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It can be hard to catch a nap while traveling, but these pillows can help.
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Featured in this articleBest for Most People
Travelrest Nest Ultimate Travel Pillow
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The best Travel pillow is tricky to find but necessary. They’re one of those things that you don’t really know you need until you wish you had it. I’ve searched far and wide for the best travel pillows and tested them in several environments. I looked for pillows with good neck support, a comfortable fit, and soft fabrics that hold up well over time. I didn’t think it would ever be truly easy to take a nap on a plane, but a few of these picks—like the Turtl ($65) and Cabeau Evolution ($35)—helped me do exactly that, even as an anxious flier.
Be sure to check out our other travel-related buying guides, including the Best Luggage, Best Carry-On Luggage, Best Laptop Backpacks, Best Toiletry Bags, and How to Fly With Only a Personal Item. We also have tips on How to Sleep in an Airport that you might want to browse.
Updated July 2025: We’ve added new pillows from Dot & Dot, Bracer, Slumber Cloud, Muji, and Infinity Pillow. We also ensured link and pricing accuracy throughout.
Best for Most PeopleTravelrest
Nest Ultimate Travel Pillow
The Travelrest Nest Pillow (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is nearly perfect. The memory foam travel pillow has an actually flat back covered in grippy dots that worked well for me on a bus and in a car despite my short frame, and there’s a hook-and-loop fastener on the front ends of the pillow to catch your chin and better support your head. The high 5-inch sides are nice for resting on if you’re typically a side sleeper, though they can get in the way of over-ear headphones. The whole thing is covered in soft microfiber. The cover is removable and washable. It also comes with a stuff sack and compresses down into a surprisingly small package.
As former WIRED reviewer Matt Jancer noted in his review, the stuff sack doesn’t have an attachment point. You’ll either have to cram it in your bags or rig something up in order to attach it to the outside of a backpack or your luggage. Other than that small point though, this affordable pillow is well suited to anyone in the market.
MaterialMemory foamWashable?Yes (cover)
