Finding the best travel pillow is tedious. There are so many uncomfortable, falsely advertised pillows on the market. Don’t worry. We will help you find the comfort you deserve, even while traveling.
Here are the deciding factors we used to determine if a travel pillow is worth the money and deserves to be called the best:
Comfort
Value for money
Materials
Size
Shape
Durability
Without further ado, let’s see which pillows earned our trust so that we can recommend them to you.
Top 10 Best Neck Pillows for Travel
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Trtl’s neck support travel pillow comes in many significant color variants. It’s available in child and adult sizes, which makes it the best travel pillow for long car rides for all ages. It weighs only 4.9 ounces, and its dimensions are 7.48 by 7.48 by 3.74 inches. In other words, this is a light and compact wrap-around travel pillow.
It has an incredibly soft hypoallergenic polyester and fleece wrap. It has strengthened ribs for extra support.
You can carry it with you everywhere because it looks like a scarf. It is possibly the most fashionable travel pillow out there because you can wear it on the street.
This model of the best neck pillow for travel is prevalent and in high demand. Also, you can machine wash it at your convenience.
The Infinity Pillow is truly something else. It’s possibly the very best travel neck pillow for long flights because it provides the best comfort and support. This pillow is not the cheapest on our list, and here’s why.
It’s made out of soft, temperature regulating breathable bamboo fabric. It has a terrific design, both visually and practically. You can get it in green, navy, burgundy, grey, pink, and tan color. Use it for travel or in the comfort of your home or office.
Even the Washington Post has commended this pillow for being so comfy. It is soft, cool, and provides excellent neck and back support. The best travel pillow for an airplane quickly changes its shape so that you can use it for various purposes and in many positions.
The Coop Home Goods travel and camping pillow is a hypoallergenic small travel pillow made in the US, and it is cruelty-free. It’s also one of the best small travel pillow options for neck pain. You can test it for a hundred nights and return it if you don’t like it. This pillow has a five-year warranty, which is possibly the best deal on the market.
CertiPur-US and GreenGuard Gold both certified this pillow. The former is a safety certificate for memory foam. It ensures that the product is made without heavy metals, flame retardants, formaldehyde, phthalates. It also has low volatile organic compound emissions.
The latter is a standard of low chemical emissions, ensuring indoor air quality protection, making this pillow a contender for the best neck travel pillow out there. It’s 19 by 14 inches when uncompressed and 10 by 6 inches when compressed—it weighs 36 oz with the stuff sack, which you get for free.
The Tempur-Pedic could be the best travel pillow for long flights, or at least one of the best. It is a medium-firm, horseshoe shape, Tempur pillow. Tempur pillows are made from viscoelastic foam.
This material is very comfortable, and it helps relieve pressure from the neck, head, and shoulders thanks to its outstanding support. Its dimensions are 12 by 11 by 3 inches, which is compact enough to fit almost anywhere.
Also, this best pillow for plane travel comes with a removable, washable cover. It has a five-year warranty, but unfortunately, you can’t return it. After all, it’s a personal-use item, so it makes sense.
And did we mention that there’s free shipping for all Tempur-Pedic’s accessories?
Travelrest offers some of the most popular travel pillows on the market. The most significant advantage of the Curl pillow is its low price. However, this pillow also has temperature-sensitive memory foam that aligns with the neck and a removable microfiber cover that can be washed.
It is very comfortable, and it provides reliable support. On top of everything, it has a two-year warranty, which is impressive. This is the best memory foam travel pillow to carry on a vacation, regardless of the duration.
This pillow’s dimensions are 11.5 by 10.86 by 3.7 inches, and it weighs 8.8 ounces. You can get it in blue or black color variants.
Cabeu offers some of the best memory foam travel pillows on the market. We chose the Evolution S3 because it’s the most reviewed pillow in their store, and it has a five-star rating. This neck pillow has a unique design, with memory foam that fits perfectly.
It provides the necessary support for your back, head, and neck. You can quickly get used to this pillow and carry it around your house, even when you’re not traveling. The available colors include blue, red, white, black, and light blue.
Also, you get a compact case with your purchase to store the pillow easily, and it folds in half. Cabeu offers some of the best travel pillows for long flights because they’re compact, comfy, and have sufficient support.
Dot and Dot’s best compact travel pillow comes in only one size, but it is available in black, gray, and blue. With it, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee, but no warranty.
This is not a standard travel pillow. It adjusts to your position and the shape of your body. It allows you to assume a position you enjoy and relax during your flight or drive.
A cotton cover is included with the purchase of this contender for the best air travel pillow today. It is breathable, and you can wash it in the machine. You can snap this pillow in half for more comfortable management, i.e., it is portable.
This is a top-rated product because it is durable, cleverly designed, and anyone can afford it.
GNR Health Systems Wonder Roll Travel Pillow Review
The Wonder Roll from GNR Health Systems is the best inflatable travel pillowon the market. It provides lumbar support, even though it is inflatable. It also inflates itself, which is great because it saves time.
Besides excellent portability, this pillow also adjusts to your sleeping or sitting position. It provides enough support and firmness, even though these aren’t its best traits.
You can use the wonder Roll pillow on your travels, office, or home. Packing is easy, which is why so many people use inflatable pillows. If you need to save space, they’re the best.
The best neck pillows for air travel are usually around 14 by six by 3 inches. These are the exact dimensions of this travel pillow, which weighs only 4.8 ounces. The only available color is black, but it looks great.
The BCOZZY travel pillow is one of the best travel pillows for flying. It supports your head, neck, and chin. Its unique design focuses on comfort and support, unlike many other travel pillows.
Even people with large necks can use this pillow, as it comes in extra-large. This variant costs a bit extra, but it is worth it.
You can use this pillow for all types of travel, but most importantly, it works best as an airplane travel pillow. It is easy to pack, albeit its dimensions are a tad large—14.33 by 10.55 by 6.73 inches. Its weight is 9.5 ounces, so it isn’t the lightest option either.
However, the support it provides more than justifies its cost and provides enough value for your buck.
The AirComfy travel pillow has a unique design that makes it very versatile. Namely, it’s not a simple inflatable pillow, as it has inner foam that helps with support. It’s easy to inflate, but you have to do it manually.
It’s also important to note that this is one of the best travel pillow options for side sleepers.
There is also a velvet cover you can remove and wash at any time. Additionally, you get an elastic band you may use to secure your head tightly. You are also able to deflate or inflate the pillow to your liking. The AirComfy travel pillow’s dimensions are 14 by 8.5 by 3.2 inches, and it weighs only 2.4 ounces. You can get it in black, teal, gray, dark blue, and taupe.
Rating the Best Travel Pillows on the Market
– Our Ranking Methodology –
What follows are the essential criteria we used for ranking the products on our list.
Material Quality
We always rate quality above everything else. If a travel pillow is made out of quality materials, there’s a solid chance that all the other criteria will be up to the task as well.
However, note that a recognizable brand such as Coop Home Goods usually provides quality products.
Support
A pillow simply can’t be called the best pillow for travel if it doesn’t provide excellent support. Support is achieved with proper cushioning and quality materials. Of course, you’ll notice that travel pillows are structurally different from other pillows, such as pillows for neck pain.
You should feel more comfortable if your neck and back are supported. Ergo, support is perhaps the most important feature of a travel pillow, and we ranked such products higher.
Comfort
Comfort is a top priority when you are buying a pillow of any kind. Note that even the best neck pillows for travel can’t match a regular-size pillow, but some of them are very comfortable. However, they can be a bit pricey. Of course, if you suffer from chronic pain, you may want to consult a doctor about which type of pillow to purchase for travel.
Portability
A travel pillow should be portable, without saying. However, as long as it’s not too big, size is not the most relevant feature. Usually, you want a pillow that fits your neck, but most travel pillows are easy to pack and carry anywhere you go, especially if you’re looking for the best travel pillow for long-haul flights.
Warranty
Warranty is always a nice reassurance that a product will last. Not every travel neck pillow has a warranty. However, warranties should not be detrimental to your purchase because other factors are more important.
Value for Money
Every product we recommend here offers fantastic value for money. If you are aware of your budget, then paying a little extra for a lasting pillow should be the right choice. Sometimes even cheap pillows can do the trick. You just have to know where to look.
How to Choose the Best Travel Pillow of 2021
– Buyers Guide –
The following paragraphs deal with some of the most important factors when shopping for a travel pillow in 2021 and beyond.
Shape
Travel pillows come in many shapes, and here are the most dominant ones:
U-shaped pillows
J-shaped pillows
Wrap-around pillows
Rectangular pillows
Hourglass pillows
Each of these shapes has pros and cons, and some are more popular than others. The best pillow for travel is often U-shaped because of portability, although it’s not always the most supporting one.
The rectangular shape comes close to a regular pillow, the wrap-around pad saves the most space, the hourglass pillow is more versatile and better for back support, and the J-shape tries to overcome U-shape’s weaknesses.
Sizes, Materials, and Weight
These factors are all intertwined, so we decided to group them. The size and weight of a pillow vary based on the materials used. There are inflatable, microbead, and memory foam pillows for traveling.
The best inflatable travel neck pillow is cheap, light, and easy to pack. It doesn’t provide much support, and it’s usually not that durable. The reason why it’s so popular is its low price tag.
Microbead pillows are usually more massive and take up more space than memory foam and inflatable pillows. If you are a light traveler, the latter is a better choice. Still, a microbead pillow is slightly more durable and supportive than an inflatable pillow.
A memory foam travel pillow usually wins all competitions because of the added support and comfort. It is more costly than an inflatable pillow but feels much better, especially if you’re looking at the best travel pillows for airplanes.
Inflatable vs. Non-Inflatable
The inflatable travel pillow is made out of polyurethane and has a velour or velvet cover. The cover can be removed and washed. Its loft is adjustable, and it has a three-inch range. It usually costs up to $20.
The non-inflatable travel pillow has a memory foam shell with a velour or velvet cover. Sometimes it’s a single piece with a fleece or polyester cover. It is usually entirely washable. The loft range is between three and five inches, and the loft is non-adjustable. These are often the best pillows for airplane travel.
Even though a non-inflatable pillow costs more than the inflatable travel neck pillow, it provides far better support. However, it’s less portable due to its bulkier size. As you can see, there are many trade-offs, so you will have to decide which type of pillow suits you best.
Wrapping Up
That’s all travel pillow-related we had in store for you today. Hopefully, the info you read here eased your decision, and you bought the pillow that suits you best.
Remember that anything comfort-related—like the best neck pillow for travel—is very subjective, meaning you should choose it yourself.
We can’t tell you that one pillow is undoubtedly the best for you, but all the pillows we listed here provide excellent value for money.
Which one did you find the best? Let us know in the comment section below.
The best travel neck pillow varies from person to person. You’ve got to try several of them out before developing a feeling of what’s best for you. However, if you’re looking for advice, you’re in the right spot.
You can’t go wrong with any of the travel pillows mentioned here. Just pick one that fits your budget and needs, and you’ll be good to go.
Choosing the best mattress, for example, is a much more significant investment that needs more thought, so check out the link if you need help with that.
Do travel pillows really work?
Yes, they do wonders. Of course, nothing beats sleeping in your bed or on a futon mattress. However, when you’re traveling, you don’t have such comfort.
A travel pillow is almost necessary if you want to get some decent rest and shut-eye during your long drive or flight.
How do I choose a travel pillow?
You should choose a travel pillow based on your budget, sleeping preferences, and flexibility. However, the most critical trait of travel pillows is comfort. The best neck pillow to travel with is the one that provides you with the most comfort.
Usually, such a pillow costs more, but it’s worth the price. In other words, it probably isn’t inflatable or hooded. Other than that, you’ll have to find what suits you.
And don’t believe articles that say headphones can replace travel pillows. They are just trying to sell headphones and nothing else.
Is a travel pillow worth it?
Not every travel pillow is worth it. Some pillows are, like the ones mentioned on our top 10 list. Each of those pillows is worth it because they’re the best travel neck pillows on the market. A reliable travel pillow can ensure comfort no matter how long you travel.
If you need to sleep while sitting, a neck pillow ensures you get sufficient support and rest. Even those that can’t sleep while traveling can benefit from the added support.
Without the best travel pillow, you might risk neck and back pain after a long flight or drive, which is why they’re priceless.
