The best travel pillows for taking on a long flight

If you travel regularly you’ve probably learnt to spot the difference between a frequent flyer and a rookie – the most obvious tell-tale sign being a bulky travel pillow, typically carried by an inexperienced flyer, hanging from a backpack or being worn (wrongly) around the back of their neck before they even get on the plane. Many of us are guilty of buying one of these beanbag worms from the airport duty-free shop, only to realise that they’re more trouble than they’re actually worth.

Do a little research though – as we’ve done for you here – and you might be pleasantly surprised to find that the humble travel pillow has upped its game recently. Specialised brands like trtl and BCozzy have entered the market, while pillows that range in shape and materials have popped up on Amazon.

So which ones are actually worth taking on a flight? We asked our frequent flying editors to test out the most reviewed styles. 

Kierain’s travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: overall value

Kierain has one of the top-rated and best selling travel pillows on Amazon, and it’s easy to see why. A step above the standard microbead styles, this travel pillow is 100 per cent memory foam with a soft velour cover, plus has an easy-to-use snap closure, making it simple to secure and stay in place.

Why we like it: “The bag it comes in is surprisingly small (about the size of a small wash bag), so it hardly takes up any room in your carry on luggage, which is a real plus. The best part though is the plush and squidgy memory foam. I often find the traditional neck pillows too stiff and constricting, but this one was soft while still giving good support.” Sarah James, deputy digital editor

Cabeau Evolution’s S3 travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: overall comfort

If you’re looking for a basic does-the-job travel pillow, the above one from Kierain is the ideal buy. But if you’re looking for a step above in terms of design and comfort, or suffer from neck or back pain, Cabeau’s pillow is the best we’ve tested so far. The memory foam style has considered everything, from an adjustable toggle clasp to secure the pillow comfortably around your neck, to a handy side pocket – ideal for storing headphones or earplugs. What really sets this pillow apart from the rest though are the velcro straps at the back, designed to loop around a plane seat’s headrest, helping to keep your head upright and take any pressure off your neck. 

Why we like it: “The foam in this pillow is extremely comfortable, but what I love most is that the back of the pillow is flat, so you can sit right up against your seat, unlike the typical travel pillow styles which tend to be round and tilt your neck down slightly. The straps are a great idea, but if you’re short it might not be possible to secure to the headrest, so keep that in mind. It also comes in a sleek cylindrical bag that, when clipped onto your carry-on, you’d never even know there was a travel pillow inside.” Sarah Allard, digital editor

Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow

£72.37

at Amazon

trtl’s original pillow

Best travel pillow for: neck support