Whether you’re looking for your first-ever neck pillow or you’re a seasoned veteran, there’s something on this list for everyone. From blow-up models to memory foam, there’s a lot to choose from.
Before you decide on the best travel neck pillow for you, there are a few things to go over. What are you looking for in a pillow companion? Do you want structure or something squishy to lean on? Does packed size matter to you? Is there a material that makes you sweat or is uncomfortable on your skin? Once you’ve answered those questions, we’re ready to rock.
Whether riding in the middle seat on a budget airline or traveling by train across Europe, it’s time to get comfortable! Let’s dive in.
If you’re looking for a lot of support that doesn’t take up much room, look no further than the trtl Travel Pillow. The internal support system is wrapped in a soft fleece material, so the strength doesn’t overshadow its comfort. The support is on one side of your neck, so it feels really great when we’re sleeping on one side. You can even move it to the front to add support under your chin. However, if you tend to bob your neck to the left and right in your sleep, your head may still hang to one side.
In testing, we found that the Trtl Travel Pillow scored a six in comfort. The fleece helps make things more cozy; however, the pillow support itself is very stiff. If you’re looking for something structured, this is the option for you. We gave its stability a seven, as it holds your neck well; however, it only supports one side, which might not work for some users.
If you aren’t a fan of sturdy pillows, this might not be the one for you. However, you can adjust the trtl to work for almost any sleeping position, whether on a plane, train, or automobile. This is an excellent option for those looking for something that isn’t too bulky and offers a load of support.
Why We Like It- Stiff insert adds a ton of support
- Made with a soft, comfortable fleece
- It may be too stiff for some users
- We sometimes find the fleece too warm
Best inflatable neck pillow
If packability is what you want from a travel neck pillow, then an inflatable one is pretty hard to beat. One of our biggest apprehensions, though, is how durable they are. Just one puncture, and they’re rendered practically useless. As such, this one being from Sea to Summit, a fairly reputable brand that offers a robust warranty, is quite reassuring.
The pillow itself inflates into a typical neck pillow shape that goes around your neck. It doesn’t look all that special, though the sides are wide while the nape area is pretty thin. This provides a lot of support at the sides without feeling intrusive at the back of the neck. There’s also a toggle at the front that holds the gap together, so you can be fairly confident that this will stay on as you sleep.
In testing, the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Traveller Pillow fared okay. In comfort, we gave it a five, as it isn’t as plush or squishy as others on this list. While this pillow is fairly easy to inflate and easy to adjust because of its valve, the inflatable design doesn’t quite deliver the same level of comfort foam-based pillows do. We rated it a five for stability, too, as it isn’t the sturdy neck brace that some of the options on this list are. That said, it keeps you from moving around too much, and when paired with its tiny form factor, it’s a solid shout if you’re just looking for relatively quick in-flight naps.
Why We Like It- Folds up tiny when not in use
- It’s incredibly lightweight
- Doesn’t have that soft, squishy feel you get from foam pillows
- It isn’t very durable compared to others that we’ve tested
For travelers searching for the best travel neck pillow with boisterous 360-degree support, the OSTRICHPILLOW GO Neck Pillow is a great shout. It isn’t the smallest offering on this list; however, when you wear it, it feels like you’re sporting a warm sweater in your bed at home.
Overall, its test scores make it one of the best performers and one of our favorite neck pillows on the market. We ranked it a seven in comfort and stability, slightly better than average. Though it doesn’t have much security, it’s large and sturdy enough to ensure your head doesn’t move around too much, and the memory foam is comfortable.
The design wraps all the way around your neck for support that has you covered no matter which way your head leans. We’re also digging the hook-and-loop patch that is simple to latch, not requiring you to fiddle with snaps or hooks. The included bag helps keep it clean in your travel backpack, but it doesn’t compress, so it will take up a large amount of space if you’re traveling with a daypack. However, the comfort supplied by this neck pillow will help you wake up refreshed and ready to go.
Why We Like It- Feels like a comfortable sweater
- It’s large enough to ensure your head is resting on the pillow, not the seat
- Takes up a lot of space
- The hook-and-loop fastener isn’t the sturdiest
Best budget neck pillow
The shape of a neck pillow is as important as any of its aspects. After all, all the soft foam padding in the world won’t help if it's nowhere near the part of your head that needs support. Thus, the NapFun Memory Foam Travel Pillow looks very promising to us, with its many contours and tall side walls. As expected, its rather unique shape is supportive, particularly when you lean onto corners.
On the other hand, this neck pillow is rather bulky. They say that the pouch helps with compressing it into a more travel-friendly size. However, while that may be technically true, the difference is quite minimal versus if you simply crushed it yourself. Otherwise, you may want to wear this for the duration of your trip if you’re a bit short on packing space—but it’ll at least be very comfortable doing so.
When testing the NapFun Memory Foam Travel Pillow’s comfort, we liked the contoured design and soft material, landing it a six in our ratings. As for stability, we found our head is stable from moving left and right, but a few angles still allow enough movement that your head could bob around as you sleep, so we rated it a five.
Lastly, we like that this travel neck pillow’s cover is separately washable. Yes, if you drool on your neck pillow, chances are it’ll seep into the pillow itself anyway. However, for light stains like the oils on your face or makeup, cleaning the cover is more than enough, and it’ll be easier to dry out without the use of a dryer (you might not have access to that kind of amenity every time, after all).
Why We Like It- The cloth cover can be washed separately
- The drawstring clip is handy and easy to use
- Comes with its own pouch, but it doesn’t compress all that well
- It doesn’t offer the best side neck support
Do you like to be comfortable on flights? Do you want an additional headrest for extra support? Do you want a travel neck pillow that has a passing resemblance to a walrus? If you answered yes to any of those questions, the J-Pillow Travel Pillow might be your best bet.
The unique design hugs your face, offering a ton of padded support. However, that structure only comes on one side of your head. If you move a lot in your sleep, it runs the risk of falling off since there’s no VELCRO or buckle to keep it in place. However, it’s a great shout for side sleepers and those who want extra support.
In testing, we rated the J-Pillow Travel Pillow a six for comfort. It hugs your face, and the materials feel nice; however, it can sometimes feel awkward and fall off if you don’t use the scarf attachment. Regarding stability, we rated it a six, too, as it works well with the scarf. However, without it, the pillow falls off much easier.
Compared to some models, the J-Pillow doesn’t pack down very small. In fact, its irregular T-shape might make it tricky to pack like that one Tetris shape everyone has trouble with. However, the extra support will be worth it to travelers who always wake up with a crick in their neck after a long flight.
Why We Like It- Lots of support and hugs your face
- You can wear it in multiple ways
- You can wear it in multiple ways
- It can be hard to get used to how it feels
No matter what seat you end up with on your budget flight from Delhi to Mumbai, the BCOZZY Travel Pillow will adapt to keep you comfortable. The design is longer than most models, so you can wrap it to meet your needs, whether they’re on your left, right, in front, or behind your head.
In testing, we found that the BCOZZY Travel Pillow is a solid smaller choice. In terms of comfort, we rated it a six, as it has the same soft and cozy materials that other brands used. It feels fleece-like. However, if you have a longer neck, this might not work well for you, as it is much smaller than most pillows. We gave the BCOZZY a five for stability since its reduced size won’t stop your head from falling as well as others on this list.
The soft exterior makes it easy to find comfort, even when we’re sitting in a relatively cramped economy class seat. If you want more support, just tighten the pillow’s grip. However, this might not be the best travel neck pillow for you if you have a more oversized neck, as you won’t be able to tighten it as much.
Why We Like It- Can customize it to fit your needs
- It isn’t as suffocating as larger pillows
- Might not be big enough for some
- The hook-and-loop fastener doesn’t latch very well
If you tend to toss and turn while sleeping on an airplane, the Cabeau Evolution S3 Airplane Travel Neck Pillow may be the best pillow for you. One of the highlights is the seat attachment strap, so you can’t slouch or bend over so long as you have it secured. This may feel slightly claustrophobic for some users; however, we’ve found it’s easy to get used to.
On the front, a strap tightens the pillow’s grip around your neck so you don’t fall forward, either. If you’re short, you may find the whole apparatus is too high for you to use. However, there’s usually an attachment point somewhere on the seat to make the mechanism work.
In testing, the Cabeau Evolution S3 Neck Pillow is one of the better performers; however, that doesn’t mean it’ll work for everyone. We rated its comfort a six, which is fairly average for this list; however, the stability brings the overall rating up. It is crafted from cozy materials and forms to your head and neck. For stability, we rated this pillow an eight, which is the highest on this list, as it attaches to your seat.
It comes with a carrying case, but the whole deal is a little larger than we’d like. That said, its size is a small price for a pillow that keeps you in place, no matter where the destination is.
Why We Like It- Attaches to your seat, so it won’t move around while you sleep
- The memory foam design comes up high to add head support
- May not work for shorter users.
- The memory foam isn’t as comfortable as others we have used
The Travelrest Nest Memory Foam Travel Pillow is a fancy-feeling offering that compresses down small enough to fit into your hand so you don’t have to compromise size or comfort. Plus, it comes with a complimentary set of earplugs.
Even though this neck pillow compresses relatively small, it’s still quite heavy. This isn’t a huge deal, but ultralight packers should be wary of that. However, because it’s crafted from memory foam, the materials form to your back and shoulders to create a fitted feel that will allow you to relax, which is why we gave it a seven out of ten in terms of comfort. The pillow has a cover, so you can remove that and wash it should it get dirty.
It’s pretty thick, which keeps it in place well while you sleep. We gave it a six, which is fairly average—it didn’t blow us away, but we still found it comfortable enough to get some solid sleep. For the comforts of home that fit into the palm of your hand, look no further than the Travelrest Nest Memory Foam Travel Pillow.
Why We Like It- Memory foam is extremely comfortable
- You can integrate the case into the pillow so you don’t lose it
- It’s a bit heavy
- The design might not work for all neck shapes
Types of Neck Pillows
In our experience, neck pillows generally fall into one of three categories:
Blow-up neck pillow: These aren’t as durable, as the material is often thin. However, they’re quite small when not in use, making them easier to bring along for the trip, especially if you’re not sure whether you’ll actually use it. While they are often cheaper, we find them less comfortable than those that don’t have to be blown up.
Memory foam neck pillow: These aren’t very packable; however, they’re where the real comfort is. They conform to your neck, head, and chin to ensure you’re comfortable on the ride and provide more support to ensure your head doesn’t bob around while you’re sleeping. There are many different contours to choose from, so be sure to pick one that works for the shape of your head and neck.
Foam ball neck pillow: In our experience, these are the least desirable for multiple reasons. They aren’t as packable as the blow-up models or as comfortable as memory foam, and if they break, you’re at risk of finding your travel backpack full of small white styrofoam balls. We generally avoid these altogether.
How We Tested It
When testing these neck pillows, we focused on two areas of interest: comfort and stability. Comfort is typically what a pillow is made of or how it feels, and stability is how well it keeps your head from moving around. Both of these are subjective, as different materials will feel unique to your neck and head shape compared to our primary tester.That said, we ranked each pillow out of 10 based on how well it performed in each of these categories.
Why You Should Trust Us
With millions of miles under our collective belts, our team has learned a thing or two about staying comfortable on planes, trains, and automobiles. From bunching up a coat to use to bringing a dedicated neck pillow, we’ve seen it all and are here to share our findings.
So there you have it! Some of the best travel neck pillow models to ensure you get to your destination well-rested. No matter where you’re going, being prepared when you arrive is half the battle! Happy snoozing.
