Best in Class

Shape: Neck and lumbar pillow | Fill: Not listed | Thickness: 2 inches | Average packability

If you aren’t exactly sure if you’ll need neck support or lumbar support, a convertible pillow like this might be your best bet. This neck pillow folds up into a square-shaped pillow that can then be used on your lower back or up against a window. It can also be rolled up into the built-in pocket for storage — which is great for saving space, and also shielding the pillow from any germs in the airport. Taryn White of The Trip Wish List also tells me that it has teeny pockets for earbuds, gum, and mints, a big pro if you usually find yourself rummaging around to find your essentials mid-flight. It has a less convenient hook (compared to a strap) to secure it to your luggage, but the snaps that close the front of the pillow provide another option for strapping it on. I couldn’t track down the fill used in this pillow, but the general consensus from reviewers is that it was “firm but not [too] hard for me & my aching neck,” (according to one reviewer on the Bed, Bath & Beyond website.)

The same brand also makes an inflatable version of their travel pillow — and though I generally don’t like inflatable pillows, this one is a good option. It inflates to five inches thick, but is just the size of a soda can when deflated. Just like the memory-foam pillow, this one has a flat back to help keep your neck in line with the seat, and it has a neck strap to keep your head super-stable. “They are a bit higher than most neck pillows and have a special toggle you can connect and tighten so the pillow doesn’t fall off,” says Jennifer Lachs of Digital Nomad Girls. Lachs admits that the memory-foam pillow above is “even more comfortable,” but the inflatable is better if you want to travel light. (Initially I thought that inflatable was synonymous with adjustable — the more air you put in the taller it will be and less air will make it less firm — but Dr. Fischer said it’s a bad idea to not fill up these pillows all the way, as that’s not how they were designed to be used.)

Shape: Lumbar pillow | Fill: Inflatable | Thickness: 2 inches | Easy to pack

The Travel Pal is a different type of travel pillow — it’s designed for lumbar (rather than neck) support. As a WFH-er who’s rather particular about ergonomic office chairs, I notice the lack of lumbar support on airport seats whether it’s long- or short-haul flights. “In a proper chair, the lumbar part should actually push out to support that curve in your low back, but they don’t do that on planes because if they did, it would affect their seating, so a lot of them curve in,” says Dr. Jared Hoffman of Williamsburg Chiropractic. His recommended solution is this pillow which inflates to two inches thick, and reduces stress on the joints and discs of your low back by supporting that lower-back curve. Dr. Hoffman not only recommends it to patients, but says “this I have used personally and I think it’s one of the best products I’ve come across.” And as it’s inflatable, it’s super easy to travel with — just deflate and roll into your bag once you disembark.

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: Inflatable | Thickness: 3.5 inches | Easy to Pack

On a recent flight to Italy, I chose the dreaded middle seat on purpose to see how well the Travelrest really works. The inflatable pillow is worn like a sash, and it gives you something to loll your head against (apart from the person sitting next to you.)  “I’m obsessed with this hideous inflatable golf club,” says travel writer Teddy Minford, who first told us about the unique travel pillow. “It creates something to lean against, even if you’re in the middle seat.” After testing it, I agree with Minford that the pillow gives you something to rest your head against — and I successfully managed to get a few hours of sleep on my early flight. However, I’m not a middle-seat convert just yet. I still felt myself sloping a little towards the side I was resting on. I was overall impressed with how much the pillow improved the usually uncomfortable experience of middle seating, though, and it was super easy to transport: When deflated, it rolls up to the size of an iPhone.

Shape: Head pillow | Fill: Polystyrene microbeads | Thickness: Not listed | Not easy to pack

I know that mid-overnight flight, the tray table can begin to look very tempting — but it’s often hard, and all of the vibrations from the airplane can make you feel like there’s a rattling in your brain. To combat that discomfort, Dr. Fitzpatrick told me about this pillow that’s more like a helmet. It covers all sides, including the forehead, so it can be used in a number of situations. There is a hole for your mouth so you can breathe, but otherwise it’s a pillow, eye mask, and noise-canceling headphones all in one. Once out of the box, however, there is no indication that this pillow will compress again, meaning it could be cumbersome to travel with.

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: Polyester filling | Thickness: Not listed | Easy to pack

I’ve always wondered how parents can get their little ones to settle on a bustling flight — and writer and mum-of-one Chantel Tattoli told me that this Huzi pillow is her foolproof method. She says it has an an almost mystical effect on her daughter on long flights. “Generally, she seems to accord a magical ‘fairy-ring’ quality to this fluffy circle, as if once she’s thrown it over her, she’s staked some space in which things are pretty good,” she says. The pillow, like an extremely plush scarf, can wrap around your neck or lower back — or even both at the same time — to create a highly customized, optimum sleeping position. For this reason, it’s a great pick for those with scoliosis, too. “Even mild scoliosis can affect your comfortable position in a tight seat,” says Fitzpatrick. “The adjustable lemniscate-type pillows can be good for this.” Wearing it through the airport like a scarf also makes it easy to carry, but if you’d rather throw it in your bag, it rolls up neatly into a little ball.