Best Travel Pillow
We’ve all done it. Traveled and expected our electronic devices or in-flight movies to keep us occupied and alert for several hours. But sleep happens and the next thing we know, we’re dozing off, only to awaken feeling groggy and sporting a stiff neck. That’s why a well-designed pillow is so important to not only the comfort of the travel experience – be it plane, train, or automobile – but to that moment of arrival when you want to feel rested and refreshed.
But before you decide to pick a cheap little option up at the airport gift shop, do a little homework to determine which brands and designs best suit not only your travel needs but your personal sleep style.
| Rank | Product | Highlights |
| #1 |  J-Pillow 3-Way Support Travel Pillow
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| #2 |  doccii Travel Pillow with Sleep Mask and Ear Plugs
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| #3 |  ZOYLEE Twistable Memory Foam Travel Pillow
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| #4 |  ComfoArray Wrap-Around Memory Foam Travel Pillow with Magnetic Therapy Liner
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| #5 |  UTOU Adjustable Memory Foam Travel Pillow with Cooling Microbead Cover
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You might be interested in: Best Travel Blankets
Table Of Contents
- What Are the Benefits to Using a Travel Pillow?
- What to Look for When Buying a Travel Pillow
- Portability
- Comfort
- Top 5 Travel Pillows
- J-Pillow 3-Way Support Travel Pillow
- doccii Travel Pillow with Sleep Mask and Ear Plugs
- ZOYLEE Twistable Memory Foam Travel Pillow
- ComfoArray Wrap-Around Memory Foam Travel Pillow with Magnetic Therapy Liner
- UTOU Adjustable Memory Foam Travel Pillow with Cooling Microbead Cover
- Bottom Line
What Are the Benefits to Using a Travel Pillow?
With today’s travel pillow designs, you not only get an ergonomic place to rest your weary head, but your neck and chin as well. They’re compact, comfortable, and because they frequently use memory foam, they instantly adapt to your contours for a custom sleep experience. And while you may be concerned that the heat generated from foam-based products can become uncomfortable over time, many designs now offer breathable covers that allow warm air to be expelled. They’re also easy to wash, so your face is never resting on a stale or sweaty surface.
What to Look for When Buying a Travel Pillow
Portability
If you like to travel light, the last thing you want to do is lug around an extra piece of baggage in the form of a bulky pillow. So, you’ll want to look for a design that comes with not only its own travel bag for convenient, sanitary storage, but with a side clip that attaches it to your carry-on luggage. This simple feature leaves your hands free to present travel documents, use your phone, or enjoy a coffee while boarding / disembarking. Some travel pillows have even been designed to compress down, for flatter storage and easier maneuvering down a narrow plane, train, or bus aisle.
Comfort
The main objective of using a sleep pillow is to provide support to your head and neck as you nod off. But many of today’s designs have taken that level of comfort to another level by incorporating ergonomic features. In addition to contouring memory foam cores, they offer tapered necks to allow you to rest more naturally, as well as chin supports for those who find their head tends to lean forward as they sleep. And because your face and neck will be resting on the surface of this pillow for hours, be sure the cover fabric is one that is not only soft to the touch, but breathable and washable.
Top 5 Travel Pillows
J-Pillow 3-Way Support Travel Pillow
Best for Lengthy Travel
Let’s face it, nodding off while en route to our destination doesn’t always mean gently leaning our head back and dozing off for a quick, 20-minute power-nap. It can be several hours with our head bobbing and weaving as we lurch awake, then fall back to sleep. That’s why a pillow like this award-winning J-Pillow is ideal for longer travel. Not only does it adapt its shape to support your neck and head, but it cradles your chin for all-round comfort. It’s made using an ultra-soft polyester cover with plush, 3-D polyester fiber fill that you can twist and shape to meet your personal preferences – whether scrunching it up to use it as a pillow or as the intended chin, neck and head rest.
And because of this lightweight fiber, its quick and easy to compress this unit down, then pack it back into its compact travel bag as soon as you arrive at your destination. No bulky pads or pillows, just a neat and tidy drawstring bag you can clip to the side of your carry-on. Another benefit to a loose, breathable fill versus a solid memory foam is that you never have to worry about it becoming uncomfortably warm after prolonged of use.
Who Should Buy This Travel Pillow?
For those who like to travel light, you’ll appreciate the compact portability of this travel pillow. And if you tend to nod off on longer journeys, its 3-way support will ensure you wake feeling comfortable and rested.
Pros
- 3-way support
- Polyester fill for adaptive support
- Snap-loop pouch attaches to luggage
- Soft, lightweight construction
Cons
- Not machine-washable
Specs for Comparison:
Material: Polyester cover / fill
Supports: head, neck, and chin
Unique Feature: Quick and easy to compress
Warranty: 6-month money-back guarantee
doccii Travel Pillow with Sleep Mask and Ear Plugs
Best for Restless Travelers
If your ability to drift off and stay asleep for a solid couple of hours is dependent on not only having a comfortable place to rest your head but achieving total sensory deprivation, you’re going to want to check out this travel pillow sleep kit. Let’s start with the super soft memory foam pillow itself. Not only does it deliver instant ergonomic support to your head and neck, but because the outer side is wrapped in a breathable, sweat-resistant fabric, you’ll never experience a build-up of heat or the clammy feeling associated with perspiration. And unique to this design, is a magnetic therapy that lines the inner cuff and promotes enhanced blood circulation – important for longer flights. It also features a small Velcro snap that keeps it in place during use and eliminates the need to wake to readjust. And because the cover is removable for washing, you can have a fresh, hygienic sleep surface with each use. Size counts when you’re packing a carry-on and although this pillow provides full wrap-around comfort to your neck and shoulders, it rolls up into a compact 7-inches for packing neatly into its water-proof pouch. But there’s more because this sleep system also includes ear plugs and a sleep mask.
Who Should Buy This Travel Pillow?
This pillow is the ideal solution for someone who finds themselves sitting for long periods of time during the travel process. Whether it’s waiting around at an airport or confined to a lengthy flight, train or bus trip. Not only does this kit include sound dampening ear plugs and a sleep mask, but the memory foam pillow is actually lined with Magnetic Therapy Material to help improve blood circulation.
Pros
- Contouring memory foam core
- Lined with Electro Magnetic Material
- Machine-washable cover
- Adjustable Velcro closure
- Waterproof Drawstring Travel bag
Cons
- May fit snug for larger people
Specs for Comparison:
Material: Memory Foam
Supports: head, neck, and chin
Unique Feature: Electro Magnetic Material lining
Warranty: n/a
ZOYLEE Twistable Memory Foam Travel Pillow
Best for Those Needing a Versatile Travel Pillow
If your idea of total comfort is a sleep cushion that you can bend and contort into the position that best suits your sleep style, this travel pillow is the one you’ve been looking for. Not only is it totally unstructured to allow twisting and shaping to meet your personal support needs, but because it isn’t pre-formed into the standard travel pillow crescent, its ideal for lower lumbar support on longer flights. Once you’ve settled in for a snooze, contouring memory foam helps deliver the ergonomic support you need to keep your head, neck and shoulders from slumping forward. The polyurethane velour cover not only provides a soft, cozy surface to rest your face against, but it’s also breathable so you never need to worry about continually waking because of a too-warm feeling. In fact, a handy snap closure helps keep this pillow in place so you don’t have to rouse to readjust. And because all travelers appreciate the benefits of hands-free accessories, this pillow packs into a handy draw-string bag that attaches to your carry-on for one less thing to tote around. As an added bonus, a sleep mask and ear plugs help further cancel out travel distractions for a more peaceful rest.
Who Should Buy This Travel Pillow?
If you tend to move around a lot as you sleep – even if when seated during travel – you want a pillow that can adapt to your changing support requirements. Because this cushion is not pre-formed, it can be twisted and shaped into whatever configuration works best for you to achieve a proper, comfortable rest. Memory foam fill ensures optimal ergonomic support regardless of whether it’s used to prop up your head, your chin, or deliver added lumbar support across your lower back.
Pros
- Easy-twist to customize shape
- Contouring memory foam fill
- Polyurethane cover is machine-washable
- Convenient snap closure
- Drawstring Travel bag
Cons
- Not ideal for kids under 10-years
Specs for Comparison:
Material: Memory Foam
Supports: head, neck, chin, lumbar region
Unique Feature: Not pre-formed so greater versatility
Warranty: 30-day, replacement or money-back guarantee
ComfoArray Wrap-Around Memory Foam Travel Pillow with Magnetic Therapy Liner
Best for All-Round Head and Neck Support
If your seated sleep style tends to result in your head bobbing forward followed by muscle strain throughout your neck and shoulders, this memory foam travel pillow is an ideal option, The extra-wide, reinforced front support is designed specifically to buffer your chin and cradle the weight of your head, so you aren’t continually falling forward and lurching awake during travel. This more restful sleep not only ensures a more productive day of meetings or sight-seeing, but it helps relieve muscle tension in your back and shoulders. Now, when it comes to delivering continual muscle and joint relief, nothing beats a pillow made with memory foam. Not only does it adapt to your body’s contours each time you shift or move during sleep, but today’s foams are designed to remain cool while in use. And with this pillow, remaining chill is what it’s all about. Not only does it use a memory foam base, but it features a breathable cotton outer layer for enhanced air movement as well as a magnetic therapy material lining for improved blood circulation. Its wrap-around design is fully adjustable to ensure a snug – or looser – fit to meet your preferred support needs and a handy nylon pouch and hook allow you to roll it up and attach it to your luggage for hassle-free travel.
Who Should Buy This Travel Pillow?
For those that tend to nod off while seated in a forward-facing position, the constant starts, stops, and turbulence can cause them to lose sleep and incur neck and muscle pain. This memory foam travel pillow wraps around the neck and can be adjusted to meet any area in need of support by using the Velcro tabs. But it’s the extra-wide, reinforced front support that protects the head and neck of upright sleepers, from sudden movement and promotes a more restful sleep.
Pros
- Fully adjustable wrap-around design
- Ideal for short or long necks
- Includes travel pouch, ear-buds and sleep mask
- Magnetic therapy material helps blood circulation
- Removable machine-wash cover
Cons
- Doesn’t conform to different uses
Specs for Comparison:
Material: Memory Foam
Supports: head, neck, chin, cheeks
Unique Feature: Tapered, vented back for added comfort
Warranty: Lifetime warranty
UTOU Adjustable Memory Foam Travel Pillow with Cooling Microbead Cover
Best for Power Naps on Short Trips
When shorter excursions call for a travel pillow that can deliver ergonomic support that’s tailored to your needs, this adjustable memory foam option is a great choice. Not only does it deliver contouring comfort that supports your head, neck, cheeks, and chin during quick power naps, but it lets you adjust the angles and level of support to suit your situation. Just position the pillow around your neck, lean back and use the handy 360-degree drawstring to modify the location and firmness around your face, head and chin. No more removing and readjusting as you would with a standard pillow support. Simply wear and tweak to fine-tune. And even the back of this pillow is designed with your comfort in mind. It’s slimmer and ergonomically shaped to allow your head to rest naturally by settling back rather than being forced into a forward tilt. Now, if you’re concerned about overheating because of the memory foam, rest assured that venting in this unit’s back expels warm air for better air circulation and a cooler rest. Further, the unique cotton knit fabric cover is not only soft and absorbent, but it has millions of microscopic breads woven in to prohibit heat build-up. And because its also removable and machine-washable, this cover delivers cool, hygienic comfort wear after wear.
Who Should Buy This Travel Pillow?
For those that love to power nap during a short haul flight, this travel pillow is ideal. It delivers customizable support for the road warrior who wants to get a little shut-eye while sitting in an upright position. For longer flights where you tend to shift and move around, a less structured travel pillow would be a better option. That said, the deep cuff design of this unit is fully adjustable so you can relax, use the drawstring to tweak your comfort level, then rest your head back and snooze.
Pros
- Easy, draw-string adjustment
- Contouring memory foam fill
- Micro-bead infused cover for extra cooling
- Tapered back for natural positioning
- Removable machine-wash cover
Cons
- Not a versatile design
Specs for Comparison:
Material: Memory Foam
Supports: head, neck, chin, cheeks
Unique Feature: Tapered, vented back for added comfort
Warranty: 30-day, replacement or money-back guarantee
Bottom Line
Whether you travel by plane, train, bus, or are a passenger in the family sedan, dozing off is all part of the journey. But how quickly you nod off, and how comfortably you rest can make a big difference in whether you wake with neck, back and shoulder pain. Using an ergonomically designed sleep pillow not only provides you with the contouring support needed to properly align your neck and spinal column, but today’s designs can also help you remain asleep – important for those overnight flights where you need to feel rested and ready for a day of meetings. They cradle your head and chin, prevent you from lurching awake, and with some designs they can even help with blood circulation.
And for those who like to travel light, almost every design now come with a lightweight travel bag so you can simply tuck your pillow into the bag, clip it to your luggage, and remain hands-free.