Want to sleep on the plane or in the car? The U-shaped neck pillow isn’t the only—or best—choice. Here are 40 (yes, 40) options for better ZZZs, including my top choices.
A great travel pillow can make your flight or car ride a better place, or at least a better place for napping.
When it comes to flying, if you can afford the space in your bag (or don’t mind strapping it to the outside), a travel pillow can mean the difference between landing refreshed and ready to take on Venice and crashing like a rookie when you check into your Airbnb at 2 PM.
And if you’re traveling by car, being able to snooze more comfortably during the boring stretches means arriving bright-eyed and without a stiff neck. (I am one of those people who start to nod off almost as soon as we’re out of the driveway, even if I’m well-rested. Something about those low vibrations… So a travel pillow on a road trip is a must for me.)
The Pros of Travel Pillows
- Comfort
- Lightweight
- Versatility
- Affordability
The Cons of Travel Pillows
- You look like an idiot
- Most are bulky
- Some are pricey
- You’re still not getting great sleep
- Over-ear headphones and travel pillows don’t mix
For me, the Pros outweigh the Cons. If I can’t sleep on the plane or train, I’m going to be tired. And if I’m tired, I’m going to miss stuff I don’t want to miss. I’m not traveling to look cool; if you are, you’re missing the point of seeing the world. So embrace your inner travel dork and get some quality shut eye with a good travel pillow.
Trouble is, most travel pillows are less than great. Okay; they suck.
I do not understand why this product is so popular. It has almost two thousand positive reviews on Amazon. Even if you make it out of high-tech gel or memory foam, it still doesn’t really work.
My one and only plane trip using a “traditional” neck pillow (memory foam sheathed in a bland color and shaped like a toilet seat) was an economy flight from Vancouver to Houston. When it came time to sleep I placed the U-shaped pillow on my shoulders. As my neck protruded an uncomfortable distance from the seat back, I let my head fall to my left. No good. I let my head fall to the right. Also no good. I scrunched the pillow up to try to make it into something like a small normal pillow, but it kept boomeranging back to its U-shape. Definitely no good. At the end of the trip I gave the pillow to a friend so her dog could use it as a chew toy.
Fortunately, a few enlightened souls are bringing innovation to the market of neck pillows. While some of their efforts fall short—many are virtually unpackable or outright embarrassing, with armrest-mounted stands or bulky padding that makes them quite the spectacle—others are an improvement on the U-shape.
I checked out as many of the alternative models as I could. Here are my two favorites, along with 31 others you may want to consider.
Remember: my choice may be your lumpy doughnut, and vice versa. Many planes’ thermostats are a bit high for my taste; add a pillow out of non-breathable fabric and I quickly overheat. But you may not notice the temperature difference. And I usually travel with carry-on bags only; you may have room for a larger pillow in your tote, or not mind it attached to the outside of your rollaboard.
Twist’s Pick: My choice for long-haul economy flights is a combination of the Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow and a small down travel pillow. They also work well for car trips, although the J Pillow isn’t a bad choice for hitting the road as well.
My favorites:
- When inflated, the Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow is shaped like a long apostrophe that tucks right above your shoulder and across your body or down your side. Great for side sleepers, this pillow provides lateral support and keeps your head from falling forward, plus it also keeps your back straight. Even though the pillow is large, it inflates quickly and deflates into a small roll designed to snap onto your carry-on’s handle. The no-slip backing means it stays put without having to rig a harness system to your seat. And the plush outer covering actually feels good. One drawback? It only sits on one side of your head, so if you happen to lean to the other side while sleeping, you’re in for a rude awakening.
- This down travel pillow can be carried like a sleeping bag (roll it up and compress it into a stuff sack), making it convenient for travelers who want a “real” pillow. If I am using it with the Travelrest Ultimate, I wedge it between the armrest and my hip or under my elbow. Because it’s filled with down, I often take it on trips where I’ll be staying in a lot of Airbnbs, which often have too-thick, hard foam bed pillows.
The ones that didn’t make the cut but may float your boat neck:
- The J Pillow—with 13,000-plus mostly positive reviews on Amazon—is a plush, J-shaped cushion that supports your neck and head when you’re dozing off to one side. The pillow curves around your neck but because it is worn on the side, it doesn’t push your head forward. It’s especially great if you’re in a window seat. Wedge the shaped cushion between your head and the cabin wall, or use its chin support as a solution to the dreaded middle seat. It’s smaller than the average U-shaper, and can be compressed into its included carrying bag for transport in your carry-on. Alas, it gave me a crick in my neck when I tried it during a flight, but it worked well when I used it while leaning against the car window on a road trip. Bonus: the whole thing is machine-washable.
- Another Amazon fave (10,000+ mostly good reviews) the Trtl Pillow (and its newer version, the Trtl Pillow Plus) provide more support around your neck than the traditional U-model thanks to an inner strengthened “rib” that contours to any neck, jaw, or shoulder shape. It is less bulky than a U-pillow and partially disguised by a scarf-like wrap for undercover napping. In case of sleep drool, its cover is machine-washable. On the other hand, as part of the Trtl is made of hard plastic, it’s awkward to pack, and you’ll go crazy if you try wearing it with headphones, as it consistently knocks them off of your ears as you move to find a comfortable position. The Plus model does have the advantage of inner toggles that can change the height of the neck support in two different spots, but this didn’t solve the headphone problem. The Trtl could suffice for a short trip, but it’s definitely not the best travel neck pillow for long flights and non-side sleepers.
- The Candy Cane was an almost pick. It supported my head in a variety of positions: I could lean against the window as well as sleep on my side or facing forward. The fabric was soft and it deflated down into an included carry bag the size of an orange. Plus, it’s relatively cheap.
- This AirComfy is inflatable, washable, and a slight improvement over the traditional U-shape. My head still flopped to the side and was thrust uncomfortably forward, though, and the valve had a slow leak.
- It’s amazing that a tiny buckle can make such a big difference in comfort. Eagle Creek’s Exhale neck pillow takes the standard U-shape and adds a small clip in the front that draws the two front ends together, thus eliminating that awkward empty spot that allows your head to fall forward and wake you up. It was also nice that the part that went against the back of your neck was somewhat thinner, but in the end it still had the other problems of a U-shaped model.
- The PUREFLY Soft Velvet Inflatable Travel Neck Pillow has the problem of other ones similar in design (see the TravelRest Nest model)—too hot and bulky around my neck. But if this style is your jam, the Purefly packs down to nothing, is washable, and the built-in thumb pump (like Nike shoes!) means no huffing and puffing.
- The Cushion Lab is made out of memory foam and is another model I found to be too hot and bulky. But if you like this style, it is a super-cushioned, washable, affordable (for memory foam) choice.
- As someone who reads a lot on planes, I loved the concept of the BookSeat pillow. When you’re finished reading, you can just fall asleep on it. Good for stomach sleepers, which I am not. Also, too big for my carry-on.
- The FaceCradle is two ovals of (really) hard memory foam joined by a plastic hinge. The pillow was marginally comfortable when my head was tipped to one side. But when I faced front (after finally figuring out how to attach it to my seat), the plastic hinges dug into my neck and the hard foam made my face hurt. Plus, it is really bulky and has an uncanny resemblance to a toilet seat. How did this thing raise $1.5 million on Kickstarter?
- A good space-saver, The AirComfy Travel Pillow is designed to provide either lumbar support or neck support, with an elastic band to secure it to your headrest. Just inflate it to the firmness you prefer and pack it back flat or into its pouch when you’ve reached your destination. Not great if you sleep with your head tilted to one side.
- The back of the U-shaped Sea to Summit Aeros pillow is narrowed to prevent your head from being pushed forward and the ends are enlarged to offer better side-neck support. But my head still fell forward into the front opening as soon as I dozed off.
- The Twist Travel Pillow offers lumbar, side, and tray-table support as well as serving as the usual neck prop. The only thing I liked it for was tray-table sleeping, and even then, I wished it were rectangle. Pass (despite its terrific name 😉).
- The Lucy RealCushion looks like two travel pillows sewn together (or, if you prefer, a headless stuffed person). It’s designed to give you double the support of a traditional pillow. While the pillow still inflates/deflates, it also has a half-inch inner cushion to make it feel more like a real pillow than an inflatable. End result? Way too bulky to carry on, plus all that extra padding made my neck really hot.
- The MZYSKJ and the BCOZZY wrap around your entire neck like a boa constrictor, which is optimal for people who prefer to tilt their heads forward rather than backwards to sleep. I, however, am not one of them. Both pillows were too thin to really support my head and the BCOZZY didn’t have a washable cover.
- The HoodiePillow, Neck Pillow with Hat, and the Grand Trunk Blackout Hooded Pillow adds the hoodie part of a sweatshirt to the traditional U-pillow. They come in several colors and cute prints and you can adjust the size of the hood with the drawstrings. If you don’t like the feel of sleep masks, a hoodie is a good alternative, plus it helps hide that you’re using a travel pillow. When I tried it, while the hoodie prevented some head lolling, it was still a U-pillow. No thank you.
- The SkySiesta pillow comes with two foam bolsters that go on either side of your head, which will keep your neck from bending in an uncomfortable direction. It also comes with an eye mask so you can really doze off. The problem? The foam bolsters are fairly good-sized, which means they take up too much space in my carry-on, and they made my head too hot.
(And Husband—a former volunteer firefighter—said I looked as though I were strapped to a backboard.)
- The inventors of PowerSiesta raised $55,000 of a $35,000 goal on Kickstarter for their “compact sleep solution”—a piece of corrugated cardboard that folds out to create a resting post (thin pad for the top included). Instructions read, “pop it open, wrap your arms around it, rest your head on top, and relax.” It was too hard (!) and I’m not good with tree-hugger position when I sleep, so it’s a pass.
- Pull down the shade and expand the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow for a window seat snooze support. This soft, urethane foam–filled pillow packs to one-fifth its normal size. Trouble was, it kept slipping out from under my head and falling to the floor.
- If you twist and turn, trying to find a way to sleep comfortably in the plane seat, the Infinity Pillow by Huzi Design may be for you. It has an infinity-symbol shape you can wrap in a dozen ways. Its bamboo fabric is machine-washable, hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, and blocks sound a bit if worn over the ears. I tried the double wrap around my neck and head, creating a kind of nap cave that blocked out most light and sound. Turned out not to have enough padding for me and I felt as though I were being strangled.
- If you get cold on the plane, the ultra-soft Convertible Blanket Pillow is lightweight to pack, but the box-stitched design retains heat to keep you cozy. It folds into a pillow with a built-in strap for easy transport. Good blanket, crummy pillow. And what do you do if you want both?
- If you find planes too warm or overheat just thinking about having something thick and fuzzy wrapped around your neck for eight hours, the Cabeau Evolution Cool Pillow may be for you. Memory foam is paired with cooling air circulation vents and sweat-wicking fabric for when the overhead air isn’t cutting it. It felt heavy on my neck and I tend to run cold, not warm, on planes.
- The Cabeau Evolution S3 comes with a strap system that can be attached to your plane seat to prevent your head from falling forward or sideways. It has a zippered side pouch for what, I’m not sure (it wasn’t big enough for my phone). While the fabric is soft and my head didn’t move once I had it fitted properly, it was too hot around my neck. Plus, even after being stuffed into the included storage case, it’s still pretty big.
- The Skyrest Travel Pillow—a massive cube with a slanted top—is designed for stomach sleepers. To use, inflate it, rest it on your lap, put your hands in its rear pocket, and plop your head down onto the top of the pillow.
The Simptech and Senczo are other variations. These models are actually fairly comfortable if you’re a stomach sleeper (assuming the seat in front of you isn’t reclined), but they’re useless otherwise, plus their size alone makes them tough to fit into your carry-on.
- The Caldera Releaf Travel Neck Rest (the Komfort Kollar is a similar model that comes in three sizes) looks and feels like a neck brace, wrapping all the way around your neck with a Velcro strap at the back. It offers a lot of support but not much in the way of comfort—I felt as though I were being strangled. And don’t even think about eating while wearing it!
- The Bullbird BR2 bills itself as a posture-correction device as well as a travel pillow. It is a compact C-shape made out of memory foam and rigid plastic. It was too hard to be comfortable and continually slipped out of position.
It may work as a substitute for a Japanese takamakura (wooden cradle used by a geisha to preserve her coiffure), but as a $60 travel pillow? Nope.
- If you can’t give up your U-shaper, you may like Tumi’s Packable Travel Jacketor Madewell’s Travel Buddy Packable Puffer. Not technically travel pillows until you pack them away, the jackets fit inside a U-shaped bag. Roll up the jacket and stuff it in the bag—ta-da! You have a make-shift neck pillow. This means you can wear it onto the plane instead of packing it in your carry-on, a bonus for ultra-light packers. Both come in a variety of colors for men and women. As a pillow, it wasn’t that comfortable, and if you want to both wear the jacket and sleep, you are out of luck.
- From the Good-Idea-In-Concept-But-I-Would-Never-Be-Caught-Dead-Using-It Department: the Ostrich Pillow. Designed for stomach sleepers, it fits (and looks) like an astronaut helmet or diving bell. It is light for its size but very big, difficult to wash and dry, and (very) pricey at $100. I would have to be in a near-coma, fugue state of exhaustion before I’d consider putting one of these on my head in an airline terminal or on a flight. And even then, I probably wouldn’t.
P.S. This was printed on its packaging: “This is the original Ostrich Pillow. Accept no imitations.” First of all, is there really more than one person who thinks making and selling these things is a good idea? Second, I’m pretty sure people’s first thought if they see you wearing a copycat design won’t be, “Jeez, check out the knock-off.”
- Here is the Ostrich Pillow’s little brother. The Ostrich Pillow Light is an adjustable ringed pillow is filled with silicon-covered micro-beads for sound reduction, setting you up for a sleep so deep you won’t care how you look using it. It was too heavy both on top of my head and over my eyes.
- To complete the Ostrich Pillow trio is the Ostrich Pillow Go. I found it too firm and it still took up too much space.
- Last, but not least, I saw a gentleman wearing one of these on my last flight. Yep, it’s an old-fashioned neck brace; the kind sometimes worn by plaintiffs looking for a big payday after a car accident. No lateral support, but he slept like a baby for hours, so go figure.
Twist’s Take: Next flight, ask yourself: Are you toting your U-shaped travel pillow out of usefulness or out of habit? Is it taking up space in your carry-on because it really helps you sleep or because you are hoping it will despite prior experience to the contrary? Ask yourself these questions, then buy one of the above models and give your U-shaped pillow to a friend with a dog.
