Travel gear - pillows, blankets, and foot rests.
For me, Travel Pillow and Blanket are essential travel items. Even for some longer domestic flights. For longer flights in economy I will also bring what is essentially a blow-up ottoman. I’m not one that really gets much sleep on flights - oh to be that lucky. But I did catch a number of hours with this set up on my flight to Japan last summer.
**Travel Pillow:**
Okay, I’ve gone through a bunch of these - from the weird across the body things, to regular U shaped, to something that you can blow up one or both side of as kinda a paddle thing…
It finally came down to the trtl ‘pillow’ and the cabeau - I want to love the trtl - and even ordered the newer more adjustable one directly from them. BUT I need something that holds my head to the seat. The Cabeau attaches to the headrest - so I feel some support that way in addition to the memory foam. I recently also bought the one with the ‘chin rest’, but it doesn’t also have the connector strap in the front and I didn’t love it as much. There is enough support, but doesn’t get overly hot - it is a bit bulky, so over the ear headphones take some arranging, but are doable. One key thing is figuring out where to strap the carrying case - I’ve lost one and thankfully they sell those separately.
While this is a must for my longer trips, I actually take it on shorter ones too - I may or may not actually use it, but set it up as a nice barrier between me and my neighbor(s). Ya, I’m not someone that whats to have a long chat with strangers on flights.
Travel Blanket: This is where trtl won out - I have the full size trtl travel blanket - looks like they have a ‘mini’ version now. I would actually love that for shorter trips because the blanket isn’t particularly small, but it is compact and functions as a nice lumbar support when not using it as a blanket. I LOVE the zip pocket and the snaps to make it a bit like a sleeping bag. It keeps me warm and stays in place. I’m all about packing light and smart, but at some point you just prioritize comfort and if your flight necessities take up most of your personal item as a carry on, then so be it. Arriving having gotten a bit of shut eye is worth it.
The final item in the flight comfort is this blow up foot rest. It is one of those that you can use the air vent to blow up, but absolutely wait until AFTER take off. I typically aim for exit row or some type of bulkhead space for flights since we are both tall and I have really long legs [regular economy seats (even those on international flights) my knees are wedged up against the seat in front of me - sorry to the people in front :-(].
Do I look semi-ridiculous using this, probably. But I honestly don’t care. It lets me stretch my legs out (helping with circulation).
I have not yet tried those foot hammocks yet - since those won’t work on the seats I usually try to get, plus I tend to aim for the aisle seat so I can get up whenever I need to. But I could see how that would produce a similar result.
