We've all been there. You sit down for a long flight, and you just can't seem to get your head to stay upright so you can get a few hours of sleep to pass the time. The fact is, airplane seats aren't built for comfortable sleeping. A new product called NapAnywhere is designed to rectify the situation by supporting your head and allowing you to sleep comfortably, even while sitting straight up.
If you've ever been to an airport, you've probably seen some neck pillows designed to help support your head while you slumber. According to its creator Ravi Shamaiengar, these were his inspiration for the NapAnywhere. "Like many, I would use a U-shaped neck pillow. Unfortunately, the support I needed just wasn't there," he said. So, he sought to design one that actually had the support he desired.
NapAnywhere starts as a flat disc. Once opened, the top of the pillow forms a shelf where the user rests his or her head while sleeping. The bottom curves over the user's shoulder. The area in between is what allows the weight to be distributed around the shoulder, and thus what prevents the head from drooping, which could lead to neck cramps or an annoyed neighbor. The video below demonstrates using the NapAnywhere.
The pillow also comes with an adjustable strap, which exists to help hold everything in place while sleeping.
Each side uses two different materials. The top uses material that is warm to the touch, and the other side feels cool, which could add a little bit of extra comfort to those difficult sleeping locations. It only weighs 8 oz (230 g), and it folds flat, so carrying it around should not be an issue.
Ravi Shamaiengar is seeking funding for his NapAnywhere on Kickstarter. The minimum pledge required to receive a pilloe is US$39 while the remainder of the early bird specials are available. Once those sell through, the price jumps to $44.
The Kickstarter pitch below provides more information.
Source: NapAnywhere and Kickstarter
A better similar idea might be a ^ shaped chin support that transfers the weight to both shoulders.
More to the point, though - when I got fed up with the U-shaped pillows as they let my head fall forward, I searched around and found the Embrace sleep collar (and a few other brands of the same basic thing) - these are essentially more comfortable versions of the wrap-around collar EMTs use to support an accident victim's head and shoulders. While it's a little more cumbersome to carry along, I have used mine many times and been able to actually fall asleep on flights.