Let me be clear: I have no problem whatsoever sleeping on a plane.
For me, the whirring and buzzing that fills the fuselage is tantamount to a chloroform rag. However, the sleep is far from enjoyable. I’m constantly falling forward, kinking my neck and drooling on the window. I’ve rarely encountered a neck pillow that lets me disengage my entire body and truly sleep hard.
The Kimiandy Inflatable Travel Air Pillow is the best I’ve ever tried — and it’s only $21. Its flocked finish feels velvety and soft, and it’s got a handful of features that you won’t find on many other travel pillows (even ones that cost exponentially more).
Here’s everything you need to know about this travel pillow.
The Kimiandy Inflatable Travel Pillow makes it easy to sleep on a plane in various positions for relaxation during long flights. Plus, its innovative air valve makes for easy inflation and deflation, even in tight spaces.
What I liked about it
Multiple positions
You can orient the Kimiandy Inflatable Travel Air Pillow in multiple ways to find the perfect position for a fully relaxed sleep. Around the pillow are several holes at varying angles, giving you the ability to side sleep or bear hug — in addition to the “massage table” position (where your face hangs through the top hole).
Because the pillow is so unenclosed, you’ll have no trouble pulling oxygen while your face is buried inside.
Each position felt as though it was meant for travelers of slightly different heights. I’m 5 feet, 5 inches tall, and my head fell perfectly into the pillow’s top hole. While the side-sleep position was also comfortable, I had to hunch over a bit more to get comfy, and to reverse bear hug the pillow required me to sit much taller. In other words, the pillow should accommodate most travelers.
Extremely portable
You’ll have a hard time finding a worthwhile travel pillow that collapses as small as this one does. It’s a bit bigger than a grapefruit and comes with a travel bag that you can easily wrap around your carry-on luggage for easy transportation.
It’s effortless to stow away, unlike some travel pillows that feel like requiring a fellow passenger to sit on it while you wrestle with the bag.
Ingenious air valve
The Kimiandy Inflatable Travel Air Pillow flaunts the single greatest inflation/deflation mechanism I’ve ever seen. Instead of the traditional small air valve that requires red-faced, pressurized exhales, this pillow has a wide opening with a silicone tab that closes when you stop blowing. No fumbling to cap the pillow before air escapes.
I was able to fully inflate the pillow in four breaths.
When you want to deflate the pillow, you simply pull the tab. You’re left with a fully flat pillow after just a few folds.
This large valve makes the process of inflating and deflating far less theatrical than what’s required with other pillows. In seconds, it’s ready to use or go back in the bag.
Good for movie-watching
When you put your face into the top of the Kimiandy Inflatable Travel Air Pillow, your eyes are comfortably inside the pillow as well. Pop your phone in the middle, and you can watch a movie without engaging a single muscle in your body.
This is great for me, as I almost always fall asleep to a movie on the plane. I did have to tilt my head slightly lower to see my phone without stressing my eyes, but it was still comfortable.
What I didn’t like about it
You may be restricted by the chair in front of you
To comfortably use the Kimiandy Inflatable Travel Air Pillow, the back of the pillow is likely touching the seat back in front of you. Even if their seat is reclined, you should have enough room to operate (though an abrupt recline while you’re asleep won’t be a pleasant experience).
Taller folks may need to use the tray table or prop up the pillow by placing a personal item on their lap when sleeping in a tighter space.
Potential face lines
Spanning the circumference of the face rest is a fabric flap that’s meant to improve comfort around your forehead and chin. It works; it’s a pleasant experience, but it can leave marks on your face after using it for a while. It’s nothing grotesque, but you may not want to take a hard sleep on this pillow if your crush is picking you up from the airport.
Included with the Kimiandy Inflatable Travel Air Pillow is a (surprisingly quality) sleep mask, which can help mitigate the marks around your face.
Not the cutest travel pillow
One glance at this pillow and one thing is absolutely clear: It’s built for utility. This is not an Instagram accessory. And for $21, it’s not obligated to be. Fully inflated, it’s bulbous, drab and large (19.6 inches by 11.8 inches by 11.8 inches). Still, I found it less embarrassing than many of the more elaborate neck wraps and hoods that are out there.
I’ll also say that, while I expected it to cause me to encroach on the personal bubble of other travelers, it wasn’t the slightest bit obtrusive.
How it compares
| Weight | 0.78 pounds |
|---|---|
| Material | Polyvinyl chloride |
| Price | $21 |
| Weight | 0.46 pounds |
|---|---|
| Material | Polyester |
| Price | $45 |
| Weight | 0.78 pounds |
|---|---|
| Material | Cotton |
| Price | $14 |
| Weight | 1.34 pounds |
|---|---|
| Material | PVC flocking |
| Price | $25 |
Bottom line
For $21, it’s difficult to beat the Kimiandy Inflatable Travel Air Pillow for comfort at 37,000 feet. It’d also be a joy for other modes of transportation, like a bus or a car (as long as you’re not the driver!).
It’s worth mentioning that inflatable pillows are susceptible to punctures, but the price is low enough that purchasing another every few years won’t break the bank.
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