1st Class Sleeper is your bed in the sky
Mar 29 '05
The Bottom Line 1st Class Sleeper is the best travel accessory I've ever owned. It feels great, durable, lightweight and very portable.
I've always had problems sleeping on a plane. It may be because I find that the seats, even when reclined, still don't feel comfortable enough for me to fall asleep. That is, unless I'm extremely dead tired, which usually happens during my trips that I always suffer when I travel. So, you'll find me looking rather ragged and red eyed when I come out of my flights. Not any more. Being someone who loves to find new travel accessories to make travelling simpler and more fun, I came across the 1st Class Sleeper cushion via a Magellans catalog. I was skeptical at first, but after doing a bit more research online and reading some articles on the net, I decided that I'd give it a try. But, being from Canada, I didn't want to buy from a US firm since there's so many hassles to deal with: customs and brokerage fees, shipping fees, Cdn-US conversion. So, I ended up buying it from BacksEtc, a Canadian chiropractic supplies firm that sells the patented 1st Class Sleeper.
The 1st Class Sleeper is simply, a cushion that is used on airline seats to help cushion and provide support to the lower back and neck to allow you to settle on the seats comfortably. Usually, when we sit or lie down on the airline seats, there's a bit of area in the lower back area that our bodies can't reach. And to compensate, we end up unknowingly putting stress on other muscles or areas that end up stiffening up during the flight, making it uncomfortable to sleep or sit during those long haul flights.
It was designed by an airline captain, Captain Bob Duncan who found that he couldn't get any sleep in an airline seat during his 12 hour shifts and ended up with a stiff back and neck. He tried many different pillows and various combinations until he stumbled on an idea that by supporting his lumbar area that he was able to sleep comfortably. Then, he started designing an inflatable cushion that would be portable, easy to inflate, and wouldn't "sweat" and thus, the 1st Class Sleeper was created.
The 1st Class Sleeper arrived in a colorfully designed box with pictures and diagrams of the cushion and how it's used. It has been awarded Momentum Award at the 2003 Las Vegas Travel Good Show and is endorsed by the Chiropractors and Orthopedic Surgeons.
Opening the box reveals a burgundy (mine is burgundy in color, there are many other colors available) drawstring nylon bag/cover decorated with the 1st Class Sleeper logo for the 1st Class Sleeper cushion that has been deflated and rolled up to fit inside. There's also a set of plastic tubing that can be fitted over the blowing area of the cushion (located at the top left of the cushion) to allow for easy manual inflation. Removing the 1st Class Sleeper, you'll uncover the 37" x 23" inflatable cushion. The shape of the cushion is slightly shaped so that the lower bottom and the sides will be filled to allow air to fill the cavities to provide the most amount of cushion or support. The top or front of the cushion is clearly marked on the top of the cushion where the back of the head will contact. There are instructions printed on the cushion to make it easy to use. The back of the cushion shows the 1st Class Sleeper logo.
To use the 1st Class Sleeper, simply open the valve by turning it in the attached plastic tubing located at the top left of the cushion (or on your right if you are lying on the cushion) and blow 10-11 deep breaths and it should be enough. It will look like the cushion is not completely inflated. Don't worry. That is what it's meant to be. You are not trying to completely inflate the cushion. The cushion works the best at the 10-11 breaths so that the air will flow around the cushion and conform to your body shape and weight so that it supports where it's needed. You should make sure that your buttocks are not sitting on the cushion to allow for the air inside the cushion to properly adjust and provide the proper support. Once you've inflated the cushion, turn the valve to close it and not allow the air to escape and then place the cushion under you so that it covers your lower back and your head can be seated on top of the "TOP FRONT" area. That portion of the cushion is not inflated to allow your head to be gently supported on the sides to prevent head roll to the sides. Once properly fitted on the back, lie back and feel the cushion of air that supports the lower back and lumbar area as well as the cushion on the sides. If you haven't noticed by now, you will feel the great feeling of having a well supported back cushion. If you shift your weight on the cushion, the air inside the cushion will move around to compensate to provide support. It feels absolutely wonderful to have a cushion that will support you as you move when you're sleeping or just sitting. It's almost like sleeping on a waterbed in that the support moves with you, except that it is air that is giving the support. To put it away, deflate the cushion by opening the valve and push out all the air. Then, fold the cushion in 3 parts from bottom to the top. Roll the cushion so that you can fit it back into the drawstring case.
I have to say that after buying this that I can't imagine not having it. It's a wonderful feeling to feel comfortable on an airline seat and it certainly makes me sleep better. At first, it may seem strange to be sliding and not really "sitting" on your airline seat, but you'll soon get used to it because you feel that cushion under you. According to the instructions, you should try to sleep with your legs straight and extended, so you should try to not put anything underneath the seat in front of you so that you can properly stretch your legs out and almost seem sleeping on an incline. And, on long road trips, it also helps to have it too. Of course, don't use it if you're driving.
The tough nylon material is very durable and easy to clean and doesn't make it sweaty. When deflated, the sleeper cushion is easily folded and rolled into its drawstring bag/case and it's barely more than the size of a folded umbrella.
Now that I've discovered the 1st Class Sleeper cushion, this has become an addition to my travel accessory. I'd recommend this to anyone who wishes to have a better sleep on an airplane, or even on road trips, or anyone who wishes to have a good cushion for their lower back and lumbar area when sitting on a high back chair. Remember, it's endorsed by Chiropractors and Orthopedic Surgeons. Don't suffer. Get the 1st Class Sleeper. You won't regret it.
For more information, check out the 1st Class Sleeper website:
http://www.1stclasssleeper.com/
You can purchase the 1st Class Sleeper at various travel accessories stores like:
Magellans
http://www.magellans.com/store/In_Flight_Comfort___PillowsIF430?Args=
or for Canadians:
BacksEtc
http://www.backsetc.com/Detail.bok?no=177
Thanks for taking the time to read and rate my review.
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Epinions.com ID:
maceyr
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Location: Canada
Reviews written: 129
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About Me:
I hardly have time for Epinions anymore but do try to read and rate.
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