Best travel pillows UK 2023: pillows for sleeping on plane flights, train travel and camping
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Offering support for your neck as well as cushioning, the right pillow can help alleviate neck pain, cricked necks and awkward sleeping positions whilst upright – and they’re especially useful on long car journeys or flights.
Best travel pillows at a glance:
- Best for long-haul flights: Trtl Pillow
- Best for camping excursions: Nemo Fillo Backpacking and Camping Pillow
- Best for a budget option: Snugpak compact insulated headrest
- Best for packs down to a pillow: Go Travel Hybrid Memory Foam Pillow
- Best for no-nonsense support: Outwell Memory Pillow
- Best for luxurious support: Tempur Comfort Travel
- Best for keeping your neck comfortable: Cabeau Evolution Classic Neck Pillow
- Best for an inflatable luxury option: Thermarest Airhead Pillow
What kind of travel pillow is right for me?
This is largely trial and error, but there are some things to look for when buying certain types of pillows. If you’re intending to use the pillows for long flights, look for travel pillows that have straps at the back that you can attach to your seat to provide extra comfort and to stop your head from falling forward.
If you’re travelling light or camping, it makes sense to use roll up travel pillows that are inflatable meaning you can stuff them in your rucksack pretty easily. Some of the more expensive options we tested are memory foam, with luxurious insulation and padding to ensure the best night’s sleep.
Here are 8 options for travel pillows, ranging in sizes and price.
Headed on holiday? Check out our guides to your travel essentials, the best wheeled suitcases available, or the best noise cancelling headphones.
We know that packing can turn it to a bit of a nightmare, so we’ve put together a handy guide on how to pack for your holiday. We’ve also rounded up all your holiday beauty and toiletry essentials so that you don’t have to worry about leaving anything behind.
The Trtl Pillow’s secret is its internal support system – a series of strengthened ribs hidden behind a super-soft, silky fleece scarf that is stretched to create a comfy hammock for your head.
We found it easy to put on and use for longer durations – and we also found that the added benefit of having the soft fleece exterior is that your head is nicely cushioned, warm and cosy.
We really enjoyed using this pillow on camping adventures.
Its ingenious design allows it to be rolled up small, and it weighs only 300g, but we really liked the fact that it can be inflated to provide a sturdy, comfortable pillow in only a few seconds.
The outer cover can be removed and is totally machine washable. Effective, reliable and one of the first items we’d pack on longer trips or backcountry expeditions.
