The foundations of a happy life are built upon a healthy sleep routine. While a lucky few could happily sleep on a washing line, for others, sleeping on a train or plane is next to impossible. To help you get a restful night's sleep en route, make sure you have a comfortable travel pillow on hand for next time you need a bit of shut-eye on the move.
From inflatable neck supports, to memory foam pillows guaranteed to make you feel as relaxed as if you were in your very own bed, there are tons of travel pillows out there. In this buying guide we share our tips on how to find the perfect travel pillow for your next trip away, along with our ranking of the top 10 best in the UK on Amazon, eBay and Boots!
Quick List - Top Travel Pillows
BCOZZY
Perfectly Curled Comfort That You'll Want on Every Journey
FYLINA
The Traditional Travel Pillow Reimagined
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In order to find the perfect travel pillow, you must first of all consider your needs and preferences when sleeping on-the-go. Our buying guide will walk you through the different types of travel pillows and their benefits, so you can be sure to find the best one for you.
Standard bedroom pillows might be fairly simple, but designs get infinitely more complex when it comes to travel pillows. From options for supporting the neck to those for the whole body, two travel pillows can differ quite drastically from one another.
The most instantly recognisable travel pillows are those designed to support the neck. Small in size with a plush filling, they sit on your shoulders, ready to support your head if you're leaning it back or if tips to either side as you sleep.
Many travel pillows feature a cutout in the front so that they can be slid comfortably onto the back of your neck. Unfortunately, this leaves your head prone to tipping forward as you sleep. Luckily, some ingenious designers have come up with a solution in the form of travel pillows that also support your chin. These pillows offer support from all sides, meaning you can snooze in supreme comfort.
Their small surface area means these travel pillows are best used when sleeping in an upright position, but there's nothing to say they won't provide at least a little extra comfort if you find yourself in a situation where you need to catch some Zs horizontally while on the go.
These are considerably less portable, but there are travel pillows that support multiple areas of the body at once. They're usually quite lengthy, and can be twisted into whatever shape fits you best, whether you want to support your head, shoulders or hips.
Their flexibility also means they can be folded into more compact shapes fit for travelling. That said, they're considerably less portable than traditional neck pillows, and you may end up compromising a lot of luggage space if you decide to bring your full-length pillow along for the ride.
Because of the way they weave around the body to offer support, these types of travel pillow are best suited to sleeping horizontally, such as on a long-haul flight or on a camping trip. You probably won't need a full-length pillow quite as often as you do a neck pillow, but when the situation arises, you'll be glad you've got it!
Travel pillows may utilise different designs to support you as you sleep, but the materials they're made of are just as important. The primary aim of a travel pillow is comfort and there are several types of material that manufacturers can use - both outside and in - to ensure their travel pillows are extra comfortable.
Some travel pillows use the opposite approach and are filled with air, instead. They're not the comfiest option, as once fully inflated, they can also be quite firm. They are, however, extremely compact, and when deflated, are the clear winners when it comes to size.
The ultimate comfort is offered by travel pillows that use memory foam. Not only is memory foam extremely soft, it gradually moulds to fit your unique shape as you use it, meaning it actually gets comfier over time! So much so that you may even look forward to catching a few Zs while on the go.
Perhaps just as important is the material used to make a travel pillow's cover. After all, it doesn't matter how great the support a pillow offers is if it's coated in a fabric that makes you feel hot and sweaty!
Materials such as fleece and cotton, while they provide a nice soft surface to lay your head upon, do tend to absorb heat in warmer climes - something worth considering, especially if you're using your travel pillow for foreign holidays or summer trips.
The most impressive material we've found used for travel pillow covers is the lesser-known bamboo fibre. Amazingly, it's thought to be three times more breathable than cotton, meaning you can stay cool as you stay comfortable.
The key thing that distinguishes a regular pillow from a travel pillow is convenience when travelling. Primarily this means a nice compact design that is easy to transport from one destination to another. However, travel pillows come in different shapes and sizes and some are more portable than others.
Undoubtedly, the most portable travel pillows are those that fold or can be compressed. Some pillows are soft and flexible enough to be rolled up and stored in carry bags, while inflatable travel pillows can be deflated to a fraction of their former size.
Whatever the method, collapsible pillows are worth looking out for, as they as offer more practicality and portability - something that's crucial when it comes to travel pillows.
All of this leads us to our final point, which is to always check the size and weight of a travel pillow before you buy it, particularly in respect to how you plan on using it. A larger, heavier pillow weighing over 400 g may be suitable for a road trip, but for air travel, something more compact and lightweight under 200 g will be far easier to fit in your hand luggage.
Another reason you may want to keep an eye on size is if you're buying a pillow for a child. While most travel pillows are size adjustable, either via an adjustable strap or a coiled design that wraps around your neck, it'll be more comfortable for your child if you can find a travel pillow designed especially for little ones.
Of course, the best way to discover these specifications is to check the product dimensions. Just take care with foldable designs that you're getting both the folded and unfolded dimensions.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | BCOZZY Multi Use Chin Supporting Travel Pillow | ![]() | Perfectly Curled Comfort That You'll Want on Every Journey | |
2 | Dot&Dot Twist Bendable Memory Foam Pillow | ![]() | Twist Your Way to the Perfect Snoozing Sweet Spot | |
3 | FYLINA Memory Foam Travel Pillow With Carry Case, Eye Mask and Ear Plugs | ![]() | The Traditional Travel Pillow Reimagined | |
4 | Huzi Infinity Pillow | ![]() | A Pillow That's Infinite in Shape and in Scope | |
5 | Trtl Trtl Pillow | ![]() | A Super Lightweight Pillow With Exceptional Support | |
6 | J-Pillow J-Pillow | ![]() | An Innovative Award-Winning Travel Companion | |
7 | Trunki Kids Travel Pillow | ![]() | A Fun and Colourful Travel Pillow for Little Ones | |
8 | Cabin Max Store Memory Foam Traditional Travel Pillow | ![]() | A Familiar Feeling Pillow That's Ideal For Longer Stretches | |
9 | AIRGOODS Head & Neck Support Inflatable Travel Pillow | ![]() | Give Them Serious 'Do Not Disturb' Vibes With This Inflatable Travel Pillow | |
10 | Travelrest Inflatable Portable Travel Pillow | ![]() | Keep This in Your Glove Box for a Nap in a Pinch |
Say goodbye to endless tweaking and repositioning! Made from a high-quality, breathable fabric, this pillow's patented curved design ensures the perfect fit around your neck to provide the ultimate in comfort and support.
It'll support your chin to prevent your head from tipping forwards, so you can drift off knowing you'll wake up feeling refreshed, without any aches or pains. It's even available in a variety of sizes and colours, so why not prepare for the next road trip by buying these travel pillows for the whole family?
For all the will in the world, sometimes it's just impossible to get your pillow in the right position for sleeping. If you've given up on travel pillows in the past, this one may change your mind. It's fully bendable and adjustable, so you'll never struggle to find the perfect sleeping position.
Whether you're leaning on a train window or snoozing on the sofa, this pillow offers superior support across the body, enhanced by an adaptable memory foam filling. It's not just a perfect travel pillow - it's the perfect pillow, full stop!
Those who enjoy the classic travel pillow shape need look no further. This pillow offers exceptional comfort, with all the bells and whistles attached. The ergonomically-shaped lobe design ensures your head won't tilt, and the memory foam moulds to fit your neck perfectly.
It also comes packed with amazing extras, such as a pocket to pop your smartphone in as you drift off listening to music or an audiobook, an eye mask, ear plugs, and a carry case. Better yet, it has one of the lowest price tags on this list!
Huzi describe their pillow as a 'plushy, wearable cloud', and it's not hard to see why. Made from bamboo fibre that's three times more breathable than cotton, it'll keep you pleasantly cool as well as comfortable.
The clever infinity spiral design also offers 360 degree comfort, so this is a cloud you'll very much want to keep your head in. It's not a cheap choice by any means, but it's money well spent for this level of comfort and versatility.
Sometimes a pillow alone doesn't cut it for adequate support when sleeping upright. Luckily, this pillow has the solution! This wrap style pillow houses a completely unique system that's scientifically designed to give you superior support.
It weighs less than an apple, is small in size, and looks just like a scarf, so it's unlikely to attract any unwanted attention. It's not as versatile as some of our other picks, but you can't go wrong with such effective support for upright sleep!
A best-seller, the J-Pillow has won many awards for its unique multi-function design. It completely fills the gap between your head and shoulders and the trunk curls under your chin to prevent your head from tipping forward during sleep, offering unparalleled support.
It features a loop fastener, which is handy for keeping your pillow safe, and a carrying bag to ensure it's protected during travel. The only thing to bear in mind is that the J-Pillow doesn't have a means of securing it to the side of your head, so you'll need to find a surface, such as a headrest or window, to lean against.
Nothing gets a kid more willing to undergo a long journey than a travel pillow shaped like a friendly animal character. Whether it's Bert, Betsy or Una, you're child is bound to love their colourful new travel companion!
The pillow itself is magnetised to stop your little one's head from tipping forward, and it even features a neat silicone grasper, which will prevent your child's teddy or comforter from falling away mid-journey. Unfortunately, it only fits kids between the ages of 2 and 4, but for toddlers within this age range, it's a must have.
Sometimes when travelling we're lucky enough to be able to sleep horizontally. In these cases, a neck and shoulder pillow won't do. That's why we've chosen this traditional pillow for camping trips or long-haul flights.
As well as being comfy, this pillow can be rolled up into a compact carry case. It's a little heavier than many of our other picks, but it's still lighter than a standard pillow, and it's a worthy price to pay for a full 8-hours of sleep.
For many of us, sleep is serious business, and there's nothing worse than being disturbed from your precious slumber. There's no better way of letting others know that you want be left alone than with this monolithic head and neck pillow. It's the perfect snuggle space, complete with firm support and ventilation holes.
If you're not quite ready for a nap, it also works nicely as a privacy pod. It's conspicuous size means this pillow won't appeal to those who wish to snooze discreetly, but you'll get the last laugh when you arrive at your destination fully rested!
This is the ultimate emergency travel pillow! Rolled up, it takes up next-to-no space and can be stuffed in your glove box, pocket or rucksack. When it's time for a quick snooze, simply inflate, attach and relax.
It's perhaps not as comfortable as some of our other picks, but if you've got a passenger desperate to catch some Zs, this pillow is the perfect pocket-sized saviour. Plus, the adjustable strap means you'll get a snug fit every time.
When it comes to travelling, preparation is key. There's no time to replace forgotten essentials when you're in the middle of an adventure, or rehearsing for a big business meeting. Luckily, we've got a few more recommendations. From lightweight hand luggage, to travel kettles for the perfect cuppa on the go, make sure your next trip away is a stress-free one!
We hope this article has helped you find the perfect travel pillow to help you sleep with comfort on your travels. Now all that's left to do is to decide where your next adventure will take you!
Author: Ben Willimett
No. 1: BCOZZY|Multi Use Chin Supporting Travel Pillow
No. 2: Dot&Dot|Twist Bendable Memory Foam Pillow
No. 3: FYLINA|Memory Foam Travel Pillow With Carry Case, Eye Mask and Ear Plugs
No. 4: Huzi|Infinity Pillow
No. 5: Trtl|Trtl Pillow
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