A Buckwheat Travel Pillow Shopping Guide For Taking Long-Haul Flights

For frequent flyers, having a travel pillow is essential, especially for long-haul flights. Having to sit for hours can already be challenging as it is, and the experience may even get worse without the comfort that a travel pillow can offer. The key concern for most travellers is how to get quality sleep while seated inside a vehicle. Keeping the head in a comfortable position while sleeping during a flight can be difficult as the head tends to fall forward or sidewards.

This discomfort may prevent people from having a restful sleep and may even leave the neck in pain after hours of flight. This is why a travel pillow should be able to support the head and the neck sufficiently and effectively during long-distance travels.

For many travellers, having a compact and portable travel pillow is important. It’s a priority for them to be able to move quickly from one point to the next without having to worry too much about carrying extra items as long as they’re appropriately sized. For others, the comfort and support a travel pillow can offer might be the primary consideration especially if they have problems falling asleep or if they’re experiencing body pains.

If you’re looking for a travel pillow that’s compact, portable, and comfortable to use on long-haul flights, a buckwheat travel pillow may be the right choice for you. Buckwheat pillows, also known as sobakawa in Japan, are made from hulls of buckwheat seeds. The buckwheat plant is commonly grown for human and animal consumption. The edible part of the seed is usually made into flour and noodles, while the hulls are treated and used as pillow fillings. You can find out more about buckwheat travel pillows through this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=byCJuXZT9Rk

A buckwheat pillow has many different travel-friendly features to offer. Before you search shops for your newest travel essential, you can consider the following points that could help you select the perfect travel pillow to suit your needs.

1. Sleeping Position

Every person has their own preferred sleeping positions, especially during travels. Some feel more comfortable keeping the head upright, while some sleep better while leaning the head to the left or the right side depending on where they’re seated in the vehicle. Given these common preferences, modern travelling pillows are manufactured to match different sleeping positions.

The U-shaped pillow is one of the most common designs available in the market. However, many consumers find this design insufficient in providing support for the neck regardless of the sleeping position of the user. The traditional design places a thick cushion behind the nape of the neck which tends to push the head backwards, leaving it in an uncomfortable position for sleeping. This may be why modern versions of the U-shape pillow are designed differently to be able to provide more support to lift the chin and face and hold the head upright.

There are also other revolutionary designs gaining popularity in the market to cater to all kinds of sleeping positions. One example would be the wrap-around pillow which is worn like a scarf but provides support to all sides of the head which makes it ideal for travel.

As there are multitudes of options in the market, it would be wise for you to think about the most comfortable sleeping position for you during travels and consider the designs that could cater to your requirements.

2. Comfort

The level of comfort needed while sleeping on a moving vehicle could have a great disparity from what’s required when sleeping in the comfort of your own home. Apart from the unfamiliar surroundings, it can also be difficult to feel rested due to sudden movements while inside a vehicle. This is why a travel pillow needs to be able to provide the level of comfort needed for sleeping while in transit.

In this regard, your buckwheat travel pillow must be specifically designed with features that could add to your comfort while travelling. Many buckwheat pillows have a breathability feature that allows better air circulation. This is important especially if you’re travelling in hot weather or you tend to get sweaty while sleeping. There are also buckwheat pillow variants with natural scents added such as lavender, which can help you feel relaxed and comfortable as you try to rest during flights.

3. Support

The primary purpose of the travel pillow is to provide support for the head and neck while the user sleeps in a seated position. As compared to sleeping on a bed lying down, being in a seated position while sleeping gives the body limited support particularly on the neck and the head area. This instability may cause discomfort and sleep disruption for many. This is why a travel pillow needs to have the right structure, design, texture, and features to provide enough support to the users as they sleep on their seats.

Users commonly recommend a travel pillow designed in such a way that the nose and the centre of the chin will be aligned while it’s in use. This will help the body achieve the ideal alignment that balances weight distribution while allowing the user to breathe easily and comfortably while asleep. This also prevents unwanted strain on the shoulders, back, and neck.

The pillow’s ability to support the weight of the neck and the head depends on the inner material used. In the case of buckwheat pillows, the hulls have a firm texture that can provide sufficient support where needed. As compared to other materials, buckwheat hulls are also more flexible when it comes to providing support.

This is because they’re able to realign inside the pillow casing to support the head and the neck depending on the amount of pressure applied to it. For example, if the user leans their head against the headrest, the buckwheat hulls will be pushed towards the left and right sides of the pillow, providing support to both sides of the face.

As with any other pillow, the texture is important to make the user feel comfortable. With travel pillows, many users may find it useful to have a firmer texture because they’ll be sleeping in a seated position. A firm-textured pillow may be able to provide the stability they need. This is why buckwheat hulls pillows are also ideal for travel as they have the firmness needed to provide comfort to sleeping travellers.

4. Size And Shape

A good travel pillow should be compact and portable so it would be convenient to use and carry around while on transit. The common designs such as U-shape and wrap-around types are ideal for sleeping inside a plane or a car because they are sized to fit one seat and are typically not too bulky as compared to regular pillows.

On the other hand, it may also be helpful to think about how you’re going to pack the pillow and carry it with convenience. If you’re a travel vlogger, for example, you may have to walk around with your bag and luggage as you look around for interesting spots. Given this, many variants are designed to be compressible or foldable to make them easier to carry around or fit into carry-ons or luggage. Some of these are inflatable pillows, memory foam pillows, etc.

When it comes to buckwheat pillows, you can find many different shapes and sizes that are fit for travel. Also, the thickness would be easy to adjust as you can add or remove husks to your liking. This would be useful especially if you have limited space in your luggage and you might need to make your pillow fit into a smaller bag.

5. Care And Protection

If you’re a frequent traveler, you may be worried about your pillow accumulating dirt due to frequent exposure. In this case, it may be wise to look for a variant that has a washable exterior and removable pillow casing. This way, you can replace the covers regularly and protect yourself from dirt and bacteria as well. Many buckwheat pillows are washable because the hulls can be removed and replaced inside the casing as needed. Also, if the pillow gets wet, you have an option to replace the hulls and simply wash the pillow casing.

Another feature you may want to consider is having a travel-friendly bag specifically designed to make the pillow easier to bring in flights and other modes of transport. This is ideal not only for portability but also to protect your pillow from exposure and damage.

6. Price

The amount you decide to invest in having a high-quality buckwheat travel pillow largely depends on your budget and the type of pillow that you selected.  On the other hand, the price of the item would depend on the materials used and sometimes on the design and the brand. However, contrary to what many consumers may believe, there are well-designed, durable, and comfortable options in the market that comes at a reasonable price. Though it’s common for high-end luxury brands to offer other attractive features such as washable covers and travel bags to go with the pillow, you can also find less-expensive variants with similar functions which can be a great deal for you as well.

Travel Pillow Shopping Tips

Have you ever experienced going around the airport while waiting for your flight and seeing shops selling travel pillows? Many travelers end up buying one in a hurry, only to find later on that the pillow is of low-quality, uncomfortable, and expensive, too. To avoid last-minute pillow shopping, you can consider the following tips for your next flight: 

Plan Ahead

To avoid the scenario above, you have to shop for a travel pillow in advance so you have time to look at different options and choose which ones would work best for you. You may also need to identify what you’ll prioritize when buying a new one.

For example, you may be more inclined towards compact and portable options. In this case, you can look for those variants that have those features bundled with other desirable characteristics, like ergonomic design, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, etc. 

Research

Doing your research online can help you find reputable brands and stores selling high-quality travel pillows. This way, you can compare product descriptions, features, customer feedback, and ratings. Especially for modern designs, there are some features in a product that you may want to take time to understand first before making a decision. Also, there are many kinds of materials being introduced in the market which you’ll also want to know about so you can be sure of the quality of the product you’ll purchase.

When it comes to selecting a brand. one of the best ways to determine which pillow you’ll buy is through reading other customers’ reviews and ratings. Many customers nowadays take time to provide their honest reviews and share their experiences with the product, so it may be helpful to see what they have to say as well.

Compare Prices

One advantage of doing research about a product before purchasing it is that you can compare prices between brands and shops. This is especially true for travel pillows as some may have the same features but may be priced differently. Given this, it’s important to carefully consider your options and select the one that would be most cost-effective for you. Also, you’ll be able to avoid overpriced knockoff pillows by buying from legitimate shops where the quality of the items is guaranteed.

Conclusion

It may be a great investment to have a buckwheat travel pillow in tow for those taxing long-haul flights. Choosing the best travel pillow can have a huge impact on your overall health and well-being as well as your travel experience. This is why you need to select one that’s most suited to your travel needs.

 As with any other personal items, however, it’s important to maintain the quality and cleanliness of your travel pillow as it could be frequently exposed to moisture and particles and could also be prone to damage. Protecting your travel essentials make them cost-effective investments if you’re able to prolong their use, so using and handling them with care is always the best way to go.

There are many variants of travel pillows and it may be overwhelming to select the perfect one for you. Consider the tips given in this article so you’ll be able to narrow down your options and land the best travel pillow deal for a more comfortable and enjoyable travel experience.