It’s no secret that sitting for hours on a flight in economy isn’t the most comfortable place to be. With the right travel accessories, though, even the most dreadful in-flight experiences can be upgraded. A trusted travel pillow is the easiest way to make a flight noticeably more restful. We tested dozens of neck and travel pillows and selected the ones that offer the best support, comfort, packability, and value for different kinds of travelers. Below are our top picks for long flights, red-eyes, road trips, and trains.
Top picks (at a glance)
– Best overall: Cabeau Evolution S3 travel pillow
– Best memory foam: Ostrichpillow Go memory foam travel pillow
– Best packable: Keemall Inflatable travel pillow
– Best for chin support: FlyHugz Memory foam neck pillow
– Best for customized support: Trtl Travel Pillow Plus
– Best for back support: Napfun travel pillow
– Best for side sleepers: BCozzy neck pillow
– Best for middle seats: Sarisun travel pillow
– Best twist-style versatility: Dot & Dot Twist memory foam travel pillow
– Best upper-body support: Travelrest Ultimate travel pillow
– Best for red-eyes: Pluto Pod
– Best novelty/full immersion: Ostrichpillow Original Napping Pillow
– Best budget/affordability: Brookstone Microbead travel pillow
1. Cabeau — Evolution S3 travel pillow
Best for: Overall comfort
Why it stands out: Memory foam pillow with a flat back panel so you can sit up against a seat without being pushed forward. Adjustable toggle clasp, a side pocket for small items, and Velcro straps that loop around the headrest to keep your head upright and reduce neck strain. Comes with a sleek travel bag that clips to luggage.
2. Ostrichpillow — Go memory foam travel pillow
Best for: Memory foam comfort
Why it stands out: Luxurious, soft memory-foam core that’s squishy and supportive rather than stiff. Velcro closure ensures a snug fit, it compresses small for travel, and the removable, machine-washable cover keeps it fresh between trips.
3. Keemall — Inflatable travel pillow
Best for: Packability and germ-conscious travelers
Why it stands out: Extremely compact and lightweight, this under-$20 inflatable pillow inflates via a push-button valve and stows in a tiny pouch. The cotton pillowcase is removable and washable—great for people who want to avoid sharing a fabric surface with a plane seat.
4. FlyHugz — Memory foam neck pillow
Best for: Chin support
Why it stands out: Ultra-light (about 4.5 ounces) yet supportive U-shaped memory foam that offers 360-degree support and helps prevent your head from falling forward. Packs into a tiny pouch and has a sweat-resistant, machine-washable cover—ideal for minimal packers and frequent red-eyes.
5. Trtl — Travel Pillow Plus
Best for: Customized support
Why it stands out: A wrap-style pillow with an internal support bar and adjustable toggles to lengthen or shorten the support. Smaller and less intrusive than U-shaped pillows, it’s easy to clip to a bag and can be adjusted to fit many body types. Cozy fleece wrap (can be warm on long-haul flights).
6. Napfun — Travel pillow
Best for: Back and near-360-degree support
Why it stands out: Compressible memory foam with a concave, slightly indented back to support posture and nearly 360-degree support for chin, neck, and shoulders. Breathable outer fabric with a removable zipped cover. The front clip prevents head droop and the pillow retains its shape after repeated compression.
7. BCozzy — Neck pillow
Best for: Side sleepers
Why it stands out: Wrap-around design pads both sides of your head and chin; the flat back promotes better posture and lets you fold the pillow to use on only one side—perfect for side sleepers who need asymmetric support or to prop into a corner of the seat.
8. Sarisun — Travel pillow
Best for: Middle-seat travelers and privacy/light blocking
Why it stands out: A hybrid pillow and eye mask that can attach to the headrest and keep you upright without leaning into your neighbors. The built-in eye cover blocks sunlight, which reduces the number of accessories you need to carry. Note: effectiveness depends on seat/headrest design.
9. Dot & Dot — Twist memory foam travel pillow
Best for: Flexibility and multiuse positioning
Why it stands out: A flexible, twistable memory-foam design that can be contoured to many shapes—around the neck, under the head, behind the neck, or as lower-back support. Great for restless sleepers who need to shift positions mid-flight.
10. Travelrest — Ultimate travel pillow
Best for: Upper-body and side support
Why it stands out: Crossbody sling design that cradles neck and head and allows you to lean comfortably to one side; secures to the headrest with a cord. Inflatable construction makes it compact in your bag, yet when inflated it offers rigid support that helps you feel stable while sleeping upright.
11. Pluto — Pod
Best for: Red-eye flights and sensory shielding
Why it stands out: More than a neck pillow, the Pod has a structured padded hood and a pull-down eye mask that create a cocooning effect—damps noise, blocks light, and replaces the need for a separate eye mask and some earplugs. It feels like a mini sensory-deprivation hood for travel sleepers who want privacy and quiet.
12. Ostrichpillow — Original Napping Pillow
Best for: Full-head immersion and unusual comfort
Why it stands out: A beaded, weighted pillow designed for full head immersion and total sensory comfort. Bulky compared with standard neck pillows but excellent for napping in a variety of orientations—airports, trains, and lounges—if you can accommodate the extra size in your luggage.
13. Brookstone — Microbead travel pillow
Best for: Affordability and classic comfort
Why it stands out: Lightweight microbeads deliver comfortable support without the stiffness of some memory foams. One side is fleece, the other a cool microfiber spandex. Includes a pocket and attachment points for luggage. Durable, machine-wash-friendly, and easy on the wallet—great for travelers who want reliable comfort at a low price.
How we chose these pillows
Every pillow on this list was tested by editors who traveled with them to judge comfort, support, packability, washability, and real-world usability. We looked for options that suit a variety of sleepers—side sleepers, chin support needs, people in middle seats, those who prioritize packability or sensory isolation, and travelers who want machine-washable or antimicrobial features.
What to look for in a travel pillow
– Support: Look for a design that stabilizes your head and keeps your neck aligned—memory foam and wrap styles often excel here.
– Shape: U-shaped, wraparound, sling/upper-body, twistable, and hooded designs serve different sleep preferences. Side sleepers often need asymmetric or sling support; people in middle seats may prefer headrest-anchoring designs.
– Packability: Inflatable and compressible pillows work best for carry-on minimalists.
– Cleanability: Removable, machine-washable covers are preferable for hygiene.
– Extra features: Straps to attach to a headrest, pockets, Velcro, and eye-mask integration can be useful depending on your travel style.
Quick buying tips
– If you hate carrying extra bulk, choose an inflatable or compressible memory-foam model.
– If you sleep on your side or want upper-body support, try a sling-style or wraparound pillow.
– If you want to reduce accessories, look for hooded pods or integrated eye masks.
– Consider one with washable covers if you fly frequently or are particular about cleanliness.
A version of this article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK. It has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Lauren Burvill and Ruby Deevoy.
