Trying to get some shut-eye while you’re cramped and sitting upright is an uphill battle. Cue the neck pillow. While they can look goofy, they can also be a huge help for getting some sleep in transit — particularly in economy. Fortunately, the internet is a bottomless pit of neck pillows. Unfortunately, most of them aren’t worth your time, money or carry-on space. So we’ve been testing them for you for years to report back on the good ones. Because the travel pillow market seems to be ever-evolving, that work is never done.

For this round of reviews, I chose models that were mentioned most in my social media comments on Instagram and YouTube, plus an upgraded version of a former favorite. I tested them on international flights, red-eyes and a bus trip from D.C. to New York. Here are my findings. (Prices listed are from our time of purchase.)

Best for quick trips: FlyHugz, $39

FlyHugz was one of the most-mentioned pillows people shared with me on social media. From the website it looked promising: it has a sleek, wraparound design with a Velcro strap that seemed supportive and cozy; there was no mention of the material of the outer fabric, but that it’s washable, breathable and made from hypoallergenic materials; the inside is memory foam. It also said it came with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

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Pros: The FlyHugz helped me sleep for most of a two-hour, 6 a.m. flight. I liked that it was soft and comfortable; it didn’t overheat like some pillows can when rubbing against your neck. The Velcro delivered a secure cinch that made it feel higher quality. Plus, it’s not huge. I could see myself being happy to have it on shorter flights, train rides or buses.

Cons: Even though it appears voluptuous, my neck still leaned enough to ache over time. I’d like a little more of a ledge to better avoid flop, particularly on any long-haul trips.

Best for a long red-eye: The Sleeper Hold, $75

After many recommendations to try the Sleeper Hold — a device that looks like a mad scientist’s contraption — I finally ordered one ahead of an overnight flight to London. I got a confirmation email with the subject line: “Say Goodbye to Bobblehead!” A departure from the typical neck pillow, it doesn’t prop up your head with a bolster that rests on your shoulders; you secure the contraption to the headrest of your seat, then affix your head to it via a strap that’s also an eye mask.

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Pros: Zero neck bob. None. You can really lock in and let go. I was able to sleep for long stretches at a time, and felt fully supported. Because there’s nothing swaddled around your neck, I avoided any hot or itchy sensation that can come with other travel pillows.

Cons: Do NOT wait until you fly to watch the tutorial; it’s more complicated to set up than you think. It felt more over-the-top to install and use than your typical neck pillow. And for something that’s mostly straps, it still takes up about as much space in your carry-on bag as a to-go salad.

While I was satisfied with it on my red-eye, it feels less versatile (and more expensive) than other options. I decided against using it on a recent 6 a.m. flight when seated in the exit row, assuming the flight attendant might question my emergency preparedness if I was headlocked to my seat.

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Finally, it might not be a good fit for delicate necks; I did get some soreness two hours into my nap. I unstrapped for a break, then re-strapped a half-hour later.

Best traditional option: The Neck’s Evolution S3 by Cabeau, $49.99

Of the three brands tested, Cabeau is by far the most established in the field. Their pillows have been dangling on the walls of airport shops for years, and its Evolution Classic was my top pick in 2022. When I saw they’d released an upgraded version of that winning model, I was eager to investigate. According to an email from the company, they “integrated consumer feedback” into the design of The Neck’s Evolution S3. It has “raised side support” and a “Seat Strap System” to help keep you upright, like the Sleeper Hold promises.

Pros: This was an absolute upgrade from an already-great neck pillow. I took it on a bumpy bus trip and a red-eye to Central America and was able to sleep in both scenarios. It felt solid and durable.

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Cons: I was never able to try the “Seat Strap System” because I never had a seat back with the right configuration to secure it. But my main complaint is the bulkiness. The evolved Cabeau does compress into a smaller carrying sheath, but unless you’re traveling with a ludicrously capacious bag, it still takes up a lot of real estate. Unless you plan to keep it dangling on the outside of your carry-on, it’s not a great choice for the ultralight packer on a long trip.

The best of all?

Unlike rounds of the past, there wasn’t a clear winner between these three models. They each had their strengths and weaknesses in different moments; the good-enough-ness of the washable FlyHugz; the undeniable support of the Sleeper Hold; the bulky but reliable Cabeau.

Ultimately my top choice comes from the last round of tests: the Trtl neck pillow (listed online at $59.99). It’s not perfect — I have yet to find a travel pillow that is — but it does the job and lies flat in a bag once you’re done using it, making it the best support-to-space ratio for me.