Best travel pillows for flying
Best Travel Pillows for Flying 2025
Trying to sleep in an economy seat without neck support is a good way to land sore, cranky, and wiped out. The right travel pillow does not turn coach into first, but it can keep your head stable and make real sleep possible instead of just dozing.
I am Ben Trapskin from Yawnder. I have tested a lot of travel pillows that looked clever and did nothing on a real plane. The five pillows on this page Huzi Infinity, Cushion Lab, Trtl, Ostrich Pillow, and Cabeau are the ones that kept showing up in actual flights, not just in marketing shots.
These picks cover five different approaches to airplane sleep flexible wrap, ergonomic support, classic neck ring, full cocoon, and compact side brace. The best one for you depends on how you already sit and sleep on planes.
Bottom line
If you want a flexible comfort wrap, start with Huzi. If you have a sensitive neck and need structure, look at Cushion Lab or Trtl. If you want a familiar neck pillow that simply works better, Cabeau is a safe choice. If bright cabins and noise keep you up, Ostrich Pillow is your little cocoon.
Jump to top picksLinks on this page may be affiliate links, which means Yawnder may earn a commission if you decide to buy. That support helps keep testing going and does not change what you pay.
Travel pillow scores
These scores reflect hands on use in real flights, long sitting sessions, and repeated pack and unpack cycles. Numbers are there to help you sort fit, not as lab grade measurements.
Range across models is biggest on pack size and support style. Comfort and materials are good on all five, but they feel different in practice, which is where the detailed notes below matter.
Top travel pillow picks for flying
If you just want the short list without the deep dive, these are the five pillows that kept getting used and reused on trips.
Huzi Infinity Pillow
A soft bamboo loop that you can twist, stack, and wrap around your neck, window, or arms. It behaves more like a small comfort system than a single position neck pillow.
Cushion Lab Travel Pillow
Sculpted memory foam that cradles the side of the head and lifts under the chin. Built for people who want serious support in an upright seat.
Cabeau Travel Pillow
A refined take on the classic neck ring. Taller walls, a flatter back, and a compact travel pouch make it a good default choice for many flyers.
Ostrich Pillow
A padded cocoon that covers the head and blocks much of the light around you. Great for red eye flights and travelers who need a private feeling space to drift off.
Trtl Travel Pillow
A slim wrap with a hidden internal brace along one side of the neck. Packs flatter than almost everything else while still holding your head in a stable position.
Travel pillow comparison table
This table is the quick way to match your sleep habits to the pillow that is most likely to work on your next flight.
| Pillow | Best for | Support style | Pack size | Feel | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huzi Infinity Pillow | Restless sleepers and people who change positions a lot | Loop and wrap design that you can stack under chin, arms, or against the window | Larger than a slim wrap but compressible in a bag | Soft bamboo knit with plush cushion like support | View |
| Cushion Lab Travel Pillow | Neck sensitive travelers and window seat sleepers | Sculpted foam with side and chin support that holds the neck in place | Moderate, comes with a compression case | Dense supportive memory foam with smooth cover | View |
| Cabeau Travel Pillow | Travelers who want a familiar neck pillow that just works | Classic ring with taller sides and flatter back | Compresses into a small pouch that clips to a bag | Supportive foam with soft fabric and even feel | View |
| Ostrich Pillow | Light sensitive and sound sensitive travelers | Full head and neck padding with eye coverage | Bulky, better for people who do not mind extra volume | Very plush surrounding cushion feel | View |
| Trtl Travel Pillow | Minimal packers and side leaners | Internal brace on one side wrapped in soft fabric | Very slim, clips to a backpack strap easily | Soft outer wrap with firm inner frame | View |
How we test travel pillows
Travel pillows live or die in cramped seats, not in studio photos. To filter out gimmicks, here is what we pay attention to when we test.
- Use on real flights in economy and premium economy style seats
- Window and aisle positions to see how each pillow behaves with different lean angles
- Neck comfort on landing rather than just first impressions at boarding
- Heat build up around the jaw, ears, and neck over time
- How annoying it is to carry through an entire travel day
- Shape recovery after compression and repeated trips
If a pillow only feels good in a marketing video and does nothing when you are half asleep and cramped, it does not make this list.
What to look for in a travel pillow for flying
Before you add any pillow to your bag, it helps to know what actually matters in an airplane seat.
Comfort against skin
Cabin air is dry and your skin already works harder than usual. Favor bamboo, soft knits, and brushed fabrics over rough polyester. If you have sensitive skin, a smoother fabric like Huzi and Trtl is easier to live with on long flights.
Neck support instead of just bulk
A thick cushion that lets your head fall anyway is not helpful. Structured foam and internal frames, like the ones in Cushion Lab and Trtl, do a better job holding your head where it belongs.
Pack size and real world carry
A massive pillow you leave at home does not help you on the plane. If you travel with one small bag, pick a slim option like Trtl. If you are fine with more bulk in exchange for comfort, Huzi and Ostrich make sense.
Washability
The ability to remove a cover and run it through a normal wash cycle is worth more than any clever feature. Plan to clean your travel pillow like you would a favorite hoodie.
Headphones and glasses compatibility
Over ear headphones plus a thick pillow can mean pressure where you least want it. Look for designs that do not push directly on the ear cups and that do not trap frame arms against your temple if you wear glasses.
Who each travel pillow is for
Matching your own habits to the right pillow is more important than chasing one that claims to work for everyone.
Huzi Infinity Pillow
- Good if you move a lot and like to change positions
- Useful for window leaners, arm support, and even lower back support
- Best for people who do not mind a little extra volume in their bag
Cushion Lab Travel Pillow
- Right fit for neck sensitive travelers who want structure
- Strong choice for window seats where you lean to one side
- Better if you like a firm supportive feel rather than a soft cushion wrap
Cabeau Travel Pillow
- For people who want a familiar neck pillow feel with better details
- Good all around option for occasional flyers and families
- Easier for first time travel pillow buyers to understand and use
Ostrich Pillow
- Best for travelers who struggle with light and noise
- Worth it if you take longer flights or red eye routes often
- Right for people who value a private cocoon more than minimal pack size
Trtl Travel Pillow
- Perfect if you travel light and only bring a small backpack
- Strong choice for side leaners in a window seat
- Good fit if you never liked thick ring style neck pillows
Common travel pillow mistakes
A lot of people decide travel pillows do not work because they tried the wrong pillow in the wrong way. These are the missteps I see most often.
- Buying only on looks instead of thinking about how your head actually falls when you sleep
- Choosing the biggest pillow because it feels luxurious in a store but then leaving it at home on real trips
- Wearing a pillow too high or too low so the support sits in the wrong place on the neck
- Forgetting to account for headphones and glasses, which can change how comfortable a pillow feels
- Expecting a pillow to fix a seat that is badly reclined or positioned no pillow can fix a seat that is set too far forward or too far back
FAQ
Do airplane neck pillows really work
They can help a lot when you pick a pillow that fits how you sleep. A well fitted travel pillow reduces how far your head tilts or twists, which lowers strain on your neck muscles. The key is matching the pillow to your posture and seat choice.
Which travel pillow is best for side sleepers on a plane
For side sleepers and window leaners, Cushion Lab and Trtl are good starting points because they offer clear side support. Huzi also works well if you wedge it between your shoulder and the window and wrap part of it under your chin.
Can I bring a travel pillow on the plane
Most airlines allow travel pillows and do not count them as a separate carry on. In practice, people either clip them to a backpack strap or rest them on top of a personal item. If you keep your setup compact, you should not run into issues.
Are inflatable travel pillows worth it
Inflatable pillows save space but usually feel less supportive and less comfortable than good foam or plush options. They can also lose air through a flight. If comfort is the main goal, foam based and plush pillows like the ones on this page tend to win.
Do I need a travel pillow for short flights
For very short flights where you stay awake, probably not. Once you get into longer trips, early morning departures, or late returns, a travel pillow starts to make more sense, especially if you want to land ready for a full day.
Bottom line on travel pillows for flying
The right travel pillow does not need to be complicated. It just has to hold your head in a natural position, feel good against your skin, and fit into the way you pack.
If you want soft flexible comfort that works in many positions, Huzi Infinity is the starting point. If you want clear neck support with structure, Cushion Lab and Trtl are the strongest picks. If you prefer something familiar, Cabeau is easy to live with. If you need a darker quieter space to sleep at all, Ostrich Pillow will feel like a small win in a bright cabin.
Pick the one that matches how you already sit on planes, add it to your bag, and let your next trip count as recovery time instead of just hours in a seat.
