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Pillow Fight!
15/03/09 09:22 Filed in: Gear
BY REB STEVENSON
What's the most frustrating thing about plane travel? It's not the delays. It's not passengers who don't wipe the basin as a courtesy. And it's not that awful chicken wrap that appears on all of Air Canada's flights nowadays.
It's the sleep. Or, more accurately, the lack thereof. Ever since my very first flight (a red eye), I've envied those gifted sleepers who doze off during the safety demonstration and wake up refreshed upon touchdown.
My attempts to do the same end up in whiplash and embarrassing drool art on my T-shirt. So I embarked on a quest to find the best travel pillow, testing each of them on a real flight. Here are the results.
Description: It's the classic horseshoe travel pillow that everyone defaults to at the airport.
Cost: $19.85 U.S. at www.magellans.com
Pros: Cheap. Snuggly fabric. Inflatable so you can easily store it in your carry-on.
Cons: Unnatural angle means a big pain in the neck.
Verdict: You're really lucky if the horseshoe works for you.
Description: A pillow that looks like a cervical collar.
Cost: $27.85 U.S. from www.magellans.com
Pros: Prevents your head from bobbing in any direction. Deflates and stows in a pocket-sized pouch.
Cons: You appear to have suffered through a terrible accident.
Verdict: Surprisingly effective.
Description: A 2-in-1 blanket and pillow. When the blanket comes out, the case becomes a cover for the inflatable pillow.
Cost: $28 at Chapters or online at www.lugtravel.com
Pros: Ultra soft. Blanket makes airline-issued covers look like rags.
Cons: Pillow is a simple square and offers none of the neck-cradling you crave.
Verdict: Might suffice for a nap-on-the-go if you can prostrate yourself somewhere (ie: the airport, if not the aisle of the plane itself).
Description: A small foam device that wedges between your neck and the seat.
Cost: $19.85 U.S. at www.magellans.com
Pros: Handy clip fastens the pillow to your bag.
Cons: It's awkward and stiff, and everybody asks why you're bringing a free weight on the plane.
Verdict: Dumb dumbbell.
Description: A long, vertical pillow that tethers to the seatback and seatbelt.
Cost: $29.99 at www.travelrest.net
Pros: Innovative design provides support for your head at a natural angle. Deflates and rolls up into a small scroll.
Cons: Switching sides is a big ordeal.
Verdict: Easier to sink into than the other options.
And the winner is ...
Komfort Kollar, because it eliminates the dreaded forward head-bob. Also, if worn in the waiting lounge and accompanied by self-pitying moans, you may score priority boarding.
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