The Best Neck Pillows For More Comfortable Travel (No Matter Your Sleep Style)

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When I travel, I’m a nod-forward dozer, though I usually don’t feel comfortable enough falling asleep unless it’s a very early or very long flight. Those early morning flights are no one’s friend, and when it’s dark and cool it becomes the perfect sleep-inducing environment. Dial up the difficulty to 11 when you’re trapped in the middle seat.

But neck pillows aren’t just limited to travel. If you’ve had surgery, struggle with neck pain or have difficulty sleeping, different neck pillows and braces could be a way to help alleviate some of that discomfort.

If you’ve been planning some epic summer travel in the not-too-distant future and it’s going to be a long trip, we’re pulling together some of the best neck pillows for every kind of travel sleeper.

Best Adjustable Travel Pillow: BCOZZY Neck Pillow For Travel

Price: $49.95 at Amazon (Small - XL sizes available)

This BCOZZY neck pillow is one of the top-selling picks thanks to its adjustable, wrap-around fit. It’s ideal if you have kids thanks to some of its smaller size options. This neck pillow can be wrapped three different ways - with overlapping arms under the chin, side, or front and side for 90 degree support.

What we like:

• Available in kid sizes
• Can be stacked like a pillow if you have a window seat
• Adjustable design

What we don’t:

• Some reviewers felt like it wasn’t firm enough
• Can feel claustrophobic

One of the notable callouts is that the company suggests this is best for users that suffer from travel pillows pushing the head forward, and the flat-back design is supposed to prevent that from happening. The fabric is made from microfleece and is machine washable, so it should be easy to care for.

Most reviewers liked the variety of options you can customize for your preferred resting position, and that it was pretty comfortable. One called it a “wonderful travel neck pillow”, mentioning that, “I was on two 8+ hour flights, back to back, to and from my destination. This neck pillow allowed me to sleep some on all flights…It worked so well that I slept over five hours in my window seat. It propped my head up so it wasn't bobbing. Depending on how I moved, I could rotate it to fit my position.”

Another said, “I just returned from a flight to Paris. This pillow did the trick. I was able to get several hours of sleep! It was comfortable and kept my neck from bobbing around and also kept my mouth closed (no drooling!).”

Some complaints were that with such soft stuffing it might not offer enough neck support for some users, and others thought it was kind of cumbersome to tote around. A few mentioned that due to the microfleece fabric it is not ideal for hot sleepers.

Main takeaway: If you don’t mind a mid-range price point, this BCOZZY travel pillow is ideal for children, smaller adults and those who prefer a softer neck pillow. We appreciate the variety of ways it can be wrapped and folded for chin and neck support, and it’s machine washable. It is, however, considered more flimsy than some of its counterparts, and if you’re temperature sensitive, it can make you feel overly warm.

Best Memory Foam: napfun Travel Neck Pillow

Price: $15.86, was $21.99 on Amazon

The napfun neck pillow remains one of the top sellers with over 19,000 company ratings and 4.3 stars on Amazon, but it’s not without its drawbacks. The price point is the most reasonable on this list, and if you like a firmer memory foam pillow, this may work for you. For head-forward bobbers, this might not offer the best chin support.

What we like:

• Made from memory foam
• Soft, washable fabric
• Groove design for chin, hump design for head, and curve design for side-sleepers

What we don’t:

• The length of your neck could play a part in how well the neck pillow supports all targeted areas
• Reviewers say it can be uncomfortable behind the neck
• Bulky to tote around

As one reviewer called it “perfect for on-the-go”, going on to say that “it provides great support and keeps my head from falling forward during long flights.”

Another honestly reviewed it, mentioning that, “I used this pillow on a 20 [hour] flight where I was on the end of the aisle, and it worked well. It did not lose shape and it was comfortable. It is bulky and can be challenging to put back in the bag, but it was a good fit for me. No neck pain either. I recommend it.”

Be sure to test it out before you take it on your flight - some users didn’t much care for where it was placed against their face, and others felt like it made their neck push out too much. As for others, a few felt it was too firm and pressed uncomfortably against the skin.

Other reviewers noted that you should definitely take it out of the storage bag to let it air out for at least 24 hours after some complained of a smell.

Main takeaway: If you’re looking for a good deal on a popular travel neck pillow, we might suggest giving the napfun travel pillow a test. With the light gray option down to less than $16, it’s certainly less costly than some of the other competitors that average between $40-60. Don’t be shy about returning it if it doesn’t fit your neck or shoulders.

Versatile Options: Huzi Infinity Pillow

Price: $54.50 at Amazon

The Huzi Infinity Pillow made our list due to its versatile application during travel, with a balance of softness and adjustability. If you prefer something soft that can be wrapped around your neck like an infinity scarf, you may want to check this out.

What we like:

• Designed for multiple resting positions
• Breathable fabric
• Machine washable

What we don’t:

• It’s thin, very little firmness; reviewers note it would be better with extra padding
• It takes some time to properly fluff and wrap

Neck pillows can be hit or miss; too big and you risk it pressing on your face or chin, but too flat and it may not support your head and neck. We’ve covered a few options tackling both of those issues – so if you’re looking for something that feels more like a weighted blanket, the Huzi Infinity Pillow could be a fit.

Whether you’re in a window seat and you bunch it to act as a pillow, you want it to comfortably prop up your headphones, or you need extra back support, this versatile pillow offers a variety of options to twist and turn it into a supportive travel essential.

As one reviewer so aptly put it, it’s “kind [of] wacky, kind [of] brilliant,” and while it does not offer the same firmness of a classic neck pillow, the number of ways it can support your head and cover your eyes makes it a “brilliant invention.”

Another agreed that whether it was wrapping, squishing or bunching, the pillow’s “versatility is unmatched.”

As for complaints, the fact that there’s no travel bag was a big miss to some, and the amount of adjusting and fluffing needed to try to wrap it around for comfort was a turn off for others. Some noted it could be too hot and heavy for comfortable long-distance travel. The lack of firmness was a drawback to those looking for more stability.

Main takeaway: If you’re looking for something a little different from a traditional neck pillow, the Huzi Infinity Pillow acts more like a heavy blanket and wraps like a scarf. It would be even more appetizing at a slightly lower price point, in our opinion, but if you prefer the softness of “cloud” support, you may want to give it a try.

Price accurate and item in stock at time of publish.