Cushioning a Pain in the Neck

A cramp in the neck, a pain in the back--hey, it’s all part of the joy of travel. Spending long spells in odd positions, or just trying to get a little sleep while sitting in an airplane seat can beget a host of strains and other discomforts. For years, I’ve carried around an inflatable plastic pillow, just for a little support on the road or in the air.

Recently, I’ve discovered several other innovative products aimed at cushioning the way on the go. Prices do not include any shipping and handling:

The Hedbed is an inflatable neck rest with a difference. Unlike the traditional collar-style inflatables that wrap behind the head, forcing it forward, this one is a small crescent that tucks under the chin and curves slightly around the neck, so you can switch it from one side to the other as needed. In addition, this neck rest has a removable cover of soft washable poplin--a great asset after repeated use. The pillow folds down to a diminutive 4 inches by 5 inches by one-half inch, and weighs just 2 1/2 ounces.

I found the Hedbed both comfortable and efficient--though some travelers may still prefer the better-known collar style, which does not have to be rearranged as you shift your head. The washable cover is an especially sanitary selling point.

The Hedbed, in navy, maroon or gray is about $10 in stores. For a location near you, contact Talus, the distributor, in Portland, Me . ; telephone (800) 634-8180 .

For those who want something softer and more malleable than an inflatable and don’t mind sacrificing more room in their baggage, a neck rest called Bucky is a comfortable alternative. A collar-shaped pillow loosely filled with tiny lightweight buckwheat hulls (hence the name) is covered by a fleecelike fabric cover that zips off for washing. The pillow comes in a zippered plastic bag, which keeps it clean and dust-free when not in use. Bucky hogs about 12 inches by 11 inches by 2 inches of luggage space--about the same amount as a pair of sneakers, but at 14 ounces, is no heavyweight.

This pillow would be my choice on a car trip, when space isn’t an issue. The fabric is deliciously soft and in testing the neck rest, it molded nicely to whatever position I happened to be in. I was a little disconcerted by the crackly sound of the little buckwheat pieces moving around inside the pillow, but once my head was still, so were they.

Bucky Travel Pillow in navy (item No . IF384N) or dark teal (No . IF384G) is $23.50 from Magellan’s; tel.(800) 962-4943.

But enough about necks--your back needs support, too. Le Pump is an inflatable backrest that fills the gap between the small of the back and the seat with an adjustable cushion of air. The pillow inflates via an attached rubber hand pump and deflates with the pressing of a valve. Le Pump measures about 13 inches by 7 inches by 2 inches when inflated, but deflates and folds to 6 inches by 5 1/2 inches by 2 inches and weighs about four ounces.

While not as effective as a genuine lumbar cushion, Le Pump performs better than a standard pillow and packs small when deflated. The fabric is quite rough, especially at the

I found the hand pump a bit cumbersome at first, but it worked fine once I got the hang of it.

Le Pump, in black (No. 53620M), is $24.95 from Hammacher Schlemmer; tel. (800) 543-3366.

Sometimes, it’s not your back, but your backside that needs cushioning. Cascade Designs, makers of the well-respected Therma-a-Rest self-inflating camping mattresses, now has a mattress just for sitting. The SportSeat self-inflates via a twist-on valve to 12 inches by 16 inches by 1 1/2 inches, then deflates and rolls tight to about 12 inches by 2 1/2 inches thick. It weighs just eight ounces. I use the pad at sports stadiums, on camp-outs, at the beach, and as cushioning on canoe trips.

Therm-a-Rest SportSeat is $15 from Campmor, a sporting goods store: (800) 226-7667, or contact Cascade Designs, the manufacturer, for a store near you: tel. (800) 531-9531.

Space is always at a premium for backpackers, who often just roll up a pile of clothes for a pillow. Now there’s a compact alternative, which is also a fine pillow for airplane and car travel. Cascade Designs, makers of the SportSeat, above, has developed a very soft 15-inch by 11-inch by 4-inch pillow filled with an equally soft polyester stuffing. When tightly rolled and folded into its built-in pouch, which is secured with a nylon drawstring with a cord lock, the Therm-a-Rest Deluxe Pillow takes up no more space than a water bottle, and it can be tied to the outside of a backpack or stuffed inside a rolled sleeping bag. An inner nylon lining forms a bottom pocket that can be stuffed with clothes or a SportSeat for more pillow height.

The fabric is truly comfortable, and I no longer wake up in the middle of the night with a pile of flattened and dispersed clothes under my head.

Deluxe Travel Pillow is $16 in the plum color or the fish pattern (No. 9204 ) , from TravelSmith, (800) 950-1600. Or, for a store near you, contact Cascade Designs at (800) 531-9531.

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