I fly economy a lot and I’m always on the lookout for products that help me make the cattle-class experience more pleasant (or just less crappy). One of those products I have found that I genuinely love and use all the time is the GoSleep travel pillow and sleep mask. I really love this sleep product and I can’t recommend it enough to everyone. If you have trouble sleeping on airplanes, you really do need to try this product.
At first look, the GoSleep Travel System appears to just be a neck pillow and a pair of eye shades but it’s so much more than that. The 2-in-1 travel system was designed not just for comfort but also for the proper support of the neck and head when sleeping in an upright position.
I don’t know about you guys but I don’t have a problem falling asleep on airplanes. It’s staying asleep and the subsequent neck pain that I have issues with. I usually doze off right after takeoff and within a few minutes, my head will start falling forward, causing me to either jerk back up or wake up 15 minutes later with crazy neck pain. As this video displays, I’m clearly a “Head Bobber.”
The GoSleep Travel System comes with a memory foam neck pillow and a soft sleep mask. The key to this system is the elastic cord designed into the sleep mask that allows the sleep mask to gently and securely support your neck and head without making you feel constricted or immobile. The durable elastic cord has just the right amount of give but is strong enough to prevent your head from “bobbing” forward. Combine that with the plush, memory foam pillow behind your neck for additional support and you will have no problem getting some sleep on your next long-haul flight.
The GoSleep Travel System currently retails for $39.99 on Amazon and comes with free shipping.
Putting the GoSleep Travel System to the test
My friend Andrew and I flew to Hong Kong from San Francisco and I got to try out the GoSleep Travel System for the first time. Storage-wise, the travel pillow has a top zipper pocket to store the sleep mask (and other small items like ear plugs) and the whole sleep system takes up less space than those traditional C shaped neck pillows you see everyone carrying around. Because it’s made of a soft memory form, I had no problem keeping it in the front pocket of my backpack.
To use the sleep system, place the travel pillow behind your neck and put the sleep mask over your head. There’s an elastic band to secure the sleep mask around your face and an elastic cord to secure the sleep mask to the adjustable headrest. Note: For optimal usage, the elastic cord goes around the adjustable headrest of the seat. In cases where the seat lacks a headrest, the cord length can be adjusted and wrapped around the back of the seat.
Once the elastic cord is secured behind the adjustable headrest, you can use the toggles to tighten down (or loosen up) your sleep mask to the seat. Here’s my friend Andrew demonstrating the system. Notice how the flat elastic band keeps the sleep mask secure to his face and the elastic cord keeps his head supported.
GoSleep Travel System verdict
The GoSleep Travel System did as it promised and I was able to get some of the best sleep I have ever gotten on an airplane. The sleep mask was soft and comfortable and my head and neck felt more supported than ever. I got several hours of sleep and not once did my head bob forward or cause any neck problems. I felt rested and energized upon waking up and I actually felt bad for sleeping that long instead of hanging out with Andrew during the flight.
That being said, I did have one minor complaint with the GoSleep Travel System. The eye mask was large, comfortable and did a good job at blocking out most of the light. However, if you look at the photo of Andrew above, you can see the mask is not completely flush with his cheeks and a small amount of light creeps up from the bottom. You will not notice it on a redeye or night time flight but during the day, the ambient lighting will be a tad more noticeable.
But overall, I think the GoSleep Travel System is a fantastic travel product and one that I would recommend to everyone. It should be noted that GoSleep did NOT pay for this review but they did provide me with a GoSleep Travel System complimentary for review.
To purchase the GoSleep Travel System, click here to purchase on Amazon.
