Airports are hectic, plane seats are ever-shrinking, and flights are being delayed and canceled at higher rates than ever before.
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The bad news? There’s no end to strained air travel in sight.
The good news? There are dozens of high-quality products that will revolutionize your experience flying at 35,000 feet in the air.
While I can’t promise that your plane seat will expand in size or that the passengers around you won’t snore, spill, or chat at all the wrong times, I can guarantee that the must-have products listed below will make even the worst flights more bearable.
In fact, those who have a few of the best products for comfortable flights in their carry-on can turn a good experience into a great one. A relaxing one, too, dare I say.
Whether you want to get a full night’s sleep on a red-eye, log off after a stressful layover, or simply board the plane with less stress, I recommend keeping these items on your shopping list.
Or, if you’re ready to do a bit of Black Friday shopping, purchase these products now. Most are on sale for Black Friday.
Quick look at the best products for comfortable flights
- Cute and functional compression socks in any style: LEVSOX Compression Socks
- Foot hammocks for your little piggies: Basic Concepts Foot Hammock or FEIMINI 2-Pack Foot Rest
- A calming, warm eye mask that isn’t like others: BeHoomi Lavender Eye Mask
- The end-all of comfortable sleeping apparatuses: SARISUN Wrap-Around Head Pillow
- A close second in terms of end-all comfortable sleeping apparatuses: Turtl travel pillow
- Bluetooth transmitter for in-flight entertainment: Twelve South Bluetooth Connector
- Bluetooth-ready and noise-cancelling headphones: Bose QuietComfort
What we looked at/metrics
- Airport appropriateness—these products are small and security-friendly
- Functionality—we only recommend items that will transform your trip
- User ratings—if other travelers love it, we’re interested
Best products for comfortable flights: reviews
LEVSOX Compression Socks
Compression socks reduce swelling, prevent blood clots, and improve circulation on flights. I also think they’re comfortable as hell.
Whether or not you’re worried about blood flow, these socks are handy to have in your back pocket. I use them when my feet get cold—but what I love about the LEVOX compression socks is their versatility. Thanks to their cute design, you won’t feel weird wearing them in your day-to-day.
Time to get addicted to compression socks.
Basic Concepts Foot Hammock or FEIMINI 2-Pack Foot Rest
While we’re on the topic of feet, let’s cover your second option for all-around comfort on long flights: the humble foot hammock. A foot hammock is a handy little device that you can hang from the seat in front of you, and then slide your feet into.
It lets you keep your feet elevated, crossed, pretzeled—whatever. Like compression socks, these are great for those who need better circulation on flights.
I have two brands listed above. Basic Concepts has a solid product that’s been around for a while, but it looks like FEIMINI’s footrests have hit the ground running, earning the badge of Amazon’s Choice.
Pro tip: Don’t want to tote a foot hammock with you? You can also finagle a scarf into a foot hammock so long as you’re not too worried about wear and tear. Just tie that bad boy in a loop and arrange it just like you would one of the footrests above.
BeHoomi Scented Eye Mask
At their most basic, eye masks let you disconnect from a bright flight. But I like to pick products that are multi-functional.
In this case, BeHoomi’s eye mask comes with tons of scented options. That means you’ll be treated to a little fragrance therapy while relaxing.
But that’s not all. These disposable eye masks come with steam capability, literally giving you a spa-like treatment while strapped into your seat. Despite the warm, scented experience, there’s no added equipment or complicated instructions
Open, apply, and forget you’re on a plane.
SARISUN Wrap-Around Head Pillow
It’s not cute, okay? But the SARISUN wrap-around head pillow is one of the most highly rated sleeping solutions for planes.
It works similarly to the foot hammocks; you strap the product into place on your headrest, then wrap the soft, comfortable fabric over your eyes to hold your head in place by securing it to the other side.
Just keep in mind that this product will only work on flights with adjustable headrests. Given those are usually on long-haul flights, I don’t see the issue. You probably wouldn’t bust this head pillow out on a short, domestic flight anyway.
Turtl Travel Pillow
This sleeping solution is slightly cuter, in case you’re shopping based on aesthetics. Rather than wrap around your head, this product wraps around your neck similar to a scarf.
However, there’s a rigid support inside that lets you rest while preventing your neck from straining.
While I would prefer the SARISUN for its overall stability, the Turtl Travel Pillow is great for anyone who would prefer to use their own eye mask… like the BeHoomi, listed above.
Twelve South Bluetooth Connector
Tired of those busted, disposable headphones that planes hand out for their entertainment centers?
With this handy little gadget, you can easily hook up any of your Bluetooth-powered headphones for more comfortable listening. The Twelve South Bluetooth Connector also works for any device that has a headphone jack, so I imagine you’ll find this useful in a few other places.
Bose QuietComfort
Since we’re on the topic of headphones, I’m also putting forth my absolute favorite: Bose Quiet Comfort. Though you’ll pay a pretty penny for these headphones, they’re lightweight, easy to pack, and come from a trusted brand that offers a great warranty.
I also love the fact that these come with industry-leading noise-cancellation features, meaning you can also tune the world out when travel becomes hectic.
