Travel Pillows
 

Hello all:

This is Rafer Guzman, a reporter with the Wall Street Journal. I'm writing a story about travel pillows, of all things. Anybody out there use them? Want to offer me some expert advice on which ones are best, which to avoid, how much to pay, etc?

If so, please email me at [email protected].

Many thanks,
R

PS, apologies if I've posted this in the wrong forum -- it seemed the best bet.

Rafer, you've got mail.

And this is the perfect forum for posting your request. Muchly apprciated.

Rafer, I like my travel pillow so much that I'm posting my response to you for all to see.

I always travel with an inflatable pillow since an unfortunate incident many many years ago when I ended up with my head on the adjacent passenger on a red eye flight. It holds my head comfortably upright in my OWN seat!

I used to use a horseshoe shaped pillow that inflated all the way around. 3 years ago, I found a new style at the British Airways Travel Store on Regent Street in London. It inflates on either side, while ribbing keeps the back from inflating. It is MUCH more comfortable. It keeps my head from being elevated from the seat, still keeping my head comfortably in place.

I've bought a spare, so can give you the brand name.

The Snoozer
Go Travel Products Co.
London
Fax: 081-906-245 (outdated, due to changes in London area codes)

I paid 5 pds 10p for it (about 3 years ago).

I got a TRAVEL-SMITH pillow and blanket for Xmas. It makes for some of the best flights, that I have taken. Even the fabric on the pillow 'feels' comfortable! Sleep is easier and better. More support for the head. Helps with watching movies without straining the neck.

Now if someone will only give me one of those adjustible expensive mattresses filled with air! I might want to stay home more of the time.

[This message has been edited by ROADRUNNER (edited 03-30-2001).]

Although they're pretty ubiquitous to the point of being passe, I love my horse-shoe shaped inflatable $4.99 department store special.

I've tried the buckwheat and fiber-filled pillows, and they are comfortable, but who the heck wants to carry around something like that, even if they have room to carry it in?

The horse-shoe shape is ideal for me because it gives a secure-feeling around the neck that I just can't get from a square pillow. On a square pillow, in sitting upright or even on a steep recline, my head just feels like it doesn't have anywhere solid to go, side-to-side.

The air pillows are terrific because they're inexpensive and easy to replace (I have left MUCH more expensive things on planes...), easy to find, easy to adjust firmness or softness by increasing or decreasing the inflation, and easy to store by just deflating, folding, and tucking into a small slip pocket on my briefcase.

What more could you want?

The adjustable air pillow would make for nice airline Elite gifts. A distinquishing badge. And the airline would save on some of those pillows that are now supplied on the crafts.

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