The best travel pillows

Find the best travel pillows for catching some shut-eye when traveling. From inflatable travel pillows to memory foam options and eco-friendly buys.

We’ve done it: we’ve found the best travel pillows on the market so that you can travel in style this year. Even if traveling by plane is very difficult at the moment. 

A travel pillow can be used in a car, for a long subway journey, or even when sitting on the sofa. Or, you can just wear one and imagine you are on your way to the Maldives. We wish! They are also convenient, comfortable, and very portable. Just be sure to choose one that’s machine washable so you can clean it after each use, and, filled with something super comfortable to suit your sleeping needs, whether that be air or memory foam.

Keep scrolling for our top 6 travel pillows and get buying. They also make great gifts for travel lovers – for when we are allowed to go long-haul again, of course.

The best travel pillows

Choose the Trtl pillow if you are after the very best travel pillow on the market. Not only is it comfortable but it’s stylish and scientifically proven to keep your head in the best position while you snooze. With a super soft cover that’s cushioning and comfortable, it comes in a wide range of colors, and it can be washed in your machine after use. Not only that but its lightweight and compact design makes it easy to adjust to your comfort, and, it can be easily attached to the handle of your suitcase or bag so you never lose it. 

Can’t sleep unless your head is touching the soft feel of memory foam? You need this travel pillow, then. The MLVOC travel pillow comes in grey, blue, or black and it’s filled with 100 percent memory foam for the most comfortable nap ever. It features a curved design to prevent your head from falling forward, as well as an adjustable rope lock so you can change the pillow’s size and angle with ease. Adjustable support, wherever you need it. Covered in a breathable yet soft cloth, it’s sweat-resistant (for hot sleepers) and also machine washable – just remove it from the pillow itself and throw in your machine. You can also hook it onto your luggage thanks to its snap strap. Included in the box with this travel pillow comes a pouch for it to live, a sleep mask, and some earplugs. 

Choose this Therm-a-Rest travel pillow if you are after something stylish as well as comfortable. It’s made from polyester and boasts a soft foam filling that packs down with ease for road trips, vacations, and more. Once unfolded, it will expand to be four-inches thick. Pop it in your backpack, handbag, or small suitcase and use the drawstring and cord lock to keep it compressed. With a brushed polyester cover that comes in a range of colors and patterns, it not only plays the part but looks the part, too. And, its cover is machine washable! Our only complaint? It’s not the best at staying put if you are sleeping upright. Sleeping horizontally? You’ll have no problems. 

Looking for a travel pillow that can offer great neck support? This twistable one from Dot & Dot is great: you can mold it into any shape or position you like for personalized support. And, it’s also great at giving pain relief. Not just for travel, this pillow can be used to get a comfortable nap anywhere from your sofa to the subway or in a car. And it comes in three stylish colors. Filled with memory foam and covered with a removable cotton slip that’s machine washable, it’s also breathable should you be a warmer sleeper. Use its snap closure to attach it to your carry on luggage or backpack, or to secure it around your neck and more.

This large – yet seriously comfortable – travel pillow is designed for use in all resting positions, home or away. It’s covered in high-quality super soft bamboo fabric and inside sits three layers of microfibre. Not only that but it’s super breathable, too. Great for relieving everything from neck pain to back pain and of course, for helping you sleep when your bed is out of reach. This travel pillow even has a washable cover.

Super cheap yet high performing, this travel pillow is inflatable so that you can pack it in your luggage with ease. And, with a soft velvet cover, it’s comfortable too. You can even remove this cover for cleaning! Designed to sit around your neck, you can adjust its firmness by adding or removing air. Simple yet it does the job. 

What is the best travel pillow?

to recap... the Trtl pillow (opens in new tab) is our best-rated travel pillow and for good reason, too. It’s machine washable, lightweight, it offers great support (and comfort) and it comes in a huge range of colors. That and there are over 20,000 reviews to back it up.

How to buy the best travel pillow?

Buying a travel pillow needn’t be a hard job. When choosing one, be sure to consider how easily portable it is – whether it has a strap for attaching to luggage, or how easily it can fit into a suitcase. Ensure that your new travel pillow is machine washable so you can keep it clean with ease. That and the filling is important, too. Some are inflatable, others are stuffed with memory foam, and some feature polyester inside. Last but definitely not least, price. Don’t spend too much money on something you use once a year. On the other hand, if you are a frequent traveler then it’s best to splash the cash.