Getting a travel pillow will make you so much more comfortable and relaxed when you get to your final destination. There is no reason not to enjoy your trip anymore with the variety of pillow options available. There was a time when the concept of a travel pillow was just to have a rolled-up sweater or blanket stuffed under your head.

As we have become much more conscious of our ergonomics and the way that our posture affects our overall function and health, there have been great strides made in comfort products. One such product is this travel pillow we are discussing here. The most common areas to need or desire a travel pillow are for the neck and lower back areas.

There are several types of pillows that are designed for travel. Some simply look like a traditional pillow but are just more diminutive in size. These smaller pillows often pack just as much comfort in more of a pint-sized pillow. The size is really what distinguishes a travel pillow from one you might find on your bed at home. You will quickly realize this when you think of the way that those little white airplane pillows look. Since you’ve probably used one, you realize how small and mostly worthless they are. They basically squish down to nothing and provide just a bit more comfort than using nothing.

The most popular type of travel pillow is used for your neck and head. They are “U” shaped and cradle your head so it doesn’t flop around as you sleep. Rather, it keeps your head more still so that you can sleep. These are usually made of a cotton in-fill or cotton-poly infill material. They are then covered by a cotton cover that can often be unzipped for easy washing.

These types of pillows can be had in this cotton style or as an inflatable option as well. If you are traveling by car or bus, you might find that the small cotton pillow is easy enough to just throw in there with you. However, with plane travel the way it is these days, you need to pack as small and light as possible. The inflatable neck pillow will save you a lot of precious space in your back too. These horseshoe-shaped pillows are common in most airport gift shops. If you get one there, you will definitely be spending more than you need to. You can find these styles from anywhere between $12-25 USD through any number of online sources.

You will find that there are pillows made for traveling that are rectangular in shape and designed to fit snugly just beneath your head in your seat. Many pillows that are made for traveling adults and children are horseshoe shaped. Even the Tempur-pedic™ brand has a travel pillow. It is called the “Tempur-Pedic 3-in-1 Travel Neck Pillow”. It looks and feels just like its larger cousin. This smaller specialty pillow measures 10” long by 14” wide and 3” in height. It can be used to support your lower back as well, another area of common discomfort during travel. This pillow costs about three times as much as the traditional horseshoe shaped pillow at $75 USD. If you are a frequent traveler or just really need a bit of extra comfort when you do travel, you might consider this option.

Just a quick note to touch on the need for a pillow for your child. We adults tend to have an ability to wake up and move to adjust our position to keep our heads from hanging in an awkward and eventually very strained position. You can also move around more in your seat and adjust your body to keep your head leaning on someone or something, like the seat or window.

When kids travel, they are usually strapped in. They don’t have that same freedom to move about and get comfortable. Often, their heads will just flop around and could lead to a minor strained position if they fall asleep there for a prolonged trip. Luckily, there are travel pillows designed for the smaller size and needs of a child. They have the same features as that of the adult pillow, just in an even smaller, cuter size.