Rectangular Travel Pillows

Smaller rectangular pillows are good for hotels, cars and camping

Although most travel pillows are designed to be worn around the neck, a few models resemble traditional rectangular pillows. These also can be used in bed, which can come in handy when there aren't enough pillows at your destination or you need a little extra support.

The most widely reviewed rectangular pillow is the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow (*Est. $20). We found the best review at the Los Angeles Times, where Hugo Mart'n tests four different pillows suitable for camping. His favorite is the Therm-a-Rest, which is filled with urethane foam and available in three sizes. The small pillow measures 16 by 12 inches and weighs 7 ounces. Medium and large sizes are available for a bit more money. These pillows can be compressed down to about one-fifth of their size for packing, and they fluff up when they are ready to be used. The entire pillow -- not just the cover -- can be washed.

We also found owner-written reviews at two reliable sources, REI.com and Amazon.com, where they earn above-average ratings. About 50 owners post reviews of the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow at REI's website, split about equally among the three sizes, saying it is comfortable, easy to pack and equally useful in the air, in the car or on a camping trip. At Amazon.com, about 20 owners leave comments, mostly for the small and medium Therm-a-Rest pillows. In general, users say it works well in a variety of settings, although a few complain that the pillows aren't big enough.

Testers at Prevention magazine like the Foot Levelers Pillo-Pedic Travel Pillow (*Est. $50), called a "miracle" by one tester with chronic back pain because it eliminates the need for her usual pain medication. This wedge-like pillow helps the head, neck and spine to maintain alignment and it is made of hypoallergenic polyurethane and polyester fiber. Each pillow offers four different support options: One side has a soft middle, one has a firmer middle, one has a wider neck support and one has a narrower neck support. About six reviewers on Amazon.com give this pillow a perfect score, saying it helps improve neck pain.