travel pillows
 

Travelling to Europe next week and wanting advice about travel pillows since the flight is overnight. We used the kind you blow up previously and found them somewhat lacking. Are other kinds worth the extra cost and space they take up? Thx...

If anyone has any other tips about sleeping on planes, it would be appreciated. I am going to try resetting my clock here by going to bed earlier every night and see how that works for my jet lag.

where in Canada will you be flying from?

i personally take a u-shaped non-blowup pillow with me. and eye shades. and ear plugs. for me it's worth the extra carryon

toronto-frankfurt-venice! Can't wait!

I use the u-shape pillow with microbeads. Bought it at Brookstone's, although many shops now carry similar ones. The piece of luggage I use the most has an outside attachment and I hook it there or I carry it. Haven't had a problem with security or the airlines -- yet. Earplugs are a must, and tranquilizers help me a great deal.

Hi Jane

I don't use a traditional travel pillow. I bring a small down blanket/comforter (52x70 or so).

It folds up very small and I can fit it in a carry on (or a large purse). I can then use it as a pillow or as a blanket as I like to have my own cover in a plane. I can use it as a lumbar or neck support, also. In a hotel, I can use it to boost my pillow as I find European pillows to be too soft for me. I have also used it to pad a too-hard mattress.

It comes in very handy and I never travel without it.

canturbury,

How small does your blanket fold? Can it fit inside an extra-large (2.5 gallon) baggie, for instance?

I travel with just a down pillow, which is pretty small, and I still have a hard time jamming in a regular (1 gallon) size baggie. I'd love not to take it with me to Italy (in 3 weeks!), but I am afraid to leave it behind..

I plug the music in, take a Benadryl, and at least rest and at times actually sleep. I don't want to lug blankets or pillows no matter how tiny.

Celiaanne,
Try putting the pillow in the larger 2 1/2 gallon size zip-lock baggie. You can squeeze the air out and pop it onto the top of your carryon, to unpack when you get on the plane.

I pack just about everything in these larger 1 & 2 1/2 gallon bags when I travel and it make packing so much easier.

I am of the thinking that they are not worth the extra space they take up. I use the airline provided pillow & blanket. Also the eye mask (British Air hands out). I listen to music thru the airline provided headphone. I take a prescription anti-anxiety. I always fly the overnight flight.

We just buy the slightly larger 'travel' pillows at Walmart, around $3 each. If you want to keep it you can also get small zip covers to put over it. If you don't want to keep it, it's cheap enough to leave on the plane.
It's actually more comfortable to doze leaning forward into the pillow (braced on the tray and your folded arms) than it is trying to subconsciously keep your head from falling to the side.

I look like an idiot but I tuck the pillow under my chin and around my neck. It stops my head from falling forward and waking me up. This method also keeps my mouth from gaping open. I use the airline pillows behind my head. Very comfortable.

I have one of those FOM neck pillows that I purchased from Brookstone. To be honest they are more of a hinderence than a benefit for me. First of all, it is somewhat bulky and doesn't fit into my carry-on very easily. And then its just not too comfortable around my neck. I usually end up sqwishing it together and positioninig it between the window and my head. I've brought it on most of my overseas flights but for our next trip, to Croatia, its staying home.

Tracy

I have an inflatable neck pillow and found it really useful on our trip to Spain last year. I shared it with my DH, and now he's going out to buy one for our trip on Thursday. We found it really convienent to just inflate and deflate it. Although the ones with beans look nice, they look cumbersome!

I do the same thing as katherineclifton with the inflatable pillow around the front of the neck.

I like to bring a favorite jacket aboard and bypass the airline issued blanket. We've not begun discussing how often they get washed!

Celianne -- I use a brighly colored pillowcase on my travel pillow. Makes it stand out so among the standard hotel linens so I've never forgotten it.

Celiaanne

Alas, the blanket does not fit into a 2.5 qt Baggie - I just tried.

Previously, I have put it in a small "Space Bag" and vacuumed out the air - when I travel by car and don't need the blanket en route. It gets really small and flat - maybe you can try that??

I haven't traveled to Europe since the latest terrorism regulations so I don't know if I can even bring it now. (I'm hoping!)

I agree with moldyhotelsaregross. The blankets come in little sealed plastic bags but mine smelled like rancid oil.
My headrest had firm things like wings that coould be bent on either side of my head to stop it from moving. What a great innovation. Until it fell off and then I had to rest my had on a metal bracket. Flight attendant looked at it and proclaimed, "It's broken."

I used to use an inflatable travel pillow, but I always broke them after 1 or 2 uses. Then I started using the micro bead ones, but they do take up more (precious) room and I'm always afraid the seams will pop! I didn't see anyone mention what I use now that I think is perfact. I use a hand towel. I fold it in half length wise and roll it up. It doesn't go around my neck, but perfectly behind it and it folds to nothing in my backpack. Can also use it on the small of your back and adjust to the right width accordingly.

I just got a travel pillow from Travelsmith that has that "memory foam" stuff for my trip day after tomorrow. It's mostly for the hotel pillows rather than the plane however.

Definately the BEST $40 I could have spent to help make an overseas flight as comfortable as possible is the "first class sleeper," which was invented by a pilot. It folds to about 4x4x8...can't remember for sure, but the website should tell. I will always save room in my carry-on for mine! You can find them at:

http://www.travelessentials.com/page...1.html?src=ysm

zwho, great idea!

take_time_2_ travel:

You must be a mind reader - I've been eyeing the lst Class Sleeper in the Magellan's catalogue and on line for a while now, and I can't make up my mind whether to buy it or not.

There are numerous mixed reviews on Magellan's site, either they love or they hate it - so I'm sure that the reviews aren't phoney.

Have you used it or did you just buy it? One of the reviewers says that if you are short (I'm 4-11) that it is impossible to use comfortably - possibly because we under tall people don't sit up as high in the seat or as this particular reviewer said, she has short legs. My head never fits into the headrest, I sit below it.

http://www.magellans.com/store/in_fl...owsIF430?Args=

Magellan's says that it folds to 12" x 3" and weighs 18 ozs.

Any feedback will be appreciated, as all I need is one more 'unuseable' (for me at least) travel accessory in my collection.

Thanks,

Nina

My DW bought 4 1st class sleepers for the family on our last trip. She loved it and slept the whole way which is rare for her. I couldn't stand it and the kids used it for awhile, put it away, used it again for awhile, etc. You will only know if it is right for you by trying it. It will either be something great or you will have a nice item for a garage sale.

Thanks basingstoke1. Even though Magellan's is good about returns, by the time you find out whether you like or dislike a travel item, it is usually past the return period.

Nina

P.S. If your garage is in or near San Francisco, maybe we can work out a deal :-))

Nina

Just about 2800 miles. You can drive straight through in about 42 hours if you like.

When my odometer hits 2800 miles, do I turn left or right?

Maybe I'll fly and I can try it out on the flight home.

Nina

I have a...don't know exactly what to call it. It is a quilted down pillow case (zipper) that you place the hotel pillow inside of. It comes in it's own little pillowcase that when folded it is the same size as an airplane pillow but much more comfy.

Serves two purposes. Travel pillow and thicker pillow for hotel and more sanitary.

Nina66 - slight left if that is politically acceeptable. If you find yourself in the Atlantic, you've gone too far.

Seriously, if you think it might help, order one and use it on a chair at home.
I found it very uncomfortable no matter how I adjusted the firmness. My wife thought it was terrific.

Thanks, I'll think about it. Many times if I think about buying something, for a period of time, I realize that I really don't want or need it, and I move on to the next contemplation. Saves me BIG bucks :-))

Nina

Nina,

I bought 6 of the First Class Sleepers for our family when we went to Italy last year. 4 of us loved it, 2 didn't even try it?!

I will say that if you fill it with too much air, it is not comfortable. I think I would order it and try it at home, as suggested above.

I will never fly without mine again!

Let me know what you decide.

Happy Travels!

Thanks for the reply. I did a search for other sources of the 1st Class and found a company, Tamperseal, in Tampa, Fl that also sells them. The price was the same as Magellans' but they give you free UPS ground shipping on all purchases - no minimum.

The owner answered the phone ( 1-800-381-5109) and was very straight forward.

He said that maybe 10% are returned because the people didn't like them, but of course the figure is probably higher because not everyone returns unwanted items. He said, as has been said here, people either love them o hate hate them.

The also have the "Cabin Cuddler" travel body covering that I asked about in another post. He that they are very popular and he has had no complaints returns.

I will probably order them both next week.

http://www.tamperseal.com/product_in...scsid=3dd89dcc

He said that he himself has one and would use it on longer fights overseas, but woudn't bother with in on a short flight. He said that it was OK if it was inflated correctly for one's own body.

They have a 30 day return policy, so he suggested that I buy it, and try it out on a high back office chair.

Now all I have to do is find a high back office chair in my house!

Nina

I've tried the inflatable neck pillow and found it lacking. Plane pillows don't support my neck. Next trip I'm going to try a rolled up infant blanket (or the quilted pillowcase mentioned above sounds good!).

One thing that hasn't been mentioned: I find my back gets more uncomfortable than my neck. I now use the plane pillow as lumbar support...it helps a lot!

I have what parisnow describes. Found out about it on this board and bought mine - and several others for Christmas presents when Restoration Hardware had them for sale.

Another idea when I'm traveling in cooler weather. I tuck a pillowcase (or two) from home in my carryon and stuff my jacket or fleece sweatshirt it in for my own personal pillow. Double duty = bulky items aren't packed in luggage and I have a great travel pillow for the plane.

I've been given the air pillows many times through the years and dispose of them. They just aren't comforatable to me.

I have neck and back problems (who doesn't), and I always have to travel with a round tube like neck pillow that fits at the nape of my neck, and a lumbar pillow (larger than an airline pillow and a different shape) for the my lower back. I got them both from my chiroprator years ago. I use them on planes, buses, and on car trips.

They fit in a small light weight nylon fold up back pack. About half the time I have to plead with someone at the airport to let me get take them on board in the back pack. Often they consider it an extra piece of carryon and refuse to let me take it, unless I check my carryon or my purse.

So far with a bit of whinning and pleading, they have let me take the pillows. Sometimes I can stuff the lumbar pillow in my carryon if there is enough room, and let the tube neck pillow dangle from my purse or carryon, from a piece of string that I sewed on it. Both pillows are an absolute necessity for any trip over an hour.

I start to panic before every flight that they will hassle me.

Never get old folks and never have auto accidents when you are young :-))

Nina

JeanneB,

Like you, my back always is bothered by long flights. Again, I would recomment the "First Class Sleeper." One of the best things about it is the lower back AND neck support it gives if inflated correctly. (It is the length of the back of the airplane seat, and molds around you to support your neck and back...so there's not a big gap when you recline down in your chair to rest.)

Thanks for the replies and hints about travel pillows. I am going to look into the 1st Class Sleeper, although that won't help me in hotels. I guess I'll be lugging that pillow no matter what. I just can't sleep on those (usually) hard, foam hotel pillows.

Take Time 2 Travel - can you also use it at home for reading or watching TV in bed or do you have to recline rather than sit up straight?

Also can you use in when a passenger on a long car trip?

This could be a godsend. Thanks for all of the info.

Nina

Nina66 - I don't see why it couldn't be used in a car if you have the head rest fully raised. It is not the kind of thing that would work in a bed though.

Here's a link to the "pillow fixer" that parisnow described above. It looks fabulous. What a great idea.

http://www.pacificcoast.com/shopping...d=pillow+fixer