Finding the best travel pillow can do a lot to make a long journey more comfortable. We should know - we've spent months sampling a variety of travel pillows in multiple scenarios, including long-haul flights, train rides across the city, and road trips.
Travel pillow technology has come a long way from the classic U-shape pillow filled with bean bag beads. With different shapes, sizes and materials now available, there's a lot to consider when choosing a travel pillow to pack alongside all your holiday outfit ideas. We tested a number of different options from brands that offer both the best pillows, best suitcases and travel goods to those that are new to the travel pillow market, and assessed their particular features.
We looked at features such as size, weight, material and, of course, the amount of support for the head and neck. Each pillow has also been tested for portability and comfort—the two most important aspects of any travel pillow. Our guide has the best picks for every kind of trip and traveller, so all you need to do now is pick from the best places to travel in 2023 and start planning.
What is the best travel pillow to buy in 2023?
Only have time for a cursory glance? Below is an overview of the best travel pillows you can buy in 2023, with quick links to buy...
- J-Pillow Travel Pillow: The J-Pillow tops our list for being able to support your head at almost any angle — and it's also great to bring on long-haul flights
- TRTL Pillow Plus: Looks like a brace rather than a pillow, but it'll save you from dreaded mid-flight neck pain
- TRTL Pillow: Lacks the cushioning of its Plus counterpart but still provides ample neck support for short-haul flights
- Samsonite Inflatable Travel Pillow: Not only feels soft but also inflates/deflates in a matter of seconds
- Hippychick Lumbar Support Travel Pillow: It's pliable enough to roll into various shapes — ideal for storage as well as window seat sleeping (UK only)
- Huzi Design Infinity Pillow: Never dread sitting in the middle seat again with this versatile, malleable sleep support scarf
- Tielle Luxury Supersize Travel Pillow: Level up your business class experience by bringing this premium duck down and feather pillow along (UK only)
- Everlasting Comfort Travel Pillow: Our favourite budget option, this affordable pillow has a washable cover, a pocket for your phone, and comes in a convenient travel bag.
The best travel pillows as chosen by our experts
By far the most unusually shaped travel pillow on this list, the J-Pillow looks somewhat like an elephant, so it’s only right that its longest protrusion is called “the trunk”. It’s this "trunk" that makes the pillow so special: where regular U-shaped travel pillows support just the back or the sides of your head, this pillow supports you at almost every angle.
Working out the best way to use the pillow is easy, too. There’s a clever little embroidered ear on the side to show you where to put your face. Then the trunk naturally sits below the jawbone and chin to support your head, should there be any lolling about. The pillow is supremely soft in feel and is firm without being too hard. It has a loop for attaching to bags or suitcases, and it comes in a carry case for extra protection.
While it doesn’t squash down significantly, it’s well worth carrying the bulk with you if you’re on a long-haul flight in economy class. We reckon even the most sensitive sleeper will get a couple of hours of shut-eye with this pillow.
At first glance, the Trtl (pronounced “turtle”) Pillow Plus doesn’t look the comfiest; it doesn’t look much like a pillow at all. But inside is a durable, solid brace mechanism, and the pillow is covered with a breathable, soft fabric. This extends to create a wraparound functionality to secure the pillow in position. Two dials allow you to change the height of the brace too: ideal if you need extra support or perhaps have a shorter or longer neck than most.
It will take some time to find the right position for you, which is a downside. And if you want to change position mid-flight? Then you’ll likely have to take it off to readjust. But the faff is well worth it. The support inside is scientifically proven to hold your head and neck in a better position than traditional U-shaped pillows, making this by far the best travel pillow for neck pain. It also has more padding than the original Trtl model (see below), and is lightweight, easy to pack into backpacks or larger handbags, as well as being machine washable. The Trtl Plus also has a waterproof carry case, which can be attached to bags with its popper-button loop.
If you're on a budget, or making shorter journeys, the original Trtl Pillow (read: “neck brace”) is a brilliant little gadget. It’s perfect for planes or cars and offers good ergonomic support. The brace part is encased in a lovely soft fleece material, which wraps around your neck to secure the support.
We reckon the best place to secure it is below your jawline on your preferred side. However, it can also be used directly under the chin. This one doesn’t come with a carry case or extra cushioning, but for short-haul flights, it’s a perfect addition to your hand luggage—you’ll likely get an hour or two’s kip thanks to the Trtl. It's also one of the best thin pillows for front sleepers to use on the go.
Of course, Samsonite is known for its high quality suitcases and having some of the best weekend bags for women on the market, so it's not surprising that the brand makes a reliable travel pillow. Inflatable travel pillows aren't for everyone: they're often hard once they’re full of air, and having to blow them up is inconvenient. But the Samsonite inflatable travel pillow is different. Its clever stopper means it can be inflated by mouth in a matter of seconds, and it won’t deflate as soon as you try to plug it up. And when you do want to deflate it? Removing part of the stopper lets out significant amounts of air extremely fast.
It has a lovely soft feel on the top and a non-slip surface on the bottom. This makes it secure on your shoulders, though the underside can be a little noisy when moving about. The seams, however, are a drawback. There are large external flaps of material on the inner rim of the pillow where your neck rests, and this can become irritating if you move a lot in your sleep. Regardless of that, this is by far the best inflatable on the market. The best bit? It packs into a carry case no larger than your mobile phone, so it’s handbag-friendly too.
Hippychick is known for its ergonomic, cleverly designed baby products. Its travel pillow is equally great, and well worth the investment if memory foam is your bag. It comes packed tightly into a linen drawstring bag, but once it’s out, it puffs up fast—within 30 seconds, the pillow is ready to use. The memory foam is firm enough to keep its shape while allowing the contours of your head and face to find their own way.
It folds and rolls nicely into all sorts of shapes, making it an ideal window-seat accessory. Its silky-smooth cover is a lovely place to rest your head. The pillow is also surprisingly easy to pack away, thanks to the durable memory foam.
The cover is made from 100% biodegradable wood pulp cellulose, so it’s waterproof and hypoallergenic. A fabulous choice for if you're heading on one of the best spa breaks in the UK or one of these best UK weekend getaways and need a bit of extra support on the journey.
On a flight, everyone dreads the middle seat, stuck in between two people with nowhere to rest your head. It’s a horrifying prospect on an 11-hour flight. But this is where the Huzi Infinity Pillow comes in. This unusual pillow—more like a giant cushioned snood—is a real game changer.
The Infinity is incredibly versatile, so you can twist it into almost any shape you like. Wear it just like a snood or scarf by doubling the loop around your neck to create 360º support. Or, twist it tightly and tuck it into itself to use as a pillow against your headrest. The creators even suggest you could wrap the entire thing around your head to create a noise-isolating environment, complete with eye mask and pillow all in one.
The pillow’s outer cover is part bamboo, part polyester. This gives it a lovely cool, smooth feel and the filling doesn’t make a sound when you move around on top of the cushion. The whole thing is polyester and machine washable, so you can enjoy the feel of a fresh pillow for every trip.
If you’re fortunate enough to be flying in business, you might not think you need a travel pillow—you’re usually given one along with your bedding on long-haul flights. But those airline pillows aren’t always the best, and who knows how often they’re washed? We recommend you take a Tielle along with you instead.
This 80% duck down and 20% duck feather pillow is a luxurious addition to your hand luggage, and will ensure a good night’s sleep on a fully reclining seat. It’s big— 40cm x 50cm—and is shaped like a normal pillow, making it a perfect addition to the bedding set you’re provided with by the airline. The case is a silky-smooth cotton blend (600 thread count, to be precise) and is wonderfully cool on your face.
Super lightweight, it won’t make your hand luggage feel heavy, but it’s not like other travel pillows that crush into small carry bags. This one comes in a huge sack-like drawstring bag, which, in itself, isn’t ideal for travel. However, you can squash the pillow down and pack it into a backpack or handbag. Great for if you're heading to any of these affordable luxury vacation destinations.
Our health editor Grace Walsh tested the Everlasting Comfort travel pillow on a twelve-hour flight back to London from Saint Kitts. "It's not very comfortable to wear if you're not planning on sleeping as it's quite thick around the neck and not super-soft like others I've seen, so it does slightly feel like you're wearing a neck brace, limiting movement of your head. However, it was essential for me when it came to trying to sleep," Grace says. The pillow is made from 100% memory foam, so while it's thick and sturdy, it's still malleable enough to bend to whatever shape you like when wearing it to sleep while travelling.
"The toggle cord connecting the two ends is useful for adjusting the support of the pillow and the two ends come apart, making it easy to take the pillow on and off whenever you need to", Grace adds. "It comes in a storage bag, as well as ear plugs and a thick eye mask. The only problem? The size, says Grace. "This is definitely a larger pillow than many of the others I've seen and it took up quite a bit of space in my carry-on, which is something to bear in mind."
How we tested the best travel pillows
There were a number of factors we kept in mind when testing travel pillows, including...
- Portability: It sounds obvious, but when you're travelling, you don't want to have to lug around a heavy or awkwardly-shaped pillow, especially if it takes up too much precious space in your luggage. We scored each pillow's portability after testing how easy they were to transport.
- Comfort: How comfortable the pillow was to wear, both when walking around the airport and while sleeping, was one of the most important factors to us when testing. Travel pillows should provide comfort above all else, but we kept in mind different kinds of sleepers and their preferences when testing, too.
- Price: While there are more luxurious options to choose when shopping for a travel pillow, we mostly tested affordable options that won't break the bank.
How to choose a travel pillow
Catherine Morris, Managing Director of Tielle, tells us that "The best all-rounder travel pillow needs to be small enough to be packed in hand luggage, supportive enough to be comfortable whether you’re in a car, on a plane or train, but most importantly, it can be used throughout your stay if need be."
Ultimately, the best type of travel pillow for you depends on your sleeping style—so here's what each type of pillow is best for:
- U-pillow, J-pillow or infinity pillow: If you’re partial to a floppy neck and nodding head, these styles will support you best.
- Mini rectangular pillow: This style will work well for any fidgety sleepers.
- Inflatable pillow: If you need to pack light, something inflatable will be the practical choice.
- Memory foam pillow: Anyone who suffers from neck or back pain will benefit from this supportive material.
But also think about what size works for you. If you're going on a short-haul flight with a small bag, you probably don't want a large travel pillow in tow. That might be less important on a long haul flight with a more generous baggage allowance. Equally, while the best pillows on our list generally aren't inflatable, a pillow that easily deflates into a small carry bag might be the best pick for you if space is at a premium.
Is a travel pillow worth it?
Carrying a travel pillow might seem like more hassle than it’s worth, but you should really consider the impact it could have if you don’t get to sleep on an overnight flight. Taking a travel pillow could mean the difference between having two days of groggy jet lag and feeling spritely on arrival.
Morris tells us that "Poor sleep can have such a detrimental effect on your mood, health and energy levels. It's always worthwhile to invest in a travel pillow, as you can enjoy your time away from home no matter how busy or chilled the itinerary is. "
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