Therm-a-Rest Compressible Cinch Review

Besides an appealing price, we think the most noticeable feature of the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Cinch is its simplicity. It's effective without doing too much.

Comfort

The Compressible offers an inviting micro-fleece pillow top that sits softly against the skin. The interior of this pillow consists of hundreds of high-density scrap foam pieces that expand with air when the pillow is unfolded. What we liked most about this combination of foam and fabric is its ability to adequately mimic a regular pillow. Unlike blow-up pillows (which often feel like sleeping on a swimming pool toy), the Compressible surrenders to the weight of your head, like a regular pillow. It provides that cradling effect that is unique to stuffed pillows. Although we found it to be best for back and stomach sleepers, we also think many side-sleepers will enjoy its comforts as well, but many may need to stack something underneath it to create more loft.

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This pillow has two distinct features that add to its comfort. The first one is a simple barrier layer of polyester batting that is sandwiched into the top end of the pillowcase. This simple addition didn't exist in past versions of the Compressible. What it does is create a nice barrier against the pieces of foam inside. The result is a more even, less lumpy texture against the face. We welcomed this much-needed addition and felt it resulted in a comfier sleep. The only thing we really didn't like was the Compressible's size. When compared to older models, the newer version is quite a bit smaller. This is better for pack space, but not for head space.

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The other feature is something most avid campers will relate to: the Compressible's fabrics are quiet. Nothing is worse than sleeping on a noisy camp pillow that amplifies every move. Instead of reflecting sound, the Compressible absorbs it like a normal pillow.

Weight

When weighed side by side against all other models in our lineup, the Therm-a-Rest is on par with many of them. Of course, it doesn't compete against ultralight backpacking inflatables, but in fairness, it was never designed to.

Sure, this pillow brings a few more ounces of weight, but we still love using it in the backcountry. On our scales, it weighed in at 8.6 ounces. Not too shabby for a well-built stuffed pillow. Backpacking aside, a few extra ounces is not something our everyday car camping friends need to worry about.

Packability

The Compressible Cinch has a larger packed size (2.6 liters), but the newer look and size of the Compressible increased its overall marks.

When compared against older versions of the Compressible, this latest design packs up more easily and compactly. Simply roll the pillow into a built-in fabric sleeve and secure it with an old-school toggle button and loop connection. Admittedly, this sleeker design will still take up a fair amount of backpack space, but when it comes to basic car camping, hanging in your fave hammock space, hopping a plane, or packing the van for a cross-country adventure, the Compressible's packed size is a non-issue.

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Support

Responsive support isn't one of this pillow's strong suits. When compared directly against the inflatables and hybrids on our list, the Compressible isn't dense enough and has a hard time sustaining loft through the night.

As much as we all loved the overall feel, cushion, and softness of the Therm-a-Rest, this pillow doesn't have enough oomph, and tends to flatten out during the night. We noticed that the foam fragments tend to displace and separate inside the pillow while in use, and compress under weight. The result is substandard loft and support, especially for side-sleepers. However, it can be quickly remedied by shaking the pillow a bit to reposition the insides. Not the funnest activity in the middle of the night, but it works.

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In an effort to solve the dilemma of support, the Compressible now offers a new cinch-cord design that basically crumples up the pillow into a tighter ball. This system tightly compacts the foam pieces and creates greater loft and support. During our campouts, we found this feature to be effective, but it does greatly reduce the pillow's size.

Ease of Use

The setup of this pillow requires almost no effort. Simply undo the toggle button and pow, you're done. The Compressible is one of the easiest pillows of the bunch to open up or pack.

The Therm-a-Rest can be washed by hand or in a washing machine, and it can be air-dried or thrown into a dryer. However, we did find that this pillow's foam center does pose a slight problem when it comes to drying times. When exposed to larger amounts of water, the foam pieces act like sponges and tend to hold onto moisture, and they simply don't quickly dry. This can be a problem if your pillow needs to be washed and dried outdoors or if it gets wet from heavy rain or other sources of water.

Should You Buy the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Cinch?

The Compressible Cinch will appeal to average campers who want a decent pillow that is comfy and reasonably priced. However, those looking for solid support and good loft may be a little disappointed. We love this pillow for its soft comfort and its price, and we feel most sleepers will see its overall value. We feel the Compressible is primarily a campground pillow, but some backpackers may be drawn to its traditional feel and will overlook its additional weight and packed size. This pillow sits a little flat, so side-sleepers may need to improvise ways to elevate their heads and shoulders in order to achieve the angles they need to sleep comfortably.

What Other Camping Pillows Should You Consider?

If all you need is a very basic pillow, we think the Teton Sports Pillow is a super bargain. It's similar in size to the Therm-a-Rest, but gets its loft from standard polyester fill. The HEST Pillow is about the best overall campground pillow we've used, so you may want to check it out as well.