Unless you’re sitting up in first class, sleeping during a flight isn’t easy. There’s just not a lot of room, requiring you to find a way to sleep while sitting mostly upright any time you’re in the air for an extended period. For the most part, the best way to do that is by using a travel pillow that can provide the right kind of support to let you doze off in a typical airline seat’s cramped and confined space. Well… that and a generous dollop of your favorite nightcap.
These are the best travel pillows to bring to your next flight.
Muji Well-Fitted Neck Cushion
There’s no one size fits all when it comes to comfort. While many folks prefer firm support in their travel pillows, others want a more forgiving surface that will let them sink in. If you’re among those folks, you’d definitely like this option, which uses polystyrene foam beads as cushion, allowing for a looser, but no less potent, support. Basically, if you’re not comfortable with traditional foam and memory foam pillows, maybe it’s worth giving this U-shaped bean bag one a try.
Travelrest Ultimate Inflatable Pillow
Who says a travel pillow needs to be worn on the neck? Not the guys behind this inflatable pillow, which combines a long slim body with a round head. Like a goofy-looking golf club or something. Designed to be worn cross-body like a sling, the round section goes right under your head, providing a supportive structure you can lean on, while the long section secures it in place. It’s a clever design that surprisingly works. Plus, the inflatable build means you can fold this in a tiny bundle that you can fit in your jacket. Very convenient.
Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow
Like every product made from memory foam, this U-shaped pillow will mold to the exact contours of your neck and shoulders, which should help maintain your physical natural alignment while you sleep. We love the design, which is angled on the inside with tall top edges, providing incredible support. Another clever element is the shape of the back section, which allows it to lay flat against the back and head rest, a stark contrast to the rounded back of most neck pillows. It uses rubber grip dots that keep your head from slipping while you snooze away, too, so you don’t slide into uncomfortable positions. While the size is a bit of a hassle, it does compress to around a quarter of the size when rolled into the carrying case, so it’s still much easier to pack than it looks.
Cabeau Evolution S3 Neck Pillow
This versatile memory foam pillow offers adequate support whether you tilt your head sideways or slightly forwards while sleeping, with raised sides that keep your head in place with little chance of slipping. It has just the right amount of stiffness, too, so there’s no discomfort even when you lean in a little too much, while the slimmer back section makes it easy to align your back even when leaning against a headrest. It rolls up to around half the size, too, making it easy enough to pack in the included travel bag.
J-Pillow Travel Pillow
We love travel pillows that try offer something different and this definitely fits the bill. Instead of being shaped like a once-bitten donut, this pillow has a unique shape that combines separate cushions for the head, neck, and chin. Yes, the unusual design takes some getting used to. You’ll also have to choose which side of the neck you want the support on as it only provides it on one side. We love the head support on both the side and back, so you don’t have to tilt at all to touch any cushion, along with the chin support during those times your head leans forward. Once you get used to the unusual configuration, it’s really, really comfortable. Plus, it compresses a lot better than the typical U-shaped pillow, largely because of that same unique design.
Trtl Pillow
The big appeal for the Trtl Pillow is its packability, as it doesn’t come in a oversized U shape much like traditional travel pillows. Instead, it actually resembles a scarf, albeit one that’s thicker and wider than your typical neck accessory. It wears like a scarf during use, too, essentially wrapping around your neck, where it creates a supportive surface on one side. How can a scarf do that? Well, this isn’t really a scarf, as underneath the soft fleece shell hides an internal plastic support system on one end. Just make sure you put that supportive end on whichever side you want to lean your head towards (left, right, or below the chin) when sleeping, as there’s absolutely zero support on the other side.
Cabeau Evolution Cool Pillow
If you find yourself sweating from the use of neck pillows, maybe you need something with better ventilation. That’s exactly what this travel pillow offers by adding breathable vents that allow unimpeded airflow, preventing the high temperatures between your skin and the pillow, so you don’t wake up soaking in sweat. It also uses a moisture-wicking fabric for the pillow cover, so it will try to keep you dry as much as possible. As for the pillow core, it’s made from dual-density memory foam, with a design that’s similar but a bit thinner than the outfit’s standard neck pillow. While it’s not as heavily cushioned as their Evolution S3, we do find the support adequate, making it a perfect choice if you’re the type to sweat while napping on the flight.
Ostrich Go Neck Pillow
Chances are, you’re familiar with Ostrich for their original pillow, which covered the entire head and allowed for really unique cushioning. It’s a wacky novelty that’s surprisingly comfortable. Sadly, it’s a design that won’t work when sitting on an airplane seat, so they released this neck pillow instead. It’s a twist on the classic U-shaped pillow with overlapping ends that can attach to each other using Velcro, allowing you to secure the pillow while adding cushioning for your chin. Made from a very firm memory foam core with a 360-degree coverage, the pillow offers full neck support and really supportive cushioning, no matter how your head tilts. The unique swooping shape also offers the right type of support for each part of the neck, although we would have preferred a slimmer back section, so we can lean flush against the headrest.