I still need to take a long journey with this Sarisun rig, but I think that having my head strapped to my airline seat and being unable to see will likely be the best option yet for long distance travel. In my case, that’s really saying something because I absolutely insist upon a comfortable pillow and I have spent years trying out a very wide range of alternatives for long distance travel. This includes everything from brand-new, overstuffed bed pillows to an inflatable cage that goes around the neck, to crescents and camp pillows variously filled with down, memory foam, Styrofoam beads, and air. I even have one monstrosity that requires you to lean forward on it so the front of your face, and your arms, and maybe even your phone (with a movie running on it) are all inside the pillow. The surprising winner so far has been a very large, flocked, inflatable ottoman that I use only as a pillow. The only problem with the ottoman, (aside from the weird, yet jealous looks) is that when deflated it’s still 2.5 times larger than this Sarisun option. To me that’s a big deal, because lately I’ve been using the uber-cheap airlines that won’t even let you bring a carry-on if you want to benefit from their crazy-low prices. They will let you bring a ‘personal item’ though, something the size of a purse or a briefcase. I also like this Sarisun because unlike many of my travel pillow options, it will work well even if you are unlucky enough to get an aisle or middle seat.This Sarisun head-grabber thing is innovative and uncompromising in its quality. The materials are soft and that includes the fabric on the eye mask, the cushioning on the eye mask, an upgrade of a hook-and-loop velcro type material that’s surprisingly soft, and a bulletproof yet luxurious carrying bag which is soft right down to its strong, shimmery, silky drawstring. The eye mask effectively blocks out light while allowing your eyes and eyelids to remain clear of the fabric. The better-than-velcro fabric gives you a comfortable, custom fit to ensure your head is well-stabilized.I’ll try to get on a trans-Pacific flight ASAP so I can improve this review. Or maybe I’ll just head up to the Rockies so I can have a snooze in the car using this head-grabber.
