Is this the best travel pillow in the world? Some travelers think so

If you read last week’s Los Angeles to Fiji trip report, then you know that I used the Trtl travel pillow for the first time on our 11-hour flight in the back of the plane.

This was after I’d read a story from The Today Show that had this catchy headline: This silly-looking pillow is the reason I no longer dread long flights. In the article, author Cailey Rizzo wrote, “The TRTL travel pillow has officially become my must-pack travel accessory, particularly when journeying long distances. Before boarding a flight or train ride, I make sure it’s in my bag. Because it’s not a typical travel pillow, it doesn’t pose the usual travel pillow woes: no creaky neck, no mid-flight deflation, no taking up room in your suitcase.”

My wife and I wanted to try them out since it was the first time we would be doing a long-haul red-eye flight in coach. They turned out to be a game-changer. My wife fell asleep shortly after dinner and when she woke up, she asked me how much time was left in the flight. When I told her 3.5 hours, her eyeballs almost popped out of her head. She was in complete shock. She thought she’d slept for maybe an hour but she’d slept for five. The Trtl travel pillow has a unique design, completely different from most travel pillows (that I’ve never found to be very effective) and it definitely keeps your head upright so you can nap and not be continually woken when your head falls.

I’m not a travel pillow kind of guy, especially when it comes to those u-shaped ones that you see people walking around the airport with. I’ve tried them and they’re not comfortable but this one was once you figured out the right position. It took a little time and they advise you to practice before you leave home. Once you get it right, it’ll hold your head in a comfortable, ergonomic position, allowing you to sink into sleep.

There are a few things that make the TRTL travel pillow different. First of all, it doesn’t look ridiculous. It’s less than half the size of a traditional travel pillow and weighs just 5.2 ounces (148 grams) so it’s lightweight.

This is good for a couple of other reasons. With gate agents cracking down on carry-on, yes, some even consider neck pillows a carry-on item, this looks like a scarf. On top of that, it keeps your neck warm.

I love that it’s washable, which is key for travel gear. The first thing I do when I get home is strip down to my birthday suit and throw all of my airplane clothes in the washing machine on high heat to kill all of the nasty germs.

TRTL sent me a pillow when they first came out years ago in 2015 and I got a different one in a goodie bag at one of the TPG Awards again, years ago. They’ve been sitting in a bin since but I finally found them and dug them out. I’m fortunate they were sent to me because the price isn’t cheap; it’s three times or more what you would pay for a traditional travel pillow. But then again, you do get what you pay for and this isn’t just a travel pillow. And when you’re on a long flight and just want to get some good sleep, you’ll be so glad you’ve got this with you.

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