Ten Gadgets To Take The Stress Out Of Long Flights

Air travel can be…less than pleasant. Doubly so if you have to deal with the American TSA. But some thoughtful selection and packing in your carry-on can make it more bearable.

The following gadgets and tools are almost exclusively designed to ease the stress of air travel and make those elevated miles go by in a flash. Whether you prefer to snooze your way through the skies, entertain yourself, or just be as comfortable as possible while in the restrictive, chilly, and dry environment of an airliner cabin, you’ll find something useful in the selections below.

Update, 5/31/22: Ensured content up to date. Swapped in newer Kindle Paperwhite, Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, and Anker battery bank.

For Pretending You’re Elsewhere: Noise-Cancelling Headphones

This is the classic companion for frequent air travelers. Between the noise of the engines and the distraction of your less polite traveling companions, a means of blocking all of it out for your music or movies is essential. You can go for over-the-ear headphones for powerful isolation, great sound, and active noise cancelation. Likewise, you can also get a truly blissful escape with a simple pair of true wireless earbuds, if you want something a little less bulky. We recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4s for full-sized headphones or the Jabra Elite 85t for those who prefer earbuds.

For Pretending You’re Nowhere: EarPlanes Earplugs

Regular old foam earplugs will do fine if all you’re concerned about is silence while you snooze or read. But if the variable air pressure of climbing or descending altitude bothers you, consider going for a set that’s specifically designed to alleviate that pressure. Airline crews love EarPlanes—latex-free plugs that open up your ear canals and make them less prone to plugging while giving you some noise protection at the same time. They come in sizes for adults and children, with disposable and washable options, too.

For Catching Some Zs: Alaska Bear Sleep Mask

Sleep masks are great for restful sleep in your own bed, but they’re even better for environments where lights are on constantly … like, say, the middle seat next to someone who wants the window open constantly. Since they’re light and compact, a mask makes a great travel companion, even for the non-flight portions of your trip. We recommend the Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask, especially since it comes in so many great colors and designs.

For Keeping Your Toes Toasty: HotHands Foot Warmers

The pressurized cabin of an airliner can get chilly, especially if you’re naturally prone to cold extremities. A neat solution is a heated set of insoles for your shoes, which will provide you with enough extra warmth to counteract the cabin’s aggressive temperature controls. There are rechargeable versions available, but they seem less reliable and thicker than they could be.

We recommend a disposable set of HotHands chemically-activated soles: open the package before you board to start heating and throw ’em away when you land. Alternately, if you prefer to slip off your shoes when the wheels go up, the MMLove battery-powered thermal socks offer the same functionality with three levels of heating.

For Keeping Yourself Hydrated: A Collapsible Filtered Water Bottle

The plane’s cabin is also surprisingly dry, and you’ll find yourself getting thirsty quickly…but bringing bottled water through security is no longer an option, and flight attendants may be too busy to keep up with your thirst. Frequent flyers like to pack their own bottles and refill at a fountain before boarding. But that means less space in your bag, and perhaps you don’t trust the tap water at the airport. The Katadyn Befree Hydrapak Flask is the solution.

It holds a full liter, which should be enough to get you through a mid-length flight, and includes a micron water filter in the cap. Best of all, its flexible plastic folds down for easy storage in a pack, but stands up on its own when full. This bottle also makes a great companion for hiking or camping at your destination.

For Entertainment: Tablet or E-Reader

You’ll almost certainly have your cell phone with you on your flight, and that’s enough if all you plan to do is listen to music. But the small screen is less than ideal for extended sessions of reading or video, tasks for which e-readers and tablets are respectively perfect for now that economy seats don’t even have enough room to comfortably operate a laptop.

The Kindle and iPad lines are the de facto standard recommendations: we like the Kindle Paperwhite (ad-supported, or opt for the ad-free version for a little more) and standard 10.2-inch iPad for their combination of utility and value. The Kindle Paperwhite offers a large glare-free display, a waterproof design, and access to millions of book titles.

For Comfortable Entertainment: Portable Kickstand

If you are partial to a movie or two on your flight, you’ll want an easy way to prop up your phone or tablet while in the air. Since most manufacturers are loathe to include kickstands on their own designs, you’ll have to pack your own. Plenty of tablet and phone cases include a small kickstand as part of their protective design, but we prefer a dedicated option for its stability and flexibility. This adjustable aluminum model has served me well on several transatlantic flights, and it’s cheap enough that you won’t regret it too much if you accidentally leave it in your hotel room.

For Keeping Your Gadgets Charged: Anker Battery Bank

Of course, your phone or tablet will need to be powered up, and you’ll need a way to charge them again once they die. You’ve probably packed your charger, but not all planes have powered access for every seat (especially on domestic flying buses). The solution is a portable battery bank that can fully recharge your gadgets several times over.

There are plenty of portable battery banks to choose from, but we are huge fans of those from Anker, like the PowerCore Slim 10K. It has a 10,000mAh capacity, connects via USB-C, and supports charging up to 12W. It makes it easy to charge your Android or iOS smartphone, tablet, earbuds, smartwatch, or other small devices. The bank has a circular LED dial on its power button that shows you how about how much power is left in it.

If you want a portable battery bank with a little more juice, grab Anker’s PowerCore 26,800mAh option. It sports three USB-A ports for fast charging, as well as two micro-USB ports for your older devices.

For Keeping Your Stuff Safe: An Anti-Theft Backpack

Airports and other travel centers are notorious spots for pickpockets since everyone’s packing bags are filled with valuables. You can keep yours safe by selecting a bag that’s designed specifically to keep thieves out. We’ve rounded up the best of the bunch, but our pick for general users is the PacSafe Anti-Theft 25L. It offers reinforced material and straps, security clips, and even an RFID-proof pocket for thieves of the digital variety. A tablet/laptop sleeve is built in as well.

For Keeping Your Stuff Close: A Hanging Flight Bag

But what about accessing all of these gadgets when you’re in the air? For avoiding uncomfortable dives beneath the seat in front of you or squeezing around fellow passengers to access overhead storage, we recommend the Genius Pack High Altitude Flight Bag.

This smaller pack includes straps designed to wrap around the in-flight tray on the seat in front of you, giving you quick and unencumbered access to all your electronics and accessories. It’s small enough to pass as a second carry-on without rubbing up against the size constraints, and a shoulder strap lets it double as a general tablet or laptop bag when you reach your destination.