Nothing will ruin a trip, like being unable to sleep! It’s an essential trait for any serial broke backpacker – the ability to fall asleep on bouncing busses, 16-bed dorm rooms, and on sandy beaches when all the hostels are full. If you can’t fall asleep in an uncomfortable place, you can’t go backpacking… well, and keep your sanity!
If you’re tired, you can fall asleep just about anywhere, as long as you have a comfortable pillow. I can do without a blanket or sheets; I don’t even need to be in a prone position, but nothing keeps me up at night more than a hostel that skimps on their pillow game.
Honestly, if you ask me if I’d rather fall asleep underneath two people making sweet, sweet love in a dorm room bunk bed or if I’d rather fall asleep with a pillow that has the same consistency of lumpy custard – I’d shove in my earplugs and pass out some condoms ten times out of 10.
I quickly gave up on expecting to find comfortable pillows while on the road and started bringing my own. A travel pillow is now an essential part of my kit, barely ranking below a toothbrush on my list of necessities. Along my travels, I’ve slept in many cramped places, and the right pillow has made all the difference between nice me and cranky me!
Today, I will introduce you to the travel pillows that have rocked me and the entire Broke Backpacking team to sleep around the globe.
Photo: @themanwiththetinyguitar
These Are The Best Pillows For Travel
Hest – Camp Travel Pillow
Thermarest – Compressible Pillow Cinch
Travelrest – Ultimate Travel Pillow
Cabeau Evolution – S3 Travel Pillow
Thermarest – Airhead Light Pillow
Thermarest – Stuff Sack Pillow
TRTL – Pillow Plus
Huzi – Infinity Pillow
Samsonite – Travel Neck Pillow
BCozzy – Neck Support Pillow
Hest – Camp Travel Pillow
- Size (in) > 22 x 15 x 8
- Weight (lbs) > 2.2
- Best Use > Car camping
- Price ($) > 89
Thermarest – Compressible Pillow Cinch
- Size (in) > 15 x 11
- Weight (oz) > 7
- Best Use > Backcountry camping
- Price ($) > 37
Travelrest – Ultimate Travel Pillow
- Size (in) > 9 x 3.5 x 2
- Weight (oz) > 7
- Best Use > Middle Seats
- Price ($) > 25
Cabeau Evolution – S3 Travel Pillow
- Size (in) > 10 x 9 x 5
- Weight (oz) > 12
- Best Use > Sleeping on the plane
- Price ($) > 75
Thermarest – Airhead Light Pillow
- Size (in) > 15 x 11
- Weight (oz) > 2
- Best Use > Backcountry camping
- Price ($) > 42
Thermarest – Stuff Sack Pillow
- Size (in) > 17 x 7
- Weight (oz) > 2
- Best Use > Backcountry camping
- Price ($) > 20
TRTL – Pillow Plus
- Size (in) > 8 x 6 x 3
- Weight (oz) > .6
- Best Use > Airplane travel
- Price ($) > 70
Huzi – Infinity Pillow
- Size (in) > 7x 7 x 5.5
- Weight (oz) > 16
- Best Use > For fidgety sleepers
- Price ($) > 44
Samsonite – Travel Neck Pillow
- Size (in) > 12 x 7 x 5
- Weight (oz) > 12
- Best Use > Sleeping in a car
- Price ($) > 20
BCozzy – Neck Support Pillow
- Size (in) > 12 x 10 x 2
- Weight (oz) > 7
- Best Use > Side sleeping
- Price ($) > 50
What To Look For In Travel Pillows
Travel Pillows branch off into two separate paths: space-saving specialists designed for extended trips and offroading, and neck pillows built to help you sleep in an upright position on planes, trains, and automobiles. A few bold pillows try to bridge the gap and do both, to varying degrees of success, but for the most part, you can’t have it all.
Or, you can (and totally should), but you probably shouldn’t bring them all on the same trip. Look for a travel pillow to fit into your trip, not the other way around. The further you will be heading from the airport, the lighter and more compact your travel pillow should be… which to be honest is relevant whenever you’re putting together any adventure packing list.
The Best Travel Pillows on the Market
Blankets get all the social media coverage, but a great pillow will make or break your trip – trust us, we’ve been there and we’ve been cranky!
From accidentally staying up through an entire 20-hour flight, tossing and turning with those cheap airline pillows pressed up against my neighbors, to laying awake in a tent thinking about how many miles we have to walk before we can buy a better pillow, we’ve felt the dread that comes with discomfort. We wouldn’t wish it on our worst enemy.
So we fluffed up our pillows and set off, sneaking in a few moments of shut-eye with inflatable stuff sacks and memory foam monstrosities alike. This list highlights those few pillows that gave us a great night’s sleep whilst being ideal for a backpacking trip.
Hest – Camp Travel Pillow
- Size (in) – 22 x 15 x 8
- Weight (lbs) – 2.2
- Best Use – Car camping
- Price ($) – 89
I’m a sucker for some quality memory foam, and the Hest Travel Pillow packs just enough of the good stuff to provide a great night’s sleep without weighing you down too much. The pillow fills out its edges with Polyester to keep the weight down and travels with its dangling stuff sack to ensure it can keep up.
The pillow works almost like a reversible sweater: you can sleep on it no matter how folded. One side is machine washable to keep your pillow feeling fresh. When it’s time to wind down, flip it inside out, and you’ll always fall asleep on the cool side of the pillow.
There was about a four-month period where I thought this pillow would never leave my sight again. It’s incredibly ergonomic for a travel pillow, the washability feature without a pillowcase was a big plus, and again – memory foam.
Unfortunately, it was a bit too big for me to travel with forever, and I left it in a free bin at the Atma Hostel in Huanchaco, Peru. I hope whoever claimed it after me is getting a sweet night’s sleep now because it was one of my favourite things on my travel packing list.
- You can toss the pillow directly into the laundry machine, no pillowcase required
- Great memory foam polyester combo
- Might be more comfortable than your daily pillow
- A bit cumbersome for long-term backpacking
- Tough to find the right angle to enjoy this pillow on a plane
- Packed size is not that much smaller than deployed size
Thermarest – Compressible Pillow Cinch
- Size (in) – 15 x 11
- Weight (oz) – 7
- Best Use – Backcountry camping
- Price ($) – 37
Nobody has done more to help us sleep under the stars than Thermarest. The last piece of the puzzle is providing a portable, comfortable pillow that packs down to nothing and expands up for a great night’s sleep, and that’s what they have to offer here with this compressible unit. It’s been a constant feature on my backpacking packing list for a good few years.
The pillow packs inside itself and closes off with an elastic loop to reduce size by around 50%. It won’t get as small as an inflatable pillow, but it will feel way more comfortable when it’s time to snuggle up at the end of the day. The entire pillow is enveloped in a soft blue suede material designed to be comfortable even without a pillowcase.
This pillow is a majority recycled polyester on the outside and filled with upcycled sleeping pad leftovers on the inside and is super soft and cozy. I always sleep a bit easier when I know the products supporting my tired back aren’t harming the night skies I’m sleeping under, and this plush pillow’s performance makes it even easier.
- Goes directly into the washing machine
- New models pack the pillow full of recycled materials
- Incredible price for a product made in the USA
- The pillow doesn’t reduce in size enough to fit in smaller bags
- If I’m going to pack a pillow that doesn’t compress in size much, I’d like a bit more support
- Soaks up moisture like a sponge
Travelrest – Ultimate Travel Pillow
- Size (in) – 9 x 3.5 x 2
- Weight (oz) – 7
- Best Use – Middle Seats
- Price ($) – 25
We’ll try anything to fall asleep on a plane. Ambien, half a xan, a travel pillow that looks like a seatbelt – sure, why not. Travelrests Inflatable Travel Pillow rolls up to the shape of a croissant and the size of a cellphone, which you can tuck nicely away in your carry-on bag.
Once the pilot has turned off the fasten seatbelt sign and you’ve reached snoozing altitude, a few puffs are all it takes to inflate this unique pillow. Unlike most airplane pillows that wrap around your neck, this option hooks down your side, allowing you to snuggle at 30,000 feet. Just attach the strap down your back and get cozy.
The pillow fits snugly between your cheek and neck to bring a peaceful snooze to the window, aisle, and middle seats. Sleeping on planes is all about finding a unique, comfy position, and this versatile pillow will bend with you, whatever it takes. It’s essentially step one in becoming a Jedi travel master!
- An uncommonly long two-year warranty for a cheap find on Amazon
- A travel pillow unlike anything else on the market
- Built for trying to fall asleep upright
- Not the most comfortable pillow out there
- Not easy to wash
- Great idea, cheap execution
Cabeau Evolution – S3 Travel Pillow
- Size (in) – 10 x 9 x 5
- Weight (oz) – 12
- Best Use – Sleeping on the plane
- Price ($) – 75
Most airline pillows work fine until you fall asleep when they immediately slip off your neck and send you tumbling into your neighbor’s seat. Awks! This travel pillow is here to help, strapping directly to your seat so you can fall asleep without worrying about losing your grasp on Dreamworld.
The strap system and two raised side supports keep things even-keeled even if your sleep state has you leaning forward towards the seat in front of you. Comfortable memory foam molds into the shape of your head while you doze off.
It’s all slumber parties and video games on the plane, but the S3 doesn’t have much to offer regarding packability. There is no way to shrink or deflate this memory foam, so you must carry the complete package everywhere. A carrying case makes things easier and straps directly on your carry-on luggage, but the real magic happens at 30,000 feet.
- Strapping system hooks up to your plane seat headrest
- Full memory foam pillow does a great job supporting your head
- Carrying case does its part to reduce overall packed size
- Great for the plane, horrible for long-term backpacking
- Mean neighbors could sabotage your entire set-up
- Expensive for a plane only travel pillow
Thermarest – Airhead Light Pillow
- Size (in) – 15 x 11
- Weight (oz) – 2
- Best Use – Backcountry camping
- Price ($) – 42
Our second Thermarest pillow is the lightest on our list. When deflated, this pillow weighs less than a pack of gum and condenses to a size smaller than your trail snacks. When you blow it up, the pillow does just enough to bring good comfort with you to the great outdoors. In fact, it’s up there with some of our favourite camping gear, especially if you’ve got a long hike in.
I wouldn’t sleep on this pillow for more than a few nights in a row, but the packability and comfort features make it a pretty amazing travel pillow, no matter what you’ve got on your itinerary. There is simply no packing list too minimalist to add on the paltry two ounces it takes for this pillow to help you grab sleep on the go.
Sometimes, I bring this pillow along for trips even when I know I won’t need a main pillow. I just blow it up to tuck it between my knees when I feel like sleeping on my side. It’s minimum weight makes for a great travel pillow to keep around, just in case.
- Great choice for backcountry camping
- Baffled cushion brings baffling comfort
- Condenses down about the size of a can of sardines
- Not a great pillow for sleeping in an upright position
- Sort of like sleeping on a balloon
- Twist valve can be difficult to work with
Thermarest – Stuff Sack Pillow
- Size (in) – 17 x 7
- Weight (oz) – 2
- Best Use – Backcountry camping
- Price ($) – 20
You can make anything a pillow with this stuff sack, which is just a nylon/polyester blended liner that lies flat and condenses down to practically nothing when not in use. When you’re ready for bed, you can throw your clothes, towels, and jackets inside the sack and sleep like a king.
Without your sweaty clothes, this is not a pillow. This Thermarest stuff sack only becomes a pillow when you turn it inside out and fill it up with your backpack’s contents. It’s not really a solution for airline travel, and it’s not going to be something you want to rely on for months unless you’re hiking the Appalachian Trail.
It’s definitely the lightest and most space-efficient way to bring a pillow along with you, perfect for moments when every ounce counts. In addition to a pillow, it can be a laundry mat, a bear sack, and a grocery bag, all weighing less than snack-sized Skittles. It’s a must on any hostel packing list for me.
- Ingenious solution to backpacking pillow comfort
- The sack is super long, you could almost use it as a body pillow
- Doubles as a great storage solution
- Only as comfortable as your favorite sweater
- On a cold night, you might have to decide between layering up or using your pillow
- Throwing an old pillowcase in your bag and stuffing it full of your sweaters might have similar results
TRTL – Pillow Plus
- Size (in) – 8 x 6 x 3
- Weight (oz) – .6
- Best Use – Airplane travel
- Price ($) – 70
The TRTL Pillow wraps and packs like a shawl but provides expansive comfort when it’s time to nap. The Plus addition of this pillow is the successor to a wildly successful memory foam TRTL pillow. The original neck brace sleeping combo left the people wanting more. They crowdfunded the Pillow Plus in 2018, and they’ve been sleeping soundly ever since.
The deluxe model brings more padding, adjustability, and cooling to the table to help you sleep upright on the plane. The key is a foam-lined plastic exterior rather than a full memory foam sleeper. It allows the pillow to take its unique shape and support you no matter what.
Settle into your seat, wrap the Pillow Plus around your neck, and lock it into place with velcro. This unique travel pillow will take some getting used to, but once you find the perfect spot, no bumps or flight attendants stand a chance of stirring your slumber.
- Mainly designed for airplanes but light enough to go anywhere
- A great innovation in a field that can feel stagnant
- Fully machine washable
- Tough to wear alongside over-the-ear headphones
- Can be hard to adjust properly to your body initially
- Doesn’t bring a lot of value outside of sleeping upright
Huzi – Infinity Pillow
- Size (in) – 7x 7 x 5.5
- Weight (oz) – 16
- Best Use – For fidgety sleepers
- Price ($) – 44
Sometimes to fall asleep you’ve got to get lost in your own world. Huzi’s infinity pillow is a great way to do just that. The pillow is big enough to wrap up over your ears and eyes for an extra feeling of seclusion in an uncomfortable place to fall asleep. It’s almost like two classic neck pillows wrapped up in one, with an extra twisty bendability.
The soft and flexible pillow wraps around your neck like a scarf and is a great choice for sleepers who know they’ll be tossing and turning on an uncomfortable airplane seat. No matter how you wiggle your way into a new sleeping position, the Huzi can meet you there and support your slumber.
When you hear words like “infinity,” you might think it would be hard to pack that up into limited space, but this pillow comes with a band that helps it pack down decently. Once you’ve made it on board, You can sleep on your side, collapse back into your chair, or curl onto the seatback table and let your infinity pillow take care of the rest.
- Comes in 10 fun colors
- Equally capable of helping you sleep in many different upright positions
- 40% rayon made from bamboo
- No memory foam
- Will sometimes lose its shape and send your head crashing
- Doesn’t seem too big or heavy at first, but you’ll get sick of dragging that thing around eventually
Samsonite – Travel Neck Pillow
- Size (in) – 12 x 7 x 5
- Weight (oz) – 12
- Best Use – Sleeping in a car
- Price ($) – 20
I typically have two main requirements for my travel pillows: Cheap and chock full of memory foam. This Samsonite pillow checks off those two boxes and almost no other ones, so I was cautiously intrigued about what I’d find. Overall, I’m impressed. It’s comfortable, squishy, and a pillow. What more could you ask for at the end of a long day?
The pillow packs up in its own pouch to protect itself from the elements, but that’s about it. Don’t expect it to do anything else to save space. This is a pureblooded Point A to Point B pillow that cushions long road trips, travel days, and hotel stays. With that said, I’d add it to any road trip packing list where space isn’t as imperative.
- Gets memory foam in your hands for a lower price than Thermarest’s stuff sack
- Pillow clips into headrests to help reduce slide
- Memory foam made from microbeads
- No size-reducing features
- Not many safe-saving benefits
- If you don’t have a place to strap it in, it feels awkward to sleep upright with this pillow
BCozzy – Neck Support Pillow
- Size (in) – 12 x 10 x 2
- Weight (oz) – 7
- Best Use – Side sleeping
- Price ($) – 50
We round out our list with a simple motto, why be sleepy and grumpy when you can BCozzy?! This neck pillow sneaks in just enough innovation to make it onto our list, ending out the U-shaped contraption with flexible nubs. Those few simple nubs provide more freedom to build out your pillow how you’d like, and it still carries exactly like a traditional neck pillow.
You can wrap both legs around one side of the neck pillow for double support while you lean up against a window or wear it traditionally to stick against the back of the middle seat.
- Machine washable, but don’t put it in the dryer
- More flexible than most neck pillows
- Comfy fabric stays fresh for a few trips
- Can feel a bit loose against your neck when used traditionally
- Easily damaged in the wash
- Bulky design doesn’t compact
Final Thoughts On Pillows For Travel
From the memory foam behemoths that promise to cradle your neck like a newborn, to the backcountry inflatables that weigh next to nothing, we’ve checked out the full scope of pillow travel. Because, let’s be honest, sleep is super important, especially when you’re out there trying to live your best life.
Remember, comfort is king, but convenience is queen. That memory foam neck pillow will feel like a godsend on a trans-Pacific flight, but after a few months of hitchhiking around Australia, you’ll be ready to throw that bulky bit of foam in the bin. Depending on your trip, you may want something as easy to pack as it is to doze on.
Choosing the right travel pillow is like choosing the right travel partner: it might take a few tries, but once you find ‘the one,’ you’ll wonder how you ever traveled without it. Or, you might carry around the wrong one for a while and eventually decide to dump it for an upgrade!
We can’t guarantee that the road ahead will be smooth, but these cozy companions will ensure smooth naps along the way.
