Health & Wellbeing

NapAnywhere: A flat-out new take on the neck pillow

NapAnywhere: A flat-out new take on the neck pillow
The NapAnywhere is designed to help commuters sleep anywhere
The NapAnywhere is designed to help commuters sleep anywhere
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The NapAnywhere in its flattened position
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The NapAnywhere in its flattened position
The NapAnywhere opened for sleeping
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The NapAnywhere opened for sleeping
A close up of the NapAnywhere
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A close up of the NapAnywhere
Using the NapAnywhere with its strap to keep it in place
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Using the NapAnywhere with its strap to keep it in place
NapAnywhere in many of its available color options
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NapAnywhere in many of its available color options
The NapAnywhere is designed to help commuters sleep anywhere
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The NapAnywhere is designed to help commuters sleep anywhere
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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

View gallery - 6 images
5 comments
5 comments
Sam Sams
When I sleep vertically my chin drops when I nod off - my head doesn't fall to one side. Tilt your head to one side and it isn't comfortable - those neck pillows maintain a neutral position.
A better similar idea might be a ^ shaped chin support that transfers the weight to both shoulders.
thk
Some people need scaffolding to support their bodies when they sleep vertically. If not, they crash. Or are they supposed to?
Slowburn
I have had great success with inflatable neck pillows. I suppose if your neck is long enough you might need 2.
Baden Holt
Prop an A-frame under your chin?
f8lee
First of all, the movie is a disappointment; despite seeing the young lady apparently using the device what we get is a quasi-clever bunch of animation.
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.