I've been a travel journalist for 20 years, which means I've followed all the various innovations in travel gadgets, clothing, luggage, and more, and tried many of them.
Some are instant hits, like the Travelon Bag Bungee, which attaches to a rolling suitcase handle and then secures additional items to it, like a tote bag or backpack. I've been using mine for well over 15 years.
Then there are other things, the ones that seem clever until you're out into the real world. To save you time and money, I highlighted the products I’ve tried that weren’t worth the money or were just a pain to use.
These five were one and done for me; what's on your list?
In this article
1. Portable Airplane Foot Hammock
Lots of companies make little so-called hammocks that are designed to attach to the tray table in front of your airplane seat. The idea is to lower the table, loop the hammock over it, and then tuck your feet into it to, as one manufacturer says, "reduce back pain, relieve swelling, and have less muscle pain."
These hammocks are generally made with memory foam in the foot rest and an adjustable strap, which allows you to use it for leg support or as a foot rest.
The only problem is, I am 5'9" with a 32-inch inseam. When I tried one of these, my knees mashed against the tray table in the footrest configuration, and my legs were too long for it to feel supportive.
I also usually sit in an exit row or bulkhead for more leg room, which makes the foot hammock useless, since the tray table is usually located in the armrest in these seats. While this might help some people, I don’t recommend it for travelers who are my height or taller.
2. The Stuffable Neck Pillow
A travel hack that’s gone viral is taking a horseshoe-shaped neck pillow that lacks cushiony filling, and stuffing the interior full of clothing to save suitcase space and create padding.
The only problem is, clothes with buttons, zippers, hooks, and other things can poke through the pillow, making it uncomfortable. And when you're coming back from a trip and clothes are dirty, the smell isn't great either, with the pillow sitting right next to your nose.
That's why I'm sticking with a standard blow-up neck pillow, which keeps its air during a 10-hour flight, has a removable washable cover, and folds up into a small square that fits easily into a tote or suitcase pocket when not in use.
3. The Trtl Travel Pillow
I think a lot about neck pillows, as I often take long-haul international flights and sadly only make it to business class a small portion of the time. So when the Trtl Travel Pillow hit the scene years ago, I decided to try it despite its steep $55 price tag. Designed to pack up in a reasonably small carry bag, it has internal structured support that’s designed to consistently keep your head ergonomically supported, which seemed like a great idea.
But once I tried it, it felt like I was stuck in one position. And on longer flights, when I normally want to change my head from one side to the other, that became impossible. So I returned back to my blow-up neck pillow once again.
4. Too-Tight Compression Socks
I learned about compression socks when a good friend flew from Hong Kong to the Caribbean and ended up in the hospital for 10 days with a deep vein thrombosis that could have killed him. His doctors told him to start wearing knee-high compression socks on planes to keep his blood moving, and he quickly convinced me to do the same. I’ve now worn them on flights for the last 20 years, and they’ve helped me avoid swelling in my feet and ankles. But I quickly learned that not all compression socks are the same.
It took some trial and error, buying too-tight compression socks and feeling like I was being strangled from the foot up, then fighting to get them off. Then I discovered Bombas, the sock company that donates one to charity for every pair they sell, and more importantly, makes medium or strong compression socks that are pretty easy to pull on and off and still do the job. Wellow is another company that makes breathable, comfortable bamboo compression socks that are easy to wear and keep swelling to a minimum. Expect to pay around $30 for one pair.
5. Purple Honeycomb Seat Cushion
Airplane seats are notoriously uncomfortable, so the thought of carrying my own seat cushion initially seemed like a good idea. The most popular option in recent years on Amazon has been the purple honeycomb seat cushion, which is a large gel/plastic pad designed to make hours of sitting easier on both your back and bottom. They can be purple or blue, but are generally the same size, similar to that of a standard airplane seat or desk chair.
But for me, these cushions are too large and unwieldy to carry on. And even if you've somehow successfully managed to bring one onboard, the benefits aren’t noticeable enough to justify the investment, which ranges from over $100 to about $20. Even when flying for 14 hours in an economy-class seat, I didn’t think it made a big difference. Another possibility would be to try a cushion made of high-density foam, though those would be even bulkier to transport.
The Shortcut
Things that make traveling easier can be real lifesavers, but some aren’t worth the price.
I've personally tried these five travel products and they did not make traveling any better.
Things like neck pillows and foot rests seem good on paper, but weren’t helpful on an actual trip, particularly airplanes.
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