foot travel pillow

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The 11 Very Best Travel Pillows

Because in-flight sleep is possible, even in the middle seat..

In this article

Best travel pillow overall.

• Best less-expensive
• Best memory-foam
• Best inflatable
• Best for specific seats
• Best for sleeping on the tray table
• Best for traveling with kids

While buying a travel pillow at the airport is always an option, I’ve been sleeping much better on planes since I started planning my in-flight sleep routine ahead of time. A good travel pillow also suits your sleeping position, especially if you’re a side sleeper who tends to get stuck in the dreaded middle seat. It should pair well with a light-blocking eye mask as well as earplugs to drown out engine noise. And the best travel pillows are not only comfortable but also easy to pack — they shouldn’t be a nuisance once you arrive at your destination.

To find travel pillows for every kind of sleeper and traveler, my fellow Strategist travel writer, Rachael Griffiths, and I asked frequent fliers for their picks, then tested those out for ourselves on both long-haul and domestic flights. We also spoke to chiropractors about the science behind travel pillows. While you’re here, you may want to check out my guides to the best carry-on luggage and the best refillable toiletry bottles .

What we’re looking for

First, consider the type of travel pillow you’re interested in: U-shaped versions that go around the neck or traditional flat pillows that have been shrunken down for portability are most common. U-shaped pillows are designed to prevent lateral bending in the neck — “It’s that move to sort of pinch the cell phone between your shoulder and ear,” says Dr. Carla Fischer , the director of quality and patient safety at NYU Langone Spine Center. That bending to the side, she says, is the most important thing to prevent, but not everyone sleeps in the same position or has the same concerns, so I’ve included several styles in this story.

Below you’ll find pillows made with memory foam, filled with beads, or are inflatable — each of which has its own pros. Dr. Claire Fitzpatrick, founder of Bed-Stuy Chiropractic, believes that memory foam is the most “accommodating” when it comes to travel. When I asked her what she meant, she explained that “if you get a medium to medium-firm memory-foam sort of pillow, it accommodates you, but it doesn’t let you dig into it too much.”

When it comes to thickness “the sides should come up to the height of your earlobes,” says Wainani Arnold , founder of the Wainani Wellness Center and in-flight wellness expert for Hawaiian Airlines. “The back of the neck pillow should be flat or only as thick as the distance between the back of your neck to the back of your head (one to two inches). If it is too thick in the back, the pillow will push your neck forward from the chair too much and will potentially dump your head back, which is not ideal for your neck.”

Packability

Between a carry-on and a personal item, both stuffed to the brim, finding room for something as large as a pillow can be cumbersome. The most packable among travel pillows are the inflatable ones. Others filled with memory foam or cotton are a little trickier to deal with — but are likely more comfortable. This is a trade-off, depending on how long your flight is. And often, neck pillows often have a snap closure at the front that can easily be used to secure it to the handle of your suitcase.

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: No fill | Thickness: Thin | Packability: Easy

This is the travel pillow I use when I journey from New York City to my hometown of Perth, Western Australia. That’s about 23 hours of flying, and I’ll spend at least half of that time sleeping peacefully thanks to the Trtl. This device is like a scarf crossed with an Elizabethan collar and achieves the main goal of a neck pillow — preventing lateral bending in the neck — thanks to the plastic brace stowed inside its padding. You can adjust this brace and choose which side you prefer nodding off toward.

Griffiths is also a Trtl fan. “The first time I tested out the Trtl, I was out like a light,” she says. “The brace’s angle hits just right: There is no sloping so much that your neck bends unnaturally, but it’s supportive enough for you to relax into a decent sleep.” Lauren Maternowski, editor at Pack Hacker, likes that it allows her to fully lean against the seat’s headrest, and former Strategist staffer Rosie Percy also found that with the adjustable Trtl she was “able to sleep through a flight for the first time in my adult life, touching down feeling refreshed and without a crick in my neck.” The Points Guy’s travel editor, Madison Blancaflor, says the Trtl is the only way to survive long-haul flights in economy. And Scott Keyes of Going (formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights) also echoes all this praise: “What I like about it is its versatility. It lets you sleep decently even if you’re in the middle seat, and this one is small enough to easily tuck into your backpack.”

Best less-expensive travel pillow

Shape: Neck and lumbar pillow | Fill: Not listed | Thickness: 2 inches | Packability: Average

If you aren’t exactly sure if you’ll need neck support or lumbar support, a convertible pillow like this might be your best bet. This neck pillow folds up into a square-shaped pillow that can then be used on your lower back or up against a window. It can also be rolled up into the built-in pocket for storage — which is great for saving space and also shielding the pillow from any germs in the airport. Taryn White of The Trip Wish List tells me it has teeny pockets for earbuds, gum, and mints, a big pro if you usually find yourself rummaging around to find your essentials mid-flight. It has a less convenient hook (compared to a strap) to secure it to your luggage, but the snaps that close the front of the pillow provide another option for strapping it on. I couldn’t track down the fill used in this pillow, but the general consensus from reviewers is that it is “firm but not too hard for me and my aching neck” (according to one reviewer on the Bed,Bath & Beyond website).

Best memory-foam travel neck pillow

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: Memory foam | Thickness: 5 inches | Packability: Easy

I’ll admit that sometimes I cheat on my Trtl with Cabeau’s more traditional-looking travel pillow, which is a vast improvement on the ones you can buy at the airport. It’s a U shape, but with slightly raised sides to stop your head from slumping (and supports your jaw to prevent open-mouth breathing, says travel blogger Carmen Sognovi ). It’s made from memory foam, and it has a flattened back, which allows it to be flush with the chair. This helps your spine align with the chair for more comfort (according to Fitzpatrick). But the best feature is the adjustable strap that fastens the travel pillow to a headrest — which prevents you from flopping forward once you’re sound asleep. Once I’m locked into my Cabeau, I have no choice but to sleep, and I’ve successfully snored away for countless hours while wearing it. I’ll also note that while it takes up more space than the Trtl, the Cabeau stuffs easily into a surprisingly chic circular bag that clips to the outside of my backpack or over the luggage handle of my suitcase.

Best inflatable travel neck pillow

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: Inflatable | Thickness: Adjustable | Easy to pack

The same brand also makes an inflatable version of its travel pillow — and though I generally don’t like inflatable pillows, this one is a good option. It inflates to five inches thick but is just the size of a soda can when deflated. Just like the memory-foam pillow, this one has a flat back to help keep your neck in line with the seat, and it has a neck strap to keep your head super-stable. “They are a bit higher than most neck pillows and have a special toggle you can connect and tighten so the pillow doesn’t fall off,” says Jennifer Lachs of Digital Nomad Girls . Lachs admits that the memory-foam pillow above is “even more comfortable,” but the inflatable is better if you want to travel light. (Initially, I thought that inflatable was synonymous with adjustable — the more air you put in, the taller it will be, and less air will make it less firm — but Fischer said it’s a bad idea to not fill up these pillows all the way, as that’s not how they were designed to be used.)

Best inflatable travel lumbar pillow

Shape: Lumbar pillow | Fill: Inflatable | Thickness: 2 inches | Packability: Easy

Here’s a different type of travel pillow — it’s designed for lumbar (rather than neck) support. As a WFH-er who’s rather particular about ergonomic office chairs , I notice the lack of lumbar support on airport seats whether it’s long- or short-haul flights. “In a proper chair, the lumbar part should actually push out to support that curve in your low back, but they don’t do that on planes, because if they did, it would affect their seating, so a lot of them curve in,” says Dr. Jared Hoffman of Williamsburg Chiropractic . His recommended solution is this pillow that inflates to two inches thick and reduces stress on the joints and discs of your lower back by supporting that lower-back curve. Hoffman not only recommends it to patients but says “this I have used personally and I think it’s one of the best products I’ve come across.” And as it’s inflatable, it’s super-easy to travel with — just deflate and roll into your bag once you disembark.

Best travel pillow for the middle seat

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: Inflatable | Thickness: 3.5 inches | Packability: Easy

This inflatable pillow is worn like a sash, and it gives you something to loll your head against (apart from the person sitting next to you). On a recent flight to Italy, Griffiths chose the dreaded middle seat on purpose to see how well the Travelrest really works. “I’m obsessed with this hideous inflatable golf club,” says travel writer Teddy Minford, who first told us about the unique travel pillow. “It creates something to lean against, even if you’re in the middle seat.” After testing it, Griffiths agrees with Minford that the pillow gives you something to rest your head against — and she successfully managed to get a few hours of sleep on her early flight. Though she felt herself sloping a little toward the side she was resting on, she was overall impressed with how much the pillow improved the usually uncomfortable experience of middle seating. It was also super-easy to transport: When deflated, it rolls up to the size of an iPhone.

Best travel pillow for the window seat

Shape: Head and neck pillow | Fill: Polyester filling | Thickness: 3 inches | Packability: Easy

The aptly named J-Pillow has a main body that supports the crook of your neck and a cushion extending below the chin to stop your head sliding forward. Mercedes Arielle is a window-seat person and says the J-Pillow is best at cradling her head, shoulder, and chin on flights. For Arielle, that three-pronged support is essential “because I rest my head against the window so I can maximize every inch of my window seat.” Griffiths tried one, too, and liked how the chin cushion didn’t extend too far around her neck and the main body of the pillow opened up in a V-shape so she could really wedge her head inside. The material felt more luxurious than the average travel pillow as well — it has a fleecy lining that you can nuzzle down into. It has become her go-to for train journeys, because it’s cushy enough to absorb the vibrations of the tracks. You can compress the pillow to half its size in a carry bag, then use its loops to attach it to your luggage.

Best travel pillow for tray-table sleeping

Shape: Head pillow  | Fill: Polystyrene microbeads | Thickness: Not listed | Packability: Challenging

Mid-overnight flight, the tray table can begin to look very tempting — but it’s far from a comfortable or stable surface. For some extra padding, Fitzpatrick likes this pillow that’s more like a helmet. It covers all sides, including the forehead, so it can be used in a number of situations. There is a hole for your mouth so you can breathe, but otherwise it’s a pillow, eye mask, and noise-canceling headphones all in one. Once out of the box, however, it could be cumbersome to travel with.

Best pillow for traveling with kids

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: Polyester filling | Thickness: Not listed | Packability: Easy

The Huzi pillow, like an extremely plush scarf, can wrap around your neck or lower back — or even both at the same time — to create a highly customized, optimum sleeping position. Writer and mom-of-one Chantel Tattoli says that this pillow is her foolproof method for traveling with her child. She notes it has an almost mystical effect on her daughter on long flights. “Generally, she seems to accord a magical ‘fairy ring’ quality to this fluffy circle, as if once she’s thrown it over her, she’s staked some space in which things are pretty good,” says Tattoli. The Huzi’s design makes it a great pick for those with scoliosis, too. “Even mild scoliosis can affect your comfortable position in a tight seat,” says Fitzpatrick. “The adjustable lemniscate-type pillows can be good for this.” Wearing it through the airport like a scarf also makes it easy to carry, but if you’d rather throw it in your bag, it rolls up neatly into a little ball.

Best travel knee pillow

Shape: Knee pillow | Fill: Inflatable | Thickness: Adjustable | Packability: Easy

Some people can’t fall asleep without a knee pillow — musician Waxahatchee is one of them, and this used to present a problem when she went on tour for months at a time. Because a plush pillow is hard to pack, she found this inflatable one that she says has been life-changing. It takes just three big breaths to blow up and is surprisingly soft. “I don’t overinflate it — I leave a little bit of air out of it so it has a bit of squish,” she says.

Best stuffable travel pillow

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: User’s choice | Thickness: Adjustable | Packability: Average

If you’re flying on a budget airline and trying to pack light , you could opt for this stuffable travel pillow as a way of sneaking extra clothes onto the plane. Jasmine Anderson and Natasha Wilson (travel agents and co-hosts of the podcast Travel Fly Sexy ) both recommend it. “It’s a great hack because you can fit extra T-shirts, shorts, and swimwear into something that no one is looking at you sideways for because it’s a pillow,” says Wilson. And while there are numerous versions of this kind of pillow on the market, I especially like this one because it is covered in a plush fabric for extra comfort and clips at the front for extra neck support.

Some more travel pillows we’ve written about

Our experts

• Jasmine Anderson , co-host, Travel Fly Sexy • Mercedes Arielle, fashion and travel blogger at Calculated Opulence • Wainani Arnold, founder of the Wainani Wellness Center and in-flight wellness expert for Hawaiian Airlines • Katie Crutchfield, musician, Waxahatchee • Dr. Carla Fischer, director of quality and patient safety at NYU Langone Spine Center • Dr. Claire Fitzpatrick, founder of Bed-Stuy Chiropractic • Dr. Jared Hoffman, Williamsburg Chiropractic • Scott Keyes, Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) • Jennifer Lachs, founder of  Digital Nomad Girls • Kat Lopez, freelance writer • Lauren Maternowski, editor at Pack Hacker • Teddy Minford, travel writer • Rosie Percy, former Strategist associate director of e-commerce-audience-development strategy • Dr. Rebecca Robbins , sleep specialist and Harvard Medical School instructor • Stella Shon, writer at The Points Guy • Carmen Sognovi , travel blogger • Chantel Tattoli , freelance writer • Taryn White, founder of The Trip Wish List • Natasha Wilson , co-host, Travel Fly Sexy

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The Best Travel Pillow

By Sabrina Imbler

Short of scoring a row of empty seats—dream on!—your best bet for getting at least a little sleep while flying is a travel pillow.

After asking 10 panelists to try on eight travel pillows and after taking four cross-country red-eyes in window, aisle, and middle seats, we think the comfortable and easy-to-pack  Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow is the best travel pillow for most people.

Everything we recommend

Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow

The best travel pillow.

Its tall memory-foam walls let it offer more support than any other pillow we tested. It’s also shaped to sit flush against a headrest, and it compresses to a manageable size.

Buying Options

Cabeau Evolution Classic Pillow

A travel pillow available at airports.

This memory-foam neck-support pillow is highly adjustable, but without a contoured back, it can’t quite sit flush with the headrest. It’s available at many airport stores, though.

Trtl Pillow

A pillow for one-sided neck support only.

It’s a fleece scarf with a built-in plastic brace—like a one-sided neck brace, but softer and cozier. However, it’s not so great if you tend to shift position while you sleep, and it costs more than the other pillows we recommend.

Bcozzy Pillow

Great with large headphones.

Featuring an adjustable design that accommodates over-the-ear headphones, the Bcozzy is an excellent chin-support pillow for people who nod forward as they sleep.

The uniquely angled back on the Travelrest Ultimate sets it apart from other travel pillows because it can lay flat against the seat back. Most other pillows have a rounded back, which pushes your head away from the headrest. The Travelrest also has rubber grip dots to prevent slipping while sleeping. This pillow’s spongy memory foam cushions the entire circumference of your neck, preventing your head from leaning far in any direction, and its adjustable Velcro strap ensures it can fit most necks. The pillow’s cozy velour exterior is removable and machine-washable. Although it doesn’t pack flat, the Travelrest weighs less than a pound and compresses to a quarter of its size when rolled into its Velcro-strapped carrying case.

Our only complaint is that the Travelrest’s high walls, while supportive, can push over-ear headphones off of the ears of people with shorter necks. While the memory foam feels plush, it’s also quite firm; this offers excellent support, but not much give. It also doesn’t let you adjust the fit, like our two wrappable picks: the Turtl and the BCozzy . If the Travelrest fits your neck, it’s an excellent pillow. If your neck is much longer or shorter than this pillow’s 5-inch wall, though, you might prefer the fit of one of our other pillow picks.

If our top pick sells out, or if you find yourself pillowless past security, the Cabeau Evolution Classic Pillow is almost as good a pillow. It lacks the Travelrest’s angled, lay-flat back, but its U-shape, contoured memory-foam core and machine-washable velour cover still provide comparable levels of comfort. Its adjustable string closure also means that you can fit the pillow much tighter around your neck than you can with the Travelrest, making it a good choice for people with smaller necks or people who prefer a more constricted fit. Additionally, it’s the only one of our picks that we’ve regularly seen in stores located behind the security checkpoint at many airports.

If you typically lean to the same side while sleeping, the Trtl Pillow’s fleece-covered plastic frame provides unshakeable support to one side of your neck while remaining comfortable to wear. It’s basically a one-sided neck brace. The pillow’s cozy wraparound fleece will also keep your neck warm, making it a good choice for anyone who gets cold while flying (and a poor choice for those who sleep hot). But the Trtl’s winning quality is its tiny, packable size. Unlike any of our other picks, the Trtl does not need to be compressed or stuffed into a carrying case. It will always take up about as much space as a PB&J sandwich. (It costs a lot more than one, though.)

The Bcozzy , a variation on the hemi-doughnut theme, is our pick for anyone who wears large over-the-ear headphones on a flight or tends to nod forward while they sleep. The pillow’s overlapping ends form a snug cushion that holds your chin in place far better than do the Trtl’s plastic frame or the Travelrest and Cabeau’s chin-facing gap. While the pillow does not provide great support to either side of your neck, if paired with a large pair of headphones, the Bcozzy holds a head in place perfectly. While not as compressible as our other picks, the pillow has a small loop that can be clipped to the outside of most bags so it doesn’t have to take up space inside your bag.

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked our best travel pillow finalists, how we tested travel pillows, our pick for the best travel pillow: travelrest nest ultimate memory foam travel pillow, runner-up for the best travel pillow: cabeau evolution classic pillow, also great for portability: trtl pillow, also-great chin-support pillow for forward-nodders: bcozzy pillow, other good travel pillows, the competition.

I am a frequent flyer who often takes red-eyes from coast to coast—I now live in Brooklyn but fly home to San Francisco to visit my parents. I’m also an insomniac, so falling asleep on planes has never been easy for me. While writing this article, I tested eight travel pillows on two five-hour flights and slept with our four picks on two more cross-country flights. I also spoke with Rebecca Robbins, a postdoctoral fellow at the NYU Center for Healthful Behavior Change at the time of the interview, to see what she looks for in a travel pillow.

In addition, my Wirecutter colleagues as a whole are an exceptionally mobile group. We’ve worked remotely from every continent except Antarctica, so I asked some folks on staff which pillows they like and use regularly. (They’ve also since contributed some additional testing.)

Boarding a red-eye without a travel pillow in your bag is like choosing to sleep on the floor when there’s a perfectly good futon nearby. Sure, it’s no bed, but it’s a hell of a lot better than hardwood. In an interview she did in 2017 with The Atlantic reporter Kelly Conaboy, Dr. Mary O’Connor, then the director of Yale’s Center for Musculoskeletal Care, said that despite a lack of clinical studies that support the efficacy of travel pillows, “Many of us who travel have experienced falling asleep with our neck in a weird position and it bothering us thereafter. So, I think they can be helpful, but that depends on how they’re used and whether they support the neck.” In other words, using a supportive pillow may decrease the chances you wake up with an unwanted crick. It certainly has in our experience.

However, not all travel pillows are the same, and if you also happen to have a zealous hatred of your travel pillow, you probably have a bad one. So even if you have a generic pillow you picked up at some airport a few years ago, consider upgrading to one of our picks. And of course, these pillows work well on buses and trains, too.

So how can you tell if a pillow is likely to actually support your head? Rebecca Robbins, a postdoctoral fellow studying sleep at the time of our interview, says the best travel pillows will keep your head elevated and in alignment with your spine: “Look for something that would really be supportive. My one gripe with most travel pillows is that they’re too soft and not too full—you want something that will be supportive as you try to get comfortable in your limited space.” Robbins also recommends finding a pillow that can keep you cozy but not too hot, as she says it’s easier to sleep with a lower body temperature.

Robbins does her best to avoid one common travel situation. “My number one sleep tip is to not take a red-eye if you can avoid it,” she said. “If the flight is five hours, you’re going to only have three hours of true rest, because all the announcements—‘lower your window,’ ‘raise your window.’ Those can be significant distractions.”

We also looked at existing editorial reviews for guidance. Ethan Green , founder of the sleep resource blog No Sleepless Nights, compiled an extensive comparative review of popular travel pillows that we found helpful when deciding what models to test.

For people who want a travel pillow that will ease some of the discomfort of sleeping upright on a bumpy plane ride, we’ve identified the following key features:

• Comfort and support: The pillow should offer ample support for the weight of your neck and head but not restrict your movements or feel too tight.
• Portable (but not inflatable): You don’t want your travel pillow to take up so much space in your carry-on that you can’t bring other things you need, so it should compress to a smaller size. Barring that, there should at least be a way to clip it to the outside of your bag or luggage. Inflatable pillows are easy to pack but should be avoided. They inevitably spring a leak, often sooner rather than later.
• Soft: The material should feel plush against your skin but not trap so much heat that it’s uncomfortable to wear.
• Universal fit (or as close as possible): The pillow should allow space for people to sleep with a ponytail or accommodate bigger hair, as well as a whole variety of head shapes and sizes and neck lengths.
• Sleeping styles: It should also accommodate people who move their head in any direction while they sleep. It should also work in a window, a middle, or an aisle seat.
• Speed of compression/decompression: In case you need to quickly stow your pillow before exiting the plane, or if you want to catch some shut-eye in a moment’s notice, it shouldn’t take too long to stuff the pillow into its carrying case or unfold it to full size.
• Weight: Ideally, the pillow shouldn’t add undue burden to your carry-on. While inflatable pillows will always be the lightest option, memory-foam pillows don’t weigh much more and can offer significantly more comfort.
• Grip/traction: Your head will likely move around a bit while sleeping on a plane, especially if there’s turbulence. So any kind of grip or traction around the bottom of the pillow will help it stay in place and keep you snoozing.
• Machine washable: As you might expect from a vessel that ferries hundreds of people back and forth across the sky on a daily basis, planes can be filthy. So you’ll want to be able to wash the whole pillow—or at least its cover—before you take it on your next trip.

We researched more than 40 travel pillows—which ranged from variations on a hemi-doughnut to inscrutable crowdfunded designs—and after comparing hundreds of glowing and enraged Amazon reviews, we decided to test eight. We asked a panel of 10 people to try each of the pillows in a chair pushed against the wall of a conference room (the closest we could come to airline conditions in our office) and surveyed them on the fit, comfort, and support of each pillow. The panelists all had a variety of neck lengths and jaw sizes, and one even had a substantial beard. We also ran all of the pillows or their detachable pillowcases through a washing machine as instructed to see how well each stood up to a spin cycle and tumble dry.

And because simulations are rarely enough, I brought eight travel pillows on two cross-country flights to see how the pillows felt in the specific back design of an airplane seat. As I was lucky enough to have unnecessarily kind and understanding neighbors (thank you, Mike and Deborah!), I wore each of these pillows in a window, a middle, and an aisle seat to see if they felt comfortable in each configuration. I also tried on Deborah’s Muji travel pillow (as she offered), but determined it had much less support than our picks. I also carried all of our picks on two more cross-country flights on a different airline to ensure the pillows did just as well in different seat designs.

The Travelrest Ultimate remains our top pick after several years because its plush but firm memory-foam core offers more support to your neck than that of any other pillow. It’s also one of the few pillows we tested that felt specifically designed for an airline seat, with an angled, grippy back that aligns perfectly to both upright and reclined positions and ensures the pillow won’t slide down as you nod off. The velvety-soft pillow supports heads and necks of all sizes and can be fitted with an adjustable cord and clasp. In the tried-but-true shape of a hemi-doughnut—imagine a doughnut with a bite taken out—the Travelrest Ultimate may look like other pillows, but a number of thoughtful details make it a softer, more supportive pillow than all the rest.

The Travelrest offers better all-around support than any other pillow we tested. Its broad, marshmallowy walls hug the whole circumference of your neck. It feels supportive but not stifling. The easy-to-fasten Velcro strap means it can be adjusted to a snug fit for necks of many sizes. There’s even a small crevice for curlier hair or a ponytail.

In addition to fitting your neck, the Travelrest’s back tapers up to a point to fit flat against an airline seat back. Most neck pillows lack this tapering on the back and the excess padding can push your neck away from the headrest, causing your neck to droop forward. Additionally, the Travelrest has grippy dots on the back that prevent it from slipping.

In addition to its excellent support, the Travelrest is very comfortable and cozy to wear. Its memory-foam core is wrapped in velour, which kept my neck warm without overheating it. The Travelrest’s velour also felt softer and smoother against my skin than similar coverings on other pillows, such as the Cabeau Evolution. It’s also easy to clean: The Travelrest’s cover is easily unzipped and machine-washable. The velour retained its softness after going through a wash and dry cycle.

While the Travelrest isn’t inflatable, it packs down to the size of a roll of toilet paper in its carrying case. Once you fold it cinnamon-roll style and it’s small enough to fit inside the bag, a Velcro strap on the pouch helps you compress it even further. If there’s still not enough space for it in your bag, you can always clip its drawstring to any exterior loop.

All of these thoughtful details were not lost on our testing panel. They gave the Travelrest the highest marks of any pillow in comfort and neck support, and two-thirds of our testers picked it as their favorite pillow.

How the Travelrest has held up

After over a year of use, this pillow had lost none of its supportiveness. The memory foam was just as firm and springy as it was when we bought it. Its velcro strap was still easy to secure. If it fits you, this is a pillow that stays secure and comfortable on your neck for the duration of a long flight. However, we’ve also heard from multiple travelers that this pillow doesn’t fit them. The memory foam is quite firm, which offers excellent support, but not much give. If a pillow of up to 5 inches doesn’t fit comfortably on your neck, we think you’ll be happier trying one of our other picks.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Travelrest Ultimate will never compress to the thin, flat size of a tiny pillow like the Trtl. But its unparalleled, cushiony support can still pack down to a reasonable size, and its 13 ounces won’t make your carry-on noticeably heavier. And if saving space is your highest concern, we think the Trtl provides space-conscious support without the spit-filled fuss of an inflatable pillow.

While the Travelrest’s voluminous plush can support all heads that lean left, back, or right, the pillow may not hold up the chins of people with smaller faces. When my head bobbed forward, my small face sank into the gap between the pillow closure and my neck. You can adjust the Velcro strap for a tighter fit, but the short strap cannot be pulled as tight as the Cabeau’s adjustable strings.

The Travelrest Ultimate’s unbeatable support is in part due to the height of its sides, designed to come up to the jaw of the wearer. This means the pillow may be incompatible with larger over-the-ear headphones for people with shorter necks. For instance, when I tried to wear the Travelrest Ultimate with my noise-cancelling Bose headphones , the pillow pushed the headset uncomfortably far up on my head, taking my earlobes with it. However, my editor, who has a longer neck, didn’t have this problem.

If you want a tighter, more adjustable fit, the Cabeau Evolution Classic  (which used to be called just the Evolution) is the way to go. Its contoured memory-foam design offers almost as much neck support as our main pick does, albeit without some of the Travelrest’s luxurious height. But the Cabeau’s adjustable clasp allows a far greater range of cinching than the Travelrest. In other words, the pillow can fit as tightly as you like.

Like the Travelrest, the Cabeau’s hemi-doughnut shape offers 360 degrees of support for anyone wearing it. It also boasts a cushioned memory-foam core and a contoured top that will keep your neck upright and head in place. But unlike the Travelrest’s gently arched bottom, the Cabeau’s flat bottom won’t sit as securely on your shoulders and may move around during your sleep. The Cabeau also lacks the Travelrest’s smartly tapered, grippy back that helps keep the pillow in place during flight. The Cabeau’s velour cover is also machine-washable, but it feels less soft than the Travelrest’s.

Although the Cabeau’s fit and shape aren’t quite as good as the Travelrest’s, this pillow is more adjustable. It can be tightened or loosened with two adjustable strings that clip together, which results in a far more adjustable range than the Travelrest’s short strip of Velcro. If you have a smaller neck and know you find a tighter grip on your neck comforting, the Cabeau may be the way to go.

Like the Travelrest, the Cabeau also packs down to a quarter of its size, thanks to an adjustable strap bisecting its carrying case. But at 15.2 ounces, it’s a bit heavier than the Travelrest.

Unlike any of our other picks, the Cabeau Evolution is sold in many of those ubiquitous news stores inside airports. So if you find yourself lacing up your shoes after security and wishing you had bought one of our picks before your flight, look for the Cabeau’s contoured shape among the novelty hemi-doughnuts dangling off the travel pillow racks. It’s the best pillow you can buy at an airport. But if you have the chance to order online, the Travelrest offers more support.

There is a newer model of the Evolution Classic, the S3 , which has straps to hook onto a seat’s headrest. We think it’s a good choice if the Classic version is out of stock or otherwise unavailable. It’s still supportive and comfortable, but not as thick or soft as the Classic.

The Trtl Pillow , though odd-looking and unconventional, won a contingent of ardent fans with its firm support and slim, packable size. But it’s not our top pick because it works on only one side, and its warmth-trapping fleece can cause your neck to overheat. It’s also the most expensive of our picks. The Trtl consists of an arched plastic skeleton inside of a soft, fleece scarf that wraps once around your neck and then closes with Velcro to hold the pillow in place. You just lean your head against the convex end of the bendy frame, wrap the pillow around your neck, and your head has a soft but firm pedestal on which to rest while you sleep. It sounds weird, but it’s not that different from a neck brace—only it’s one-sided and softer.

Because the Trtl Pillow is little more than a scarf with a plastic plate in it, it packs down to the size of a sandwich and can lay flat against the back of your bag. This is the smallest travel pillow we tested and also requires none of the squashing or awkward cinching it takes to stuff the Travelrest or Cabeau into their holding bags, which are also easy to lose. Unlike any of the other pillows we’ve seen, the Trtl is small enough to fit inside a briefcase or handbag, making it the best option for people who don’t normally travel with backpacks. And at a featherweight 5 ounces, the Trtl is the lightest pillow we tested.

Though the Trtl can support your head from only one side, the tall, bendy plastic frame inside offered more support on that one side than either the Travelrest or Cabeau. Yet even with its soft, wraparound design, it lacks the all-around support provided by our top and runner-up picks. If you are an asymmetrical sleeper (if you prefer sleeping with your head leaning to one side), the Trtl may be a good choice. However, it’s not a good choice for people who nod forward—the plastic insert is too stiff. If that’s you, we prefer the Bcozzy, which we talk more about below .

Some testers found the Trtl’s quasi-corseted-turtleneck design off-putting. But then again, no one looks cool wearing any travel pillow. And on that note, the Trtl’s cozy fleece will keep your neck toasty. So if you know you run hot, the Trtl may not be the pillow for you.

Wirecutter’s Ganda Suthivarakom swears by the Trtl: “It packs almost flat, weighs next to nothing, and can be helpful for sleeping even when you are stuck in a middle seat. As someone who is always cold on the plane, I don't mind the whole fleece scarf design, either.”

Trtl has a more padded version of the pillow that claims to be more adjustable; one of our longer-necked staffers tried it and reported that it is indeed more comfortable for him than the original Trtl was. However, the same limitations of the original apply to the new version.

The Bcozzy is a snakelike spin on the traditional hemi-doughnut that’s perfect for anyone traveling with large headphones or people who tend to nod forward while sleeping and wake themselves up. It lacks the tall, supportive sides of our other picks, but the overlapping front is the perfect height to keep your chin from nodding forward as you doze off. It’s not as supportive on the sides, but this leaves ample room for big headphones.

The Bcozzy’s best advantage is its overlapping circular design, which allows you to adjust the pillow to degrees of personal preference. You can place the overlapping ends of the pillow around any point of your neck (though it only really makes sense in the front or on the sides), and wear the pillow as loose or as tight as you’d like. We think it’s most comfortable when the ends meet right under your neck—and in that position, it cushions your chin better than any other pillow we tested.

The longer, leaner Bcozzy lacks the plush, ensconcing neck support of the Travelrest Ultimate or Cabeau Evolution. It lays so low on your shoulders that it might not even touch your jaw. But this makes the pillow perfect for anyone who likes to wear over-the-ear headphones along with a travel pillow while they sleep on the flight. I personally like to fall asleep to music and drown out the dull roar of an airplane, so the Bcozzy works perfectly for me.

We still think the Travelrest Ultimate is a superior overall hemi-doughnut pillow, but the Bcozzy is an excellent choice if you plan to wear big headphones or know the feeling of that sharp, waking drop when your head falls forward on a plane.

The Bcozzy is also one of the least packable pillows, as it doesn’t come with a carrying case and does not compress particularly well. But its 7.4 ounces is around half the weight of the Travelrest or Cabeau, and it does comes with a little loop that clips onto the outside of a backpack or duffel. And even when squished down at the bottom of a bag, it doesn’t take up that much more space than the Travelrest Ultimate or Cabeau.

If you’re a back sleeper who can fall sleep sitting upright in your seat, facing forward, and not need to curl up or lean your head on the airplane window: You may want to try the Posture+ Travel Pillow, which is a U-shaped neck cushion, padded with memory foam, that looks like the back half of a cervical collar. When testing it, we slept surprisingly well, but it won’t suit all (or even most) sleep styles. It’s also not machine-washable, and it is pricy.

If you have a shorter neck and tend to run hot on planes and would prefer a pillow designed to keep you cool: Consider the ventilated Cabeau Evolution Cool —the combination of a silky polyester cover (similar to spandex) and vented design did feel mildly cooler against our necks. And we liked the pillow’s silky feel, packable size, zippered carrying case. But it was significantly smaller than the standard Cabeau Evolution and the Travelrest Ultimate, and it left the chins of long-necked testers totally unsupported. It’s also more expensive—now about $20 more than the Travelrest.

If you always lean to the same side when sleeping: Consider Travelrest’s All-in-One , which has a novel across-the-shoulder design that could be comfortable in such a situation. It has a similar fabric to the company’s winning Ultimate Memory Foam Neck Pillow, but in our tests its bulky inflated tube offered no structured head support, which could pose a problem in bumpy conditions.

If you tend to be a forward-falling head bobber: Consider the Caldera Releaf , which is less travel pillow and more neck brace. It does offer superior neck support, but it constricted the throat too much for our comfort.

The Trtl Pillow Plus , a later addition to the Trtl lineup, is more height-adjustable and has more padding than its older sibling . Our self-described “giraffe-necked” tester said that it did indeed fit him better than the original Trtl had. However, it still supports your head from only one side, making it not a great choice for sleepers who nod forward. It’s also bulkier than the original and costs nearly twice as much.

The Cabeau Evolution S3 is a newer version of our runner-up pick , the Evolution Classic. We liked it, and we think it’s a solid choice if the original Evolution isn’t available. It has added straps that you can hook onto a headrest to keep your head from falling forward while you sleep, but our runner-up pick is softer and slightly thicker, which offers a bit more support. We did find the S3 to be easier to roll up into its carrying case, however.

Intrigued by one of the stranger innovations that we’ve seen in travel pillow design, we tested the Huzi Design Infinity , but we can’t recommend it. Instead of cinching or clasping at the front, it is designed to be looped several times around the wearer’s neck like an infinity scarf. But the pillow failed to support our testers’ necks. Regardless of who tried it, testers found that looping it twice was too loose and thrice was too tight. It was also the largest and least compressible pillow we tested.

The J-Pillow offered a singular, three-pronged design that proved impossible for anyone to figure out without instructions. After some explanation, our testers could wear the pillow correctly, but they still felt that its squishy stuffing offered insufficient support, and only to one side of the head. It’s also impossible to pack away efficiently due to its pyramidal shape. If you want a one-sided pillow, skip this and go for the Trtl instead.

We tested the inexpensive Travelrest Curl because we loved its plush and contoured big cousin, the Travelrest Ultimate. But while the Curl contains the same luxurious memory-foam filling as the Ultimate, the pillow is so small that many testers found that it didn’t even come up to their jaws when worn. It does have an attractive price, but its skimpy size and unsupportive design could support only the shortest of necks.

We found the air-filled Sea to Summit Aeros Traveller Pillow to be similarly lacking. We liked how easy it was to fill—its dual-valve inflation mechanism means it won’t let air out between breaths—and we appreciated that it weighed only about a fifth as much as the Travelrest, but the Travelrest’s 360-degree support made it too hard to go back to an open-ring design that offers no support in the front. Also, one of our former freelance writers recently reported that when she pulled her pillow out of storage, after a few years of not using it, its internal bladder disintegrated in her hands.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Rebecca Robbins, postdoctoral fellow at the NYU Center for Healthful Behavior Change , phone interview , October 20, 2017

Meet your guide

Sabrina Imbler

Sabrina Imbler is a former staff writer for Wirecutter, where they covered kitchen tools and HVAC.

Further reading

Pluto Pod Travel Pillow: A First-Class Sleep Experience in Economy

by Dorie Chevlen

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by Elissa Sanci

You might look funny while wearing the one-sided Trtl travel pillow in flight, but you won’t care when you land at your destination bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

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These things don’t make your flight take off any faster, but they can make the wait a little more tolerable.

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by Samantha Schoech and Dorie Chevlen

Here we present practical and whimsical finds to delight any intrepid traveler.

• Clothing, Shoes & Accessories
• Luggage & Travel Gear
• Accessories
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Inflatable Travel Foot Rest Pillow Portable Adjustable Height Foot Stool for Airplanes, Cars, Home, Trains, Office to Lay Down or Sleep on Long Flights with Pump (Blue)

( $60.44 / count )

( $24.99 / count )

Purchase options and add-ons

About this item.

• Perfect Choice for Travelers - The foot rest pillow supports your legs stretching or curling with a good rest. It can be used as a chair when waiting for flights, can also use it to sleep for kid's
• Skin-Friendly Material - Made from washable soft flocked PVC, an airtight rubber that has the feel of fabric. Healthy and hygienic, no unpleasant smell and comfortable touching.
• Lightweight & Portable - Only 0.77lb (350g) weight, the packed size is 5.9"L*3.9"W (15x10cm) with a bottom dust cover and storage bag. It be compressed into a very small and light size which will easily to jam package into the luggage.
• Health Manager: Improve your blood circulation and reduce swelling by raising your legs. Help to relieve back and neck pain from sitting for long period of time.
• A Good Gift - Definitely perfect companion on journey is one of the good gifts you can give parents and elders, colleagues and friends.

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Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and different information than what is shown on our website. We recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming a product.

Product Description

inflatable foot rest pillow is great for travel, car, trains, home and office. It is easy to inflate and takes up relatively little space. If you are traveling with small children you will not regret buying this. The height lined up well enough with American Airlines Seats.They will sleep better and it’s much easier on you because they won’t be spread out on your lap or tossing and turning. Helps your feet and leg to rest on airplanes and can be used as kid's bed to lay down flat on flights.

Provide Comfort to Your Leg Area When you sit in the seat for long periods of time, the leg flexion time is too long and muscles without rest for a long time, which causes poor blood flow, numbness or pain in the legs. The leg rest pillow supports your legs stretching or curling, helps decompress tight joints, promote blood flow, and relieve pressure.

inflatable footrest weights only lb (500g). It packs down very small, light,inflates fast, deflates fast. Absolutely, it is the right size inflated as a foot rest or toddler bed on airplane, train, car, home and office.

Bottom Dust Cover

This inflatable foot rest pillow is the perfect solution! Served as a nice foot rest and a way to elongate the seat for comfort. Helps your feet from welling up; This extender was very helpful for travel. Worth getting for your little one for trains and planes rides, especially for a long haul flight. They are comfortable enough where he won’t waken and gets enough rest; It also comes with a bottom dust cover which is great cover. If you used the foot pillow outside, It definitely protects it from sharp things or dirty. Because the cover is easier to wash than the pillow.

High Quality, Convenience and Comfortable

Specifictaion

Inflated: 17.7*15.7*11.4in（adjustable）

Package Weight: 0.8lb (365g) .Packed:6*4in

Package Include

1x Foot Rest Pillow

1x Washable Bottom Dust Cover, 1x Small Pouch .1x hand pump

Product information

Technical details, additional information, product details.

• Is discontinued by manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• Parcel Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 32.29 x 23.3 x 9 cm; 365 g
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ Dec 4 2018
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ ZIQIAN
• Place of Business ‏ : ‎ Hinton, AB T7V 1Y8,CA
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07L3CGVS3
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ pillow
• #191 in Travel Pillows

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The Best Airplane Footrest for Travelers to Ease Back Pain and Get Rest

LUGGAGE , TRAVEL , Travel Accessories

Support TFG by using the links in our articles to shop. We receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) so we can continue to create helpful free content. We earn from qualifying purchases made to the featured retailers. Thank you, we appreciate your support!

If your long-haul flights leave you with an aching back, sore feet, and cramped legs, then an airplane footrest might be in order to help you sleep and feel relaxed. These are the best footrest for travelers as recommended by our awesome readers!

Best Travel Foot Rest

Written By: Tae Haahr

Table Of Contents

Some travelers just can’t get comfortable on a flight and that can be due to sitting for long periods of time, or other physical limitations. Sometimes it helps to elevate the feet, but that’s usually not an option since aircrafts are not built to accommodate this.

Rather than suffer from travel footrest airplane issues, you can bring along a mobile footrest to help make your trip way more comfortable. Especially if you often experience back, foot, or leg pain during your flights. They can also aid you in sleeping better on-board.

TFG readers share their top picks and tips on a footrest for travel, and this is what they said.

What Is the Best Travel Footrest to Feel More Comfortable on Flights?

Best airplane foot hammock.

Andyer Portable Travel Footrest

Andyer Portable Footrest

The Andyer is a budget-friendly, lightweight, and compact choice. Just hang this foot hammock and you’re ready to settle in!

One reader shares how a foot hammock for airplane trips worked for her. “I tried one of these footrest slings on a recent 15-hour flight to Dubai. I give it a big thumbs up! It hangs from your tray table and doesn’t affect the person seated in front of you.

You can get this one for under $10 on Amazon and another reader advises to “get the cheapest, less padded version. It takes up less room on the flight, easier to pack and just as effective.”

In this post you’ll learn how to stay warm on a long haul flight!

Petutu Foot Rest Hammock

Petutu Airplane Footrest Hammock

The Petutu is easy-to-clean, reversible, and effortless to pack with a handy storage bag. It comes recommended by TFG readers and one shares, “I travel with this and it makes a difference.”

You can use it on an airplane, train or coach. Or you can throw this under your office desk when you’re home. We love multi-use and this one seems to be!

Readers share their top tips on how to have a stress-free flight!

Anxingo Footrest Hammock Sling

Anxingo Hammock Sling

The Anxingo foot hammock is easy to use and packs up nice and tight to ensure you have foot and leg comfort without taking up a ton of valuable carry-on real estate.

One reader got relief during her last journey, saying, “It worked great for me on an 8-hour flight. Rolls up into something smaller than a burrito so I was happy.”

Simply slip this onto the handles of the tray table, while it’s folded up or down, and it’s ready to use. When you’re done with it, pack it into the carrying bag to keep it compact and toss it into your personal bag. Voila!

See these reader recommendations of the best travel pants for the airplane!

Sleepy Ride Airplane Footrest

Sleep Ride Footrest

Readers say the Sleepy is a sound foot hammock for plane journeys to help support the feet, legs, and lower back. Hang it over the tray table and adjust the straps to your comfort.

One reader recalls she “used one of these on a recent trip to Paris and really liked it,” adding that “it helped her lower back to be able to stretch legs out and have her feet supported.”

Once the flight is over, simply throw it in its bag and stuff it into your travel purse. It’s lightweight and compact, ideal for any, or all your trips!

The Trtl travel pillow, is it good? Find out here !

Best Portable Footstool

North Coast EWH Portable Foot Rest

North Coast Compact Portable Folding Footrest

Portable footrests work well because they’re durable and long-lasting. The North Coas t is small enough to fit in an in-flight bag or your carry-on making it super travel-friendly.

One reader shares, “I’m short, so when your feet don’t always reach the floor it can be very uncomfortable. I have a foldable foot stool that I take on long flights, it folds nicely and fits in the front pocket of either my suitcase or backpack. I’ve had mine for 16+ years.”

Just slip this handy stool out of your bag and pop it up when your flight takes off. It’s easy to fold up and move when you need to get up for a stretch or pack away when your trip is done!

Check out these  flight essentials !

Econo High Folding Travel Footrest

Econo-High Portable Folding Footstool

The Econo-High is portable because it folds neatly and fits into a travel pouch. Readers point out this one is a bit more solid to keep your feet comfortable, then a plastic model and can actually fit in your carry-on.

One reader says she brings a “little folding bench for her footrest and carries it with her everywhere and always uses it when she flies.”

Here’s a round-up of the best travel pillow for more restful in-flight naps!

Best Travel Foot Rest Pillow

Guass Inflatable Foot Pillow

Guass Inflatable Pillow

A very portable footrest airplane solution is an inflatable one. The Guass pillow is under $15 and TFG readers rave about how well it works for them.

One reader shares just that, saying, “I’ve used one of these footrests and would do so again. It helped to give my body a better position in the seat and relieve the pressure from my legs.”

Readers emphasize a pillow like this makes a real difference. As a bonus, an inflatable foot pillow can also double for use under your desk (at work or home), or while traveling on a bus or in a car. Truly, a versatile option!

This is how to choose the best in-flight travel purse !

STYDDI Inflatable Foot Rest Pillow

STYDDI Inflatable Travel Footrest Pillow

The STYDDI is a packable foot rest that can help relax your feet and has PVC flocking for full comfort during your flight. 

One TFG reader shares the wonders of pillows. “I have short legs so I just use a little inflatable foot rest. It keeps my legs from swelling and my knee from hurting.”

This model has a two-layer mouthpiece that can help the pillow both inflate and deflate. Once deflated, this travel accessory can pack easily into your carry-on suitcase.

Find out our foolproof formula for long-haul flights or short weekend getaways!

Best Airplane Footrest Comparison Chart

Should i consider an airplane footrest.

A footrest can be a useful tool for travelers with frequent foot and leg pain or those that are on the shorter side. They help personalize travel to the needs of your body and make the flight more comfortable.

Many readers especially recommend this option if you’re under 5’3” because it gives you a little height. One reader shares, “I’m really short and having a footrest helps my legs feel more comfortable on long flights.”

They are equally as important if you’re flying with an injured foot or leg. Not only do they help with foot and leg pain, but one reader shares that they also help relieve back pain. “It helps offset pressure on my back during the flight.”

Alternative Footrest Solutions

Maybe you don’t have room in your carry-on or simply don’t want to take up space with an additional travel accessory. In that case, there are a few things you can use to help prop up your feet that you probably already have.

Use Your Under Seat Bag

One way to elevate your feet is to use your under-seat bag as a footrest. Since you’re bringing it along anyway, it can serve a secondary purpose.

A reader shares this tidbit, saying, “I always use my under-seat bag (usually a full backpack) as a footrest. This allows me to scoot it around to extend each or both of my legs as needed, and I can scoot it out of the way.” 

Use a Detachable Strap as a Sling

If you favor the sling method of resting your feet, then there is a DIY way you to achieve a similar experience. How you ask? 

One TFG reader shares this tip! “I use the detachable shoulder strap from my bag as a foot sling.” This means you don’t have to bring along anything extra but can still obtain comfort.

Use Your Travel Pillow

If you’re already packing a travel pillow for your flight, it can also double as a footrest (pending you’re not already using it for under your head). Which could be the perfect solution to avoid packing extra.

A reader recounts her DIY foot rest pillow trick. “Try a blow-up neck pillow , place it on the floor, and put your feet on it. It will add about 4-inches of floor height.” 

It’s not only inflatable pillows that can do the trick. Another reader offers another option, adding, “I have a wedge travel pillow that can double as a footrest. I love it!”

Taking a red eye flight? Heed these tried and tested tips !

Other Helpful Tips

Keeping your feet elevated is a good start, but there are other tips and tricks that readers recommended to keep your feet and back comfortable during air travel.

Use Compression Socks

Compression socks are designed to add pressure to your legs to maintain blood flow, along with reducing swelling or discomfort. 

They are widely celebrated by TFG readers and make most travel accessory top lists. If you anticipate sitting through a long flight, then you might want to check a pair of these out.  

Want the right pair? Check out the best compression socks for air travel.

If you’re on a particularly long-haul flight, one way to keep your feet and legs comfortable is to get up and walk around every so often. Getting up on your feet can help get the blood flowing and stretch them out.

You might also want to consider doing some exercises to help stretch your feet and legs. Movement can help keep your legs pain free (or at least less) on lengthy air journeys. 

Compass Rose Packing Cubes

How to Pack Your Footrest

Who says packing cubes are limited to clothing? Many of our readers use them to pack much of what they bring on their trips, as they allow you to organize by number and color, so you know what’s in each bag.

Not only do these handy cubes allow you to keep your things organized and compact, but they can also be used to store a footrest into your carry-on, so when you embark on the plane, it’s easy to take out. Watch the video below for more.

You can learn our hacks with packing cubes in this video !

We put together a five-part YouTube series showing the different methods to use packing cubes for travel. If you use this specific packing strategy, packing cubes can also compress your belongings. This is the secret to traveling carry-on only!

What do you think is the best airplane footrest? Share and comment below!

For more airplane travel essentials, please read:

• 5 Airplane Skin Care Essentials to Upgrade Your In-flight Beauty Routine
• Airplane Essentials: Top Items to Make Flights More Enjoyable
• Business Travel Essentials: 15 Products to Simplify Your Life
• Travel Fashion Talk: Editor-in-Chief Alex’s In-Flight Clothing Essentials

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10 Best Inflatable Travel Pillows

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline .

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

The Handy Item I Always Pack : "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

Ultimate Bucket List Experience : Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel Motto : "Don't be boring."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat : "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."

E-mail her at [email protected] .

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The best inflatable travel pillows allow you to fall asleep even in a packed economy section. If you’ve tried basic U-shaped inflatable travel pillows with no success, you’ll want to read about these revolutionary options that actually prevent the dreaded head-bob.

Inflatable Travel Pillows to Get the Best in-Flight Sleep

These pillows all have unique features that address the most challenging upright-sleeping problems.

Eagle Creek Exhale Neck Pillow

It’s amazing that a tiny little buckle can make such a big difference in comfort— Eagle Creek’s Exhale Neck Pillow takes the standard U-shape neck pillow and adds a small clip in the front that draws the two front ends together, thus eliminating that awkward empty spot that allows your head to fall forward and wake you up. It’s pretty genius.

6 Hacks for Maximum Airplane Seat Comfort

Travelrest Pillow

If you’re a side sleeper, the Travelrest is the best inflatable travel pillow for you. This unique design looks like a cushioned seatbelt—it can be attached to the side of your airplane seatrest, headrest of a car, or just worn across your body. Even though the pillow is large, it inflates quickly and deflates into a small package that’s easy to pack.

Xflyee Inflatable Travel Pillow

Xflyee’s Inflatable Travel Pillow is designed to provide neck support and is easy to store when not in use. The pillow is also slip resistant, so you don’t have to worry about your head sliding around in the event of turbulence.

12 Cozy Travel Blankets to Bring on the Plane

TETON Sports ComfortLite Self-Inflating Pillow

Don’t love blowing up your inflatable pillow on a crowded plane? TETON Sports Self-Inflating Pillow fills with air with just a quick twist of the side vent. It has two sides—a grey, non-slip side to keep your pillow in place while you sleep and a soft, orange microfiber side for maximum comfort.

HOMCA Travel Pillow

If you just want to put your head down and go to sleep, the HOMCA Travel Pillow actually allows you to do that (assuming the person in front of you hasn’t reclined all the way back). It inflates to a height of 21 inches, so you can rest your head face-down. There’s a face cradle in the top (like a massage table) that allows you to breathe, and arm holes in the side, so you can hug the pillow to keep it in place.

Sleeping on Planes: 13 Tips for Travelers

AirComfy Inflatable Travel Pillow

This insanely comfortable pillow from AirComfy has a removable micro-velvet case for easy washing and comes with a handy carrying case for easy packing. This product also features a built-in air pump, so you can inflate it without having to blow into a tube.

Maliton Inflatable Foot Rest Pillow

So far we’ve covered the best inflatable neck pillows, but we’d be remiss not to mention this inflatable foot rest from Maliton . This pillow’s height can be adjusted to fit any body type and is designed to align with the dimensions of an airplane seat.

6 Embarrassing Travel Gadgets That Actually Work

Hoodie Pillow

The Hoodie Pillow feels like sleeping in your favorite sweatshirt—if your favorite sweatshirt offered an eyeshade and neck support. A cozy hood with adjustable drawstrings can be pulled over your eyes to block out light and keep your head warm (and also separate you from a less-than-clean plane or train seat), while the attached inflatable pillow supports your head.

Trekology Inflatable Camping Pillow

Looking for the best inflatable travel pillows for camping? This one from Trekology  is ultra-lightweight (just 3.1 ounces) and folds up to be smaller than a soda can, so you will barely notice it in your pack. It inflates quickly to be a full-size pillow, and is ergonomically designed to cradle your head while you sleep.

Klymit Pillow X

Upgrade your airplane seat with the Klymit Pillow X , which makes for a much more comfortable seat cushion. The Klymit’s x-pattern also makes it a great camping pillow, as it centers your head and will prevent neck pain.

Caroline Morse Teel can’t sleep on a plane without one of these inflatable travel pillows. Follow Caroline on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for style and travel photos.

Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product.

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We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL PILLOW® - INFLATABLE PILLOW

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With its patented ergonomic shape, the Travelrest® inflatable travel pillow attaches to the "wings" of an airline seat, headrest of a car, or can be worn "messenger bag style", nestling against the head and neck to provide support and comfort in flight or on the road.  Even without a seat back, inflatable Travelrest®'s versatile design provides excellent support - simply sling the tether cord over your head and shoulder... and relax. It's The Travel Pillow, Reinvented! 

FEATURES  • Attaches to airline seats or car seats or worn like a messenger bag • Can be used with a low back seat • Inflates with little effort (3-4 easy puffs), deflates in seconds. • Can also be worn "Freestyle" • Portable and compact - 3" x 10" rolled up • Attaches easily to luggage • Available in 4 colors

CARE INSTRUCTIONS Hand wash with soapy water. Line dry. Never submerge or allow water to enter the pillow through the valve.

Download our instruction guide here . 

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The $20 Travel Accessory That Makes Sitting in Economy Bearable

By Madison Flager

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

A few years back, a targeted ad got me to pause my Instagram scroll: It showed off an airplane “foot hammock,” meant to make sitting in an economy seat a bit more comfortable. The accessory looks like an oversized sleep mask; on either side of the adjustable straps, there are clips to buckle your hammock into place in-flight. With a few quick moves—namely, strapping the hammock around your tray table, then folding the tray back up—you’d have a place to rest your feet, taking the pressure off your lower back and keeping your legs and feet from getting stiff throughout the flight. As the ad proclaimed, “This will make your flights first class!”

Naturally, someone in the Traveler office had already purchased a very similar product: the Sleepy Ride Airplane Footrest, made of a thick, memory foam material and available on Amazon for $20. This model packs into a small drawstring bag (included with the footrest) that can be tossed into a tote or carry-on en route to the plane.

Since this is the kind of product that warrants skepticism—namely, is it worth the inevitable side-eye from nearby passengers?—we've had a handful of editors of very different heights put it to the test on flights over the last couple years—below, their honest thoughts on the product.

Dimensions: 20" x 7.5" x 0.5"

Weight: 7 ounces

Sleepy Ride Airplane Footrest reviews:

Works like a charm.

I purchased the SleepyRide foot hammock in a moment of weakness, before embarking on an intense week of travel that would involve five flights over five days. I was pretty skeptical about whether it would work, but the idea of a 14-hour flight in economy was enough for me to spend $20 on a product that I had heard others raving about. At 5'2", I have no problems with leg room on planes, but I do feel the need to elevate my legs, even on a short flight.

The foot hammock ended up working like a charm. I didn't get any weird looks from my fellow passengers when I set it up on my tray table, and the person sitting in front of me made no indication that they could feel my legs hanging from it. I was able to place my legs in a variety of positions, from stepping on the hammock with my knees bent to reclining with my legs extended.

It works best when there are no bags under your seat, so I'd recommend using it in a window seat where you can prop your carry-on against the wall during the length of the flight, or stowing bags in the overhead compartment.

The foot hammock has now entered my trusty airplane sleep kit that I bring on every flight, along with my collapsible travel pillow , eye mask , and compression socks . It might seem like a lot to pack in your carry-on, but for me, it's worth it to get some decent shut-eye on a long flight or a red-eye. —Stephanie Wu, former articles director

Depends on the flight

I don’t have a hard time sleeping on planes . I’m a very average height of 5’5” and am generally able to twist myself into a position decent enough to drowse. But the pain after waking from whatever strange orientation I’ve contorted myself into is the issue—from my neck to my knees—so I was thrilled to test out the foot hammock on my recent honeymoon trip to Rio de Janeiro .

My partner and I took an overnight flight down from New York, planning to sleep through the night and wake up fresh and ready once we arrived in Brazil. We lucked out with a three-seat row all to ourselves. Once settled, I pulled out the hammock and looped it over the tray table. It was perfect. With my feet propped, I felt the pressure relieve from my back, and my knees remained free from entanglement. I woke up hours later, refreshed, pain free, and prepared to become a foot hammock evangelist.

On our return flight, I brandished my foot hammock again, but was disappointed when I realized that so much of the comfort depends on the space between seats. Our first flight had a bit more room, which allowed me to stretch my legs. Our return flight’s seats were tighter, meaning I had to bend my knees to rest my feet on the hammock—which somewhat negates the purpose. My point? Research the seats before you fly, and if the flight’s on the roomier side (or you’ve got shorter legs), I think it’s worth the space in your carry-on. —Mercedes Bleth, global associate director of social

Erinne Magee

Lindsey Tramuta

Alex Erdekian

CNT Editors

I've taken the Sleepy Ride on several flights, and it really does come down to what kind of space you're working with. I was excited to have it with me on a recent ITA Airways flight to Rome , but between the fully-reclined folks in front of me and the personal item I had with me, the setup just wasn't working. However, on a JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to New York (in economy), it was perfect. I could sit stretched out, with my heels on the footrest, or plant my feet fully on it so my legs were still in a 90-degree angle, but elevated.

It's not a cure-all to economy's tight quarters, but it does give you more ways to get comfortable. I move around a lot, so sometimes I'd have one foot on it and the other elongated under my seat (I'm 5'6", for reference). And while I'm always nervous to bother the person in front of me, they've never seemed the wiser. Unless I'm really packing light, I'll bring it along—and I'm always glad to have it. —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor

My test flight for the foot hammock was a dream scenario. On an Aer Lingus flight back to New York from Dublin , I had an entire two-seat row to myself to fully sprawl, with no worry about odd looks from my seatmate as I wriggled around trying to find a comfortable position in the hammock. At 5'9", I usually scrunch down a little in my seat when it comes time to sleep, and rest my feet comfortably on the metal bar of the seat in front of me. With the foot hammock, I was flush for positions: I could tighten it up so my feet were lifted from the ground, loosen it to form a makeshift calf support, or pop my feet into the hammock so that my knees were parallel to my waist. None of them were comfy.

What was comfortable—and a direct result of the fairly empty flight—was putting the hammock over the tray table of the seat next to me and sitting sideways with my feet up in the stirrup, knees resting on that seat’s back. Since my armrest didn’t go all the way up, it was a way for me to spread out comfortably while being supported by the hammock—a configuration that is only possible in an empty row. I’m a ride-or-die aisle person and I can only imagine how impossible it would be to extricate myself from the hammock each time one of my seatmates were to need the bathroom or a walk down the aisle. Final verdict? If your feet already touch the ground, you can pass on this accessory. —Meredith Carey, former travel bookings editor

The verdict

Overall, Amazon reviewers lean the same way as our editors. Of the more than 3,400 customer ratings, 58 percent gave it five stars, with another 27 percent giving it three or four stars. The one-star reviews say there wasn't enough room in their coach seat to raise their legs (to note, all of our editors tested it in coach). Many people who didn’t love it say it doesn’t work well for tall people, while those who wrote glowing reviews frequently mentioned it’s a game-changer for short people. Clearly, height is the determining factor, though as always, there are some outliers, including reviews from people who are 5'8" to 6' and found it useful and ones from shorter people who said there wasn’t enough room under their seat to stretch out their legs. Our recommendation: If you’re around 5'6" or shorter and fly often, or are embarking on a long-haul flight , it’s worth trying out, especially given the price point.

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8 Plane Habits That Really Annoy Your Flight Attendants — and the Travel Accessories That Solve Them

These travel accessories ensure you’re not “that” passenger.

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Travel + Leisure / Marcus Millan

Flight attendants play an important role in ensuring the safety, security, and comfort of all airline passengers. Between preparing the cabin for takeoff and liaising important updates with the pilot and passengers, they serve as emergency responders in the air. Above all, flight attendants warrant your consideration and respect before, during, and after takeoff. 

At Travel + Leisure , we aim to offer travel guides , inspiration, and tips to guarantee the safety and comfort of travel professionals, such as airline crew members, who work tirelessly to ensure our comfort. In fact, one of our contributors delved into the minds of flight attendants to compile a list of what passengers do that annoy flight attendants, and ever since, I’ve been dedicated to finding solutions for these easily avoidable flying faux pas.

I’ve gathered a comprehensive list of accessories that you should consider adding to your travel bag that address common annoyances. Below, you’ll discover why you should bring a reusable water bottle onboard and a legroom hack that’ll keep you from inconveniencing others. And the best part? All of these items can be found at Amazon starting at just $11. 

Don’t: Ask for Water Immediately After Boarding

Do: Bring a Reusable Water Bottle 

Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Water Bottle 

One flight attendant told Travel & Leisure how frustrating it can be when passengers request water upon boarding, not realizing that they “only have a few minutes to get everyone seated and buckled up so that we can close the boarding door." If you anticipate being thirsty as soon as you sit, consider bringing a reusable water bottle like this insulated Hydro Flask one. The water bottle is a stellar choice for travel since it features a leak-proof flex cap and double-wall vacuum insulation, which means it’ll keep liquids hot or cold for hours. 

Don’t: Stretch in the Middle of the Isle

Do: Get an Airplane Footrest 

Basic Concepts Airplane Foot Hammock

A flight attendant expressed how frustrating it can be when people stretch their legs in the aisle. And we get it: Being crammed on a plane is far from the ideal way to start any trip. But there’s a solution to get more leg room without upgrading your seat: the Basic Concepts Portable Foot Hammock at Amazon. The footrest comes with an adjustable strap that can be wrapped around the seat tray in front of you for quick assembly. In fact, one frequent flier gushed that “they have no idea how I managed to travel without these in the past.” They continued, writing, “I usually have swelling when I fly, and this [footrest] helped alleviate any discomfort and allowed more space for my legs." 

Don’t: Demand Snacks or Food After Service is Complete 

Do: Pack a Snack 

KIND Minis Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt Caramel Pack

If you sleep through snack time or refuse meal service, you might not be able to get food  later. Rather than go hungry, opt to pack a few extra snacks, like these mini KIND granola bars that are studded with nuts and won’t take up too much space in your bag. 

Don’t: Ask for Headphones

Do: Bring a Bluetooth Connector

Isobel Store Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver 

As important as in-flight entertainment is to a comfortable flight, it is not a prerequisite for a safe one. And with more people carrying cord-free Bluetooth headphones to watch movies during the flight, it’s a smart idea to bring a Bluetooth connector. To pair the two devices, simply power them both on and pair them to connect. It’s that easy. This device is also rechargeable and can hold up to 10 hours of playtime. 

Don’t: Ask for a Pillow or Blanket

Do: Pack Travel-sized Versions of Your Own

Pavila 2-in-1 Travel Pillow Blanket  

We promise you’ll become the most popular passenger if you take the time to properly prepare for your flight. This includes bringing your own pillow and blanket. Opt for this innovative two-in-one pillow and blanket set that comes with a compact pillow and ultra soft blanket. When neatly packed, it measures in at just 11 inches by 12 inches and comes with a convenient strap that effortlessly attaches to your suitcase. 

Don’t: Put Your Backpack in an Overhead Bin

Do: Get a Compact Backpack or Underseat Carry-on

Matein Large Travel Backpack

Overhead bin space is precious and designated for larger carry-on suitcases and duffels — not backpacks. If you’re struggling to fit your backpack underneath your seat, take that as a sign that it’s time for an upgrade. Opt instead for this $32 backpack that I refuse to travel without . It’s equipped with plenty of spacious compartments, is easy to carry, and features proactive padding for personal belongings, all while remaining compact enough to tuck under your seat. 

Amazon Basics Underseat Carry-on

Another great lightweight option that fits under your seat is this Amazon basics carry-on bag. This soft-side rolling carry-on is specifically designed to fit under airplane seats, making it an excellent option for business travel, short weekends, and more. At roughly 13.4 inches by 9.5 inches by 14 inches, this carry-on bag is designed to hold plenty of items, yet remains compact enough to slide under the seat. 

Don’t: Ask Your Flight Attendant to Help with a Bag That's Clearly Too Heavy

Do: Get a Lightweight Carry-on Instead

Travelers Club Chicago Hardside Spinner 20-inch Carry-on

Flight attendants don’t get paid until the aircraft takes off , so if they get injured during the boarding process they are not eligible for workers’ compensation. It’s important to pack a bag that you can lift yourself, and that begins with a lightweight carry-on. Claiming the highly coveted spot as one of Amazon’s best-selling carry-on suitcases , this under-$50 suitcase weighs less than 6 pounds and is a mere 20 inches in size, so it’s easy to lift. In addition to its convenient size, this suitcase boasts an organized, lined interior with multiple pockets, leaving plenty of space for your personal belongings. 

Don’t: File or Clip Your Toenails During Your Flight 

Do: Wear Compression Socks to Avoid Temptation and Relieve Tension 

Charmking Compression Socks

Even though we have the utmost trust in our readers to know that you would never clip your toenails on a flight, I’ll use any opportunity to gush over how much compression socks make long travel days more comfortable. Wearing a pair of compression socks will not only wade off any temptation to clip or file your nails mid-flight, but the socks will also relieve tension by stimulating circulation in your legs and feet to reduce swelling in the air. These socks come in a convenient pack of three and are available in a plethora of colors including black , nude , and white .  

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The 8 best neck pillows for travel.

Avoid a literal pain in the neck with these expert-approved travel pillows.

The Best Neck Pillows for Travel

Courtesy of Cabeau

The Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow is one of the best neck pillows for travel.

Just like the pillow you use at home , the best neck pillow for travel is the one that makes you feel most comfortable, allowing you to relax, rest and ultimately fall asleep on the go. The difference, however, is that a travel pillow is typically used when sitting up, which means it needs to provide enough support to keep your head from bobbing.

Based on recommendations from travel experts and advice from physicians, these are the best neck pillows for travel.

Best Overall: Cabeau Evolution S3

Best affordable: mvloc travel pillow, best for long flights: trtl travel pillow, best multipurpose: huzi infinity pillow, best inflatable: sunany inflatable travel pillow, best silk: slip jet setter travel pillow, best for backpacking: marchway ultralight inflatable camping pillow, best for kids: bcozzy double support neck pillow.

Frequent travelers praise the design of the Cabeau Evolution S3, which is made of a special dual-density memory foam. "My pillow at home is made with memory foam so it's like bringing a piece of home on my travels," says travel blogger Jasmine Cheng of The Wandering Girl . "The sides are also raised, which prevents my head from moving when I'm sleeping." Travelers also appreciate the patented seat strap system that attaches the pillow to a seat or chair headrest as well as the slim flattened back, both of which prevent the head from bobbing.

A handy storage pouch on the side of the pillow allows you to keep your earbuds or other small items close by, and the pillow comes with a clasp that attaches to carry-on luggage . The removable pillow cover, which comes in a variety of colors, is machine-washable. What's more, this travel pillow can be stored in an included carry bag that condenses it to half its size.

Price: $39.99 or less Shop now: Amazon | Cabeau

Travelers appreciate the support (and the price tag) of this memory foam travel pillow. An adjustable rope lock allows you to secure the pillow to your neck for maximum support and comfort. The breathable and machine-washable cloth exterior prevents overheating. This travel pillow also comes with earplugs and an eye mask for ultimate relaxation.

Price: $29.99 or less Shop now: Amazon

Courtesy of Trtl

The patented design of the Trtl Travel Pillow – with a hidden internal neck support surrounded by soft, hypoallergenic fleece – makes it a favorite among travelers, particularly for long flights. "Something about it just hits right in a travel accessory category where nothing previously worked for me," explains Meaghan Clawsie, luxury travel advisor at Elated Escapes . "I no longer have any back or neck pain when resting on long-haul flights." Simply wrap the pillow around your neck like a scarf, secure it in place with its built-in fastener and rest your head on the support.

If you tend to overheat easily, there's also the Trtl Pillow Cool , made with Tencel fibers to keep you at a comfortable temperature; a mesh panel makes the pillow particularly breathable as well. Both pillows are machine-washable.

Price: $59.99 or less Shop now: Amazon | Trtl

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Courtesy of Huzi Design

If you're not sold on the classic U-shaped neck pillows for travel, consider this snake-like option instead. Able to be twisted into a variety of positions, the versatile Huzi Infinity Pillow provides whatever support feels best – even if that means resting your head on the tray table for a bit. You can also wear it around your neck like a scarf for neck and back comfort (even when you're not snoozing), use it as an eye mask, or drape it over your head if you get cold or want to block out noise.

Travelers love the pillow's bamboo fabric, describing it as soft, smooth and cool. Since it's filled with polyester, the whole pillow can be tossed in the washing machine , unlike its memory foam counterparts. The Infinity Pillow is available in nearly a dozen different colors, including gray, navy and pink.

Price: $45 or less Shop now: Amazon | Infinity Pillow

Read:  What to Pack in Your Carry-on Bag

Courtesy of Sunany

Travelers love the H-shaped design of this inflatable pillow because it allows for use in multiple directions and supports both sides of the head and neck with a flat back. A removable hood on the pillow is a bonus: It encourages a cozy feel and prevents cold drafts from too much air conditioning. For optimal comfort, it is recommended to inflate the pillow about 80% to 90%.

A pocket for your earbud case on this travel pillow provides convenient access for listening to music, and the removable velour cover is machine-washable. The lightweight inflatable pillow can be stored in the included waterproof drawstring bag, which can also be attached to luggage. This travel neck pillow is available in black, gray and blue.

Courtesy of Slip

Travel pillows don't get softer than this luxurious new option by Slip. The Jet Setter Travel Pillow is made with the highest-grade long fiber mulberry silk, which helps to prevent skin creases and bedhead. It also comes with a carrying case with handles. The Jet Setter Travel Pillow is available in three prints and a pretty solid blush color.

Price: $99 or less Shop now: Amazon | Slip

While you can often bring your pillow from home for tent camping, backpacking requires something more lightweight, such as this inflatable option by Marchway. "An inflatable pillow is a game-changer when it comes to backpacking, and an ultralight pillow can't be beat," says Leilani Osmundson , digital producer for travel at U.S. News. "The Marchway pillow fits the bill: It's comfortable, packable and extremely lightweight." This pillow is designed for both back and side sleepers, and doubles as a lumbar support for everyday travels and needs. Once it's deflated, you can machine-wash the cover before folding the pillow into an included drawstring bag.

Price: $13.99 or less Shop now: Amazon

Courtesy of BCOZZY

The BCOZZY neck pillow is ideal for all travelers – including kids, with small sizes for youngsters between 3 and 7 years old, and medium options for ages 8 and 12. Travelers like the ergonomic design of the patented pillow, which supports the head and neck by propping the chin up. Overlapping pillow arms, which wrap around the neck and under the chin, can be tightened based on the level of support you need.

If you or your child is a side sleeper, fold the pillow in half, double up the sides and place it on your shoulder, leaning your head to the side. An elevated side option allows you to overlap the pillow arms on top of each other and rotate it 90 degrees to the side for double support for the neck and chin.

This travel pillow is available in a variety of colors and patterns, including light blue and pink hearts. A snap strap attaches the included travel bag to your child's luggage , and you can throw the pillow in the washing machine after your trip.

Price: $44.97 or less Shop now: Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Experts agree a supportive pillow is essential for travel. "The biggest issue many travelers experience when sleeping on a plane is that the seats don't recline enough," explains Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a sleep/wake and performance specialist who is dual board certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine. "This often results in the head being just on the brink of tipping forward – which is not a comfortable sleeping position. Because of this insufficient recline, it is important to keep padding behind the head and neck minimal to reduce the tendency for the head to tip forward."

Most travel pillows are designed to be worn around the neck, providing enough support to prevent the head from tipping forward.

When shopping for a neck pillow for travel, experts recommend considering the following factors:

Proper head support:  What's most important is ensuring your head is supported in the right places by your travel pillow – and, in particular, not being pushed forward by excessive padding. "A good pillow would provide support for side sleeping, rather than a lot of padding behind the head, which just pushes the head forward too much," says Dimitriu.

Material: Consider both the external and internal material of the pillow:

External: Chiropractic physician Eric Smith advises to make sure the material of your travel pillow is breathable and won't subject you to an overheated sleep, since one of the main reasons for moving around a lot as you sleep is getting too hot. "When your face gets too hot on one side, even if you're sleeping, you're going to move from it because it's too warm," Smith explains.

There's no real consensus on which material is best for a cool, comfy sleep – and different people will have different preferences – so Smith's advice is to try before you fly (and don't hesitate to request a refund if your chosen pillow isn't working out).

• Internal: Memory foam pillows tend to offer more firm support – something Smith recommends for anyone, but especially older travelers. "The majority of patients I have that get older, we actually need a more firm pillow, we need a more firm bed, we need more support," Smith says. Pillows filled with microbeads mold more to the neck and head, while inflatable pillows can be adjusted to your preferences based on how much air you use to blow them up.

A travel pillow for your neck isn't considered a carry-on or personal item (and the same generally goes for small, loose items like jackets and umbrellas). That said, it's always best to review your airline's carry-on luggage size restrictions before traveling.

A good neck pillow for travel isn't the only key to achieving a decent sleep while in transit. "From the standpoint of evolution, we're kind of hardwired to be a little bit more on high alert in those situations," explains Rebecca Robbins, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and scientist at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. "We're a little bit more in fight or flight mode; our brain is subconsciously scanning the environment for threats and there are new sounds and new smells."

She recommends finding elements that are relaxing to you, which might include some of the following:

• Travel blanket: Look for something lightweight, such as the EverSnug Travel Blanket on Amazon. This blanket comes with a carrying case, which can double as a pillow when the blanket is stored inside.
• Essential or aromatherapy oils: Scents like lavender and peppermint can be especially calming.
• Earplugs: Choose headphones that block some or all external noise. The Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless Headphones are especially well rated.
• White noise app: There are a variety of free apps, or you can try a paid option like Calm (which offers a free trial).
• Eye mask: An eye mask like this cotton option on Amazon helps to block out the bright light on planes.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Compression Socks for Travel
• The Top Walking Shoes for Travel
• The Top Carry-on Backpacks
• Can I Use My Own Airplane Seat Belt Extender?
• The Best Travel Medical Insurance Plans

Tags: Travel , Travel Gear

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