Do you travel with a neck pillow? We all want to be comfortable while sitting in vehicles: planes, trains, and automobiles.  I am on a quest to find the perfect neck travel pillow.

I see people traveling with all types of neck pillows- the “J” shaped ones, the circular ones, the oblong ones. They are attached to luggage and totes, around necks at all times of day, even if they are still in the terminal. I recently saw these styles  that have animals and planes on them.

I’ve tried a lot of neck pillows. 

Part of my problem is that I want to wear my earphones during the flight. I love listening to music or a meditation program when I try to sleep on a plane. Over-the-ear head phones didn’t work with any of the travel pillows I tried. I finally got these great  Bose Quiet Comfort 20  noise cancelling in-ear phones, which take away the bulk around the ears, but it’s still been hard to find a neck pillow that works.

Here’s what I’ve tried:

 1. Blow up Neck Pillow with velour finish

I bought this type of neck pillow in an airport and really liked it and used it for a long time. The fact that it could be blown up gave me leeway to adjust the firmness when desired. I suppose the best thing about it was that it folded into a compact pouch and fit easily in the carry on. The cover was removable for washing. I couldn’t comfortably wear headphones with it, as my head still lolled to one side and compressed the headphones. I broke the valve and couldn’t get it fixed, so I had to chuck it. And that sent me on a quest for a better travel pillow.

2. Neck Pillow filled with beads or sand or memory foam

I tried several types of these pillows (often called “J” pillows to differentiate them from other shapes of pillows) on different trips and they really weren’t firm enough to support my head. They were also bulky and cumbersome to carry. Again, I couldn’t wear them with headphones or earphones. Those ones on the racks in all the airports come with a variety of fillings. It’s hard to know which will work for you until you’ve actually used them on a flight, so buyer beware.

3. Travel Rest Long Pillow

This is a pretty good idea, but I feel slightly ridiculous using it. It is inflatable, so it’s easy to pack. The wide end rests on one shoulder and the long end crosses over the front of your body to the opposite side. It is good for resting hands on, and if you can get it placed correctly it can support your head pretty well. You just have to choose which way to bend your neck and that can be tiresome. Again, wearing headphones is a problem.

4.Turtl Neck Pillow

I got this as a gift and it came with high praise. I tried it several times, but I just couldn’t get it adjusted to fit my neck space comfortably enough. Also the wrap-around scarf can feel restricting and warm. One good thing about it was that I could use my earphones fairly comfortably. Again, you have to choose on which side to lean your head.

The Quest Continues:

This is the next one I am going to try:

Travelrest ultimate memory foam  that also compresses and has a stuff sack.

It looks like this pillow will support the head and neck and I could still wear my earphones. It gets mixed reviews on Amazon, but it seems like the next option for me. I will try it and see how it actually works.

In the quest for more comfortable travel, I am still searching for the right neck pillow. I want it to be compact to carry, to hold my head up comfortably, and allow me to use my earphones.

Which pillow have you found to be most comfortable? Share in the comments!

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