DIY DoubleDecker ultralight pillow

[colibris79]

Hi everyone
After quite some time learning a lot about hammock camping from this forum I would like to share an idea I had. I hope it can be useful to other people.
I've been hiking and tarp/tent camping for many years. At some point I transitioned to UL backpacking and while then I always used a bunch of clothes inside of my stuff sack (and occasionally a very light inflatable pillow). It's always worked fine but since I started hammocking, even though these two things worked fine, I started to wonder if I could find something more comfortable and still very light. Also, I wanted something that I could use both in my hammock (thinner pillow) and while sleeping on the floor (thicker one). So that is how I came up with this idea:

The DoubleDecker UL pillow. The idea is simple. It is a light and thin pillow with another "pocket" underneath where you can stuff clothes (or whatever you want) to make it thicker but keep the fluffiness on top. While in the hammock I'll use it as it is, and if I need something bigger I'll just put some of my clothes inside the pocket.
I've used leftover materials that I had from other projects. But basically, light fabric with light pillow filling material. I also added a velcro/snap button to the pocket to keep things in place. Made two of them. A smaller one with three different pieces of fabric. Final result: 11.4"x6.7" (29x17cm), 1.18oz (33.5gr)
A strip of fabric that I folded in three and then sewed (much easier to sew): 12.6"x8.6" (32x22cm), 1.94oz(55.2gr)

I leave some pictures. And would like to know if anyone has any suggestions to improve it. What do you think? Any suggestions?

IMG_20231222_104824.jpg IMG_20231222_104909.jpg IMG_20231222_105110.jpg
IMG_20231222_105806.jpg IMG_20231222_105829.jpg IMG_20231222_105844.jpg

[psyculman]

Nice work, and great idea. I used a loop of elastic cord with a mitten hook to attach to the structural ridge line to keep the pillow from always slipping down under me when I get in or out of the hammock.

[colibris79]

Yes, so helpful!!! that's what the little loops are for. Also you can use them to keep it in place in case you are sleeping on the ground and just use some sock-cord to tie it under the sleeping mat

[mistone]

Yeah man nice work. I did the same thing with one of my pillows with a hook to the ridge line works great

[sideshowraheem]

That looks sharp!

Another vote for some elastic cordage to tie to the ridgeline. Really helps with keeping it out of the way when you need it to be.

[slugbait]

Very inventive- thanks for sharing. One hint-if this is machine sewn you might get a neater stitching by using lighter weight thread (voice of experience here).

[cmc4free]

Unless you will only use this in a hammock, if you were going to add a loop to attach an elastic, I'd add the loop to both ends of the pillow. Then you can attach shock cord to both loops to keep the pillow strapped to a sleeping pad on the ground.

Nice job, btw.

[colibris79]

Thank you everyone for the feedback and the ideas!

Very inventive- thanks for sharing. One hint-if this is machine sewn you might get a neater stitching by using lighter weight thread (voice of experience here).

Thanks for the advice and I should try that in the future. The green fabric is so thin and light that it can be a bit finicky getting the stitches right with my (very) basic sewing machine and my skills. I will have to keep on practicing!

Unless you will only use this in a hammock, if you were going to add a loop to attach an elastic, I'd add the loop to both ends of the pillow. Then you can attach shock cord to both loops to keep the pillow strapped to a sleeping pad on the ground.

Yep, totally agree, two loops better than one. In the green bigger pillow those are the two white elastic straps (may not look like loops but they are)

[cmc4free]

Yep, totally agree, two loops better than one. In the green bigger pillow those are the two white elastic straps (may not look like loops but they are)

Lol, apparently I'm a bit dim today because not only did I miss those in your photos, I also missed that you mentioned exactly the same thing about strapping the pillow to a pad in your post #3.

[stevebo]

Nice idea- thx!!! I will be making one soon for sure!