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Travel pillow for airplane

Hello,
I have tried a few different inflatable travel pillows, the kind you wrap around your neck. Most are too large for my neck and therefore provide no support, or have some other problem. Does anyone have a suggestion for a specific brand that works?
By the way, I haven't tried the neck pillows on this site yet. Has anyone had luck with those?

Thanks in advance!
D.P.

Posted by
1895 posts

IMO you don't need to take a travel pillow with you. The airlines supply a blanket and pillow on overseas flights. (if you are not sure, simply call customer service at your airline to ask)

Travel light, and leave this item at home.

Posted by
864 posts

I travel with a Bucky Brand inflateable pillow. Weighs about as much as a washcloth. It's covered with a soft terrycloth type material and you can blow it up as little or as much as you like. I use it actually more in my hotel room as my head pillow - cuts down on my allergies. Also I like knowing I'm putting my face on something clean - not always the case with the airline provided blankets.

Posted by
990 posts

Here's another suggestion--the SkyRest inflatable pillow. Instead of wrapping around your neck, it's a wedge shaped pillow that you put on your tray table and lean forward against it. For some reason, I have a really hard time sleeping on planes, but when I've used the SkyRest, I can manage to get some sleep. I also sometimes use it to rest my feet on, since I'm pretty short and wish they had footrests in coach!

Just another thought...

Posted by
1 posts

At the risk of sounding like a spammer you may be interested in two new totally washable pillows available that are wonderful travel pillows, indoors and outdoors. I invented the SquidFace and ComfyRest pillows to alleviate the pain from my herniated disk while lying on my stomach in the sun with my head turned to the side to breathe. They can be enjoyed ergonomically facedown (even on a laptray), on your side or back. If your plane is delayed their value will truly be on the airport floor for comfort. They can be viewed at SquidFace.com

Posted by
11507 posts

The pillows airlines provide are gross. They are small, hard and covered in a paper like fabric. I use one for the small of my back ( since why the heck are seats shaped concave like that??) and bring an inflatable one. I have used it leaning on the tray or around the neck . I find I if I adjust the amount of air in it I can make it semi comfy.
I have seen these very very comfy looking pillows that look like they are filled with grains, but they just seem like too much to carry. I would bring one if I was just going on a cruise though since you only unpack once. For Europe , since I tend to actually travel around more, I just bring the inflatable.

Posted by
4 posts

I used the Rick Steves inflatable pillow but it only lasted for one flight after which it developed a leak at one of the seams. Other than that it was comfortable and I slept well. The inflatable neck ones are the best if you are traveling light.

Posted by
4 posts

Bucky has an inflatable one that has an odd shape the doesn't keep your head away from the back of the seat so it worth looking at. Rick Steves' inflatable is quite comfortable but the outside of it is a plastic material that is not as soft as most others. I did rest well with it though.

Posted by
1158 posts

I bought an inflatable pillow from target just about 6-7 months ago that seems to be smaller than the suede one I got years ago.
If I don't mistaken it's amde by campor,a nd I only paid $1.
Here in Northern OH we have a store called raidaid and I saw thos einflatable pillows a while ago.They have like a travel section with all kinds of unexpensive things.

Posted by
9 posts

I have purchased a travel pillow from Duxiana for about $80. It comes in a zippered case that I have also put a travel blanket in. I have used it on planes and in hotel rooms when I have had uncomfortable pillows. It is expensive but is useful throughout your trip. I have been able to put the case in my backpack. If you are looking for a pillow to stabilize your neck while you're sleeping this is not for you.

Posted by
28 posts

Brookstone has an inflatable pillow I consistently use and find that it works great for me. It is $15.

Posted by
5 posts

Thank you all who suggested types of pillows. It was very helpful!
D.P.

Posted by
203 posts

I've had several inflatable neck pillows including the one from Rick Steves, and my general feeling is "thumbs down." Last fall on a whim I bought an expensive $25 neck pillow at Brookstone in the airport. Wow, what a difference it made. I'm sure younger people might few it as an unnecessary, bulky item, but I'm 55 and incurred a whiplash injury in 1995. I'll never travel without this again. I bought three to give as gifts since that time.

Posted by
7 posts

Hi, We bought 2 “deluxe” Rick Steves inflatable pillows from this website and used them on a trip to Europe in 2006. They cost a little more that the non-“deluxe” pillows, but work well. They have an extra part that inflates that you can use to help get comfortable. It is hard to visualize so you will have to take my word for it. They each come with a cover and fold back up nicely and fit back into it. We are taking them back to Europe with us in April. No leaks yet!

Posted by
808 posts

What can I say about Inflatable Travel Pillows? Most of which I think are disposable after one or two flights if you're lucky! I always see them in the trash! (Just don't expect a Crew member to blow it up for you --unsanitary!--)

I would suggest using our pillows but cover them with a pillow case. I travel with my own anyway. It comes in handy to cover my backpack if I fall asleep on a train or bus and don't want the pockets exposed. You could also put it in a plastic bag that bedsheets come in first with a pillowcasw over it. I've seen that on a couple of occaisions as well.

Blankets can be a health concern. If it's sealed in plastic you're pretty safe to assume it's been freshly drycleaned. Otherwise it may be recycled so simply refuse that. It should not happen but I'm sure it does...I think most Carriers now seal them in plastic as standard procedure.

Posted by
1 posts

Here is a big suggestion -- STAY AWAY FROM BROOKSTONE pillows. The reason - I ran into the store to pick up two things a transformer and a travel pillow upon the advice of a friend. Since I was traveling to India from Dallas I thought it best to get the "best" travel pillow since I do have a tendency to sleep on the plane and the blanket roll method doesn't work for me. Brookstone employees gave me the tempurapedic $75 pillow and a transformer. I threw everything into my carry on and headed to the airport. Once traveling I used the pillow for less than one hour. I caused me more pain - it was too large for my neck. Upon returning to US, I tried to return it to the store and they said sorry, it is a personal item and you can't return it -- or even get a store credit. Now I am stuck with a $75 pillow I will never use again and really don't have anything good to say about it - so no re-gifting. I have integrity. So just beware that Brookstone is a nice store for travel, but don't expect any help from the retail or corporate end when it comes to a dissatisfied customer. I was told by three different "customer service reps" that it was just company policy and there was nothing they could do.

Posted by
582 posts

I also used a tempurapedic pillow that was too big for my neck! I don't know who they make these for! However, I got mine at "Bed Bath And Beyond" and they DID let me return it for store credit! You can return anything at that store. Doesn't surprise me about Brookstone.

Posted by
120 posts

I've used the Eagle Creek inflatable U-shaped pillow for several years now (the kind that inflates in about 3 puffs, and is easy to adjust amount of air afterwards). It's the best of several brands that I've tried.

Posted by
360 posts

I also use the Eagle Creek inflatable. It has a soft cover that removes for laundering. Super easy to inflate & deflate & can be refolded & tucked into a corner of the cover. I travel light, but this gets some room along with a lightweight shawl. I went to Paris last month. Both the pillow & the blanket were in the seat - none of them in plastic to show they've been cleaned. I suppose it's good that the airlines are going green by not using plastic, but now I have no way of knowing that the items have been cleaned.

Posted by
525 posts

Look at one of the neck pillows sold at AAA. You can inflate it in a couple seconds (two or three breaths) and you can have it soft or harder. It also deflates in a couple seconds.
The airline pillows are too flat and I don't feel like they are "clean".

Posted by
6810 posts

There was another thread on pillows recently-worth checking out. Personally, I like the "Komfort Kollar" from Magellan's ~ it's the one that goes all the way around your neck, to support your head.

Posted by
2 posts

I have tried a few travel pillows, including a couple of inflatables. I came across a travel pillow that is designed to feel like it's down filled (and it does), is hypoallergenic and completely washable. Not only that but it feels amazing and looks great as well. I've had several people stop me in the airport and on the plane and ask me where I bought it. I got it online at A Touch Of Satin. Their website is http://atouchofsatin.com They have quite a selection to choose from and they are all made from this gorgeous satin material. If you're looking for something comfortable and classy looking then you might want to check them out. Good luck!

Posted by
1170 posts

What about the Lewis N. Clark pillows? Any good?

The satin ones sounds great, but with four of us flying, that would be way over my budget.

Posted by
808 posts

I've given up on these. I've come to the conclusion that they are pretty much disposable...good for one round trip if you're lucky. I see them abandoned all the time.

Posted by
1 posts

I find that a simple cushion on the seat adds great comfort to any flight. Try skwoosh, an ultra light weight, compact gel cushion that slips in the side pocket of my carry on. It's less than 8 ozs and smaller than a sheet of paper. Found it on Amazon or www.skwoosh.com
cowleather

Posted by
515 posts

On our first trip, we felt that a pillow would be unnecessary, and of course, we made do with a sweater under our neck or airline pillow. But on our second trip over, we took inflatables that were covered with terry cloth, don't remember the brand, and they are packed away right now, but I just happened to see them on sale at Target a month or so before our trip...and they were great...we were able to rest soooo much better on that long flight. I didn't inflate mine fully, so it was soft and pliable, and it was perfect.

Posted by
671 posts

I don't know anything about travel pillows, but I have to say that if I see someone with only one or two posts recommending a specific item, I tend to regard it as spam.