10 Best Travel Pillows 2024 in the United States

If you travel often by plane, but can’t afford to go business class, you’re familiar with how difficult it is to sleep on a flight. Airlines will provide you with a pillow--but the generic pillow that they provide might not give you the comfort you need. Also, if you go for a long ride with the family, you’ll want your children to be able to get some rest along the way. A proper travel pillow can serve this purpose well.

If you need better support for your neck or back, you’ll see that there are many travel pillows that use an innovative design to ensure that you get a comfortable sleep . You’ll want to know that the pillow is made from breathable, comfortable material, that is also easy to clean. Also, a good travel pillow is something that collapses down to a compact size, so as not to take up too much space in your backpack or luggage.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a travel pillow. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of travel pillow,

• See useful tips about that particular type of travel pillow,

• Read reviews of different travel pillows, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of travel pillow, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

• Compressible full-size pillow: These are pillows that can be packed down into a small cushion that fits in one hand. When you open it, it expands into a 4” thick pillow that supports your head, neck, and back. An example is the Therm-A-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow.

Therm-A-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow

• Head support pillows: One unique pillow is the Sencezo Inflatable Travel Pillow. Once inflated, it can serve as a chin rest, a headrest, or as a wedge pillow.

Sencezo Inflatable Travel Pillow

• Neck pillows: There are various designs of pillows made to support your neck, head, and chin.

  • U-shape: There are u-shaped pillows, such as that made by Everlasting Comfort. Their pillow is unique, in that it is specially contoured so that your neck and head can lean comfortably to the side.

Everlasting Comfort U-Shaped Pillow

• Coil: Some wrap like a coil around the neck, such as the Travelon Deluxe Wrap-n-Rest Pillow. The design prevents the head from falling forward. It can be positioned for full support, side support, or reclining support.

Travelon Wrap-n-Rest Travel Pillow

• Twistable: Another design is the Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow, by Dot & Dot. It’s not like a typical U-shaped neck pillow: you can twist it into any position that you want. It can be adapted to serve as a support for the head, back, shoulder, and spine.

Dot & Dot Twist Memory Foam Pillow

• Ideal for people with back problems: Even people with back problems say what relief they get from these special pillows. One customer suffering from osteoporosis and an overly curved back found relief when using the Dot & Dot Travel Pillow.

• Inflatable pillows: The Sencezo pillow is inflatable--just four breaths is enough to inflate the pillow! And it deflates at the press of a button, collapsing down to something that will easily fit in your carry-on or backpack.

• Bonus products: Some makers of travel pillows throw in a couple of neat accessories with their pillow. Sencezo offers a sleep mask and earplugs when you purchase their pillow.

• Assessing softness: The makers of the Kinder Fluff Toddler Pillowcase have a way of measuring if a pillow is too firm or too soft. Press the middle of your pillow for three seconds, and see its response. If it resists your push or moves only slightly, that’s an indication that it is too firm. If it takes a while to return to its original shape, that indicates that it is too soft.

• Thread count: The thread count is the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch of fabric. A higher thread count will indicate that the cushion is made from a softer fabric, and it will last longer. Ideally, the thread count should be 230 or more.

• Fabric: The shell should be made from cotton, because cotton is known to “breathe” more than synthetics, such as polyester. On the other hand, the fill should be made from polyester, because it is hypoallergenic, odor-free, and keeps its shape for a longer period of time.

• Pillow with pocket for a cellular phone: The Everlasting Comfort neck pillow has a pocket for your cell phone. This allows you to listen to content on your phone until you fall asleep.

• Various sizes: Even though some travel pillows are inflatable, you’ll have a range of sizes to choose from. The Therm-A-Rest pillow comes in four sizes, ranging from 12” x 16” to the Extra Large 16.5” x 27”.

• Memory foam: Some travel pillows are made of memory foam, as, for example, the Dot&Dot Travel Pillow. That allows it to adjust to the contours of your body. It is covered with a breathable washable cotton cover, to protect the cushion.

Therm-A-Rest--was founded in 1971 by Jim Lea, Neil Anderson, and John Burroughs, who sought to manufacture sleep solutions for the outdoors. Their innovation was using foam and air as insulation in a mattress or sleeping bag. They also make pillows, cots, tents, hammocks, sleeping bags, and more.

Travelon--originated as a manufacturer of luggage carts in 1978 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. But they have expanded to all sorts of travel accessories: Anti-theft bags, RFID blocking wallets, carry-on bags and luggage, travel pillows, and more.

BCozzy--market a neck pillow that is ergonomic, tailored for supporting the head, neck, and chin in an upright position. This is to ensure a more comfortable sleep. The company is based in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Everlasting Comfort--is a company based in Austin, Texas. Their products include back cushions, knee pillows, seat cushions, wedge cushions, pillow protectors, and more.

Kinder-Fluff--founded in 2014, is a manufacturer of toddler pillows and pillowcases. They also make sun shades for automobiles, to provide sun protection while traveling.

Sencezo--are makers of the U-pillow, a pillow that can help you sleep while sitting. It is made to support the chin when sitting upright.