The Trtl bucks the C-curve pillow trend with its unique support brace, creating a discreet little shelf for the head, complete with an inbuilt soft, thin scarf that wraps loosely around the neck. Its efficiency lies in keeping the neck firmly in place — effectively eliminating head-lolling, hooray! — and its lightweight shape, making it super easy to stuff into a backpack.

Meet the celebrity of the travel pillow world. The Cabeau has been beloved by travellers for years and its latest iteration, the Evolution S3, is just as impressive. The same supportive memory foam the pillow is known for is there, as is the secure system that clips near the chin which, thanks to its snug 360-degree fit, successfully saves passengers from the dreaded fall-forward syndrome.

Plush memory foam, a strong under-chin clip and a soft velour outer, this reliable pillow ticks all the boxes for the sleep-deprived traveller. Fitting snugly around the neck and chin, it’s like a little hug for the neck (and a relief for the head, as it has somewhere soft to land) when you drift off.

Travelling with kids  – especially when everyone is lacking in sleep – can put any family getaway to the test. To soothe tired minds, up the novelty factor of settling down for some shut eye with an adorable animal- or character-inspired travel pillow, like this cute and affordable unicorn option. It’s fun, fluffy and, with an attached hoodie, it helps keep stimuli such as bright lights to a minimum. 

There’s a lot that can keep you from sleeping on a plane, from the reading lights that blink on and off to the food trolley trundling by and the flicker of someone’s TV screen. Luckily, the unique wraparound Ostrichpillow Original Napping Pillow does a great job at eliminating most of it. Cocooned in the soft fleecy fabric that covers your entire head and neck, you’ll be able to fall asleep (even if you look a little odd).

Sometimes drifting off to sleep is about more than just the position you’re in. Minimise the distractions by opting for a combination of pillow, jumper and eye mask with the Typo hoodie pillow. The soft-brushed fleece is both comfy and warm, while the drawstring closure makes it that much easier to create your own in-transit cocoon.

Whether your trusty travel pillow is on high rotation or just pulled out of a drawer once or twice a year, the ability to freshen it up before your next adventure is too tempting to pass up – particularly if your previous holiday may have involved any accidental spills. The Love Nightshift Luxury Travel Neck Pillow is made of your standard, supportive memory foam but it's housed in a removal cover that can be unzipped and thrown in the washing machine with ease.

Feeling overheated is bound to interfere with a solid sleep session. Enter the Cabeau Evolution Cool 2.0, which features ventilation on the sides to improve airflow and, hopefully, keep you cooler.

Some pillows don’t facilitate a frequent change in position or easily adjust with you as you try to do the same. This bead-filled cushion adjusts as quickly as you do, making shifting around to find a comfy position a breeze.

Most neck pillows have a form that’s relatively static. And while the cloud-like, multi-layer Infinity – encased in breathable bamboo fabric – is a warm and supportive hug when wrapped around the neck, that’s not the only position this travel essential can perform in. Easily manipulated into any shape, the Infinity can also function as lumbar support, a chin rest for when your head lolls forward or, simply as a way to stay snug when watching your marathon of movies.

The unique design of the BCOZZY prevents your head from falling forward or tilting too much to the side, so there’s no risk of awkwardly leaning on the person next to you.

You’ll need a particular type of support if you want to fall asleep while leaning against a window. J-pillow is the answer. This clever pillow essentially fills the gap that’s left when resting your head on the plane’s edge and supports the crook of your neck while also ensuring your head doesn’t dip forward courtesy of its built-in chin brace.

Silk fabric offers multiple benefits, ranging from increased breathability to thermal regulation. As the external layer of the chic Slip Jetsetter Neck Pillow, the properties of this fibre complement travelling perfectly, especially when temperatures and conditions are constantly changing. Soft, cooling and stylish, this is ideal for those who like to balance comfort and style.

The Travelrest Nest reaches higher than most neck pillows, providing more support and reducing head movement. It looks bulky, but the pillow compresses down to a quarter of its size once packed inside its pouch, unlike other hefty memory foam alternatives. The super-soft velour cover is also washable.

Small, square and made with all-natural ingredients, this pillow leaves a smaller environmental footprint than most. The outer fabric of the travel sized version is made of hemp and organic cotton, while the inside is filled with triple-cleaned buckwheat husk, making for a blissful sleep. It’s handy for lumbar support, too.

The Dream Sling is a plush and supportive stand-in when resting on the shoulder of a friend or family member isn’t on the cards. It harnesses the weight of your arms – which thread through the adjoined sling – to keep the side pillow in place, minimising the risk of mid-sleep slippage.

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