Going on a trip is always a fun and exciting idea, especially if you’ve been planning the holiday for months already. However, before you get to relax in a luxurious hotel or soothe your adventurous side in the wilderness, you must first pass through a hurdle––the flight.

A statistic shows that 92% of Americans dread the idea of flying, mainly because of the inconveniences it implies. But since traveling on an airplane, train, or car is a necessary precursor for your break, you must do your best to endure it. (1)

Fortunately, traveling shouldn’t always be considered a bad experience. There are already plenty of ways to make traveling comfortable to the point that the commute itself becomes a relaxing experience for you. One of these ways is to bring a travel pillow.

What is a travel pillow?
If you frequently travel, you’ve probably seen other commuters use a travel pillow before. A travel pillow is a U-shaped pillow that gives the user’s head a natural resting position. Do note that the cervical spine is composed of seven bones in the neck, all of which are cushioned by the cervical disks and supported by the muscles. The standard shape of the spine is a slight curve, which is also referred to as the lordotic cervical curve. (2)

Any activity, like resting or sleeping, that inhibits the natural curvature of the spine can result in neck pain. And you’re most susceptible to this uncomfortable position when you’re on a plane or bus since your head and neck may not have the right place when it’s resting. Thankfully, a travel pillow maintains the much-needed lordotic curve of the spine, giving the neck adequate support. (2)

Moreover, a travel pillow is smaller than the pillows in your home, making it ideal for travel. Also, you can comfortably place a travel pillow around or behind your neck, allowing you to fill the space between your headrest and neck. This way, your neck won’t bend backward, disrupting the lordotic cervical curve. (2)

Benefits of using a travel pillow when taking a trip
If you’ve already made your itinerary and booked your accommodations, the next best before finally relaxing is to prepare for the commute. Here are some ways how a travel pillow can make your trip more comfortable:

1. Similar to the pillow you have at home

If you have, say, a buckwheat pillow at home and you’re already accustomed to sleeping on it, it’s good to know that plenty of travel pillows out there are made from the same material to which you’re already accustomed. Essentially, a travel pillow can mimic the material you have at home, so you can rest assured that you’ll have the same comfort levels when you’re traveling.

As a tip, if you truly want to enjoy a relaxing commute, it’s best if you opt for a memory foam travel pillow or one that’s filled with buckwheat hulls. Not only will it give you the comfort you need while you’re on a plane or train, but it can also provide you with the following benefits:

• Contours to your neck and head’s shape: This means that both materials have the capability to adjust themselves to suit the shape of your neck and head, giving optimum comfort levels.

• May relieve head, back, and neck pain: More often than not, pain in these areas is caused by your sleeping position. And this pain is often experienced if you’re sleeping in a sitting position. Since a travel pillow contours to the shape of your head and neck, you’ll reduce or completely eliminate the chances of experiencing pain in these areas.

• Gives stability against motion transfer: Motion transfer is when you feel dizzy whenever you’re in the plane or as soon as it takes off. A travel pillow prevents this as you’ll no longer have to keep adjusting your head. (3)

2. Reduce snoring
Sitting close to someone who’s snoring loudly on a plane is never a pleasant experience. However, you can’t deny the fact that snoring affects 57% of men, 40% of women, and around 27% of children. This statistic means that it’s most likely you’ll encounter a fellow traveler who’ll snore when they fall asleep, which may affect the quality of your trip. (4)

Even if snoring is a common occurrence for many people, it can be bothersome to travelers. Fortunately, with a travel pillow, you won’t bother fellow commuters, despite the fact that you snore at home.

Since a travel pillow keeps your head and neck in an upright position, you won’t obstruct your airways, which prevents snoring and even sleep apnea. Also, if you and your loved one are already bothered by your snoring at home, you can always use this type of pillow in your bedroom too.

3. Maintains posture
For you to enjoy a comfortable trip despite the duration, it’s important that you have good posture and proper spinal alignment, as mentioned before. You can easily achieve these important things for comfortability when you’re sleeping on a bed. But it’ll be different once you have limited room to stretch and move. Thus, achieving spinal alignment can be quite difficult when you’re on a plane or train. Again, improper spine alignment may be the reason for back, head, and neck strains. (3)

Fortunately, you can achieve good posture when you have a travel pillow. This is because you’ll now have a cushion for your head, which gives your head the ability to relax when you fall asleep. And you’ll also prevent your body from moving to an uncomfortable position while you’re getting some shut-eye, ensuring that you’ll have good quality sleep throughout the duration of your flight. (3)

4. Less odors
Another aspect that contributes to your comfortability when taking on a trip is odor. If you’re traveling on a plane, bus, or train, there’s a huge chance that you may encounter an unpleasant smell along the way. But if you have a travel pillow, especially if it’s hypoallergenic, you won’t have to worry about foul odors, giving you optimum comfort as you travel to your destination.

A hypoallergenic travel pillow won’t harbor the same microorganisms that’s present in the seat’s covers. Therefore, it won’t produce any bad smells. Also, a travel pillow can be easily cleaned and maintained—simply put it in a washing machine or invest in pillow covers.

5. Breathable
When traveling by plane, you may have the assumption that the temperature is going to be comfortable since it’s almost always cold anyway. However, take note that freezing temperatures don’t always equate to comfort. This is because too much cold will dry the air, which can be the reason why your neck and skin will feel pasty.

Now, if you rely on pillows provided by the airline, it’s common that their pillows aren’t usually the best. This means that it’s usually wrapped with a mesh, disposable felt or plastic layer so they can quickly dispose of and clean the pillow.

With all that said, it’s vital that you bring your own breathable, warm pillow. Thankfully, a high-quality travel pillow always has these features. So by investing in one, you won’t have to worry about your skin feeling dry the moment you land.

6. Can be used by children
Let’s face it, a crying child isn’t really an ingredient of a comfortable commute. Not only will you lose sleep as you soothe your child, but you’ll also face the stares of fellow commuters who simply wish to catch some rest.

Fortunately, travel pillows come in various sizes and designs. So you can choose one that’ll fit your child’s head and one that comes with cute designs. Not only will your child feel comfortable throughout the entire trip, but they also get to enjoy the benefits of having a travel pillow when traveling too. Here’s a quick video about the durability and comfort a buckwheat travel pillow brings to your kids:

Types of travel pillows
Now that you know how a travel pillow can make or break your trip, it’s time to know the different types of travel pillows. By knowing one, you can narrow down your search, and you can select the one that’ll best match your travel needs.

Here are the types of travel neck pillows:

• Inflatable: As the name suggests, you can inflate or deflate this type of travel pillow to your desired firmness level. Also, since you can deflate them, you’re able to fold them into a portable weight, which is ideal for long travels. An inflatable travel neck pillow is convenient and less expensive too, making it perfect for travelers who are on a budget.

• Microbead: With this type of travel pillow, you can change the shape to give more support to your neck. But they don’t offer the much-needed support that other types give and lightweight packers won’t find microbead travel pillow ideal. Nevertheless, they’re still portable.

• Memory foam: This is perhaps the most comfortable travel neck pillow available, and you can mold it to the shape of your neck like microbead pillows. Even though they’re the most expensive out of all types, a memory foam travel pillow is one of the most recommended pillows for frequent travelers due to the comfort it brings.

• For children: As mentioned earlier, travel pillows for children come in small sizes so it can fit and give support to a kid’s head. Also, they come in various designs, making them more enjoyable for children. (5)

Tips for choosing a travel pillow

Knowing the type of travel pillow to opt for isn’t the only way to make sure you’re purchasing the right one. In fact, there are still plenty of factors that’ll contribute to ensuring that you’re choosing the right travel fellow.

To help you out, here are some tips you can considerhttps://www.breakingtravelnews.com/focus/article/top-3-accessories-for-more-enjoyable-flights when choosing a travel pillow:

• Go for a trusted brand: If you’re already comfortable with your home pillow, there’s a huge chance that the same manufacturer will also have a travel pillow available. If not, then try to compare brands on the internet. Alternatively, you can visit a physical store so you can gauge if a travel pillow is perfect for you.

• Check the fabric: Despite fabric being one of the most important factors for ensuring your comfort, this factor is often the most overlooked aspect consumers make when choosing a travel pillow. Knowing what material your travel pillow is made of is important since most people find those of the plastic and inflatable kind irritate their skin. If you don’t want to experience the same predicament, also assess how usually your skin reacts to plastic materials.

Additionally, consider the climate of the location you’re traveling to. If you’re going to a hot climate, consider a travel pillow that’s made from cotton. On the other hand, fleece is perfect if you’re going to colder climates.

• Find the right size and weight: If you want to travel light, opt for memory foam or inflatable pillows. But if you don’t have the budget for a memory foam pillow but want the contouring capability it offers, you can always opt for the microbead type. But again, since microbead pillows can be bulky, make sure you have sufficient space in your carry-on. (6)

Final words
With this comprehensive article concerning why travel pillows can make or break your trip, hopefully, you’re now convinced that a travel pillow should be one of your travel essentials, especially if you want to transform a long flight into something relaxing and enjoyable. Do note that due to the variety of options and types available, you can surely find one that suits your needs. This way, you can rest assured that you can harness the benefits that a high-quality travel pillow gives as you’re sitting on a plane or train.

Lastly, as you go shopping, make sure to have due diligence by taking the time to test how the pillow will feel around your neck. And make sure that it can give you the right comfort level and firmness. By doing so, not only will you have a relaxing trip, but you’re also saving your money as you no longer have to keep on replacing your travel companion.