How to sleep on a flight – The Hollywood Reporter

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Flying is often an uncomfortable, stressful experience. With the noise of the plane, the noise of other passengers and crew, the blast of cold air, the light streaming in from the windows, and a crowded economy seat, it seems impossible to sleep. While the wisdom of the internet is mostly herbal gum or a prescription from your doctor to help you sleep on long-haul flights, these options are not always available. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best travel sleep products you can buy right now. These top-rated neck pillows, blankets and other in-flight essentials not only make flying tolerable, they’re comfortable.

Many of these products—including nourishing skin care items, top-rated eye masks, and noise-cancelling headphones—are worth finding once you land. You never know when you’ll find yourself needing to adjust the sound of neighboring hotel rooms or turn off the lights at 5:30 in the morning.

We’ve scoured tons of reviews to bring you these top-rated sleep products that will make any flight, vacation, or visit to your parents’ house even more enjoyable. Here are our picks for the best sleep products any frequent flyer should have on hand before their next long-haul flight.

1. TravelRest Ultimate Travel & Neck Pillow

Best travel pillow for sleeping

This particular pillow was recently spotted on TikTok. BachelorMatt James shared a video of his girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell blowing up and using this oddly shaped pillow on a plane. Once inflated, it tucks in between your shoulders and neck to provide support, even if you’re in the dreaded middle seat. Amazon reviews suggest there’s a bit of a learning curve, but once you find a setup that works for you, you can sleep soundly. Plus, it can be rolled up compactly after deflating and tossed in a bag, unlike bulky pillows that are annoying to carry around while traveling.

2. ZGGCD store 3D sleep mask

The best sleeping mask for travel

Some airlines pass sleep masks, but they’re often flimsy and don’t block out all light. A mask with contoured eye cups solves the problem. This Amazon 3D sleep mask is made of soft memory foam and has adjustable straps. According to reviewers, it blocks 100 percent of the light effectively and is worth the money. Some reviewers mention that this doesn’t sit on your lashes, so you don’t have to worry about your mask ruining your lash extensions or eye makeup while you snooze. As far as travel sleep products go, this is one of the cheapest to try.

3. Bose QuietComfort noise canceling headphones

Best noise canceling headphones for airplanes

THR He previously recommended these Bose QuietComfort headphones as the best for everyday use. They are also great noise canceling headphones for traveling as they are comfortable to travel with and have a long battery life. Many reviews on Amazon also note that the noise canceling feature does an amazing job of blocking out airplane noise.

4. Over-the-ear noise canceling headphones 700

Best noise canceling headphones for travel

If you’re looking to get some sleep on long-haul flights, you might want to consider over-ear headphones. The Bose noise canceling headphones 700 have a battery life of 20 hours, which is three times longer than the headphones above. Reviewers also confirm that the noise-canceling capabilities on these headphones are top-notch, with several glowing reviews specifically mentioning how they block out the noise of jet engines.

5. Loop silence headphones

The best headphones for sleep

If you want to block out the sounds of the plane or the passenger next to you munching on a pretzel, but don’t want to shell out for expensive noise-canceling headphones, consider these headphones by Loop. They reduce sound but don’t completely block it out, so you can hear the flight attendants and any important announcements while you tune out the rest.

6. EverSnug Travel Blanket and Pillow

The best travel blanket for flights

This blanket and pillow combo will make it easy to get some sleep on your next flight. It is made of soft fleece that is lightweight and comfortable. Use as a pillow in the soft case or as a blanket. A particularly useful feature is the handle of the bag, which is attached to your hand when the bag is in the bag. Plus, if you arrive at your destination and find an unwanted pillow or blanket situation, you’re already prepared with this set.

7. MLVOC travel pillow

Best travel neck pillow

If a product has nearly 20,000 five-star ratings on Amazon and is priced low, it’s worth considering. The unique contours of this memory foam pillow are designed to support your neck while you sleep. One reviewer shared that this is a must-have for flying. “I’m still amazed at how comfortable it is and how well it holds my head to sleep,” he wrote. The set also comes with an eye mask, ear plugs and a carrying case for all.

8. Vicks ZzzQuil Pure Zizz Melatonin Sleep Aid Gummies

The best sleep aid for travel

If you can’t sleep even with a comfortable pillow and a noise-free environment, it may be time to try a different approach. Many reviewers swear by Vicks ZzzQuil melatonin gels to help them fall asleep and stay asleep. We recommend using these only on long flights as the results can last for several hours. You should also talk to your doctor before taking these, as melatonin is not recommended for people with medical conditions, including pregnancy, autoimmune conditions, seizures, and other conditions. If you’re cleared, you should give these a test drive at home before a pre-flight pop, as some people experience nightmares while taking melatonin. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not wake up screaming on a flight.

9. Mario Badescu face spray

The best skin care product for travel

There is very little moisture in the air in an airplane cabin, which means your skin may wake up from a restful sleep feeling dry and numb. Fortunately, there is a solution. Spritz a tiny bit of Mario Badescu’s cult-favorite facial on your brows before you go to bed and wake up with skin that still looks good and dewy.

10. Sleeper airplane footrest

The best sling for travel

Sleepy Ride’s innovative sling makes your legs and feet more comfortable when you’re on a long flight. The straps are attached around your desk and allow your legs to rest in the sling, helping to reduce the strain on the rest. Reviews suggest this is more useful for shorter people than taller people, and it may not work on every plane – but if you suffer from lower back pain often on flights, we’d say it’s still worth a shot.

11. Comrad recycled cotton compression socks

The best compression socks for travel

While compression socks aren’t necessarily a sleep product, they can provide extra comfort, which can help you get some sleep on your flight. In addition to reducing uncomfortable swelling around your feet and legs, Corad recycled cotton compression socks also reduce the chance of blood clots. They’re also great for post-workout recovery and the molded design and stretch make them easy to put on and take off. (Brie Larson and Karlie Kloss reportedly wear the brand.)

12. Sunny breathable neck pillow

The best inflatable travel pillow for sleeping

Sunani’s inflatable neck pillow might get you a side view from the passenger next to you, but you should try this anyway – especially if you’re someone who leans against the roof table to sleep. This unique design leans forward and supports your neck at different angles, plus it has holes for your hands to go through.

13. This deep sleep pillow spray works

The best sleeping spray for travel

Some airlines even include the ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray as part of the comfort package. But if they are not, you can bring your own bottle. Spritz it (carefully — you don’t want to be the passenger who annoys everyone else with a nice scent) on your pillow before you go to sleep. It’s made with a soothing blend of lavender, chamomile and vetiver. You can also fold some into the bed in your hotel if you have trouble sleeping there.

14. Traditional Remedies Organic Night Valerian Relaxing Tea

The best sleeping tea for travel

Skip the glass of wine as alcohol interferes with your sleep. Instead, ask a flight attendant for hot water and you can drink traditional herbal evening tea with traditional herbs. It’s made with herbs to help you relax, and many reviewers on Amazon say it helps them fall asleep. When traveling.

15. Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask

Best under eye patches for travel

Even if you can’t sleep on the plane, these will help you get a good night’s rest when you arrive. One reviewer at Sephora said, “I take these on every long flight! Not only will they keep you awake and refreshed, but the benefits will last for a day or two until your jet-lag wears off! Worth every penny.