If you snooze, you do not lose, and the Evolution S3 was tirelessly engineered to enhance overall snoozability, with all major consumer pain points in mind. In the photo, I’m using the J-Pillow in the position I found most comfortable – leaning up against the side of the plane. This memory foam pillow is cut at an angle that perfectly pads the nape of your neck, offering a superb, snug fit that supports the head in an upright position, thus maintaining the natural curvature of your spine.

You need something that’s going to offer real support without taking up a bunch of space in your luggage (thus defeating the purpose of being a travel pillow).

We didn’t love the feel and sound of the microbeads when pressed against our ears, and this pillow also doesn’t come with a carrying case.

The real standout of this design is the flat back, which is not only great for maintaining a healthy posture but also means you can fold the pillow in half and wear it on one side. I would not recommend inflatable pillows for long travels (6 hours and more), they tend to push on neck too much and cause neck pain. As a lightweight option to toss in your bag for camping or backpacking trips, Therm-a-Rest’s compressible pillow is an excellent choice.No matter how far your head tips forward, this pillow will keep your head upright and your spine aligned as you fall into a deep sleep. If that sounds like you, or if you just love a travel accessory, read our in depth reviews of popular travel pillows below. Given that it also isn’t machine-washable, this probably isn’t a pillow you’d want to rub your face against long-term.

I tested the full size, but think the mini can do the same job if you’re short on carry-on space or would prefer to use a flat pillow to get some sleep in economy. I'll admit, it feels a little strange at first to put it on, but the hypoallergenic fleece is soft and warm.While it's not the most comfortable pillow we tested, it is the easiest to care for — remove the internal frame and toss the polyester wrap in the washer and dryer. If it does get dirty during travel, the exterior sleeve is removable and washable to ensure your neck pillow stays clean ahead of your next trip. Our verdict: “I’d say this pillow is less about neck support and more about soft and cosy scarf–meets–pillow hybrid. The pillow comes in two sizes and when wrapped around the neck offers double the support for your head, neck and chin.

There wasn't enough support even when my head was tilted to the side unless I kept adjusting the pillow. As an inflatable model, you can adjust the firmness to your liking, and despite its oversized design, this pillow deflates and rolls up to the size of a Nalgene bottle. But if you're looking for a step above in terms of design and comfort, or suffer from neck or back pain, Cabeau's pillow is the best we've tested so far. Danish designer Ann Sjogreen Sanger worked with scientists, sleep experts and leading UK manufacturers to create the two travel pillows – a full size and mini option.The included travel bag has a large, zippered opening, which means you won't have to wrestle this portable pillow into its stuff sack upon arrival. The straps are a great idea, but if you're short it might not be possible to secure to the headrest, so keep that in mind. PROFESSIONALLY RECOMMENDED: The Cabeau pillows are orthopedic expert-approved and recommended to support any seated activity that tires the muscles supporting the head.