Dorie Chevlen is a writer covering home design. Her subjects have included scented candles, makeup mirrors, and—her favorite—popcorn makers.
I fly a lot. That’s a very chic thing to say, and I’m grateful that I can often visit far-flung loved ones and so many corners of the world.
However, the reality is probably less glamorous than what you’re imagining: I usually sit at the back of the plane, by the toilets, hunched over my laptop to meet a deadline, with nothing but a smashed PB&J to nourish me because I will not abide the indignity of paying $6 for a canister of Pringles.
The only respite from this winged hell would be to sleep. Not just to escape the barbarity of the experience but also to recover some of the hours lost to the time zone upon landing. But I’ve never been able to sleep on a flight.
I thought that sleep was a privilege reserved for the first-class passengers in their sequestered cabins, or the pharmaceutically aided, or those lucky freaks who somehow overcome the bright lights, the stiff seats, the crying infants, and the constant overhead announcements. So I took on this assignment with (respectful) skepticism. I agreed to try the Pluto Pod Travel Pillow, a slightly ridiculous-looking contraption that claims to help you sleep in non-ideal environments, such as airplanes.
I tested the travel pillow on an 11-ish-hour flight from Los Angeles to London (and back), which is miserable even in first class but downright inhumane in economy—the perfect laboratory. I could barely believe it, but the impossible happened: I slept nearly 6 hours straight.
This light-blocking neck pillow looks like something an astronaut might wear, and we think it could keep us snoozing in coach even on an economy flight to the moon.
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A supercharged neck pillow
At first glance, the Pluto Pod Travel Pillow seems … a bit much. It’s essentially a very thick neck pillow with a padded hood, plus a pull-down eye mask. Even rolled up into itself and snapped closed, it makes for a bulky burrito. (Actually, a good size comparison would be a party-size bag of Doritos.) One of our recommended travel pillows, the Trtl Pillow, takes up half as much space.
But what the Pod does with that space is nothing short of miraculous. The neck pillow part of the Pod, which secures in front with Velcro, sits flush against my chin, or the side of my cheek depending on how I tilt, cradling my head gently and securely while snoozing. And since the support surrounds your neck on both sides and the front, unlike the Trtl Pillow, it allows you to lean your head in any position while sleeping without having to adjust.
For those who have tiny heads, like I do, the height of the hood part is adjustable (you just clip the back portion to fold back some of the material). But even worn in its fully extended size, I felt comfortable; it just meant that instead of the pull-down screen covering only my eyes, it covered my whole face. Given that UV rays can permeate plane windows, I figure the more coverage, the better.
Did I feel a little stupid wearing this thing? Absolutely. But if you’re also feeling hesitant, I promise that once you have it on your head, you aren’t going to even see your seat neighbor, let alone worry about their sartorial judgment. The eye mask offers near-complete light blocking, and when it’s rolled up, the sides of the hood basically block out all peripheral vision, transporting you into your own little world.
But it’s bulky (and pricey)
The Pod is great, but even great things aren’t perfect. The first detraction is its bulkiness. We usually avoid recommending single-use travel gadgets like the Pod, because they’re hard to pack and (usually) used only during the flight. But since you can wear the Pod onto the plane around your neck, or else strap it around the handle of your carry-on, it’s a relatively easy-to-overcome hurdle.
For some, the Pod’s price will be the dealbreaker: At nearly $150, it’s certainly not cheap; in comparison, the Trtl Pillow plus the Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask, our top pick, would cost about $80 in total.
The last issue is one of vanity: It made my hair flat and a little staticky. But who cares? The uninterrupted sleep was worth it.
As I complete this piece, I am booking my usual, miserable red-eye flight to Ohio from Los Angeles for my grandmother’s birthday. In the past, I would have used this as evidence for why I’m the most devoted grandkid—traveling the farthest, suffering the most. But with my Pod in tow, I’m actually looking forward to the journey. Maybe I’ll use it to catch up on some beauty sleep.
This article was edited by Daniela Gorny and Christine Ryan.
Meet your guide
Dorie Chevlen is a staff writer from Youngstown, Ohio, now living in Los Angeles. She has worked as a copy editor, fact checker, and sandwich maker, but this is probably her favorite gig. Beyond her Wirecutter work, Dorie writes screenplays and contributes frequently to other sections of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The LA Review of Books, and Slate, among others. She has been called—both flatteringly and not—“a lot.”
Further reading
Sleep Number Mattresses: An Honest Assessment
by Joanne Chen
We take a real-world look at the advantages and disadvantages of owning a Sleep Number adjustable mattress, plus note our own experience sleeping on one.
How to Sleep Well (or at Least Better) While Traveling
by Christine Ryan
Our sleep and travel editors recommend gear for coping with travel-induced insomnia, vetted through hours of testing and years of personal experience.
The Best Pillow for Side Sleepers
by Jackie Reeve
We recommend the Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Pillow for most side-sleepers. If you prefer a smoother cover, get Nest Bedding's Easy Breather Pillow.
7 Cheap(ish) Things to Improve Your In-Flight Experience
by Gabriella DePinho
Air travel is often uncomfortable—but it doesn’t have to be. These seven inexpensive amenities can make your in-flight experience much more bearable for much less.
