I tested neck pillows – the £10 winner is perfect for sleeping on summer holiday flights
THERE’S nothing worse than waking up on a long journey with a sore neck because you fell asleep awkwardly.
The best travel pillows are designed to make everything from long-haul flights to train journeys more comfortable.
They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but the best ones should support your neck 360 degrees around to prevent over-stretching the muscles on either side.
The prices can differ massively, too, but our research found you don’t need to spend a fortune on the right one.
Lynsey Hope tested a range of budget-friendly pillows on various journeys to see which was the most comfortable.
Here’s what she thought.
Go Neck pillow
- £69, ostrichpillow.co.uk
This pillow was elegant looking with an ergonomic design that wraps around the neck, reaching right up to the middle of the ears.
I initially thought it sat a bit high up, but when you rest back it is comfy.
The back sits flat against the seat behind so you’re not forced to sit slightly forward, which was the case with many, if not all, of the others.
The wraparound design also has a hidden chin pouch to stabilise the head.
The memory foam is soft and comfy and it all folds down into a convenient carry case.
Amazing if you can afford to spend nearly £70 on a travel pillow, but I thought this was pretty pricey.
- Comfort: 8/10
- Value: 5/10
- Overall score: 7/10
Go Travel 2 Memory Dreamer Pillow
- £19.99, johnlewis.com
I thought this was excellent value for money at less than £20.
The material is memory foam and it has a clip at the front to secure it in place.
This would be handy especially if you are in the middle or aisle seats on a plane.
However, if you want to wear it whilst chatting to someone, you would have to tilt your entire body in their direction, so it’s not the most sociable.
There’s also no carry bag and it doesn’t collapse down, so it’s a bit bulky to transport.
But it’s comfy and feels snug and supportive. It certainly does the job but it’s not the best one I found.
- Comfort: 9/10
- Value: 7/10
- Overall score: 8/10
Dunelm Travel Pillow
£4.80, dunelm.com
I picked this up on offer at Dunelm for less than a fiver, and I have to say, I was impressed with how comfy it was for the price.
It supported my head and neck pretty well.
But, it wasn’t as soft as some others – in fact, it felt quite firm.
For this price, though, you can’t really complain. They come in a lovely range of colours, too, which the kids loved.
Overall it’s firm, not too flimsy and amazing value for money, but not the comfiest.
- Comfort: 6/10
- Value: 7/10
- Overall score: 6/10
Mountain Warehouse Memory Foam Travel Pillow
- £12.99, mountainwarehouse.com
This pillow was quite solid and supportive, and it has a removable washable cover, which was a real plus.
It’s made from memory foam which makes it super soft, and it’s still really compact.
It moulds around your neck and has a button to keep it in place whilst travelling.
My 10-year-old son loved the map of the world design too.
Overall, I thought this was a good value buy that worked well.
- Comfort: 8/10
- Value: 8/10
- Overall score: 8/10
Savvy ways to save money at the airport
A WHOPPING 50% of families don't factor airport purchases into holiday spending, according to a survey by Premier Inn.
Here, Carol Deveney, from see-changes.com, shares tips on how to save at the airport.
- Get a lounge pass if you have a large family. Lounge passes start from £13.50 and usually include unlimited food and drink
- Shop smart – duty free isn’t always as good a deal as it looks
- Take a foldable cup and refill it after going through security
- Keep a travel “go bag” with everything you need in such as adapters and medications
- Prep ahead – you should only buy at the airport anything you’ll need while you are there
Solait Travel Neck Pillow
- £9.99, superdrug.com
For a tenner, this pillow was my absolute favourite.
I used it on a three hour flight and it made all the difference.
It’s made with memory foam and is soft but supportive, you really can’t go wrong.
I fell asleep and did not have a stiff neck when I woke up.
It’s washable too, which is a real plus after using it on a busy flight and dragging it round an airport.
It’s a shame it doesn’t squidge down a bit more for transportation, but otherwise, it’s a great choice.
- Comfort: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
- Overall score: 10/10
Life Hall Travel Pillow
- £9.99, amazon.co.uk
Made with 100% pure memory foam, this pillow has an ultra plush velour cover and is machine washable – comfortable and practical.
It has an ergonomic design that is meant to stop the neck rolling from side to side, but I actually found it a little loose, and when sat with my head tilted back it kept popping back too far.
This meant it wasn’t the most comfortable of the ones I tried.
The little button was handy for keeping it in place and it folds down into a handy compact bag, which was very useful when travelling, though.
- Comfort: 5/10
- Value: 6/10
- Overall score: 5/10
Jiancrate Travel Pillow
- £11.99, amazon.co.uk
This memory foam pillow has a unique, curved u-shape design and helps keep your neck steady while travelling.
It did stop my head slipping about, but the material wasn’t as soft as others and I didn’t find it very relaxing.
The adjustable straps allowed you to fidget about with it a bit to get it in the right position.
The cover is machine washable. It does the job, but it wasn’t my favourite.
- Comfort: 6/10
- Value: 6/10
- Overall score: 6/10
Summer taste tests
WE have tested a number of summer picky bits to help you get the best deal.
See what we thought of budget BBQ sauces here.
We also tested own-brand ketchups for you to squirt on your sausages.
And here’s how we found supermarkets’ own-brand coleslaws – the perfect barbecue side dish.
And we tested desserts based on classic chocolate bars – a perfect dish for after your summer barbie.
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