OPTP The Original McKenzie Self-Inflating AirBack Travel Lumbar Support

This a nice self inflating lumbar pillow. Every bit as nice as my thermarest for a much lower price. I am a side sleeper with chronic low back pain and I use this under my waist while sleeping, to support my spine. It is also great for travel. You can use it for lumbar support while traveling and it rolls up very small for stowing in suitcase or backpack.

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 will amend this review in the future. I give this 4 stars, maybe 3.5 stars. Ok guys...I am in the market for lumbar support because I suffered 2 lumbar vertebral fractures in a car accident a few months ago. My current new car has lumbar support built in, but it wasn't enough. So the question is, how much lumbar support do I need? There are **so many** lumbar supports out there. I figured I wanted a support that was 1) adjustable, and 2) portable. At the end of the day I don't really know what I wanted because there are 50-75 to choose from. But I was afraid of buying one that pushed me too far forward in a seat, or had too much support, or was too low or high. I do like this. But I don't think it's awesome. In fact, I'm not sure now that anything will be "awesome". The main problem is that the device uses air to give you support, but the air shifts around as you apply pressure to it. So even with very small adjustments you can feel the air move from the left to the right. It's not always even directly over my entire back. It took me some time to determine how much support I need, and I concluded that I need very little air. And the best way to adjust it is to unscrew the top while leaning back on it and letting a tiny bit of air out. Guys, this is a plastic bad that you can put air into it. It probably costs 1-2 dollars to make. Lumbar support probably shouldn't cost that much and the price here is low and appropriate. And I love the portability. And I love that I can adjust how much air goes into it. I'm just not sure it provides me the correct back support I need for my lumbar bones (L1 and L3.) I'll write an addendum in the next several months as I use it more.

I wasn’t sure about this but it really worked for me. I had 4 back surgeries last year and finally went on an airplane last weekend. It was very easy to use and supported my spine either horizontally or vertically, depending on my pain/support needs. Very light. The fact that you can inflate or deflate in 1-2 seconds to your softness or hardness preference was convenient and easy. Glad I bought this. It’s a well thought out product for ppl with spine issues.

Bought this at the last minute prior to a month long trip to New Zealand. HUGE help for low back on long and short leg flights, as well as drives. Self Inflates and to deflate it is simple. Rolls up flat and fits into one of the water bottle pockets on my travel backpack. Don’t think I would have survived the long flights without it due to chronic low back pain related to aging. Easy to adjust degree of inflation/support. A+++worth every penny! If in doubt watch the videos, that convinced me!

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 purchased this six months ago and have used it a dozen times on airplanes. I loved the way it compresses to fit into my cabin bag, how it inflated on its own to save me the mild embarrassment of blowing it up, and it always stayed inflated. Unfortunately it has developed a leak somewhere and now it inflates on its own and stays inflated no matter how much air I expel and no matter how tightly I screw on the cap. It expands in my cabin bag and makes the cabin bag difficult to access. Am going to try my luck with another brand.

Great for your back. I use it when traveling. Easy to roll up for putting in my suitcase.

Perfect because you can adjust it to your preference of inflation/ size . Perfect for travelling but also for bringing along in the car etc

Very comfortable, great product. Highly recommend it. Love it. And very good customer support too. Genuinely nothing bad to say about it, only good.

Excellent product while it lasted. Unfortunately, sprung a very slight leak and as a result......unusable. Perhaps this is a generic problem with all inflatable pillows, but I did expect superior quality from OPTP (Dr. McKenzie's book was instrumental in helping with my recovery in 2012; still going strong!)

Just what I needed. I leave fully inflated and roll down just before I fly. I’m assuming this will preserve its shape and self-inflation.

Very helpful for my back! A great support that goes with you anywhere! I use it mostly in the car. I expect to bring it on the plane too.