Pros and Cons of Different Travel Pillow Materials

Beautiful young woman with travel pillow sitting in car
Photo by serezniy/Depositphotos

Travel pillows come in all shapes and sizes, and they can be made from many different materials. With the abundance of options to choose from, it can be hard to make your pick, but our brief guide is here to help you weigh all the pros and cons and make the right verdict.

Inflatable Travel Pillows

The main advantage of inflatable travel pillows is that they’re easy to carry and barely take up any space before being inflated, but they’re rarely as comfortable or durable as other types of travel pillows.

Microbead Travel Pillows

Microbead pillows are another great lightweight option and their flexibility is one of their strongest suits, but their firmness can vary and they may clump over time.  

Memory Foam Travel Pillows

Memory foam pillows are definitely the most comfortable option on the market because they’ll adjust to the shape of your neck, providing ultimate support. Unfortunately, they’re also the least lightweight and often come with a higher price tag than other models.

Microfiber Travel Pillows

Microfiber travel pillows are made from the same material as most regular pillows, so they’re the most accessible model on the market, but they’re also less supportive and comfortable than memory foam pillows.