This Neck Pillow Is a ‘Game-changer’ for Chronic Pain

I’ve been traveling full-time for a decade now and, naturally, I have gone through my fair share of neck pillows—from cheap, inflatable airport pillows to U-shaped memory foam neck pillows. Despite trying just about every travel pillow on the market, there’s only one that has truly brought me comfort on long-haul flights, and it also happens to be the most compact.

The Trtl Neck Pillow is a serious game-changer in my books. This scarf-like neck pillow is easy to wear, comfortable, and is made with a super soft hypoallergenic fleece fabric. It has an internal support structure that functions like a neck brace of sorts, working to hold my head upright on hours-long flights—no matter what plane seat I’m in. 

Trtl Neck Pillow

I have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS), a condition marked by pressed nerves and blood vessels in the upper back. This continuous compression usually causes me to suffer bouts of debilitating pain after long-haul flights. The support structure of the Trtl Neck Pillow, however, helps prevent this strain by keeping my head and neck upright during the flight. 

While I usually place the internal support over one of my shoulders, it can also be tucked under the neck. But regardless of where I put it, it prevents my head from bobbing. Once it’s secured in place, I snuggle into it by resting one side of my face on it, falling right to sleep soon after. I prefer to fly in the aisle seat, which means that I often don’t have a window to lean up against—but I don’t even need one, thanks to the Trtl pillow’s ability to keep my neck supported while sleeping upright.

Most recently, I used this pillow on a 13.5-hour flight from Madrid, Spain, to Santiago, Chile. I was unfortunately dealing with a pain flare-up at the time, but thanks to the Trtl pillow,  I fell right asleep and woke up without any cricks in my neck. And according to my Ultrahuman ring, I slept for eight hours, which might be why my usually-unbearable jet lag was essentially non-existent once I landed in South America.

Trtl Neck Pillow

Now, don’t expect the Trtl Neck Pillow to be plush. Amazon shoppers agree with me that there’s a learning curve when it comes to finding a sweet spot that works. It takes some adjusting in order for me to find the perfect position to wear it with my noise-canceling Sony headphones, which are also a must for me while flying. 

That being said, I love that the Trtl pillow isn’t bulky. At 138 grams, it’s incredibly lightweight, making it easy to stash in my bag. But if my carry-on is stuffed to the max, I just wrap it around the bag’s strap, so it virtually takes up no space. This also makes it easier to quickly grab during the hustle and bustle of boarding, before I set my carry-on bag in the overhead bin. Another great feature is that it’s super easy to clean; I wash it after every single flight. Simply remove the quick-drying fleece wrap covering and throw it in the washing machine when necessary. 

Trtl Neck Pillow

You’ll never catch me traveling on a bus, train, plane, or long car ride again without my Trtl Neck Pillow. I love it so much, in fact, that I’ve taken an Uber back home from the airport in order to retrieve it after I left it behind, risking my ability to board my flight from Uruguay to Spain on time. 

Apparently, I’m not alone—both pilots and flight attendants love it just as much as I do. One flight attendant of 42 years called it “the perfect travel pillow,” awarding it five stars for its portability and ability to make non-window seats comfortable. “I’ve tried dozens of neck pillows,” wrote another flight attendant, “and the Trtl Pillow is by far the BEST I’ve ever tried! I would recommend this to every passenger on every flight.”

A pilot who “commutes to work long distance” wrote that it’s “indispensable” for staying comfortable in the middle seat. “It feels like being wrapped in a cozy blanket,” they continued. “The first time I tried it I was easily able to fall asleep for 2 hours sitting in a middle seat.” Another five-star reviewer shared that the Trtl Neck Pillow is “the best travel pillow” they’ve found for their pilot husband thus far. “He loves it,” they wrote. “All the other pilots ask him where he got it because it’s a great pillow to travel with since it isn’t bulky.

I can’t recommend this scarf-like neck pillow enough—but if you’re still on the fence about the Trtl Neck Pillow, there are plenty more to check out on Amazon. Keep scrolling for five similar options, starting at $20. 

More Travel Neck Pillows to Shop:

Riverland Travel Neck Pillow

Szxyx Travel Neck Pillow

Velurie Neck Pillow

Cabeau Travel Neck Pillow

Buyue Travel Neck Pillow

At the time of publishing, the price started at $60.

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