What’s the best neck pillow on the market?
Well, I recently tried out the Caledonian Sleeper train from London to Glasgow and since I was in the £50 seat option, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to test out six neck pillows to discover which was the best value for money.
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Senders Memory Foam Travel Pillow
£9.99
This 100% pure memory foam pillow has a soft velour cover that fits your neck just right. It has an adjustable rope to fit any size, making it perfect for cars, planes, or just relaxing at home. It’s lightweight, easy to carry with its own bag, and the cover is machine washable too. Plus, you get a one-year warranty with your purchase.
- Adjustable Rope
- Memory Foam
- Removable Cover
- Carry Bag
- One Year Warranty
My Review
Considering the price, I was impressed with how durable it felt plus the velour cover had a really nice feel to it. However, the memory foam was just a little too hard for me which meant that whilst it certainly did keep my head propped up whilst I slept, it could have been a little cosier. Plus, of all the neck pillows I tested, it was the hardest to get back into its bag.
However, for the price, it’s a decent option and is certainly better than no neck pillow at all!
Since then, I’ve tested this budget option too which is a bit squidgier if that’s your sort of thing too!
Overall Score: 4/10
SARISUN Travel Pillow
£19.99
This pillow is designed to give extra support to your head, not just your neck, so it’s a 2-in-1! It comes with a large detachable eye mask that you can attach to the pillow. You can even clip the pillow onto the seat headrest, which is a big bonus for kids.
- Eye Mask
- Memory Foam
- Seat Straps
- Carry Bag
- Other Colours Available
My Review
For the price, I was really impressed with the quality of this. On sight I would have guessed that it fetched much more than £20! I also like the idea behind this as so often it’s that dropping off head-tilt that jerks you back awake.
However, in the case of the sleeper train I was on, the headrest was a bit too big which meant that it kept peeling away at the velcro straps. I couldn’t put my full weight into resting in the mask which kind of defeats the whole point!
Of course, it could work much better on flights where the headrest is slimmer but I think it’s fair to point out that due to the design of this, it’s not going to be as useful as a more standard travel pillow.
I’ve marked it according to my journey, but I expect it would be much higher in a different environment. One to test again!
Overall Score: 5/10
Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow
£37.32
This top-rated memory foam travel pillow is perfect for road trips and flights, with its seat straps that keep you aligned and prevent slouching. It’s also got chin support and a washable cover. Plus, it’s earphone-friendly and compresses down for easy packing.
- Memory Foam
- Seat Straps
- Carry Bag
- Compressible
My Review
So this is actually the one neck pillow I didn’t buy as I owned it already! I treated myself to this for a 15 hour flight to Singapore where I was in the middle seat of the middle row. It was brutal.
And this bad boy did help me to get some shut eye so going into this, I was a big fan.
However, I had the same issue as the Sarisun – the straps couldn’t quite deal with the size of the head rest and so whilst it would get a high score for flights, I had to mark it down for my journey.
It does get a mark more than the other though, as it was noticeably more sturdy.
Overall Score: 6/10
BCOZZY Neck Pillow
£39.97
The travel pillow gives support for your head, neck and chin. It adjusts in three ways to fit how you sleep, has a comfy balance of softness and firmness, and won’t push your head forward like some pillows. It comes in two sizes and with a carry case and you can toss it in the washing machine for easy cleaning.
- Chin Support
- Two Sizes
- Adjustable Velcro Straps
- Carry Bag
- Other Colours Available
My Review
On first sight, I thought this was going to be a bit useless. It’s so thin! However that turned out to be its forte as I was able to comfortably wrap the pillow around my neck and create a little ledge for my head to rest on.
It was soft but firm, and the fact it fully circles your neck mean you can spin it around to suit your sleeping style.
A surprisingly good find!
Overall Score: 8/10
trtl Travel Pillow
£59.99
This unique support system is hidden in a scarf-like design and wraps around your neck and eases tension in your spine and shoulders. It’s smaller and lighter than most travel pillows, so it’s easy to pack or hang on your bag.
- Unique Scarf Design
- Hypoallergenic Fleece
- Carry Bag
- Machine Washable
- Other Colours Available
My Review
I think this is a really clever take on a neck pillow and is super helpful if you need to rest but don’t have anything to lean against. It does feel a bit less luxe than others in this price range, but I expect you’re paying for the development of the design too. It also slots into your bag much easier than others!
However – and I have used this on a long haul flight too – I just can’t get over how unnatural it feels to be leaning on something that’s supported by your own shoulder! I do know that some swear by this so I recommend giving it a go for yourself, but don’t take those tags off until you’ve properly tested it.
Overall Score: 7.5/10
Ostrichpillow Go
£69.00
This memory foam travel pillow features a velcro strap and a soft viscoelastic sleeve for a comfy, custom fit. The pillow packs down to half its size in the included travel bag, making it easy to carry. Plus, the removable sleeve is machine washable, so it stays fresh for all your trips.
- Memory Foam
- Adjustable Fit
- Carry Bag
- Machine Washable
My Review
For £69, I wanted to hate this pillow so much but from its luxury presentation box to its soft, padded arms that hug you to sleep… I WAS SMITTEN! However, I do have to deduct points for the quote on the bag (it’s just a neck pillow lads) and the fact it’s nearly SEVENTY POUNDS.
The only design letdown was that I imagine you’d lose the strip that’s covering the velcro when not in use as there isn’t anywhere to put it.
So yeah, if you’ve got money to burn, this is the one.
Overall Score: 8/10
Snugl
£44.00
This memory foam pillow is designed to be like an orthopedic pillow that you can take with you wherever you go. It moulds to the contours of your neck and shoulders, promising to ease tension and neck strain. Plus it comes in two sizes, small and regular, so you can choose the size that fits you best.
It has a washable outer cover, an adjustable buckle strap for the ideal fit and it even squishes down by 70% to fit in its travel bag.
- Memory Foam
- Two Sizes
- Adjustable Fit
- Carry Bag
- Removable Cover
- Machine Washable
- Compressable
- Other Colours Available
My Review
The Snugl pillow is a winner for me, it’s just got everything you want from a travel pillow. You can choose from two sizes, then there’s the way it shapes to your neck, and you can pack it down small too. James stole this one from me soon after it arrived – which says it all really.
I will say even though it compresses down it’s still a bit bulky. But that’s the trade off when the neck support is so good! I just attach it to my cabin bag with a carabiner and I’ve not had any trouble.
Overall Score: 8/10
My Final Thoughts
If I was rich, it’s the Ostrichpillow the whole way but when it comes to overall value, I’d have to opt for the SNUGL or BCOZZY. Who’d have guessed that!
I do believe there are much better cheap neck pillows on the market so I’m gonna do some more research into that – so keep checking this page and let me know if there’s any you want me to test.
