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If you travel a lot – especially in economy class – you are certainly familiar with the discomfort associated for sitting for extended periods of time. While it’s something that is easily manageable on a short flight, it can get worse on a long-haul red-eye flight.
In the past, I wrote about inflatable footrests which are one way to make a long plane ride more comfortable. Today, we’ll take a look at what some of the best airplane seat cushions are, and how to choose the right one for you.
Before we continue, though, here’s a table briefly summarizing my top picks.
TOP PICK: Sojoy Foldable Cushion
Very compact foldable design. Includes gel that helps it retain its shape for a long time.
SOFTaCARE Orthopedic Seat Cushion
Features a non-slip bottom. Comes with a separate lumbar support piece.
Aylio Foam Seat Cushion
A high-quality model with a simple design. Features a washable soft velvet cover.
6 Best Airplane Seat Cushions
Please note that the products below are in no particular order. The main reason for that is that whatever product suits my needs the best might not be the best one for you.
1. Aylio Coccyx Orthopedic Comfort Foam Seat Cushion
This seat cushion comes in a cut-out, U-shaped design that allows your coccyx to hover above it, preventing soreness in your lower back region and providing decent comfort level even when sitting for prolonged periods of time.
Its ergonomic wedge structure help disperse the weight of your body evenly over the whole cushion. As a result, it helps align your spine in a healthy manner and promotes good posture.
While the cushion is especially helpful for those who suffer from a herniated disc or from sciatica, it is also ideal for anyone looking for a more comfortable surface to sit on than an economy class aircraft seat. You can also use it in a car, on a train, or even in your office.
You don’t have to worry about this cushion getting dirty from constant, daily use as it’s covered with a hygienic, soft velvet cover that can be zipped off, machine washed, air dried, and then put back on.
Just like any other product, though, this cushion does fall short on a few things. For starters, it seems to be too short and too small for taller people. Also, it’s not as deep as it could be and its cover doesn’t seem to stay firmly in place.
Pros
- Adequate lower back support
- Cover can be washed easily
Cons
- Could be deeper
- Too small for taller people
Check price and reviews on Amazon
2. Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Seat Cushion
This pillow’s U-shaped, ergonomic design helps alleviate the pressure off your tailbone. While its well-suited for people with sciatica and other types of pain, it is also a good product for increasing comfort of a seat in general.
The memory foam in this pillow allows it to mold into the right shape. The thick foam compresses just the right amount and provides support for spine, hips, and – as mentioned earlier – tailbone.
This pillow’s build quality is good with the foam inside being firm enough to provide good support, but not too hard as to be uncomfortable to sit on. While the cushion is fairly thick, you should still be able to reach the floor with your feet even if you’re on the shorter side.
Just like with other cushions similar to this one, the problem is that it only comes in one size. As such, if you are considerably taller or shorter than the average person, you might not find it as comfortable as it was designed to be.
Pros
- Firm enough to offer support, but still comfortable
- Versatile and lightweight design
Cons
- Only available in one size
Check price and reviews on Amazon
3. Sojoy iGelComfort 3-in-1 Foldable Seat Cushion
Firstly, the cushion has been designed with comfort in mind. Unlike many other models of seat cushions, the gel inside this cushion helps it retain its shape and prevents it from losing its shape over time.
In addition, it’s fairly lightweight and can be easily folded for easy transportation. The cushion also features a handle. It’s worth noting that thanks to its shape, it doesn’t easily slide off a seat.
The Sojoy iGelComfort cushion provides a good balance of size and functionality. On one hand, it’s not too bulky to pack along on a trip which makes it a perfect cushion for taking on airplanes. On the other hand, it’s not so small that it would be uncomfortable for the average person.
In fact, many of its users have reported easily managing to sit through long-haul flights using this cushion.
Pros
- Retains its shape well
- Comfortable in spite of compact size
Cons
- A gap forms where the cushion folds
Check price and reviews on Amazon
4. ComfiLife Premium Comfort Seat Cushion
It provides comfort on even the hardest surfaces and is appropriate for most types of seats. However, you might face difficulties fitting it on some larger chairs.
Its ergonomic design helps with support and comfort, while its U-shaped cut helps with healthy spine alignment and alleviating pressure off the tailbone. As such, this pillow can also be useful for those who suffer from tailbone injuries and herniated discs among other issues. It’s also useful for pregnant women.
On a separate note, the cushion – just like many others – will also provide less support for heavier people. It provides optimal support up to around 225 pounds.
While this cushion is decent, some users reported the non-slip bottom is actually not that “non-slip.” As such, the cushion might require a bit of readjusting while you are sitting.
Additionally, over extended periods of sitting time, its comfort seems to decrease a little.
Pros
- Can provide support for people up to 225 pounds
- Simple yet effective design
Cons
- Comfort decreases over time
- Requires readjustment every now and then
Check price and reviews on Amazon
5. SOFTaCARE Coccyx Orthopedic Seat Cushion
Its shape – similar to some of the other cushions on this list – does a great job decreasing the pressure falling on the coccyx which can help relieve the pain of herniated discs, sciatica, and tailbone injuries.
It features a non-slip bottom that helps it stay in place without the need for constant readjustment. It also has a built-in handle, allowing for easy carrying. Covering the cushion is a velour zippered cover that’s easily washable.
This cushion is the only one on this list that comes with a lumbar support piece. The lumbar support piece features breathable mesh that helps with ventilation. It also features a pocket that you can use for storing your phone and straps that you can use to attach it to a chair.
Pros
- Made of high-quality memory foam
- Includes a lumbar support piece
Cons
- Some people might find it too small
Check price and reviews on Amazon
6. Kieba Coccyx Orthopedic Gel Seat Cushion
The materials it’s made of are of ideal density which in turn provides just enough firmness to be effective but not too uncomfortable or hard on the body. Also, since it’s partially filled with gel, it’s less likely to flatten out with continual use than many of other cushions.
The cushion is fairly stable on most surfaces because of the non-slip bottom which helps prevent slipping and sliding. And, just like all other products on this list, this cushion can be used on a car seat, a plane seat, or even on a wheelchair
It provides ideal weight distribution that – reportedly – helps promote ideal posture and spine alignment. It’s also covered by a velour cover that you can easily remove and wash to keep the cushion clean.
Pros
- Combines memory foam with gel
- Fairly firm without being too hard on the body
- Doesn’t flatten out with prolonged use
Cons
- Not ideal for cushioned chairs
Check price and reviews on Amazon
What to Consider When Buying an Airplane Seat Cushion
While all of the above are decent choices if you are looking for a seat cushion to take with you on your next flight, the one that is the best for you will depend on a variety of factors.
Below, I take a look at some of those.
Filling Material
The majority of seat cushions tends to use memory foam as filling material. That said, some lower-end models also use denser types of foam.
If possible, you should pick a cushion made of memory foam as it will be able to retain its shape and firmness for longer. Additionally, it will be able to mold its shape to fit your body’s structure by reacting to its weight and heat.
Back Rest
This is not the most crucial thing to look for in a cushion that you intend on using on a car seat, but on an airplane, this can make a big difference. Having a backrest can provide comfort not only for the seat itself, but also for the seat back which often tends to be quite hard in economy class.
Most cushions that feature a backrest come in two separate pieces: one that goes behind your back and one that you sit on.
Ergonomic Design
There are some cushions that are flat. However, you should try to look for one that has a curved shape ideal for the human body. The curves are also an essential component in any seat cushion that’s designed to relieve pain through ergonomic support.
Washable Cover
From time to time, you might find cheaper cushions that don’t allow for their covers to be removed. While they might seem like a good deal, chances are you will spend even more money on those over time as you will not be able to wash them.
Instead, get a seat cushion that has a cover that can be easily removed and machine-washed. That way – especially combined with a memory foam filling – you will be able to use the cushion for very long.
Summary
While there are many ways to spend a long flight enjoyably, the main thing you can do to do so – especially in economy class – is by increasing your seat comfort.
The easiest way to do so is, of course, by picking the right seat – whether that means aisle or window for you. Things you can do to further increase your comfort is getting an inflatable footrest and an airplane seat cushion.
As for the latter, there are several products on the market – including the six reviewed above – but if I had to recommend one, I would go with the Sojoy iGelComfort foldable seat cushion.
