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Your list of what to pack for a trip to Thailand should definitely include travel pillows for the long flight. One thing I’ve found that greatly changes my comfort level on an international flight is a travel pillow for lumbar support as well as my neck.
Pillows for Neck Support
There are a myriad of travel pillows on the market today, donut, or C-shape, infinity wrap, rectangular, inflatable, and foam pillows. The most important feature for your personal pillow is that it supports your neck and isn’t made from an ingredient you’re allergic to. Using a pillow that is too small and doesn’t provide support is as good as having no pillow at all, but it costs more. Using a pillow too big can also misalign your neck and create more problems.
Foam Support:
Many travelers appreciate a memory foam pillow that provides complete neck support. Memory foam pillows can be purchased in pretty much all the different styles and are generally easy to compress down to be stored and carried in a small bag. Storing your pillow between flights is highly recommended for infection control reasons and will also help you to not lose it (guilty). A travel pillow cover can also be purchased and used to help keep your pillow clean and prolong its use.
Inflatable: Inflatable travel pillows are another favorite of some travelers as they can pack down even smaller than the foam travel pillows and are lightweight. I’ve recently been seeing an inflatable head support pillow which the user places on the tray of the seat in front of them, threads their arms through the lower part of the pillow then leans their head on the top of the pillow at a 45-degree angle. I haven’t tried this out myself yet, but they are under $25 and have pretty good reviews on Amazon.
Best Pillows for Lumbar Support
It wasn’t until my second flight to Thailand that I discovered the miracle of lumbar support on an airplane. This is sort of silly to me because I use lumbar support in my personal vehicle and office chair. After six hours of flying my lower back was hurting so bad, I wanted to cry. In an attempt to find a solution, I placed my foam neck pillow behind my lower back and, ahhh. The support was instantly comforting.
Foam Support: Just like neck pillows, there are a variety of memory foam lumbar pillows available on the market. Ensuring that you purchase and use the correct size is also important for lumbar support, too small of a pillow offers no support, and a pillow too large can create misalignment in your lower back and hips leading to more pain. One recommended option to look for is a waterproof and or washable lumbar support pillow. Memory foam tends to hold the body’s heat and you may find it can get sweaty.
Inflatable:
Travelers that chose inflatable lumbar support pillows generally pick these as their favorite due to the compactable carrying size. There are a lot of different makers of inflatable lumbar support pillows so be sure to do your research to ensure you’re purchasing the right product. As with the foam lumbar pillows, you will want to choose an inflatable option that includes a washable cover.
My Favorite Pillows
I prefer to use memory foam pillows that are washable in conjunction with a travel pillow cover. This option assures me that I can maintain a clean pillow throughout my travels and the lumbar support pillow comes in handy whether traveling via plane, train, or car. I also use it between my knees when I sleep to assist with proper body alignment.
The brand I use is a little extra than other brands, but the versatility is totally worth the extra cost and the brand I use comes with a one year warranty! Come back later to enjoy a thorough product review of the best travel pillows to suit your needs.
I also invite you to reach out if you have any questions or just want to share ideas or your travel stories. Feel free to email me at cyanne@bestdestinationsthailand.com or leave a comment below. Together, we can share our experiences or just learn from others. The world opens up to those with knowledge.
All the best,
Cyanne
I never considered a washable neck pillow, that seems much more efficient than wiping it down with sanitizing wipes!
Sanitizing wipes are great too, but being able to throw the entire pillow in the wash is best after a long trip. That’s one of the gifts from the pandemic- manufactures have infection control in mind when designing products! Thanks for commenting!