Although this pillow can spin around to adapt for front-facing sleepers, it provides a bit less chin support than the design suggests. Our classic memory foam pillow puts an end to stiff necks, bobbleheads, and waking up on someone else's shoulder.

I see people in deep REM on a long-haul flight, and I want to punch them (not literally, of course). But because it doesn’t wrap around your neck or have any straps to keep it in place, it’s not a great option for trying to rest while sitting upright. And if you're looking to sleep comfortably — as we all are — what good is a supportive travel pillow if it's not comfortable to snuggle up against? It comes with an attached strap that you can tether around the top of your seat to keep it in place. You need something that’s going to offer real support without taking up a bunch of space in your luggage (thus defeating the purpose of being a travel pillow).On the plus side, it’s relatively small and lightweight, and can be folded in half for more support if you’ve got a surface to lean against (it’s prone to slipping around otherwise). The Evolution Earth is like wrapping a cloud around your neck – the most supportive cloud on the market!

The lightest weight pillows in this review are the Ostrichpillow Light and trtl Pillow, which tip the scales at just over 4 ounces.It compresses down into a compact roll and is both supportive and comfortable when used like a normal pillow (lying down). Overall these are minor criticisms for a travel pillow that otherwise offers superb support — whether traveling by car, plane, or train, the Evolution S3 easily earns our top spot for a portable pillow. We also consider the actual materials used in these pillows — how the inside material balances support and comfort and the next-to-skin feel of the outer cover.

This one is bulky, but not to worry as you can fold it down to 1/4 of its size and into a travel bag. And when we could lean against a hard surface, the J-Pillow offered excellent head, neck and front-facing/chin support. Travelrest’s inflatable travel pillow is our favourite, which can be worn cross-body or to your side to create a firmer separation between yourself and your neighbour. From the makers of CNN’s Top Travel Pillow three years running; our newest, most, innovative travel pillow is the perfect neck pillow to comfortably rest on a long flight, long car ride, trains and anything in between.Each pillow is then passed on to a member of the wider team to take with them on a flight to further test when travelling.