pushes required to blow up the pillow, the valve sometimes popped out when we laid down, releasing all the air.
The integrated stuff sack can be hard to find, as it’s hidden inside the pillow’s comfy lining. This stuff sack helps the Fillo Elite Wide achieve an impressive packed size, but it takes some patience cramming to get the pillow stuffed into that ambitiously tight space. Overall, the pillow’s design is fine, but it’s high maintenance compared to camping pillows from other leading brands.
Should You Buy the NEMO Fillo Elite Wide Pillow?
If you’re doing more backpacking than car camping, the Elite Wide style of the popular Fillo Pillow is a clear upgrade over the original Fillo. At the same time, it’s probably not the best option for side sleepers – who will likely want a thicker, more supportive backpacking pillow.
We like this pillow as a lightweight, comfortable, and supportive option for back sleepers and stomach sleepers who don’t need a thick pillow for extra neck support. One of our Gear Analysts clearly preferred the Elite Wide to be worth the little bit of extra weight compared to the Fillo Elite. If this pillow matches your hiking style and sleeping style, then it’s a clear winner.
What Other Camping Pillows Should You Consider?
For more options to consider for your sleep system, check out our full guide to the best camping pillows. You might also start with these similar products:
Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow Review: Are you a side-sleeping backpacker who wants a lightweight pillow with more support than the Elite Wide Pillow? We’d start with the Aeros Premium, our top air pillow for backpacking.
NEMO Fillo Review: Would you rather have a NEMO pillow that leans more into comfort and support? The original Fillo is not as light or packable as the Fillo Elite Wide, but it’s much more cushy, supportive, and side sleeper-friendly.
ExPed Mega Pillow Review: Is your idea of luxury a full-sized, soft, and supportive air pillow that’s still packable enough for backpacking? Then check out ExPed’s luxury air pillow for the backcountry and frontcountry.
