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The 10 Best Travel Pillows of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Sleep and relax comfortably on the go with these top travel pillows

In This Article

Jump to a Section

• Our top picks
• Others We Liked

Our Testing Process

• Tips for Buying
• Why Trust T+L

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Travel + Leisure

Sitting upright for hours on end can be incredibly uncomfortable, but a travel pillow can make your trip a lot more tolerable. Whether embarking on a red-eye flight or taking the train, the best travel pillows will be comfy, supportive, and portable. 

We tested 24 travel pillows based on traits like comfort, durability, portability, and quality. We narrowed down the best options while using the accessory for road trips, long-haul flights, and train rides. Our top pick for the best travel pillow overall is Cabeau The Neck's Evolution S3. We love that this pillow folded down into its own, compact carrying case and comes with a washable cover to keep it fresh between trips. We also found the best pillow choices for travelers who like a softer or firmer pillow along with styles that are perfect for middle seats and budget-conscious travelers, too. 

Best Overall

Cabeau tne s3 travel pillow.

• Comfort 4.5 /5
• Quality 4.8 /5
• Portability 5 /5
• Durability 5 /5

The seat strap system keeps the pillow in place and prevents painful neck cramps.

It can feel stiff at first and takes some getting used to.

This soft and supportive travel pillow is the perfect accessory for long trips, whether you're in the car or in the air. The pillow itself can attach to any headrest with adjustable straps to prevent your head from sagging or falling into uncomfortable positions while sleeping. There's also an adjustable chin strap for added comfort and security. The pillow's exterior fabric is soft and cozy, yet breathable so you don't feel too hot or constricted although it can take some time to find your perfect position.

We also love that the pillow case is machine washable. We tested this pillow on a long international trip where it really got tossed around on planes, trains, and buses, so it felt great to wash the cover at the end of the trip, making it good as new. Despite its fairly large size, the pillow is also quite portable as it rolls up into a compact carrying case that can attach to a bag's exterior or slip into larger backpacks and totes.

The Details:  Polyester, microsuede, foam   | Portable case | Machine washable

Best Overall, Runner-up

Cushion lab ergonomic travel neck pillow.

• Comfort 4 /5
• Quality 5 /5

The pillow has an asymmetrical design that allows travelers to adjust the amount of support needed.

It can have a snug fit.

The Cushion Lab Ergonomic Travel Neck Pillow can make your trip much more comfortable, whether in the middle seat of a plane or a car. With an ergonomic design, one side of the pillow is larger than the other to support the chin if your head tilts while sleeping, and the back has a cushion that is contoured to keep the head in an upright position. During testing, the neck pillow provided a comfortable rest for the chin, and we didn’t feel too hot while wearing it. Although the cushion fits snugly around the neck, it didn’t take long to get used to it, and we could nap comfortably during a train and car ride. The buckled strap was easy to adjust, and we liked having the ability to spin the pillow around to use the asymmetrical sides and back to find the most comfortable position for sleeping in the window and middle seats. With a soft, recycled polyester exterior and Cushion Lab’s extra-dense memory foam, the quality of the travel pillow is luxurious and sturdy, and it folds into a small ball to fit inside a carrying bag that can clip onto a backpack or a suitcase.

The Details:  Polyester, Hyperfoam   | Portable case | Machine washable

Travel + Leisure / Alessandra Amodio

Best Budget

Cloudz microbead travel neck pillow.

• Comfort 5 /5
• Quality 4 /5

It molds to the shape of your neck to prevent bobbing.

The cover can't be removed and washed.

The Cloudz Microbead Travel Neck Pillow is a no-frills option that offers generous neck support for a budget-friendly price. It is filled with tiny microbeads that quickly mold to the shape of your neck and prevent your head from bobbing around while sleeping. We appreciated its lightweight but sturdy feel, and that there were no signs of damage after using the neck pillow or when clipping it onto a suitcase to transport. Although the cover can’t be removed, we noted that the fabric is easy to touch up with instructions to spot clean the surface as necessary. Cozy and breathable, the travel pillow did a solid job of regulating temperature and keeping the neck warm during cold flights and cool during hot flights.

The Details: Polyester, microbeads | No portable case | Machine washable

Best Splurge

Ostrich pillow go neck pillow.

The pillow has an asymmetrical design that can accommodate neck, chin, and head support preferences.

It might warm your neck if you run hot while sleeping.

The Ostrich Pillow Go Neck Pillow feels like sleeping on a cloud. This travel pillow provided the perfect amount of neck support and comfort, allowing us to get more rest on a flight than usual. The plush memory foam filling and asymmetric design can be easily adjusted to support the neck, chin, or head with the taller or shorter sides. The materials appear high-quality and luxurious, and it rolls up to fit in a compact drawstring sack. The pillow holds its shape despite being in the bag for long periods, which leads us to believe that it will hold up well with prolonged use. The pillow cover is removable and can be machine washed, but we air dried it to ensure it didn’t shrink (and had no issues putting it back on the pillow). A must-have for those with higher budgets, this pillow allowed for better sleep and more comfort on flights.

The Details: Viscosa, memory foam | Portable case | Machine washable

Travel + Leisure / Susan Brickell

Best Cooling

Cabeau evolution cool pillow.

• Quality 4.5 /5

The mesh air vents make the pillow breathable. 

It’s made of firm memory foam.

The Cabeau Evolution Cool Pillow is a great pick for travelers that get warm quickly. The pillow is designed to prevent heat from building up as you wear it as mesh vents in between two layers of cushiony memory foam filter in the air. We liked the breathability feature and moisture-wicking fabric, and said we didn’t feel overheated while using it on an airplane or road trip. While it took a moment to get situated, once the pillow was in the most comfortable position, it was extremely supportive and firm without feeling too hard. We especially liked the portability of the already lightweight pillow (thanks to its durable-feeling carrying case), and the mesh pocket for storing small accessories. This pillow quickly unfolds to its original shape despite being rolled up and going in and out of the compact case as well.

The Details: Memory foam | Portable case | Machine washable

Best Sustainable

Therm-a-rest compressible pillow.

• Portability 4 /5

It’s made of recycled and upcycled materials that are comfortable and breathable.

It doesn’t offer neck support like a regular travel pillow.

If you’re not a fan of the typical U-shaped travel pillow, the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow is a great alternative. It resembles the rectangular style of a traditional pillow, and it compresses down to be easily transported whether you’re flying or camping. The recycled polyester fabric is light and breathable, and the foam filling — made from extra polyurethane foam left over after producing REI’s sleeping pads — provides a soft cushion for your head. We also loved how durable it is, especially for various uses like camping, flying, or taking a nap at home. While the pillow doesn’t come with a carrying bag, it has a toggle strap to compress it into a smaller size and a built-in cover that you fold the pillow into for protection while traveling.

The Details: Recycled polyester, polyurethane foam fill | No portable case | Machine washable

Best for Window Seats

J-pillow chin-supporting neck pillow.

It’s easy and intuitive to use for resting your chin and head.

It could be more supportive when you’re leaning against a window.

The J-Pillow Chin-supporting Neck Pillow has a J-shape that wraps around the neck to support the chin and the front, back, and one side of the head. Despite the different design than a typical U-shaped travel pillow, it is easy to use and fits securely while sleeping or resting during travels. The pillow comes with a compact case that can be attached to a piece of luggage to make traveling with it effortless. After being folded up in the carrying case for some time, the J-shape didn’t falter, and remained supportive and soft. We think the J-Pillow is ideal for any type of traveler since it's very portable and lightweight.

The Details: Polyester, memory foam | Portable case | Machine washable

Travel + Leisure / Jennifer May

Aeris Memory Foam Travel Pillow

• Durability 4.5 /5

It’s supportive without feeling too stiff. 

This would be best for travelers who know they prefer a firm travel pillow.

We love the comfortable and supportive Aeris Memory Foam Travel Pillow for travelers that like a firmer neck pillow. The buckle strap adjusts accordingly to fit around your neck, and offers 360-degree support on the chin, jaw, and back. We loved how you can lean back in the car or plane, and the back of the neck doesn't fall backward. In addition to having exceptional support, the Aeris travel pillow folds into a small ball and easily fits into the circular carrying case that can clip onto a backpack or suitcase without being a noticeable nuisance. The holder also has a frontal slip pocket for storing the earplugs and eye mask that are included with the travel pillow. After a trip, the carrying case can be unzipped and machine washed, although we recommend air drying it to prevent any possibility of shrinkage.

The Details: Velour, polyester, memory foam | Portable case | Machine washable

Travel + Leisure / Anna Popp

Best Side Support

Cabeau evolution s3 travel pillow.

• Durability 4 /5

This pillow is soft and durable.

The suede-like outer material has a tendency to pick up lint.

This travel pillow was designed to keep your head and neck supported for even the longest of flights. Not only is the semicircular pillow adjustable, so you can get the shape perfect for you, it also features and adjustable seat strap to prevent your head from dropping while you rest. Right out of the box, we loved the high-quality of the memory foam, which makes it supportive and soft, and the cover material feels great against the skin. It gives users a great balance of softness and support. To keep your pillow protected and prevent any risk that it will end up getting dragged across the airport floor, this also comes with a compact carrying case that compresses down to fit into carry-on luggage.

The Details: Polyester, microsuede, memory foam | Portable case | Machine- washable

Travel + Leisure / Erin Johnson

Gingerlily Silk Travel Pillow

• Portability 3 /5
• Value 3.5 /5

To protect your hair and skin throughout your travels, a silk pillow is the way to go.

It's 12 x 16 inches, so make sure you have plenty of room to pack it.

For those who love sleeping on silk pillowcases at home, this mini version for travel is an absolute must. Yes, it can be pricey to buy silk travel accessories , but it's also expensive to ruin a blowout and have to find a salon on vacation (and there's no price to be put on fresh, clean skin). This silk pillow is smaller than a standard pillow at 12 inches wide and 16 inches long, but can still be used in bed in a pinch and is perfect for trains, planes, and cars — just make sure you have the space in your carry-on bag. After using this pillow for multiple long trips, it shows no signs of loose stitches, fraying, or pilling. Rather, the pillow feels like it will last without ever going limp or flat.

The Details: Mulberry silk, cotton sateen, polyester

Travel + Leisure / Morgan Ashley Parker

TripSavvy / Morgan Ashley Parker

Other Travel Pillows We Liked

While we were able to narrow down the travel pillows for our best list, there were some that almost made the cut but didn’t due to a few weaknesses noted by our testers. 

Hest Pillow : This standard pillow is on the softer side yet still provides support and comfort while laying on it, but the fabric is slightly itchy, and it’s bulky to carry around, even when compressed.

Gingerlily Silk Travel Neck Pillow : We love that this pillow is high-quality and made with luxurious material, but it doesn't come with a carrying case, which we think you would need to keep this pillow protected.

Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Neck Pillow : While the memory foam is the perfect balance of firm and soft, we found this pillow to be just a bit too bulky for frequent travel.

Travel + Leisure / Daniela Galvez

We sent out 24 travel pillows to our testing experts to use during their upcoming trips. To thoughtfully curate this list, we researched popular options to fit a variety of comfort preferences, including pillows made of memory foam and microbeads, and tested different shapes, too. 

On a scale of one to five, our testers rated the pillows based on comfort, quality, durability, and portability. The pillows with the best comfort scores met or exceeded our expectations for special features, including cooling, firmness, softness, or other claims by the manufacturer. Our testers used the pillows for several hours at a time, if not longer, to see how comfy they were while sleeping, reading, or watching a movie while traveling. We asked our testers to note if they were able to sleep with the pillow on, if it caused any neck pain or discomfort, and how warm or cool the pillow felt around the neck. To check for quality and durability, our testers examined the build of the pillow to feel how well-made it appeared. After using the pillows during trips, they judged durability based on their functionality after several uses. The pillows with the highest score for portability were able to compress down into carrying bags that allow travelers to transport the pillow with exceptional ease. The best pillows also kept their shape after being tucked away into a case and always sprang back into their original form with no signs of damage. 

Tips for Buying a Travel Pillow

Prioritize neck support.

When it comes to sleeping in planes, trains, or cars, you should focus on your neck and head support. When your head drops during sleep, it restricts your breathing and can leave you with a sore neck or even a headache. Your travel pillow should be supportive enough that your neck stays securely upright without feeling as though you're being squeezed.

Portability is key 

Whether you pack light or over-pack, a travel pillow that compacts into a small carrying case is ideal for bringing along on trips. Of course, some travel pillows don’t compress, but they should still be easy to clip onto a suitcase and not bump into too many things if you’re traversing an airport or train station.  

Consider the filling material 

Travelers who like a more firm pillow should opt for a memory foam filling that can offer more support than an inflatable alternative. Microbead pillows can be just as supportive as memory foam ones, but they tend to be on the softer side and more suited to travelers that like a little less structure while sleeping. 

Generally, washing instructions will be included with the purchase of a travel pillow or on its tag. Removable covers can usually go through a machine wash, but many of our testers opted to air dry the cover to prevent any shrinkage that could happen in a dryer. If a pillow doesn’t have a removable cover, you can spot clean the pillow by using a wet cloth or rag dipped into soapy water.

Most standard travel pillows have a semicircular shape that wraps around the neck to support the neck, head, and chin. These U-shaped pillows often have memory foam or microbead filling, but there are also inflatable neck pillows. In addition, standard pillows make great travel pillows, and plenty of rectangular-styled pillows compress down for better portability. Finally, while traditional pillows might be better suited for a traveler in the window seat, there are unique J-shaped travel pillows that are perfect for supporting the neck and head of someone sitting in the middle or aisle seat.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Anna Popp is a Commerce Writer at Travel + Leisure , where she writes and reviews travel products. She has been travel writing since 2018 and product testing since 2021. Anna participated in this real-world product test and worked with travel editors to determine the results for the best travel pillows based on a series of tests completed during trips taken by plane, car, and train this summer.

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The Best Travel Pillow

By Sabrina Imbler

Short of scoring a row of empty seats—dream on!—your best bet for getting at least a little sleep while flying is a travel pillow.

After asking 10 panelists to try on eight travel pillows and after taking four cross-country red-eyes in window, aisle, and middle seats, we think the comfortable and easy-to-pack  Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow is the best travel pillow for most people.

Everything we recommend

Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow

The best travel pillow.

Its tall memory-foam walls let it offer more support than any other pillow we tested. It’s also shaped to sit flush against a headrest, and it compresses to a manageable size.

Buying Options

Cabeau Evolution Classic Pillow

A travel pillow available at airports.

This memory-foam neck-support pillow is highly adjustable, but without a contoured back, it can’t quite sit flush with the headrest. It’s available at many airport stores, though.

Trtl Pillow

A pillow for one-sided neck support only.

It’s a fleece scarf with a built-in plastic brace—like a one-sided neck brace, but softer and cozier. However, it’s not so great if you tend to shift position while you sleep, and it costs more than the other pillows we recommend.

Bcozzy Pillow

Great with large headphones.

Featuring an adjustable design that accommodates over-the-ear headphones, the Bcozzy is an excellent chin-support pillow for people who nod forward as they sleep.

The uniquely angled back on the Travelrest Ultimate sets it apart from other travel pillows because it can lay flat against the seat back. Most other pillows have a rounded back, which pushes your head away from the headrest. The Travelrest also has rubber grip dots to prevent slipping while sleeping. This pillow’s spongy memory foam cushions the entire circumference of your neck, preventing your head from leaning far in any direction, and its adjustable Velcro strap ensures it can fit most necks. The pillow’s cozy velour exterior is removable and machine-washable. Although it doesn’t pack flat, the Travelrest weighs less than a pound and compresses to a quarter of its size when rolled into its Velcro-strapped carrying case.

Our only complaint is that the Travelrest’s high walls, while supportive, can push over-ear headphones off of the ears of people with shorter necks. While the memory foam feels plush, it’s also quite firm; this offers excellent support, but not much give. It also doesn’t let you adjust the fit, like our two wrappable picks: the Turtl and the BCozzy . If the Travelrest fits your neck, it’s an excellent pillow. If your neck is much longer or shorter than this pillow’s 5-inch wall, though, you might prefer the fit of one of our other pillow picks.

If our top pick sells out, or if you find yourself pillowless past security, the Cabeau Evolution Classic Pillow is almost as good a pillow. It lacks the Travelrest’s angled, lay-flat back, but its U-shape, contoured memory-foam core and machine-washable velour cover still provide comparable levels of comfort. Its adjustable string closure also means that you can fit the pillow much tighter around your neck than you can with the Travelrest, making it a good choice for people with smaller necks or people who prefer a more constricted fit. Additionally, it’s the only one of our picks that we’ve regularly seen in stores located behind the security checkpoint at many airports.

If you typically lean to the same side while sleeping, the Trtl Pillow’s fleece-covered plastic frame provides unshakeable support to one side of your neck while remaining comfortable to wear. It’s basically a one-sided neck brace. The pillow’s cozy wraparound fleece will also keep your neck warm, making it a good choice for anyone who gets cold while flying (and a poor choice for those who sleep hot). But the Trtl’s winning quality is its tiny, packable size. Unlike any of our other picks, the Trtl does not need to be compressed or stuffed into a carrying case. It will always take up about as much space as a PB&J sandwich. (It costs a lot more than one, though.)

The Bcozzy , a variation on the hemi-doughnut theme, is our pick for anyone who wears large over-the-ear headphones on a flight or tends to nod forward while they sleep. The pillow’s overlapping ends form a snug cushion that holds your chin in place far better than do the Trtl’s plastic frame or the Travelrest and Cabeau’s chin-facing gap. While the pillow does not provide great support to either side of your neck, if paired with a large pair of headphones, the Bcozzy holds a head in place perfectly. While not as compressible as our other picks, the pillow has a small loop that can be clipped to the outside of most bags so it doesn’t have to take up space inside your bag.

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked our best travel pillow finalists, how we tested travel pillows, our pick for the best travel pillow: travelrest nest ultimate memory foam travel pillow, runner-up for the best travel pillow: cabeau evolution classic pillow, also great for portability: trtl pillow, also-great chin-support pillow for forward-nodders: bcozzy pillow, other good travel pillows, the competition.

I am a frequent flyer who often takes red-eyes from coast to coast—I now live in Brooklyn but fly home to San Francisco to visit my parents. I’m also an insomniac, so falling asleep on planes has never been easy for me. While writing this article, I tested eight travel pillows on two five-hour flights and slept with our four picks on two more cross-country flights. I also spoke with Rebecca Robbins, a postdoctoral fellow at the NYU Center for Healthful Behavior Change at the time of the interview, to see what she looks for in a travel pillow.

In addition, my Wirecutter colleagues as a whole are an exceptionally mobile group. We’ve worked remotely from every continent except Antarctica, so I asked some folks on staff which pillows they like and use regularly. (They’ve also since contributed some additional testing.)

Boarding a red-eye without a travel pillow in your bag is like choosing to sleep on the floor when there’s a perfectly good futon nearby. Sure, it’s no bed, but it’s a hell of a lot better than hardwood. In an interview she did in 2017 with The Atlantic reporter Kelly Conaboy, Dr. Mary O’Connor, then the director of Yale’s Center for Musculoskeletal Care, said that despite a lack of clinical studies that support the efficacy of travel pillows, “Many of us who travel have experienced falling asleep with our neck in a weird position and it bothering us thereafter. So, I think they can be helpful, but that depends on how they’re used and whether they support the neck.” In other words, using a supportive pillow may decrease the chances you wake up with an unwanted crick. It certainly has in our experience.

However, not all travel pillows are the same, and if you also happen to have a zealous hatred of your travel pillow, you probably have a bad one. So even if you have a generic pillow you picked up at some airport a few years ago, consider upgrading to one of our picks. And of course, these pillows work well on buses and trains, too.

So how can you tell if a pillow is likely to actually support your head? Rebecca Robbins, a postdoctoral fellow studying sleep at the time of our interview, says the best travel pillows will keep your head elevated and in alignment with your spine: “Look for something that would really be supportive. My one gripe with most travel pillows is that they’re too soft and not too full—you want something that will be supportive as you try to get comfortable in your limited space.” Robbins also recommends finding a pillow that can keep you cozy but not too hot, as she says it’s easier to sleep with a lower body temperature.

Robbins does her best to avoid one common travel situation. “My number one sleep tip is to not take a red-eye if you can avoid it,” she said. “If the flight is five hours, you’re going to only have three hours of true rest, because all the announcements—‘lower your window,’ ‘raise your window.’ Those can be significant distractions.”

We also looked at existing editorial reviews for guidance. Ethan Green , founder of the sleep resource blog No Sleepless Nights, compiled an extensive comparative review of popular travel pillows that we found helpful when deciding what models to test.

For people who want a travel pillow that will ease some of the discomfort of sleeping upright on a bumpy plane ride, we’ve identified the following key features:

• Comfort and support: The pillow should offer ample support for the weight of your neck and head but not restrict your movements or feel too tight.
• Portable (but not inflatable): You don’t want your travel pillow to take up so much space in your carry-on that you can’t bring other things you need, so it should compress to a smaller size. Barring that, there should at least be a way to clip it to the outside of your bag or luggage. Inflatable pillows are easy to pack but should be avoided. They inevitably spring a leak, often sooner rather than later.
• Soft: The material should feel plush against your skin but not trap so much heat that it’s uncomfortable to wear.
• Universal fit (or as close as possible): The pillow should allow space for people to sleep with a ponytail or accommodate bigger hair, as well as a whole variety of head shapes and sizes and neck lengths.
• Sleeping styles: It should also accommodate people who move their head in any direction while they sleep. It should also work in a window, a middle, or an aisle seat.
• Speed of compression/decompression: In case you need to quickly stow your pillow before exiting the plane, or if you want to catch some shut-eye in a moment’s notice, it shouldn’t take too long to stuff the pillow into its carrying case or unfold it to full size.
• Weight: Ideally, the pillow shouldn’t add undue burden to your carry-on. While inflatable pillows will always be the lightest option, memory-foam pillows don’t weigh much more and can offer significantly more comfort.
• Grip/traction: Your head will likely move around a bit while sleeping on a plane, especially if there’s turbulence. So any kind of grip or traction around the bottom of the pillow will help it stay in place and keep you snoozing.
• Machine washable: As you might expect from a vessel that ferries hundreds of people back and forth across the sky on a daily basis, planes can be filthy. So you’ll want to be able to wash the whole pillow—or at least its cover—before you take it on your next trip.

We researched more than 40 travel pillows—which ranged from variations on a hemi-doughnut to inscrutable crowdfunded designs—and after comparing hundreds of glowing and enraged Amazon reviews, we decided to test eight. We asked a panel of 10 people to try each of the pillows in a chair pushed against the wall of a conference room (the closest we could come to airline conditions in our office) and surveyed them on the fit, comfort, and support of each pillow. The panelists all had a variety of neck lengths and jaw sizes, and one even had a substantial beard. We also ran all of the pillows or their detachable pillowcases through a washing machine as instructed to see how well each stood up to a spin cycle and tumble dry.

And because simulations are rarely enough, I brought eight travel pillows on two cross-country flights to see how the pillows felt in the specific back design of an airplane seat. As I was lucky enough to have unnecessarily kind and understanding neighbors (thank you, Mike and Deborah!), I wore each of these pillows in a window, a middle, and an aisle seat to see if they felt comfortable in each configuration. I also tried on Deborah’s Muji travel pillow (as she offered), but determined it had much less support than our picks. I also carried all of our picks on two more cross-country flights on a different airline to ensure the pillows did just as well in different seat designs.

The Travelrest Ultimate remains our top pick after several years because its plush but firm memory-foam core offers more support to your neck than that of any other pillow. It’s also one of the few pillows we tested that felt specifically designed for an airline seat, with an angled, grippy back that aligns perfectly to both upright and reclined positions and ensures the pillow won’t slide down as you nod off. The velvety-soft pillow supports heads and necks of all sizes and can be fitted with an adjustable cord and clasp. In the tried-but-true shape of a hemi-doughnut—imagine a doughnut with a bite taken out—the Travelrest Ultimate may look like other pillows, but a number of thoughtful details make it a softer, more supportive pillow than all the rest.

The Travelrest offers better all-around support than any other pillow we tested. Its broad, marshmallowy walls hug the whole circumference of your neck. It feels supportive but not stifling. The easy-to-fasten Velcro strap means it can be adjusted to a snug fit for necks of many sizes. There’s even a small crevice for curlier hair or a ponytail.

In addition to fitting your neck, the Travelrest’s back tapers up to a point to fit flat against an airline seat back. Most neck pillows lack this tapering on the back and the excess padding can push your neck away from the headrest, causing your neck to droop forward. Additionally, the Travelrest has grippy dots on the back that prevent it from slipping.

In addition to its excellent support, the Travelrest is very comfortable and cozy to wear. Its memory-foam core is wrapped in velour, which kept my neck warm without overheating it. The Travelrest’s velour also felt softer and smoother against my skin than similar coverings on other pillows, such as the Cabeau Evolution. It’s also easy to clean: The Travelrest’s cover is easily unzipped and machine-washable. The velour retained its softness after going through a wash and dry cycle.

While the Travelrest isn’t inflatable, it packs down to the size of a roll of toilet paper in its carrying case. Once you fold it cinnamon-roll style and it’s small enough to fit inside the bag, a Velcro strap on the pouch helps you compress it even further. If there’s still not enough space for it in your bag, you can always clip its drawstring to any exterior loop.

All of these thoughtful details were not lost on our testing panel. They gave the Travelrest the highest marks of any pillow in comfort and neck support, and two-thirds of our testers picked it as their favorite pillow.

How the Travelrest has held up

After over a year of use, this pillow had lost none of its supportiveness. The memory foam was just as firm and springy as it was when we bought it. Its velcro strap was still easy to secure. If it fits you, this is a pillow that stays secure and comfortable on your neck for the duration of a long flight. However, we’ve also heard from multiple travelers that this pillow doesn’t fit them. The memory foam is quite firm, which offers excellent support, but not much give. If a pillow of up to 5 inches doesn’t fit comfortably on your neck, we think you’ll be happier trying one of our other picks.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Travelrest Ultimate will never compress to the thin, flat size of a tiny pillow like the Trtl. But its unparalleled, cushiony support can still pack down to a reasonable size, and its 13 ounces won’t make your carry-on noticeably heavier. And if saving space is your highest concern, we think the Trtl provides space-conscious support without the spit-filled fuss of an inflatable pillow.

While the Travelrest’s voluminous plush can support all heads that lean left, back, or right, the pillow may not hold up the chins of people with smaller faces. When my head bobbed forward, my small face sank into the gap between the pillow closure and my neck. You can adjust the Velcro strap for a tighter fit, but the short strap cannot be pulled as tight as the Cabeau’s adjustable strings.

The Travelrest Ultimate’s unbeatable support is in part due to the height of its sides, designed to come up to the jaw of the wearer. This means the pillow may be incompatible with larger over-the-ear headphones for people with shorter necks. For instance, when I tried to wear the Travelrest Ultimate with my noise-cancelling Bose headphones , the pillow pushed the headset uncomfortably far up on my head, taking my earlobes with it. However, my editor, who has a longer neck, didn’t have this problem.

If you want a tighter, more adjustable fit, the Cabeau Evolution Classic  (which used to be called just the Evolution) is the way to go. Its contoured memory-foam design offers almost as much neck support as our main pick does, albeit without some of the Travelrest’s luxurious height. But the Cabeau’s adjustable clasp allows a far greater range of cinching than the Travelrest. In other words, the pillow can fit as tightly as you like.

Like the Travelrest, the Cabeau’s hemi-doughnut shape offers 360 degrees of support for anyone wearing it. It also boasts a cushioned memory-foam core and a contoured top that will keep your neck upright and head in place. But unlike the Travelrest’s gently arched bottom, the Cabeau’s flat bottom won’t sit as securely on your shoulders and may move around during your sleep. The Cabeau also lacks the Travelrest’s smartly tapered, grippy back that helps keep the pillow in place during flight. The Cabeau’s velour cover is also machine-washable, but it feels less soft than the Travelrest’s.

Although the Cabeau’s fit and shape aren’t quite as good as the Travelrest’s, this pillow is more adjustable. It can be tightened or loosened with two adjustable strings that clip together, which results in a far more adjustable range than the Travelrest’s short strip of Velcro. If you have a smaller neck and know you find a tighter grip on your neck comforting, the Cabeau may be the way to go.

Like the Travelrest, the Cabeau also packs down to a quarter of its size, thanks to an adjustable strap bisecting its carrying case. But at 15.2 ounces, it’s a bit heavier than the Travelrest.

Unlike any of our other picks, the Cabeau Evolution is sold in many of those ubiquitous news stores inside airports. So if you find yourself lacing up your shoes after security and wishing you had bought one of our picks before your flight, look for the Cabeau’s contoured shape among the novelty hemi-doughnuts dangling off the travel pillow racks. It’s the best pillow you can buy at an airport. But if you have the chance to order online, the Travelrest offers more support.

There is a newer model of the Evolution Classic, the S3 , which has straps to hook onto a seat’s headrest. We think it’s a good choice if the Classic version is out of stock or otherwise unavailable. It’s still supportive and comfortable, but not as thick or soft as the Classic.

The Trtl Pillow , though odd-looking and unconventional, won a contingent of ardent fans with its firm support and slim, packable size. But it’s not our top pick because it works on only one side, and its warmth-trapping fleece can cause your neck to overheat. It’s also the most expensive of our picks. The Trtl consists of an arched plastic skeleton inside of a soft, fleece scarf that wraps once around your neck and then closes with Velcro to hold the pillow in place. You just lean your head against the convex end of the bendy frame, wrap the pillow around your neck, and your head has a soft but firm pedestal on which to rest while you sleep. It sounds weird, but it’s not that different from a neck brace—only it’s one-sided and softer.

Because the Trtl Pillow is little more than a scarf with a plastic plate in it, it packs down to the size of a sandwich and can lay flat against the back of your bag. This is the smallest travel pillow we tested and also requires none of the squashing or awkward cinching it takes to stuff the Travelrest or Cabeau into their holding bags, which are also easy to lose. Unlike any of the other pillows we’ve seen, the Trtl is small enough to fit inside a briefcase or handbag, making it the best option for people who don’t normally travel with backpacks. And at a featherweight 5 ounces, the Trtl is the lightest pillow we tested.

Though the Trtl can support your head from only one side, the tall, bendy plastic frame inside offered more support on that one side than either the Travelrest or Cabeau. Yet even with its soft, wraparound design, it lacks the all-around support provided by our top and runner-up picks. If you are an asymmetrical sleeper (if you prefer sleeping with your head leaning to one side), the Trtl may be a good choice. However, it’s not a good choice for people who nod forward—the plastic insert is too stiff. If that’s you, we prefer the Bcozzy, which we talk more about below .

Some testers found the Trtl’s quasi-corseted-turtleneck design off-putting. But then again, no one looks cool wearing any travel pillow. And on that note, the Trtl’s cozy fleece will keep your neck toasty. So if you know you run hot, the Trtl may not be the pillow for you.

Wirecutter’s Ganda Suthivarakom swears by the Trtl: “It packs almost flat, weighs next to nothing, and can be helpful for sleeping even when you are stuck in a middle seat. As someone who is always cold on the plane, I don't mind the whole fleece scarf design, either.”

Trtl has a more padded version of the pillow that claims to be more adjustable; one of our longer-necked staffers tried it and reported that it is indeed more comfortable for him than the original Trtl was. However, the same limitations of the original apply to the new version.

The Bcozzy is a snakelike spin on the traditional hemi-doughnut that’s perfect for anyone traveling with large headphones or people who tend to nod forward while sleeping and wake themselves up. It lacks the tall, supportive sides of our other picks, but the overlapping front is the perfect height to keep your chin from nodding forward as you doze off. It’s not as supportive on the sides, but this leaves ample room for big headphones.

The Bcozzy’s best advantage is its overlapping circular design, which allows you to adjust the pillow to degrees of personal preference. You can place the overlapping ends of the pillow around any point of your neck (though it only really makes sense in the front or on the sides), and wear the pillow as loose or as tight as you’d like. We think it’s most comfortable when the ends meet right under your neck—and in that position, it cushions your chin better than any other pillow we tested.

The longer, leaner Bcozzy lacks the plush, ensconcing neck support of the Travelrest Ultimate or Cabeau Evolution. It lays so low on your shoulders that it might not even touch your jaw. But this makes the pillow perfect for anyone who likes to wear over-the-ear headphones along with a travel pillow while they sleep on the flight. I personally like to fall asleep to music and drown out the dull roar of an airplane, so the Bcozzy works perfectly for me.

We still think the Travelrest Ultimate is a superior overall hemi-doughnut pillow, but the Bcozzy is an excellent choice if you plan to wear big headphones or know the feeling of that sharp, waking drop when your head falls forward on a plane.

The Bcozzy is also one of the least packable pillows, as it doesn’t come with a carrying case and does not compress particularly well. But its 7.4 ounces is around half the weight of the Travelrest or Cabeau, and it does comes with a little loop that clips onto the outside of a backpack or duffel. And even when squished down at the bottom of a bag, it doesn’t take up that much more space than the Travelrest Ultimate or Cabeau.

If you’re a back sleeper who can fall sleep sitting upright in your seat, facing forward, and not need to curl up or lean your head on the airplane window: You may want to try the Posture+ Travel Pillow, which is a U-shaped neck cushion, padded with memory foam, that looks like the back half of a cervical collar. When testing it, we slept surprisingly well, but it won’t suit all (or even most) sleep styles. It’s also not machine-washable, and it is pricy.

If you have a shorter neck and tend to run hot on planes and would prefer a pillow designed to keep you cool: Consider the ventilated Cabeau Evolution Cool —the combination of a silky polyester cover (similar to spandex) and vented design did feel mildly cooler against our necks. And we liked the pillow’s silky feel, packable size, zippered carrying case. But it was significantly smaller than the standard Cabeau Evolution and the Travelrest Ultimate, and it left the chins of long-necked testers totally unsupported. It’s also more expensive—now about $20 more than the Travelrest.

If you always lean to the same side when sleeping: Consider Travelrest’s All-in-One , which has a novel across-the-shoulder design that could be comfortable in such a situation. It has a similar fabric to the company’s winning Ultimate Memory Foam Neck Pillow, but in our tests its bulky inflated tube offered no structured head support, which could pose a problem in bumpy conditions.

If you tend to be a forward-falling head bobber: Consider the Caldera Releaf , which is less travel pillow and more neck brace. It does offer superior neck support, but it constricted the throat too much for our comfort.

The Trtl Pillow Plus , a later addition to the Trtl lineup, is more height-adjustable and has more padding than its older sibling . Our self-described “giraffe-necked” tester said that it did indeed fit him better than the original Trtl had. However, it still supports your head from only one side, making it not a great choice for sleepers who nod forward. It’s also bulkier than the original and costs nearly twice as much.

The Cabeau Evolution S3 is a newer version of our runner-up pick , the Evolution Classic. We liked it, and we think it’s a solid choice if the original Evolution isn’t available. It has added straps that you can hook onto a headrest to keep your head from falling forward while you sleep, but our runner-up pick is softer and slightly thicker, which offers a bit more support. We did find the S3 to be easier to roll up into its carrying case, however.

Intrigued by one of the stranger innovations that we’ve seen in travel pillow design, we tested the Huzi Design Infinity , but we can’t recommend it. Instead of cinching or clasping at the front, it is designed to be looped several times around the wearer’s neck like an infinity scarf. But the pillow failed to support our testers’ necks. Regardless of who tried it, testers found that looping it twice was too loose and thrice was too tight. It was also the largest and least compressible pillow we tested.

The J-Pillow offered a singular, three-pronged design that proved impossible for anyone to figure out without instructions. After some explanation, our testers could wear the pillow correctly, but they still felt that its squishy stuffing offered insufficient support, and only to one side of the head. It’s also impossible to pack away efficiently due to its pyramidal shape. If you want a one-sided pillow, skip this and go for the Trtl instead.

We tested the inexpensive Travelrest Curl because we loved its plush and contoured big cousin, the Travelrest Ultimate. But while the Curl contains the same luxurious memory-foam filling as the Ultimate, the pillow is so small that many testers found that it didn’t even come up to their jaws when worn. It does have an attractive price, but its skimpy size and unsupportive design could support only the shortest of necks.

We found the air-filled Sea to Summit Aeros Traveller Pillow to be similarly lacking. We liked how easy it was to fill—its dual-valve inflation mechanism means it won’t let air out between breaths—and we appreciated that it weighed only about a fifth as much as the Travelrest, but the Travelrest’s 360-degree support made it too hard to go back to an open-ring design that offers no support in the front. Also, one of our former freelance writers recently reported that when she pulled her pillow out of storage, after a few years of not using it, its internal bladder disintegrated in her hands.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Rebecca Robbins, postdoctoral fellow at the NYU Center for Healthful Behavior Change , phone interview , October 20, 2017

Meet your guide

Sabrina Imbler

Sabrina Imbler is a former staff writer for Wirecutter, where they covered kitchen tools and HVAC.

Further reading

Pluto Pod Travel Pillow: A First-Class Sleep Experience in Economy

by Dorie Chevlen

This travel pillow is so great you won’t even care if you look silly wearing it.

The Silly-Looking Trtl Travel Pillow Is the Only Way I Can Sleep on Flights

by Elissa Sanci

You might look funny while wearing the one-sided Trtl travel pillow in flight, but you won’t care when you land at your destination bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Air Travel Is Chaos. This Gear Will Help Get You Through the Exasperating Delays.

These things don’t make your flight take off any faster, but they can make the wait a little more tolerable.

The 31 Best Gifts for Frequent Travelers

by Samantha Schoech and Dorie Chevlen

Here we present practical and whimsical finds to delight any intrepid traveler.

NEW YOUTUBE DROP: S54-Swapped BMW 328is

Best Car Neck Pillows: Comfort Options for a Relaxing Drive

Car neck pillows are perfect for an improved driving or riding experience

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Whether it’s a long road trip or just getting stuck in traffic, being in the car may not be the most comfortable place to find yourself. It can be especially rough on your neck, which can get strained or feel sore after watching the road for so long. Luckily, you can improve your riding experience by purchasing a neck pillow to relieve the strain. Here are our top picks for great neck pillows to use in the car.

Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow

Travelmate Memory Foam Neck Pillow

Trtl Pillow Super Soft Neck Support Travel Pillow

Benefits of a car neck pillow.

• Pain relief. Sitting upright for hours on end is going to be a pain for anybody—literally. Neck pain and the discomfort that comes with it can be eliminated by getting a neck pillow that is both soft and supportive. 
• Posture. As if the temporary improvement over your comfort isn’t enough, using a good neck pillow can even have positive long-term effects. Cushions with the best-designed neck support can improve your overall posture.
• Portable comfort. Regardless of whether or not the pillow comes with a strap designed for your car seat, every car neck rest pillow can be used in a multitude of settings—like planes, buses, and even the office.
• Ease-of-use. If you’re thinking that added comfort sounds good but having another thing to clean and take care of doesn't, then you’re in luck. Neck pillows are made with removable cases that are machine-washable.
• Universal fit. Most accessories you buy for your vehicle have specific limitations like only fitting certain manufacturers or requiring different sizes for different types. Neck cushions, though, are completely universal—designed to fit absolutely any car interior. 

Types of Car Neck Pillows

Roll pillow.

Essentially a log-shaped pillow, roll pillows are designed to support the arch of your neck. These are typical in office and bedroom settings, as well as in the car. Because of this, they usually do not come with a strap to fasten to the back of the seat. Instead, they are held in place by leaning against it.

U-Shaped Pillow

Often seen on planes as a sleeping aid, these pillows have great neck support, making them great for comfort. The pillow's round shape is similar to the roll pillow; however, the sides curve in, creating either a U- or O-shape around the neck. Since these pillows are made for travel, they do not attach to the seat in any way.

Contour Pillow

The most common type of car headrest pillow, these cushions are shaped to conform to your head, neck, and upper shoulder areas. It is typical to see these car neck support pillows with headrest straps so that they stay in place even when you leave the vehicle. The ergonomic design relieves the stress from your shoulders and up, plus it doesn't use the car's headrest (a benefit if you find the factory headrest uncomfortable).

A newer type of "pillow" that's become popular is the neck wrap pillow. These almost look more like a scarf with foam padding. They connect to the driver or passenger, wrapping around the neck so it doesn't move around. 

A former professional basketball player, David Sternlight sought to make a comfortable pillow for traveling after years of playing on the road. After months of research and development, he created the popular Cabeau Evolution Memory Foam Travel Pillow in 2009. Since then, the company has expanded to make a whole line of travel products. 

The travel and luggage giant has a reputation for making reliable products. Samsonite has been producing on-the-go lifestyle products for over 100 years. It has a very successful Car Headrest Pillow as well as a Lumbar Support Pillow .

Most well known for its Trtl Pillow , the company has grown and expanded since its first product was released. Mechanical engineering students Michael and David founded the company in 2013 after developing the neck wrap pillow. The company is headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland.  

Car Neck Pillow Pricing

• Under $20: The less expensive neck pillows share similar designs to the more premium competitors. The most significant difference is in materials; most neck pillows for cars often use polyester and foam.
• $20 to $40: The best car neck pillows are typically at this price point. You'll find premium memory-foam filling with plush or genuine leather covering. Added features can include straps to hold the cushions in place and matching lumbar support pieces. 
• Over $40: Once you get to this pricing, these neck cushions for cars will either have incredible premium features or sets of multiple pillows. The premium features could include full back support, heating, or massaging capabilities. 

Key Features

Ergonomic design.

When it comes to your comfort and improving your riding experience, the overall design of the neck pillow you need is a huge factor. While most are made with support in mind, it's good to know whether you need a cushion with firmer support or with softer features. Also, pillow size (more specifically, what areas of the body they support) can help make the best decision for you.

One of the best features you'll find on headrest pillows is a strap to hold it in place. Typically, they'll either adjust or stretch in order to fit over any car seat. This makes getting comfy easy on every drive since you won't need to move the cushion each time you get in your vehicle.

Memory Foam

For peak performance and results, the best neck pillows you can find are going to be made from memory foam. While soft to the touch, memory foam will conform to the contours of your body to maximize comfort and provide support wherever needed. Memory foam won't flatten out or lose its shape over time, so it will improve your drive for years to come. 

Other Considerations

• Color: Neck pillows come in a wide range of designs and colors. If you want one that matches the interior of your vehicle, then it's important to pay attention to the available materials and designs that a cushion may come with.
• Materials: Aside from looks, the exterior materials play a functional role in your overall level of comfort. For example, you may want to find a neck pillow that is made from breathable materials so you don't get too hot while using it. Conversely, you may not care about breathability, but instead, want the softest materials possible.

Best Car Neck Pillow Reviews & Recommendations 2021

Best Overall

Cabeau is one of the top brands when it comes to travel pillows, and a lot of this is due to their patented and award-winning products. The Evolution Classic Travel Pillow is backed by sleep science and is ergonomically designed—with high sides and a flattened back—to provide 360 degrees of support. 

The high-grade memory foam body is fully adjustable for maximum comfort, although it may not be big enough for above-average sized necks. The pillow is available in a wide range of colors and styles, and the removable machine-washable cover means you can easily keep your car neck pillow clean and fresh. This is particularly important, as some styles do not have a carry bag included.

That said, if you do have a storage sack, the pillow can be compressed down by more than 50 percent. And, unless you want something very firm, it’s a great choice.

Honorable Mention

Our honorable mention   neck support for cars is the Trtl Pillow. A completely unique design, this travel pillow keeps the head in a comfortable position when trying to sleep in a seat. This makes it ideal for passengers who want to nap on a long trip and drivers looking for extra support. 

Designed to look like a scarf, this pillow is made of fleece and hides an internal support system and cushioning. The exterior is made to be machine-washable. It is also incredibly lightweight and has none of the bulk that regular neck pillows have. When not in use, the pillow is designed to attach to backpacks or luggage bags, making it ideal for travel.

Since this neck support pillow has such a unique design, it can be too odd for some. People who dislike tight collars or necklaces would find the wrap uncomfortable. The four available colors may not be a wide enough selection to match everyone's style.

BCOZZY Chin Supporting Travel Neck Pillow

This supportive neck pillow wraps completely around your neck to provide support from every angle. There are 18 colors to choose from. Each pillow measures 9.84 x 11.02 x 4.72 inches. The entire pillow is machine-washable. There’s also a strap to make attaching it to your luggage or bag easy for convenient carrying while traveling.

You’ll like using this neck pillow because it stops your head from falling forward. The ergonomic shape of the pillow supports your head, neck, and chin. The backside of the pillow has a thinner and flatter design to reduce the amount of bulk behind your neck.

The downside of this pillow is that it’s quite thin. This makes it not supportive enough for people with longer necks. The size is also quite large and can be too big for those who are smaller in stature. You may also struggle to keep the pillow securely positioned around your neck.

Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow for Neck

This memory foam pillow can twist and bend to create any shape of support you need. It comes in black, blue, or grey. The pillow is a long tube shape with a memory foam inner and breathable cotton outer cover. At the ends of the pillow is a snap closure. You can use this to attach the ends together and create a “U” shape around your neck. Leave the ends unattached, and you can curl, bend, and flex the pillow any way you need to create the most comfort.

What’s nice about this pillow is that it comes with a removable cover. This makes keeping your pillow clean an easier task. The inner memory foam core conforms to your body’s contours while also providing you with plenty of support.

Unfortunately, the memory foam can split during use. This will cause the metal bar in the middle to poke through the foam and make it uncomfortable. Even if it’s not poking through, you may be able to feel the bar through the memory foam if you apply a lot of pressure to the pillow.

Travel Memory Foam Neck Pillow

This travel neck support pillow is made of supportive and breathable memory foam. You can compress it down and put it in the included travel bag for easy transport. There are four colors to choose from, including black, pink, grey, and blue. On the front of the pillow is a drawstring cord that you can tighten to secure the pillow snugly around your neck, giving you an increased level of support.

What’s nice about this pillow is the super soft pillowcase. It’s a silver fox texture plush velour that won’t pill or fade from use. It’s soft on your skin, so it won’t irritate those with sensitive skin. It also comes with a compact carrying bag to make traveling with it convenient.

The downside of this pillow is that it’s really large. It can feel too tight and confining on those with shorter or smaller necks. The cord on the front isn’t very durable, and it can break off during use.

SAIREIDER Travel Neck Pillow

This adjustable neck pillow comes with a drawstring on the front to let you create the perfect amount of support. The cover has a pillowcase that’s made of ultra-soft fabric that’s gentle on your skin. The pillow measures 11.42 x 11.42 x 4.33 inches. It also comes with a carrying bag that measures 4.72 x 9.06 inches for easy carrying.

What makes this pillow stand out is the flat backside behind your neck. This lets you sit back against the seat and prevent back pain. There’s also a hidden zipper in the pillowcase cover that improves the look of the cover and protects the zipper.

The downside of this pillow is that the memory foam is very stiff, which can make it uncomfortable. The string on the front is only glued into place, which doesn’t make it very durable. You may also find that the pillow pushes your head into an uncomfortable position.

Luxury Travel Neck Pillow Sleep Kit

This black, luxury neck pillow comes with everything you need to relax and sleep while traveling. Included are a carrying bag, earplugs, and a contoured face mask. On the front of this black pillow is a quick-release buckle that you can adjust for the perfect fit around your neck. The contoured face mask wraps snugly around your face, cheeks, and nose to eliminate any light exposure. The pillowcase covering the memory foam is made of soft premium velour and has a hidden zipper.

You’ll like using this neck pillow because it provides the perfect balance of support and comfort with memory foam that isn’t too soft or too firm. It’s also shaped to dip down at the back of the neck, slightly higher on either side to support your head, and then provide chin support in the front.

Unfortunately, some people may find the memory foam to be too stiff and not have enough flex or give. There may also be a chemical smell to the pillow.

Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Travel Pillow

This supportive neck pillow comes in black, blue, red, navy blue, and gray. The outer pillowcase is made of soft velour and is removable and machine-washable. The front of the pillow has an adjustable cord to secure the pillow snugly around your neck for maximum support. This pillow comes with a carrying bag, earplugs, and a face mask.

What makes this pillow stand out is the cell phone pocket on the outside of it. This keeps your phone conveniently placed and secure. It also has a raised lobe design to provide you with additional neck support when tilting your head to the side.

Unfortunately, the back of this pillow is thick and pushes your head and back away from the seat. The shape of the pillow may be too long and come too far forward under your chin.

Ostrich Pillow Travel Pillow with Travel Bag

The unique shape of this neck pillow gives you more freedom and comfort in how you wear and use this pillow. It has a soft sloping design that rises and falls to allow you to wrap the pillow around your neck and support your head. This pillow allows you to wear earbuds without interference. Supporting your neck is high-density memory foam.

What makes this neck pillow stand out is the Velcro adjuster in the front. This gives you a secure and custom fit around your neck. The pillowcase is incredibly soft and comfy while also easy to care for. It’s made of 95 percent viscose and five percent elastomer and is removable.

Unfortunately, the exposed Velcro on the front can get caught on your clothing and potentially ruin woven or delicate fabrics. The Velcro pieces don’t always line up correctly, which makes adjusting the pillow difficult. The pillow may also have an extremely unpleasant smell.

• After buying a newer neck pillow, always wash the cover before use. Also, consult any directions or product guides so you know which materials are machine-washable and which ones require dry washing.
• Try your neck pillow in a few different positions before securing it. You may find the best spot for long-term comfort isn’t what you expected. 
• Don’t be afraid to try out your car pillow in other environments as well. You may find that these can be really helpful in relieving any aches and pains when you're sitting anywhere for extended periods of time. 

Q: Will any headrest pillow fit in my car?

A: Most likely, yes. Most driving pillows are universal. Straps can be adjusted for different seat sizes to accommodate any vehicle. 

Q: Can I use a car neck pillow if I’m over 6 feet tall?

A: The cushions and back support can all be moved to fit drivers of any size. Neck pillows are made to wrap around the factory headrest, so you can adjust the height of the pillow.

Final Thoughts

Our overall best option is the ergonomically designed Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow , which comes in a range of styles to suit all tastes.

The adjustable, plush velour Travelmate Memory Foam Neck Pillow is our best value pick.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

What to Look for in a Travel Pillow

How we selected these travel pillows, pick the perfect travel pillow following these tips from expert chris meehan..

So, how to make the time in the air (or car or train) more relaxing? The right travel pillow may be the ticket the next time you take off somewhere. It's a basic travel accessory that ranks right up there with great luggage and noise-cancelling headphones .

In its U-shaped form, the travel pillow dates back to 1929 when the design was first patented. Its original intent was for use to recline in the bathtub. Since then, its look and feel has changed with modern versions configured in unique shapes to address all different kinds of travelers: long-haul fliers, restless sleepers, window-seat passengers, and more.

A decent travel pillow includes a soft cover using fabrics like brushed polyester, nylon, or microfiber, while the cushioning (or fill) inside should be supportive and comfortable yet structured enough for your head and neck. The fill types commonly used are assorted types of foam, microbeads, and polyester fiber, in addition to those kinds of pillows with an inflatable bladder

Whether you’re a side slumper, leaner on the seat-back, or nose-to-the sky snoozer, there is a pillow here for you. In our review and testing of travel pillows, we’ve found options in a variety of designs, weights, and shapes from under $20 to well over $60. Read on to find the best one for you!

Best Travel Pillows

• Best Overall Travel Pillow: Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow
• Best Hot-Sleeper Travel Pillow: Cabeau Evolution S3 Memory Foam
• Best Bargain Travel Pillow: Cloudz Dual Comfort Microbead Travel Neck Pillow
• Best Splurge Travel Pillow: Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow
• Best Side-Sleeper Travel Pillow: Trtl Pillow Plus

The Expert: Taking multiple plane, train, and bus rides every year, I’m familiar with necessary on-the-go accessories like a travel pillow. For instance, I am based in Colorado and last year I flew to Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. My car travels included a road trip to Zion National Park with a buddy. My average trip takes about seven hours between the trains to and from the airport and the plane ride itself. After using quite a few travel pillows, I’ve found that I enjoy a side-sleeping pillow like the J-Pillow for plane rides since I tend to loll off to one side, and I like the traditionally shaped rectangular pillow, the NEMO Fillo, for other types of excursions like bus and car rides as well as car camping. Its combination of padding and inflate-ability make it versatile for many types of trips.

Many of the travel pillows below don’t look like the traditional U-shaped ones with microbeads—and for good reason. The U-shape doesn't work for everyone as it has a tendency to push the neck forward. Also, if the cushioning isn’t high enough on each side, it may cause your head to flop from left to right instead providing a stationary space. Any neck wobble may result in kinks, stiffness, and soreness.

Those designs that are squared or have flat cushioning behind the neck with more coverage under the chin help keep the head upright. Contoured areas to accommodate the shoulders and help keep the pillows properly aligned.

Depending on how you prefer to rest, the right pillows will ensure some shut-eye on the plane, in the car, or on the train. Here are some factors to consider.

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While many are compact, this will be a factor depending on how light you like to travel. The most compact of all neck pillows is one that’s inflatable. These can deflate to a size smaller than a baseball. Bulkier memory foam pillows, on the other hand, will compress down to about the size of a football.

Most travel pillows weigh under 1 pound, so they’re manageable enough to bring along and to use without putting downward pressure on your shoulders.

U-shape is most common, but it’s not the only form factor out there. Some travel pillows are mini-sized traditionally shaped pillows. Others are coil or donut-shaped to allow for better chin support for slumping sleepers, and at least a few, like the J-Pillow, are designed to offer extra head support for those of us who love to sleep with our head against the wall of a plane or train.

Just like your pillow at home, travel pillows have a range of different fills. Microbeads are likely the stiffest and least compressible while memory foam offers solid support and adjusts to the shape of your head. Inflatable pillows also offer customized cushioning but are sometimes cheaper in design.

Most travel pillows have a soft, fleecy fabric made of polyester, nylon or micro fleece that’s designed for comfort against the face. The fabric of the pillow can also go a long way to describe its washability. Some have covers that are easy to take off and wash. Even some with integrated covers are still machine washable.

The recommendations below are based on my own travel experiences in the air, car, bus, and train. I also looked at customer reviews to gauge what pillows have performed well for most people. Additionally, I considered the work of Paige Szmodis , who investigated pillow options for the previous version of this article.

Overall, these pillows made their way onto red-eye flights, along for road trips (in cars and buses), camping, and even lounging on the couch. Neck support and comfort were factored in as well as portability, durability, washability, and usage. I also considered if pillows came with a storage bag, how well each pillow retained its shape, and what the packed dimensions were versus overall size.

These pillows represent the top options for travelers who go by car, plane, bus, train, or even those who need a good lightweight pillow for laying horizontal in the airport while waiting for their next flight.

Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow

With limited space for a bulky pillow when on-the-go, packability is key. The Travelrest Nest packs an amazing amount of memory-foam cushioning into the smallest stuff sack. Even after being compressed in its bag for over a week, the pillow immediately puffed right back into its original shape.

While compact, it doesn’t compromise on support. With 5-inches of thermo-sensitive memory foam on all sides, it conforms to the shape of your neck and shoulders and keeps your head in place no matter if you tend to loll to the front, back, or sides. Unlike many U-shaped pillows, its angled back sits flush against any seat surface without pushing your head forward. Bonu: the nonslip panel helps prevent it from sliding off airplane seats.

At a reasonable price—Travelrest even throws in a travel bag and memory foam earplugs to sweeten the deal—its removable cover retains its velvety softness after cycles in the washer and dryer, though it’s a bit of a tight fit to pull the cover back on over the foam’s contours. The dense foam also makes it a little challenging to fold up into its bag, but once you get it in there, it can compress down to a quarter of its original size. On the down side, its high cushioning could pinch earrings or interfere with larger headphones.

Cabeau Evolution S3 Memory Foam

The Cabeau Evolution S3, which has many of the same top features as our Best Overall, is ideal if you sleep a bit on the hot side. Its breathable, moisture-wicking fabric helps to keep you cool and comfortable.

With its U-shaped design, this memory foam pillow prevents lateral movement—your head falling to either side—and features a slimmed flat back so it won’t push your head forward. While the back surface isn’t angled and grippy like the Travelrest, the Cabeau comes with straps to loop around your headrest to keep it in place. Note: These straps may not be compatible with all seat designs and might possibly disturb the person behind you on a flight. Also, with its thick cushioning, the Evolution's height may interfere with certain headphones.

The dense memory foam will take a few seconds to roll up into the travel case but it will hold its shape well after packing away many times. Plus, the polyester cover was easy to slip on and off to wash and dry. A bonus is the travel case which can easily be clipped onto the outside of your bags and luggage.

Cloudz Dual Comfort Microbead Travel Neck Pillow

One of the most well-known neck pillows out there, Cloudz is the one you’re most likely to find in an airport. It’s inexpensive and will do the trick for most flights and other travel, but isn’t as comfortable or as well designed as some of the other picks in our roundup.

The spandex fabric on one side allows the pillow to conform to your shoulders and keeps you cool, while the cozy plush on the other side helps you drift off to sleep. The snap in front keeps the pillow properly oriented while traveling. It’s not machine washable, and over time the small polystyrene beads will compress, ultimately reducing cushioning. As such, it’ll do in a pinch but won't have the durability as some of the other choices here.

Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow

The makers of the Ostrichpillow Go believe resting shouldn’t require any effort, which is why they pride themselves on designs that are minimalist and easy to use as well as sustainably made. The ergonomic and sleek Go neck pillow promotes 360-degree comfort with a memory foam core, yet it packs down into a stuff sack just over half of its original size. Even after being stored away for a week, it easily expanded back to its circular shape.

While other options may compress into slightly smaller packs, I like this pillow's dense memory foam padding and the Velcro fastener, which allows for a custom fit. Since its cushion height is higher on one side than the other, the taller side may interfere with headphones. For comfort, the cover is luxuriously soft and holds up after machine washing.

Trtl Pillow Plus

Trtl might have the most unconventional looking travel pillow—loop, wrap and nap, as the company says—but plenty of people—especially side sleepers—swear by it. Inside the fleece fabric that gets wrapped around your neck is a cushioned plastic brace that rests on one shoulder and props your head up. Some may find the fleece gets a little too warm, but if you’re always cold on the plane, this could work for you. The fleece wrap also detaches easily from the plastic brace for washing.

While the Trtl Plus is expensive (the costliest of the ones recommended here), it does offer a custom fit courtesy of two plastic knobs that adjust both sides of the plastic panel. It comes with a travel bag which is handy if you don’t want to lug it around on the outside of your bag when traveling.

If you’re still intrigued, but put off by the price, the original Trtl costs about $40 less and is a bit more subtle in styling than the Plus. It looks more like a fleece scarf than a neck brace. There’s no case but it folds almost flat with a Velcro latch, to about the size of a large book, so you can fit it in your bag.

Bcozzy Chin Supporting Travel Neck Pillow

If your head tends to fall forward when you try to sleep upright, the Bcozzy keeps your head up by curling around your whole neck with the ends overlapping under the chin. There are also a few more ways you can wear it, such as folded in half to elevate just one side of your head.

The Bcozzy, available in children's and extra-large sizing, doesn’t come with a removable cover, but the whole pillow is machine washable. A travel case is included.

Sunany Inflatable Neck Pillow

According to some studies, passengers shift positions on a plane every 15 minutes, so this travel pillow is ideal for anyone who changes it up frequently on a flight. It works for forward slumpers, side sleepers, and even couples who want to position it between themselves. It's also perfect for those who want to read or watch a program in privacy.

To make the most of this unique pillow, you'll need a tray table to rest it on. The Sunany pillow can be used at either 19.6- or 11.8-inches high depending on how it is oriented. One downside, considering its inflated size is so large, is that it can be cumbersome to reposition.

AirComfy Ease Inflatable Travel Pillow

This dog bone-shaped, inflatable travel pillow is as ideal for the skies as it is for the roads. Take it in the plane or the car since its adjustable strap easily fits around most headrests, and thanks to its basic shape and adjustability via inflation, you can customize how soft or firm it is depending on your needs.

The foam backed bladder helps reduce the balloon-like feel of some inflatable travel pillows. Use it behind the neck and shoulder or behind the lower back for lumbar support. Extra points for the plush cover that is machine washable.

With so many travel specific pillows and U-shaped design styles, why pick a traditional rectangle option as the most versatile? It’s simple—you can’t reinvent the wheel. With foam and an inflatable bladder, travelers can adjust its firmness, roll it up for neck support on a plane, press it against a wall or window, use it as a normal pillow, or take it along for car travel or camping.

This is the versatile pillow I bring on trips when I am doing multiple types of adventure and know I will need a pillow that can handle the travel itself and anything after. I appreciate the use of both the foam and the air bladder, which means I can adjust the cushioning and the support. With NEMO’s combination, it creates a pillow that doesn’t feel like you’re sleeping on a balloon like some inflatable pillows do. It also easily stuffs down into a sack—about the size of a big Chipotle burrito—that’s integrated into the removable, machine washable cover.

J-Pillow Travel Pillow

The J-Pillow diverges from the traditional U-shape, co-opting another letter for its design. The curve of the “J” cradles your chin while the rest of the pillow supports one side of your head.

While this design is best-suited for passengers at a window seat, I found the J-Pillow didn’t slip off my shoulder even when I wasn't leaning against a window. There is plenty of cushioning, so it's comfortable, but its biggest flaw is its slightly awkward and bulky shape.

Though it comes with a travel sack, it doesn’t compress nearly as much as other travel pillows. Because it didn’t fit into my backpack, I had to carry it separately—not exactly ideal for frequent fliers—though you could use its snap loop to attach to luggage or tie the bag’s drawstring to a gear loop.

What is typically the best way to clean a travel pillow? Should I look for one that is machine-washable?

Always follow the manufacturers’ recommendations. Many inflatable and foam pillows aren’t designed for machine washing and can get damaged in the process. Some of my favorite travel pillows have removable covers that are machine washable.

If given the choice of an inflatable, microbead, or memory foam travel pillow, what do you prefer and why?

If I'm not worried about packing space and my travel plans include a flight, I like memory foam since it cradles the head softly. If you’re traveling and doing multiple things while away, an inflatable pillow might be best since it takes up less space while packed and can be customized for different types of resting.

How do you know if a travel pillow is the right fit?

Think about how you rest while traveling and look for a pillow that fits those needs. You’ll want one with enough support to cradle your head as you nod off, whether that’s off to the side, straight back, or slumping forward.

Chris Meehan is an internationally published writer, author, and editor with more than two decades of professional experience. He has authored multiple adventure guidebooks with Falcon Guides and his work focusses primarily on the nexus between sustainability and outdoor adventure. He is an experienced gear reviewer, tester, and travel writer who has explored multiple continents. 

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6 Best, Editor-Tested Travel Neck Pillows for Your Next Long Flight

Finding the right travel pillow is a must for getting better sleep at 40,000 feet..

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Some travelers are blessed with the ability to fall asleep in various modes of loud, cramped, or otherwise disruptive transport. Others struggle to catch zz’s outside of their own bed, unless the conditions are just right. Whether you consider yourself in the first category or the latter, you (and your neck) will certainly benefit from a high-quality travel pillow.

What to look for in a travel neck pillow

Before you purchase a neck pillow for travel, you’ll want to consider the type of sleeper you are on airplanes. Are you a window seat devotee who plans on sleeping against the side of the plane? Or will you need more neck support since you always chose the aisle seat? Most importantly: Will it fit into your purse or other personal item? These are the features you’ll want to keep in mind when shopping for a travel neck pillow:

Shape: The travel pillows that airlines provide are just a smaller version of regular pillows. But you’ll need something that provides more neck support when sleeping upright in a plane seat. The most common shape of travel pillow you’ll see is U-shaped, but in recent years, brands are coming up with other designs that wrap all the way around your neck or have clever infinity designs that can be worn multiple ways.

Material: The most supportive travel pillows are filled with memory foam, while inflatable pillows are the easiest to pack. But you’ll also want to look at what the outside of the pillow is made of. Fleece will keep you warm on cold planes, while silk will feel the most luxurious. Most importantly, look for a travel pillow with a removable cover so it’s easy to wash in between trips.

Packability: U-shaped pillows are the most ubiquitous type of travel pillow, but they generally don’t pack down, so you’ll have to clip it to the outside of your personal item so it doesn’t take up all the space inside. Inflatable travel pillows pack down the easiest but can also deflate during your flight. Look for travel pillows that aren’t filled with bulky materials or come with a stuff sack so you can compress memory foam versions.

How do you wear a travel neck pillow?

U-shaped travel pillows work better when you wear them with the bottom of the “U” in the front and the clasp in the back.

Didn’t know this? Turns out most people have been wearing them incorrectly all along. In July 2021, TikTok creator @sidneyraz’s video went viral (to date, it has 36.4 million views) when he demonstrated that “travel pillows go in front” as part of his “something I wish I knew before I was in my 30s” series. “Mmm, I’m so comfy,” he said as he showed how his neck and chin are more supported with the bulkiest part of the pillow beneath them.

This was also news to Lyndsey Matthews, AFAR’s senior commerce editor. But she recently tested it out with the Calpak neck pillow featured below and can confirm: It just works better.

Of course, this doesn’t apply to non-U-shaped travel pillows—like the Ostrichpillow Go, Trtl, and Infinity Pillow—that are meant to be worn in a specific way according to their unique designs.

Are travel pillows worth it?

If you’re traveling on a red-eye flight in economy, a travel pillow is a must-have travel accessory for any efforts at getting some shut-eye at 40,000 feet . However, it might not be worth packing a travel pillow for shorter flights during the day—especially if it’s a bulkier model that doesn’t pack down well.

To help you make the best purchase for the way you travel, these packable neck pillows are soft, cozy, and supportive in all the right ways. From memory foam versions to super-compact ones, here are the best travel neck pillows—in no particular order—to bring on your next flight.

The Trtl Travel Pillow has many fans at AFAR for its ease of packability.

Courtesy of Trtl

1. Trtl Travel Pillow

• Buy now: $50, trtltravel.com ; $60, amazon.com
• Highlights: Ultra-packable, washable

Any qualms about looking silly instantly disappear as soon as you put this unique travel pillow to use.

“It feels a little strange putting it on the first time and sort of looks like a neck brace,” said Rosalie Tinelli, AFAR’s senior audience development manager, in her review of the Trtl . “But who cares how it looks when you’re getting peaceful sleep on an airplane and waking up with zero neck stiffness?”

It’s ergonomically designed to maximize neck support using a genius combination of a strategically placed internal padded frame and a soft fleece wrap (that’s machine washable) to comfortably cradle your head. As an added bonus, it weighs only half a pound and folds up way more compactly than your standard U-shaped pillow to slip easily in any carry-on. Trtl also makes a kids’ version —because you’re never too young to appreciate a good car ride nap.

No neck slump here.

Courtesy of Ostrichpillow

2. Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow

• Buy now: $51 (regularly $60), ostrichpillow.com
• Exclusive discount code: Use code “AFARNECK15" from August 4 to September 30, 2023, to get 15 percent off
• Highlights: Memory foam, washable, comes with carrying case

Ergonomically designed to support the head and neck, this memory foam pillow features a Velcro band in the front that allows you to adjust the fit to support your chin just right—ideal for anyone who has experienced the dreaded forward head lurch while attempting to sleep sitting up. Encased in an easily removable and washable sleeve, the pillow compresses down to almost half its size into an included pouch for easy packability.

The Infinity Pillow is basically a puffy infinity scarf that can be worn multiple ways.

Courtesy of Infinity Pillow

3. Infinity Pillow

• Buy now: $45, infinitypillow.co ; amazon.com
• Highlights: Can be worn multiple ways, washable, includes strap for packing

Essentially an infinity scarf with a puffy microfiber filling, this travel pillow is the most versatile option out there. To use it as a neck pillow, loop it twice around your neck and adjust it by pulling on one loop to provide more support. If you’d rather sleep against the window or on the tray table, just roll the pillow up and rest against it. Need lumbar support? Fold the loop in half and prop it behind your lower back.

It’s available in eight different colors of soft bamboo fabric, and you can throw the whole thing in the washing machine after your trip. Though it’s one of the bulkier pillows available, it does come with a Velcro strap so you can roll it up and secure it. You can also purchase a travel case made specifically for this pillow, but that will cost you an extra $13.

This silk set makes for a luxurious gift.

Courtesy of Calpak

4. Calpak Silk Neck Pillow and Eye Mask Set

• Buy now: $38 (was $95), calpak.com
• Highlights: Silk, washable, comes with sleep mask and carrying case

Swathed in hypoallergenic silk that’s removable and washable, this travel neck pillow is paired with a matching sleep mask with blackout lining for extra security against unwelcome lights and jet lag . It also comes in a transparent carry bag that slips effortlessly on to your suitcase handle, which beats letting it hang exposed off the side of your luggage.

For when you want a packable version of your regular pillow

Courtesy of Coop

5. Coop Original Travel and Camp Pillow

• Buy now: $40, coophomegoods.com

A shrunken-down version of the signature adjustable pillow from bedding brand Coop, this portable pillow is ideal for camping and travel situations that allow for more reclined slumbering positions. It’s filled with a memory foam–microfiber blend that can be removed or added to fit your sleep-maximizing needs, and the removable cover is crafted in Coop’s proprietary Lulltra fabric that’s derived from ecoconscious bamboo. The whole thing is machine washable—just separate the cover from the inner pillow to wash either one. If you’re headed somewhere rainy, get the water- and dirt-resistant camping pillowcase for added protection against the elements.

It’s like a neck pillow and sleep mask in one.

Courtesy of HoodiePillow

6. HoodiePillow Inflatable Travel Hoodie Pillow

• Buy now: from $25, hoodiepillow.com ; amazon.com
• Highlights: Inflatable, attached hood

Think of this as your go-to sweatshirt in travel pillow form. Available in five hues (we’re partial to classic charcoal gray), this inflatable pillow can almost blend in with your travel uniform while providing some much-needed sleep support. And once you’ve reached your final destination, simply deflate and pop it in your bag. Our favorite part is the cozy attached hood, which doubles as a subtle “do not disturb” sign that’s ideal for warding off chatty seatmates and piercing overhead lights alike.

Lyndsey Matthews contributed reporting to this article. This article was published in 2021; it was updated on August 10, 2023, with current information.

Best Travel Pillows

Whether you’re boarding an overnight flight or riding shotgun on a road trip, a supportive travel pillow can be the perfect companion for sleepers on the go. But with so many options out there, how are you supposed to know which is the best travel pillow for you? Well buckle up, folks, because we’re about to show you!

So keep reading to explore our top five favorite travel pillows, all of which we’ve personally tested. Plus, we’ll impart some expert tips and tricks for finding the travel pillow that best suits your body, budget, and lifestyle. Let’s get started.

Best Travel Pillows 2024 – Our Top 5

• Best Overall – trtl Travel Pillow Plus
• Best Travel Pillow for Chin Support – J-Pillow
• Most Comfortable Travel Pillow – BCOZZY Travel Pillow
• Best Travel Pillow for Car Trips – Cabeau Evolution Cool Pillow
• Best Inflatable Travel Pillow – Travelrest Nest Memory Foam Pillow

Best Travel Pillows Video Review

Best Overall Travel Pillow – trtl Travel Pillow Plus

Trtl pillow plus.

The trtl Travel Pillow Plus takes the neck support and comfort of the original trtl Travel Pillow to the next level!

Sleepopolis Score

First up on our list is the trtl Travel Pillow Plus, a perfect pick for those in need of extra head and neck support. 

This pillow is the best at promoting healthy posture in an upright position. It features a scarf-like design and internal plastic support system that work in tandem to prevent your head and neck from deviating out of alignment. 

While it’s true that the trtl travel pillow’s brace-like feature is quite different from the U-shaped models you might be used to, the plastic insert is less likely to compress as compared to foam , polyester, or other softer materials. Essentially, the hard yet flexible plastic serves to hold your head, neck, and spine in a safe and comfortable position no matter how long your journey may be. 

Oh, and don’t worry — you can’t actually feel the plastic against your skin, as it’s buried beneath two thick pieces of memory foam. Plus, it’s compact, weighs less than a pound , and is super easy to stow on the go.

Price: $98.99, with a 60-day return policy. 

Perfect For: Sleepers looking for a travel pillow that’s supportive enough for a long haul .

For all the details on this unique accessory, check our full trtl Travel Pillow Plus review .

Best Travel Pillow for Chin Support – J-Pillow

J-pillow travel pillow.

The J-Pillow Travel Pillow is designed to provide simultaneous support in three different areas: the head, the neck, and the chin.

Shoppers wanting a pillow prioritizing chin support might be particularly well-suited to the J-Pillow, available both on the company site and Amazon. 

With its signature J-shaped design, this pillow has three sections built for three simultaneous areas of support. The first cushioned section is designed to prop up the head, the second braces the neck, and the third supports the chin.

The J-Pillow ensures that your chin doesn’t fall and that your neck remains in alignment with the rest of your spine, regardless of how long your journey is. It’s specifically designed for overnight airplane travel. As an added benefit, the J-Pillow is extremely portable. It even comes with its own travel bag .

Of course, you don’t just have to use this pillow for travel. It’s perfectly capable of at-home usage, whether you’re watching TV in bed or resting on the couch. And for those interested in traveling or lounging in style, there are three color options to choose from: black and grey, dark blue, and silver grey.

Price: $39, w ith a 30-day return policy.

Perfect For: Sleepers looking for a versatile travel pillow that emphasizes neck alignment and chin support.

Our full review coming soon. For more options, see our roundup for the best pillows for neck pain .

Most Comfortable Travel Pillow – BCOZZY Pillow

Bcozzy neck pillow.

The BCOZZY pillow provides great chin support for amazing alignment while you travel!

Some travel pillows simply get the job done in terms of support, but if you’re really wanting optimal comfort, the BCOZZY travel pillow is the right pick for you. 

This pillow features an ergonomic, circle-like design that can be used in three main ways: You can wrap it around your neck for excellent chin support , turn it to one side for head support, or fold it in half and tuck it between your head and shoulder for a little extra loft.  This level of versatility makes it comfortable for sleepers of many preferences.

While there’s comfort in the design, there’s also comfort in the materials. It features a dual-sided cover fabric wherein one side is a fuzzy fleece material, and the other is made from smooth microfiber. Meanwhile, its polyester fiber fill is plush yet supportive, and does a great job of maintaining its shape. 

One of our favorite things about this pillow is how small and portable it is, making it perfect for folks on the go. You can tuck it in your carry-on, loop it around your suitcase handle, or just wear it around your neck like a scarf.

Price: $35-$45, depending on size. 

Perfect For: Sleepers looking for a cozy travel pillow that prioritizes comfort.

Our full review is coming soon, but in the mean time we encourage you to check out our best memory foam pillows for more comfortable options.

Best Travel Pillow for Car Trips – Cabeau Evolution Cool Pillow

Cabeau evolution cooling travel pillow.

The Cabeau Travel Pillow provides great neck support while also keeping travellers from overheating on their journey!

Not everyone prefers to travel by plane. So if you’re partial to car trips, we’d love to point you in the direction of the Cabeau Evolution Cool Pillow.

The feature that stood out to us were the straps on the back of the pillow. This allows you to attach the pillow to the headrest of your car. You won’t have to worry about it sliding out of place during your trip, making it less likely that you’ll be disturbed.

Th is pillow features a U-shaped design with angled sides for enhanced head and neck support . What sets it apart, though, is its ability to be adjusted for customized comfort.  Depending on how tight or loose you’d like it to fit around your neck, simply adjust the clasps on each side of the “U.”

Covered in a moisture-wicking blend of Spandex and polyester and filled with ventilated memory foam, every part of this pillow was made with hot sleepers in mind . This is especially useful if you’re roadtripping in the summer months. This pillow also comes with its own carrying case and earplugs for a cozy, quiet journey.

Price: $40, with a 30-day return policy.

Perfect For: Anyone traveling by car for long periods, or anyone wanting a quality cooling pillow.

Our full review is coming soon. See our roundup for the best orthopedic pillows for other good options.

Best Inflatable Travel Pillow – Travelrest Nest Memory Foam Pillow

Travelrest nest memory foam pillow.

The Travelrest Nest Pillow is a great option for the memory foam lover on the go!

If you’re a traveler who’s looking for a convenient, space-saving option, consider the Travelrest Nest Memory Foam Pillow. This inflatable option compacts into a small size so you can easily stow it in your carry-on or purse. As a little bonus, this pillow comes with its own carrying case and set of earplugs.

Th is pillow as a U-shaped design and, as the name suggests, is filled with a thick piece of memory foam. It offers a very moldable feel , and does a great job of conforming to the precise contours of your neck, chin, and jawline. If you love the way memory foam responds to pressure, this might be the travel pillow for you.

Additionally, the sides of the pillow are slightly raised in order to keep your head and neck comfortably supported, while the back of the pillow is angled to conform to your seat . In our experience, this angled back allowed us to sit up straight and not be pushed forward in any way. 

Oh, and did we mention that it’s covered in the softest velour fabric ? Honestly, this might be our favorite part of the pillow . We’d like to think anyone prioritizing comfort would agree.

Price: $40, with a 30-day return policy. 

Perfect For: Sleepers valuing the convenience of an inflatable travel pillow .

For more pillows available on Amazon, see our roundup for the best pillows on Amazon .

Methodology: How To Shop For A Travel Pillow

Now that we’ve shown you our favorite travel pillows, let’s take some time to show you how they were selected. When you’re shopping for the travel pillow that’ll meet your unique needs, it’s important to pay attention to portability, materials, and shape. So let’s take a look at each of these factors below:

Portability

When you’re wading through airports and bus terminals, the last thing you want is a travel pillow that’s big, bulky, and hard to carry. That’s why we aim for models that are easily folded or tucked away inside luggage.

That said, online shoppers should pay attention to the specific dimensions of a travel pillow (typically listed under “product description”) in order to get a sense for its size. Of course, if you’re shopping in-stores, take some time to see how easy it is to pack inside your purse or carry around the aisles.

We like to pick travel pillows that come with their own carrying case, and we’ll take a look at examples of that in a moment.

The next thing we consider is the specific materials used to make a travel pillow. Like regular bed pillows, they come in a variety of fabrics and materials, and each one offers its own feel and support. That said, it’s important to think about what type of support you’re looking for.

For example, memory foam travel pillows (arguably the most popular) typically provide a more moldable feel with contouring support. This might be ideal for sleepers in the market for something more dense or supportive.

On the other hand, travel pillows filled with polyester (probably the second most popular option) offer a fluffier, plush feel. This comes in handy for folks wanting to fold their travel pillow, as polyester fiber is easy to manipulate.

Lastly, hot sleepers might want to prioritize cover fabrics that are breathable or moisture-wicking. Polyester, spandex, and anything bamboo-based are all wonderful examples of lightweight, airy fabrics commonly used to cover travel pillows. For extra breathability, aim for travel pillows that feature a ventilated construction.

The materials used to make a travel pillow say a lot about its overall feel and support, but so does its shape. Most of you may be familiar with U-shaped travel pillows (frequently found in airport gift shops), and they’re popular for good reason. Travel pillows with a U-shaped design are compact, easy to pack in a suitcase, and offer great neck support.

But nowadays, travel pillows come in a plethora of shapes and sizes, all of which offer their own special benefits. While U-shaped pillows may be ideal for sleepers who like to rest their head from side to side , they can sometimes be lacking in chin support. If chin support is your primary concern, we suggest picking a C-shaped pillow that can be tucked beneath your chin or jaw .

Meanwhile, some sleepers might prefer a travel pillow that can be fully wrapped around the neck for a little extra security. I’ll admit that this is my favorite style, as scarf-like designs offer head, neck, and chin support all in one . Plus, some have a versatile, infinity scarf-like shape that can be looped and wrapped in different ways for different types of support. Ultimately, it’s important to take some time to consider what shape works best for your body.

Using a travel pillow can help you sleep better when you’re on the go and, perhaps more importantly, can prevent your head and neck from deviating out of neutral alignment while you snooze.

No, most commercial airlines do not consider travel pillows to be carry-on items. That said, it’s always a good idea to find a travel pillow that’s easy to pack in a suitcase or purse.

A versatile travel pillow that can be used to support different parts of your body is ideal for long flights. For example, a pillow that can serve as neck, chin, and back support might keep you feeling cozier for longer. Additionally, we suggest aiming for pillows that are filled with more firmly supportive materials, as they’re less likely to compress over time.

Final Thoughts

Well, sleepers, you’ve seen my top five favorite travel pillows and you’re well on your way to picking the perfect one. And as you carefully consider every last detail, don’t forget to keep a close eye on size, shape, and materials in order to find the best fit. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the answers to all your sleep needs.

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The Best Travel Pillows for Long-Haul Flights

By Lauren Burvill

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

If you travel regularly you’ve probably learnt to spot the difference between a frequent flier and a rookie—the most obvious tell-tale sign being a bulky travel pillow, typically carried by an inexperienced flier, hanging from a backpack or being worn (wrongly) around the back of their neck before they even get on the plane. Many of us are guilty of buying one of these beanbag worms from the airport duty-free shop, only to realize that they’re more trouble than they’re actually worth.

Do a little research though—as we’ve done for you here— and you might be pleasantly surprised to find that the humble travel pillow has upped its game recently. Specialized brands like  Trtl  and  BCozzy  have entered the market, while pillows that range in shape and materials have popped up on Amazon.

So which ones are actually worth taking on a flight ? We asked our frequent flying editors to test out the most reviewed styles.

How we choose the best travel pillows

Every pillow on this list has been independently tested and reviewed by our editors. When testing, we consider quality, price, unique design features, as well as overall function and visual appeal.

Our top picks:

• Best overall travel pillow: Cabeau Evolution S3 travel pillow
• Best for neck support: Trtl travel pillow
• Best for side sleepers: BCozzy neck pillow
• Best budget buy: Dot & Dot Twist memory foam travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: overall comfort

If you're looking for an upgrade to a basic does-the-job travel pillow or suffer from neck or back pain, Cabeau's Evolution S3 travel pillow is the best we've tested so far. The memory foam style has considered everything, from an adjustable toggle clasp to secure the pillow comfortably around your neck, to a handy side pocket—ideal for storing headphones or earplugs. What really sets this pillow apart from the rest are the velcro straps on the back, designed to loop around a plane seat's headrest, helping to keep your head upright and take any pressure off your neck.

Why we love it:  “The foam in this pillow is extremely comfortable, but what I love most is that the back of the pillow is flat, so you can sit right up against your seat, unlike the typical travel pillow styles which tend to be round and tilt your neck down slightly. The straps are a great idea, but if you're short it might not be possible to secure to the headrest, so keep that in mind. It also comes in a sleek cylindrical bag that, when clipped onto your carry-on , you’d never even know there was a travel pillow inside." — Sarah Allard , digital editor, Condè Nast Traveller UK

Best travel pillow for: neck support

Less a pillow and more a supportive wrap for your neck, this unique design from Trtl is ideal if you're short on space and weight in your carry-on luggage—it weighs only 4.5 ounces. The pillow is designed to look like a scarf and features a clever curved U-shaped neck support stand that sits under your jaw and is then secured in place by wrapping the fabric around your neck and connecting the velcro.

Why we love it:  “I often feel like most typical travel pillows are too bulky and hard to get comfortably on, so I was keen to try this style. It's perfect for keeping your neck upright and avoiding any of the nodding that can happen while asleep. I'll admit, it feels a little strange at first to put it on, but the hypoallergenic fleece is soft and warm. It's a great option not just for plane travel, but also long road trips or train journeys.” — Sarah James , deputy digital editor, Condè Nast Traveller UK

Best travel pillow for: upper body support

This clever crossbody-sling pillow offers neck and head support while allowing you to truly relax and lean to one side to fall asleep. The pillow comes with a cord at the top that can be secured in place by looping over your seat’s headrest. You can wear the pillow on either side across your body, or down one side, creating more of a barrier between you and the person next to you. The pillow is inflatable, too, so it takes up hardly any room in your luggage.

Why we love it:  “I really love the shape of this pillow, as it cradles not just your neck, but your whole upper body. Although I usually don’t like inflatable pillows, the rigidity of this style works to make you feel secure while sitting upright.” — Lauren Burvill , senior commerce editor, Condè Nast Traveller UK

Best travel pillow for: red-eye flights

More than just a neck pillow, the Pluto Pod boasts a lightly structured and padded hood, as well as a pull-down eye mask. Do you resemble a bobble-headed, 1950s-style alien when you wear it? Yes, you do. Is it, by far, one of the best travel pillows we've tested? Absolutely.

Why we love it : “The pillow has helped me cut down on my sleeping tools. With the Pod, I can eschew ear plugs and an eye mask because the padded hood dampens noise and the flip-down eye mask blocks almost all light. Sleeping with one is like being inside a mini sensory deprivation tank, except you don’t have to worry about getting wet.” — Juliet Izon , contributor

Read a full review here .

Best travel pillow for: flexibility

Made of memory foam, this twist style pillow can be bent and contoured to almost any shape. Its flexibility means it can be worn in several ways, from around the neck to under your head, shoulders, or even lower back.

Why we love it:  “I often toss and turn a lot when trying to get to sleep, so I find I’m particularly wriggly when trying to get comfortable on a flight. This kind of flexible twist style of the pillow was perfect for me, as I was able to shape it to exactly where I needed it to be. I ended up settling with it half behind my neck and half under my chin, so I could lie on my side and get a couple of hours of precious sleep.” —L.B.

Best travel pillow for: side sleepers

Similar to the Trtl pillow but padded with soft microfleece and covered with microsuede, BCozzy's wrap-around design offers plenty of flexibility in terms of how you wear it. The pillow comes in two sizes and when wrapped around the neck offers double the support for your head, neck, and chin. The real standout of this design is the flat back, which is not only great for maintaining a healthy posture, but also means you can fold the pillow in half and wear it on one side.

Why we love it:  “Even on a plane, I'm a side sleeper. My go-to way to snooze is angling the side headrest as far as it can go so I can rest my head in the corner. Headrests can be very hit-and-miss on planes though, so being able to fold the BCozzy pillow in half is ideal as it can prop my neck and chin up on one side without it feeling too suffocating.” —L.B.

Best for: warmth

This squishy infinity-style pillow is all about the soft and breathable bamboo fabric it’s made from. Coming in one large loop, the pillow is worn by wrapping around the neck twice and adjusting and scrunching accordingly depending on the level of comfort you’re looking for.

Why we love it:  “I’d say this pillow is less about neck support and more about soft and cozy scarf–meets–pillow hybrid. It feels like a sleeping bag for your neck—ideal if you get cold easily and are looking for something that’s more snuggly rather than stiff.” —L.B.

Best travel pillow for : Versatility

Slip this microbead-filled cap over your head and you’ll completely redefine the experience of sleeping on the go. From the outside, the wacky-shaped headpiece may feel a tad like a Teletubbies costume, but once you pull your head through the 27.5-inch opening, any place you find yourself in—no matter how bright or how loud—can turn into a sleep zone.

Why we love it: “And there’s no right or wrong way to use it: On a plane, use it to lean against the wall of the window seat, lie head down on the tray table of the middle seat, or tilt backward on the headrest of the seat.” — Rachel Chang , contributor

This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK .

Try Before You Buy: The best neck pillows for travel

Everyone knows how uncomfortable long travel can be on a plane, train or in the car.

MORE: Try Before You Buy: The best carry-on suitcases for spring break

If you are planning a trip this spring break, "Good Morning America" put some neck pillows to the test for Try Before You Buy.

"GMA" correspondent Becky Worley tried three different neck pillows that all can be purchased on Amazon for under $65.

Check out her suggestions below.

By clicking on these shopping links, visitors will leave Goodmorningamerica.com. These e-commerce sites are operated under different terms and privacy policies than Goodmorningamerica.com. ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links. SOME PRICES ARE DYNAMIC AND MAY CHANGE FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

BCOZZY Neck Pillow

BCOZZY Neck Pillow for Travel Provides Double Support to The Head, Neck, and Chin in Any Sleeping Position on Flights, Car, and at Home, Comfortable Airplane Travel Pillow, Large, Navy

Trtl travel and airplane pillow.

trtl Travel and Airplane Pillow - Real Sleeping Experience on Long Flights - Neck and Shoulder Support - Super-Soft, Lightweight, Easy-to-Carry, and Machine-Washable Flight Pillow

Cabeau the neck's evolution.

Cabeau The Neck's Evolution, TNE S3 Travel Neck Pillow Memory Foam Airplane Pillow - Neck Pillow with Attachment Straps - 360-Degree Support for Travel, Home, Office, and Gaming - (Berlin Grey)

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12 best travel pillows for long-haul flights and adventures in 2024

Whether you’re camping, flying or on a long car journey, ensure you’re well rested with one of these, article bookmarked.

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Travel pillows are everywhere – slung around the necks of passengers waiting to check in, poking out of backpacks and dangling from cabin cases . But they’re not just designed for use on planes – they’re great for arduous journeys by car, bus or ferry, too, and can be a lifesaver when (god forbid) a delayed flight means you’re forced to spend the night on a cold airport floor.

Most importantly, they play a crucial role when it comes to body alignment, lightening the load on our neck, head and shoulders by preventing the dreading head bob and making sure that our head stays upright even when we’re out for the count.

The key thing to finding the best travel pillow is that it provides support for your head – if a pillow does this, your neck, back and shoulders will benefit, too. This doesn’t necessarily mean pillows that loop around the neck are the only option because different people sleep in different ways (something reflected in the wide range of options we’ve recommended).

Beyond the shape and filling, there are other, less important factors to consider. Is the lining removable? This isn’t the be-all and end-all, but bear in mind travel pillows are quick to acquire stains and signs of wear and tear, so if it’s not, consider a design that hides those pesky marks. How well does it fit around your headphones , if your go-tos are over-ear models ? This isn’t a problem with most pillows, although there are certainly some options in our round-up that score better than others in this regard.

Finally, in an era when airlines are rolling out increasingly restrictive regulations relating to cabin baggage, how does it do in the stash-ability stakes? If you’re prone to exceeding your size or weight allowance, an inflatable pillow in a carry sack which can be stuffed into a side pocket or dangled from your backpack’s carabiner attachment might be the best option.

Related stories

How we tested the best travel pillows.

We tested these travel pillows in a whole host of scenarios – at our desks, on long flights, on painfully arduous train journeys and bus journeys across southeast Asia . And trust us – as keen travellers accustomed to long trips on planes, trains and automobiles, we’ve got through more travel pillows than we can count.

We considered multiple factors – were they suitable for trips on which space was at a premium? What did the outer lining and stuffing feel like? Were they as useful on trains and long car journeys as they were on planes (anything that means we get more bang for our buck can only be positive, after all)? In other words, you can rest assured you’re (well, your head, neck and shoulders specifically) in good hands.

The best travel pillows for 2024 are:

• Best travel pillow overall – Ostrichpillow go neck pillow: £55, Amazon.co.uk
• Best budget travel pillow – Lifeventure inflatable neck pillow: £12.99, Amazon.co.uk
• Best luxury travel pillow – Slip jet setter travel pillow: £79.29, Beautybay.com
• Best breathable travel pillow – Trtl pillow cool: £29.99, Amazon.co.uk

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Ostrichpillow go neck pillow

• Best : Travel pillow overall
• Material : Viscose
• Filling : Memory foam
• Weight : 350g
• Dimensions : 25cm x 17cm x 7cm
• Ultra-soft materials
• Brilliant ergonomic design

This fantastic memory foam pillow ticked all of the boxes – a removable, ultra-soft lining, a top-quality memory foam filling and generous patches of Velcro to keep it in place, which allows for more adjustability than we’re used to. It’s got a more ergonomic design than other pillows of this size, with a tapered shape which allows it to tuck neatly under our chin. The two-tone colourway also looks incredibly stylish, and we appreciated the tiny size of the label – all too often these are too large and attached to parts of travel pillows where they’re almost certainly going to rub against our skin.

Lifeventure inflatable neck pillow

• Best : Budget travel pillows
• Material : Polyester and TPU bonded fabric
• Filling : Inflatable
• Weight : 54g
• Dimensions : 33cm x 47cm x 12cm
• Very tough fabric on the pillow and stuff sack
• Great value
• No fastening to secure the ends at the neck

These days a growing number of travel pillows are made from memory foam. But as travellers who are perpetually short on space, we’ve got a major soft spot for inflatable ones, such as this piece of portable perfection. It inflated and deflated in seconds and the material – a combination of polyester and TPU-bonded fabric – didn’t chafe or rub, even on long flights. We also loved that it came in its very own bag  – an ultra-tough one made with ripstop fabric.

Snugpak butterfly neck pillow

• Best : For travellers short on space
• Material : Nylon
• Weight : 100g
• Dimensions : 37cm x 15cm x 8cm
• Stashes into the smallest of pockets and pouches
• Butterfly shape might not appeal to all

This pillow’s outer material was wonderfully soft, with a thickness that did a fantastic job of ramping up the comfort. It’s a great option for jet-setters who don’t gel with traditional travel pillows worn around the neck – we loved the way its butterfly shape meant it could be jammed into awkward corners and used as a headrest against airplane windows. It inflated and deflated incredibly quickly, and bonus points were awarded for its handy stuff sack, which can be dangled from buckles on backpacks.

Vango deep sleep ergo pillow

• Best : For frequent flyers
• Material : Knitted elastic
• Weight : 80g
• Dimensions : 41cm x 30cm x 11cm
• Incredibly soft fabric
• Supersized valve makes inflation and deflation a breeze
• Not the best option for those in need of neck (rather than head) support

The shape of this one is inspired by traditional pillows in that it doesn’t loop around the neck but acts as a headrest. Its small size makes it both wonderfully portable and versatile – it works just as well on planes as it does on long coach journeys and camping trips. The large valve means it takes just seconds to inflate and deflate, and the combination of the super soft fabric and a slightly sunken area in the centre did a great job of cushioning our head on a long-haul flight.

Slip jet setter travel pillow

• Best : Luxury travel pillow
• Material : Silk
• Filling : Foam
• Weight : Unspecified
• Dimensions : 25cm x 25cm x 12.5cm
• Soft outer cover
• The filling is not memory foam

Twenty years ago, when we were backpacking around the world using our wallet, socks or pants as pillows on bus journeys and flights, we’d have loved a pillow such as this one. Yes, it’s expensive but it’s also ridiculously comfortable – a thick curve of foam covered with top-quality mulberry silk (which didn’t just feel great on the skin but kept our hair frizz-free too). An integrated zip allows the cover to be removed and washed (because let’s face it, we’re all prone to the odd mid-snooze dribble). We’re not quite willing to award this a full five stars on account of the filling, which is standard foam. Yes, it’s top-quality stuff but we were hoping for memory foam given the use of the finest silk for the exterior.

Ostrichpillow light versatile pillow

• Best : Lightweight travel pillow
• Materials : Viscose
• Filling : Microbeads
• Weight : 110g
• Dimensions : 31.5cm x 16.5cm x 7cm
• Comfortable
• The toggle is great for adjusting the fit
• No washable lining

Yes, this particular pillow looks a little different to the average travel pillow – the suggested way of wearing it is to place it around your head, halo-style, so that it covers your ears and eyes while also cushioning your bonce in all the right places (we could use the toggle to adjust to fit).

We were initially a little nervous about the filling, which consisted of microbeads that felt similar to the ones inside bean bags, albeit slightly smaller. However, our concerns were unfounded – perhaps due to their small size, the result is a wonderful mouldability which provided high levels of comfort, boosted by the ultra-soft lining. The only reason we’re not giving this pillow five out of five is because there’s no removable outer covering should it get dirty, but trust us – this is a minor issue when comfort levels are this high.

Trtl pillow cool

• Best : Breathable travel pillow
• Material : Tencel
• Weight : 299g
• Dimensions : ‎25.4cm x 20.32cm x 10.16cm
• Innovative design
• Breathable material
• Not the most compact of travel pillows
• The fastening can be a little fiddly at first

We’ve not come across many travel pillows that come with instruction manuals and were somewhat sceptical about the slightly more complicated design of Trtl’s pillow. In summary, it’s got a built-in rigid section designed to offer firm support for the neck – you keep this section in place by wrapping the scarf-like section around your neck. It was much more comfortable than we imagined and did a great job eliminating the dreaded head-bob, although it only offers support on one side. Despite the built-in rigid section, it’s incredibly light, and the material is surprisingly breathable, too.

Vango Shangri-La memory foam pillow

• Best : For superior comfort
• Material : Brushed polyester
• Filling : Memory foam and an air pocket
• Weight : 450g
• Dimensions : 36cm x 11cm
• Superior comfort
• Soft fabric

We loved everything about this pillow, which has a precision-engineered ergonomic shape and is covered by some of the softest fabric we’ve come across. The memory foam provided the optimal amount of cushioning, and a colleague who borrowed it for a few moments described his experience as “similar to sleeping on a cloud”. What that actually feels like is anybody’s guess, but we reckon that’s a pretty good endorsement.

The secret to the superior comfort lies in its design, which comprises an outer layer of memory foam and a central air pocket. The result? The mouldability of memory foam and the support which comes courtesy of the air pocket – AKA the ultimate double act, we reckon.

Lifeventure inflatable pillow

• Best : For a traditional pillow option
• Material : Polyester and TPU fabric
• Weight : 77g
• Dimensions : 36cm x 51cm x 10cm
• Ergonomic shape provides support

An ergonomic shape provided just the right amount of support (including all-important lumbar support) and the deep grooves aided airflow during a particularly hot, sticky night on a cramped red-eye flight. It’s got enough flexibility to use on planes and trains, and the combination of polyester and TPU fabric makes for an extremely durable pillow. The carry case, made from ripstop fabric, is equally rugged.

Exped air pillow

• Best : For durability
• Material : Polyester and TPU polyether film laminate
• Weight : 60g
• Dimensions : 46cm x 30cm x 12 cm
• Easy to adjust rigidness
• Quick to inflate

Another pillow with an unusual shape – in this case, a semi-rectangular profile – the Exped air pillow isn’t the softest of travel accessories, but it’s ridiculously quick to inflate and wonderfully easy to adjust when it comes to rigidity. It took five short breaths to inflate it fully, and the presence of separate, dedicated inflation and deflation valves cranks up the efficiency. An internal flap in the intake valve means a minimal chance of leaks, too.

Go Travel memory dreamer travel pillow

• Best : For lumbar support
• Material : Polyester
• Weight : 355g
• Dimensions : 26cm x 25.5cm x 12.5cm
• Memory foam core provides great lumbar support
• Thick lining
• No hook to hang it off backpacks

A memory foam core provides great lumbar support along with cushioning for the head and shoulders, and the lining has a surprising thickness – one which suggests that the memory dreamer is more than capable of standing up to some serious wear and tear. There’s no hook to hang it off backpacks, but we loved the buckle-style clip, which meant we could quickly and easily tweak the fit (something which press studs don’t allow).

Outwell dream boat ergo pillow

• Best : Multipurpose travel pillow
• Materials : Polyester
• Weight : 300g
• Dimensions : 50cm x 29cm x 10cm
• Large makes it versatile
• Top-quality memory foam construction
• Provides great support

This pillow is one of the largest we’ve tested, but we can confirm it’s still perfectly suitable for plane journeys, thanks to its amazing squishiness. The upside to its supersized design is that it can be used for camping holidays too, and its versatility is ramped up due to a number of factors.

Firstly, the low-flat valves, which are easy to inflate but won’t snag when the pillow is squashed into small spaces or stashed into backpacks. Add a top-quality memory foam construction, super soft fabric and a shape designed to support not just the head but the back and shoulders too, and you’ve got a one-way ticket to the land of nod.

Travel pillow FAQs

What is the best travel pillow shape.

If you’re lucky enough to be one of those few people whose in-flight discomfort doesn’t come from head bobbing but the displeasure stemming from resting your head against hard surfaces, opt for a travel pillow with a traditional shape, rather than a looping design (another benefit of these is that they’re more versatile, and double as great camping pillows when space is at a premium).

What is the best travel pillow filling?

Don’t make the mistake of insisting on memory foam – although memory foam is usually best when it comes to fantastic support, there are plenty of other fillings (such as lightweight microbeads) which work just as well, while inflatable pillows are handy if you’re short on space.

The verdict: Travel pillows

What’s not to love about a cloud-like neck pillow filled with the finest quality memory foam and precision-engineered to support our head, neck and shoulders? Nothing – which is exactly why Ostrichpillow’s go neck pillow bags the top spot. Snugpak’s butterfly neck pillow comes second for its wonderful versatility while Lifeventure’s inflatable neck pillow earns a special mention for its hat trick of practicality, comfort and value for money.

Make travelling light work with one of these travel backpacks for hiking holidays and city breaks

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Airplane Seat Extender for Kids with Pillow - Kid Airplane Travel Bed & Car Bed for Kids - Must Have for Travel with Kids - Inflatable Foot Rest Airplane & Airplane Kids Bed -Toddler Travel Essential

Purchase options and add-ons, about this item.

• Enhance Toddler Comfort: Airplane Seat Extender for Kids with Pillow - The Essential Solution for Happy and Cozy Travels! - Useful as Travel Toddler Bed and Footrest✈️👶
• Inflatable Toddler Airplane Bed: Let Your Child Stretch Out and Relax on Long Flights - Ultimate Comfort for Young Travelers - Stretch Out With The Seat Extender For Kids
• Enhance your travel experience with our Airplane Seat Extender for Kids! Featuring a Bonus Pillow for Extra Comfort, Effortless Setup, and Easy Portability - Your All-in-One Travel Solution!
• Transform travel with ease! Portable Comfort On-the-Go! Effortless to Carry, Doubles as an Airplane Baby Travel Bed & Car Bed for Ultimate Convenience! ✈️🚗 #TravelComfort"
• Simplify your journey! Easy to Clean for Stress-Free Travel! Airplane Seat Extender with Pillow - Effortless Setup, Portable, and a Breeze to Keep Fresh! ✈️🧼 #TravelEase"

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PRODUCT CERTIFICATION (1)

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 requires textiles-based products to be tested against a list of 1,000+ chemicals, to limit those which may be harmful to human health. Certification focus: #ProductSafety and #ChemicalsUsed.

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Enhance your travel experience with our Toddler Airplane Travel Essentials, crafted to make journeys with your little one a breeze! This essential Airplane Bed for Toddler features an inflatable footrest designed for both airplane and car travel, along with a plush pillow, serving as the perfect Travel Baby Bed companion. Bid farewell to restless little travelers on planes or in cars – our innovative design ensures optimal comfort and relaxation for your child throughout the journey. Whether it's a short flight or an extended road trip, this Toddler Plane Bed guarantees a cozy and content travel companion for your child, eliminating fidgety discomfort. For busy parents, convenience is key, and our Portable Toddler Bed for Travel delivers just that. Effortlessly inflate it to create a flat and comfortable surface, making setup a breeze wherever your adventures take you. Transform any seat into a spacious and comforting haven with the inflatable footrest, allowing your little one to stretch out and enjoy some well-deserved rest during flights. The added pillow ensures extra comfort, turning every seat into a home away from home. No more worries about restless toddlers during travel – our Inflatable Toddler Bed is a game-changer, making flying or driving with kids stress-free. Don't leave home without this essential Baby Airplane Bed, guaranteeing your child's contentment and comfort throughout the entire journey. A must-have for travels with kids! Make your travel adventures smoother and more enjoyable. Invest in our Airplane Seat Extender for Toddler today and transform every trip into a relaxing and stress-free experience!

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Customer reviews.

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the quality, strength, and ease of setup of the body positioner. They mention that it is sturdy, the straps are strong, and that it supports the weight well.

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Customers are satisfied with the quality of the body positioner. They mention that it is sturdy, the straps are strong, and it supports the weight well.

"...The strong straps and easy setup are also great features that I appreciated" Read more

"...The straps are strong and support the weight well. I Also like the side pocket because I can keep necessary items in it." Read more

" Good quality all around . The straps are firm and the pillow was very nice to have for my kid. We use it as a pillow and footrest." Read more

"I gotta say, this thing is very sturdy ! Spilled some stuff on it, no biggie, wiped right off. Plus, it's very spacious." Read more

Customers find the body positioner easy to set up. They mention that the strong straps and the ability to install and take off the product are great features.

"Great product! It’s easy to install and take off ." Read more

"The product made our trip a lot better. It was easy to set up , and our kid really enjoyed the comfy pillow. I would definitely recommend it." Read more

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