I tested travel pillows – the winner is just £10 and perfect for last-minute summer holiday getaways
NOTHING beats a summer break, but getting there can be a pain in the neck – especially if you’re travelling by plane.
As thousands of Brits jet off over the bank holiday to enjoy last-minute trips abroad, travel pillows are a must-have item if you’re planning to get some shut-eye on the journey.
We all know how uncomfortable it can be to have the window seat and nothing to cushion your head, leaving you with an aching neck and an imprint on your forehead.
Julia Etherington tested out some of the top products on the market, with the best rated coming in at just over a tenner and handily available for next-day delivery.
Ergonomic Memory Foam Pillow
£11.99, mountainwarehouse.com
This ‘ergonomic’ memory foam travel pillow has a raised back with a dip which comfortably cradles the back as the front Velcro’s together.
The shape allows a relaxed laid-back position without your head going too far back.
In terms of the shape and the comfy memory foam providing ample relaxation I can’t fault it.
It even has a handy loop built in to attach it to your rucksack or luggage.
But when it comes to the faux velvet material, after fifteen minutes it feels a little clammy and ends up leaving me feeling like a sweaty mess.
Rating: 3/5
Dunelm travel pillow
£6, dunelm.com
This is the cheapest of the pillows in our test.
It’s a basic, no-frills traditional travel pillow, apart from the bright colour.
It’s easy to carry and comes in a range of colours – blue, pink, grey and aqua, and doesn’t need blowing up, so won’t get a puncture.
On a short haul flight, it might be enough, but I found the popper which secures the pillow at the front tended to dig in a bit when resting my head back and doubted if it would fit a much larger neck. The material was also a bit clammy.
Rating: 2/5
Trtl pillow original
£39.99, uk.trtltravel.com
It’s more expensive, but can you put a price on a good flight’s sleep?
The makers of this rather unusual headrest say it’s ‘the pillow for travellers who want a real sleeping experience’.
It’s much like wearing a comfy scarf, which can also cover your mouth to hide accidental dribbling when you nod off.
The Trtl material covers a flexible plastic curve to sit in your neck and once you find your perfect position it works well.
The only downside was I found myself repositioning it to swap sides after a while because my neck ached.
Rating: 4/5
Tallgo travel pillow
£10.99, amazon.co.uk
I was really impressed by this pillow, from its immediately softer feel to its shaped and firm, memory foam curves.
It comes in a handy bag and stuffs down really small for ease of carrying. It has toggles so you can fit it to your neck size – it even fits children – without it sticking into you.
It also has quite a high front which helps support your chin as well as your head, keeping a good posture to avoid any part of your neck aching.
I was surprised such a decent pillow had such a decent price tag – a real bargain.
Rating: 5/5
AirGoods Inflatable Travel Pillow
£19.99, amazon.co.uk
This inflatable box-shaped creation looks like it could be an interesting way to get some shut-eye.
It’s easy to blow up but you have to deflate it after use as it’s way too bulky to attach to your luggage afterwards.
You have to bend forward to use it and place your face through the top whole, much like a massage table.
It’s nice to have the darkness it provides, and the armholes make you feel quite comfortable, but I’m baffled as to what the extra hole on the chest area is for and keeping a bent over position for an entire flight isn’t great for your posture.
Rating: 3/5
Bcozzy Neck Pillow
£39.99, amazon.co.uk
This is the joint most expensive in our test along with the Trtl, so will I be cosy, like the name suggests?
This pillow is soft with fine fleece-like fabric, which is really comfy. It snakes around your neck so can offer chin support or easily twist it round the rest your head either side, so works whichever seat you’re given on a plane.
It stuffs neatly into a small bag and is a good travel pillow, but doesn’t offer more than the winning Tallgo despite being almost four times more expensive.
Rating: 4/5