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Initial Report: LuxuryLite Travel Pillow
Date: September 22, 2005
Tester
Information:
Name: Pam Wyant
Age: 48
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 5 in
(1.65 m)
Weight: 165 lb (77
kg)
E-mail address: pamwyant(at)yahoo(dot)com
Location: Western
West Virginia, U.S.A.
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Backpacking Background:
Last year I finally acted on a long time
interest in backpacking, starting out slowly by day hiking, researching
backpacking products and
techniques, purchasing gear, and doing a few
overnight trips, including one solo. This year I’ve turned into a
“weekend
warrior”, taking a number of short trips, and hoping to take a longer
trip this
fall. I hike and backpack mainly in the
hills and valleys of West Virginia, and use a hammock sleeping system.
For a
two-day trip my typical pack weighs 22-30 lb (10-14 kg), and I’m
striving to
lighten that a bit. |
Product
Information
-
 Manufacturer: LuxuryLite
Year of manufacture:
2005
Date of Delivery: September 17, 2005
Listed weight: less than 4 oz (113 g)
Weight as delivered: 3.9 oz (111 g)
Listed Dimensions: 19 in x 15 in (48 cm x 38 cm)
Dimensions as delivered: 18 in x 14 in (46 cm x 36 cm)
Color: Black
Manufacturer Website: http://www.luxurylite.com
MSRP: $39.00
US
Components:
Fabric cover (weight: 1.7 oz or 48 g)
Foam Insert (weight: 1.7 oz or 48 g)
Inflatable plastic insert (weight: 0.5 oz or 14 g)
Inflation straw (less than 0.1 oz or 3 g)
Features:
Light weight
Packs small
Two layer internal structure (foam and air bag)
Fits inside mummy bag hood (verified by tester)
Inflates up to 6 in (15 cm) high (per manufacturer)
Non allergenic
Breathable cover
Inflate and deflate with ordinary soda straw
The pillow cover fabric feels like light soft nylon with a slight
texture. The edges are stitched in a zigzag pattern with a heavy
thread. Material and workmanship both appear to be of good
quality. The top of the pillow has an opening approximately 6.5
in (16.5 cm) long that snaps closed in the middle with a single metal
snap. Inside the cover is a 3/4 in (2 cm) thick shaped foam
insert and a thin clear plastic air bag with a 5 in (13 cm) long neck
(referred to as a "valve" by the manufacturer). The air bag makes
a crinkly sound when flexed. The valve extends about 3 in (8 cm)
into the body of the air bag. A bright pink straw, folded near
the center, was included to use in inflating the air bag.
Packaging and instructions:
The LuxuryLite Pillow arrived tightly rolled in a cylindrical
shape held in place by a folded letter size (8.5 x 11 in or 21.5 x 28
cm) paper label/instruction
sheet, enclosed in shrink-wrap plastic. When unfolded, the top
half of the paper label describes features of the pillow, and the
bottom half has the instructions and a diagram of the inside of the
pillow. An extra air bag was included, labeled with a note that
it was provided in case the one inside the pillow leaked.
The instructions are clear and easy to follow. Detailed
instructions are printed in black, with the key steps printed in
red. Basically, to use the pillow, the user opens the snap
closure in the center top edge of the pillow, reaches in and pulls out
the valve, slips the straw into the valve while blowing through it, and
continues to blow through the straw to inflate the pillow. I
found some air will leak back through the straw when pausing to take a
breath, so the straw should be clamped shut when not blowing through it
if it is inserted in the valve. Upon removing the straw, the
plastic film inside the valve seals closed to prevent the air
from leaking out. I found it takes about the same effort to blow
the air bag up as to inflate a large balloon. I was able to
inflate the pillow to 8 in (20 cm) high, but the pillow is very stiff
and unyielding at this height and the snap doesn't stay closed.
The instructions suggest 2 in (5 cm) as a comfortable height for most
users, and in brief preliminary testing I found this height seemed the
most comfortable. After inflation, the valve should be placed
inside the pillow, along with the straw (to avoid losing it), and the
opening snapped shut. To deflate, the user inserts the straw all
the way through the valve and pushes on the pillow to let the air
out. The foam side of the pillow should be used against the
head for softness and air circulation. The foam and the air bag
can be removed for cleaning or to replace the air bag. The air
bag is made of a strong laminate, and the directions state it can't be
burst by leaning or sitting on it, and that LuxuryLite will replace the
air bag if it ever blows a seam.
Preliminary Use:
I found the Luxury Lite Travel Pillow inflated and deflated
easily. The size is generous enough for comfort, and small enough
to fit inside my mummy bag hood. The air bag contours to the
shape of my head and feels quite comfortable, but it
makes a lot of crinkly noise in spite of sprinkling it with talcum as
suggested by LuxuryLite to decrease the noise. The foam and air
bag are easy to remove from the pillow to allow for cleaning. The
pillow can really be compressed to about the size of a can of soda, but
there is no feature (such as a strap, snap, or stuff sack) included to
keep it that size. After inflating the pillow, I tried sitting on
it to see what happened, and sure enough, as the manufacturer claimed
it held my weight without a problem.
Test Plan -
Field
Information:
I will be testing the LuxuryLite Travel Pillow
primarily in
my hammock, but also on a camp cot with a 2.5 in (6 cm)
thick mattress. Elevations while
backpacking may vary from
550 to over 4000 feet (168 to over 1219 meters). Temperatures
may
range from lows in the 20F (-7C) range to highs in the 80F
(27C), with conditions ranging from dry and
dusty to hot and humid, to wet and chilly. Rainfall is usually
ample in the area, with normal
monthly levels ranging from 3-5 inches, and humidity levels are often
high. My pack weight will likely vary
between 25-32 lb (11-15 kg) over the course of the test.
Testing
Plan:
I’ve tried several pillows and substitutes for
pillows in my
pursuit of the perfect camping and backpacking pillow, including
standard pillows and small "travel" pillows for camping, a compressible
ThermaRest pillow, a stuff sack with clothes or
clothes and an inflated zip-lock bag, and folded fleece or down jackets. All
of these have had drawbacks of some sort - bulk, weight, or lack of
comfort. At less than 4 ounces, I have hopes the LuxuryLite
Travel Pillow will
provide comfort at a minimal weight. A great
concept, but is it really possible?
I'll be bringing the LuxuryLite Travel Pillow on
all
backpacking trips over the course of the test period.
So far, this will include a weekend trip in central West Virginia the
last weekend in September, a trip in the mountains of eastern West
Virginia in October, and a trip during early November, location
undecided as of yet. Additional testing will occur at Girl Scout
camps over the fall, beginning this weekend. I look forward to
giving this pillow a good test over many nights.
Over the course of the test, I'll
be looking at the performance, durability, and comfort of the
LuxuryLite Travel Pillow. Will the air bag stay inflated all
night or will some air leak out before morning? Does the original
air bag last the entire time of the test period, or does it develop
holes or leaks? Does the valve continue to close upon removal of
the straw to keep all the air inside? Does the provided inflation
straw last the entire test period? If not, can I find a
replacement straw that is sturdy enough not to develop holes while
carried in my pack? I've ruined many a drinking straw just taking
it out of a stubborn wrapper, and I can just imagine what might happen
to one crammed in my pack! If my straw becomes unusable during a trip, can
I substitute something I may have with me to inflate the pillow, such
as the drinking tube from my water bladder? Have I had any
problem with the cover fabric such as ripping, fading, or worn
areas? Does the stitching and snap remain tight?
LuxuryLite says the foam may flatten out after
5-10 nights, but that washing the foam will restore the loft - do I
experience this flattening? If so, does washing it take care of
the problem? Do I note any permanent compression at the end of
the test?
Additionally, I will be observing
whether the cover or the foam layer shift about
during the night, causing hard or lumpy spots or aggravating me with a
seam ending
up in the wrong spot. Do I ever note
condensation occurring on the pillow during the night, or does moisture
build up inside the air bladder? Does the interior
of the air bladder develop mold or mildew spots? I’ll
also test the pillow by wetting it down and wringing it out. Does it dry quickly? Has
the pillow became very dirty or stained over the course of the
test? Has it developed an odor? Have I needed to wash it?
I'll also be testing to see
what inflation thickness provides the most comfortable night’s sleep
for me, whether the pillow fits comfortably
inside my hammock and stays in place, or whether it is overly large for
the hammock or shifts around uncomfortably.
I’m a side or stomach sleeper and often sleep with one arm under
my
pillow, so I'll be observing whether the pillow feels
comfortable when used this way. Will my arm be comfortable when
it’s underneath or does it become hot and
sticky? Does having my arm under the
pillow change the comfort level for my head? Does the pillow add
comfort and enjoyment to my sleeping experience?
Finally, if I've had any warranty issues over the
course of the test, I"ll be describing them and how well they were
handled.
Preliminary Likes
–
Compact
size
Light weight
Soft, comfortable feel
Preliminary Concerns –
Air bag makes crinkly noises
- will this disturb my sleep or the sleep of others near me?
Will a straw survive the rigors of being carried in my pack?
Thanks to LuxuryLite and BackpackGearTest
for
the
opportunity to test the Travel Pillow.
Read more reviews of LuxuryLite gear
Read more gear reviews by Pamela Wyant
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