We obviously have an addiction to travel. But we are also very structured individuals who follow an early-to-bed and early-to-rise philosophy. Plus, let’s face it, we are no spring chickens. We need our beauty sleep! And we need the most comfortable sleeping products available, including the best travel pillow.
So it’s not surprising that we have developed an unhealthy obsession with travel pillows. While our website claims we have tested 1,000+ travel pillows, that’s not entirely true. It just feels that way. This post features some of the pillows we have tried and our thoughts about them.
Note: We may earn a small commission from the affiliate links below.
Saireider Memory Foam
Pros: Soft, cushy, and with a lot of force it can be crammed into the little bag. It is also adjustable at the neck and comes with an eye mask and ear plugs.
Cons: A bit too thick to wear without either jutting out your neck or loosening so much it cannot do its job effectively. Maybe it’s better for men or people with long necks?
Extravelgance Rating:
Amanda – 2 stars: My neck just isn’t that long and it is too bulky to be used other ways.
Deidra – 4 stars: I have a long neck, and this one is similar to my favorite travel pillow.
J-Pillow
Pros: Really comfortable. Supports neck and can be adjusted in multiple ways. It also helps prevent the dreaded nod-off that jerks you awake suddenly.
Cons: It’s bulky. REALLY bulky. You have to “futz” with it a lot to get it adjusted how you like it. And it just looks rude – it’s almost embarrassing to carry around!
Extravelgance Rating:
Amanda – No rating: I was never remotely tempted to purchase this one!
Deidra – 3 stars: It’s comfortable, but really too large to carry around and mess with.
AirComfy Daydreamer Travel Neck Pillow
Pros: Small and the travel bag can easily clip onto a backpack with a carabiner clip. Cushy and comfortable and does a great job of head stabilization. It’s self-inflatable and there’s no learning curve to use it.
Cons: Some people like to wear neck pillows backwards, and that doesn’t work well with this model. Also, it must be inflated which can be a hassle.
Extravelgance Rating:
Amanda – 5 stars: This is one of my top go-to options. I place it on the sanitized tray table and sleep face down like on a massage table.
Deidra – 5 stars: This is my favorite pillow! Especially great if you are not checking luggage and have limited space.
trtl Pillow
Pros: Very easy to travel with since it folds well. Nice stabilization for the head and works with provided amenities.
Cons: Claustrophobic and hot. You have to adjust it a few times to get it right for you each time you use it. It also only is rigid on one side so if your head plops the other direction while you are sleeping, you are out of luck!
Extravelgance Rating:
Amanda – 1 star: I couldn’t take the heat!
Deidra – 3 stars: I liked it. But then I accidently walked off a plane without it. I remembered it as soon as I was about to board the jetway. But I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle of fighting my way back to my seat while other passengers were disembarking, or worse, waiting until everyone had gotten off the plane. I guess I didn’t like it that much!
TRAVELREST
Pros: Folds up very small. Great for people who are used to sleeping on their sides. Highly adjustable for comfort. Good option for people who prefer the aisle seat and don’t have a place to lean during a long flight.
Cons: Inflates to be fairly large which can make a small economy seat feel even smaller. Awkward to adjust with a huge learning curve to make it work. One-sided, so you are out of luck when your head flops to the other side during sleep.
Extravelgance Rating:
Amanda – 4 stars: Small and a great option for those who do not like to wear a pillow around the neck or fold in half to sleep on the tray table.
Deidra – 4 stars: Once I get this adjusted, it works great. It’s my second favorite pillow now and my preferred option for really long flights.
Twist Memory Foam Pillow
Pros: Extremely versatile as it bends to be used any way one can imagine. It can even be used for leg support! Very soft and cushy despite the wire rod that allows it to hold its shape.
Cons: Bulky and cannot be squeezed into a small bag like many other pillows.
Extravelgance Rating:
Amanda – 4 stars: Definitely the best travel pillow for comfort but the bulkiness lowers the rating for me. If you don’t mind hauling it around then this is definitely the best pillow out there.
Deidra – No stars: I haven’t purchased this one . . . perhaps it should be next on my list?
Amanda’s Best Travel Pillow Final Recommendation
I like to bring both the TRAVELREST and the AirComfy Daydreamer Travel Neck Pillow on an international flight. Being inflatable, even together they take up less space than a traditional travel pillow and they meet very different sleep needs. I experience chronic neck pain and an overnight flight is uncomfortable enough without arriving with my neck out of whack. When I have to pick one, I prefer the AirComfy Daydreamer Travel Neck Pillow hands down! If practical, I would bring my Twist for the ultimate in travel sleep comfort, but these two inflatables combined take up much less space and weigh less.
Deidra’s Best Travel Pillow Final Recommendation
I often wish it weren’t impractical to bring both TRAVELREST and the AirComfy Daydreamer Travel Neck Pillow as they each meet different needs. But no one (except Amanda) wants to haul around two travel pillows. So overall, I recommend the AirComfy Daydreamer Travel Neck Pillow due to it’s ease of use. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best!
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