Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: No fill | Thickness: Thin | Easy to pack The consensus however is that supporting the neck is the most important for most people in regard to comfort and safety, but other styles are still beneficial depending on the circumstances, which is why they’ve earned a spot on this list too. Not supporting the low back increases stress on the joints of the low back and the discs, which can result in muscle spasms, especially if you have a history of low-back pain. Jared Hoffman of Williamsburg Chiropractic. “In a proper chair, the lumbar part should actually push out to support that curve in your low back, but they don’t do that on planes because if they did, it would affect their seating, so a lot of them curve in,” says Dr. A mini flat pillow could be used to lean up against a window, on a tray table, on a neighbor’s shoulder, or, most effectively, as lumbar support. That bending to the side she says is the most important thing to prevent, but not everyone sleeps in the same position or has the same concerns, which is where other styles come in handy. Carla Fischer, the director of quality and patient safety at NYU Langone Spine Center. U-shaped pillows are designed to prevent lateral bending in the neck - “it’s that move to sort of pinch the cellphone between shoulder and ear,” says Dr. U-shaped versions that go around the neck or traditional flat pillows that have been shrunken down for portability are most common.

To find out which of these are the best, we talked to picky people who log a lot of miles, two chiropractors, and a spine surgeon to find comfortable, safe, and supportive options - including the pillow that helped me beat jet lag when I recently traveled from London to Seoul.įirst, consider the type of travel pillow you’re interested in. There are the ones the airlines give you, neck pillows, lumbar pillows, and even pillows for your entire head. Rebecca Robbins, a sleep specialist and Harvard Medical School instructor.īesides foot slings and natural sleep aids, a pillow is necessary for even attempting sleep on a flight. We’re not only physically cramped and uncomfortable, but “when we’re traveling, we’re just a bit less able to really, truly relax,” says Dr. Let’s face it: Unless you’re in first class, getting rest on a long-haul flight is never easy. You’ve even slyly eyed up your neighbor’s shoulder as a potential headrest. You’ve tried an uncomfortable slouch against the window.

Fluffy big bean bag chair