There are many reasons why we struggle to sleep while travelling. Gentle motion can be lulling, but jarring movements such as sharp cornering, braking and acceleration can interrupt sleep. And then there are the seats. In many trains, buses, coaches and planes, they are simply not accommodating to sleeping passengers.
Travel pillows can reduce these obstacles to sleep – so much so that you might catch a few winks on the go. Nowadays, you can choose from myriad designs to suit your preferences, including rectangular pillows, wraparound models and even whole-head designs, as well as classic, U-shaped neck pillows. Depending on which pillow you choose, you’ll gain support from the back, sides or front, and there’s various fill options including memory foam, polyester, microbeads and air-filled plastic, all of which have their own feel.
Sleep and comfort are personal, so it’s worth getting to know a good range of travel pillows before making your choice. Consider this guide the first leg of your journey.
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At a glance
Best travel pillow overall:
Infinity Pillow
Best budget travel pillow:
Boots Travel Deluxe pillow
Best inflatable travel pillow:
Lifeventure inflatable neck pillow
Best travel pillow for side support:
Trtl travel pillow
Best wraparound travel pillow:
Ostrichpillow Go neck pillow
Best travel pillow for camping:
Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe
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Why you should trust me
I rest, sleep and sometimes move from place to place. These are my basic qualifications for testing travel pillows – but what lifts my credentials beyond those of, say, a marmoset is that I have extensive experience of testing products for titles including the Filter.
For the past decade or so, I’ve devoted much of my time to working out what differentiates one product from the next, and what really matters to the user. I’ve also written features on sleep-related topics, including jet lag and circadian rhythms, so my thoughts on travel pillows are backed by a decent grounding in sleep science. (For a better sleep cycle every day, I recommend adding a sunrise alarm clock to your wishlist, along with your travel pillow.)
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How I tested travel pillows
My first step in testing the travel pillows was to use them while travelling on public transport. In some cases, this meant wearing them on the train; in others, I used them on buses with seats that had suitably high headrests. Fellow passengers were visibly perplexed as I switched from one pillow to the next. (Hello to the lady who was secretly taking photos of me from across the table!)
These day-to-day trials gave me a good impression of each pillow – but I lacked evidence of their performance on bumpy journeys, which is when they’re needed the most. Reluctant to charter a flight through the Bermuda triangle, I decided instead to take the pillows to my local arcade – the fantastic Arcade Club in Kirkstall, Leeds – where I used each pillow while playing high-octane seated games such as Sega Rally 2 and Mach Storm. This wasn’t just an excuse for me to have fun; it provided a proper test of the pillows’ supportiveness during jarring motion.
On a more grounded note, I also considered the pillows’ practicality. Would they prove easy to carry in a backpack and keep in good condition? The highest-ranked models were comfortable, portable and low-maintenance.
After testing 13 travel pillows, I donated them to my local Mind charity shop, just in time for World Mental Health Day.
Read on to find out which were the best performers from my tests.
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The best travel pillows in 2025
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Best travel pillow overall:
Infinity pillow
£43 at Infinity Pillow More than just a travel pillow, this elegantly twisted loop of loveliness became a cherished household fixture during testing. You can wrap it tightly around your neck, wear it like a sash, or even squeeze into it with a loved one – the comforting possibilities are many.
Why we love it
During travel, this adaptability comes into its own. I was able to use the pillow to suit whichever seat I sat in, looping it around my neck once for fairly cushioned seats, twice for utterly unsupporting ones, or knotting it through itself for easy adjustment on the go. Its solitary twist gives you an easy place to fold and loop the pillow.
The outer material (a mix of nylon and bamboo fibre) feels pleasantly cool, and there’s a slight squishiness to the polyester filling (although not so much that the pillow feels stifling). Unusually, the whole thing is machine washable, so there’s no excuse for not keeping it in snuggleable condition. This is just as well, as it doesn’t come with a travel bag to keep it protected in your luggage.
It turns out that journeys can feel infinitely more pleasant when you’re in the soft embrace of a cushioned Möbius strip.
It’s a shame that … this pillow will take up more luggage space than many travellers can spare.
Support: polyester fill
Outer material: bamboo-blend fabric (60% nylon, 40% bamboo rayon)
Packed dimensions: 19 x 19 x 15cm (WDH)
Weight: 435g
Cleaning method: machine wash (low temperature, no tumble dry)
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Best budget travel pillow:
Boots Travel Deluxe pillow
£25 at Boots Filled with squishy memory foam, this decently priced Boots neck pillow offers robust cushioning on your travels.
Why we love it
The simple, U-shaped design gives you plenty of options for resting. I found it suitable for leaning my head to one side, sitting back, or even leaning my chin forward. This is the classic style of travel pillow for good reason: it caters well for most users and situations.
A small zip at the back of the pillow allows you to remove the washable cover (soft and fleecy where it touches the skin; textured like car upholstery where it meets the seat). There’s also a plastic D-loop at the rear of the pillow, which you could use to attach it to a bag.
It stood up superbly to the apocalyptic vibrations of Mach Storm at Arcade Club, providing a super-comfy experience as the game’s seat rocked and vibrated. It will be more than a match for even the bumpiest of train journeys.
It’s a shame that … I found it quite a tight fit at first, although it seemed to become more comfortable as the elasticated connector slackened slightly through use. Still, this pillow will be best suited to users who like cosy support, or whose necks are slender rather than magnificently broad.
Support: memory foam
Outer material: polyester and elastane
Packed dimensions: 23 x 23 x 12cm (WDH)
Weight: 267g
Cleaning method: machine washable (cover only)
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Best inflatable travel pillow:
Lifeventure inflatable neck pillow
£12.99 at Lifeventure £10.94 at Amazon I felt great wearing this thrifty blow-up pillow as I crashed and burned on the arcade game After Burner. It has plenty of depth to cushion a hard, unforgiving seat, although I found it prone to sliding around when rested against smooth materials. That shouldn’t be an issue on upholstered train or coach seats.
Why we love it
More than any other inflatable pillow I’ve tested, this model proved suitable for a wide variety of seating. The U-shaped support is back-heavy and closes quite tightly around the front of the neck, which is an ideal combination for seats with inadequate support. For moderately supportive seats, you can simply inflate the pillow a little less to get the right amount of cushioning.
The carry pouch is easy to loop on to a rucksack, which will be a welcome option for travellers who want rummage-free access to their pillow. Inflating the pillow via the air valve is quick and low-effort, and it proved easier to deflate than some of its blow-up competitors.
It’s a shame that … the seam around the centre of the pillow is quite rough, making the whole thing far less comfortable than it might’ve been. In general, it’s a better choice for robust support rather than soft comfort.
Support: air
Outer material: polyester and thermoplastic polyurethane bonded fabric
Packed dimensions: 22 x 24 x 9cm (WDH)
Weight: 54g
Cleaning method: by hand only
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Best travel pillow for side support:
Trtl travel pillow
£39.99 at Trtl The much-hyped Trtl travel pillow provides a very particular type of support, bracing the neck as the wearer rests their head to one side. For me, this worked best with the strap very tightly in place, secured around my chin. It took me a moment to work out how to do this, but you’ll soon get the hang of wrapping the cushion’s strap around your neck and attaching it to the brace section using the Velcro-like connectors.
Why we love it
The fleece used in the pillow is exceptionally soft. I’d rate it as the most comfortable material I encountered during testing. The whole thing packs down very neatly into its carry case, too, and you can remove the plastic brace to wash the pillow when you get home from your travels.
It felt weirdly comfortable to wear this travel pillow while playing After Burner Climax at the arcade. Laying my head to one side while shooting down CGI aircraft was a genuinely dreamy experience.
It’s a shame that … users who have a heavy head and a long neck, like myself, might need a travel pillow with deeper support.
Support: side brace
Outer material: fleece
Packed dimensions: 22 x 24 x 9cm (WDH)
Weight: 133g
Cleaning method: machine washable (cover only)
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Best wraparound travel pillow:
Ostrichpillow Go neck pillow
£67.49 at Healf £69 at Amazon It says a lot about Ostrichpillow that this is one of the brand’s more conventional designs. Like many travel pillows, the Go neck pillow wraps around the neck and closes with Velcro – but it sets itself apart by offering different thicknesses of memory foam support around that closed loop. I found this invaluable, as I was able to turn the pillow around on my neck until I found the ideal depth for cushioning any given headrest.
Why we love it
You can adjust further via the Go’s Velcro strap, which will cater for a good range of neck sizes. I’d recommend playing around with this before settling down to sleep; my first instinct was to close the pillow too tightly, which left me feeling throttled.
This is very much a premium travel pillow, with a lovely rayon-blend cover, smart finishing and a considerable price tag to match. It packs down to a manageable size relative to the levels of cushioning it can provide, and there’s a soft carry case to keep it clean inside your luggage.
It’s a shame that … for me, an occasionally stubbly person, the material sometimes felt a little irritating on the chin.
Support: memory foam
Outer material: 94% rayon, 6% elastic polymer (Oeko-Tex certified)
Packed dimensions: 25 x 17 x 7cm (WDH)
Weight: 350g
Cleaning method: machine washable (cover only)
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Best travel pillow for camping:
Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe pillow
£39.95 at WildBounds £44 at LD Mountain Centre If what you’re after is a full-blown camping pillow, you couldn’t do much better than this Big Agnes model. The packaging is deceptively small, and upon inflating the pillow, you’ll have a large, cushioned area on which to lay your head. It’ll be a welcome reprieve for campers (no more rolling up jumpers at the head of your sleeping mat) or for travellers who find themselves held up by delays and in need of a liedown.
Why we love it
I really liked the texture of this pillow: soft, but with just enough roughness for decent grip, and with something akin to a tufted pattern that helps your head sink in. You’re paying a considerable price, relative to most other inflatable models, but I did see the justification in the Campmeister Deluxe’s construction quality and materials. It’s supplied with an iron-on patch kit, so you can repair it in case of punctures – always a possibility amid the chaos of a cluttered tent.
It’s a shame that … it’s too large to use on most train or bus seats – so you’ll need to choose a different option for transport. On the plus side, it packs down to a negligible size inside its drawstring bag.
Support: air
Outer material: stretch nylon and thermoplastic polyurethane
Packed dimensions: 11 x 8 x 5cm (WDH)
Weight: 88g
Cleaning method: spot clean only
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The best of the rest
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Decathlon Travel 100 Compact
£9.99 at DecathlonBest for: a tight budget
This budget-friendly, blow-up travel pillow proved just as effective at cushioning the vicious motion of the arcade game After Burner as it was at keeping me comfy on the bus.
I liked the feel of the polyester fabric, which was less coarse than that used with some of the other affordable and inflatable travel pillows I’ve tested. It’s easy to remove this outer cover for cleaning, and the cinchable chin strap keeps the pillow dependably in position.
It didn’t make the final cut because … as with some other inflatables, I found it a little tricky to get all of the air out afterwards. With this one, it’s quite fiddly to press in the release button on the air valve while squeezing out the air.
Support: air; outer material: polyester; packed dimensions: 12 x 8 x 6cm (WDH); weight: 69g; cleaning method: hand-wash only
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Ostrichpillow Light Versatile pillow
£49 at Ostrichpillow £49 at AmazonBest for: a light-reducing travel pillow
Just as the ostrich buries its head in the sand, you can bury yours in the Ostrichpillow Light Versatile pillow. Worn around the face, it provides just as much support when the wearer has their head slumped on the tray table as it does when they’re sitting upright.
Naturally, this pillow is useless for arcade gaming, but you’re far more likely to use it for travel. It provides gentle comfort in motion, while blocking out light (and visual reminders that you’re hurtling through space in a tube filled with strangers). If you tend to feel overstimulated during travel, this one could be a winner.
It didn’t make the final cut because … I found the support was too focused around the back of the head, as it narrows towards the neck.
Support: polystyrene microbeads; outer material: 95% viscose, 5% elastic polymer; packed dimensions: 34 x 14 x 10cm (WDH); weight: 125g; cleaning method: spot clean with mild soap and water
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Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Traveller pillow
£22.95 at Wildbounds £29.98 at Amazon
Best for: packing light
A truly outdoorsy choice from a wilderness-ready brand (Sea to Summit was co-founded by the first person to ascend Mount Everest from sea level), this proved the easiest travel pillow to fit inside a backpack or handbag. The storage case is tiny, and with the pillow inside weighs about as much as a golf ball. You do have to deflate the pillow very thoroughly to fit it into the case, though.
There are three poppers on the front closure, giving you some control over the pillow’s fit. I recommend playing around with these, as a close but comfortable fit greatly enhances the support.
It didn’t make the final cut because … the pillow is quite narrow at the back, which wasn’t great for the unforgiving seat of Thunder Blade at the arcade – nor for the seating on a Northern Rail train.
Support: air; outer material: polyester and thermoplastic polyurethane; packed dimensions: 9 x 7 x 5cm (WDH); weight: 50g; cleaning method: by hand only
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Rab Stratosphere inflatable pillow
£40 at Rab £40 at Go OutdoorsBest for: recumbent seating
The Rab Stratosphere is a fairly large, rectangular inflatable pillow that works at its best when you’re lying down – perhaps on a camp bed or, unhappily, in a departure lounge. I found it to be the perfect companion to Sega Rally 2 – as well as a great option for travellers who need some good, old-fashioned horizontal sleep.
As you might expect of a Rab product, the quality of the materials is impressive. It feels very soft, its internal insulation makes for a cosy rest, and the gentle curve at the bottom of the pillow fits very nicely around the shoulders.
It didn’t make the final cut because … how well this pillow works on public transport seemed especially dependent on the seating. For upright seats, it’s a little too bulky, but it’s very well suited to recumbent seating.
Support: air; outer material: polyester; packed dimensions: 14 x 7cm cylinder (length/diameter); weight: 105g; cleaning method: by hand only
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Slip Jet Setter
£120 at Selfridges £120 at SephoraBest for: luxury
I attracted a few glances – admiring ones, I’m sure – while wearing this premium travel pillow on the 0842 Leeds to Manchester Victoria service.
The Slip Jet Setter is certainly eye-catching, with a glossy silk cover, generously padded sides and a nicely finished (and unashamedly noisy) Velcro fastening. Never has a travel pillow been so Instagrammable.
It didn’t make the final cut because … I felt that this pillow’s support foam was too focused around the sides, with relatively little at the back. However, this design would make it a good fit for sleeping on transport with relatively comfortable seating, allowing your head to stay still against the headrest.
Support: memory foam; outer material: silk; packed dimensions: 25 x 25 x 12.5cm; weight: 330g; cleaning method: removable cover is machine washable at 30C
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What you need to know
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Are travel pillows good for your neck?
This depends on several factors, including the model of travel pillow, the shape of the seating on your chosen mode of transport and your health – especially if you experience neck pain or related conditions.
The right travel pillow can provide support to the neck in situations where this might be lacking. However, whether they can minimise the incidence of minor injuries by providing this support isn’t a well-studied subject. One 1998 study found that neck pillows, when used in a stationary setting, could alleviate neck pain for some users, but there’s not much further evidence to go on.
On the contrary, it’s possible that a neck pillow could also aggravate aches and pains if wearing it causes you to sit in an unnatural position during travel. I originally planned to test the models featured in this article by wearing them on a rollercoaster, but my requests were politely rebuffed on health and safety grounds by the theme parks I approached.
“Many of our coasters require guests to sit with their head fully back against the seat, and a travel pillow would interfere with this positioning, potentially posing a neck-injury risk,” said one of the representatives. Ideally, your journeys will be much smoother than a theme park ride, but it’s clear that these pillows aren’t suitable for every seat and every motion.
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Are travel pillows washable?
Given the dubious hygiene of many private cars and public transport vehicles, you would hope for your travel pillow to be washable.
Often, the best travel pillows come with a washable, removable cover or internal supports that can be removed before the rest of the item is washed. The cover or outer layer tends to be machine washable, while internal parts aren’t usually designed to be washed.
This is a good compromise, as it allows you to clean the part of the pillow that’s likeliest to pick up dirt, while preserving the condition of support materials (such as foam or microbeads) that may be susceptible to damage from water, heat or the spin cycle on your washing machine.
If you’ve chosen an inflatable neck pillow, then you’ll most likely need to wash it by hand. This can usually be done by closing the air valve, applying soapy water with a sponge or cloth, then rinsing away the suds. You should check the manufacturer’s guidance before you settle on a cleaning method for any travel pillow.
For more, read the Filter’s guides to the best travel-size toiletries and readers’ favourite holiday hacks
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Pete Wise is a journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering everything from global development and social causes to technology and music. A frequent traveller and enthusiastic slumberer, Pete penned our guides to the best reusable cups and the best sunrise alarm clocks. His favourite arcade game is Crazy Taxi
