Therm-A-Rest Travel Cushion
After researching multiple potential solutions, I decided to try the Therm-A-Rest cushion and purchased it on Amazon here.
Long flights are tough on the body. Sleep disturbances and jet lag, hydration, pressure changes affecting sinuses and ears, and temperature swings in the cabin can all wreak havoc on your physical well being.
Even though I have a pretty big backside, I tend to get some pain over the coccyx or tailbone with prolonged sitting in one position on a firm surface. Long flights on a plane are one such place where this pain tends to crop-up for me. So on a recent trip to Sydney and facing a 15 hour flight, I wanted to try something to prevent or at least relieve some of the discomfort.
First impressions
I liked that it rolled up to around the size of a small rolled newspaper. It fit easily into my carry-on bag. The color was good and the material seemed sturdy. The Therm-A-Rest self inflates via opening the small black valve in the upper left upper corner pictured here. It will deflate by opening the valve and putting pressure on it or rolling it up. Once it is inflated, simply close the valve by turning it clockwise until snug.
Tip: Deflate and roll-up the cushion before taking off and then when at cruising altitude open up the valve and inflate. There is a small chance inflating on the ground may pop the pillow or at least affect the valve.
Use of the Therm-A-Rest Cushion
After the plane climbed to altitude, I inflated the pillow and started sitting on it. The cushion felt better than the airplane seat alone for sure. I did vary the pressure in the Therm-A-Rest several times throughout the flight to provide different support firmness for my seat. The cushion held the inflation well and did not deflate during use. Overall, the Therm-A-Rest was a welcome relief on the long flight versus just sitting in the airplane seat for 15 hours.
Tip: The Therm-A-Rest pillow helped make a long flight a bit nicer. However, it is always a good idea to get up and move around or stretch your legs frequently when flying. Doing so helps prevent: blood from pooling in the lower body, stiffness in the joints, and decreasing pressure induced pain on your backside.
Overall Thoughts on the Therm-A-Rest Cushion
If you’re looking for additional comfort when flying, especially on long flights, I highly recommend the Therm-A-Rest cushion. There are other solutions that may offer good cushion, or slightly better portability, but overall the Therm-A-Rest cushion is a nice combination of comfort, ease of use, durability and flexibility.
You can purchase one here at this link on Amazon. Safe travels!
