The best neck pillow for on the go in the test

The magical sounding name stands for the well-known “banana”, which you can put around your neck when you are traveling to relieve your head.

You have certainly already bought a cheap neck pillow in the airport shop – but thrown it in the trash after wearing it once.

Meanwhile, the time of limp and shapeless cheap neck pillows is over. I will prove it to you and I hope that you too will soon be able to enjoy your naps while sitting without pain.

What is important when choosing a neck pillow

Whether it’s a croissant, a banana or just an orthopedic neck pillow – they are all shaped like a horseshoe, which prevents your head from falling off on all sides.

They are suitable for all situations in life in which you can take a short nap: as a travel pillow , in the office, in the bathtub, in bed or on the sofa. There are no limits to your sleep creativity.

You will find many models online and in specialist shops, from simple to unique, with different fillings and covers.

Before you decide to buy, you should think about the desired functionality of your neck pillow:

• Type & shape (e.g. with / without stand-up collar)
• Filling (e.g. air, foam or beads)
• Cover (cotton, microfiber, etc.)
• Easy cleaning: yes or no
• Accessories such as a pocket or earplug

To make it easier for you to choose, I have created a personal test winner list of all commercially available neck cushions and made sure that they all have the properties mentioned above.

You will then find more information on the various fillings and materials as well as tips on cleaning and making them yourself. Have fun!

My personal top recommendations & test winners

The following list gives you an overview of the most common variants in different price categories.

In the end, only you can decide between simple and unique! Well-known brands such as Tempur, Natureline or Liebes von Priebes were also taken into account.

Classic neck pillow with great PLV

Do you like it simple and compact without a big mess?

The following neck pillow by daydream is one of the classics of the U-shape and is filled with simple styrofoam balls.

In addition, it has a small integrated compartment on the side, e.g. for headphones. The cover is made of velvet and is available in 7 different colors. Your advantages: Great price-performance ratio and convenient too.

Inflatable neck pillow

Neck pillows from IZUKU are among the top riders.

Why? Not because they are handy, inflatable and good for on the go, but because they have an integrated lavender-based aromatherapy and the velvety cover can be separated from the inner part.

In addition, your vertebrae are additionally supported by the ergonomic camel hump design. You can’t get more of a feel-good factor!

Neck pillow for children and babies

While traveling, you are sure to meet like-minded people. People whose heads hang low on their chests and snore as loud as possible.

Often, however, it is children who quickly fall into a deep sleep after a “When are we there?” The following three models are suitable for babies, toddlers from 9 months and older children.

Neck pillow made from sustainable materials

You can never go wrong with Sternthaler products. The workmanship is excellent and the materials are of high quality. The price also absolutely does justice to this neck pillow.

So that nothing goes wrong or goes wrong on your travels, terry cloth neck pillows are extremely useful because the fabric absorbs liquids quickly and dries them.

The materials used here all come from organic farming.

However, pay attention to the care instructions. A wool wash including spinning can cause the sheep’s wool filling to become matted.

Premium neck pillow Dieter

The name is program. Products manufactured by the two entrepreneurs Liebes von Priebes are characterized by care, ecological standards and, of course, a love of detail.

The “Dieter” model particularly appealed to me because it is simple, practical and made of easy-care materials.

The neck pillow can be washed in the washing machine at 30 degrees with mild detergent (without bleach).

Neck support with stand-up collar

Perhaps you became aware of so-called “memory foam” on your journey to find the perfect neck pillow.

A foam that adapts to your body in an enchanting way. You can find out more about this in the “Fillings” section below.

Here it continues with the price-performance winner among the neck pillow with stand-up collar, which is made of exactly this material.

Orthopedic neck pillow

With a neck pillow you are already pretty healthy.

However, if you suffer from chronic pain in the neck and head, orthopedic models are ideal for you. In addition to a neck pillow set, you usually get a space-saving bag, drawstrings, an eye mask or ear plugs.

Neck pillow 2 in 1

What does 2 in 1 mean? Very easily! If necessary, you can turn the neck pillow into a pillow! Pretty practical, isn’t it?

These neck pillows are mostly made of velvety soft and fluffy microfiber fabrics, which are easy to care for and quite space-saving.

The presented pillow is particularly breathable and durable, which is why it is particularly suitable for longer trips.

Branded neck pillow

Are you a brand advocate and love quality that you can touch? Well-known textile manufacturers such as Tempur offer high-quality neck pillows.

However, the snooze aid also has its price. The reason for this is the material, because Tempur neck pillows are made of velor.

Another special feature is the foam inside, which is also called Tempur. The climate-regulating property of the material stores body heat and naturally releases it again.

A small but nice heater for on the go or at home.

How to recognize high quality neck pillow – general buying guide

If you have not found what you are looking for in my recommendations from above or if you would like to search for a suitable pillow yourself, I would like to give you a few general tips.

Pay attention to the following points to find the perfect neck pillow:

Fillings

There are many different fillings that have some advantages and disadvantages (especially for allergy sufferers) and determine how you can clean the neck pillow.

In addition, the filling contributes to how much or weakly your head is relieved and your muscles can relax. A filling that is too hard can result in a stiff neck.

However, if there is not enough material inside, the neck pillow will not serve the desired purpose and your head will not receive optimal support.

Natural fillings

Whether cherry stones, beech wheat, spelled or millet grains – natural fillings are particularly suitable for allergy sufferers and those who rely on sustainability.

• They perform the same function as microspheres or foam, but they don’t always adapt 100% to your head.
• In addition, these neck supports are much heavier and cumbersome to transport. However, their aromatic smell is in no way compared to other types of filling.

Microbeads & synthetic cotton

You will often find the term Stypropor balls instead of microspheres. Neck pillows made from artificial pearls are almost the cheapest compared to other fillings.

• Make sure that there are not too many beads in the neck pillow. Otherwise there is a risk that your head will be fixed too tightly in one position.
• Nevertheless, the small pearls, with the correct dosage inside, offer an optimal hold for head and neck.

Memory Foam

Perhaps you became aware of so-called “memory foam” on your journey to find the perfect neck pillow.

This type of foam is made from shape memory polymers. What? Yes, there is such a thing. But before you get into this science any further, let me explain the benefit:

• The foam adapts to the shape of your head precisely and cushions shocks excellently. You can even survive a car ride over hill and dale through India.

air

The best filling for transport, long journeys and small luggage. The best part is that you can decide and regulate the hardness of the neck pillow yourself.

• However, they do not cushion shocks as well as memory foam, for example. Another disadvantage is that they can break faster.
• But that has already been considered, because most inflatable neck pillows have an inner part from which the cover can be separated.

reference

The upper of a neck pillow should be soft and cozy. Who would like to sleep on scratchy plastic surfaces?

I recommend the following materials as they are easy to care for and dirt-repellent.

cotton

The best alternative for allergy sufferers, because natural fabrics such as cotton are skin-friendly, breathable and heat-resistant.

Microfiber

Also known under the term “polyester”. The easy-care plastic is washable, dirt-repellent and hardly provides a breeding ground for bacteria or viruses. After washing, it dries super fast and keeps a consistent shape without creases. Synthetic fibers include:

• Fleece: a fluffy velor fabric, very water-repellent
• Jersey: a light, elastic fabric that is usually made from a mix of viscose, cotton or silk

Terrycloth

The fabric is particularly suitable for children’s neckbones because it is absolutely absorbent, dries in no time and is the easiest to care for material that you can find on the market.

Tips on cleaning, care and durability

Make sure that your neck pillow has a removable cover.

This is the only way to guarantee hygienic use. But you can usually wash neck pillows without a removable cover (gently with your hands).

You can find more information about this on the label of your product or under the care instructions from the provider. There you can also find out whether the cover or the entire neck pillow should be washed by hand.

• Neck pillow with removable cover: Wash in the washing machine at 30 degrees (polyester) or 60 degrees (cotton). Use bleach-free liquid laundry detergent to avoid damaging the fabric and color of the pillow.
• Neck pillow without removable cover: It is essential to read the manufacturer’s care instructions. If you want to take a risk, I recommend a light delicate cycle with a very low spin speed. Your neck pillow will take longer to dry, but you don’t run the risk of damaging the filling.

Are you missing the right care substance? Here is my little insider tip for you:

Online vs. specialist retailers

As already mentioned, you can also buy neck pillow in the airport shop. But as with all products that you buy, the rule applies: if you buy cheap, you buy twice.

It is better to invest one euro more and look for a product that meets your requirements. Of course, it is always easier to do “offline”, because this gives you the opportunity to test the neck pillow on site.

However, you cannot benefit from the wide range of special offers that are waiting for you on the Internet, for example on Amazon, in specialist retailers. So it is better to wait for the offer sheets from the specialist dealers before you rush off.

You can find good, space-saving neck pillows in drugstores such as dm or Rossmann, for example. You can find high-quality neck pillows at specialist retailers such as the Danish bed house. If you want it easy and convenient, take a look at the LIDL or Tchibo online shops.

Knitting, sewing & crocheting: DIY neck pillow

The horseshoe shape of the neck pillow is simple and is great for beginners. You will therefore find a number of free pattern patterns and video explanations on the Internet .

Not only neck bolsters, but also simple pillows for the couch or bed can be easily sewn by yourself.

However, the right filling material is also crucial here. Above all, these should be allergy-neutral, tested for harmful substances and, ideally, labeled with a textile seal (e.g. OEKO-TEX).

Conclusion & further tips for healthy sleep

Neck cushions are available for adults, children and toddlers or babies. You can also find high-quality neck pillows at low prices everywhere – whether online or in specialist shops.

A decisive criterion before buying is the filling. The material inside determines the quality of the product and thus also the final price.

• Inexpensive neck cushions that are space-saving and have a soft cover are usually filled with plastic such as microbeads.
• Neck pillows in the middle price segment are made of memory foam – a foam that adapts perfectly to your head and neck and is breathable.

Tip: Pay attention to the correct dosage of the contents. Too much filling can lead to a tense posture, causing neck pain and headaches.

Too little content can lead to tension and your neck pillow will not serve the intended purpose in the end.

Before buying, you should take a look at the care instructions from the supplier and check whether your neck pillow has a removable cover that is easy to care for and machine-washable. This is the only way to ensure hygienic use.