Keeps your head up on long flights. Inflates in 3 breaths, wraps around your head and neck with air pockets that don't collapse like foam. Packs to 72g — smaller than a soda can. 1-year warranty.
Best For: Anyone who's woken up with their chin on their chest. Again.
Wraps around your head and neck - Air pockets that hold their shape, not collapse like foam
Inflates in 3 breaths - Ready before the seatbelt sign turns off
Packs smaller than a soda can - 14 × 8 × 5 cm. 72g.
Bamboo cover stays cool - Soft on skin, even in warm cabins
Drawstring pulls snug - Like a hoodie, fits your neck
Cover comes off - Machine washable between trips
*No foam. No bulk. No more airport pillow graveyard.
11-hour red-eye. Inflate in 3 breaths. Pull the drawstring snug. Lean back. Your head doesn't drop. You wake up 4 hours later.
Here's why it works - Air pockets surround your head and neck. They don't collapse like foam. Your head stays where you put it.
The back is thin on purpose - Most pillows push your head forward. This one lets your head rest against the seatback naturally.
It disappears when you're done - Deflate. Fold. Stuff it in the pouch. 72g in your bag.
The foam donut is dead - No more $35 airport pillows abandoned in hotel rooms. This one actually comes home with you.
REAL QUESTIONS FROM REAL TRAVELERS
"How is this different from every travel pillow I've tried?" Foam pillows collapse. They push your head forward. They're bulky. This one has air pockets that hold their shape. They wrap around your head and neck. And it packs down to almost nothing.
"Will my head actually stay up?" Yes. The air pockets support your head from the sides and front. The back is thin so your head rests against the seat. No more waking up chin-to-chest.
"I run hot. Will this make me sweat?" The cover is bamboo. Stays cool, even in warm cabins. Removable and machine washable.
"How small does it actually pack?" 14 × 8 × 5 cm. 72g. The storage pouch tucks into the pillow itself, so you never lose it.
"Can I adjust it?" Two ways. More air = firmer. Less air = softer. Drawstring tighter = snug. Looser = relaxed.
"What if it breaks?" 1-year warranty. Matador repairs or replaces it. Free.
ABOUT MATADOR (NOT NITECORE)
Matador® - Boulder, CO They build travel gear. They use it. They fix it if it breaks.
THE NUMBERS
Weight
72g - Lighter than your phone
Packed
14 × 8 × 5 cm - Smaller than a soda can
Inflated
28 × 38 × 13 cm - Wraps around head + neck
How It Works
Air chambers - Hold shape, don't collapse Thin at the back - Head rests against seatback Drawstring fit - Snug like a hoodie Quick-inflate valve - 3 breaths, done
Comfort
Bamboo cover - Cool, soft, breathable Removable - Machine washable Adjustable firmness - You control the air
Materials
Bamboo liner - Soft layer against skin Nylon outer - Durable Storage pouch - Tucks into the pillow
Built to last, and backed if it doesn't.
Matador repairs its gear in-house — in warranty or out. They fix it and send it back.
72g. Gone until you need it.
You’re Backed by Our 60-Day Ironclad Guarantee
Try it for 60 days. If it’s not right for you, send it back.
We stand behind our gear. If you’re not happy with your purchase, just return the full package within 60 days and we’ll issue a full refund—no fuss, no forms, no hoops to jump through.
What Happens After You Order
You’ll get an instant order confirmation email with your receipt.
We’ll pack your order the next working day and send you a tracking number once it’s on the way.
From the moment you order to the moment it reaches your hands, we’re here to keep you updated and supported.
When will I receive my gear?
Singapore: Delivered to your doorstep in 4–6 working days.
International: Arrive within 10–14 working days.
Returns and warranty
Every product comes with a 1 to 3-year replacement warranty (depending on the item).
If anything isn’t working right, just let us know. We’ll make it right.
FREE Gift with Purchase: Limited Edition Ember Shard Whistle
Spend $99 or more today, and we'll automatically include a limited-edition Glow-in-the-Dark Ember Shard Whistle when packing your order.
Charge it quickly under sunlight or your flashlight, and enjoy its subtle glow throughout the night—perfect for marking gear, emergency kits, or attaching to your bag.
Limited quantities. These will be swapped (at our discretion) to other gift items if shards are unavailable.
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 32 reviews.
I love how easy it is to inflate and deflate the pillow. It is so comfy and secure without the bulk as it is deflated into such a small packable bag. Well thought to be able to clip the bag to the pillow so it won’t get lost! No more bulk but lots of comfort now 👍🏻😁
Already love it. I just got this today and haven’t traveled with it yet, but I already love it. The material is soft and comfortable. It is more compact than anything I’ve ever seen for an inflatable travel pillow. The strings on the front are perfect for tightening it and make it comfortable to sleep. I absolutely cannot wait to travel with it!
I've spent countless hours on overnight buses, airport floors, and long-haul flights, and sleep is never guaranteed. I like that this pillow packs down small but still gives enough support to actually make resting possible. It takes seconds for it to set up and it's become one of those items I always bring, even if I hope I won't need it.
Blackout Travel Pillow. Used on a couple of flights now. I love the lightness, packability and ease of inflation. In terms of comfort and support, I feel it needs more material at back of neck so there is better contact with seat when I put my head back.
I used this pillow on a recent trip and found it to be very satisfactory. It is incredibly lightweight and fits easily in a carry on and the bag is actually big enough that it is not a problem to stow it after use. It was comfortable and worked well for me. I also liked the drawstring to tighten or loosen as needed.
Very Promising. Looking forward to using this pillow on a trip - so far, I’ve just tested it at home. It is light and compact, easy to inflate and deflate, and the fabric is soft. I’ve tried several other trendy options over the years that were either too bulky for my travel preference or just not comfortable. I was searching for a high quality inflatable one, and I think this will fill the bill quite nicely.
Wish I had this thing 30 years ago. I travel for work 3 times a year.I have always avoided this luxury because honestly, I didn’t think it work as advertised. How wrong was I. Wish I had this thing 30 years ago.
Overview of features. PREFACE: This is not a proper review -- I haven't tested this travel pillow on a flight at the time of writing this nor have I used other modern travel pillows to compare against. This is an overview of the product's build quality, feel, and other features that I found hasn't been documented online yet. The Matador Blackout Travel Pillow packed in its carrying case measures around 5.5 x 4 x 2in (sorry, no cm measurements). This differs from Matador's website listing at 5.5 x 3 x 2in. The height could probably be compressed to 1.5 inches or more, if you squeeze all the air out and/or put a rubber band around it. See pictures for measuring tape references and size comparison to an iPhone 13 Pro. After unraveling the pillow out of its carrying case, I noticed some minor manufacturing defects. 1) A snagged/loose threading, and 2) a white dot -- both found on the soft inner lining fabric. I tried to dry wipe the white mark away, but you can still see it faintly. Thankfully, this pillow case is washable, so I'm sure a quick wash could remove it. Strange and somewhat unsatisfied that the product came as is with these faults. I believe the outer shell material is nylon, and the inner soft material is the bamboo blend fabric mentioned on the product's listing. The nylon is a little crinkly but not loud, and the bamboo blend is soft and slightly stretchy. The nylon is noticeably louder when the pillow is fully inflated. The drawstring toggle/cord lock can freely spin around. So even though the drawstrings twist on itself, you can easily twist it back with a little bit of effort. I found the spring lock strong, so no worries about accidentally adjusting the fit. However, you will need either two hands to unlock it or really strong grip strength to one-hand it. The lock snaps back in place fine. The "quick-inflate valve" is also a quick-deflate valve. When the travel pillow was fully inflated, I barely pressed on the valve button and it immediately released air (it's a bit sensitive). Also, if you press down too much, you may accidentally push the valve stopper through the hole. I was able to push it back through with no problem. I bought this instead of the STS Aeros Premium Traveler Pillow or other competition simply because there wasn't enough data about Matador's take on the inflatable travel pillow. Overall, its flexibility in baffle height and firmness gives you full freedom to adjust its comfort to your head/neck posture needs. It's a comfortable pillow, and I do recommend it. Hope this helps!
The best of all worlds. I’ve been searching for the best neck pillow for years. I hate packing then because it’s a one use item. I’ve bought and tried at least 7 types (I even bought a neck brace because it’s compact, but not soft at all) They are either too big, not comfortable, too hot etc. This travel pillow ticks the most boxes. Ease of travel- 10/10. Comfort- 8/10.
Top notch quality, 2-3 light blows and it’s fully inflated. Cord helps a lot to tight it and the inner lining is soft which helps a lot with skin comfort. 10/10 pillow
I really love this travel pillow. It is extremely compact and it takes seconds to blow it to size. It supports the head comfortably.An amazing piece of technology.
I've tried every pillow and gadget known to man for my monthly 6 hour flight to Costa Rica, and this is the best option so far! I fly economy, so I can't even lay back, and this along wtih the facemask has done the trick. As a bonus, its also super small packing!
Great Option. I haven't used it yet within my travels but in trying it on, it's a comfortable fit that is packable. I definitely would recommend and look forward to use when traveling soon.
Perfect travel pillow. Perfect! Tiny when packed, because who really wants to carry a giant travel pillow while travelling around your destination? Good fit, adjustable with more/less air, and washable. Really hits every mark!
The Best. Super comfortable! Really well designed for support. Packability is the best. I quit using a standard horse collar because they were so inconvenient to lug around. This works great. I found it to be a little noisy when I moved around, but figured out how to set it so that I wasn't hearing rubbing and crinkling. Thank you!
Better than expected! Love it. I"ve been wanting a neck pillow that could inflate and was smaller to pack and this one is better than expected. I love it!
Nice travel pillow. The travel pillow is great because it folds up so small. It isn't quite as comfortable as something more solid, but it helped me sleep on a long flight.
So Much Better Than Advertised. As a road warrior consultant I am on the constant lookout for minimalist gear that will make life easier. I therefore ordered this neck pillow the first day it was available and I know this will become a constant travel companion. My only negative feedback to Matador is that they actually undersell one of the "secret sauce" differentiators of this pillow--how incredibly soft and pliable it is. It's not just the cover fabric that's soft, but the actual inflatable pillow itself; that's what makes it different from any other inflatable competitor. It's hard to fully appreciate how soft, packable, and minimalist it is without actually holding it in your hand; perhaps a video showing that, and how it is so different from others would be helpful. As far as use, it couldn't be easier. With 2-3 deep puffs I can fully inflate it, and I can deflate and pack it back in the included pouch in just over 30 seconds. It can easily clip onto a backpack or bag or stuff just about anywhere inside a bag, water bottle pocket, etc. It feels more similar to a memory foam-type pillow than one filled with beads, but it's far more breathable than either. Bottom line: well done, Matador! I can't recommend this highly enough.
A packable pillow that works. Finally! This pillow is small and compact yet delivers outsized functionality. It is easily adjustable providing just the right amount of support by increasing or decreasing air volume with the valve. It isn’t bulky so it works for small stature people. The extra bonus is how small it packs. There is no longer a need to wear your pillow around the airport because it won’t fit in your carry-on or personal item. I love it. My only suggestion is a security loop/hook for the carrying case to keep track of the pillow when encased as it is easily lost. Darn.