In Trout Lake, a small community in southwest Washington, the peaks of nearby volcanoes and canopies of old-growth forests draw the eyes up. But when Julie Beeler sets out into the surrounding woods, her gaze points downward.
I thought the viral blow-up travel pillows were ingenious. Then, I traveled with one on a 15-hour economy flight.
16.11.2024 - 15:01 / insider.com
I knew I would look ridiculous, but I was willing to sacrifice dignity for sleep on a long-haul flight.
So, on a 13-hour Ethiopian Airlines flight from Washington, DC, to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, I settled in my window seat and shamefully started blowing up my inflatable travel pillow.
Three weeks later, I was boarding an even longer Qatar Airways flight between Doha, Qatar, and Dallas.
Once again, the embarrassment of blowing up the giant contraption set in. I did catch some Zs, but I knew by the end of the flight I'd never fly with the travel pillow again.
I've spent the past few years watching TikTok videos, chatting with frequent flyers, and reading travel pillow roundups — and one product always stood out.
The $21 Kimiandy Inflatable Travel Pillow, shaped like a cube, allows sleepers to lean forward. A hole on top creates a nook for the face, and two holes on the sides welcome the arms.
I'm someone who hasn't had much luck with traditional neck pillows. I've never found one that sits high enough to support my head. Instead, I'm stuck bending my neck in uncomfortable positions or ditching the pillow altogether.
I hoped the blow-up pillow's position might make it easier to sleep. Plus, I loved its packability. I'm far from a germaphobe, but most travel pillows give me the ick.
Each time I go to the airport, I cringe as people throw their neck pillows onto security belts, set them down on airport floors (or worse, airport bathrooms), and prop them against unfamiliar walls.
In just a few minutes, that same pillow will be pressed against a face.
That thought is horrifying, so I know I need something that can be compressed and stored in a bag. That was the case with the inflatable pillow.
Before leaving, I blew the pillow up to ensure there weren't any holes and to air out its plastic smell.
It looked great when inflated in my bedroom. I tested it leaning forward and wondered if I could squish it into other shapes once I was on the plane.
I did think that the compressed pillow was slightly larger than I imagined — about the size of a Nalgene water bottle and made of heavy plastic — but it was still easier to pack and carry than a traditional travel pillow.
A few days later, I boarded my 13-hour flight and quickly realized I had forgotten just how tiny economy seats were. My knees pressed against the seat in front of me, and I stored a few belongings on the plane floor.
Then, I braved the embarrassment and blew up my travel pillow. In my small economy seat, the pillow felt enormous.
With other travel pillows, I've been able to leave them wrapped around my neck or squished near my legs for easy storage. But that wasn't the case with this one.
The inflated pillow couldn't fit underneath my seat or near my
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