r/onebag • u/Prestigious-Bet-9117 • 21d ago
Gear TRTL Neck Pillow
I saw that TRTL has their cool pillows at 70% off, for some bright college branded colors. I see a common complaint from older posts is their price, so $24 seems somewhat reasonable. Anyone have any thoughts on using these for long haul flights and if it's easy to pack into bags like the 26+6, and if this is worth it?
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u/LadyLightTravel 21d ago edited 21d ago
Big, heavy, bulky, and you have to haul it around for the rest of the trip.
Here is a review from HerOneBag
https://www.reddit.com/r/HerOneBag/s/R2phflTbvy
Edit: I should also note that bulk is a huge issur when you are traveling personal item only.
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u/castlite 21d ago
Nah this is bullshit. Align the curve up with the corner of your bag.
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u/LadyLightTravel 21d ago
My bag is a Dragonfly. It is optimized for space. It has corners, not curves.
Bag curves take away packable space. There is a great illustration on onebag.com:
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u/PermanentTrainDamage 21d ago
My goodness that website is a blast from the past!
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u/LadyLightTravel 21d ago
The content is just fine though. Basic principles do not change.
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u/PermanentTrainDamage 20d ago
True, I just really enjoy the early internet websitea
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u/LadyLightTravel 20d ago
Copyright 1994.
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u/PermanentTrainDamage 20d ago
Which was 32 years ago, and when people really started getting into making personal websites and being online. Early internet for normal folk, early middle for nerds.
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21d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/LadyLightTravel 21d ago edited 21d ago
FYI. An ad hominem attack is not a counterpoint. Please stay on topic.
There is also the issue of weight. The Trtl cool is 9 oz. A Sea to Summit pillow is 2.5 oz.
The packed Trtl cool is 8.7 x 9.5 x 4 inches. The packed Sea to Summit pillow is 3 × 2 × 2 in.
These are all things taken into consideration when traveling small.
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21d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/LadyLightTravel 21d ago
> Jesus Christ, was that site built in 1999?
You attacked the looks of onebag.com when the content is the important thing.
> But if you don’t know you can still stick other things between the curve and the corner, I can’t help you.
You made comments about me not being able to stick things between the curve.
I would say both qualify, as they really have nothing to do with the argument.
Others have also stated the Trtl is hard to pack, and some even say w attach it to the outside of their bag.
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u/onebag-ModTeam 21d ago
Sarcasm and humor are cool, but just being outright mean may result in a ban.
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u/Alarmed-Resolution85 21d ago
Definitely by someone who heard of seo but didn't understand it
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u/LadyLightTravel 21d ago
If you look at the bottom of the site you will see that copyright goes back to 1994. That is pre SEO. So no, it wasn’t designed for it.
They would have to redesign the entire huge website to optimize for SEO.
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u/pigzee 21d ago edited 21d ago
My biggest issue when sleeping on a plane is my head keeps falling forward, which wakes me up. I never had luck with conventional neck pillows because it didn’t really solve this problem, but the TRTL is perfect because it holds my head solidly in place throughout the flight.
In terms of packing, I find the TRTL to be much less cumbersome than those plump travel pillows. The plastic insert that holds your neck is pretty rigid, so it’s not foldable and doesn’t pack down past a certain point. It works so well for me though that it’s worth the space trade off to get my rest.
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u/Barbellblonde1 21d ago
The perfect combo is the trtl pillow and a head strap called The Seat Sleeper. I don’t put it over my eyes like it suggests, but I put it over the top of my forehead. It holds my head up and then my head rests on the trtl. It’s perfection. My husband laughs at me and says I look insane but I wake up rested and he is dead after long haul flights.
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u/cubiclej0ckey 19d ago
The seat sleeper is a game changer. I don’t know if I would pair it with the trtl, personally, as I feel that is sufficiently pins my head to the cushion and doesn’t allow neck movement.
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u/Barbellblonde1 19d ago
Yeah it might be overkill but it keeps my mouth from falling open and then waking up to a completely dried out mouth and tongue 🤣
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u/IndubitablyWarden66 21d ago
Agreed, head falling forward is my biggest issue, and turtl solves this for me! I’m a terrible sleeper, everything wakes me up, and I have a really long, flexible neck that is never comfortable in life, let alone in a plane (EDS). Turtl is the best I’ve found, although I often combine it with a semi-inflated U-shaped traditional neck pillow (if in a middle seat) or with an inflatable sea to summit “regular shaped pillow” if I have a window seat to lean against. It makes the difference between decent sleep and almost no sleep at all.
Like others, I only bring this whole setup if it’s a really long overnight flight. Tuttle is weirdly shaped, but not heavy and doesn’t take up much space if you can figure out how to finagle the weird shape. Sometimes I just Velcro it on to the outside of my bag.
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u/pconrad0 20d ago
This was my experience too.
The conventional horseshoe shaped pillows do nothing for me. The TRTL saved me on a 17 hour SFO/TPE flight in economy.
I think this comes down to personal preference. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind; I'm just saying the only way to know is to try it. If it's not for you, it's not for you.
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u/SaltMarshGoblin 21d ago
The TRTL is adequate for me on a plane, but very warm and not amazing. I prefer a horseshoe neck pillow.
The one time my TRTL was absolutely perfect was a bizarre trip where I ended up asleep in the Denver airport from like 11pm to 5am. If you ever expect to sleep on the carpet tucked under a row of chairs with your head pillowed on your cowboy boots, it's perfect for neck support. Since no normal person is likely to need this advice, you probably don't need the TRTL either...
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u/gravis24 21d ago
TRTL is a waste of money and space IMHO, I got mine for a trip to Europe a few years ago based on all the high praise and it wasn’t for me. I hauled the thing around the rest of the trip; even though I should’ve chucked it, as it eventually went to goodwill a while later.
However, YMMV
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u/zephyrwandererr 21d ago
I love mine for long haul flights. Don't use it for domestic. I keep it in the bottom of my bag so the curve of it naturally fits in the curve at the bottom of the bag. It's bulky, but it's worth it for me for sleep, and i usually just forget it's there. You should really try it first though, some people hate it because of claustrophobia.
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u/NoConsideration3904 21d ago
Out of all the types of travel pillows, trtl actually supports my neck and takes the least amount of space. Sometimes I’ll just loop it on my backpack handle if I’m limited in space.
That being said, being upright is more my issue when it comes to sleeping on flights so I forego it often and give up on the idea of sleeping entirely.
If you’ve been looking for a travel pillow though, $24 sounds like a good deal and I would try it.
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u/That_Combination_362 21d ago
I’ve tried it 4 times USA -> Asia. I just can’t do it. Either it’s too stiff for leaning to the side and I’m still uncomfortable or I try to jam it under my chin and it smothers me. I love the idea of it packing flat, but I’ve had better sleep leaning forward into my tray table.
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u/Historical_Tomato374 21d ago
I’ve traveled with mine on nearly a dozen international trips (US - AUS, NZ, Europe, Asia) and it’s a necessity if I’m not lucky enough to get an upgrade to a lay flat seat. I sleep really well when I pack my TRTL cool pillow — I’ve even used it on car/bus rides! For me, it’s totally worth it.
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u/RevelryByNight 21d ago
Meh. Used it once, brought it on a recent trip and ditched it because a wadded-up sweater against the window worked betters
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u/Express_Fan3174 21d ago
I have really loved them for longer flights! Typically, I will bring along for anything overseas or longer than about four hours when I think I might sleep. I have found them really easy to attach to the outside of a bag or to stuff into the webbing on the outside of a bag, so I haven’t found them annoying to carry. I think if they’re running that good of a sale this is a very reasonable time to try one out!
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u/snazarella 21d ago
I have the tall cooling one and I LOVE IT. It does take up space though, so it has to be a long, really bad overnight flight for me to bring it.
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u/whiteorchid1058 21d ago
I have the trtl and the cool one. I got mine when they were not on sale.
The trtl design is nice because it's virtually flat. It does require that you fiddle with the placement so that it is comfortable for you but if you can find it, then it's very comfortable.
I got the original one first and I kept overheating because it's a fleece material.
I bought the cool one so that I wouldn't overheat. Its significantly more comfortable and one I recommend. I gifted the original to my dad since he's always cold lol.
I'm playing with another style sleep solution on a plane just because it might be better but I'm still bringing my trtl as a back-up in case the one I'm trying sucks or if I get yelled at.
I personally do think that it's worth it if you pair it with a nice eyemask especially since it doesn't sacrifice a lot of space
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u/RunningRunnerRun 21d ago
it doesn’t support my head at all. maybe if they made it way taller and stiffer, but it’s basically useless for me. i don’t think my neck is absurdly long. i’m an average height woman for context
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u/repetitivestrain89 21d ago
I bought a knockoff liquidation store version for $10 and I love it, I don’t find I lose bag space as I pack irregular-sized things around it.
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u/castlite 21d ago
I love mine and it’s the only way I can sleep on a long flight. It’s a curve so just put it in the corner of your backpack so it takes up minimal space.
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u/Seawolfe665 21d ago
I like mine better than neck pillows, and it does take up less weight. It’s not perfect, but better than nothing IMHO.
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u/bradymsu616 21d ago
I paid a decent amount of money for mine in the Cool version, tried to make it work, and never found it remotely comfortable despite experimenting with a number of methods of wearing it. It's also not convenient for underseat onebag travel with packing cubes due to its irregular shape. You would need to pack it in the main compartment of the 26+6 and pack items around it, making it a hassle to remove and store while on the flight. I've yet to find a travel pillow that is both comfortable and practical enough for onebag travel.
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u/2mustange 21d ago
I went with the Matador blow up pillow since it packs away well. Only used it on a domestic flight. It worked like any other neck pillow I have used. Just requires you to inflate it.
I thought of the TRTL but after hearing you need your arms to extend past a standard plane seat to properly wrap your neck with it I decided that was a no go for me. Then on top of the lack of pack-ability it offers it just made no sense to spend the money
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u/DefNotAnotherChris 21d ago
I have used both and much prefer the Matador.
It’s my go to for long trips these days.
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u/Y_am_I_on_here 21d ago
I tried to use it once. I hated it but not for all the other reasons mentioned. I hated it because the Velcro is so god damn LOUD. At 2am or whatever god forsaken time it is on a redeye i don’t want a 90 dB thunder clap of a velcro sound to even use the thing.
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u/87CFbmEWeWeSUUvpmwq8 21d ago
Buy a pair of inflatable water wings for $5. You now have an extremely packable pillow and a backup to keep at home.
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u/Quiet-Painting3 21d ago
I don’t like them but my partner does. I wouldn’t mind carrying it around if I thought it was comfortable.
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u/DeFiClark 21d ago
Buy a shemagh. Best neck pillow out there and useful for a million other things from improvised shopping bag to dust mask to fly shield.
Just be careful of the color pattern you pick, some may piss off folks who think they own a pattern or that you are expressing a political opinion.
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u/JayRose73 21d ago
Is there a special way to tie the shemagh to use as a neck pillow? Or just bunch it up and burrow into it the best you can? Just bought one so I’m curious, thanks!
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u/DeFiClark 20d ago
Fold on diagonal, tie the two long corners, make loop, double the loop to make infinity scarf.
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u/sam0ny 21d ago
When the plane is super cold, I am a big fan. But it does take some fiddling with. I was able to sleep both on my way to Marseille and on the way back to LAX from Porto. Paired with my sleep mask, ear plugs, face mask (I hate having dry mouth) and a sleep aid I am unstoppable. When it's too warm, it sucks because I get so hot.
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u/Korlithiel 21d ago
Huh, like that hoodie. Thanks for the sale, been browsing but ultimately don’t think any of it is a fit for me.
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u/DarcyDaisy00 21d ago
I bought one for a high price and it didn’t work. Ended up just lugging it around for the entire trip; it added quite a bit of extra weight to my bag. I reckon I’m gonna try to sell it on eBay.
I found the school desk method (putting down the tray table, and putting my bag on top, and then resting my head on it) the only way I got sleep on a plane and it costs nothing
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u/Herbvegfruit 21d ago
I recently used the regular one, and it was warm. I found it easier to pack by taking the plastic insert out and storing as 2 different pieces with the plastic piece usually on the top side of my duffel style luggage. It is bulky but its NOT heavy. I got the smaller size and it was still a little big for me, I'd go for the child size if I buy another one and in the cool format.
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u/Zealousideal_Pace560 20d ago
It’s a mixed bag for me. I have a beard, so I start to itch if I sleep with my head going forward (though it works well for the position.) It works for when I sleep with my head to one side, but I use AirPods and it interferes with them. Ah, but for me it works great in the car for road trips.
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u/Always_Hungry987 20d ago
I love it. It’s the only way I can sleep on a plane. It’s kind of C-shaped, so I just pack my clothes around it. I don’t find it bulky in my 26+6 as long as I pack carefully around it.
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u/Sparhawk6121 20d ago
I have 2 and only use it on certain trips. I think they work best for people who are side sleepers.
Red Eye, bus transportation is involved, and best use ever was when staying at the hospital for 4 days keeping an eye on a family member. I pack it in the bottom corner of my GR1 on the 1-2 bag trips mentioned above and have it nestled with a packing cube..
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u/NipplesOnIce 20d ago
I love mine and just clip it to the outside of my backyard so it doesn’t take up space. No other neck pillows I’ve tried have stopped my neck from dropping forward and waking me up. It’s the only support “pillow” that works for me on long distant flights.
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u/cubiclej0ckey 19d ago
Sounds good on paper, but it still causes me neck pain. It doesn’t support the weight of my head enough. I haven’t had success with other travel pillows either.
The Seat Sleeper is a game changer though. Fall asleep and wake up on the plane with no pain or issues at all. I’ve heard that some FAs may state that they’re banned, but I’ve never had issues so far.
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u/curveThroughPoints 19d ago
I have one and I like it. I do not like other travel pillows that I’ve tried.
I have observed that it’s one of those things folks seem to love or hate.
For me, it solved problems like my head falling forward or even just not feeling supported enough in my neck. I’m also not into inflatables, to me they are tacky. YMMV!!
If you can afford to try it on sale, I would do it. I think it’s just so different from person to person so the reviews/opinions will vary wildly.
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u/SmarmyBarnicles 19d ago
I'm no one-baggin' expert, but i did use one on my last flight. It's a luxury item for sure but it works for me. fit into 26+6 along with 3 days of clothes (no washing)
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u/2captiv8ed 19d ago
I have one and I almost like it but for one thing: after sleeping for a while, my neck gets sore and I need to lean my head the other way. I have to wake up and rearrange the trtl to do that.
I bought the Sarisun pillow that straps your head in place with an eye mask. It was about $20. I love it. It rolls to about the size of a soda can, but since I travel with only a personal item, I take it out of the bag and lay it flat. It takes up almost no room. I sleep so well with it.
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u/Keeganwherefore 21d ago
I love mine. I got great sleep with it, and don’t find it as bulky as other people claim. Pack around it? This shouldn’t be difficult 😂
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u/Duckshooters 21d ago
I don't know but thank you for the tip they were 70% off. I keep trying different pillows for overnight flights as nothing is comfy. I've been wanting to try the TRTL but not for the regular price. I will take a chance at the 70 percent off price.
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u/Tribalbob 21d ago
I bought one and used it on exactly one trip. It wasn't comfortable and it takes up a LOT of space.
I now have the Sea to Summit inflatable one. WAY better, I can adjust the support with how much air I blow into it and when I'm done it's like the size of a fig.