How To Sleep Better On Your Trips With A Travel Pillow

Traveling for business or leisure can be an uncomfortable experience, and this is especially true when you have to sit down for hours during a road trip or a plane ride. Regardless if it’s a day or night trip, comfort remains to be a factor if you want your travels to be bearable and enjoyable, too.

With that in mind, buying yourself a good travel pillow can be something that’s worth every penny. Resting and getting quality sleep may no longer be an elusive dream when you’re out of your comfort zone. 

Different Travel Pillows For Your Travel Goals

Before you could even revel in the benefits of a travel pillow, you first need to buy one. And since you plan on using the pillow when traveling, you might want to know the different types available so you can have a better insight when buying.

Take a look at some of your options when shopping for travel pillows:

• Inflatable Travel Pillows

These sleep essentials are typically U-shaped to give you extra support and comfort. You can choose to inflate these pillows according to your desired firmness. Inflatables are more common in travelers on a budget and backpackers who prefer to travel light. You can deflate the pillow to make it foldable and compact to perfectly fit your luggage. 

• Memory Foam Travel Pillows

Memory foam is one of the most comfortable types of travel pillows in the market. They're firm and they provide the most dependable support for your neck as you travel. Memory foam pillows are also compact since you can compress and clip them for extra convenience when packing. Because of the high level of comfort it offers, a memory foam travel pillow is considered the most expensive one you can find.

• Microbead Travel Pillows

These are also U-shaped and lightweight pillows you could use when traveling. They're packed with micro polystyrene beads which allow for adjustable shape so as to offer neck support. However, this type of cushion may not be ideal for light travelers because they’re the least compact among all the other travel pillow types.

What To Look For In A Travel Pillow

Long-distance trips could make you feel easily tired and uncomfortable. It'd be nice to catch some sleep while hitting the road or sitting down on a long plane ride. But then, sleeping or even resting while on a trip doesn’t always come easy due to awkward positions and cramped spaces. Even the most experienced travelers find it extremely irritating to not rest comfortably while on the road. 

That's why it’s a necessity to pack a travel pillow with you no matter how long or short your trip may be. It's good to know you can always find a travel buddy to help you relax when going out of town or out of the country. If you’re on the lookout for the perfect travel pillow for your needs, here are some factors to consider to make sure you buy the right one:

1. Neck Support

Your pillow won’t just be an accessory to help you sit comfortably. It'll also aid you in finding an ideal position that gives the most support possible. If you prefer a travel neck pillow, look for one that aligns the center of your chin with the nose. This position could greatly help in alleviating pain as you spend long hours on your trip, as well as avoiding strain in the neck, back, and posture.

2. Comfortability

Aside from neck pain, you’re hoping for a travel pillow to provide you with comfort as you hit the road. Since you’re most likely to maintain a sitting position when traveling, it’s recommended to choose a pillow that could make you feel most comfortable while relaxing against your seat. 

Keep in mind, comfortability is different for everyone, so you might need to do a little hit and miss before you can pinpoint the right one that’ll be your permanent travel companion. Additionally, you should also consider other factors that might affect comfort such as if you’re a hot sleeper. 

Hot sleepers are people who constantly get a hot and uncomfortable feeling when trying to sleep. If you’re one, you may want to look for a cooling pillow that’s extra breathable and cooler to touch.

3. Size

What sets apart a travel pillow from the usual ones you use in your bed is they’re handy and they can be easily carried or packed as you move. There’s already a lot of stuff to squeeze into your luggage as it is, and an extra bulk might not be a good idea. So, you’ll need a travel companion that you can fold, compress, or deflate when necessary.

If you’re traveling with kids, you could also buy them their own travel pillows smaller in size to perfectly fit their small heads and necks. There are options to buy them in different cartoon characters, bright colors, and cute shapes so they’ll be excited to use them. To learn more about travel pillows you can get for your kids, watching this video would help.

How To Sleep Better During A Flight With A Travel Pillow

Not everyone gets the luxury to travel first class when riding an airplane. Chances are you’re booked under economy class and that can be quite a drag especially in tiny planes where leg rooms are already a privilege. As you’re confined uncomfortably in your seat, you can make the experience better and still manage to get some sleep with the help of your travel pillow.

Here are some tips to utilize your little buddy more effectively when flying:

1. Cover Your Pillow For Added Comfort

Some pillow types and materials aren’t comfortable and breathable; hence, you’d end up sweating as you try to get some sleep. Examples of these are inflatable pillows made from latex or plastic. To mitigate this, you can opt to buy your neck pillow a cover made from cotton or other breathable fabrics.

2. Make Sure The Pillow Is Hypoallergenic

There's nothing worse than being left with a pillow that triggers your allergies. Instead of being comfy, you end up sneezing as you spend hours during your flight. That might also inconvenience other passengers especially your seatmates unless you’re using a private jet or plane for your air travel. 

To avoid this from happening, make sure you choose materials that are hypoallergenic so your pillow won’t clash with your allergies. You could go for memory foam pillows with anti-microbial properties or organic buckwheat travel pillows that are naturally hypoallergenic.

3. Always Bring A Clean Travel Pillow

No matter how expensive or comfortable your pillow may be, if it’s not clean, it’ll never help you sleep better. Make sure you wash your neck pillow before your scheduled trip so it’ll be ready when you start packing. If you’re not using it, store it in an airtight container or plastic that can help retain its firmness and quality.

Most travel pillows are now machine-washable, and since they’re usually smaller in size, you won’t have a difficult time maintaining and storing them. If you’re covering them with a case, make sure it's also clean and washed every time.

4. Dress Comfortably

It's not enough that you have a cozy travel pillow to snuggle with. You should also take into consideration how your clothing could affect overall comfort when trying to sleep during your flight, especially if it involves more than 12 hours of air time. Layering is a good idea if you don’t know how cold or hot it’ll be when you’re already on board. That way, you can easily remove a few pieces according to how comfortable you want to be. 

Wear breathable pieces like cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts so you can move around and shift in your position as you travel. Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes that could make you feel itchy, hot, and uneasy. You might also want to wear shoes you can easily take off and slip into when you’re already on the plane. Simply wear something light and cozy to your skin.

5. Find Your Best Sleeping Position

Although you have limited space, you should still try to find the best sleeping position that could help you relax and ease your way into a snugly snooze. This is also where the shape or type of your pillow would come in handy. If you have a U-shaped neck pillow, you might find it easier to sleep while sitting upright. For rectangle-sized pillows, you may choose to sleep on your side or simply place it above your legs and lay your head over it.

Road Trips And Travel Pillows

Whether it’s a bus, car, or train ride, long-haul trips can be a real discomfort and pain in the neck. While it might be a far-fetched idea to hope for a deep sleep while on the road, it’s not impossible to get some relaxation and restorative sleep in between stopovers and endless highways. In such instances, a travel pillow might just be a sleep saver that makes all the difference.

To get comfier during road trips, try these hacks and tips:

1. Recline Your Seat

If there’s still ample room for your seat to be reclined, go for it. That's if you’re using a private vehicle and there’s enough space for everyone to be comfortable. Reclining your seat would allow for a more sleep-inducing position especially if you’ll be on the road for several hours. Also, it’d make your trip more convenient.

2. Sleep On Your Back 

Again, this tip only applies to travelers on private vehicles. If you don’t like reclining your seat, you can simply sleep on the back seat and use your travel pillow for neck and head support. If you’re a side sleeper, go ahead and do as you please. 

The key is finding which position will make you most comfortable so you can catch some sleep when traveling. But don’t forget to ask your companions if they’re fine with you sleeping as they drive or sit with you at the back. You don’t want your travel buddies to be secretly annoyed that you’ve occupied the whole space without asking them first.

3. Go All Out On Sleep Accessories

Some travel pillows come in complete packages—earplugs, hoods, and sleep masks, to name a few. You can use these accessories to make your sleep more calming. Sleep masks can create a dark atmosphere and can help greatly when traveling during the day. Even when your car is heavily tinted, you could still feel the heat of the sun piercing through the windows. Hoods, on the other hand, can keep your head and face covered if you don’t like the idea of people staring at you while you sleep.

Sleep Is Non-Negotiable Even When Traveling

Whether you’re traveling by air, road, or even via sea, nothing beats the benefits of packing a good quality travel pillow. When chosen correctly, this sleep essential can be one of the best things that’ll make your trip less painful and more comfortable than ever. With several options to choose from, you’ll surely end up with the right pillow suiting your needs and preferences. 

Select your travel pillow according to neck support, comfortability, and size that you want. Consider the pros and cons of each type first before making a decision, especially if you’re leaning toward the expensive stuff such as the buckwheat travel pillows or memory foam types. Keep in mind that while they may cost a little higher than the others, you can’t put a price on quality and comfort. 

Travel pillows aren’t only essential while on the road or during your plane ride. You can make good use of them when you’re already at the hotel and can’t seem to get into a good night’s sleep. Make sure to pack yours when going on a trip with friends, family, or business colleagues. And don’t forget to bring the other sleep accessories that can greatly help in making sure you sleep better even when you’re away from home.