Review: Traveling Scarf by Napper

Ever tried rolling up your jacket and using it as a makeshift pillow for the airplane, car, train or bus? It doesn’t work so well, does it? At some point it starts to slip down and unroll and then your head clunks against the window and your sleep is ruined. Most people can’t just sleep anywhere, and it’s nice to be able to catch up on your Zs when you’re traveling and need to get on a new schedule. Neck pillows are okay, but they don’t block out light or keep you warm or hold any of your stuff. They also don’t pack very small, or if they do, you have to blow them up to use them.

Napper may be the answer to all your commuting sleep problems. Designed for travelers who spend a lot of time on busses, it is also great for all other forms of transportation, including road trips. Napper combines the best part of a hoodie, a scarf and a pillow, all in a convenient little package. It folds up small to fit in your carry-on or a jacket pocket, plus has its own pocket to keep items on-hand when folded up, and two big pockets when unfolded.

The Napper is super soft and feels great against your skin. It’s like your favorite sweatshirt. Throw the hood on and you’ve got sweet padding over both of your ears, so when you lean up against the window (or a wall if you are unlucky), you can sleep easily even through bumps and turbulence. So much better than being woken up with a big knot on your head.

Is it too bright out, or just don’t want people looking at you while you sleep? Napper has drawstrings like a normal hoodie to pull the fabric down over your eyes and blocking out the sun – or your neighbor’s reading light. It also keeps those plane air vents from freezing you to death. Even on a flight that’s hot, I can never turn mine on because having it blow on the top of my head gives me a headache and it blowing in my eyes is super bothersome and drying.

The drawstrings double as earbuds, so if you want to listen to music, play games or watch that in-flight movie, you can do it without extra cords, since the wire is hidden in the scarf and the jack for your phone or other device is in one of the pockets and won’t get all tangled up in your clothes or seatbelt. They have great sound when I used them to play on my phone.

You can totally use the Napper to keep yourself organized while commuting or in the air. Keep all your travel docs, cash and even your ID or passport right on-hand without having to carry it all in your hands or dig through your bag when you need it again. Toss the scarf around your neck – hood on or off – and put those things you need in the pockets. I’m always using my phone on-the-go, so I plugged it in (which also keeps it more secure) in the one pocket and then put my travel wallet (ID, credit cards, cash, boarding pass and passport) in the other with a pack of tissues and my lip balm. Convenient! Now when I go through security, everything is right where I need it and I can take off the Napper and put it right in a bin with my shoes.

Once on the plane, I can put my wallet back in my carry-on and instead use the pocket to keep a pen and puzzle book. A pen is always a useful item to have when traveling, and it’s even nicer to not have to rummage in a bag to find one, and we all know that there’s barely room to spare on a plane anyway.

Does your neck or hands get cold when you travel? The Napper can keep you warm. The scarf is long enough to wrap around your neck for extra coverage and the deep pockets are nice and cozy to envelope your hands up to the bottom of your long sleeves, so you don’t have icy wrists.

If you’re someone who travels a lot on the bus or train, it can be important to keep your valuables and travel docs close, especially while you’re sleeping. The Napper allows you to do that, plus the pockets face your body, so nobody can tell you are even carrying anything on your person. This can also be great when you’re just walking around a city in the cold. Keep items from the prying eyes of thieves while keeping yourself warmer in the process.

Just wearing the Napper around home? Keep your gloves in the pockets, so you’ll never lose them. Got the opportunity to lay down somewhere? Fold the Napper back up and use it as a real pillow. This item is so versatile and useful, you’ll want to buy one for everyone you know who travels or has a long(ish) commute. With Mother’s and Father’s Day coming up, you might have just found the perfect gift.

Napper doesn’t require special care either. If it gets dirty, just toss it in the washer with your other laundry. Even the earbuds are washable.

More information

Colors it comes in: gray/black | gray/red

How much is it?: $58

Where you can buy it: Napper website

Other specs: Made 100% in the USA, Shell: 50% Cotton 50% Polyester Heavy Sweatshirt, Lining: 50% Cotton 50% Polyester Jersey

Disclaimer: I was provided with the Napper for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% mine. 

Filling Your Time on the Plane

I know a lot of people dread plane rides and packing for one. In my last post I talked about what to wear on the plane and now I’d like to talk about how to enjoy flying, even in your cramped economy seat, when you aren’t sleeping, because that’s not always easy or an option. (See that jet lag post I wrote.) When you have hours ahead of you where you’re basically stuck in a seat, how do you keep yourself entertained? I bring a range of things, because I almost always travel with my husband, but a lot of times he likes to sleep and I’m on my own.

Games – I love games. I bring several different kinds – ones for just me and ones to play with others. I have a favorite game that I take with me everywhere, even when I’m not traveling. Fluxx is a game that never gets old, because the rules change as you play, as well as the way to win. Through goal, action and rule cards you try to beat your fellow players and outwit them so they don’t win. A typical game lasts about 10-15 minutes, but we have played with six people and played for an hour. Unfortunately, you can really only play with three people, tops, on the plane, because you need to be near each other and have the use of seat trays. There are several different versions and I have four or five and they are all fun.

A deck of cards can go a long way, as well as regular travel games everyone likes: Connect Four, Battleship (though those little pieces hurt your fingers), Guess Who and more. If you have kids, you might like Zigity. It’s a fantastic game from the makers of Cranium that asks players to spell, add, complete a picture and match objects. The cards are plastic coated, so they are pretty much child-proof. Spills and spit wipe right off!

For individual gaming, we bring handheld games (Nintendo DS) and the iPad mini, because it is a multipurpose gadget. I also like Pocket Posh range of notebook games and often carry one of logic problems around with me. They have ones for Sudoku, crosswords, acrostics, word find and just about any other paper game you love, in a convenient pocket-sized book.

Books – I’m a reader. I’m almost always in the middle of a book. I find it a great way to pass the time on the plane and to relax in the evening on my trip. Of course, books can take up a lot of space in your carry-on that you need for, I don’t know, clothes probably. Also, when you finish in the middle of your trip, you have two problems: 1. You need another book. 2. You’re stuck with a book you might want to keep taking up valuable packing room. This is where ebooks come in really handy. Your tablet (or phone) not only lets you play games on it, but you can download the Kindle app on it and take a bunch of books in a little package. If you’re traveling with another book reader, like I do, I also bring my Kindle, because even the two together are still pretty slim and smaller than two books.

Don't take this many :)  |  photo credit

Magazines – I don’t always want to put forth the effort of reading chapter after chapter on the plane. Sometimes I just want to stare at pictures or read the latest celebrity news. This is when I turn to magazines. I always pack two-three in my carry-on. Yes, I know I can also get these on my tablet, which is a great option and space-saver, but I like turning pages and actual paper. Since I’m not carrying around copies of Vogue and Cosmo, an Entertainment Weekly and People takes up a lot less room and can slip into the outside pocket of my carry-on. And when I’m finished with them, I can leave them for the flight attendants or next traveler, making it an even better deal, because other people are reading them, too.

Movies – Sometimes your flight is long enough to have movies on the overhead. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to have your own screen in your seatback. If there’s neither, then you can always load some videos on your phone, tablet or laptop to amuse yourself with. Just make sure to bring your headphones, so you aren’t disturbing others.

Ideas jotted down in Evernote

Work – While not as fun as some other options, work may need to get done. As a blogger, inspiration can strike anywhere, so I need to jot ideas down when I think of them. I have Evernote on all my devices, so I can make notes and also work on blog posts wherever I am. I keep my editorial calendar and articles in the works for clients in Dropbox, which I also have on all my devices, so I can access anything important I need anywhere I go and share files as needed. This is a good place to store copies of your important documents, passport and credit cards, in case you lose them or find them gone missing at any time during your travels. Hopefully, you’ll never have to use them.

There’s never a shortage of things to do or bring on the plane with you. Always remember a bottle of water and some snacks, just in case, because flying’s much better when you aren’t hungry or dehydrated.

How do you amuse yourself (and your spouse/family/child) on the plane?

Please Stop Wearing Your Pajamas on the Plane

So, I don’t know if you know this, but it’s kind of unacceptable to wear your night clothes outside. You aren’t a college kid – and even if you are, that’s still gross. The plane still counts as going out in public, so make a little bit of effort. It doesn’t have to be much, and you can wear clothes that are as comfortable as your PJs, but make you look like a person. You don’t have to be constricted on your flight, but you also don’t have to look like a hot mess that people dread sitting next to. I’m not saying you have to dress up and put on a full face of makeup, but at least put on actual clothes and comb your hair. Thank you.

We all want to relax when we travel, but there are good ways to do it and there are a lot of nuh-uh ways to do it. Even if you’re flying overnight or have to get up at 5am to make it to the airport, a bunch of people are still going to see you. Maybe you’re thinking “I don’t care what that bunch of strangers thinks of me,” but if you look good, you’ll feel better about yourself and will get better service, because people will take you seriously. Here are some tips to get pajama comfort in real world clothes and not look like a total slob when you travel.

Stretchy jeans – I love my pajama pants, but they are for the house or slumber parties (you know, if I were 12). Jeans with stretch are kind of the next best thing, plus they look good and I can wear them when I get to my destination too. Many stretchy jeans are also lightweight, so they work even in warmer temps. They won’t dig into your waist or hips and make you hate them by the end of your plane ride.

Maxi skirts – If jeans aren’t for you, then throw on a maxi skirt. It gives you freedom of movement, coverage and might be even more comfy than your favorite pajama pants. You’ll also love it when you get to your destination, especially if you’re headed to the beach. Most can work for day or evening, whether you’re sightseeing or headed to a beachfront dinner. Bonus if you wear a maxi dress, because that eliminates a top to find.

Leggings – I love leggings, but they aren’t pants. No offense, but you can see through almost all leggings, so if you want everyone to see your bits, go right ahead and wear a short top with them, but I guarantee, you will feel more comfortable and those around you will enjoy your leggings a lot more if you pair them with a tunic top of some sort. There are tons of cute ones. Your fave chambray top could probably work, if it covers your butt. (Same goes for yoga pants, which I don't feel belong outside the house/gym either, despite how comfortable they are.)

Tank Top or T-shirt – Let’s face it, you’re probably pairing your pajama bottoms with one of these, so you won’t be falling out of your comfort zone. Choose a tank or tee that will work with the other stuff you’ve packed and it’ll serve you even better. A breathable fabric is always best. Columbia, REI and Lucy have great looking tops in fabrics that are great for active people (and hot airplanes) that wick moisture and resist odors. Try to avoid those shiny running tops or things that look like you’re on your way to the gym, because unless you plan on running laps in the airport (and people probably won’t take kindly to you doing so), just go for something normal looking.

Cardigan – Layering when you travel is really important. Sometimes the plane is sweltering and sometimes it’s freezing, so you need to be ready for anything. It’s also nice to have at your destination if it gets a bit chilly (you know when you go to a tropical location and then go inside and merchants and restaurants are blasting the a/c). It’s always good to have. Look for something versatile with your travel outfit and your travel wardrobe. Lightweight and slouchy ones are always a good bet.

Pashmina/large scarf – A pashmina is great for a lot of things: a sarong, a wrap, a makeshift beach/picnic blanket, an emergency towel, a tote bag, a pillow. That’s right. Throwing one around your neck or on top of your carry-on doesn’t seem so useless now, huh? It can give you an extra layer of warmth on a cold plane, too.

Ballet Flats – I’ve seen people wear their slippers to the airport. This freaks me out almost more than slept-in pajamas, because they are now getting outside dirt on their slippers that they also lounge on the bed and couch with, tracking grossness everywhere. I like to keep inside and outside dirt separate (we are not inside shoe-wearing people), and would rather wear shoes I can use on my trip on the plane and use that space in my carry-on for something more important. There are some spectacular ballet flats that are really comfy whether you’re wearing them on the plane or tromping all over your destination. They look good with pretty much everything, too. If you’re grossed out by taking off your shoes and standing in bare feet in the security line (I completely understand that squicky feeling), then get a pair of those no-show socks that are thin and are made specifically for flats.

There you have it. Come up with an outfit that works for you and lay it out a day or so before your trip, so it’s easy to throw on, grab your travel bag and go. No fuss, no thinking, so you can focus on other things, like making sure to turn off relevant lights and appliances, brushing your teeth, combing your hair and locking the door behind you. You’ll look presentable at the airport and won’t have to change when you reach your destination and want to go out and do stuff...unless you’re hitting the beach right away.

What are your favorite pieces to wear when you travel?