One travel woe unites us all: the dreaded travel nap gone wrong. You know the feeling – drifting off on a plane, train, or bus, only to be jolted awake by your head lolling sideways, or worse, ending up in some contorted position that leaves your neck screaming for days. I’ve been there, countless times.
Like many, I’ve cycled through the usual suspects in the travel pillow arena. From the bulky, space-hogging U-shaped monstrosities to the flimsy, airline-issued synthetic sacks that offer about as much support as a deflated balloon. None of them ever truly stopped my head from doing its best impression of a washing machine mid-spin cycle. Considering my frequent travels, across continents and just down the road, comfortable sleep on the go felt like an unattainable dream.
My quest was simple: neck support during upright sleep. Something that would allow a gentle head tilt without the agonizing neck crick. Lullabies would be a bonus, but realistically, just solid support would be a win.
Then, on a flight, I spotted it – the Trtl Travel Pillow. Intrigue piqued, I knew I had to investigate. Could this be the answer to my travel sleep prayers? I decided to put their latest “cool” version, the Trtl Pillow Cool, to the test, especially since overheating is a personal nemesis. So, in this Trtl travel pillow review, I’m sharing my honest experience – the good, the bad, and everything in between.
The Highlights
Pros:
- Compact and Lightweight: Travel-friendly size that won’t weigh you down.
- Exceptional Support: Innovative design truly cradles your head for restful sleep.
- Neck Comfort: Soft and cozy against the skin, eliminating irritation.
- Convenient Carry Case: Keeps your pillow clean and easily portable.
- Cooling Option: The “Cool” version prevents overheating for hot sleepers.
Cons:
- Price Point: More expensive than basic travel pillows.
- Slightly Awkward to Carry Uncased: Shape can be a bit bulky outside the case.
Ready to experience better travel sleep? Get your Trtl pillow here
What Exactly is Trtl?
Trtl is a company dedicated to revolutionizing travel comfort, primarily known for their ingeniously designed travel pillows. Ditching the traditional, bulky U-shape, Trtl opted for a wraparound scarf concept that hugs your neck snugly. The secret? An internal support system nestled within the scarf, engineered to hold your head upright, allowing for a gentle side tilt without the dreaded head wobble. It’s a clever blend of soft comfort and structured support.
Their flagship travel pillow comes in several iterations to suit different needs: the original Trtl Pillow (the classic design), the Trtl Pillow Plus (featuring adjustable height for personalized support), the Trtl Pillow Cool (crafted with lighter, breathable fabric for cooler comfort), and the Trtl Pillow Junior (specially sized and designed for younger travelers).
Beyond pillows, Trtl also offers a range of travel essentials, including sleep masks, compression socks, and packing cubes, all aimed at enhancing the journey experience.
Decoding the Design: How Does the Trtl Pillow Work?
The Trtl Pillow’s design is refreshingly simple yet remarkably effective. It’s a departure from traditional travel pillows, requiring a slightly different approach to wear. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Position the Support: Hold the Trtl Pillow around your neck. Locate the flexible internal support frame – this is the core of the pillow’s magic, designed to cradle your head and neck. Position this frame against the side of your neck where you naturally tend to lean when you doze off – whether it’s to the left, right, or even slightly forward.
- Wrap and Secure: Once the support frame is in place, take the soft scarf fabric and wrap it snugly around your neck. Use the Velcro fastener to secure it. This adjustable closure ensures a snug fit, crucial for holding your head securely without slippage or constant readjustment.
- Lean and Relax: With the pillow wrapped and fastened, gently lean your head against the support. The internal frame will work its magic, keeping your neck in a comfortable, upright position. It allows for a natural head tilt, preventing that uncomfortable bobbing and head drooping that leads to neck strain.
- Pack Away Easily: When you’re done with your nap, simply unwrap the Velcro, fold up the pillow, and stow it in your bag. Its compact and foldable design makes storage a breeze, ready for your next travel leg. Alternatively, utilize the included carry bag and clip it to your luggage for external, easy access.
Ready for restful travels? Get your Trtl pillow now
My Personal Journey with the Trtl Pillow
The Trtl Pillow has become my steadfast travel companion on numerous recent trips – from long-haul train journeys to cross-country car rides and transatlantic flights. I’ve put it through its paces and am ready to share a detailed breakdown of my experience, covering everything from its look and feel to ease of use, sleep quality, comfort levels, and portability. I’ll also incorporate insights from other customer reviews to give a well-rounded perspective.
The Trtl travel pillow unfolded, showcasing the support frame and wrap-around scarf, held by Lucy for this detailed Trtl pillow review
The Trtl Pillow: A scarf with a hidden pillow inside
Appearance: More Scarf Than Pillow
The Trtl Pillow definitely breaks the mold of traditional U-shaped travel pillows. It genuinely resembles a cozy fleece scarf, with a subtly curved plastic rib discreetly hidden within the fabric. The internal support structure sits snugly between your shoulder and chin on one side of your neck, while the scarf wraps around for secure comfort. When worn, it looks more like a stylish scarf accessory than a bulky, attention-grabbing travel pillow.
The color palette is understated and practical. Depending on the model, it comes in neutral shades like grey or black, avoiding any garish or overly bright colors that might draw unwanted attention. The Trtl Pillow Junior, however, injects a bit of fun with various patterns and color options, making it appealing to kids.
Upgrade your travel comfort – Shop Trtl pillows
Ease of Use: A Quick Wrap and Go
While it’s not quite as brainless as simply slipping a U-shaped pillow around your neck, the Trtl Pillow is remarkably easy to use. The wrap-around design with its Velcro fastening is intuitive. Putting it on is generally straightforward: position the curved plastic frame between your shoulder and chin, ensuring the curved part sits flush against your neck, then wrap the fleece fabric and secure the Velcro. (Detailed instructions are available above).
The trickiest part is initially finding the optimal placement for the plastic frame. If it’s not positioned just right for your personal anatomy and preferred sleeping posture, comfort can be elusive. However, once you discover that sweet spot, using the pillow becomes second nature. I recommend a few practice runs at home before your travels to experiment with placement and get comfortable with the wrapping technique.
Experiment with different positions for the support frame – try it on the side of your neck, slightly under your chin, or even towards the front. Finding your personal “perfect placement” unlocks the pillow’s full potential and makes it incredibly user-friendly.
Find your perfect travel sleep solution – Get Trtl Pillow
Lucy demonstrates the Trtl Pillow's effective neck support while leaning forward in this Trtl Pillow review
Forward sleepers? The support frame works upfront too!
Support: Say Goodbye to Bobblehead Nods
Initially, the feel of the internal support frame felt a bit unusual, even slightly rigid. But this initial “oddness” quickly transformed into a major advantage. The firmness is precisely what prevents your head from rolling around uncontrollably. It provided solid, reliable support, allowing me to drift off to sleep without the constant jarring awakenings caused by my head flopping about.
This supportive design proved invaluable on bumpy bus rides and winding car journeys, where sudden movements are par for the course. The frame kept my head stable even during sharp turns and over uneven road surfaces.
As someone who tends to shift positions in my sleep, I sometimes need to switch sides. Readjusting the Trtl Pillow for support on the other side requires a quick removal and re-application. While occasionally I can get away with just twisting it around my neck without fully unwrapping it, the minor adjustment is a small price to pay for the significant improvement in sleep quality.
Experience stable and supported sleep with Trtl Pillow
Quality of Sleep: Transformative Travel Rest
Sleep quality is subjective, influenced by a myriad of personal factors. Therefore, my sleep experience with the Trtl Pillow may not perfectly mirror yours. However, I can offer a valuable comparison: my sleep quality with a standard travel pillow versus the Trtl Pillow.
Typically, travel sleep for me is minimal and fragmented, even with earplugs and an eye mask. Comfort eludes me, and regardless of the pillow, my head inevitably slumps forward, resulting in neck pain and restless, shallow sleep.
The Trtl Pillow has been a game-changer. I fall asleep noticeably faster and stay asleep longer, with significantly fewer interruptions. While I still don’t achieve a full night’s sleep during travel (and realistically, no pillow is likely to achieve that miracle), I consistently manage to get a few solid hours of restful sleep when using the Trtl Pillow. This is a massive improvement for me.
Unlock deeper sleep while traveling – Try Trtl Pillow
A close-up view of the Trtl Pillow's internal plastic support frame, highlighting its comfort-focused design
The secret to comfort: Trtl Pillow’s internal support frame
Comfort: Softness Meets Support
The initial stiffness of the internal frame can take a little getting used to. For me, it felt slightly unusual at first, though not inherently uncomfortable. After a few uses, however, it became completely natural and unnoticeable against my neck.
The fleece material itself is wonderfully soft and feels significantly more pleasant against my skin compared to other travel pillows I’ve used, which often feel scratchy or synthetic. Since I tested the Trtl Pillow Cool version, the lightweight, breathable fabric effectively prevented overheating, a common issue I experience with the original version and other travel pillows, as noted in other Trtl Pillow reviews.
If you have long hair like me, a little pre-pillow hair management is advisable. Position your hair comfortably away from your neck and chin before wrapping the pillow. Hair trapped directly against bare skin under the pillow can become itchy and distracting. Tucking my hair behind my head before applying the pillow solves this minor issue.
I also found the pillow comfortable to wear even with earbuds in. However, over-ear headphones are likely incompatible. The pillow’s side support would press against one ear cup, making comfortable headphone use impossible.
Experience premium comfort on the go with Trtl Pillow
The Trtl Pillow travel case, designed for convenient carrying and easy attachment to bags
Travel-ready: The Trtl Pillow’s handy carry case
Packing: Compact and Carry-Friendly
Unlike traditional U-shaped travel pillows that practically scream “tourist” when worn around the neck in transit, the Trtl Pillow isn’t designed for constant wear outside of sleep times. Wearing it while navigating airports would restrict head movement and feel slightly out of place. Instead, it’s meant to be folded and carried or stowed in your bag when not in use.
Thankfully, it’s remarkably lightweight. However, it does occupy a bit of space in your bag, and its somewhat unique shape can make it a little awkward to carry loose.
But Trtl has thought of solutions! If your bag is already packed to the brim, you can loop the pillow around your arm. Even better, utilize the included travel bag to neatly store the pillow. This carry bag even comes with a clip, allowing you to attach it to your backpack or carry-on for easy, hands-free portability.
Travel light, sleep deep – Pack your Trtl Pillow
Trtl Travel Pillow Review: The Verdict
Since incorporating the Trtl Pillow into my travel routine, I’ve managed to sleep soundly in previously unimaginable places – cramped middle seats on airplanes, and bouncy aisle seats on buses traversing bumpy roads.
While the rigid internal support frame might feel a tad unusual initially, once you wrap the soft scarf around your neck and settle your head into the support, it genuinely feels surprisingly close to the comforting support of your bed pillow at home.
Every other travel pillow I’ve tried has paled in comparison, offering minimal to no real neck support. U-shaped pillows still allow for that dreaded “bobblehead” motion, leading to frequent awakenings and stiff necks – the last thing you want upon arrival at your destination!
Therefore, despite the higher price tag (around £50) compared to average travel pillows (around £15), the vastly superior sleep quality I’ve experienced with the Trtl Pillow makes it unequivocally worth the investment.
Moreover, its compact packed size is a significant advantage over bulkier travel pillows. Carrying it around when not in use never feels like a burden. I wholeheartedly recommend the Trtl Pillow to fellow digital nomads, frequent travelers, and anyone seeking restful sleep on the go!
Don’t just travel, travel rested – Buy Trtl Pillow today
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