Okay, I’m gonna cut to the chase.
You’ve probably noticed it too. Most plane seats are covered in hard plastic, with a whisper-thin layer of fabric stretched over it. Not for style. Not for ergonomics. Just efficiency. Cheap to clean. Easy to replace. Brutal on the human body.
So I started experimenting.
First, I wore elbow pads, because those stiff plastic armrests are like concrete after the first hour. My elbows and forearms were quite tender from it. My friend thought I was ridiculous. I didn’t care. I was on a mission to reclaim comfort.
Then came the knee pads — same as the elbow pads , and yes, actual padded slip on under my pants — to soften the blow every time I shifted in my seat and knock my knees against the hard plastic of the seat in front of me. Oh how many a flight where my knees were so bruised.
But padding alone wasn’t enough. I’m still stuck in a crappy economy seat with little recline and next to nothing support. Thank the stars I got my Bolstie. I’m never going back to trying to figure out how to actually sleep on a plane like other travelers — I don’t wake up feeling like I got hit by a truck anymore.
Most travel pillows — especially those popular U-shaped neck pillows — wrap around your neck like a boa constrictor — leaving you gasping for air. They push your head forward with a side of hot and sweaty. Not to mention making it impossible to lean to one side (especially if you’re a side sleeper like me).
Seriously, if you’re still wishing your neck-wraps will do better… it won’t. Cut your loses and give Bolstie a Go! You only have your discomfort to lose.
You don’t need to imagine this. Your support doesn’t have to mean “tight”?
Your comfort could feel like softness and structure?
Your travel pillow is discreet & fits inside your personal item, didn’t require inflating, and actually helped your body sleep upright.
Now, I never travel without it. And no — I’m not just saying that because I created it. I mean it honestly. It’s my travel pillow for long haul flights, my carry-on hack, my comfort companion. Whether I’m in the aisle, middle or window seat, Bolstie gives me neck support that doesn’t push my head forward, and just enough diagonal pressure across my chest to keep my body upright, without slouching or collapsing.
It’s soft but firm — because I stuff it myself with clothes I already packed. That’s the genius of it. You customize the firmness to fit your exact body and your exact day. (No more one-size-fits-all foam.)
Even better? It’s machine washable, lightweight, and folds into itself so it doesn’t take up extra room. In fact , it creates room for more clothes if you happen to be an over-packer.
It’s like a travel pillow that doubles as a packing cylinder ( better than any packing cube) — and that’s not just marketing fluff.
And here’s the surprising part:
The more I use it, the less I feel the need to upgrade.
I no longer daydream about premium seats, because my body has learned how to rest upright — supported, secure, and free.
I realized it’s not about the recline.
It’s about the alignment.
Bolstie holds me in alignment, and alignment is what relaxes the body.
So here’s my current setup for surviving any flight — long or short, aisle or window. The ultimate comfort trifecta:
🛫 Elbow pads (the foam padding kind )
🦵 Knee pads (same as elbow pads—trust me, if you’re over 5’6”, they’re a game-changer)
🧳 My Bolstie (always pre-packed with clothes I’ll wear at my destination & sleep any positon)
And here’s what I leave behind:
❌ The U-shaped neck pillow that never worked
❌ The fantasy that the airline will provide true comfort
❌ The tension I used to carry in my shoulders, neck, and jaw
If you’re someone who thought comfort on planes wasn’t possible unless you were in first c or business class — I see you. I was you.
But the truth is: economy class comfort is possible. You just have to bring it with you.
And now you know. my personal comfort hack-- now it can be yours as well. ✈️
