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The Trtl Travel Pillow is pretty unique in the world of travel pillows. It’s not U-shaped, and it doesn’t look like a regular pillow in miniature. It’s actually not recognizable as a pillow at all. Instead, it’s a soft fleece wrap with an interior plastic support system, and it’s designed to maintain healthy posture and keep you comfortable on the go — even if you’re stuck in the middle seat.
We assessed the Trtl Travel Pillow to see whether it lives up to that promise. Our sleep tester carefully considered the neck pillow’s materials, how it works, its care and maintenance needs, the price tag, and the customer experience. It’s everything you need to know so you can decide whether this unusual travel pillow might make a difference in your journeys.
Overall, we found the Trtl innovative but questioned whether it’s comfortable enough to meet everyone’s needs, particularly on long-haul flights. Keep reading for our full review of this out-of-the-box travel pillow.
trtl Pillow
The TRTL travel pillow is a unique way to handle the common problem of needing neck support while trying to sleep on planes.
Sleepopolis Score
4.1 / 5
Trtl Travel Pillow Review Video
Before fully diving into our written review, check out our video review of the Trtl Travel Pillow. Note that this is from a slightly older model, so some of the scoring may be different.
Trtl Travel Pillow Overview
The Trtl Travel Pillow isn’t a traditional travel pillow. It’s designed for ergonomic head support, minus the head bobbing, neck pain, and general discomfort associated with trying to sleep comfortably when you’re stuck in an upright position in the middle or aisle seat and doing your best not to infringe on your neighbor’s space.
There are two elements to the Trtl: a long fleece cover, which is soft, fuzzy, and slightly stretchy, and an interior plastic component with a C shape. It’s flexible but sturdy, and it fits against the jaw and top of the shoulder to comfortably support your neck and cradle your head. That keeps you in an upright position with a slight lean to the head. During testing, we found that the wrap design does a good job of keeping the head and neck in place, preventing it from falling forward while you sleep.
To use the Trtl, you position the support component against your neck like a neck brace, aligning the top curve to your jaw. Then you wrap the fleece fabric sleeve around your neck like a scarf. A Velcro patch allows you to secure it comfortably in place for hands-free support. You can wear the Trtl however it suits you — on the left side, right side, or in the middle, which makes it pretty functional. Our tester found it worked well for keeping her reasonably upright, which is ideal if you’re in the middle seat on an airplane or seated anywhere without a space to lean.
While our tester described the design as revolutionary, she found it was less of a game changer in the comfort department. “I wish you could bend the design and position it where you want your head to fall,” she said, noting that the height of the internal support component was a little too tall for her neck. It prevented her from settling in as much as she would have liked. That may not be an issue for everyone, however, so our tester rated the overall experience a 4 out of 5. The Trtl is designed to be versatile, and the brand advises experimenting with positioning the support to find what feels comfortable to you.
Portability is a key consideration for travel pillows, and the Trtl performs very well here. It’s ultra lightweight and roughly the size of a book, so it tucks easily into carry-on luggage. While it doesn’t pack down the way a traditional travel pillow does, the travel case it comes in has a carabiner so you attach it right to your hand luggage or carry bag.
Trtl Travel Pillow Materials
Our expert tester was impressed with the quality of the materials in this travel neck pillow and scored them 5 stars out of 5. She described the cover as a soft, comfortable fleece fabric. It’s cozy but breathable — and according to the brand, the material is also hypoallergenic. That makes it suitable for those with sensitivities. The cover is long enough to wrap around the neck, similar to a short fleece scarf. It has a Velcro patch that helps secure the whole thing in place, and you’re free to keep it as tight or as loose as you like. The Velcro fastening tab also keeps the cover from dangling freely when it’s not in use.
The interior support component is plastic, but it’s designed to flex slightly for comfy support. A thin piece of foam inside the cover adds a little cushioning for more comfort. The Trtl also comes with a travel case that our tester suspected was waterproof.
Trtl Travel Pillow Care
Whether you’re traveling by plane or by car, travel pillows go through a lot and ease of care is pretty important. The Trtl’s fleece cover is completely removable and washable in a cold water cycle, before being air dried. But it’s not as simple as just tossing the Trtl directly into the washing machine. Since you need to remember to remove the interior support component first, we gave the Trtl 3 stars out of 5 for this category.
Trtl Travel Pillow Customer Service
The Trtl Travel Pillow comes with free standard shipping, and for a fee, priority shipping is also available if you need the pillow in a hurry. It can be ordered and shipped internationally as well. The company has a 100-day trial window, which really functions more as a risk-free try-on since you have to keep the tag on and the pillow needs to be in unused condition with the original packaging in order to be returned. However, the longer trial window really appealed to our tester, since it means you can order ahead of time for a trip to see if you like it. She gave it 5 out of 5 stars in this category.
When we checked third-party reviews, we found the Trtl is broadly liked. It has a 4-star rating based on 35,000 reviews. Negative product reviews mentioned comfort over the course of long flights, which aligns with our tester’s sleep experience. Some people found that it didn’t accommodate different neck lengths.
Trtl Travel Pillow Price
The full retail price for the Trtl Travel Pillow on the brand’s website, trtltravel.com, is $55. It’s also available for purchase through other online retailers, including Amazon. If you shop around, you may be able to find the Trtl on sale — at time of writing, it was $44 on the company website.
While it’s on the higher end for a travel pillow, our tester found the price justifiable given its quality materials and proprietary design. It’s more than just a cover and soft filling, and if it works for you, it’s absolutely worth the cost. Since that’s not a guarantee, we rated the Trtl 3 stars out of 5 for its cost.
How the Trtl Travel Pillow Feels in Every Sleep Position
Travel pillows aren’t like regular pillows. In most cases, they’re designed to support you while you’re seated upright, not lying down. That’s the case with the Trtl Travel Pillow. It’s not the kind of pillow you can comfortably use on your back, side, or stomach. But for air travel or road trips, when you’re looking to doze as comfortably as possible in an upright or semi-reclined position, the Trtl is worth considering. According to our tester, it can be used on any seat of the plane to keep your body and head in an ergonomic position — without disturbing your neighbor. Since it’s one size fits all, the catch is whether or not the internal support component accommodates the length of your neck.
Dedicated side sleepers may find the Trtl particularly comfortable. Since the design allows the head to rest slightly to the side, with support that keeps it from falling forward, it may feel really natural and familiar to people who are used to spending the night on their side.
My Final Thoughts About the Trtl Travel Pillow
Some people find traditional travel pillows don’t offer much in the way of comfort or support when they’re on a long car ride or flight. The Trtl Travel Pillow offers an alternative, with its proprietary design that aims for complete head and neck support. Still, not everyone is going to appreciate this innovative take on travel pillows. Here’s who might find it surprisingly comfortable, and who will probably do better with a regular travel pillow.
Who I Recommend the Trtl Travel Pillow For
- Frequent economy travelers who don’t have as much room to spread out for comfort will benefit from the Trtl’s design, which is intended to keep you comfortable in a fully upright position.
- Side sleepers are likely to find the Trtl feels really natural, because it’s designed to support the head in a gentle tilt without letting it fall forward.
- Carry-on-only travelers who want something small and lightweight should find the Trtl really easy to pack.
- People who get chilly on flights will probably appreciate the fleece fabric cover, which wraps around the neck to keep you supported and may help keep you cozy.
Who I Don’t Recommend the Trtl Travel Pillow For
- Those in search of a more traditional pillow shape that can be used in multiple ways, such behind the low back for lumbar support or against a car door, won’t find that with the Trtl. It’s designed to be used in one way only.
- People prone to neck pain may want to avoid the Trtl. When you wear it properly, it puts the head in a slightly tilted position that could cause strain if you have a sensitive neck.
Trtl Travel Pillow Policies
Wondering about the Trtl’s warranty or whether it can be returned? Here’s what the brand offers.
| Warranty | The Trtl Travel Pillow has a two-year warranty that protects against defects in materials and workmanship. Proof of purchase is required. |
| Shipping/Return Policy | Standard shipping is free, and the Trtl can be shipped internationally as well. Priority shipping is also available as an upgrade. While the brand offers a 100-day trial, returns are only accepted if the travel pillow is unused and in the same condition in which it was received. That includes the original packaging. |
| Customer Reviews | This pillow earned an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 on the Trtl website based on 1,465 customer reviews. |
Trtl Travel Pillow vs. Competitors
The Trtl Travel Pillow is unconventional, but it’s not the only travel pillow to buck the traditional U-shaped pillow trend. Here’s how it compares to other options on the market.
Trtl Travel Pillow vs Infinity Pillow
The Infinity Pillow is best described as a pillow-scarf hybrid. It’s a long loop with a soft, breathable cover and a cushy polyester fill. That makes it incredibly versatile, since it can be wrapped and twisted and looped in infinite ways to keep you comfortable. Wear it like a scarf — wrapped around your neck with one end pulled through the other — to simulate the neck support of the Trtl. Fold it across itself and tuck in behind your back for lumbar support. You can even wear it like a backpack to benefit from neck and low back support at once.
- Sleeping position: If you want a travel pillow that delivers head and neck support while you sit upright, the Trtl delivers. The Infinity Pillow gives you more options if you prefer the freedom to be creative.
- Care: The cover on the Infinity isn’t removable, which means the whole pillow needs to be washed whenever it gets dirty. On the plus side, it can be machine washed on a gentle cycle and tumbled dry on low heat. The cover of the Trtl is machine washable too, but it needs to be air dried to maintain its soft, fleecy feel. Remember to remove the interior support structure first!
- Price: Both the Trtl and the Infinity are comparably priced around $55, so it really comes down to which design appeals most.
Infinity Pillow
The Infinity Pillow is a great choice for those looking for a dynamic pillow to travel with!
Read Full ReviewRead more in our full Infinity Pillow review.
Trtl Travel Pillow vs Pluto Pod Pillow
In terms of innovation, the Pluto Pod gives the Trtl a run for its money. In addition to neck support, the Pod has a hood with a built-in eye mask that helps block out light and minimize sound — it’s designed to deliver privacy and comfort even in the middle of a crowded airplane. The wide base is made with memory foam that wraps around the neck and velcros into place to keep your head upright. The external material is a thick microfiber, while the interior fabric is soft and has a texture that’s similar to mesh.
- Sleeping position: Both the Trtl and the Pod are designed to keep you comfortable as you travel, so they work in an upright position. But the Pod is a little more versatile. It folds into itself, so it can be used as a more traditional pillow. The Trtl, on the other hand, doesn’t lend itself to more than one method of use.
- Care: The outer cover of the Pod is machine washable just like the Trtl. Both travel pillows need to have the covers removed from the interior components — the plastic support component in the Trtl and the memory foam core in the Pod.
- Price: Since the Pluto Pod is a combination travel pillow, sleep mask, and privacy hood in one, it’s priced accordingly at $145. If you’re shopping on a budget, the Trtl is the more economical purchase.
Pluto Pod Travel Pillow
The latest version of this renowned travel pillow has a hood that helps secure it to your head and cushion your neck.
Read Full ReviewOther Models From Trtl
If you love the design of the Trtl, it’s available in a few different models to meet specific needs beyond upright support.
Trtl Travel Pillow vs Trtl Pillow Plus
The Trtl Pillow Plus is an upgraded version of the original. It solves the fit issue our tester experienced because it’s fully height adjustable. The cover, which is made with a blend of polyester, spandex, rayon, and fleece that makes it soft, stretchy, and breathable, has Velcro on the top and bottom for a more precise fit. But it’s the two knobs on the plastic insert that give you the flexibility to extend or shorten the support system as it suits you. That makes it far more accommodating for people with different neck lengths. High-density foam padding also offers more cushioning between you and the interior support system, but the Plus is still lightweight and compact.
- Sleeping position: Both the Trtl Pillow Plus and the original Trtl are designs for upright support, so you can be comfortable no matter which seat you get on the plane or in the car.
- Care: There’s no difference in care and maintenance for either pillow — the covers can be machine washed and air dried, but the internal plastic component must be removed first.
- Price: With its upgraded design, the Plus is the pricier option. It retails for just under $75 compared to the original, which is $55. But if you have concerns about the length of your neck, its adjustability may be worth the extra money.
Read more in our full Trtl Pillow Plus review.
trtl Pillow Plus
The trtl Travel Pillow Plus takes the neck support and comfort of the original trtl Travel Pillow to the next level!
Sleepopolis Score
4.80 / 5
Our Review Process
At Sleepopolis, our team of certified sleep science coaches personally test each mattress and accessory. We start by unboxing the product to figure out how difficult (or easy) it is to get the mattress from the box to the bed. Next, we perform our Sleepopolis tests, using specialized tools to measure qualities like motion transfer, bounce, pressure relief, and more. These steps allow us to give our final verdict on the mattress or accessory.
FAQs
Is the Trtl Travel Pillow machine washable?
The Trtl Travel Pillow can be machine washed, but the internal support system needs to be removed first. The cover can be washed in cold water on a gentle cycle and air dried.
How does the Trtl Travel Pillow work?
It’s a simple but smart two-part design. A fleece cover hides a cushioned plastic component that supports your neck and head so you can sit upright in an aisle or middle seat without your head falling too far to either side or dropping forward. The fleece cover wraps around your neck and Velcros into place.
How do you pack a Trtl Travel Pillow?
The Trtl Travel Pillow is small and lightweight, about the size of a book. It fits easily into carry-on luggage, and the carry case includes a carabiner if you prefer to clip it onto your hand luggage.
Does the Trtl Travel Pillow count as a carry on?
No, the Trtl Travel Pillow shouldn’t count as a separate carry-on, but it is considered a personal item. You can’t wear it through the airport like a traditional travel pillow, so put it in your carry-on luggage to avoid any potential issues.