Posted on 16th Nov 2011 @ 12:57 PM

Traveling is the worst. "But wait!" you say. "Traveling is great. I love traveling." Hear us out: Being in a new place is great. The process of getting there? It’s about as comfortable as mailing yourself to your vacation home in a box.

Something about riding in planes, trains, and automobiles really takes it out of the body. Here, because we love you, we present five things that will make traveling more ergonomic and less painful.

1. Travel Pillow

Possibly the greatest comfort aid since the ergonomic chair, the travel pillow is designed to keep your head from falling to the side when you zonk out on the plane. This is truly one of those things that you appreciate most when you don't have it. Folks who have spent their vacation with their neck permanently bent to one side know what we're talking about.

2. Lap Desk

Want to be a disappointed traveler? Count on the seat-back table to actually fold down when you need it. If you're bringing a laptop along, bring one of these babies as well. It’s not as great ergonomically as sitting at a proper desk, with a keyboard tray and all the accoutrements of home, but it’s better than nothing.

3. IPad Stand

IPads and e-readers have made it easy to bring a library full of books and magazines with us wherever we go. However, they also encourage forward head posture, which eventually becomes a literal pain in the neck. IPad stands make this less likely.

4. Your Own Personal Cup Holder

There are never enough cup holders when you need them. (This might have something to do with our tendency to store loose change, toll plaza tickets, and orphaned buttons in the regular cup holder, but we digress.) Bring an extra cup holder and you never have to worry about being without.

5. Camera Strap

Most digital cameras come with dinky little wrist straps, which promptly break or get so knotted up that they become useless. Get a longer camera strap, and you won't wind up clutching your camera in your cramped up little T-Rex paw.