LayOn Magic Neck Pillow Review
Comfort is key to enjoying your travels, and what better way to stay comfy than to use a good neck pillow? Especially if it comes with some extra hidden features…
As part of our LayOn Series, we’ll be taking a look at the Magic Neck Pillow.
A big thank you again to Urša Sačer and LayOn for allowing us to try out their products!
Now, let’s get on with the review!
# Design and Features
The LayOn Travel Neck Pillow is a comfortable travel accessory that comes with a series of cleverly designed features. It is an inflatable pillow, which allows it to fold down to pocket size and removes the hassle of having to make space to stash it in your bag!
Size comparison, side-to-side with a classic Klean Kanteen bottle of 592ml.
Another feature that sets it apart from the competition is an interior compartment, accessible from a sturdy and well built zipper on the back of the pillow.
The interior pocket serves multiple functions:
You can stuff it with clothing, adding extra padding to the already very comfortable pillow. You can also use this as a way to lighten your bag if you’re going slightly over your airline’s allowance, but remember that it can only fit so much!
You can also use this hidden pouch to stash valuables, such as documents and cash. No one will think of checking your neck pillow, and the location of the zipper renders the compartment unaccessible while you lay back on your seat.
The Sleeping Pad from LayOn is designed to work in conjunction with the Magic Neck Pillow, and fits perfectly inside. This is a good way to save up some space in your bag during your travels, just remember that you obviously won’t be able to fold your pillow anymore.
This neck pillow also comes with a handy adjustable buckle that allows you to easily clip it to your luggage. This also serves as a way to tighten the pillow around your neck for extra comfort, and prevents it from slipping and twisting!
Close-up of the adjustable strap.
# Size
When fully inflated, the LayOn Magic Neck Pillow measures 25 × 14 × 12cm, but folds down to the size of a fist.
Just remember that, as with any inflatable device, it will always contain some air after the first use and won’t shrink back to the exact same size as when you received it.
The small size and a weight of only 100g make it a perfect option for ultralight travellers!
LayOn Magic Neck Pillow being used, attached to a backpack with its buckle.
# Comfort
We’ve usually never been big users of neck pillows because we felt that they took more space than what they were worth, but we have to admit that this one is incredibly comfortable!
The tissue is very soft and feels great against the skin and helps offset that feeling of having a floaty around your neck that many inflatable pillows give.
Stuffing it with clothing greatly increases the padding, and is a great idea to maximise comfort during long trips!
The tissue of the pillow also remained surprisingly clean throughout a couple of flights and a road trip.
Something to keep in mind:
In case you need to clean it, remember that the air bag is not removable, so the pillow is not washing machine friendly.
We suggest washing any stains with lukewarm water and a mild detergent, taking care to not let any water through the inflation valve.
# Inflating and Deflating
To help you visualise, here’s the video from LayOn that shows you the characteristics of this Travel Pillow and the quick inflation:
Inflating the LayOn Magic Neck Pillow is extremely quick!
It makes use of a well designed, self-closing valve located inside a pocket on the side of the pillow and it only takes a few big breaths to inflate. The valve is covered by a flap, and you won’t feel it against your neck at all.
Deflating also takes seconds, and is done through a pressure-release button in the middle of the valve. This can also be used to adjust the pressure inside the pillow if you over-inflated it.
Close-up of the valve and pressure release button.
# Overall Thoughts
The LayOn Magic Neck Pillow has set itself as a mainstay in our packing setup, especially for long car trips / long haul flights!
The small packing size and low weight mean it can easily fit into our bags without taking up space from other essential gear, and we definitely recommend it as an option for ultralight travellers and backpackers!
Inflating and deflating takes seconds, which is also a huge help with the current sanitary measures. You can easily take off your mask, inflate your pillow and put it back on without disturbing anyone!
If, like us, you’ve never invested in a travel neck pillow before, this is one of the best to start!
So, does the LayOn Travel Pillow have a place in your kit or will you keep on searching?
We hope this article will help you decide if this piece of gear is for you.
Did you enjoy this article?
Feel free to save or pin this image so that you can always look back on this blog post!
We’ll see you on the road!
Other articles you will enjoy:
The LayOn Sleeping Pad is made in Slovenia, Europe, with though 70D laminated nylon. It has a sturdy feel to it, and it has so far withstood everything that we put it through. But what about comfort and insulation? Now we come to what makes or breaks a sleeping pad..