As a travel editor, I’ve tested a lot of travel pillows, from the classic U-shaped inflatable to ones that look like a seatbelt or a neck brace. They all promise to solve the same problem: the “bobblehead” effect, that miserable cycle where your head dips forward the moment you relax, jolts you awake, and repeats itself for the entire flight. None of them ever actually worked for
In a moment of desperation, while facing a 14-hour flight in economy, I bought the Sarisun travel pillow, which had been following me around social media for months. Here’s my honest review.
My Experience Using the Sarisun Travel Pillow
I tested the Sarisun on that 14-hour overnight flight, and I actually managed to get a few solid hours of sleep. It’s the first travel pillow I’ve used that actually stopped my head from pitching forward the moment I relaxed and drifted off. Did I get the kind of deep, uninterrupted sleep that comes with a lie-flat business class seat? Obviously not. But did a combination of this pillow and pharmaceuticals get me more sleep than I’ve ever managed with any other travel pillow? Absolutely yes.
The design is, admittedly, a little unhinged: you essentially strap yourself to your seatback, physically restraining your head from falling forward. On an overnight flight, though, no one really bats an eye at what fellow passengers are doing, and I actually spotted a few other people using the exact same pillow—so perhaps we’re all unhinged together (or at least got targeted by the same travel pillow algorithm on social media).
Sarisun’s included eye mask was actually comfortable and blocked light more effectively than many regular eye masks I’ve tried, thanks to a padded piece that closes the gap above your nose. The pillow straps onto the headrest wings rather than the seatback itself, so you’re not blocking the screen of the person behind you, which was something I was worried about.
I used the pillow alongside the NextSense Smartbuds, which stream meditative noise-masking sounds, which helped me drift off and stay asleep in longer stretches.
How It Works
The Sarisun has two components. First, a padded back panel that straps onto your seat’s headrest with adjustable straps long enough to fit any size headrest. Second, an eye mask with molded eye cups that velcros onto the back panel and features an adjustable length strap so you can get a comfortable fit.
Pros
- Comfortable to use
- Actually prevents your head from falling forward when sleeping
- Effective light-blocking eye mask
- Easily adjustable for different headrest and head sizes
- Folds down into its own travel pouch and is fairly compact
- Doesn’t intrude on the seat behind you
Cons
- Once the back panel is attached to the headrest, it pushes your head slightly forward — which means if you want to take a break from using the pillow, you need to remove the back section too, not just the mask. It’s a minor annoyance if you’re switching between sleeping and watching something
- If your seat doesn’t have headrest wings (which is common on some older planes or budget carriers), the pillow won’t work at all
- If your headrest is not adjustable for height (less common), and you’re on the shorter or taller side, you might struggle to get a comfortable fit
Sarisun vs. Trtl vs. Cabeau
I’ve tried both the Trtl neck pillow and several versions of the Cabeau pillow, and the Sarisun gave me noticeably more sleep than either. That said, I also packed a Cabeau inflatable pillow on this trip and found the two complemented each other well—I used the Cabeau to rest my arms on and as an alternative when I wanted to switch positions and sleep leaning on the tray table for a while.
Sarisun Travel Pillow Price and Where to Buy
I bought the Sarisun on Amazon, partly so I could return it if I hated it. I picked it up on sale for $17; the regular price is $20.99. It comes with a carrying case included, and is available in a variety of colors, in case you think the pink version will make you look less unhinged. There’s also a version with a chin strap, though I can’t imagine it adds much—either functionally or aesthetically.
