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1. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount designed for use on all airlines — not only can you mount it to the tray table of an airplane seat, but to the arm of a chair or any flat surface, so you'll be able to stream content easy as pie wherever you roam. Reviewers have used it for everything from navigating on their car dashboards to streaming content from their carry-on handles to taking Zoom calls from office desks.
Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on the go.
Promising review: "I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multi-leg, ultra long-haul trip and it more than held up the entire duration. I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table. It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers." —Earendil
Get it from Amazon for $13.97.
2. An AirFly, a handy gadget you can use to connect your wireless headphones to the headphone jacks on flights so you can stream The Fault in Our Stars and bawl thousands of feet in the air again without dealing with the poor quality the airline's headphones or shelling out $$ for them. Bonus: you can use these to connect to audio jacks on gym equipment and gaming devices, too!
Here's what BuzzFeeder Chelsea Stuart has to say about them: "Last year I splurged on some AirPod Maxes and for the amount of money I threw down on them, I was determined to get as much use out of them as possible and that included on plane rides. With the AirFly Pro, I can connect my headphones via Bluetooth and use the seat-back screen without having to fiddle with the free wired headphones they hand out that 1.) have horrible sound quality and 2.) don't fit my ears in the slightest. (I swear my ear canals are tiny or something??)"
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in three styles and in two colors).
3. A set of affordable, highly popular wireless Bluetooth earbuds reviewers compare to AirPods, but better — not only are they noise cancelling and waterproof, but you can listen to music during your flight *without* your ears feeling like they've been beaten up at the end of it. These come equipped with several sizes of earbuds so you can get your perfect, painless fit.
These come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 14 hours of charge (with the earbuds able to play for four-plus hours with each full charge). The earbuds are also sweatproof and waterproof so you can use them during workouts or runs or even in the shower, and have a built-in mic so you can chat on the phone. Psst — these are also a great option for going outside in a mask, since they don't have wires that'll get tangled in the mask straps.
Promising review: "So many things to rave about with these! Quality of the design and feel of these is amazing. I could literally wear these all night while on vacation with a roommate who snored, they were that comfortable and good at noise cancelling. I use these most often to listen to music and the sound quality is superb. I have a pair of AirPods that I was *thankfully* gifted and I hardly ever use them because they just aren't as good as my Tozos!" —Alexis Arnold
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (get price by clipping the $5 off coupon on the product page; available in five colors).
4. Or a pair of chic wireless sleep headphones to play white noise or the music of your choice in a comfy headband so you can enjoy the calm of it the whole flight.
Promising review: "I saw these on TikTok and since I have so much trouble finding quality headphones I decided to try them. I’m very happy with the sound quality and comfort of these. I’m able to fall asleep to my music or podcast without having to limit myself to sleeping on my back or losing an ear bud in my bed in the middle of the night. It makes working out easier as well. The value is worth the quality. I would recommend." —Thunder Muffin
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 27 colors).
5. An Airplane Pocket tray cover designed to slide seamlessly over an airplane tray to create an instant, deeply convenient hub — this comes with a number of pockets so you can keep track of all your devices, snacks, and other odds and ends without rooting around for them in the gross back pocket or your carry-on the whole flight. Bonus: this bb is an excellent way to prevent touching a germ-y tray, and it's fully machine washable.
Check out a TikTok of the Airplane Pockets tray table cover in action.
Airplane Pockets is a small business that specializes in sanitary, portable travel organization products.
I used this on a roundtrip from NYC to Tokyo, both with connecting flights in Canada, and cannot sing its praises enough. It fit all four of the different tray tables I used it on and was so ridiculously handy for keeping track of all my littler odds and ends like AirPods, the plane's headphones, earplugs, a sleep mask, a book, gum, a scrunchie, and little snacks. The hanging end of it easily tucked into the built-in sleeve of the seat in front of me for takeoff and when other passengers needed to scoot past me in my aisle seat. Usually, I feel like a hot mess and get frustrated rooting around in the grimy sleeve for my stuff, and this was such a refreshing solution! Several flight attendants even asked where I got it to buy one for themselves!
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
6. A contoured sleep mask to alleviate pressure from your eyes and plunge you into total delicious darkness for the whole darn flight, while staying put on your head without any Velcro snagging in your hair in the middle of your slumber.
I personally swear by this eye mask! I live in a super bright area and closing the window curtains makes me irrationally sad, so I use these to get to sleep and it's like lights out on the universe. These are also REALLY great for days when your work schedule is wonky or you need to take a day nap, since it not only blocks out all the light, but the contouring means it won't smudge your mascara if you're wearing any. It's also super comfy and never snags in my hair, even when it's not in a ponytail.
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in seven colors).
7. A set of wax ear plugs that mold to the shape of your inner ear like putty, fully blocking out snoring noises when you're sharing a hotel room with friends or plane and car noises when you're trying to sneak a cat nap in on the road.
You can check out my review of Macks Earplugs for more deets: "The moldable silicone of Mack's Earplugs contours easily to the shape of your ear to block out noise much more effectively than other foam or plastic varieties, and the noise reduction is so good that if I pair them with a white noise machine (or just like a white noise loop on Spotify) I genuinely don't hear noises from outside my room. Not only that, but once they're in place, they stay locked there until you decide to pull them out. I've also *loved* these for traveling — if you put these babies in on a plane not only does it help reduce some of the YIKES factor when the plane takes off (it's loud!!) but it cancels out the murmuring noises of passengers on the flight and makes it easier to get some shut-eye."
Get two pairs from Amazon for $5.68.
8. Plus a set of silicone "EarPlanes" designed with a twist-on structure to help relieve pressure that hurts your ears during altitude changes during landing and takeoff. Reviewers also swear by these for driving through altitude changes in the mountains and for helping with sinus pressure pain!
Promising review: "This product has changed my life. I travel fairly frequently and always have issues with ear pressure on the plane. My ears will be clogged up, and it is painful to swallow for a day or two after short-distance flights. But now, I use these and fly incident-free. You are supposed to insert them before the plane takes off and then before landing. I have found that it works best if I leave them in the entire flight from before takeoff until landing, but they work almost as well if you take them out once you reach cruising altitude." —Thomasina
Get a pack of one from Amazon for $6.99.
9. A slim profile phone power bank for an easy, highly portable way to get a quick charge on your phone when you don't have access to an outlet mid-flight. This bb may be small, but can fully charge an iPhone up to *three* times.
Promising review: "I like the solid and sleek construction. Fits easily in my pocket. Most importantly it works! Fast charging, enough capacity to charge my phone many times over several days, and withstands plenty of me dropping it and yanking the cord out awkwardly and accidentally." —Joe Hull
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two colors).
10. A set of Sea Bands, which target an acupressure point on your wrists meant to help reduce nausea — a must-have for anyone who gets motion sick on airplanes.
Promising review: "I am on a plane weekly. I started noticing I was getting more susceptible to motion sickness — not terribly so, but I would have to have sprite/ginger ale on every flight. I saw these and decided for the price of a ginger ale I should roll the dice. They have been so helpful. They come in a little carrying pack I keep in my luggage. I put them on after I sit down before takeoff and slip them right off when waiting to get off the plane." —Jenna
Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.53.
11. A fully waterproof tricked out travel backpack complete with *deep breath* two laptop sleeves, a shoe compartment, a secret anti-theft pocket, a USB charging port, and a "wet bag" to keep sweaty clothes or liquids away from your tech. Oh, and it's cute as a BUTTON to boot. Who gave this backpack the right to flex on other backpacks this hard???
Promising review: "I recently took a cross-country flight with my three kids. I really didn't want to worry about checked bags getting lost so maximizing our carry-ons was a priority. This backpack fit an unfathomable amount of stuff! Lots of zippers and compartments for everything from shoes to laptops/iPads, easy access compartments for cell phones and boarding passes, I fit tons of neatly folded clothes. The best part was that fully loaded it easily slid under the seat." —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in two sizes and 42 styles).
12. A roll-on migraine stick made with peppermint, spearmint, and lavender oils to help you soothe away all the uninvited headaches that inevitably come with sleep-deprived travel.
Basic Vigor is a US-based small business specializing in all-natural migraine relief products.
Promising review: "I LOVE THIS STUFF. I’m on my second bottle. I get headaches often, always have, and this has been a great alternative to ibuprofen all the time. I use it for stress headaches (I grind my teeth at night and just generally carry a lot of tension) and this helps most with that. Also sinus headaches. I have insomnia too and get headaches from lack of sleep and this helps soothe the headache and helps me relax so I can fall asleep. I wouldn’t say it fixes all headaches (and not migraines) but it helps a lot, smells great, and is super handy. Strongly recommend!' —Elena Peeples
Read BuzzFeed's review of the migraine stick for more deets!
Get it from Amazon for $12.95.
13. An investment-worthy, super-soft Trtl neck pillow designed to support your head while you're snoozing in midair so you don't land in a new city with a new crick in your neck to boot.
Check out a TikTok of the Trtl neck pillow in action.
Promising review: "I was skeptical of this at first, but am so glad I bought these for my international travel. Several 11+ hour flights back and forth, definitely loved the fact that I had this. It was a bit awkward to try to find the right position where my chin/cheek area would be comfortable, but once I did, I did not have any issues sleeping, and I woke up without any pains on my neck. Since it is a basically fixed size, I would say give it a shot, and if it fits, great!" —Eric
Get it from Amazon for $64.99+ (available in five colors).
14. Or an inflatable wedge pillow so you can fully conk out by turning that dead space between you and the chair in front of you into your own personal oasis — this is great for resting your head to watch stuff on your phone and also just for catching some ZZZs.
Promising review: "I used this on four international flights last month and it made all the difference in the world. It's compact, easy to inflate/deflate, very versatile in how you can position it, doesn't rely on the tray table, and works well for bulkhead seats as well as those with someone in front of you. I can't sleep with my head back without snorting myself awake, so this is a perfect alternative. I can very comfortably lean forward in my seat and sleep almost like I can in a bed. I'm 6'2" and this pillow is plenty tall enough to just rest on my lap and let me lean forward into it without feeling crunched over." —Still Chilly In Colorado
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
15. An airplane footrest, because yes, it IS possible to sit comfortably on a plane — all you have to do is hook this onto the tray table and boom, instant elevation (and a LOT less foot swelling to deal with post-flight!).
Promising review: "This is a game changer when flying! Immediately takes the pressure off your legs and adds tons of comfort. I used it on an 11-hour red-eye flight for the first time and it was the best experience, aside from being in first class. Highly recommend! Even for short flights." —Isa V.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three colors).
16. A Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition in a matte "Agave Green" color that has captured the hearts of ALL of BookTok. Swoon-worthy aesthetic aside, it holds thousands of books, and will let you the *chef's kiss* way you like best — you can customize it with all your favorite fonts and layouts and organize your virtual shelves to your precise standards. Bonus — its charge lasts weeks (plural!!) and it's waterproof, so it will handle whatever adventure awaits you post-flight.
Check out a TikTok of the green Kindle in action.
Promising review: "I am so happy to be reading more, and I find it easier to take around with me than carrying my book around. Easy to travel with, and battery life is amazing. I initially was skeptical because I love holding a physical book but ever since I received my new Paperwhite, everything has changed. Lightweight, and so functional and easy to use. I love the option it can bounce off from your phone if you don't have time the capability. I have the free trial of Kindle Unlimited and its the best. I have been reading books and downloaded so much. LOVE LOVE LOVE THE GREEN COLOR it is so pretty." —eileeenie
Get it from Amazon for $189.99.
17. A five-compartment snack spinner that'll prove itself as an in-flight MVP for anyone with picky eaters — not only does the spin factor make it fun and encourage kids to try a variety of snacks, but this gizmo stays locked in place to avoid messes. (And is even dishwasher-safe!)
Check out a TikTok of the snack spinner in action.
Promising review: "I bought these before they were on Amazon. I’m obsessed. My kids think it’s a game, and they’re so intent on eating all the food inside. Even my picky eater. As a mom who absolutely hates to hand wash things, I’m so grateful that a) the entire thing comes apart for washing and b) it’s completely dishwasher-safe. This thing is awesome. One of a kind. I own five right now. Will probably be getting more in the future for when the baby is old enough to snack independently." —Jordan Christman
Get it from Amazon for $29.90+ (available in six colors).
18. Plus a lil' snack pouch with a pop of 🌈 to add a little bit of cheer to especially long flights. Reviewers love that it keeps their carry-ons a bit more organized, and that the clear exterior lets them see which treats they have in store.
Sage Nation is a small business specializing in quirky organizational pouches for travel and home use.
Promising review: "Lettering is spot on. Love the colors, and the clear bag make is easy for kids to see what is available. Quality materials and construction." —Lisa Stanko
Get it from Amazon for $25.99.
19. A set of Hydralyte electrolyte tablets for your water bottle to keep you hydrated on the plane, so you can land as your Sparkly Vacation Self instead of your Jet-Lagged Don't Look At Me Until I've Chugged Six Coffees Self.
FWIW, people also swear by these for hot workouts and hangover prevention 👀.
Promising review: "Never travel without them! These tablets taste good (I like lemonade) and do the trick when you're flying. Usually when I travel I feel crummy no matter how much water I drink on the plane. I toss these into my water either once or twice throughout the day and I have more energy after I've landed. They also break easily, so I can put them into any water bottle." —Rachel Johnson
"I take these when I’m having a girls' night out and we drink it before we start drinking and after. Haven’t had a hangover since!" —JD
Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $11.69 (available in three flavors and several sizes).
20. Plus a set of homeopathic jet-lag pills to show all time zones and weary post-travel limbs who's boss. This doesn't have any side effects and won't mess with your *actual* attempts to sleep, but may help you feel more refreshed after long flights or (sighs deeply) red-eyes.
According to the instructions, you should take them at take off and then every two hours and then again once you arrive to help with relaxation and combat sleepiness.
Promising review: "I heard about this product from my cousin who used it for a trip to Japan and it was very effective. I used it for a trip to Washington, DC, that had a number of stops and delays — total of 15 hours to get to my destination. I was comfortable upon arrival. The next morning I was ready for a work day." —ELEANORE
Get a pack of 32 pills from Amazon for $15.50+.
21. A memory foam seat cushion for your tushy so effective at relieving pressure from your tailbone that you'll finally be able to take long flights without cursing every bone in your back for making themselves known.
Promising review: "We enjoy traveling and spend several weeks on the road each year. I have lower back problems that require my getting cortisone shots for pain relief. For the last few weeks, I have also been having trouble sitting for more than a few minutes because of a pain in the area of my tailbone. I ordered this item for our last trip. I could not believe the difference it made! I was able to sit comfortably both driving and riding without any pain, and that made a huge difference in my enjoyment of the trip. When we got home I ordered a second one so I could leave one in the car and have one inside. I am recommending it to all my friends who need some relief." —Susan S.
Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in three colors).
22. A subtle amber reading light that's 99.94% free of blue spectrum light — aka, the light that signals to your brain that it's daytime and keeps you up and attem. Now you can read your book at during the flight further without disrupting your circadian rhythms *or* bugging your neighbors with the harsh overhead.
Promising review: "This is a fantastic light! I use it every evening to continue reading while my son sleeps, it does not wake him or impede my sleep after I’m ready to go to bed. Great product." —Brian Masters
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
23. A transparent TSA-approved toiletry bag for all your liquids and makeup so you can sail on through security without worrying about anything other than the fact that oops, turns out your socks don't match.
Promising review: "This bag held surprisingly more than expected. I put tiny travel jars for my skincare creams and other small toiletries in it with room to spare. I definitely feel like it was easier to pack and was also easy to grab out of my bag for security. It feels sturdy with nice, thick vinyl. The double zipper moved easily, and I was pleased that it opened completely for ease of getting the items I needed out of it." —Mrs M Tate
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 11 colors).
24. And a pack of LeakLocks Toiletry Skins to keep things from going "kaboom!!" in your carryon as soon as you reach altitude. These extend to fit both full-size and travel-size toiletries like shampoo, sunscreen, foundation, or any other liquids you'd rather not find spilled all over your socks and underwear post-flight.
Rinseroo is a small business specializing in problem-solving cleaning, pet, and travel products.
Promising review: "These covered various sizes of products — hair care, body wash, etc. Nothing leaked out of these whatsoever, even after a lid popped open during a flight. These prevented it from leaking out on the other contents of my luggage. Easy to use. Not flimsy. Very flexible. LOVE THESE!" —TAG
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in an eight-pack).
25. A Bearaby travel napper for anyone who, like me, is common law married to their weighted blanket. Now you can take all that snuggly anxiety-reducing comfort to the skies with this 6-pound version that fits easily into a compact duffel, making it perfect for adding some calm to long flights.
Promising review: "I have several weighted, high quality blankets but the Bearaby is by far the BEST! It’s incredibly comfortable against my skin, keeps me cool, and there are no beads to shift and make noise. It’s made extremely well and worth every penny! LOVE it!" —Mary R.
Get it from Bearaby for $179+ (available in three weights and three colors).
26. A quick-release vegan leather travel belt to securely cinch your carry-on or duty-free goodies to the top of your rolling suitcase so you can shop around the airport between layovers (and/or sprint to reach said layovers) with ease.
Cincha Travel is a California-based small business that specializes in adjustable travel belts made out of vegan leather. The brand donates 100 airline miles for each purchase, which are used to reconnect separated migrant families.
Promising review: "I try to go on trips with just a carryon and backpack. The issue is my backpack always gets so heavy and hurts my back in king travel days. This belt completely solves that problem! It is high quality, comfortable, and looks super sleek! It’s my favorite travel precut hands-down! —Benjamin
Get it from Cincha Travel for $39.99 or Amazon for $39.99 (available in 19 colors, and can be monogrammed on their website for an additional $12).
27. A dream balm made with calming herbs and essential oils like lavender, chamomile, mugwort, and valerian to help you nod off to dreamland and actually *stay* there, no matter how many times the guy in the seat behind you treats the back of your chair like a kickboxing ring.
Y'all, I am one of the world's worst sleepers and I swear by this HARD — particularly for when I wake up in the middle of the night and my brain is in "ah, let's think all the thoughts we've ever had at the SAME TIME" mode. I rub it on my temples and the insides of my wrists and take a big whiff from the canister and it's usually a lot easier for me to doze back off, when typically I might spend *hours* trying to conk back out. I've also found a little bit of this goes a long way!
Woodland Herbal is an Ohio-based Etsy shop established in 2018 that specializes in skincare, salves, and tea blends.
Promising review: "I tried it last night and I haven’t slept this hard in a long time. The smell alone is soothing when you put it on your temples as you drift off to sleep. I usually toss and turn but I slept like a rock." —Emily Irvin
Get it from Woodland Herbal on Etsy for $21.75+ (originally $29).
28. A skyline mini wallet emergency kit you'll want both for long plane trips and for days when life decides to take you on one — this has every little thing you need to get you out of a jam, from Tylenol to a hair tie to a bandage to stain-removing wipes.
Anne Cate is a woman-owned, Ohio-based small business that specializes in handmade accessories designed with different city skylines on them.
Each kit has a hair tie, ChapStick, two floss picks, a sewing kit, bandages, emery board, two safety pins, two earring backs, a makeup wipe, two bobby pins, two mints, a deodorant wipe, a Shout wipe, a tampon, hand sanitizer, and Tylenol.
Promising review: "I love the high quality of this mini wallet emergency kit. Great size to slip in a purse or tote and decorated with a great skyline of Pittsburgh. Emergency items inside are absolutely invaluable if you need them." —Nancy M.
Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in 46 skylines).
29. A leakproof contact lens case that's not only chic as heck, but has everything you need to keep your eyeballs happy, including a mirror, contact lens case, a mini solution bottle, and tools for removing your contacts from the case.
Eyelov is a small business that specializes in personal care products for travel.
Promising review: "Perfect for an overnight trip. I hate packing contact solution, but this keeps everything together and the small bottle holds enough solution to take my contacts out and soak them, and then rinse them to put them back in. I was pleasantly surprised to see the suction and the tweezers. I haven't had to use them, but I definitely needed them in the past. Cute addition to my travel bag and worth the money." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three colors).
30. A pair of compression socks for anyone whose feet and legs are prone to swelling on long flights — these are a chic solution to keep you ready for action once you land.
Promising review: "Prevents your feet and ankles from swelling on long flights. Also gave me an overall more comfortable feel on a 12-hour flight. I didn't feel the need to stretch or wiggle my feet quite as much. Sizing guide was pretty spot on. They look like regular socks and I didn't have any issues with impressions on my feet. They also they were not super tight in the toe area which I liked. Time will tell if they stay in shape after several uses and wash cycles, but for that price it was a great deal." —Tar
Get it from Amazon for $14.32 (available in 18 colors and sizes S–2XL).
31. A set of chewable toothpaste tablets so you have one less thing to worry about going "kaboom!!" in your carry-on (as much as you *love* the idea of rocking outfits that smell you got into a fight with a toothpaste tube).
Promising review: "I took these on a three-week trip to Europe. Didn't have to put them in my liquids bag. You chew them (don't swallow), then brush. It doesn't seem like they'd work, but they did. My teeth felt clean after using. Good purchase." —Pattipeg S. Harjo
Get a 60-count from Amazon for $17.98.
32. A ridiculously soft Essential Hoodie from Pond LA, which is basically what happens when a cozy sweater and a sleeping mask join forces to create the ultimate lightweight piece you can use for everything from light naps to full-on workouts. Not to mention...it's got a secret kangaroo pocket.
Pond LA is a California-based woman-owned, Asian-owned independent product design studio that produces in small, handmade batches from fabrics sourced in Los Angeles.
Promising review: "I fly a lot and am constantly trying to find a hoodie with a big hood to cover my eyes so I can catch up on some beauty sleep on flight. I saw this product on Instagram and knew it would be a game changer. I was able to use it recently for the first time on an early morning flight and let me tell you, it is EVERYTHING I was looking for and more. It’s comfy, cozy, oversized and the eye covers make you feel like you’re in a whole other world and not packed like a sardine on a plane. My over ear headphone fit perfectly under it and I got the best sleep I’ve had on a plane — EVER!" —Heather G.
Get it from Pond LA for $102.40 (originally $128, available in women's sizes S–XL and in five colors).
When the jet-lag-preventing tablets put a pep in your step:
