Traveling can be an exciting adventure, but uncomfortable journeys can quickly dampen your spirits. Whether you’re on a long-haul flight, a lengthy train ride, or even a road trip, getting quality rest is crucial to arriving refreshed and ready to explore. A key travel companion for restful journeys is a good travel pillow, and after extensive testing, we’ve found the Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow stands out as the Best Travel Pillow for most travelers seeking superior neck support and comfort.
The Travelrest Ultimate pillow, a firm donut-shaped neck pillow, resting on a blanket.
This donut-shaped neck pillow is designed to provide exceptional support.
Why the Travelrest Nest Ultimate is Our Top Pick for the Best Travel Pillow
For several years, the Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow has consistently impressed us as the best travel pillow due to its unparalleled support and thoughtful design. Its core feature is the plush yet firm memory foam, which offers significantly more neck support compared to other travel pillows we’ve evaluated. This robust support is critical in preventing neck strain and ensuring comfortable sleep while traveling.
One of the most distinguishing features of the Travelrest Ultimate is its design specifically tailored for airline seats. Unlike many generic travel pillows, the Travelrest features an angled, grippy back. This unique shape allows the pillow to sit flush against both upright and reclined seatbacks, preventing the common issue of the pillow sliding down as you drift off to sleep. This secure fit is a major advantage, ensuring consistent support throughout your journey.
The Travelrest Nest Ultimate is designed to accommodate a variety of travelers. Its velvety-soft material comfortably cradles heads and necks of all sizes. For a more personalized fit, it includes an adjustable cord and clasp, allowing you to customize the snugness and support level. The pillow adopts the classic hemi-doughnut shape, but subtle yet important design enhancements set it apart. These details contribute to a softer and more supportive experience compared to many other similarly shaped pillows on the market.
A close up product shot of the Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow showing its tag and texture.
The Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow boasts a comfortable velour cover and robust memory foam core.
Superior Support and Comfort Features
What truly elevates the Travelrest to the best travel pillow category is its comprehensive support system. The wide, cushioned walls of the pillow gently embrace the entire circumference of your neck. This design provides a supportive yet not restrictive feel, striking the perfect balance for comfortable extended use. The easy-to-use Velcro strap allows for quick adjustments, ensuring a snug and secure fit for various neck sizes. A thoughtful addition is a small crevice incorporated into the design, which comfortably accommodates individuals with curlier hair or ponytails, enhancing overall comfort.
Beyond neck support, the Travelrest excels in adapting to airplane seats. The back of the pillow is tapered to a point, allowing it to sit flat against the seatback. This is a crucial design element often missing in other neck pillows. The lack of tapering in many pillows results in excess padding pushing the neck forward, leading to uncomfortable neck drooping. Furthermore, the Travelrest incorporates grippy dots on the back surface, effectively preventing slippage and keeping the pillow securely in place against the seat.
Cozy and Practical for Travel
Comfort is paramount when choosing the best travel pillow, and the Travelrest delivers exceptionally. The memory foam core is encased in a soft velour cover, which provides warmth without causing overheating. The velour material is noticeably softer and smoother against the skin compared to similar coverings found on pillows like the Cabeau Evolution. Practicality is also considered, as the Travelrest features an easily removable, machine-washable cover. Even after washing and drying, the velour maintains its softness, ensuring long-lasting comfort and hygiene.
While the Travelrest isn’t inflatable, its compressibility is a significant advantage for travelers. It can be compressed to a quarter of its original size for convenient packing. When folded in a “cinnamon-roll” style, it becomes compact enough to fit into its included carrying case. A Velcro strap on the pouch further compresses it, maximizing space-saving. For situations where internal luggage space is limited, a drawstring allows you to clip the carrying case to any exterior loop on your bag, keeping the best travel pillow readily accessible.
Long-Term Durability and Considerations
Our long-term testing confirms the enduring quality of the Travelrest Nest Ultimate. After over a year of consistent use, the pillow retained its supportive properties. The memory foam remained firm and resilient, just as it was when new. The Velcro strap continued to function reliably, securing the pillow effectively. For users who find the fit suitable, the Travelrest proves to be a durable and comfortable travel companion for countless journeys.
However, it’s important to note that the Travelrest’s firm memory foam, while providing excellent support, may not be ideal for everyone. Some travelers have reported that the pillow doesn’t fit them comfortably. If a pillow with a side height of up to 5 inches feels too restrictive on your neck, exploring alternative options might be preferable. We recommend considering other picks if you suspect this firmness might be an issue for you.
Minor Drawbacks but Not Deal-Breakers
While the Travelrest Nest Ultimate is our best travel pillow pick, it’s not without minor drawbacks. It will never achieve the ultra-thin and flat profile of highly compact pillows like the Trtl Pillow. However, its superior, cushioned support comes in a reasonably packable size, and its lightweight nature (around 13 ounces) won’t add noticeable weight to your carry-on. If saving maximum space is your absolute priority, the Trtl offers a more space-conscious support solution.
Another minor point is that while the Travelrest’s plush design effectively supports heads leaning to the left, right, or back, it might not provide optimal chin support for individuals with smaller faces. In forward head-bobbing situations, those with smaller faces might find their chin sinking into the gap near the pillow closure. While the Velcro strap can be tightened, its adjustability is somewhat less extensive compared to the adjustable strings found on the Cabeau Evolution.
Finally, the height of the Travelrest’s supportive sides, designed to reach the wearer’s jawline, might pose compatibility issues with larger over-the-ear headphones, particularly for individuals with shorter necks. Using the Travelrest with bulky noise-canceling headphones might push the headset uncomfortably upwards, potentially affecting earlobe comfort. However, this issue appears to be more relevant for those with shorter necks, as users with longer necks may not experience this problem.
The Verdict: Your Best Bet for Travel Comfort
Despite these minor considerations, the Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow remains our top recommendation as the best travel pillow for its exceptional balance of support, comfort, and thoughtful design. Its superior neck support, airline-seat-friendly design, and comfortable materials make it an invaluable travel accessory for anyone seeking restful and enjoyable journeys. For travelers prioritizing neck support and overall comfort, the Travelrest Nest Ultimate is undoubtedly the best travel pillow to invest in.
