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Snugl vs Cabeau

Snugl vs Cabeau
Latest posts by Crystal Schwanke (see all)

Traveling can be exhausting and uncomfortable, which is why comparing travel neck pillows, like Snugl vs Cabeau, is important. You’ll want to get the best fit–for your body and your needs–so you can land at your destination feeling refreshed.

Think about how you like to sleep at home (on your back or side, for example), whether you tend to overheat, and whether you have any habits that might be embarrassing on public transportation (like snoring or drooling), and then keep those in mind. 

For me, I wanted to compare the Snugl Travel Pillow because of its interesting shape vs. the Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution (TNE) pillow, which looked great because of the chin strap and ability to attach to the seat and keep you upright while you doze.

Comparison at a Glance

Before I get into the details of each travel pillow, here’s a quick rundown of what we’re working with:

Snugl Travel PillowCabeau The Neck’s Evolution
SupportAvailable in 7 colors, 1 size, with a customizable fit360-degree memory foam can be worn in several positions for optimal comfort
MaterialsCationic fabric (usually polyester), VISCO-ELASTIC memory foamPolyester, microsuede, birdseye mesh, memory foam
ClosureAdjustable buckle strapAdjustable chinstrap (tab closure)
Price$44.08$49.99
Warranty2 years1 year
AdjustabilityDifferent sizes are available, and from there, tighten or loosen the straps to get your perfect fitFully customizable, adjustable seat strap, and chin strap adapts to your needs
PackabilityCan be rolled up to about 30% of its regular size, placed in a travel bag, and clipped to luggageReduces to ⅓ of its size and can be put in its travel bag and strapped to luggage
WashabilityRemovable cover can be washed, and spare covers are available on AmazonRemovable cover can be washed
Available optionsAvailable in 13 colors and 3 sizesAvailable in 7 colors, 1 size with a customizable fit

Snugl vs Cabeau: An Introduction

When you’re looking into Snugl vs Cabeau, there’s really no wrong option. Both are excellent choices that will make travel a lot more comfortable without adding a lot of bulk to your luggage. 

The Snugl travel pillow is eye-catching because of its shape and versatility. It’s not your typical travel neck pillow. It can be worn in different positions to support your head if you tend to lean toward the side or front, or you want more shoulder support. It’s nice that it comes in different sizes, too. My concern with the Snugl would be overheating or feeling like there was too much pillow around my neck to be comfortable; I worry about it feeling claustrophobic (and hot), especially on longer trips.

The Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution S3 (TNE) is thoughtfully designed as well, with a flat back that sits comfortably against the seat rather than pushing your head forward at an unnatural angle. It connects to the headrest and has a chin strap to keep your head upright, maintain good posture as you sleep, and help you avoid snoring, drooling, or slouching forward on the go. My only concern here is the potential for discomfort from the chin strap in the case of bad turbulence or, if used in a car, sudden braking.

Compare and Contrast

Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty and break the comparison down even further so you’ll know which one to buy before your next big trip.

Support and Design

Snugl Travel Pillow: The design and shape is what caught my attention first. I like that you can wear it different ways, with the taller side offering support for “side sleepers” (those who tilt their head left or right instead of leaning back or slouching forward), support your chin, or offer more shoulder support. It’s nice to have a shape that allows you to make the pillow work for your specific needs. 

Snugl Travel Pillow

However, if you’re like me and having something so thick around the front of your neck would make your anxiety levels rise, diminishing any chance of getting good sleep on the go, you’ll be limited in how you can wear it. You may find yourself limited to the conventional and reversed positions because you need the gap in the front between the two sides of the pillow to feel comfortable.

Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution S3: This one’s only made to fit one way, but it offers support all the way around, keeping you upright, thanks to the chin strap and seat strap, plus support on each side and a flatter back to hug the seat. Your ideal sleep position doesn’t matter here, because you’ll be supported no matter what, without changing the pillow position.

Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution S3

Verdict: Cabeau TNE wins here because it offers support all the way around–regardless of how you like to sleep–without bulk that could feel claustrophobic for some people. 

Fabric/Materials

Snugl Travel Pillow: The cationic fabric (basically polyester) and memory foam combo make for a pretty standard travel pillow combination. The cover comes off and can easily be washed. You can also get extra covers, which is helpful if you travel often.

Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution S3: This is basically the same setup, with polyester and memory foam. You may find that the addition of mesh makes the pillow feel cooler overall. However, the microsuede can feel too warm, like polyester, or keep you cool, depending on the environment.

Verdict: It’s a tie. They use such similar materials, there’s no clear winner here. 

Packability

Snugl Travel Pillow: When you roll the Snugl pillow up to pack it away, you’ll reduce its size by about 70 percent. Then the buckle strap holds it together before you slip it into its travel bag and attach it to–or toss it into–your luggage.

Snugl Packing

Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution S3: The Cabeau travel pillow can be collapsed down to a third of its size, tucked into its travel bag, and attached to the outside of your luggage or tossed inside your carry-on. You just unhook the chin strap and roll the pillow up from one end to the other.

Cabeau packing

Verdict: These are extremely similar in this category again, so it’s a tie.

Comfort

Snugl Travel Pillow: The Snugl travel pillow offers comfort from any angle, but it doesn’t help you stay upright in your sleep while it does it, which could potentially cause neck or back pain on a long flight or ride. What may feel comfortable to some people will feel stifling–and maybe hot–to others (unless you wear it with the opening toward the front). The memory foam, in a position that’s a good fit for your anatomy and sleeping preferences, will offer support and comfort.

Comfort pillow

Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution S3: The Cabeau also offers memory foam, but the shape of it optimizes comfort without feeling like there’s too much around the front of your neck. As mentioned earlier, the back is flatter so it’ll sit against the seat without disrupting your normal posture. 

Comfort pillow

You can attach this pillow to the seat so you’ll stay upright, reducing the risk of other aches and pains that might stem from slouching forward or letting your head bob around during your trip. The chin strap supports your head and keeps your mouth shut without a lot of bulk from the pillow getting in the way.

Verdict: Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution S3 wins this round. Both options have thoughtful designs, but the Cabeau’s help keeping you up straight and your head supported regardless of sleeping position–without a lot of foam directly under your chin–earns it extra points. 

Price and Value

Snugl Travel Pillow: The Snugl pillow has two prices, depending on the size you need. For the fairest comparison here, we’ll use the Adult Regular size, which costs £32.95 (currently about $44.00). The Adult Small and Children’s sizes are each £29.95, or about $40.00. 

Snugl pricing

If you’re shopping directly from their site, you’ll get free shipping. The catch is, they don’t ship everywhere (as a US shopper, I can’t have them send me one directly). If that’s the case for you, you can shop for Snugl travel pillows on Amazon. Prices may vary there. Right now, the price is better on Amazon than the Snugl site.

Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution S3: The Cabeau TNE pillow is a little more expensive at $49.99. (Though there’s currently a holiday special going on that takes about $10.00 off the regular price that auto-applies once you get to your cart. Keep your eyes peeled for more of those specials to narrow the gap between the prices even more.) Shipping appears to be free without any extra effort on the shopper’s part. If that’s not the case when you go to check out, look for the Cabeau Club. Signing up gets you free shipping and special discounts.

Cabeau pricing

Verdict: I’m going to say they tie here, simply because, while you do pay a little more for the Cabeau option, you get more value because of the straps and a pillow that doesn’t need to be adjusted every time you switch positions to get more comfortable. The price/value question when it comes to Snugl vs Cabeau is really subjective, depending on what you’re looking for.

Variety Available

I love a good color selection (and size selection, where it makes sense), especially if I’m giving something as a gift. 

Snugl: The Snugl comes in 13 colors (Black, Dark Grey, Light Grey, Olive Green, Navy, Coral Blue, Purple, Light Green, Teal, Yellow, Dark Red, Light Red, and Blue) and three size options (Adult Regular, Adult Small, and Children). 

Cabeau: The Cabeau TNE S3 comes in seven colors and one size. The colors are named after cities to fit with the jet-setting theme, but for the sake of this writing, I’ll describe the colors here: blue, grey, red, sand, lavender, lime green, and a purple-to-coral gradient.

Verdict: Snugl wins here. Though I personally prefer the color selection of the Cabeau travel pillow (especially that gradient!) and think its shape and the way it fits will work for most adults and some teens (please note that Cabeau’s option is not recommended for children under 13), the Snugl does have more to offer as far as variety goes.

Which One Should You Choose?

These two travel pillows tied in a lot of areas, but I still recommend the Cabeau TNE S3 Neck Pillow if you want 360-degree support, as well as a chin strap and seat strap to keep your head upright. It’s nice because it supports your head and good posture without feeling claustrophobic or causing you to overheat, promising a comfortable sleep setup that may even keep you from snoring, drooling, or dropping your head forward as you snooze.