From The Straits Times    |

EDITOR’S RAVE
DESIGN GO SUPER DELUXE MEMORY FOAM PILLOW

$39.90, from The Planet Traveller
COMFORT This pillow hugged my neck and the back of my head without feeling constricting. Its height and thickness was just right, giving good support whether I was sleeping with my head tilted back or to the side. But the material made me feel hot after a while.
FIRMNESS AND SIZE It was firm and moulded well to my head, but it was also bulky.
CLEANING IT The cover is machine-washable while the foam insert can be wiped with a damp cloth. I removed the cover easily, but it wasn’t so easy to zip it back up.
VERDICT Gives good support, is firm, and the most comfortable.
RATING: 8.5/10

GREAT FIND
OSIM USNOOZ NECK PILLOW

$48, from Osim and major department stores
COMFORT The pillow fitted nicely across my shoulders, and the slightly-raised centre cradled the back of my head comfortably. But it was too low for me to sleep with my head to the side without feeling the strain, although I liked that it didn’t make my neck feel hot.
FIRMNESS AND SIZE It’s firm and gives good support. It’s also compact and easy to pack into your bag, although it is hard to fold if you want to make it even smaller.
CLEANING IT Both the cover and cushion are machine-washable; I found the cover easy to remove and fit back on. 
VERDICT Best for those who tend to sleep with their heads tilted back.
RATING: 7.5/10

BEST VALUE
EAGLE CREEK 2-IN-1 TRAVEL PILLOW

$29.90, from The Planet Traveller
COMFORT Higher and thicker than the other pillows, it held my head well when I tilted it to the side. But when I tilted it back, I couldn’t find a comfortable position. It’s also designed to be a back pillow to ease prolonged sitting, and it worked for that purpose, comfortably fitting the curve of my back. It was smooth, but my neck felt warm and I was perspiring and itchy after 10 minutes.
FIRMNESS AND SIZE The softest of the lot ­– my head sank into it with no strain at all. It can be shaped into a rectangle for easy packing.
CLEANING IT It has no cover; the whole pillow is machine-washable.
VERDICT It is soft and comfy, and doubles as a back-support pillow.
RATING: 7.5/10

LITTLE HONEY 3-IN-1 TRAVEL PILLOW
$26.90, from The Planet Traveller
COMFORT I could adjust its width to get the best fit for my neck. It can also be used as a back or wrap-around pillow, but I found it wasn’t thick enough to provide padded support. It has polyester fabric on one side and nylon on the other. The polyester side was cooling but felt slightly scratchy; the nylon side felt smooth but made me perspire after a while.
FIRMNESS AND SIZE It gave firm support after I smoothed the microbead filling to even it out. It was also the easiest to pack, moulding easily into empty spaces.
CLEANING IT It’s machine-washable but should be air-dried.
VERDICT An adjustable pillow that is fairly comfortable, and easy to pack.
RATING: 7/10

CABEAU EVOLUTION PILLOW
$53, from The Planet Traveller
COMFORT It was quite comfortable when I slept with my head to one side as the curve of the pillow extended up to my cheeks. But the height made it difficult to sleep with my head tilted back – it felt slightly suffocating. I didn’t feel hot while using this pillow. 
FIRMNESS AND SIZE It provided good support for the neck, but sank too deeply to the side, causing neck strain. It’s the bulkiest of the pillows tested, but can be compressed to make it more compact.
CLEANING IT The removable cover is machine-washable while the foam insert can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
VERDICT Its thick cushioning and height make it more suited to those with long necks.
RATING: 6.5/10

This article was originally published in Simply Her magazine, July 2014 issue.

All product and pricing information was correct at the time of the magazine’s publication. We advise readers to check with the stores for the latest availability and pricing information.