Six Things to Consider When Selecting A Travel Pillow

April 06, 2022 1 Comment

There are innumerable reviews and comparisons of travel pillows to be found on the Web.  The majority seem to deal with airplane travel pillows. The multitude of novelties and gimmicks among airline travel pillows can make it difficult, even humorous, to find what you are really looking for—a versatile, comfortable and sanitary travel pillow that will serve you while on route and at your destination.  After all, who has not been at a vacation destination and found the supplied pillows either uncomfortable or insufficient in number, or of questionable cleanliness. 

We have decided to do our own thorough analysis to help you choose your next, and hopefully last, travel pillow. We used six broad areas of comparison. Since we all have different needs and expectations, you can decide which are important to you.

1. Durability and Versatility – Is the product likely to stand up for years of travel use? Can the product be used in different travel situations—on route, at your destination and even at home?

2. Hygiene and Hypo-Allergenic – Can the product be easily water washed and/or can the surface be cleaned regularly? Is the product likely to cause allergies?

3. Packability and Portability – Is the product compressible and light-weight enough to be carried in cabin hand baggage?

4. Practical Size and Ease of Use – Is the product the right size to be effective for the application? Can it easily be set up and put away?

5. Sleep-Aid Effectiveness – Does the product actually help you sleep or rest better by improving your comfort both in the sitting and lying position? Does it provide neck support? Does it support both side and back sleeping positions?

6. Source and Quality Is the product domestically sourced? This may or may not matter to you but quality does. Are the product and its components of high quality and produced in adherence to ethical, environmental, labour and quality standards?

Because there are so many varieties of travel pillows the following categories of pillows are used for the purpose of this comparison:

1. Airplane Inflatables - Inflatable U-shaped, balls, bolster and table-shaped pillows designed specifically for airplane use. Generally surface washable.

2. Airplane Filled Pillows - Fibre, bead/bean or foam filled U-shaped, balls, bolster and table-shaped pillows designed specifically for airplane use. Generally not washable.

3. Memory Foam Travel Pillows – Memory foam comes in a plethora of pillows from airplane U-shaped pillow, contoured neck support pillows, to collars that resemble neck braces. These are heavier than other products and generally not washable.

4. Down/Fibre Travel Pillows - Small size (16” x 20" or less) regular style pillows filled with down or microfibre. Domestic or offshored. Although the fibres are likely to be soft and moisture wicking, they often lack neck head support. These are generally washable and may come with washable covers.

5. Other Filled Travel Pillows - Small size (16” x 20" or less) regular style pillows filled with wool, husks, beans, chipped rubber or foam. Generally domestic. Functionality is highly variable in terms of comfort. These are generally NOT washable but may come with washable covers.

6. Inflatable Plastic Travel Pillows - Inflatable rectangular pillows or square cushions made of plastic with or without flocking or polyester covering. These are surface washable but generally not comfortable because they are hot and can aggravate pressure points.

7. Pillowpacker® Pillow Down or Down Alternative Inflatable Travel Pillow - Designed to be like your home pillow but smaller with the added benefit of being light and highly compressible. Pillowpacker® Pillows have an inflatable inner pillow nestled in a down or down alternative outer pillow which provides adjustable neck and head support. It is washable and comes with home-style 100% cotton percale pillowcase and a custom stuff sack.

 

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