Travel Tuesday: Comfrt Inflate Zip Hoodie Review – Better Than Airplane Mode?

Not long ago, Instagram convinced me to purchase a Comfrt Airplane Mode Travel Zip Hoodie. With hidden pockets and a built-in eye shade, it sounded like either a clever travel accessory or an incredibly gimmicky sweatshirt. As it turned out, it was a little bit of both — but I ultimately enjoyed using it.

Then, just a few weeks later, I received a text from Comfrt introducing an even more elaborate option: the Inflate Zip Hoodie. This model takes the Airplane Mode concept a step further by adding two inflatable pillows directly into the sweatshirt.

Needless to say, I bought one. And, after ordering the hoodie, I took it with me on yet another transcontinental trip to see how it performed in the real world.

So, how do the inflatable pillows work, how does this version compare with the regular Airplane Mode hoodie, and is it actually worth buying? Let’s get into the details and my first-hand experience.

What to Know About the Comfrt Inflate Zip Hoodie

The Price

At the time of writing, Comfrt lists the Inflate Zip Hoodie for $69. Of note, the product page also declares it as a final-sale item that is ineligible for a return or exchange. I have to imagine that this is because inflating it requires putting your mouth on part of the product… so, yeah, I wouldn’t want to deal with returns for that either.

Despite that $69 retail price, I managed to get a much better overall deal. First, I added a matching pair of sweatpants to my order, which unlocked a bundle discount and pushed the purchase above Comfrt’s free-shipping threshold. That might sound as though I fell for their trap and ended up spending more. Well, after leaving the items in my cart for a couple of days, the company sent me an additional 15% discount code that stacked with the bundle savings.

With that little bit of patience paying off, after taxes, my total came to $73.82 for the Inflate Zip Hoodie and a pair of sweatpants. Also, while that total would be back below the free shipping threshold, Comfrt thankfully let it hold. So, in essence, I got the hoodie and pants for the price of the top itself. I’ll take it!

I selected the Blackberry color for both items, which I’ve been quite happy with. While I don’t plan on wearing the full matching set on a flight, I’ll note that the sweatpants are nice and warm and should get plenty of use around the house. Full disclosure: I’m actually wearing them as I write this.

All of that is to say that, if you can unlock a similar bundle or promotional deal, I think the Inflate Hoodie becomes a much more compelling purchase.

The Inflatable Pillows

The headline feature of the Comfrt Inflate Zip Hoodie is, of course, its pair of removable inflatable pillows. One is located around the neck inside the hood, while the other sits against your lower back to provide lumbar support.

Each pillow has an attached tube with a twistable mouthpiece. To inflate it, you open the compartment containing the tube, twist the mouthpiece open, blow into it, and twist it closed again. When you’re ready to deflate the pillow, you reopen the valve and press down to release the air.

To the Inflate’s credit, the tubes aren’t nearly as noticeable when stored as I initially imagined they would be, meaning that I don’t even feel them when I’m just sitting or lying down with the hoodie on. That said, I still felt pretty awkward pulling one out and blowing into it while sitting on an airplane. Perhaps I was overthinking it, but there’s no getting around the fact that it looks a little ridiculous. Luckily for me, I boarded before my seatmates, so I had a couple of minutes to get puffed up before they arrived. Also, deflating was at least a bit more discreet.

Of the two pillows, I’ve come to appreciate the lumbar cushion the most. On a long flight, having some extra support for my back was a welcome addition. I’d just be sure not to fill it too much, and also keep in mind that it may feel a bit different at altitude than on the ground.

The neck cushion was fine as well, but I don’t think it fully replaces a traditional travel pillow. That’s mostly because it doesn’t quite wrap around your neck as tightly as another pillow would. Still, it’s convenient to have something built into the hoodie rather than needing to carry another item through the airport.

Both pillows can be removed — which you’ll also need to do before washing the sweatshirt. I was initially worried that getting them back into place would prove difficult, but the process turned out to be easier than I expected. Basically, I just slid it in as far as I could and then inflated it a bit to make sure it was fully in place. Meanwhile, if you want to travel without these built-in pillows, I’m glad to know that that’s an option.

The Eye Shade

Like the regular Airplane Mode hoodie, the Inflate model includes a built-in contoured eye shade. When I reviewed the original hoodie, I was pleasantly surprised by how well this feature worked. Rather than hanging loosely over my face, the shade felt snug without being uncomfortable and did a good job of blocking out light.

That continues to be the case with the Inflate model. Admittedly, the fact that I had just spent the night in the Atlanta airport probably helped, but I slept surprisingly well on my flight home — and the eye shade deserves at least some of the credit for that.

Other Features

The Inflate Zip Hoodie also has a few useful upgrades over my previous Comfrt hoodie. For one, the sleeves on this model have thumb holes. This happens to be one of my wife’s absolute favorite features on a jacket, and I have to admit that I enjoy it a lot too. That means this addition gets a big thumbs up from me — and yes, I intended that pun.

Another major adjustment is that the main front pockets now have zippers. The Airplane Mode hoodie has smaller hidden zippered pockets near the sides, which I found useful for storing my AirPods and other small items. However, I wished that the larger front pockets could also be secured. Well, that’s exactly what Comfrt has done with the Inflate — partially because the side pocket is occupied by the lumbar pillow’s tube. Regardless of the reason why, I think this change makes it easier to access my belongings without worrying about them falling out.

The Fit and Sizing

One thing I learned from buying my first Comfrt hoodie was that the brand takes the word “oversized” seriously. I normally wear a small, so that’s what I ordered for my Airplane Mode hoodie. Although it technically fit, it was fairly baggy in certain areas and I found that the zipper came higher up my neck than I would have preferred.

Since Comfrt describes the Inflate Zip Hoodie’s cut as a “Mega” fit — meaning it’s even roomier than Oversized — I decided to size down to an extra small this time. For me, that turned out to be the right call. The arms and chest still fit comfortably, while the zipper issue I experienced with the other hoodie was no longer a problem.

Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone should automatically order a size smaller. Instead, I’d recommend checking the measurement chart and considering what type of fit you’re looking for.

Even in a smaller size, the Inflate Zip Hoodie is exceptionally heavy and bulky for a sweatshirt. I’m still surprised by its weight whenever I pick it up — and was shocked how much heavier it feels compared to the Airplane Mode Hoodie even! The good news is that I don’t notice the heft nearly as much once I’m actually wearing it.

For both legs of my trip, I packed the hoodie in my suitcase (it barely fit) until I cleared airport security. Maybe there’s no reason to think the inflatable tubes on my person would raise questions at TSA, but I didn’t feel like finding out. Also, it was summertime, so I didn’t really need to be wearing a thick, warm hoodie outside.

I’ll admit that, between my hesitation to pull the tube out on the plane and worry about wearing it through TSA, I am being a bit ridiculous. Then again, this hoodie is kind of ridiculous itself.

My Hands-On Experience With the Comfrt Inflate Zip Hoodie

On my trip, the Inflate Zip Hoodie did largely what it promised. The eye shade once again proved surprisingly effective, and the inflatable lumbar pillow made sitting on a long flight a little more comfortable. Although the neck cushion didn’t eliminate my desire for a standalone travel pillow, I appreciated having the option available without needing to pack another accessory. Again, all of these elements also came in handy for my overnight stay at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

At the same time, inflating either pillow in front of a plane full of people is not the most dignified experience. I realize that most passengers probably weren’t paying any attention to me, but pulling a tube from my sweatshirt and blowing into it still felt embarrassing at best and suspect at worst. I guess it could be a conversation starter, though!

I also need to again highlight the bulk and weight of this hoodie. Even with the pillow removed, it’s got heft. Depending on your packing habits, it may take up more luggage space than you expect. For that reason, I’d advise planning on wearing it on all legs of your trip so that you don’t have to worry about shoving it into a carry on.

Final Thoughts on the Comfrt Inflate Zip Hoodie

Overall, the Comfrt Inflate Zip Hoodie is gimmicky, extremely bulky, and a little embarrassing to inflate in public. Nevertheless, I actually prefer it to the regular Airplane Mode Travel Zip Hoodie.

That’s only partly because of the added lumbar and neck support. It’s more so due to the less headline-grabbing updates: the zippered front pockets and thumb hole sleeves. Truth be told, these improvements matter more to me in everyday travel than the inflatable pillows themselves. And they may just help turn this Inflate Zip Hoodie into my new standard flight outfit selection (probably with the pillows removed for shorter journeys). So, given the choice between the two, I’d select the Inflate.

To be clear, this isn’t a product I’d recommend to everyone. It’s heavy, runs large, and requires you to embrace a certain amount of absurdity. Plus, this model’s final-sale policy makes checking the size chart particularly important. But if you can find a good promotion and prioritize comfort over looking a little silly, the Comfrt Inflate Zip Hoodie may actually be a worthwhile travel accessory.