Travel pillows have become an important aspect of a comfortable trip. Whether you’re taking a flight or simply hitting the road, you’ll find them handy for catching some sleep in otherwise awkward positions.
But with so many travel pillows on the market, finding the perfect one for you can be cumbersome. Because not all travel pillows are created equally – there are many different designs created to suit the needs of different travelers, and they come in many different shapes, sizes, weights, and filling.
With so many things to consider when choosing a travel pillow, we’ve put together five tips to help you find the best one for you.
5 Tips for Finding the Perfect Travel Pillow
Choose the Type of Travel Pillow You Want
When choosing a travel pillow, it’s important to figure out which type you want. There are three main types of travel pillow, as follows:
Inflatable travel pillows are usually u-shaped. Inflate them to a desired firmness or deflate and fold them to a small, compact and lightweight size for light packing when going for long road trips or flights. Inflatable pillows offer convenience and support budget travelers.
Microbead travel pillows are filled with tiny polystyrene beads, are u-shaped and lightweight. The pillows change shape to provide comfort and neck support, though they generally provide the least amount of comfort and aren’t ideal for light packers because they’re the least portable.
Memory foam travel pillows are the firmest on the market, and offer the most consistent support for the neck. They can be compressed and clipped for compact packing, and are generally recommended as the most comfortable travel pillow as they mould to your neck’s shape. Although the most expensive, memory foam is one of the best travel pillows for frequent flyers.
You’ll also find neck braces in the form of wrap-around scarves and designs for travelers who tend to lean forward while sleeping.
Neck Support
How do you sleep while traveling? Do you lean forward or backwards while sleeping? Have you ever woken up on a car ride or flight and found your neck was aching?
One of the most important considerations when choosing a travel pillow should be neck support. An inflatable pillow or memory foam is ideal for neck support. If you tend to lean forward while sleeping during your travels, neck braces can provide the kind of support you need.
Consider how you usually sleep, and the type of pillow which will offer the best neck support for your most common neck positions.
Fabric
Travelers have a tendency to overlook fabric when choosing a neck pillow, but this is an important factor for ensuring your comfort. Many people find that plastic inflatable pillows irritate their skin, so it’s important to choose a fabric that is comfortable even in hot weather.
Consider whether your travels often take you into hot or cold climates. Cotton and smooth plastic are ideal for hot climates while fleece is perfect for cold climates or flights.
If you’re going for winter adventures or traveling in a chilly flight, you won’t go wrong with travel pillows made from fleece.
Size & Weight
Travel pillows range in size and weight, so it’s important to chose one which fits with your travel style.
Opt for small, lightweight pillows if you want to travel light. Memory foam and inflatable pillows are also ideal for light travel as you can size them down.
However, microbead pillows can be bulky, so it’s important to make sure there is enough space in your carryon if you decide to go this route. Most travel pillows are made light anyway, but it’s still an important consideration.
Durability
It’s also important to find a durable travel pillow, especially if you’re a frequent traveler. This ensures that you don’t have to buy a new pillow each time you travel.
There are many different cost points on the market, so it’s important to decide what you’re willing to pay, with durability and value for money in mind. If you do travel frequently, it may be a better investment to spend more on one you won’t have to constantly replace.
Finding a pillow with a washable zip cover is a great idea in this sense, and obviously, make sure you read reviews of various pillows online before opting for one.
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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.
Having visited 50+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.
28 Comments
I finally found one that works Meg! A memory travel pillow did the trick, finding my neck and head contours, doing a smash up job.
All prior pillows made me feel stiff after a long flight, literally pulling my shoulders and neck into my head it seemed. Not good. Memory is the way to go for me. Fab experience using it short term during recent trips. I am just so shocked it works because I usually hate using pillows.
Ryan
Awesome Ryan! I’ve also found memory foam to be the best. Like you, I have tried a lot of inflatable, cheap pillows in the past but nothing’s been great, then we discovered the Tempur travel pillow and it’s been incredible. Can actually sleep!
Awesome to hear that memory foam has been a success :)
I have a blowup pillow with a nice velour coating that doesn’t irritate. I cannot understand people who seem to pride themselves on packing light and then who cart a huge pillow through the airport because of one long flight.
Alternatively, I roll my pashmina and wrap it around my neck. Usually I’m so cold on planes that the pashmina is wrapped around me.
The point of the pillows is mostly to keep your head from lolling over so far that it wakes you up (or you slide onto your seatmate).
Haha I know, I see a lot of people in airport carrying their carry-on in one hand, and their pillow in the other. I’ve got the Tempur travel pillow, and while it’s larger than others on the market, it still fits inside my backpack.
Rolling up a pashmina is a great idea, I get pretty cold on flights too. Love that this has a dual purpose :)
Pillows that also provide neck support but do not totally encompass the neck are shoulder wedge pillows, and pillows that look like a seat-belt, crossing over the cheek, chest, neck, and hip area. These also provide all-over body support, as they keep you in place in your seat.
Interesting – I haven’t come across pillows that look like a seat-belt before. Thanks for the tips Alejandro – going to look into it!
Haha I’ve seen travelers waiting in line to board with their full scale pillows from home. I can’t help but laugh every time. Surely that would be a tremendous pain to have to transit with!!
Haha I do understand the comfort factor of traveling with your own pillow – I used to work at a hotel, and people would often come in with their pillows from home because they knew they could get a good nights sleep with it. I agree that it would surely be frustrating to have to make your way through airports with that thing though!!
A tip I would add is to not leave purchasing it to the last minute – airport shop prices are ridiculously expensive, so buy online before you travel or from a special travel store. If you buy before you fly too, you’ll also know how much space it takes up in your luggage.
Great tip Finn – with that too you benefit from being able to compare, read reviews and make a well informed decision :)
Fabric is SO important. I had an inflatable one, it had some advantages, it wasn’t going to take up much space, and it only cost about £5, but I absolutely hated the feel of the material on my skin, in fact it made my skin crawl it felt so bad.
Absolutely Norene – cheaper is not always better! I hope you found a more comfortable pillow better suited for you :)
I have one that blows up…. Have been given others as gifts, but they felt like they were strangling me….the one I like is 20+ years old from the Lilian Vernon catalog! My goal is to always travel in carry on luggage – no way would I schlep one of those huge neck pillows that doesnt fold….especially if I’m not staying in one place.
Then again its all a matter of priorities – I do schlep the noise cancelling headphones in their large case, but they’re still 1/2 the size of one of those Buckies.
Glad you’ve found one which works for you Noah – yes, a travel pillow is such a personal thing that I think it would be difficult giving one a a gift.
Definitely about priorities :) Happy travels!
Fly business class. Problem solved ;)
Haha there is that solution. Granted, an expensive travel pillow is probably more affordable than a ticket upgrade :D But I do long after those business class beds!
Check out the Trtl pillow – it looks nothing like a pillow, it’s more like a scarf or blanket, and in some ways, that’s actually what it is. It’s a super soft, lightweight fleece wrap that hides and cushions a plastic neck support on one side, which rests on either shoulder or your chest to keep your head in a comfortable position.
It’s actually pretty ingenious, and, despite the weird design, surprisingly comfortable. The strengthened ribs almost look like one of those emergency neck braces, but since they only rest on one side, instead of both, it’s more comfortable and less restrictive.
Sounds interesting, thanks fro the tip Carline. First time I’m hearing of Trtl; might be time for some online shopping :D
I actually use a wedge pillow for my lower back – really helps fill the gap between the lower back and the seat-back.
Great idea Mckenzie – I do often find I need something to fill that gap, I usually throw a sweater down, but love the idea of using a wedge pillow :)
The most important thing for me is something that’s washable. Some don’t come with a removable cover, so it’s important to make sure that it can be washed in a laundry machine or dry-cleaned. Otherwise … :S Picks up so much bacteria – I don’t trust that airlines properly clean each seat.
Great tip Loise, and I heard the other day that airlines don’t even wash their pillows, apparently after each flight they just get thrown back in new plastic. So definitely worth taking your own, and for sure, making sure it’s washable :)
I love my arc4life twist pillow. It is memory foam as was mentioned is good. I don’t like inflatables, and I don’t want something hard to carry and complex…
Thanks for the tip Matt, I’ll have to check out the arc4life too :)
Which fabric is good for health?
Hi Maria :) Fabrics for your health will really vary from person to person based on your individual allergies and sensitivities. You can find travel pillows in almost any fabric, and where you can’t, if you find the one you’ve chosen has irritating fabric, you can always create covers which work really well and can be tailored specifically to what you need.
Thanks for reading :)
The magniflex travel cushion is one of the best travel pillows I’ve ever used. It’s been a couple of years since I bought it, and it still looks brand new. The material is amazing, and it’s a delight to sleep on.
Great to hear Rahmihp, thanks for sharing, I haven’t tried magniflex before so will check it out :)