Best Car Travel Neck Pillow

best car travel pillow

In this set of reviews we look at the best car travel neck pillows. If you are your partner do a lot of travelling and driving around, one of the best things you can do is make yourself as company as comfortable as possible when you aren’t driving.

We have looked at two neck pillows which you can lean on, the Medipaq and the Locen, as well as a traditional neck travel pillow, the Purefly and also included a bizarre looking head rest pillow for travelling by Cuxus.

We often drive from our home in Wales, UK, to see friends and family all over. South Wales is 4-5 hours drive because of the slow roads, the highlands of Scotland are at least 12 hours away depending on where you go up there and anywhere in south England is at least 5-6 hours away. What my partner and I do is split the driving up between us every 2-3hours. This way, once you finish a part of the journey you can stop for a bit together, stretch the legs and then the passenger can rest for a couple of hours and get a good rest in for their next stint.

Without a car travel neck pillow I would find it very hard to fall asleep for more than 20 minutes at a time. Because of all the juddering in the car and movement. With the pillows and headrests below you can get yourself in a comfortable spot and fall asleep for a decent amount of time and actually refresh your mind with some REM sleep.

Alternatives To A Neck Pillow

Being tall, I find it very hard to get comfortable in a car when travelling, I need to be exhausted to actually fall asleep. This is not good when you are sharing driving with someone else and you need all the sleep you can get so that you can refresh your mind for your next turn at driving.

One of the best alternatives to a neck pillow or even to just help with sleeping in a car for long journeys is to use a very thick and hard pillow. Simply tuck that in-between yourself and the safety belt so that it is inline with your body. The safety belt should hold it in against you and from there you can just lean forward in to the pillow slightly.

Combine this with a Purefly, Locen or Medipaq neck pillow to go behind your head and you should have the perfect sleeping position. I have managed to get some great sleeps in this way which I otherwise wouldn’t have trying to lean back or just sat up right in the car seat.

If you are a tall person, the Cuxus is one of the best inventions ever in aid of sleeping during a flight or car journey. Lying on your back can’t be beaten but when you are in the seat of a car and you either can’t move your seat back much or you can’t get comfortable, the Cuxus is a great idea.

We have voted this as the best car travel pillow just because of it’s unique design, it still folds away in to a small pack so great for travelling and flights too. Whats best is that as a taller person this just can’t be beaten.

The Purefly neck pillow has come in 2nd because this type of travel pillow design is still very good. You get the rear neck support and you can lean your head to either side and you won’t end up with a bad neck after a sleep. It feels super soft, the softest out of the lot and if you want a traditional pillow, this would be a great choice.

The Locen and Medipaq come in third and fourth but both do different things. The Medipaq is a great pillow if you wish to put your head to the side in the car and lean your head on the cars side, window or fellow passenger, it’s versatile an feels very soft.

The Locen is limited to sitting behind your neck, if you can move your seat back and you are in the front passenger seat, this may be the best as it will support your head and neck from rolling and it will feel like you’re on a comfortable supportive pad whilst you rest. The downside is that it is fixed to the seat above your shoulders. Combining it with a side pillow could be perfect for longer journeys in the car.

RankBuyTitleRatingPrice
1Check price @ AmazonReview of Cuxus Inflatable Travel Pillow4.9/5££
2Check price @ AmazonReview of Purefly Travel Pillow Luxuriously Soft Inflatable Neck Pillow Support4.5/5£
3Check price @ AmazonReview of LOCEN Memory Foam Neck Support Travel Pillow4.7/5££
4Check price @ AmazonReview of Medipaq Memory Foam Travel Head Neck Rest4.6/5££

Review of Cuxus Inflatable Travel Pillow

This is a review of the Cuxus Inflatable Travel Pillow, a bizarre looking but very practical travel pillow.

Check price @ Amazon

Cuxus Travel Inflatable Pillow

Technical DetailsSeasonall seasonsPortableYesSelf InflatingNoFits 3 DoorNoFits 5 DoorNoAirline ApprovedYesRating4.9/5Price££WarrantyNoVehiclecarsuvtruckvanBrandCuxusNumber of seats1 seatsWeight331 gWashableYesNext Day DeliveryYesStar rating

The Cuxus inflatable travel pillow is quite unusual to look at, at first impressions you can already tell there is a little more to this than a simple cushion.

The pillow is easy to carry as it can be deflated down to a very compact size at 10 by 15 cm in size that goes neatly into a small carry pouch. With this being one of the largest travel pillows on the market it is a pleasant surprise that it can fold down so small.

It takes several breathes to inflate the pillow using the inflator valve, this is quick and very easy to do. Once inflated it provides an excellent large sized cushion to be placed on to your lap. It is designed to give you more support in comparison to a standard travel pillow. There are arm holes at either side and a hole to place your face (similar experience to putting your face down in a massage table). The pillow allows your to essentially hug the pillow and feel supported without your head falling or putting strain on your neck and back.

The material is made from an environmentally friendly PVC flocking, there is a padded cushion to the base of the pillow this is very comfortable and holds your weight well without putting to much pressure on your legs. The material is comfortable and gentle on the skin, it is not at all plush so do not expect it to be super soft or fluffy, 

As a passenger in the car especially on the back seat I find myself falling asleep quite easily but always feeling very uncomfortable afterwards due to scrunching my head against the window or my head bopping around. The Cuxus pillow really does give you somewhere sturdy to lie your head when you are sat upright. It isn’t the right cushion for when you have the option to lie down in the back seat or camping lying down but it could be used for anywhere else you may find yourself sat up such as when flying or other forms of public transport.

For me, this is when it comes in to it’s own and I can see why it is reviewed so highly elsewhere online. You can use it as a passenger when in a car, in any seat, use it on a plane, bus, train journey or other form of transport. I am 6’1″ tall and struggle to get comfortable in a car or on a long flight. Because of my height and being a tall person my head flops around when sat up right and I can’t get my head down on to a plane table with my arms under my head. This sleeping aid and travel pillow fixes these problems as it keeps my head from coming all the way down to the table infront of me and lets my arms rest inside of the space as well.Pros

  • Packs away very small
  • Full body head support
  • Strong and sturdy
  • Comfortable
  • Easy to inflate
  • Available for next day delivery with Amazon Prime
  • Especially good for taller people who struggle to get comfortable on a car journey or flight

Cons

  • Not the softest material
  • The seems can be felt
  • The material is a little thin
  • Only useful for when trying to sleep in an upwards position
  • Cannot be used by the driver

Verdict

The Cuxus travel pillow is a fantastic and very useful cushion for when you really are stuck in the upright position and have no comfortable way of resting your head.

Review of Purefly Travel Pillow Luxuriously Soft Inflatable Neck Pillow Support

This is a review of the Purefly Travel Neck Pillow Support

Check price @ Amazon

Purefly Travel Neck Pillow Support

Technical DetailsSeasonall seasonsPortableYesFits 3 DoorNoFits 5 DoorNoAirline ApprovedYesRating4.5/5Price£Hand heldYesWarrantyNoVehiclecarsuvtruckvanBrandPureflyNumber of seats1 seatsDimensions30 x 28 x 14 cmWeight259 gWashableYesNext Day DeliveryNoStar rating

The Purefly travel pillow is one of the softest travel cushions out there. Made with a soft  velvet velour cover that can be easily removed and washed. It it quite snuggly wrapped around your neck, to the back of the cushion is a raised area which provides extra support to your neck and points on this that are able to catch your head as you fall into slumber. It’s ability to cradle your neck means it does not work the best for environments when you are lying down.

This car travel cushion does not attach to the headrest , it works by cradling around your neck. The pillow does take a few minutes to inflate. It uses an unusual large ball button to the right side of the cushion which you press to inflate  as it has within it a built in pump. This means there is no need to inflate by manually blowing it up by breathing into it. The pump allows for ease of inflation which helps when you may not want a fully firm pillow. To deflate you will need to open the black valve and press it in to allow the air to come out. Now a friend of mine also bought one of these and found that after a few goes the button did not work, mine is still working so this is something to consider. Once deflated it can neatly be rolled up and popped into to its soft velvet travel pouch for carrying and safe keeping.Pros

  • Inflatable and packs away very small
  • Very soft outer material
  • Removable cover that is machine washable
  • Extra raised section for neck support
  • Portable
  • Can be used in many environments

Cons

  • Potential for pump to break
  • No attachments for car headrests
  • Not suitable for when lying down

Verdict

This is a  very soft, lightweight and convenient travel pillow for all types of passenger travel, whether car or train or a small or long journey.

Review of LOCEN Memory Foam Neck Support Travel Pillow

This is a review of the LOCEN Memory Foam Neck Support Travel Pillow

Check price @ Amazon

LOCEN Memory Foam Neck Support Travel Pillow

Technical DetailsSeasonall seasonsPortableYesFits 3 DoorYesFits 5 DoorYesRating4.7/5Price££WarrantyNoVehiclecarsuvtruckvanBrandLOCENNumber of seats1 seatsDimensionsL27 x W22 x H12cmWeight327 gWashableNoNext Day DeliveryYesStar rating

The LOCEN travel pillow is well constructed, made of good quality memory foam that holds its shape well, using no extra fillers or chemicals. The outer material is not soft but it is comfortable and durable. It is also removable so that it can taken off and machine washed and then reapplied. The cover is attached over the cushion with a strong stainless steel zip.

The pillow measures 32.3 x 23.6 x 12.7 cm in size, it cannot be made smaller or any more compact as this can damage the memory foam ability. It is best that when it is in the car that it is in use.

It can be attached in place by unclipping the buckle at the back attaching the elastic strap around the headrest or its poles and then re clip the buckle. The pillow is very sturdy once in place. It’s ability to attach means it can be used comfortably and safely while driving to provide extra neck support for driving long distance journeys.Pros

  • Holds its shape
  • Provides excellent neck support
  • Can be used while diving

Cons

  • Cannot be stowed away at a smaller size
  • Need to be careful where it is stowed due to memory foam

Verdict

The LOCEN travel pillow is comfortable, easily cleaned and can be used be any passenger or even the driver of the car, making it very handy in providing neck support for long distance driving.

Review of Medipaq Memory Foam Travel Head Neck Rest

This is a review of the Medipaq Memory Foam Travel Head Neck Rest

Check price @ Amazon

Medipaq® Memory Foam Travel Head Neck Rest

Technical DetailsSeasonall seasonsPortableYesFits 3 DoorNoFits 5 DoorNoAirline ApprovedYesStretchyYesRating4.6/5Price££WarrantyNoBrandMedipaqNumber of seats1 seatsWashableYesNext Day DeliveryNoStar rating

The Medipaq memory foam travel pillow isn’t fluffy but is very comfortable! It is made from a visco elastic memory foam and then has a cover made from visco and polyester. There is a zipper to allow the outer cover to come off and be machine washed at 30 degrees. The material is anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic.

There is a stretchy strap to the back of the pillow allowing you to pull over the top of your headrest to sit at your neck position, this means it can be used by the driver of the car. I have personally used this on quite a few long distances journeys from South Wales to North Wales and the pillow sits beautifully in place and once it has moulded to your neck it supports it very well. The problem arises after having it for some time the elastic strap gets slack and no longer holds the pillow in place unless you use something like a paperclip to fold the strap slightly to keep it tight.

The bone but flattish shape to the pillow means that it can be used not only for the neck and head area but for the lower back. Something I had not initially bought it for however with its very soft memory foam it is so comfortable in supporting this part of your body too. The shape also means it can be used for multiple sleeping environments whether you are sitting upright or lying down and whether you are travelling in the car or camping.Pros

  • Moulds to the shape of your neck
  • Choice of colours
  • Machine Washable
  • Hypo-allergenic material
  • Can be used to support lower back
  • Can be used when upright or lying down
  • Next day delivery with Amazon Prime
  • Well constructed and tested memory foam material

Cons

  • The strap loosens over time
  • Can not be compacted down
  • No carry pouch

Verdict

The Medipaq memory foam travel pillow is extremely comfortable, durable and versatile. You will need to adjust the strap as it loosens over time however this pillow is ready for use in any sleeping environment and perfect for car travel in supporting either your neck, head or back as you drive.

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