The Original McKenzie Self-Inflating AirBack Travel Lumbar Support Pillow

Earlier I wrote a glowing review of this product. I sincerely loved it. However, the product has changed and is no longer a product I like. Depending on how the company responds (I wrote to them directly), I will return one of two new airbags / pillows that I bought as it is NOT ACCEPTABLE. My earlier review is below the ***** line. The updated one follows immediately; it is from the comments I gave directly to the company. I recently bought two Original McKenzie self-inflating airbags. I did this as my wife regretfully left one in a public place and it was lost. I liked the first one I had so much that I wrote a glowing review on your website and also posted it to Amazon. To replace the lost one, I ordered two, to assure I'd have one in reserve in case another was lost. I like the earlier one that much. However, I am GREATLY DISAPPOINTED by the new ones. When I got them from Amazon, they were bulging, fully inflated. I thought that was odd but dismissed it. Then, I opened one and used it. When I was done, I did as I so often did with the first one I owned, rolling it up to fully deflate it, closing the valve, unrolling and flattening it, and putting it aside. When I returned a few hours later, I found it fully inflated again. I checked the valve. It was securely closed, yet it "leaked" to a full and bulging position. This is not good as I travel with it in a folder slot of my briefcase and now I believe it will inflate in my bag and make my bag appear stuffed. The earlier model _definitely_ did not do this. It would remain thin and flat for days. In addition, I fear that on airliners, which I often use, the airbag will inflate past where I want it when the airplane ascends and the cabin pressure rises. I valued the earlier version as it was a small, thinner back pillow. This worked well for my back and I don't need or want it to be so thickly inflated. Lastly, this airbag is finished differently. It feels more "plasticy" than the earlier model. I think it will cause sweating. Perhaps this is related to why it inflates all on its own. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! Depending on how you reply, I may seek to return (to Amazon) the one I never removed from it's plastic bag container. If I must do this, I will update my earlier review to state the new version of this once-valued airbag is no longer the quality of the earlier model. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS PRODUCT. I want the earlier version but suspect you no longer offer it. If you have any of those left, I would buy them but I am not happy with this newer model. ******************************************** After a serious back injury some years ago, I have tried many back pillows, to give lumbar support in the majority of chairs that have lousy (even awful, or no) lumbar support. Some pillows have been good, specifically the sort you use at home that retain their shape. I also like the mesh ones you can buy inexpensively. However, these don't transport well -- either on airplanes or to your local restaurant. So, I've also tried several air-inflating pillows. Most sprung a leak and became useless, though I have one I like that I've only had to replace once. However, the best yet, especially for travel, is the Original McKenzie® Self-Inflating AirBack™ Lumbar Support. This is the best I've found for a few reasons -- (1) It is small and discreet, when you may not want to advertise your back weakness; (2) It lasts well. I only had to replace it when my wife left mine somewhere after borrowing it and someone else evidently decided they liked it, too; (3) It is fairly thin. I do not need a thick pillow and the air-inflated ones I've used I only filled partially; (4) It rolls up small when evacuating the air though I usually then flatten it out and carry it in a briefcase; and, (5) You do not have to blow into it, which is part of it being discreet. Oh, one more thing: It doesn't make noise when evacuating the air out of it. No wonder, then, that I bought two when I had to replace the one my wife lost. I got mine from Amazon, for $18.95, which is a little bit less than from OPTP.com direct. It's a great product and I heartily recommend it.

I keep this pillow in my work backpack for when I need to leave my office to other sites and there is no chairs with lumbar support. I can use it for my back or underneath my thighs when sitting on hard chairs with no support. The one issue I do have is that when in deflated mode, it still fills up and inflates. It takes up more space than I would like in the backpack with my laptop, but it's so lightweight that it is not much of an inconvenience. If anything, it does add more cushion between my back and the laptop in the backpack.

I read reviews on approximately 40 different lumbar supports one could buy as research for a transatlantic flight and a cross-country road trip we were planning. I bought about 8 to try. (Obusforme, inflatable air cushions for plane seats, mesh forms, memory foam, gel, rolls...) This one was the winner a year ago and continues to be the best lumbar support I've ever used. I wish there was a way to cover it with a non-slippy material, but I find ways to keep it in place wherever. I use it under a beaded car seat and it stays put. I like that I can adjust it if my needs change. Its easy to inflate (in fact I often have to screw the valve to let some air out b/c it's self-inflating...) Best on airplane, best in car, best at office. I am ordering 3 more, for passenger seat, office and my mom. Very well constructed. Made to last. Worth every penny.

Provides firm lumbar support. Inflates from 1/4” to 1-1/4”. If you blow in to the top of the knob, you can get it to expand to 2”. Works well in a variety of chair. Can’t review for use in car as I preferred the heat in the seat…so 4/5

Average quality

I purchased this product one month ago and it works better than I expected. The adjustable hardness for back support is the main factor I like it. It is very light and easy to carry and you can easily move it to anywhere your body wants to get support. I had 'The Original McKenzie Super Roll' for about one year before I purchase this Airback product. That old lumbar support Roll worked well but was not easy to carry. I found myself needed both in office and in car so I decided to buy another one for my car. I did some research and found this one might fit my need. It looks just like a foamed envelope when I first got it and it didn't looks like it will give any support to my body. I open the air cap and it start to inflating and become ~ 1 inch in thickness. I was a little bit disappointed since it really not the self-inflating that I thought, it just some air gets in to the vacuumed bag and it is soft. I read the instruction and realized I need to blow some air in by mouth. I did that and inflating it more and it became harder. I adjust the hardness that I want and put it on my car seat. It support my low back exactly that I want and I'm very happy with it since. In my opinion this is a great product for those suffer back pain and especially for those need a support in car and travel.

The first one I purchased was great. It lasted for about a year before the valve stopped working and it quit holding air. No big deal, I totally understand that the pillow isn’t going to last forever. And I really got a lot of use out of it. But then I ordered another one back in August and it was total garage, would not hold air, and it was unusable. I did contact the company directly and they sent me a replacement, free of charge. However, the replacement pillow had the exact same issue, it would not hold air and quickly deflated within a couple minutes of inflation. I threw it in the trash and felt like I was totally ripped off by this company. I understand they should get some type of “bonus points” for sending me the free replacement. But at the end of the day, you can keep sending me a defective product, time and again, and if none of them work then you most certainly ripped me off. I had mixed feelings about writing a negative review. I don’t like to bash anyone’s business. But after careful consideration, I want to WARN other would-be consumers DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!!! You are literally throwing your money in the trash can.

I ruptured a disc last spring and have difficulty sitting in a car, whether riding along or driving. In fact, most chairs give me problems. Before we flew to Hawaii, I decided to invest in an inflatable back cushion that I could drag around with me but which wouldn't take up much space when not in use. I landed on this product and have found it extremely helpful in managing pain levels while sitting. At first I didn't realize it self-inflated, so I blew it up (so to speak) and decided it was pretty good that way. Then I realized it was self-inflating, and although I was doubtful it inflated enough on its own, I gave it a try. Turns out it's even more comfortable when it's inflated only as far as it goes on its own. The pros: very helpful with lumbar support, not very expensive, easy to take places. The cons: after a couple of months of use, I noticed that I need to let it inflate itself again every hour or two. However, given the value of the product, I think this is a minor complaint. I just ordered another so that I have a spare to take with me on long trips, in case I manage to forget one.