The best travel pillows that are genuinely comfortable and will help you sleep on the plane

Tested by Melanie Giandzi, Content Production Editor

"I recently flew home to Australia, so jumped at the opportunity to test the Ostrich neck pillow for the whopping 17-hour flight I had to endure. To say it provided me with great support would be an understatement. It’s the first time I’ve ever managed to sleep on a plane without waking up with the awful neck pain I’d usually get – and it’s thanks to the super snug fit and adjustability of this premium neck pillow.

It’s made of a memory foam core and features raised edges on either side so you can swiftly go from left to right side sleeping. Plus, it comes in a nifty carry case and rolls down and compresses for easy storage.

The only thing I disliked is that I couldn’t always comfortably wear my earphones with the neck pillow on, as the sides came midway up my ears and put pressure on the earphones."

Tested by Emma Justice, Good Housekeeping Travel Expert

“I’ve never found a neck pillow that works for me on long-haul flights and hate carrying around those bulky U-shaped ones. So, keen to get some sleep on an overnighter to Boston recently (and assigned the dreaded middle seat), I put this long, thin banana-shaped contraption to the test.

It inflates easily in a few seconds with just two to three blows and is best described as having a soft, friendly shoulder to lay your head on. Its rather odd shape made me giggle but you can adjust its position to go across your body or down one side and the detachable strap it comes with can be looped over the headrest to stop it from slipping. You can also wear the pillow like a guitar or messenger bag (which also attracted strange looks).

It comes in a soft, plush, washable fabric you can snuggle into and provides proper ergonomic support for your head and neck. It deflates quickly, too, and rolls up into a croissant shape for storing in your hand luggage. I’m not sure the person next to me appreciated the cushion occasionally bumping into them (or my snoring!) but then I felt far more rested than usual when I arrived so didn’t really care!”

Tested by Priyankaa Joshi, Sleep and Wellness Editor

“I tried the Mountain Warehouse Memory Foam Pillow on a 10-and-a-half-hour flight from the UK to St Kitts in the Caribbean. It was my first experience with a travel pillow and I’d say it definitely enhanced my flight. The outer fabric was extremely soft and felt lovely against my skin and I loved the squishy memory foam.

For the first time, I actually managed to get some decent sleep on a flight – my neck felt properly supported and I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

Coming in at under £20, I think it’s excellent value for money and I’ll most definitely continue to use it on all my flights going forwards.

If I had to think of a downside, it is a little bulky (it seems larger than other travel pillows) but I didn’t find this a problem – I just hooked it onto my rucksack (note, it doesn’t come with a carry case).”

Tested by Lauren Richards-Ozzati, Deputy Art Editor

“I usually spend night flights counting down the agonising minutes until I can reach a hotel bed – but on a recent 16-hour journey, this hooded travel pillow delivered some elusive mid-flight shut-eye.

At first touch, the breathable fabric is cool and soft against my skin, and it’s supported by a firm memory foam core. What sets it apart from other neck pillows, however, are the two self-inflating side pockets. These softly surrounded the back and sides of my head, giving support and cushioning even when I shifted positions. The pillow closes firmly at the neck with Velcro, making it adjustable, while an oversized hood rests gently over the head and eyes, blocking out excess light. The overall effect was cocooning, without ever feeling claustrophobic.

The removable cover is a practical touch for washing, although I did miss having a carry case for the Roamwild to make it easier to pack in my hand luggage. That said, the side pillows do deflate at the press of a button, and there’s a handy hook to carry it on the outside of your luggage.

I won’t pretend I managed a full eight hours upright in economy, but is it the best travel pillow I've tried? It certainly gets my seal of approval.”

Tested by Deepti Mistry, SEO Manager, and her daughter

"Being a huge fan of the Trtl pillow, which has really helped me on long haul flights, I decided to get my eight-year-old daughter the kids version.

It's smaller in size, so perfect for little ones. With the choice of three designs, my daughter picked the aqua one. It's compact, so very easy to carry on board and fold away.

I put it on her before she decided she wanted to sleep. I had to help her putting it on around her neck, and it took a few minutes for her to get comfortable, but she was fast asleep in seconds.

She slept with it on for around four hours of the long, nine-hour flight and she found it very comfortable. It also stopped her neck from bobbing, which usually disturbs her sleep on the plane."

Deepti's daughter, Shreya, agreed telling her: "I really loved using the TRTL pillow, because I could actually sleep on the plane. It was so soft and comfortable around my neck that I didn't need to sleep on my mummy or daddy's shoulder."

Tested by Melanie Giandzi, Content Production Editor

"I wasn’t expecting much from this snake-like, wrap-around neck pillow, but I managed to sleep a solid eight(!) hours on a recent flight to Australia while wearing this – and with zero neck pain!

Available in eight snazzy colours, the BCOZZY neck pillow can be adjusted to suit, whether you’re a front or side sleeper (just rotate the neck pillow so the highest part sits where you need the support) and can also be adapted based on whether you’re sitting in the middle, aisle or window seat of the plane.

It’s super lightweight and is easy to attach to your suitcase or backpack strap for easy transportation. And the best part is that the whole pillow can be thrown straight into the washing machine to be refreshed, ready for your next flight."

Laura Cohen, head of accreditation at the Good Housekeeping Institute, swears by her inflatable travel pillow. “It has a removable soft cover and deflates down to nothing, which makes it ideal if you’re tight on luggage space, and don’t want to lug a bigger pillow around with you. It's very affordable, too,” she says.

Note, this isn't Laura's exact pillow (she's had hers for a while) but we've found one with a very similar design.

Tested by Hannah Mendelsohn, Homes Editor

"This pillow is a savvy pick if you want to recreate your at-home sleep set-up on the go, as it's a compressible memory foam design.

I liked that it folded up really small, and the instructions on how to do it were clear and simple. It also comes with a handy travel pouch.

It's obviously not that practical for planes and trains, but if you're heading camping, for example, and you're used to a memory foam pillow at home, this will definitely take up less space than your day-to-day one without compromising on support."