A travel pillow remains as popular as ever. Over the years, they have turned from a commodity to a necessity, especially in long-distance travel.
The weird, inflatable, clunky neck pillows common across flights are a thing of the past. If this shift from bizarre to necessary has gone by you, don’t worry – we’re here to help.
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Below, we’ll talk a bit about neck pillows, define what they’ve become over the years, why you need one on your next trip, and how you should pick one out of the lot in our fantastic guide to travel pillows.
What types of travel pillows are there?
There are a lot of different kinds of travel pillows. Some of the most popular types of travel pillow are:
- Travel neck pillows
- Seating pillows
- Lumbar pillows
- Chest pillows
While you don’t need all of them when traveling, you’ll want to look into every type and find out which part of the body they support. If you like to sleep during travels, you might want to go for chest pillows or neck pillows. Back cushions and lumbar pillows are fantastic if you slouch when sitting for long periods or if your seating arrangement isn’t comfortable.
What are the benefits of travel pillows?
Travel pillows are a pinnacle of modern travel comfort. While trains, cars, and aeroplanes have gone a long way to improve the ergonomics and comfort of the entire travel experience, they still have a long way to go.
Until seating and accommodation during travel is streamlined and perfected, which it will likely never be, we’ll have to look at alternatives to become as comfy as possible, and travel pillows are a great option.
Travel pillows aren’t all about being comfortable, though – they’re about health as well. More than a few fantastic health benefits come courtesy of using travel pillows for both short-term and long-term flights.
You can significantly improve the ergonomics of your accommodation, ensuring that your bones and joints are where they should be. Furthermore, they support your body in any seating, ensuring that you’re in the proper position all the time – sleeping or awake.
How much do travel pillows cost?
Travel pillows can either be dirt cheap or cost a substantial amount of money – depending on what you’re looking for and where you’re looking to get it. A cheap inflatable travel pillow is going to be a couple of dollars, while a fully breathable, high-end, memory foam option might set you back a couple of dozen dollars.
While it pains me to say, even inflatable travel pillows have come a long way since I first started using them. There are honest-to-god, comfortable, and ergonomic inflatable neck pillows from nothing more than pillow-shaped balloons, which are great for both short-term and long-term travel.
It’s always best to go with a higher-end option – you’ll want something that will be comfortable and functional, not a disposable product that falls apart in a few days.
I don’t think you should skimp out on an expensive one, but honestly, you shouldn’t be buying the ripoffs they’re selling at airport shops and other border stores.
Where can I get travel pillows?
Finding a travel neck pillow is easy – as they’re available in most stations and airports. However, these products will likely be overpriced and lower in quality, so if you want to get the best travel pillow, you’ll want to buy it before you depart on your journey.
More than a few websites offer fantastic pillows, and you can even purchase them on Amazon and other eCommerce websites.
I like to purchase pillows in actual brick-and-mortar stores. In my opinion, it’s always best if you can see what the pad is like, what it feels like, and whether it fits your specific needs before you buy it.
Who should buy a travel pillow?
Everyone who travels needs a travel pillow, and my opinion isn’t based on just a few personal experiences. Studies have concluded that having one is a fantastic way to keep yourself comfortable and pain-free during long hours of sitting in a car or plane.
It’s even more important for pregnant women and older adults, both of which require extra comfort and accommodation while travelling.
Pregnant women will have special needs when it comes to seating and accommodation, especially if they’re in late-stage pregnancy, so they’ll require a top-shelf version.
A pillow for pregnant women should support all of their joints and limbs, as well as their cervix. Pregnant women have a hard enough time being comfortable in regular seating, let alone the notoriously uncomfy world of transport seating and accommodation.
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Older people follow the same philosophy. They’re not as fresh, flexible, or easily accommodating as young people, which means they practically need support. Finding the best travel neck pillow for older people isn’t as easy as finding one for yourself, as they often have special needs. Older people also like to nap or sleep on long trips, so you’ll need to find them the best neck pillow for travel to ensure that they’re healthy, happy, and comfortable.
Our list of the best travel pillows for you
To get you started on what travel pillows would work for your journey, here are our list of the best travel pillows out there for you.
- Ostrich Pillow Light Travel Pillow
- Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow
- Wise Owl Outfitters Compressible Foam Camping Pillow
- Calpak Neck Pillow and Eye Mask
- Sunany Neck Inflatable Pillow
Ostrich Pillow Light Travel Pillow
The Ostrich brand offers a variety of unique pillow alternatives, so travellers can choose from the napping pillow to the mini handy pillow. The good thing is that it can be worn around your neck, as an eye cover or around your forehead depending on your preferred sleep position.
It’s actually reversible, portable and includes an integrated adjusting cord for a more comfortable and personalized fit.
Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow
This inflatable, wedge-like pillow is so easy to bring around that it can be tucked above the shoulder to use as a headrest.
It actually goes down across your torso like a messenger bag or down your side to keep it in place. For easy storage, just deflate it and roll it up.
Wise Owl Outfitters Compressible Foam Camping Pillow
This isn’t your ordinary travel neck pillow but actually looks and feels like a regular bed pillow. Made of memory foam with a microsuede cover, it feels very snuggly and soft. The pillow comes in two sizes and in three colours.
To make it easier to bring around with you, it comes bundled with its own drawstring bag, and everything is machine-washable.
Calpak Neck Pillow and Eye Mask
If you suffer during long flights or car rides then this matching travel neck pillow and sleep mask set from Calpak is a no-brainer.
The fabric is made from silk, which is very soft and feels great on your skin. The set also comes with a clear carry bag for travelling.
Sunany Neck Inflatable Pillow
Talk about total comfort and protection. This inflatable pillow keeps your head and ears covered with an attachable hood. The pillow is inflatable, which means easy storage when not in use.
For those worried about cleanliness, the entire cover and hood are machine washable too. For extra support, this pillow features an H-shape design, so your neck and spine stay properly aligned no matter what seat you are in. We also love that it comes with earplugs and an eye mask.
Neck pillows are one of those accessories you often forget about when you’re packing your bags before embarking on an exciting trip. However, like many other things people tend to forget before travelling, travel pillows are more than just an added luxury – they are a necessity.
Make sure to remember this guide the next time you’re preparing to travel, and we guarantee you’ll have a happier, healthier, and comfier travel experience!
