Should You Stay Away from Neck Pillows?

We’ve all been there: you’re on a long flight, train ride, waiting room, or road trip, left with nothing but to rest. And then all of a sudden your neck starts to ache from the awkward position you’re in. In an effort to alleviate the discomfort, you turn to the travel section of a store or search online for neck pillows. These sweet and comfy-looking pi llows allure you to click on that buy button and have itself packed in your luggage. But should you really invest in one of these popular travel accessories? How safe are these neck pillows in terms of health, comfort, and relief? In this article, we’ll not sit back and relax on a pillow; rather, we’ll take a deep dive into the matter.

The Appeal of Neck Pillows

Neck pillows have become a staple of travel, bags, and luggage sections of stores. These can easily be found on popular sites like eBay at a comparatively lower price. Considering this, many people go after these. These alluring pillows promise to provide support and comfort for the neck during long journeys and can be used on planes, trains, or even in the car.

All you have to do is to bring out the pillow, tie it around your neck, and doze off to comfort. Or is it not? When it comes to these pillows, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, types, and qualities. For example, you may go for an inflatable pillow or a pillow with memory foam fixed inside. Choosing the wrong pillow can work adversely on the neck and create tension and pain.

Before we look at the downside of these pillows, let’s look at their many types. Here are the different types of neck pillows available in the market:

• Neck rolls

• U-type pillow or horse-shoe shaped

• Cervical

Also, these pillows are made using various materials such as feathers, down, memory foam, latex foam, hybrid, cooling gel, etc.

The Downsides of Neck Pillows

What we see in today’s market is that every product is sold as a solution for all your problems. Neck pillows, although useful, may not be the cure-all they’re marketed as. Here is why:

• firstly, they can be bulky and take up valuable space in your luggage;

• secondly, they may not fit all neck sizes and shapes, which can lead to discomfort rather than relief;

• and lastly, they may not actually provide the support needed for your neck, as they can encourage unnatural head and neck positions.

So, what should you do rather?

Alternatives to Neck Pillows

The first thing you must always do is to go for quality neck pillows that might cost you a bit more but are excellent for your neck’s health. Apart from it, you may look for other options also to alleviate neck discomfort during travel. Here are a few alternatives to consider:

• A scarf or wrap can be wrapped around your neck for added support and warmth;

• A rolled-up sweater or jacket can also serve as a makeshift pillow;

• Also, there are travel pillows designed to support your entire upper body, which may be more effective than neck pillows alone.

Making the Decision

Ultimately, whether or not to use a neck pillow is a personal decision. If you have used one in the past and found it helpful, there’s no reason to stop using it. However, if you’re looking for a more versatile and effective solution, it may be worth exploring other options.

Neck pillows can be a convenient and affordable solution to neck discomfort during travel, but they are not without their downsides. It’s important to weigh the pros and cons and consider alternative options before making a decision. At the end of the day, the goal is to arrive at your destination feeling comfortable and refreshed, and there are many ways to achieve that without relying solely on a neck pillow.