I admit it, I'm a pillow snob. Off the trail I employ a super-firm memory foam Cadillac-Class pillow. Most commercial pillows are too soft for my taste, and feather pillows are just plain uncomfortable. I was skeptical of any trail pillow, but there had to be some improvement available to best my rolled up fleece in a stuff sack.

Oh baby, come to daddy! This pillow honors the therm-a-rest brand with a head cradling solution that weighs nearly nothing, rolls up small, yet demands little compromise in comfort to a standard pillow. Give it a little fluffing after unrolling, and let it sit a while to poof up to full loft. Come crash time, it'll be ready to rest your tired head. Like my therm-a-rest pad, I find it best to store the pillow unrolled when not in use to shorten 'poof time.' It's probably better for the fill too. Give it a try goldilocks, you'll be glad you did!

Though not rated for my brand water filter, I use this product as the final post filter step to render harmless any nasties that made it though. Contaminated water can get you wicked sick. 5 drops and an extra 5 minutes per 1L Nalgene is invaluable peace of mind. I can detect a little chlorine taste in the treated water, but far less than in Chicago tap water, and certainly not offensive.

I pair this bag with a regular size therm-a-rest. Talk about a winning combination! I stay nice a toasty even with frost on the ground! I pack my pad separate from the bag, which allows the bag to compress into a small size Granite Gear Round Rock Solid Compression Sack. I love this bag!