The Best Travel Pillows

I’m sorry, but I find this travel pillow hideous. It’s just so big and dorky. But damn if it isn’t effective. It’s actually really comfortable. It’s sort of like a scarf that you wrap around your neck, with a built-in frame that cradles your head securely and comfortably. The scarf part is nice and made of soft fleece, similar to other travel scarves or blankets. The hook-and-loop attachment point isn’t too loud when you adjust it, so you won’t disturb your neighbors. The Trtl comes in a few colors depending on where you purchase from. I’m usually a side sleeper, and I found that I was able to get comfy and doze off while using this pillow—even on an airplane as a sometimes-fearful flier. It’s particularly excellent for the middle seat. Once you get the ideal tightness and positioning, it‘s stable and warm. And I woke up with zero neck pain.

The Trtl comes with a carrying case that I don’t love: The carabiner is small, and the pillow flops around uselessly—I accidentally whacked a few people with it in the airport when it was attached to my backpack before deciding to just rearrange my bag and cram it inside. The pillow itself is too bulky to be stored easily. Because of the built-in frame, it’s not squishy or compressible or flat. But if you don’t overpack your belongings or you find other travel pillows difficult to use, the Trtl might be exactly what you’re looking for. I’ll definitely be using it again—even though it makes me a tad self-conscious. One thing to note is that the Trtl is not compatible in the slightest with over-ear headphones. If you’ve got earbuds, you should be fine, but if you prefer over-ears and want to be able to listen to music while you nap, try a different pillow.

The Coalatree Puffy Kachula is primarily an outdoor blanket. With bold patterns; a silky, water-resistant ripstop nylon shell; a 48- by 71-inch footprint; and a built-in optional hood, it makes a great camping companion. There are handy snaps built in to secure the blanket around your front, superhero-style. But you can stuff the whole thing in on itself to convert it into a travel pillow. I tested it on my floor with a camping pad, and it wasn’t as fantastic as something like the Honeydew pillow (above), but it wasn’t definitely more comfy than typical camping-style pillows.

In pillow mode, it can be a little lumpy until you rearrange the blanket innards, but the zippers are durable, and there’s plenty of room, so you aren’t stuck trying to cram excess material in. And once you get it arranged to your liking, it is super comfortable. Pillow mode also has a loop near the zipper for a carabiner. If you camp frequently, this would be a smart purchase. It’ll double as an extra layer if needed, or a softer place to rest your head at night.

Cabeau’s Evolution Earth neck pillow is covered in RPET, a super-soft, washable fabric made with recycled plastic bottles. The pillow offers excellent, high sides and a comfortable, firm fit. Like some other pillows in this guide, it can be tricky to use this pillow with over-ear headphones. The back is flat, so in theory it could sit flush against a headrest, though I found it a bit awkward based on my height when I tried it on a bus and plane. (Seat backs rarely work as intended for me.) There’s a chin strap that prevents your head from falling forward.

It took me many attempts to get this “HeadCatch” technology to work, and I didn’t find it super comfortable once it was strapped under my chin, but if you’re a forward-leaner, it’s a nice touch. (I, thankfully, am not.) I wish it came with a travel case, though you can pay an extra $5 to get one included. These caveats aside, once I got the pillow adjusted to where I wanted it, I was able to fall asleep. It was nice and firm without being too stiff, and I woke up feeling refreshed despite having spent the past hour on a bus.

This firm memory foam tube surrounds flexible inner joints that can be contorted to your liking. That means it works as a neck pillow, but you can also ball it up for added lumbar support, or twist it around your shoulders with one side raised up for resting your head against the wall of the plane (or bus). Few travel pillows work well for the window seat, but this one does. I honestly don't love it in the typical doughnut pillow shape—it's just a little too tight for my personal preferences—but I do like it a lot for back, shoulder, or other less conventional support. I also like that it's available in a few pleasant colors like pink and turquoise. The breathable outer fabric cover is soft like an old T-shirt, and it's machine washable. There are also two snaps at the ends for looping it around your luggage.

Slumber Cloud makes the best cooling sheets, and this soft pillow has a cooling effect too. It has a washable cover with built-in handles that make it easier to take with you. Slumber Cloud's proprietary Outlast-coated fabrics use phase change material to absorb and dissipate heat. It's pretty neat—if I'm running hot, the pillow cools me off, but if I'm already cold, it doesn't make me colder. The cover doubles as a pillowcase that is quite slippery, so it can take some finagling to get adjusted. One thing to note is that this pillow is very squishy, and a little bit smaller than I'd like. I have to hold it for added support if I'm sleeping horizontally on my side, lest my head sink down to the ground. But once you get comfy, you stay comfy. I constantly had to fight off falling back asleep whenever I tested this with a nap. It never once made me too hot or sweaty, even on 90-degree Fahrenheit days.

The Bracer Travel Pillow is similar to the Trtl Travel Pillow in that it has a rigid surface where you rest your head. There are two brace pieces. Attach them via the Velcro points, and then loop the strap around the other side. Pop the strap over your shoulders and chest and you'll have a spot to rest your head. This pillow takes a lot of adjustment initially. I recommend putting it on at home and dialing in the strap position so you know it'll work when you're in a cramped environment like a plane. One thing I'll note is that this pillow isn't great for folks with large chests—I woke up once and the strap had been putting pressure across the top of mine, and it was really irritated. I also wish the Velcro attachment point was stronger, since sometimes it'd crackle and pop when I was trying to get comfortable. But if you want true support without a scarf that loops around your neck, this might be a good choice. All the pieces can be stored in the included drawstring bag.