I used to think there was something wrong with me.
Every time I flew, I’d try another neck pillow—the trendy wraparound kinds with cooling foam or breathable mesh—and still end up in pain. I’d land groggy, stiff, with a sore neck and a warm, sweaty feeling that made me want to shower the minute I got off the plane. At first, I was so frustrated. Maybe my neck was too short. Or maybe I just didn’t know how to wear it. But then I noticed something: No one around me looked comfortable either. Some had their pillows pushed up into their ears. Others had them hanging too low to support anything. Everyone kept fidgeting, adjusting, hoping for some magical angle that didn’t exist.
And that’s when it hit me—maybe the design is the problem.
Neck Pillows Are Built Wrong, and No One Talks About It
Here’s what I’ve realized after trying just about every travel pillow out there: the wraparound design is a flawed attempt to correct a problem at the weakest point: your neck. It assumes your neck is strong enough to hold the weight of your head, and just needs “padding” or “support” around it.
But the truth is, your neck isn’t where the support should go. Your head weighs 10–12 pounds. That pressure needs to be redirected, not squeezed. And yet, these pillows keep trying to fix the issue by tightening around the neck—either too tight (you feel choked) or too loose (you feel nothing). Either way, you end up hot, sweaty, and unsupported. It’s a misguided fix that ignores the real structural problem:Your head needs lateral, anchored support. Not a soft boa constrictor. No one wants to talk about how much traditional neck pillows fail us.
One Size Doesn’t Fit Any Neck
If you’ve ever thought your neck was too short or too long for a travel pillow, you’re not imagining it.
If your neck is short, the pillow rides high—pressing into your ears, cheeks, or jaw.
If your neck is long, it drops too low and offers no actual lift.
And if you’re somewhere in between? You’re constantly adjusting, tugging, twisting. These pillows aren’t designed for your body. They’re designed for a mannequin in a photo shoot.They fail because they expect every neck to behave the same.
The Flight That Changed Everything
On a long-haul flight, exhausted and pillow-less, I stuffed my hoodie with my clothes to mimic my body pillow at home. I simply just hugged it like what I was used to. I leaned into it—and something clicked.
For the first time in years, I actually slept. No soreness. No jaw tension. No overheating. Just rest. The kind I thought wasn’t possible in economy.
That moment became the beginning of Bolstie.
Why Bolstie Works (And Doesn’t Care About Your Neck Length)
Bolstie doesn’t go around your neck. It doesn’t need to. It works beside your body, not on it.
The soft, rollable shape runs diagonally across your torso—anchoring your upper body and supporting your head from the side.
This means:
• No pressure on your neck
• No heat trapped around your throat
• No squished ears or awkward chin tilt
• No struggle with sizing
It’s a travel pillow for short necks, long necks, wide necks, slim necks—because it avoids the neck altogether. Bolstie redirects the weight of your head to your torso, where your body is naturally stronger and more stable. The result? Real support without the squeeze.
Neck Pain on Flights Shouldn’t Be Normal
We’ve normalized discomfort in the name of travel. We’ve accepted soreness, tension, and bad sleep like it’s part of the deal.
But it’s not.
Bolstie is different because it challenges the entire premise of how airplane pillows are built. It doesn’t force your body into a mold. It works with your body’s structure to create true comfort—no matter your neck length.
So if you’ve ever felt like neck pillows just weren’t made for you…
You’re right. They weren’t.
And that’s why I made Bolstie.
