I love the idea of a neck pillow in theory. They’re intended to help you sleep comfortably through the flight, arrive rested, and maybe avoid the stiff aches that come from napping against an airplane window. But not all pillows deliver on their promise, and some neck pillows are so bulky that you have no choice but to wear them around your neck through the airport.
As a carry-on-only traveler, I have enough to juggle between my suitcase and backpack. Adding anything else to keep track of is a no-go, so any neck pillow I consider needs to be packable or easily hung from the outside of my backpack in a protective pouch.
Also, I feel like wearing a pillow around your neck through the airport looks messy, and I'm not willing to put embarrassment aside for the possibility of a few hours of sleep.
For this list, I'm looking for pillows that my teens won't deem cringey and that provide enough support to make sleeping on a plane worthwhile.
In this article
Trtl Travel Neck Pillow
The Trtl Travel Neck Pillow is a neck pillow with a major following, and it’s the one I reach for when I want support without looking like I'm wearing a giant inflatable collar through the airport. Instead of the traditional donut “U shape,” it wraps around the neck like a soft scarf, with an internal support structure built in that props up one side of the head like a pillow.
At 4.7 ounces, it's lighter and more compact than most foam or inflatable neck pillows. The fleece covering is soft and comfortable around my neck, and I can clip it to my backpack with a carabiner when I'm not wearing it. Most importantly, the internal plastic frame actually gives my head somewhere to lean rather than simply cushioning my neck.
At less than $50, it's relatively approachable for a pillow I'll use on long flights. The only issue I have with this design is that it limits you to sleeping on one side without having to remove it to adjust.
Vesta Sleep Spiral Travel Pillow
The Vesta Sleep Spiral Travel Pillow takes a completely different approach to neck support (don’t worry, it’s not one of those stuffable ones). Instead of forming a familiar U-shape around your neck, the long, flexible pillow wraps and twists around so you can position the support where you need it.
Inside the 100% memory-foam core is a structured interior designed to hold its shape. I can fully wrap the spiral around my neck with some overlap, providing a particularly tight fit that helps prevent head bobbing.
It comes with a carry bag but doesn't compress at all, so you'll need to hang it outside or leave some room in your bag. At $89, it is one of the pricier options on this list, although you can often find it on sale.
Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Travel Pillow
The Aeros Ultralight Travel Pillow is what you'll typically find in my travel backpack, especially when I'm trying to use space efficiently. It is inflatable, so it packs down super small (about the size of your palm) and weighs just 2.5 ounces.
When inflated, the soft, stretchy fabric and contoured shape give my head more support than I'd expect from something that packs up so small. With the neck closure, I can adjust how tight it fits around my neck, and sometimes I tuck the airplane blanket between it and my neck for an extra-snug fit. It typically runs around $45.
If you prefer a rectangular cushion shape to lean against the plane window, Aeros offers one for just a few dollars more.
Hest Pro Travel Pillow
The Hest Pro Travel Pillow is the one I'd pick for travelers who don't want to sacrifice the feel of a real pillow just because they're flying.
Its 3-in-1 design works as a supportive neck pillow, a small rectangular travel pillow, or a 28-inch body pillow. The shredded memory foam and polyester fill give it substantially more structure than a typical inflatable pillow, while the contoured shape helps keep your head from tipping to the side.
The downside is that all that cushioning takes up space. It weighs 1.6 pounds and packs to 9 by 8 by 6 inches. And at $89, it's a splurge.
Still, I like the integrated stow cover and carry loop, which lets me discreetly clip it to my bag without a loose pillow bouncing around and getting dirty.
Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow
This is the neck pillow my kids tend to fight over, so you know it's comfortable. If I can get it away from them, I choose the Ostrichpillow Go when actual neck support matters more than packability.
Its asymmetrical memory-foam design has different heights and thicknesses, so I can rotate it depending on where I need support, including under my chin or along the side of my neck. The adjustable Velcro closure also keeps it snug, so it doesn't slowly migrate down my neck while I sleep. You can also ball it up if you want to try and sleep on your tray table, a favorite teenager move.
At 14.8 ounces, it's considerably heavier than an inflatable pillow, but it compresses by up to 60 percent and comes with its own travel bag so you can tuck it away in your backpack. It has the most color options of any pillow on our list, so it looks nice if you display it outside your bag or wear it around your neck at the airport, and at $69, it's a middle-of-the-road price.
The Shortcut
If a neck pillow can't pack down or clip to your bag, you'll end up wearing it through security. Skip it.
Look for structure, not just padding. A pillow that gives your head something to lean on beats one that only cushions your neck.
An adjustable closure matters more than you'd think. Without one, the pillow slides down your neck the second you doze off.
Don't write off inflatables. The one I pack most often folds down to the size of your palm and still holds my head up.
Expect to spend about $45 to $89, and watch for sales on the pricier memory-foam picks.
