Forget the sunglasses and swimsuit – for many, the most important item to back when going on holiday is a travel pillow. As glamorous as long haul travel may seem, it often leaves you feeling diminished – especially if you’re sitting in economy class, where the seats seem to be designed to make you feel as uncomfortable as possible.
Getting in even a few hours of shut-eye is necessary for combatting jet-lag and fatigue as well as keeping your immune system up to scratch, but this can be difficult when you don’t have the option of lying
down. All is not lost though. Investing in a travel pillow is well worth it – as aeroplane seat designer Adam White said recently to Travel + Leisure, “if you have something to cradle your head, that makes it a lot more comfortable.”
The best place to start is to think about what position you usually adopt whilst sleeping upright – whether you lean to the left or right, whether you like your head to be tipped back or to the side – and then choose a pillow accordingly.
Think carefully about the sizing too, so that you don’t end up taking up most of your hand luggage storing it and don’t forget to consider whether or not it’s machine washable.
To help you narrow down the choices, we’ve picked seven of the best travel pillows to buy now.
J Pillow Travel Pillow
No prizes for guessing where this pillow gets its name from. The J Pillow is an award-winning travel accessory that you’ll find you can’t live without. Designed by a former air stewardess who had spent years watching passengers wrestle uncomfortably with economy seats, its unique shape makes it perfect for long haul travel.
Designed to be used in multiple positions, it can support your head, neck and chin and has been scientifically proven to encourage correct posture – it’s great for preventing the head from falling forwards as you can tuck one of its arms under your chin whilst still supporting your neck. With a bean-bag like texture, it can be easily moulded and the snap fastener comes in handy when you need to attach it to your luggage.
£24.95 | Amazon | Buy it now
Trtl Pillow
Traditional U- shaped pillows aren’t always the best option; particularly if you don’t have a window or shoulder to lean on. The design of the Trtl is much more intuitive as it wraps around the neck like a scarf and has integrated strengthened ribs to support your head it falls forward. What’s more, it’s also half the size of a traditional travel pillow and weighs less than 150g, so won’t take up precious space in your hand luggage. What we love about this one is the ease and comfort of using it – it’s covered in super soft, fleecy material that’s machine washable (great if you’re a drooler) and attaches simply by wrapping around the neck and securing with the Velcro strap.
£24.95 | Amazon | Buy it now
Cabeau Evolution Memory Foam Pillow
If you want to get a good night’s sleep, you need to be lying on something comfortable. If you want to get a great night’s sleep, invest in some memory foam. This pillow is filled with the glorious stuff, making it one of the best options on the list. U-shaped, it supports the back of the head without keeping it too propped up, whilst the raised side supports cushion the neck.
Integrated air vents prevent it from getting too hot and there’s a side pocket big enough for stashing your phone in – great if you want to listen to music to help you drift off.
£27.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Huzi Infinity Pillow
You’ve settled in for a long-haul flight and are all ready to escape the jetlag by sleeping straight through. The only trouble is, you just can’t get comfortable, no matter how you fold your body into the impossibly small seat. This is where the Huzi pillow comes in. Shaped like a figure 8, it’s one of the most versatile pillows on the list as you can squash it to a favoured position or wear it like a scarf. The bamboo fabric is equally as impressive: it’s breathable, machine washable as well as hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial – as well as being noise-cancelling if you cover your ears with the pillow. The only downside of this one is that it’s not as compact as other designs, but its other qualities more than make up for it.
£35 | Amazon | Buy it now
Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow
One of the most annoying things about inflatable travel pillows is that they often fall down if you move, so despite the Travelrest’s seemingly excessive design, it’s one of the most practical. Once blown up, the pillow rests under the chin and across the body – much like a car seat. It can be strapped around your back - or the back of a seat - to prevent it from slipping and the material is soft enough to sleep on. The best thing about this design is that it allows the head to fall naturally where it wants to rest and you can tuck your hands into the strap to provide even better support – it can even act as a barrier between you and your neighbouring passenger if you’re after a bit of privacy. Compressing easily once deflated, it also takes up minimal space in your hand luggage.
£18.95 | Amazon | Buy it now
Therm-a-rest Compressible Pillow
Opting for a more traditional pillow, such as the Therm-a-rest makes it a more versatile purchase, as you could use this for camping or travelling. Filled with a soft foam, it’s squashy enough to be moulded into a comfortable shape and is designed to compress to a fraction of its size. Practical elements such as the machine washable cover and the drawstring for condensing the pillow and attaching it to things make this a great, versatile option. Available in sizes small to extra large and with a wide range of cover options, you should easily be able to find one to suit your needs and tastes.
From £20 | Leisure Lakes Bikes | Buy it now
Eurohike Flock Neck Travel Pillow
Inflatable and U-shaped, this pillow looks pretty run-of-the-mill, but has some hidden tricks that help it stand out from the crowd. With a flattened back and inflated sides, it’s been designed to keep the head in a comfortable position without it falling or the neck overextending. As the valve is on the underside, it’s soft to lie on the PVC material is suitable to wipe clean. Though the air needs topping up every few hours and the fabric isn’t particularly breathable, it offers enough comfort for you to dose off and, at less than £10, is particularly budget friendly.
£2 | Blacks | Buy it now
Verdict:
It’s price point, practicality and various accolades all make the J Pillow our top choice – it can be used in multiple ways and compresses to quite a compact size. If you’re willing to spend the money, the Cabaeu is also a great option as it offers all-round support and is particularly useful when you don’t have anything to lean against.
