Everyone talks about legroom and seat pitch. But what about the pillow you've packed for your red-eye? You settle into your seat, pull it out, and realise it's pushing your head further forward than the seatback. You try moving it around, but nothing feels quite right.
The frustrating part? You packed that travel pillow specifically to rest on. And now, with the cabin lights dimmed and the person beside you already asleep, you're trying to figure out something you could have checked at home.
What Should You Check Before the First Trial?
If your travel pillow has been sitting in a cupboard or squashed inside a bag, give it a little time to regain its shape. A gentle shake can help loosen down or feather filling, while microfibre and polyester may need a little smoothing if they've bunched up. Compressed memory foam can take longer to expand. If your down pillow still looks flat in places, re-fluffing after packing can help.
Put the pillowcase or cover back on before trying it. After all, you'll be resting your face against the fabric, not the filling underneath. Run your hand over the pillow to check for any lumps or uneven spots. With layered designs, such as a down-filled inflatable travel pillow, make sure the inner air chamber is sitting smoothly beneath the outer filling. Now that the pillow is ready, the next part is finding out how it feels when you lean against it for more than a few seconds.
How Can You Tell If Your Travel Pillow Is Too Firm or Too Soft?
Don't sit perfectly upright as though you're posing for a photograph. Settle into a chair the way you normally would, perhaps reading something or closing your eyes for a few minutes. Notice the little things you find yourself doing without thinking.
A Few Signs to Pay Attention To
-
You keep moving the pillow lower: It may be sitting too high behind your head. Try changing its position before assuming it's too firm.
-
You're using your hand for extra cushioning: Notice where you're placing it. If you're tucking it beneath your cheek, the pillow may not be providing enough softness or thickness in that spot.
-
You can't rest without holding the pillow in place: This may be more about its shape than its firmness. See whether it stays where you need it when you relax your hands.
Different Pillows, Different Things to Check
With an inflatable pillow, you can make it softer or firmer by changing the amount of air. Other types give you less room to adjust, so spend a few minutes using them before deciding whether they're comfortable.
Memory foam may soften slightly as you settle in, but if it keeps pushing your head forward, its thickness could be the problem.
With microbead pillows, notice whether the filling stays where you need it or moves to the sides, leaving a flatter spot beneath your head.
For U-shaped pillows, try leaning to one side. If the raised edge feels too hard against your cheek, see if moving the pillow slightly changes that.
What Else Could Affect How Your Pillow Feels?
Your pillow might feel comfortable when you're testing it in a T-shirt, but what happens when you put on your travel jacket or headphones?
A bulky hood or jacket collar can bunch up behind a rectangular pillow, pushing it further forward than you'd like. Pulling the fabric out of the way may be enough to help it sit comfortably against the seatback.
Over-ear headphones can also change how you rest. The raised sides of some U-shaped pillows may press against the earcups when you lean sideways. A rectangular pillow doesn't wrap around your neck, but its corners can still get in the way if it’s positioned too high.
Try wearing your headphones while resting against the pillow. If something feels awkward, you'll know whether it's the pillow's firmness or simply how the two fit together.
What Can an At-Home Test Not Tell You?
There's one thing your chair at home can't copy: the shape of your plane seat.
You might board expecting your pillow to feel exactly as it did at home, only to find the headrest pushes it further forward. Some headrests also have adjustable side wings, which can change how the pillow sits when you lean toward the window.
And if yours is inflatable, don't be surprised if it feels a little different once the aircraft reaches cruising altitude because cabin pressure changes during the climb. Check the firmness again once you're settled and release a little air if needed.
How Do You Get Your Pillow Ready for the Trip?
Now that you've tried your pillow at home, think about when you'll need it. If you're hoping to rest shortly after takeoff, packing it with your personal-item essentials means you won't have to dig through the overhead bin to find it.
Inflatable pillows can be packed with the air released, while memory foam and other filled pillows should be stored according to their care instructions. Keep the cover with the pillow so you're not searching for it later.
Before You Pack Your Pillow
You know that moment when you're reading or watching something and realise you haven't thought about your pillow for the past ten minutes? That's a good sign. You've settled in without having to keep moving it around.
Now imagine trying to do the same in an aircraft seat, with your seatbelt fastened and someone sitting beside you. If you're constantly rearranging your pillow at home, you'll probably have even less room to work with on the plane.
At Pillowpacker, we believe you should have some control over how your pillow supports you, without having to change the way you naturally rest. Even with adjustable firmness, the pillow should work with your preferred position, rather than make you adapt to it.
If you've found a setup that lets you settle back comfortably, you're ready to pack. And if you haven't, there's still time to reconsider what you're bringing before you're thousands of feet in the air.
Common Questions About Travel Pillow Firmness
Should I inflate my travel pillow all the way?
Not necessarily. A fully inflated pillow can feel too firm against the seatback. If it pushes your head forward, release a little air. If it becomes too flat, add some back.
What if I'm buying a travel pillow online and can't try it first?
Look for photos of someone resting against the pillow, not just pictures of it lying flat. Check its thickness and filling. Memory foam compresses when you lean against it, while inflatable pillows let you adjust the firmness.
Is a 700-loft down pillow softer than a 600-loft one?
Not necessarily. The difference between 600 and 700 is how much space the down occupies when it expands. It doesn't tell you exactly how soft the pillow will feel. The amount of filling and the pillow's inner construction also play a part.
How do I know if my inflatable pillow has a slow leak?
Inflate it, close the valve and leave it unused for a few hours at a steady room temperature. If it loses noticeable air, check the valve seal. Continued air loss could mean a leak in the air chamber.