The Best Travel Pillows of 2020

For the best all-around comfort and neck support, we found that the Cabeau Evolution Classic Pillow cannot be beaten. Its an elevated take on a classic U-shape pillow with a contoured memory foam design that keeps your head upright and offers the perfect amount of support in the areas you need it. The sides are tall and thick enough that the pillow rests comfortably just below your earlobes, which prevents your head from flopping in any one direction.

We also loved its adjustable clasp which allows you to bring the front sections closer together or further apart, depending on how tight of a fit you prefer. This toggle can also be unclipped so the pillow is easy to remove from your neck, and can be attached to your luggage for no-fuss transportation.

We were also thoroughly impressed by the Cabeaus high-quality materials, from its plush, cushioned memory foam down to its ultra-cozy velour cover that can be unzipped and popped in the wash after each trip. To test its durability, we even poked and prodded the Cabeau with scissors, pens, and keyscommon items that it may come into contact within a bagand as we suspected, it was not damaged in the slightest.

Thanks to the supple memory foam, the Cabeau also compresses down to a fraction of its normal size if you ever need to squeeze it into a carry-on. We also found that even with a 15 lb. weight stacked on top of it for several hours, the pillow sprang back to its full 5-inch height within seconds after removing the weight. Still, its a larger pillow than most, so if youre trying to travel light, you may want to opt for one thats easier to pack.

As an added bonus, the Cabeau Evolution can be found inside most airport gift shops and newsstands, making it not only the best pillow you can buy online but also in any airport store. Based on our testing, wed venture to say this pillow could last you countless trips, and make each one just as relaxing as the last.

For side sleepers, finding a travel pillow that offers ample chin and neck support can be a challenge, especially as traditional U-shaped pillows often work best for those who rest with their heads tilted back. But the J-Pillowwhich was designed by a former flight attendantexcels here because of its innovative J-shaped design.

In testing, the J-Pillow scored highest of all the travel pillows we used in terms of comfort and portability. It cradles your chin and keeps your head from sliding all the way forward, while the curved end delivers a supple cushioning effect that we loved.

Made from soft velour-like material, the J-Pillow is snuggle-friendly and looks a bit like a stuffed elephanthence why weve dubbed it Harry Elephante'' around the office. While part of the appeal of the J-Pillow is that it isnt a U-shaped pillow, it can be adjusted to be worn in a U-shape style, which adds to its overall versatility.

The J-Pillow does come with a few notable downsides, however. With its large trunk-shaped front, the pillows design isnt naturally intuitive and several of our testers needed to pull up a picture for reference before using it. Additionally, while its not large, the fact that the J-Pillow doesnt deflate or easily compress into a backpack or purse means it might be more cumbersome to travel with than some other travel pillows weve tested. However, it does come with a carrying bag and snap-loop fastener, which makes it easy to attach to luggage or backpacks. All in all, for side sleepers, this unique pillow seems like a delightful option.

The Huzi Design Infinity Pillow is actually not technically a pillow at all. Its more of a fluffy infinity scarf with very plush stuffing on the inside. That said, we were surprised at how much we loved the Huzi in our testing. Something about it, perhaps its luxuriously soft fabric or cocoon-like feeling, kept drawing us back in.

The beauty of the Huzi lies in its versatility. You can configure it a million ways and make it as firm or as soft as you want it by twisting and looping it. During testing, I found my preferred method was to wrap it twice around my neck, and stick an arm in the bottom loop like a sling, so it's pulled taut and remains snug. While I like the support this position offers, others may not.

However, the Huzi essentially conforms however you want to use it, and can be maneuvered any which way to add comfort. You can ball it up and stuff it behind your back, lean against it in the window seat, or create a supportive cradle by laying it across the back of your neck and placing your hands in the loops. You can even use it as a makeshift eye mask to block light out or wrap it around your head to cover your ears and muffle sounds. The options are virtually endless, making it the only truly multipurpose pillow on our list.

While theres plenty to appreciate about the Huzi, its not the easiest contraption to store away. The instructions state youre supposed to roll it up like a yoga mat and use the Velcro binding to secure it, but we found this process a bit cumbersome and tedious. Regardless, for the versatility aspect alone, the Huzi was a winner in our eyes.

Throughout our testing of travel pillows, we came to the realization that very few are designed for those who nod forward when they fall asleep. Except for the Bcozzy, that is. This pillow is essentially shaped like a giant worm, for lack of a better analogy, with ends that overlap to provide ample chin support when leaning forward. With its open-ended, circular design, the pillow can be worn as tight or as loose as you want it, allowing each user to adjust it based on how much overlap and support they crave.

While its great to nestle your head in and stabilize your chin, it doesnt offer much in the way of side support for your neck, unless you continuously move the area that stacks to the side you are resting on. For that reason, we dont think the Bcozzy is a great choice for fidgety sleepers, as itd need to be readjusted each time your head changes positions mid-snooze. We also noticed that it can slowly unravel a bit over the course of a nap, which could easily be solved if the company added Velcro between the two overlapping pieces to make it stay in place, but alas.

The Bcozzy features a button-clasp loop that clips to the outside of your luggage, so while its not the easiest to stow away, its still relatively portable. Its also one of the few pillows that didnt interfere with me wearing my Bose over-ear headphones, which I appreciated.

Although a bit unconventional, the Trtl has gained a cult-like following for its ingenious, minimalist design. Its less of a pillow in the strictest sense of the word and more of a neck brace that offers support thanks to a flexible plastic frame thats tucked inside a fleece wrap. Its also the smallest and lightest pillow of the models we tested.

While we liked how the Trtl contoured to the neck and were impressed by how strong the Velcro tab was to secure the pillow in place, we found that it did take some maneuvering before finding just the right spot to sleep in. As someone with a shorter neck, I also felt as though the plastic insert jabbed my collarbone, and also applied a bit too much pressure on my ear for my liking.

That being said, Revieweds executive editor of growth, Megan McCarthy, is a huge fan of the Trtl: "It's the only thing I've used that lets me have semi-decent sleep on a flight. It holds my head up better than any of those puffy donut-shaped pillows you see in airport stores, and it takes up so much less space in my bag."

Despite my personal gripes with the Trtl, I still think its a great pick for the more low-profile traveler who wants something they can easily stash in their bag. After all, since its basically just a fleece scarf, itll take up much less luggage space than a traditional U-shaped pillow. Keep in mind though that the Trtl is only designed for one-sided support, so it might not be the best choice for those who tend to toss and turn mid-flight. Having said that, its also a pillow that offers a much-needed surface to lean on in both middle and aisle seats.

If youre looking to go the inflatable route, wed recommend the AirComfy as the way to go. This inflatable U-shaped pillow, which comes with a built-in inflation pump, consistently ranked well with our testers in terms of comfort, design, and portability.

Designed with a micro-velvet pillowcase, this pillow is soft to the touch and easy to clean, since the liner itself is machine-washable. While it took us longer than 30 to 60 seconds to inflate the pillowfor our testers, the estimated time was about 120 seconds (2 minutes)the ability to easily inflate or deflate it makes this pillow ideal for travelers who want more control over their pillows firmness level. It also comes with contoured neck support, which looks like two cat ears are jutting out from the pillow when its not in use.

For portability, the AirComfy excels because it can be packed down into the plush, lightweight packsack that it comes in, which features a carabiner clip thats easy to attach to luggage. Because its a U-shaped pillow, it may not be the preferred choice for side sleepers, but for those who want good neck support, this travel pillow is a solid mid-range option.

We didnt expect to like the Sunany as much as we did. This innovative pillow is designed to be inflated and rested on top of your lap (or tray table, depending on your height), so youre able to lean forward and place your head in an opening, not unlike a massage table. It features holes on the front and sides as well, so you're able to flip the pillow around, hug it as you fall asleep, and also have the ability to place your phone, kindle, or other devices inside for entertainment as you rest your head.

When we tested the Sunany, we were impressed by the design of the inflation valve, which makes it super easy to inflate in about ten breaths or less. To deflate, all you have to do is open the valve and squeeze gently. Another highlight was how easy it was to roll up and fold away in its storage bag. And as an added bonus, the pillow comes with a set of earplugs and a surprisingly comfortable eye mask. All in all, our experience with the Sunany was one of the more unforgettable ones.

Ideal for those who only want the bare essentials when they travel, Therm-a-Rests stuffable pillowcase is best-suited for campers, backpackers, or simply those who cant be bothered to carry a travel pillow around with them. Its essentially just a sack that youre meant to stuff a sweater or jacket into, eliminating the need for a travel pillow entirely.

While we found the material to be soft and breathable, and we certainly recognize how a space-saving sack could be useful for some, ultimately theres nothing really special about this mini pillowcase. If traveling light is your biggest concern, you should probably opt for the Trtl instead.

If youre looking for a simple and affordable pillow, the Cludz is a straightforward choice that you cant go wrong with. Its pretty much exactly what youd expect in terms of a standard U-shaped pillow, offering firm support that holds its shape even with the full weight of your head pressed against it. What elevates the Cludz over other pillows in its price range are the handy snaps at the ends, which keep the pillow snugly in place around your neck. Theyre also perfect for attaching the pillow to your luggage when youre not using it. We also thought it stood out for its dual-sided comfort, with one side featuring a warm, cozy fabric and the other a smooth spandex. These small details on the Cludz actually make a big difference and place it a cut above the rest of its cheap microbead competitors.

Theres plenty to admire about Samsonites Magic 2-in-1 pillow. Its actually quite a groundbreaking design, as one can choose from using it in the form of a U-shaped pillow, or converting it to a square-shaped pillow in a matter of seconds. The pillow has both an ultra-soft fleece side and a more breathable polyester fabric, depending on if you tend to sleep hot or get chilly on flights. One feature that also stood out to me was the durable carabiner, however, due to its placement, youre only able to access it if your pillow is in the U-shape.

Despite these practical features, my main problem with the Samsonite is that it doesnt provide stellar support in either shape. The pillow itself seems a tad too large, which causes the microbeads to shift out of place as soon as you rest your head on it. The U-shape also seems boxier than normal, meaning that the sides of the pillow dont wrap around your neck very well, which is necessary to keep your head from drooping. If you have your heart set on a microbead pillow, wed recommend opting for the Cloudz instead.

The Travelmate pillow was a solid, middle-of-the-pack performer in our tests. While we found the memory foam to be soft and cushiony, there wasnt much that made it stand out in a crowd of worthy competitors. One feature that we did enjoy was the removable foam insert, which lets you adjust the thickness of the pillow from behind, and also allows it to better conform to the back of your airplane seat so your head doesnt get pushed forward.

We also took notice of the built-in elastic strap. While we assumed it was intended to place over your headrest for a no-slip hold, its actually meant for attaching the pillow to luggage according to the instructions. This seems like an odd, time-consuming method of attachment, as youd have to find something to loop or tie it around as opposed to an easy-to-use clip or snap closure. We also think this pillow could seriously benefit from a front clasp, as we found ourselves all too aware of the open-U design that fails to offer any support in the front.

While we had high hopes for the uniquely designed Travelrest pillow, we were ultimately left disappointed by its bulky feel and scratchy material. We found ourselves constantly adjusting this pillow to try and find the most comfortable position to no avail, and also felt that the seam that runs the length of the pillow irritated the skin on our necks.

Designed for side sleepers, the Travelrest is meant to be slung across your body like a guitar, with a cord to loop around your headrest so it wont budge out of place. While the concept of the pillow itself is certainly interesting, ultimately we found that the Travelrest fails in its execution. The pillow was either too stiff or saggy for us to get comfortable, and we just couldnt look past the rough material in the end.

In a word, the Ostrich pillow is awfuljust absolutely awful. Designed to block out light and give the wearer an immersive nap experience, the Ostrich Pillow was the most expensive one that we tested and functions more like a weird mask that made us feel like one of the aliens from The Simpsons. It completely covers the wearers face and hair except for one small hole, which makes it difficult to see and talk to others. Because of its design, you also cant wear it and use headphones and/or earbuds, both of which are crucial on long trips.

Aside from its bizarre cocoon-like shape, the Ostrich Pillow just doesnt work well as a pillow, period. Its filled with microbeads that move around as soon as you lean into or against the pillow, so it barely offers support or cushioning to the neck or head. The only way it works is if you lean forward and completely bow your head down so its flush with a hard surface, but thats an extremely uncomfortable position to stay in for more than just a few minutes. The pillow is also large and unlike other pillows we tested, it doesnt have any strap or built-in functionality that makes it easy to store in a backpack or in luggage when its not in use. It also has a plastic-y, synthetic smell to it that did not seem to fade over time and is especially pungent when your head is inside the pillow.

After weeks of testing, we feel confident saying that the only thing the Ostrich Pillow has going for it is its novelty factor. No other travel pillow looks anything like it, but we think thats a good thing because at least those pillows are actually comfortable and travel-friendly. In our opinion, youd be better off with no travel pillow at all than having to use this one.