While our team at Travel + Leisure rigorously tests numerous travel accessories to enhance your journeys, some products, while not making our top recommendations, still deserve recognition for their unique features. In the realm of Travel Pillows, several options offer distinct advantages that might cater to specific traveler needs. Here, we highlight some noteworthy travel pillows that, while falling slightly short of our top picks, are still commendable choices for certain individuals.
Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Neck Pillow: Renowned for its perfectly balanced memory foam, striking that ideal equilibrium between firmness and plushness, the Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Neck Pillow presents a comfortable option. However, its slightly bulky nature might deter frequent travelers who prioritize minimalist packing.
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Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow: For travelers seeking alternatives to the conventional U-shaped travel pillow, the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow emerges as a viable option. Its departure from the traditional design offers versatility, functioning more like a standard pillow. Nevertheless, this design choice comes with a trade-off: it lacks dedicated neck support, rendering it less ideal for travel scenarios, particularly on planes or trains, where upright support is paramount for comfortable rest.
Slip Jet Setter Travel Pillow: Indulge in luxury with the Slip Jet Setter Travel Pillow, crafted from exquisitely soft and cooling silk. The silk material elevates the comfort quotient, providing a gentle touch against the skin. Despite its luxurious feel, the pillow’s considerable bulk and unwieldy shape pose challenges for travelers focused on efficient packing and ease of transport.
Snugl Neck Travel Pillow: The Snugl Neck Travel Pillow, constructed with soft yet supportive memory foam, excels in providing exceptional in-flight comfort. Its ergonomic design contours to the neck, offering substantial support for restful journeys. A notable drawback emerged during testing: compressing and stowing the pillow back into its carrying case proved to be unexpectedly difficult, potentially causing inconvenience for travelers on the go.
Cabeau Evolution Cool Pillow: Specifically engineered for travelers prone to overheating, the Cabeau Evolution Cool Pillow incorporates innovative cooling technology. This design aims to mitigate heat buildup, ensuring a cooler and more comfortable experience during use. While effective in temperature regulation, our tests indicated that it didn’t quite match the overall comfort and support offered by the Cabeau TNE S3 Travel Pillow. Considering their similar price points, we recommend opting for the Cabeau TNE S3 for a superior balance of comfort and support.
Our Testing Process: Finding the Best Travel Pillows
At Travel + Leisure, our commitment to providing reliable and insightful recommendations led us to conduct extensive testing on over 40 travel pillows. Our objective was clear: to identify the very best travel pillows catering to diverse comfort preferences and travel needs. Our testing methodology encompassed a comprehensive evaluation of popular options, ranging from classic U-shaped pillows to rectangular designs, ensuring a broad spectrum of pillow styles were assessed.
Our evaluation framework centered on key attributes crucial for travel pillows: comfort, quality, durability, and portability. We meticulously examined these factors, noting both positive and negative aspects of each pillow. Special features, such as cooling technologies, firmness levels, softness, and manufacturer claims, were rigorously tested to validate their efficacy. A critical aspect of our assessment was shape retention – we prioritized pillows that maintained their original form after compression and storage, readily springing back to shape without any signs of damage.
Our testing process extended beyond controlled lab conditions to real-world travel scenarios. Team members put the pillows to the test on cross-country road trips and long-haul flights, simulating typical travel usage. Following these field tests, we conducted head-to-head comparisons in our lab, allowing for direct evaluation and refinement of our initial assessments. Our commitment to providing up-to-date recommendations is ongoing; we continuously capture testing notes and update our reviews every few months to reflect new product evaluations and long-term usage insights.
Tips for Buying a Travel Pillow: What to Look For
Selecting the ideal travel pillow involves considering several key factors to ensure optimal comfort and support during your journeys. Here are essential tips to guide your purchase decision:
Prioritize Neck Support for Comfortable Travel
Neck support is paramount when it comes to sleeping comfortably on planes, trains, or in cars. During sleep, head drooping can lead to neck soreness and headaches. Your travel pillow should provide adequate support to keep your neck upright without feeling constricted. Look for pillows that cradle the neck and prevent excessive head tilting, ensuring proper spinal alignment and reducing the risk of discomfort.
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Portability: A Key Feature for Travelers
Whether you are a light packer or tend to bring everything but the kitchen sink, portability is a crucial consideration for travel pillows. Opt for a compact travel pillow that can be easily compressed into a small carrying case. While some pillows may not be compressible, they should still be designed for easy attachment to luggage or backpacks without being cumbersome. A carrying case is highly advantageous, particularly if it includes features like a luggage trolley sleeve or straps for convenient, hands-free transport.
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Consider the Pillow Filling Material
The filling material significantly impacts the firmness and support level of a travel pillow. Travelers who prefer a firmer pillow should lean towards memory foam fillings. Memory foam offers robust support, contouring to the neck while maintaining its shape. Microbead pillows, while also supportive, tend to be softer and more adaptable. They suit travelers who prefer less rigid structure and a more plush feel. Inflatable pillows offer another alternative, prioritizing portability and adjustable firmness, though they may not provide the same level of consistent support as memory foam or microbeads.
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Think About Your Intended Use and Travel Style
Travel pillows are available in a wide array of shapes, styles, and sizes, necessitating careful consideration of your specific needs. If you frequently find yourself in a middle seat on flights, prioritize pillows offering substantial head support. U-shaped memory foam pillows or infinity-style pillows, which provide adjustable support, are excellent choices for middle seat comfort. Window seat travelers might find rectangular pillows more suitable, allowing for comfortable leaning against the cabin wall.
Travel pillows extend beyond air travel; rectangular options are versatile for camping, hotel stays, or even for added comfort at friends’ houses where pillow quality may be less than ideal. They are also essential for road trips, enhancing comfort during long drives.
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Pillows
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How do I wash a travel pillow?
Washing instructions are typically found on the travel pillow’s care tag. Removable covers are usually machine washable; however, air drying is often recommended to prevent shrinkage. For pillows without removable covers, spot cleaning with a damp cloth and soapy water is a practical solution. -
What are the different types of travel pillows available?
The most common type is the semicircular U-shaped pillow, designed to wrap around the neck for head and chin support. These often feature memory foam, microbead, or inflatable fillings. J-shaped pillows cater specifically to middle or aisle seat travelers, offering unique head and neck support configurations. Standard rectangular pillows also serve as versatile travel pillows, with many compressible options available for enhanced portability. -
How do you pack a pillow efficiently for travel?
Many travel pillows come with carrying cases designed to compress the pillow for space-saving packing. Even without a handle, these cases are usually compact enough to fit within a personal item like a backpack or tote bag. Some pillows feature luggage trolley pass-through sleeves for securing them to suitcase handles, while others have straps or clips for attaching to backpacks, ensuring hands-free carrying. -
Should a travel pillow be worn in the front or back?
While some travel pillows are designed for versatile wear, the optimal direction largely depends on personal comfort. Wearing a travel pillow backward, forward, or leaning on it against a window are all viable options. The key is to experiment and find the most comfortable position that provides the desired support for your individual needs.
Enhance Your Travel Comfort with These Accessories
To further elevate your in-flight or on-the-go comfort and create a more conducive environment for rest, consider these complementary travel accessories:
Kashwere Travel Blanket: As our top-rated travel blanket, the Kashwere Travel Blanket excels in comfort, durability, and versatility. Its exceptional coziness promotes relaxation, making travel days more enjoyable and restful.
BasicConcepts Airplane Foot Hammock: This hammock-style footrest attaches to the tray table in front of you, creating a comfortable cradle for your feet. By reducing pressure on your legs, it significantly enhances comfort, especially on long flights. Adjustable straps allow for customization to your preferred height and setup.
Slip Lovely Lashes Contour Sleep Mask: After extensive testing of sleep masks, the Slip Lovely Lashes Contour Sleep Mask emerged as our favorite. Its contoured design prevents pressure on eyelashes, while the fine silk material provides a gentle and luxurious touch against the skin, ensuring a comfortable and undisturbed rest.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Anna Popp, a New York-based associate editor at Travel + Leisure, spearheads much of our team’s tested content, including travel pillows. Anna’s direct involvement in testing and collaboration with travel editors ensures rigorous evaluation processes. Our recommendations are based on comprehensive testing conducted across various travel scenarios – planes, cars, and trains. We remain committed to ongoing testing and updates to our articles, ensuring our readers receive the most current and reliable travel product advice.
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