The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
Trying to fall asleep on a plane is incredibly difficult, but having the right travel pillow can help you get some shut-eye during your epic flight across oceans and continents.
The Trtl pillow is our top pick — even though it's not a pillow per se — because it is comfortable, very portable, and affordable.
I love flying in business class. It’s not something I can do very often, but using points and miles for upgrades and free tickets, I’ve gotten to fly in that front cabin a few times.
The reason I love it so much is that I’ve always been a terrible airplane sleeper, and the added comfort of business class helps. When I sit in a regular coach seat on a red-eye flight, I have a lot of trouble getting any decent rest. That means spending much of the next day like a zombie until I can get to the hotel, hop in the shower, take a nap and start adjusting to the jet lag.
Over the last few years, though, I’ve been figuring out a better routine to help me get at least a bit of rest on planes. First, I eat dinner in the airport, not on the plane. I make sure to brush my teeth, and I wear earplugs and a sleeping mask once we take off. Finally, I use a travel pillow.
I used to think those pillows weren’t helpful. You know the ones, the U-shaped things that look kind of like life preservers. My moment of clarity came when I realized I could simply turn the pillow around and wear it backward. That meant that as my head nods forward, my neck and chin are supported.
For people like me who tend to have trouble getting settled in economy seats, and who might not find the traditional travel pillow useful when nodding off, now is a great time to try a new pillow. There are a ton of fresh, innovative options today, as well as fresh takes on the classic U-shaped travel pillow.
Whether it’s a regular U-shaped travel pillow or something a bit more advanced, Insider Picks has you covered with the best travel pillows you can buy.
Here are the best travel pillows you can buy:
- Best travel pillow overall: Trtl pillow
- Best microbead pillow: Clöudz microbead U-shaped pillow
- Best memory foam travel pillow: Cabeau memory foam U-shaped pillow
- Best inflatable travel pillow: Lewis N. Clark inflatable U-shaped pillow
- Best body-sized travel pillow: Travelrest inflatable body pillow
- Best compressible travel pillow: Therm-a-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow
- Best travel pillow for head bobbers: Bcozzy Travel Pillow
- Best no-slip travel pillow: Travelrest Ultimate Pillow
Updated on 11/16/2018 by Lulu Chang: Added two new travel pillows and updated prices and formatting.
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
The best travel pillow overall

Why you'll love it: It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a ... scarf? Nope, it’s travel pillow! Despite its unique design, the Trtl offers huge support for your neck.
At first glance, the Trtl pillow looks nothing like a pillow. It seems more like a scarf or blanket, and in some ways, that’s actually what it is. A soft, lightweight fleece wrap hides and cushions a plastic neck support on one side, which rests on either shoulder or your chest to keep your head in a comfortable position.
The neck support consists of a few stiff ribs on one end of the scarf. To use the Trtl, simply place the ribs in the position you find most comfortable, then wrap the scarf around your neck. Velcro on the other end of the ribs holds the wrap in place while you doze off. The ribs have a little bit of flexibility to eliminate any pressure points or discomfort.
It’s actually pretty ingenious, and, despite the weird design, surprisingly comfortable. The strengthened ribs almost look like one of those emergency neck braces, but since they only rest on one side, instead of both, it’s more comfortable and less restrictive. Trtl, which is based in Scotland, was founded by two mechanical engineers in 2010. The inventors claim that the design is based on scientific research into sleep positions and independent testing.
Because there’s no stuffing and the pillow is made of soft fleece — aside from the ribs — the Trtl is both lightweight and low profile, which makes it easy to stash in a bag on your way to and from the airport or train station.
The biggest downside to the pillow is that, since it only offers support on one side, you’re out of luck if you toss and turn or shift positions during the flight. Some buyers also report that the support is a bit too short for taller people — the pillow only comes in one size — but this was easily remedied by using a folded airline blanket. You can read our full review here for more details.
Pros: Comfortable, low profile, innovative design, soft, not too warm, easy to pack
Cons: Only offers support on one side, only comes in one size
Buy the Trlt pillow on Amazon for $29.99 (originally $39.99)
Read our full review of the Trtl Travel pillow on Insider Picks.
The best traditional travel pillow

Why you'll love it: The Clöudz pillow is a simple microbead travel pillow that works for just about everyone.
I’m personally a big fan of the Clöudz pillow. This is the first pillow that was comfortable enough to help me sleep during a trans-Atlantic red-eye flight. It’s simple and straightforward, which makes it a perfect solution for most people's needs.
The design is mostly traditional — it’s exactly what comes to mind when you hear the words “travel pillow.” Shaped like a giant U, the pillow is designed to go around the back of your neck, supporting your head if you lean backwards or to the side — although when I use it, I spin it around.
A helpful feature that makes this pillow stand out is the nifty snap at the ends. The strap is perfect for attaching the pillow to a bag handle or strap when you’re walking through the airport. When I use the pillow, I close the snap when the pillow is on my shoulders before turning it around. That way, it doesn’t fall off my neck when I lean forward.
Something that makes the Clöudz pillow stand out is the fact that it’s can accommodate people who tend to feel either too warm or too cool when they’re sleeping. The top side of the pillow is covered by a warm, cozy felt-like material, while the bottom has a cooler spandex fabric. It’s filled with tiny microbeads, which conform to your head and face as you lean on them. At the same time, though, they hold enough shape to stop the pillow from collapsing under you and falling flat.
Pros: Snap closure, warm and cool sides, soft, affordable
Cons: Doesn’t shrink, fold or compress to fit in a bag
Buy the Clöudz pillow on Amazon for $10.35 and up
The best memory foam travel pillow

Why you'll love it: The Cabeau Evolution Memory Foam Travel Pillow uses ergonomically-molded memory foam to keep your head supported in flight.
The Cabeau looks similar to the Clöudz pillow because it’s the same traditional U shape. The pillow is designed to go around the back of your neck and rest on your shoulders. Like the Clöudz pillow, the Cabeau closes around front, but instead of snaps, it has a drawstring with a fastener that you can use to turn the U into an O. The biggest difference is that instead of microbeads, the pillow uses memory foam.
When you pull the drawstrings taut, it pulls the two ends of the U together, allowing for 360-degrees of coverage, so that if your head falls forward when you sleep, you don’t need to spin the pillow around. The back portion is a bit thinner and is designed to sit flat against the seat and conform to the back of your neck so that it doesn’t push your head forward.
Instead of a smooth tube-like shape bent into a U, the Cabeau pillow has an ergonomically designed hump running the length of the pillow to support your head more effectively. The cover is removable and machine washable. In reviews all around the web, buyers say the Cabeau is helpful and comfortable, even if they haven’t liked past travel pillows.
Some people will prefer memory foam to a bead-filled pillow, but there’s a big drawback. Some buyers report that the pillow can get pretty warm, which can make you sweaty and uncomfortable. Beyond that, the pillow is a bit less convenient to attach to the outside of a bag while you’re in transit — the workaround is that the pillow can be compressed to about 1/4 of its size for stowing in a bag. The company warns against compressing it for long-term storage so that the pillow doesn’t lose its shape.
Pros: Ergonomic design, 360-degrees of coverage, comfortable
Cons: Can get warm and sweaty, no “cooler side”
Buy the Cabeau pillow on Amazon for $39.99
See the rest of the story at Business Insider