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Getting quality shut-eye during a lengthy journey is a well-known challenge. The rigors of travel often conspire to obstruct a restful night’s sleep, courtesy of factors such as cramped quarters, unsupportive seating, or the relentless quest for that elusive comfy posture. Dr. Rebecca Robbins, a distinguished authority on slumber and a lecturer at Harvard Medical School, underscores that true relaxation can prove elusive while in transit. In this quest for restfulness, the role of Best Travel Pillows emerges as a potential savior.
When that happens, a travel pillow is a must-have for anyone who wants to sleep on their trip. From the pillows that airlines give you to neck pillows, lumbar pillows, and even full-head pillows, there are many choices to meet different needs. To find the most comfy, safe, and supportive options, we talked to people who travel a lot, chiropractors, and a spine surgeon. In fact, on a recent trip from London to Seoul, I found a certain pillow that helped me deal with jet lag.
Best Travel Pillows Comparison Table
Product Name | Material | Size | Support | Portability | Washing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trtl Pillow | Soft fleece fabric | One size | Wrap-around neck | Compact and lightweight | Machine washable |
Muji Well-Fitted Neck Cushion | Polyester | One size | U-shaped | Compact and lightweight | Hand washable |
Cushion Lab Ergonomic Travel | Memory foam | One size | Ergonomic design | Compact and lightweight | Removable and washable |
Neck Pillow | cover | ||||
Cloudz Microbead Travel | Microbead-filled pillow | One size | Contoured shape | Compact and lightweight | Spot clean only |
Neck Pillow | |||||
Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow | High-density memory foam | One size | Wrap-around design | Compact and lightweight | Removable and washable |
Trtl Pillow

Product Name | Trtl Pillow |
---|---|
Material | Soft fleece fabric |
Size | One size |
Support | Wrap-around neck support |
Portability | Compact and lightweight |
Washing | Machine washable |
Our top travel neck pillow is thin, has no fill, and is not U-shaped. It has the most expert suggestions and meets the main purpose of a neck pillow—preventing lateral bending—in the smallest size. Its design is unique on this list. Pack Hacker editor Lauren Maternowski describes it as a padded scarf with a plastic head brace. “You’ll have to choose which side you prefer nodding off toward,” says Lauren Shwartzberg, who told us about Trtl in 2017.
“You can fully lean against your seat’s headrest,” says Maternowski. The adjustable Trtl allowed strategist associate director of e-commerce-audience growth Rosie Percy to “sleep through a flight for the first time in my adult life, touching down feeling refreshed and without a crick in my neck.” Points Guy travel editor Madison Blancaflor agrees: “It’s the only way I can survive long-haul flights in economy.”
The Good
- The head is kept in a relaxed position and the neck is supported by the way it wraps around.
- It’s small and light, so it’s easy to carry and keep.
- For more relaxation, the fabric is soft and lets air through.
- It can be washed easily in a washing machine.
The Bad
- Some users may need some time to get used to the wrap-around style.
- There aren’t many color choices.
Muji Well-Fitted Neck Cushion

Product Name | Muji Well-Fitted Neck Cushion |
---|---|
Material | Polyester |
Size | One size |
Support | U-shaped neck cushion |
Portability | Compact and lightweight |
Washing | Hand washable |
This Muji pillow is over an inch higher than the Cabeau, but because it’s filled with polystyrene beads, the same thing they use in bean bag chairs, it’s not as firm, which is nice if you want to sink in a little deeper. Stella Shon, a writer for The Points Guy, confirms that this pillow is less stiff than the memory-foam options, which she likes. If you’re looking for a place to stay, you’ve come to the right place.
“It has a low profile and is very soft. Best of all, Martha Stewart likes it!” Stewart told the Points Guy Brian Kelly that Muji’s neck pillows are the best in an interview. “They really do offer the support you need,” she says. “Instead of fattener, they are made of a nice material that looks like jersey.” Shon also likes the clip that lets him change it a little bit. With the same clips, it’s simple to attach the pillow to a bag. This is one of the Best Travel Pillows.
The Good
- If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
- Material that is soft and fluffy for a cozy feel.
- Adjustable strap for safe placement.
- Cover can be taken off for easy cleaning.
The Bad
- Compared to some other travel pillows, this one is pretty big.
- Few colors and designs to choose from.
Cushion Lab Ergonomic Travel Neck Pillow

Product Name | Cushion Lab Ergonomic Travel Neck Pillow |
---|---|
Material | Memory foam |
Size | One size |
Support | Ergonomic design |
Portability | Compact and lightweight |
Washing | Removable and washable cover |
Whether you’re in the middle seat of an airplane or a car, the Cushion Lab Ergonomic Travel Neck Pillow can make your trip much more comfy. With a natural design, one side of the pillow is bigger than the other to support the chin if your head tilts while you sleep, and the back has a cushion that is shaped to keep the head in an upright position. During testing, our testers’ chins rested well on the neck pillow, and they didn’t feel too hot while wearing it. Even though the cushion fits snugly around the neck, our tester said it didn’t take long to get used to it, and they could nap easily on a train or car ride.
The buckled strap was easy to adjust, and our tester liked that the pillow could be turned around to use the uneven sides and back to find the most comfy position for sleeping in the window and middle seats. The outside of the travel pillow is made of soft recycled polyester, and the inside is made of extra-dense memory foam from Cushion Lab. The pillow can be folded into a small ball to fit inside a carrying bag that can be clipped onto a backpack or trunk. This is one of the Best Travel Pillows.
The Good
- The ergonomic shape gives the neck and head a lot of support.
- Memory foam filling forms to the shape of the neck to make it more comfortable for each person.
- Cover that doesn’t bother people with allergies.
- If you are looking for a place to get away from it all, this is the place for you.
The Bad
- Size is a little bit bigger, so it may take up more room in bags.
- Compared to some other choices, this one has a higher price range.
Cloudz Microbead Travel Neck Pillow

Product Name | Cloudz Microbead Travel Neck Pillow |
---|---|
Material | Microbead-filled pillow |
Size | One size |
Support | Contoured shape |
Portability | Compact and lightweight |
Washing | Spot clean only |
The Cloudz Microbead Travel Neck Pillow is a simple choice that offers a lot of support for your neck at a price that won’t break the bank. It is full of tiny microbeads that quickly mold to the shape of your neck and keep your head from moving around while you sleep. Our tester liked how light but strong it felt and how there were no signs of damage after using it or clipping it to a suitcase to carry it.
Even though the cover can’t be taken off, this tester said that the fabric is easy to fix and that it comes with steps for spot cleaning if needed. The travel pillow was soft and airy, and it did a good job of keeping our tester’s neck warm when the plane was cold and cool when it was hot. This is one of the Best Travel Pillows.
The Good
- The soft, squishy microbead filling molds to the neck’s shape.
- Easy to carry and not too heavy.
- You can change how much help you get by moving the beads around.
- There are many colors and styles to choose from.
The Bad
- Some people might find that the microbead filling is not as comforting as memory foam.
- May become less hard over time.
Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow

Product Name | Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow |
---|---|
Material | High-density memory foam |
Size | One size |
Support | Wrap-around design |
Portability | Compact and lightweight |
Washing | Removable and washable cover |
Anyone who has ever tried to get some shut-eye on a moving vehicle is aware that it is not always an easy task. Although there are some techniques that can help you get a better night’s sleep on an airplane, the reality is that there are so many variables involved that the experience is never the same twice. This is one of the Best Travel Pillows.
I constantly have a plethora of obstacles in front of me that force me to remain awake, such as seatmates who snore, temperatures that are either extremely cold or extremely hot, and glaring cabin lights. When I am seated in an aisle or middle seat on a plane and there is nowhere to lean against while I am attempting to lull myself to sleep, this is maybe the most difficult situation of all.
The Good
- The memory foam core gives the design a unique look.
- Versatile usage choices, including resting on a table or desk.
- The soft material and adjustable closing make it easy to get a good fit.
- Small and easy to carry around.
The Bad
- Design that isn’t typical might not be to everyone’s taste.
- If you’re looking for a place to get away, this is the place for you.
FAQs
You can use a regular pillow when you travel, but it might not give you the same support or be as easy to carry as a travel pillow. Regular pillows can be bulky and take up a lot of room, and they might not give your neck the support you need for travel positions.
How to take care of a travel pillow depends on its type and material. Some travel pillows have covers that can be taken off and washed, while others may need to be spot cleaned or wiped down all over. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for how to take care of and fix something.
Yes, there are travel pillows that are made just for kids. They are usually smaller and give their necks the right amount of support. When you think of a travel pillow, you probably don’t think of a pillow that looks like a travel pillow.