What to Consider When Shopping For A Travel Pillow?

Nowadays, people travel long and far. We are of course not bounded by distance anymore. However, because of Covid, flights and vocations are temporarily gone from our lifestyles, but we all need a break to see the world, see nature, and experience life again.

So in this article, we are not talking about the type of pillow that you take on airplanes as most business people or frequent flyers do, we will talk about the types where you carry in cars and especially long-distance travel cars, such as on a recreational vehicle, RV.

Because no matter how mad the virus has gotten the world into, we still long for the long-distance away trip or a wild experience from time to time. Taking a nice mattress or just a nice pillow with us is an option that you should never underestimate. When the good dreams reward you at night, you will feel truly satisfied and recharged for the next adventure.

On trips, no matter on an airplane or within the RV limited space, we might all encounter conditions that are not sleeping friendly. Whether it is on bumpy roads, within a loud and less comfortable environment, laying recumbent or with an uncomfortable posture in a cramped space, people will have heads falling off to the side or forward, which causes neck pain and even make breathing less efficient.

“Sleeping upright is not a natural position at all,” said Mayank Shukla, MD, a board-certified pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist in New York City. “Our head weighs almost 10 pounds and flops around the neck when sleeping upright, leading to aches and pain with all that muscle strain.”

Travel pillows can provide support for the neck and head, alleviating pain and discomfort when combating an upright sleeping position while traveling. They’re typically portable, lightweight, ergonomically designed and come in different sizes to fit every type of person, plus some have additional high-tech features like temperature regulation. This can be a good tool for frequent flyers, who hope to maintain a semi-regular sleeping schedule when going on trips.

In this article, we will cover how to choose a comfortable pillow fitting a long and far travel schedule.

There are mainly two broad choices in this category of travel pillow: inflatable and memory foam. The U-shaped inflatable travel pillows are taking the world by storm as they allow people to get the firmness and support needed on airplanes or tight seats. and easily folded when packed. They are an extremely budgeted choice and easy to carry, and they are seen everywhere on airplanes or buses.

The other type, however, is memory foam, which provides neck support and firmness just as good as the inflatable ones, or even better, while lasting longer with better durability.

What to consider when shopping for a travel pillow?

Material

Inflatable cushions contain polyvinyl fabric which makes it cold very soon. This type of material is not the best friend of your skin. These cushions can easily slip from your head, leading to pain in the neck if not used properly. Some non-inflatable pads also come in fleece and polyester materials with the stuffing of puffballs or beads. The shortcoming is that they lack comfort.

The texture of the pillow is highly crucial because it will make you either comfortable or uncomfortable. For memory foam pillows, it is ideal to purchase a hard and firm-textured one rather than one whose material is feeble. A hard pillow provides support, stability, and compactness when using it, hence, keeping your neck stable in its resting position. Unlike the hard-textured memory foam neck pillow, the type with the weak and feeble material will not be able to hold your head in place.

Support

The neck support is also critical during trips. It’s important your pillow has enough form support to align your nose with the center of the chin. This will help you avoid unwanted straining on your posture, back, and neck.

Our Morpheus Pillow, for example, has double-sided comfort designed for different types of sleeping positions. The soft side with memory foam is designed for back sleepers or ones who like softness, while the high elastic foam side is firm and stable, specially designed for side sleepers or those who prefer a firm pillow.

Size

A travel pillow must be handy. Ideally, buy a travel pillow that could fit into your luggage. For instance, you may want to carry an inflatable travel pillow because, naturally, it requires less space compared to solid pillows. However, most of the best travel neck pillows for long-distance flights are made from memory foam because they are easier to compress into a smaller size—making them easier to carry.

While it might not be practically possible to determine the actual size that best fits you, especially when buying your pillow from an online store, you can ask your friend or a relative and try to fit theirs. It can help you know whether to buy a large or a small-sized pillow. Longer necks will be comfortable with high-loft pillows.

Durability

It would be helpful to buy a long-lasting pillow, especially if you're a regular traveler. It'll help ensure that you're not buying a new pillow now and then.

Different types of pillows are priced differently, and it's therefore important you decide on what price you are willing to pay in consideration of durability and value for your money. 

Memory Foam Pillows are the firmest type of travel neck pillows on the market. They are considered the best because they provide the most consistent support for the neck. Memory foam pillows can be compressed and clipped for compact, lightweight packing.

They are the most comfortable travel neck pillows because they can be molded to the shape of your neck. Although they are the most expensive type in the market, memory foam pillows are among the most recommended pillows for frequent travelers because they provide the ultimate comfort and reward for your trip.

Pillows made with gel-infused memory foam can best fit the back of your seat much better than traditional pillows made with cotton or polyester, such as Morpheus Pillow with gel memory cotton layer plus independent partition cutting, leaving you dry and cool all night.

Takeaway

Travel pillows are a good idea not only for long flights but also for short travels. Get one that’s light to carry, machine washable, and provides more comfort as you sleep. Pillows can be used in many situations, and thus anyone can benefit from using one. Mainly, travel pillows are used by travelers, backpackers, and campers, but you can find an opportunity to use one even without leaving your home.

There are many different types of travel pillows that most travelers find difficult to choose which one is suited for their travel needs. But following the above advice, you may be able to find one that suits you. You first need to determine which type of travel pillow meets your needs. From there you can consider its quality and price. And finally, you need to do your research to find out where you can buy your best travel companion or simply buy from us.