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Your comfort is everything when travelling. Regardless of the means of transportation to your travel destination (even if you are flying in Business Class or in a private jet), you will need to invest in the best rated travel pillow in order to find a comfortable position to close your eyes and doze off for a few hours. No one wants to feel fatigued and drained when they arrive at their destination and that is why you need the softest, highest rated travel pillow. This post will help you decide and buy the best-rated travel pillows.
Key features of the best-rated travel pillow.
The best-rated travel pillow must have 5 key features that will help you the traveller have a more comfortable trip.
The 5 features you need to consider in the best-rated travel pillow are:
Comfortable
Breathable
Portability
Durability
Washable
Comfortable: The primary job of a travel pillow is to support the head and the neck and to provide comfort, especially during an interminable haul journey.
Breathable: A best rated travel pillow is designed with materials that are breathable and made with soft, lush materials of velvet or velour. The covering needs to be cotton and the shell of memory foam or polyurethane materials.
Portability: You should be able to take your best rated travel pillow with you conveniently. It should have a system to make it compact or have an attachment to secure it to your luggage. It could be an inflatable pillow or a non-inflatable pillow, but the size matters.
Durability: Your travel pillow should come with a warranty of at least two years or money-back guarantee.
Washable: Washing your best rated travel pillow is a must. The ability to wash your travel pillow coverings or shell without it losing shape is a key feature to note when buying a travel pillow.
Choosing the best rated travel pillow – What to consider.
For a pillow to be classed as best rated travel pillow, it should provide a comfortable and relaxing start to your holiday. So what do you need to consider when choosing the best rated travel pillow?
- Types of travel pillows
- Inflatable vs non-inflatable
Types of Travel Pillows
There are unique and innovative designs of travel pillows and understanding the difference between them will help you decide the best travel pillow that will suit your sleeping style and need.
J – Shape Travel Pillow.
The J shaped pillow looks clumsy at a first glance but when used, it gives more versatility and chin support. It keeps the head up nicely and it is great for sleeping if you have a window seat in the train, coach or plane.
Con:
The shape makes it less portable although it can be attached to your luggage through the top.
Hour-glass shape Travel Pillow.
The Hour-glass shaped pillow is versatile because you can loop it, squash it, bundle it in front of you and on the seat table in the plane and you can wear it as a scarf.
It can be used for sleeping at home too and it’s great for Business Class travellers.
Con:
The shape makes it less compact.
Rectangular shape Travel Pillow.
The rectangular shaped travel pillow is familiar and might be what you are used to and using at home. It is compact but rarely used by Economy Class Travellers. It is fantastic for Business Class Travellers.
Con:
The head to neck support is absent.
Inflatable versus non-inflatable travel pillows
The best rated travel pillows can either be inflatable or non-inflatable. The inflatable travel pillows manually has valves and buttons which you use to pump it up. The non-inflatable pillows are made with memory foams shell and soft coverings. The fill can be different sometimes. It can also be filled with beans, feathers or puff balls. Check the table to help you understand their key features.
Feature
Inflatable Pillow
Non-inflatable Pillow
Price
£10
£30
Material
The material the travel pillows are made from.
The shell is Polyurethane
The coverings can be velvet or velour.
The shell is memory foam
The covering can be polyester, fleece, velvet or velour.
Loft
How high it is
7.5 cm
7.5 cm – 12 cm
Adjustable Loft
Can the loft be adjusted?
Yes
No
Space
Does it save space?
Yes, inflatable pillows are compact when deflated.
No, not always. Non-inflatable travel pillows are usually more bulky and harder to fit into bags.
Washable
Yes, the coverings from the inflatable pillows can be removed and washed.
Yes, the covers can be washed and depending on the material, it can be machine washed.
Pros
Lower price
Adjustable loft
More compact will fold nicely in carry-on luggages.
Stable shape
Bigger support
Wider loft range
Cons
Air loss potential
It will not inflate if torn or with holes.
not durable
More expensive
Bulky and will not fold down quickly.
3 Best Rated Travel pillows review.
This is a unbiased biased review of three best rated travel pillows. I have personally used these products. The travel pillow review answers your questions on the best neck travel pillows, the best air plane travel pillow and the best rated travel pillow.
Review of the Best Neck Travel Pillow : J-Pillow
Best Neck Travel Pillow
The J-shaped pillow is designed to have two possible positions: with one arm under the chin creating a cradle for the side of your head or with one arm around the back of your neck and a cradle for the side of your head – my favourite, with the most supportive-feeling.
The J-shaped pillow is designed to have two possible positions: with one arm under the chin creating a cradle for the side of your head or with one arm around the back of your neck and a cradle for the side of your head – my favourite, with the most supportive-feeling.
Cons
Pillow attached to the outside of your luggage.
Review of the Best Air Plane Travel Pillow: Huzi Design Infinity Travel Pillow
Best Air plane Travel Pillow
The Huzi Design Infinity Pillow is designed to have infinity ways to use it and it is absolutely brilliant. You can fold it , loop it around your neck for a super-luxurious feel, or bundling it onto a seat-back table and face planting into it. This versatility makes the Infinity absolutely perfect for those long-haul flights where you have to manoeuvre yourself into endless sleeping positions just to stay sane.
Pros
Adjustable
Washable
Breathable
Durable
Cons
Bulky
Review of the Best Rated Travel Pillow: Cabeau Evolution Memory Foam Pillow.
Best Rated Travel Pillow
If you want to get a great night’s sleep, invest in some memory foam. This pillow is filled with the glorious stuff, making it one of the best options on the list. U-shaped, it supports the back of the head without keeping it too propped up, whilst the raised side supports and cushions the neck. Great if you want to listen to music to help you drift off.
Pros
Adjustable – supports the neck
Washable
Breathable
Durable
Cons
Bulky
The best rated travel pillow: Final thoughts
The best rated travel pillows should give you an overall comfort, portability, loft customisation and allow your neck to be upright. This post has explained the key features of the best rated travel pillow, the types of travel pillows available and how to choose the best travel pillow. I will leave you with tips for sleeping well while travelling.
- Be comfortable when travelling – tale a jumper or scarf.
- Use sleeping masks to drown out the light.
- Be hydrated – take water bottles with you.
- Pack healthy fruits and snacks that will help you sleep.
- Wear compression socks and don’t cross your legs for long periods of time.
I hope you have found this post useful, use the links to buy the travel pillows if you wish to and let me know in the comments what your experiences of travel pillows are?
Check out my review of the best rated travel irons.
Check out my review of the best family travel insurance.