If you’ve ever found yourself jolting awake on a long journey, with your head lolling and your neck sore, then you might consider investing in a travel pillow. These pillows come in various shapes and sizes, but the best ones provide 360-degree support for your neck, preventing strain on any one side.
This all-around support is particularly important for those situated in middle or aisle seats, where there’s no surface to lean your head against. Moreover, many travel pillows can be conveniently clipped onto your backpack or suitcase, saving precious space in your luggage.
If this resonates with you, or if you simply enjoy having travel accessories, read on for our comprehensive reviews of popular travel pillows. At the end of this article, you’ll also find useful tips on how to use them effectively. However, if you’re short on time, here’s a quick preview of our top six picks:
How I tested the best travel pillows
I put these travel pillows to the test over two months while simultaneously reviewing the best packing cubes. I used them during flights to Venice and Edinburgh and during my hour-long train commutes to and from work. Despite my tendency to fall asleep easily while traveling, I frequently wake up with my head in an uncomfortable position.
Throughout my evaluation, I carefully considered affordability, design, and material quality. I sought 360-degree support, a balance of firmness and comfort, as well as any extra features such as straps for securing the pillow to seats and compactness when folded. Here are my findings, beginning with my top pick…
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The Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow is a high-quality travel accessory designed to enhance comfort during long journeys. Made by Cabeau, a brand known for its innovative travel solutions, this pillow is crafted from plush memory foam, providing excellent support for the neck and head. The pillow is available in an attractive indigo color and is designed for adult use. It features a quick-dry fabric that helps keep you cool and dry, making it ideal for various travel conditions. The pillow is also equipped with exclusive patented seat straps, allowing it to be securely attached to airplane seats or any chair, ensuring your head remains in a comfortable position without falling forward.
Features
Memory Foam Construction: The pillow is made from high-quality memory foam, offering superior comfort and support. This material adapts to the shape of your neck and head, providing a personalized fit.
B Corp Certified: Cabeau is committed to sustainability and ethical business practices, as evidenced by their B Corp certification. This ensures that the product is made with consideration for environmental and social responsibility.
Patented Seat Straps: The unique seat straps allow the pillow to be attached to any chair, preventing slouching and maintaining proper alignment of the head and spine.
Ergonomic Design: The dual-density memory foam design provides comfort whether your head leans forward or to the side. It includes an adjustable clasp for additional chin support.
Orthopedic Expert-Approved: Recommended by professionals, this pillow supports any seated activity that may strain the neck muscles, making it ideal for travel or office use.
Washable Cover and Compact Storage: The pillow comes with a washable cover and a carry bag that compresses the pillow to half its size, making it easy to pack and transport.
Earphone Friendly: Designed to accommodate earbuds and headphones, the pillow features raised side supports to keep them in place.
Easy Attachment: The pillow can be easily strapped to a seat by following simple instructions, ensuring a secure fit.
The Trtl Travel Pillow is a uniquely designed travel accessory aimed at providing superior neck and shoulder support during travel. Unlike traditional U-shaped pillows, the Trtl pillow features a patented internal support system that keeps your head upright, reducing the risk of neck aches and strains. Made from soft fleece fabric, this pillow is both comfortable and skin-friendly, making it an ideal companion for long flights, car rides, or train journeys. Its compact and lightweight design, weighing only 4.5 ounces, ensures that it is easy to carry and attach to your luggage, making it a convenient travel essential.
Features
Scientifically Proven Design: The Trtl Travel Pillow is designed with a patented internal support system that provides optimal neck support, keeping your head upright and preventing discomfort during naps.
Soft Fleece Fabric: Crafted from soft, skin-friendly fleece, the pillow offers a cozy and comfortable experience, making it perfect for long journeys.
Compact and Lightweight: Weighing just 4.5 ounces, the pillow is extremely lightweight and comes with a travel bag, allowing for easy attachment to backpacks or luggage without adding extra weight.
Machine Washable: Unlike traditional memory foam pillows, the Trtl pillow is machine-washable and quick-drying. Simply remove the internal support and wash the wrap to keep it fresh for every trip.
Travel-Friendly Size: Its compact design makes it easy to pack and carry, ensuring hassle-free comfort on the go. It’s suitable for various modes of travel, including airplanes, cars, and trains.
Enhanced Travel Comfort: Designed to ensure a restful journey, the Trtl Travel Pillow helps you arrive at your destination feeling refreshed and ready to enjoy your vacation.
This pillow is an excellent choice for travelers seeking a lightweight, supportive, and easy-to-maintain neck pillow that enhances comfort during travel.
The Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow is a versatile and innovative travel accessory designed to provide personalized comfort and support during your journeys. Unlike traditional neck pillows, this pillow is twistable and can be contoured to fit almost any shape or position, offering customized support for your neck, head, back, shoulders, or even legs. Made from high-quality memory foam, it provides luxurious cushioning that relieves pressure points, making it ideal for long flights, car rides, or relaxing at home. The pillow comes in a sleek gray color and is covered with a breathable, machine-washable cotton cover, ensuring it stays clean and fresh for every trip.
Features
Customizable Support: The twistable design allows the pillow to contour to any shape or position, providing personalized support and pain relief tailored to your needs.
Versatile Use: Beyond being a neck pillow, it can be used to support various parts of the body, such as the head, back, shoulders, or cervical spine, making it suitable for naps, relaxation, or reading.
Travel Essential: This pillow is a must-have for comfortable travel, whether you’re on a long airplane flight, train, bus, or car road trip. The memory foam cushions the body, alleviating pressure points for ultimate relaxation.
Easy Maintenance: The pillow features a breathable, machine-washable cotton cover, making it easy to keep clean and fresh for your next adventure.
Convenient Portability: Equipped with a snap closure, the pillow can be easily attached to your carry-on luggage or backpack. It also allows you to secure the pillow around your neck or headrest, making it a convenient car pillow.
The Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow is a premium travel accessory designed to provide exceptional comfort and support during your travels. Made by OSTRICH PILLOW, this neck pillow features high-density BASF memory foam that molds to your neck, ensuring optimal support and alignment. Its 360º ergonomic design includes a Velcro closure for customized adjustment, allowing the pillow to hold your chin securely and maintain proper neck alignment with your spine. The pillow’s asymmetrical sides offer flexibility in resting positions, making it adaptable to your comfort needs. Available in a deep blue color, the pillow comes with a washable modal cover and a travel bag, making it a convenient and sustainable choice for travelers.
Features
Premium Comfort: The high-density BASF memory foam provides a new level of relaxation by seamlessly molding to your neck, offering optimal support and alignment while traveling.
360º Ergonomic Design: The pillow features a Velcro closure for customized adjustment, ensuring your chin is held securely and your neck is aligned with your spine, reducing the risk of neck and cervical aches.
Asymmetrical Sides: The design includes unequal sides for flexibility in resting positions. You can use the pillow with the closure facing forward or backward to find the perfect fit for your comfort.
Traveler’s Choice: The pillow compresses to 60% of its size without compromising the quality of the memory foam. It comes with a travel bag and is compatible with small-sized headphones and earbuds, making it an essential travel accessory.
Sustainable & Washable Cover: The cover is made from modal, a soft, durable, and sustainable fabric. It is removable and machine washable, ensuring easy maintenance and cleanliness.
The MLVOC Travel Pillow is a high-quality travel accessory designed to provide exceptional neck support and comfort during your journeys. Made from 100% pure memory foam, this pillow features a perfect curve shape that helps fix your neck position, preventing your head from falling forward and relieving neck pain. The pillow is equipped with an adjustable rope lock, allowing you to customize the angle and size to meet different neck size requirements. It comes in a sleek black color and includes a breathable, sweat-resistant cover made from magnetic therapy cloth, which is machine washable for easy maintenance. The travel kit also includes 3D contoured eye masks, earplugs, and a luxury travel bag, making it a comprehensive solution for comfortable travel.
Features
Perfect Support: The memory foam pillow is designed with perfect curves to fix your neck position, preventing head movement and relieving neck pain during travel. The adjustable rope lock allows for customization of the pillow’s angle and size.
Sweat-Resistant, Washable Cover: The pillow is covered with a breathable, super soft magnetic therapy cloth, featuring millions of tiny premium microbeads and a self-developed sweat-resistant fabric for maximum comfort. The cover is machine washable, ensuring a fresh and clean pillow for every journey.
Premium Memory Foam: The pillow is filled with luxury memory foam that uses 5 seconds return technology, providing comfort and durability. It cushions the body and relieves pressure points for ultimate relaxation.
Versatile Use: Ideal for travel on planes, cars, trains, or buses, the pillow provides extra neck support to prevent pain. It’s also suitable for home use, such as watching TV, reading, or taking a nap at the office. It makes a perfect gift for friends, family, and colleagues.
Portable and Lightweight: The pillow measures 11×9.2×4.6 inches and weighs 0.6 lbs. It comes with a travel bag that compresses the pillow to half its size, and a snap strap for easy attachment to carry-on luggage, saving space and enhancing portability.
The BCOZZY Neck Pillow is a versatile and ergonomic travel accessory designed to provide double support to the head, neck, and chin, making it ideal for use on flights, in cars, or at home. This patented pillow is available in a large size, suitable for neck sizes up to 16 inches, and comes in a stylish navy color. It is filled with a soft bounce-back down alternative and features a breathable fabric shell made of cozy microfleece and cool microsuede. The BCOZZY pillow is designed to offer a perfect balance between softness and firmness, ensuring maximum comfort in any sleeping position.
Features
Double Support: The BCOZZY pillow provides unique double support to the head, neck, and chin, helping to relax and prevent neck pain and sore shoulders when sleeping upright. This makes it a favorite among travel accessories and gifts.
Ergonomic Design: The pillow can be adjusted to three ergonomic positions for maximum comfort: Front: Place the overlapping pillow arms under the chin for double chin support. Side: Fold the pillow in half, place it on the shoulder, and lean your head to the side for side-sleepers. Front + Side: Slide the overlapping arms 90 degrees to the side for double support to the neck and chin if your head falls forward and to the side.
Flat-Back Design: Unlike traditional U-shaped travel pillows that push the head forward, the BCOZZY pillow features a flat-back design that prevents this, reducing neck pain and muscle strain.
Soft and Firm Balance: The pillow is made with a breathable fabric shell and filled with a soft bounce-back down alternative, providing adequate comfort and shaping to your favorite position.
Portable and Easy to Clean: Lightweight and equipped with a carry case, the pillow is easy to transport and keep clean. The snap loop allows it to be clipped to luggage or hung in a car.
Machine Washable: Unlike memory foam pillows, the BCOZZY pillow is fully machine washable, making maintenance simple and convenient.
The Inflatable Travel Air Pillow by Kimiandy is a versatile and ergonomic travel accessory designed to provide optimal support for the head and lumbar region, helping to alleviate neck and shoulder pain. This pillow is ideal for use on airplanes, in cars, buses, and even in the office. It features a unique 45° angle design that allows your head and neck to naturally lean forward, reducing pressure on the cervical vertebrae and promoting better posture. The pillow is inflatable, making it highly portable and easy to pack, and comes in a sleek grey color.
Features
Perfect Angle Design – 45°: The pillow is designed with a 45° angle, allowing your head and neck to lean forward naturally. This design decreases pressure on the cervical vertebrae, offering better comfort and making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep longer while traveling.
Ergonomic Support: The pillow helps maintain the proper relationship between the head, neck, and shoulders, based on ergonomic principles. It aids in preventing cervical damage, sciatic nerve issues, and coccyx damage, promoting better posture and reducing insomnia.
Flat-Back Design: Unlike traditional U-shaped travel pillows that push the head forward, the BCOZZY pillow features a flat-back design that prevents this, reducing neck pain and muscle strain.
Atmospheric Valves: Equipped with a unique big air valve, the pillow is easier to inflate and deflate compared to ordinary inflatable pillows. It is recommended not to overfill the pillow with air, leaving some space for a softer feel.
Portable and Comfortable: The pillow is soft and comfortable to touch, providing unimaginable comfort when resting your face on it. It comes with a drawstring bag for easy storage and portability. Weighing only 0.78 lbs, it is lightweight and convenient for travel.
Versatile Use: Suitable for various occasions, including family trips, airplane travel, car rides, bus journeys, train travel, office naps, and camping. It provides excellent support for a good night’s sleep in multiple settings.
Compact Size: The pillow measures 5.8 x 4.7 x 2.3 inches when deflated and 19.6 x 11.8 x 11.8 inches when inflated, making it compact and easy to carry.
The DYD Travel Pillow is a high-quality neck support accessory designed to enhance comfort during travel. Made from premium memory foam, this U-shaped pillow provides ergonomic support with its raised lobe design, ensuring your neck is fully supported for a restful journey. The pillow comes in a sophisticated gray color and features a washable velour cover, offering a plush and comfortable texture that remains breathable even in warmer climates. This travel pillow is ideal for use on airplanes, trains, buses, or even at home or in the office. It includes additional travel essentials such as a sleep mask, earplugs, and a storage bag, making it a comprehensive travel companion.
Features
Ergonomic Neck Support: The U-shape design with raised lobes provides complete support for your neck, allowing you to rest comfortably and reduce neck strain during travel.
Premium Memory Foam: The pillow is filled with advanced 3-second rebound memory foam, which offers enhanced support and can be compressed to a small size for easy portability. It quickly returns to its original shape, saving packing space and time.
Washable Velour Cover: The pillow features a plush velour cover that is soft to the touch and breathable, ensuring comfort even in summer. The cover is durable, with no pilling or fading, and is machine washable for easy maintenance.
Versatile Use: Suitable for various travel modes, including airplanes, trains, and buses, the pillow is also perfect for relaxation at home or in the office. The drawstring tie helps secure the pillow in place for added stability.
Travel Essentials Included: The pillow comes with a sleep mask, earplugs, and a storage bag, providing everything you need for a comfortable and restful travel experience.
Customer Satisfaction: DYD is committed to providing an excellent shopping experience, offering customer support for any issues with their products or services.
The FLOWZOOM Inflatable Travel Pillow is a versatile and innovative travel accessory designed to provide exceptional comfort and support during long flights. This pillow features an H-shape design that allows for five different sleeping positions, offering flexibility and enhanced support compared to traditional travel pillows. It comes in a stylish silver gray color and is available in size L. The pillow is inflatable, making it lightweight and easy to pack, and includes a detachable hood to block out light, enhancing your ability to rest during travel.
Features
Innovative H-Shape Design: The unique H-shape design allows for five different sleeping positions, including extra chin support, providing 360° support and comfort that traditional neck pillows cannot offer.
Easy Inflation and Deflation: The pillow features a special check valve that allows for swift inflation and deflation. It requires only three breaths to inflate, and you can adjust the air pressure to your preference, with a recommended fill of approximately 90%.
Slim Flattened Back Design: The pillow’s design prevents your head from being pushed forward, offering extraordinary support and comfort even in economy class seating on airplanes.
Detachable Hood: The included hood helps block out disturbing light, creating a private retreat and making it easier to fall asleep.
Ergonomic Design: Designed by German engineers, the pillow ensures a 100% ergonomically correct posture while seated, reducing strain and enhancing comfort.
Complete Travel Kit: The travel neck pillow kit includes a travel pouch, earplugs, and finely crafted giftable packaging. It also features a QR code linking to a personal explanation video for optimal use.
The J-Pillow Travel Pillow is an award-winning travel accessory designed to provide exceptional support and comfort during your journeys. Recognized as the British Invention of the Year, this pillow features a unique ergonomic design that offers 3-way support for the head, chin, and neck, making it ideal for travelers who want to arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and ready to go. The pillow comes in a stylish black and grey color and is filled with soft polyester, ensuring a cozy and comfortable experience.
Features
Award-Winning Technology: The J-Pillow’s patented design provides 3-way support, effectively supporting the head, chin, and neck. This innovative technology is exclusive to J-Pillow and is a must-have for any travel enthusiast.
Prevents Stiff Neck: By filling the gap between your head and shoulders, the pillow prevents your chin from falling forward, offering real neck support and protecting against neck strain during flights.
Versatile Use: Beyond airplane travel, the J-Pillow is perfect for relaxing on the couch, watching TV, as a car neck pillow, or for train travel. Its super soft fleece, plush cushioning, and cozy shoulder support make it suitable for use at home or on the go.
Enhanced Comfort for Side Sleepers: The pillow’s design is particularly effective for side sleepers, especially in window seats, providing perfect cushioning and neck pain relief during long flights.
Portable and Easy to Maintain: The J-Pillow comes with its own carry case, is lightweight, and can be attached to luggage with a snap. It is machine washable, ensuring easy maintenance and cleanliness.
British Invention of the Year: This accolade highlights the J-Pillow’s innovative design and effectiveness, making it an essential travel companion for those seeking unmatched comfort and support.
