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Guide to the Best Travel Pillows

A few years ago, I took a long-haul flight to London. Since I knew the flight was 11 hours, I knew I needed to buy some kind of travel pillow to keep my head from falling forward as I slept, waking me up and straining my neck.

A trip to Target ended with the purchase of a soft, turquoise, inflatable pillow. I wanted one that could fold away, so an inflatable pillow seemed perfect.

However, an hour into my nap, I suddenly realized that the pillow began to deflate. A few embarrassing attempts to blow it up again, and I knew it had a slow leak somewhere. I accepted defeat and knew I wouldn’t be sleeping much on that flight.

Since then, I’ve gone out of my way to test as many travel pillows as I can lay my hands on. Partly to prove a comfortable travel pillow exists and partly because I’m annoyed I wasted money on a bad one. And in my favorite store of all places.

What To Look For In A Travel Pillow

After racking up many flights, here’s what I think about when buying a travel pillow:

• Will I be sleeping upright or can I lean on the window?
• Is it for me or my kids?
• Can it be minimized when not in use?
• What filling is used?
• Is it discrete or is it eye-catching?
• Do I need orthopedic support?
• How much does it cost and how often will I use it?

Keeping that in mind, here are the best travel pillows for upright and window sleepers, orthopedic needs, unique designs, and for kids.

UPRIGHT SLEEPERS

Trtl Pillow

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Will you be sitting away from the window? If so, this neck pillow from Turtl will keep your head from landing onto the passenger beside you or strain your neck, when your head starts leaning over.

Technically, you don’t need to read further than this travel pillow recommendation. Frankly, it’s the best of the bunch. If you’re in a rush to select a travel pillow, get this.

SCIENTIFIC ERGONOMIC SUPPORT

According to the manufacturer, this neck support pillow is scientifically proven to give ergonomic support to your neck during a long flight. Considering mechanical engineers and physiotherapists developed the design, I definitely agree with their claim.

I found that my head was comfortably cradled for the entire time that I napped, which in this case was 5 hours on my flight.

FOLDABLE

The pillow is half the size of the average travel pillow, so takes up hardly any space in my purse. It can also attach to luggage for convenience.

COMES IN FOUR COLORS

The Turtl comes in four colors – grey, black, coral and red. I went with coral as I didn’t want my makeup to show on the darker fabrics if it rubbed off. It doesn’t matter too much though, because the fabric is also machine washable.

DOESN’T BREAK THE BANK

Despite its snazzy design background, it doesn’t break the bank. Although I will give my money to anyone that makes my life easier, I’m always on the hunt for a good deal.

EASY TO USE AND THERE’S A HOW-TO VIDEO

Using it is easy, you just hold one end near your cheek, and then wrap around your neck like a scarf. It’s really that easy. There’s even a video online if you’re still confused.

Cabeau Evolution Memory Foam

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Another great choice when you’re sleeping upright, is the Cabeau neck pillow. It gives you comfortable support courtesy of the memory foam filling. Memory foam has the ability to remain firm, yet mold to the contours of your body.

360 Degree Support

Whether your head leans to the left, right, or forward, this airplane pillow is designed to cradle your entire neck. It is taller than most travel pillows, which is ideal when you’re sleeping upright in a car, train, or plane.

Thin Pillow Back

When the back of a neck pillow is too thick, it can push your head forward, putting your neck into an uncomfortable position. Not so, with this neck pillow. The pillow’s back is thinner than most travel pillows, which allows your head to remain upright, in the most natural position.

Washable Velour Cover

To maintain the soft velour fabric, it can be removed and washed when needed.

Compresses to 1/4 its Original Size

It also comes with a small travel bag, which helps to compresses the neck pillow into 1/4 of its original size. It’s really handy when you aren’t using the neck pillow.

Lights Out Travel Pillow with Hoodie

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Sometimes you want a little sense of privacy in a cramped plane, especially when it’s time to sleep. I’m not the most graceful sleeper, especially when I’m sitting upright. Luckily, the designers over at Lights Out have come up with a simple solution to this common problem – a neck pillow with a built-in hoodie.

CREATES INSTANT PRIVACY ON FLIGHTS

The built-in hoodie is soft polar fleece and big enough to pull past your head. There’s nothing worse than a hoodie that is too short. Once I pulled the hoodie over, my peripheral vision was blocked and I could drift away without worrying my seat passengers were looking at my drooling face.

REMOVABLE AND WASHABLE HOODIE

After a few flights, I detached the hoodie and put it in the washing machine. It washed well and I was able to spruce it up after a few journeys.

GENTLE SUPPORT

Inside it’s filled with microbead material, so it will mold to your neck and head shape. I found it less supportive than the previous pillow, but I need very firm support.

TIP FOR BLOCKING THE MOST LIGHT OUT

The travel neck pillow comes in 6 colors, so you can find something that suits you. I would recommend sticking to the darker colors, to really block out the light.

WINDOW SEAT PILLOWS

Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow

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Sitting in a window seat on a flight can have its advantages, one being that you can lean your entire body against the window area, when getting some shut-eye. However, it’s not that comfortable, especially with the flimsy complimentary pillow the airline gives you.

Some passengers go as far as bringing their pillow from home, but I find it way too bulky to drag around with me. That’s why I love these little pillows. Picking the right size is up to you, as they come in 4 handy sizes.

Multiple Sizes

Small: 12 x 16 inches

Medium: 14 x 18 inches

Large: 16 x 23 inches

X-Large: 16.5 x 27 inches

Personally, I went with the medium size. It’s a similar size to the flimsy airplane pillow you get on a flight, but it’s more padded and is comfortable to sleep on.

Compressible Foam Filling

The travel neck pillow is filled with soft, urethane foam, and it can be compressed to 1/5 its size when rolled into its case, with the drawstring pulled.

It was nice unrolling it and watching it expand to its final size and then folding it away when my flight was over.

My Pillow Roll & Go

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In 16 different colors and patterns, the My Pillow Roll and Go, is an American made travel pillow.

Compressable and Washable

Similar to the previous Therm-a-Rest pillow, this pillow can be rolled and compressed when not in use. The foam insert and the pillow cover can both be washed. It measures 12 x 18 inches, so is similar to the small Therm-a-Rest pillow.

Great Choice of Colors

The main difference between the Therm-a-Pillow to this one, is that it comes in more colors. I know many people who love having a full range of color options, so this is great for those people.

Multiple Uses

It can be used as lumbar (back) support, against a plane window seat, or when lying down.

ORTHOPEDIC SUPPORT

Xtreme Comforts Coccyx Cushion

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My sister has long-term issues with her coccyx. So much so, that driving, watching movies, and flying on planes especially, can be excruciating. Luckily, there are cushions designed to relieve the tailbone area known as the coccyx.

Feeling self-conscious about carrying a coccyx cushion is the least of your worries, if you need to relieve the pain and discomfort you are experiencing. My sister takes this cushion to the movie theatre, without batting an eyelid.

Ergonomic Cut-Out Design

Getting high reviews from my sister and online, this coccyx cushion is comfortable to sit on for several hours. It is ergonomically designed to avoid pressure to the tailbone. The area is cut out, allowing the tailbone to receive no pressure.

Memory Foam Material

Inside it is filled with firm memory foam, that does not go flat after regular use. It supports the area around the tailbone and does not feel hard after extended use.

Anti-skid Bottom

You don’t need to worry about this cushion shifting around, because of the non-skid material on the bottom. The last thing you need, is to add movement to your coccyx area.

MemorySoft Lumbar Support

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Especially useful on long flights or long car journeys, the Memory Soft Lumbar Support Pillow, supports your back to provide hours of relief. When you have back problems, it’s a good idea to bring your own lumbar support pillow, rather than to hope your seat will have enough support.

Ergonomic Design

The lumbar pillow is ergonomically designed to fit inside the curve of your back. It doesn’t feel too big, which can contribute to even more back pain.

Memory Foam Filling

The memory foam filling is the ideal material for custom back support. It conforms differently to each body shape and bounces back to its original shape when not in use.

Fixable with Elastic Strap

When sitting in a desk chair, use the elastic straps to keep the pillow in place. It can be left in place permanently, for as long as you want.

UNIQUE DESIGNS

Travelrest

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A little more adventurous, the Travelrest Ultimate Inflatable Pillow, is comfortable and simple in design.

Familiar Sleeping Position

It’s strangely similar to leaning on someone when sleeping, except, in this case, it’s not a boney shoulder or arm. The angle is also better for comfortable sleeping.

Adjust for Comfort

The inflatable travel pillow can be inflated prior to boarding a plane or once you’ve boarded. It took about 7 breaths to fill it completely. I found that it was more comfortable when I filled it to 95% full. I liked the slight squishiness from inflating it a tad less. That’s my tip.

Attaches to Luggage

When finished, it quickly deflates and rolls up and snaps to a luggage strap or handle.

J Pillow Travel Pillow

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Another pillow with an innovative design, the J-Pillow is specially designed to cradle your head, chin, and side of your face. Multiple newspapers and magazines rave about the design and I can see why.

Popular with Travelers

After using this pillow, it quickly became clear how many travelers also own this pillow. I counted at least 10 passengers holding one before I boarded my flight. It’s obviously popular for a reason.

Reasonable Size

If I had to describe the size, I’d say it’s similar to a basketball. It’s not especially small, but it has a handy strap that clips to your luggage. It’s certainly not as big, say, as the huge pillows some people bring from home on their flights.

OK For Aisle Seats, But Great for Window Seats

I was doubtful it would cradle my head, but was proven wrong. I used it in a middle seat and it still worked. I’ve read people say that it works better in a window seat, which makes sense.

Choose the Firmness

The pillow and cover can both be put into the washing machine for cleaning. Either tumble dry on low heat for softer support or air dry for firmer support. The manufacturer specifies which dry cycle to use for custom firmness.

KIDS TRAVEL PILLOW

Critter Piller Kid’s Neck Pillow

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Designed for children in mind, the Critter Piller is an adorable kids travel pillow that doubles as a toy and also as a neck pillow. Feather-soft microfibers are wrapped in plush fabric, creating a lovely pillow to touch and play with.

26 Characters To Choose

Made in America, this toddler neck pillow comes in an astounding 26 cute characters. It’s machine washable and also hypoallergenic, which I look for when buying items for my kids. I’d recommend this children’s travel pillow for kids starting at 3 years old.

Great for Flights or Car Journeys

This is great on flights, but even better on car trips. Kids can use it around their neck or can lean on it when they sleep.

Skip Hop Zoo

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No stranger to Skip Hop products, I’ve bought many of their products over the years for their fun and friendly design. Our guide to the best kids luggage features a few of their designs. The Skip Hop Zoo toddler travel pillow is another great product in their range and is great for little ones.

Several Characters to Choose From

As with all of Skip Hop’s products, they have several characters to choose from and you can purchase the matching backpacks, luggage, and water bottles, to name just a few things.

Great for Toddlers

I recommend this pillow for children between 2 and 4 years old. Any younger or older and they may find it uncomfortable.

Soft Velour Fabric

Soft for delicate skin, the material is velvety and feels comfortable to rest on. The neck pillow can be tossed in the washing machine to freshen up.

I hope you’ve found a travel pillow that will make future traveling more comfortable. Or at the very least, made you think about what to look for when looking for the best travel pillow for you.

So tell me, have you also had a bad experience with a travel pillow?

-Katie xx