Travel Pillows
 

Hello everyone,

I am looking into buying neck pillows for our flight (we always fly coach and are tired of never getting any sleep) and perhaps travel-sized normal pillows since it is occasionally difficult to procure more than 1 pillow per person at the hotels we stay at in Europe. Soft material and light weight are the two main qualities I am looking for.

Does anyone have a recommended brand?

Thanks so much!

I purchased the inflatable travel pillows from Rick Steves' website - they were excellent as they have this extra piece that gives you a place to rest your head.

Truthfully, I bought travel-size pillows at Wal-mart (about 20"long) and also like-size pillow cases. I sewed a strip of Velcro into a small loop at the end of the case's zipper so we could attach them to a bag or backpack instead of having to hang on to them.

On previous trips, we squished them down enough to cram them into a small totebag.

I don't like the neck pillows - instead of leaning back, I put down the tray, bunch my pillow onto that, and lean forward on my elbows, into the pillow (just don't suffocate). It looks very strange, I'm sure, but I can doze without feeling subconsciously like I'm falling over.

funny TravelNut I thought I was the only one who did that! (used the tray table as a bed, finding it more comfortable to lean forward than to be propped up in the seat)

I haven't tried leaning forward either, that is a good idea! I have one of the travel pillows that fits around the neck but I actually wear it backwards. My head seems to fall forward and the horsehoe shaped pillow didn't support it, so now I wear it backwards and my chin is supported. I am sure people think it looks strange!

I have the horseshoe-shaped neck pillow bought from Brookstone's, and I like it pretty well; but if the plane is warm, it can be hot. I just carry it along with my purse and carry-on bag, and no one has ever said anything. You see numbers of people clutching them, especially so on the long trip we made to Israel last year.

I love my pillow from Brookstone. It's the NAP Travel-U pillow. Super soft. And the case comes off for washing...and you can get additional different covers for it too.

http://www.brookstone.com/shop/produ...mp;prodtemp=t1

I bought my pillow over the internet from the american pillow factory. You can get down, feather or whatever. I used it on the plane and it was much more comfortable, and fluffy, than those dirty flat pillows on the plane.

The Jetrest travel pillow is the best one I've ever tried and I managed to sleep comfortably on a 14 hour flight to Malaysia with it. It's available online in the US at http://tinyurl.com/89kzc

Eagle Creek inflatable travel pillow for $15.00. It only takes two breaths to inflate it and it folds up quickly and easily. After all these years of traveling, I finally bought one for a long flight to India this past year. The only bad thing is I felt stupid not having bought this years ago!

Hello Hello. This isn't exactly an answer to your question, but it is a hint at sleeping better on the plane.

One word - "Ambien". This is a wonderful sleeping aid. Explain to your physician that you are travelling and would like to easily sleep on the plane. Most doctors will provide a prescription for one or two of these pills. Pop one in your mouth, and you'll be asleep in less then 10 minutes. You'll get a full 6-8 hours of sleep and wake up refreshed - not a bit groggy.

My wife and I live by Ambien for overseas flights.

Wow, thanks so much for all the responses! Fortunately there is a Brookstone fairly near my house so I'll have to stop by this week.

Do the NAP and FOM neck pillows from Brookstone compress/deflate at all? We try to minimize our luggage and I don't like the idea of adding two fluffy horseshoe shaped pillows that don't scrunch well...
Also, those that use the neck pillows, can you slip them under a normal hotel pillow and get the same effect of having 2 pillows? I *really* do not warm to the prospect of lugging along 2 neck pillows and 2 travel-sized regular pillows!!

I have used Ambien before and while it works wonders on me when I am in a bed with a couple pillows under my neck, I still can't sleep on the plane when my head is rolling around or in a hotel when I can only procure one flat hard pillow :-(

The Brookstone ones don't deflate, unfortunately. They're just really mooshy. My hubby bought a different pillow than mine from Brookstone and I like mine better because of the removable/washable cover.

Hubby used his *on top of* his hotel pillow and claimed he had the best sleep ever in Europe.

<<Hubby used his *on top of* his hotel pillow and claimed he had the best sleep ever in Europe>>

Interesting concept. I always sleep on my side so I wonder how that would work. I suppose I could stop by Brookstone and try the pillow out on one of their mattresses... probably getting some odd looks in the process :-))

I bought a samsonite neck pillow which does deflate and its terrific. It has 2 inflation tubes, one for the main 'round the neck' section and a second one which inflates a smaller pillow for the back part of your head. You inflate both to the point that its comfortable and sleep away!

I tried to lean forward using the tray in front of me - didn't work.

Don't remember the brand, but I got a pillow at Edwards luggage store, easy to inflate and to let the air out after the flight. I like that I can inflate it as much or as little as I like.

I'm at work now, if I remember at home, maybe I still have the box, then I'll post.

Thanks Faina :-)
Where are you planning to travel next? I so enjoyed your Switzerland report

I suggested that my friend Joan (formerly proprietress of a travel agency) to give away inflatable neck pillows as advertising specialties.

She told me that her net profit on each "gift" was about $1000.

I looked up the jetrest travel pillow and they look excellent. I hate the kind that wraps around my neck, it makes the back of my neck hurt after a few hours.

I used one of those cylindrical squosshy pillows on my last trip and found it to be the best since it has all those little styrofoam granules in it that fill in the gaps in all the right places and it is great as a headrest, armrest, lower back support or stuff between the seat and me to cushion and allow no pressure points. It is extremely light and stuffs into my carry on. They are also perfect for the hotel since they are so malleable. I never leave home without it!