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1. An endlessly-flexible travel pillow that’ll make waking up with a crick in your neck after an in-flight nap a thing of the past. Made of memory foam, this option features bendable joints, so you can configure it however you need to. Like a traditional U-shaped travel pillow? It can do that. Need something to prop your head up on one side? It can do that, too. Dying for some lumbar support? This thing has you covered. The cover is even removable for easy washing.
2. A good (yet affordable!) pair of noise-canceling headphones for those moments when you need a little quiet time – which, y’know, is basically all the time when you’re in the least desirable of airplane locations. These over-the-ear headphones will filter out the sound of the outside world for up to 40 hours so you can create a little noise-free oasis if you need to unplug from your cramped surroundings. As a bonus they fold up for easy storage, too, making them an A+ choice for your carry-on bag.
3. A Fire tablet, so you’ll never be bored – no matter how long or awkward a flight you’ve got ahead of you. Don’t get me wrong; I love physical media as much as the next bookworm. But when you’re in the air for hours at a time, nothing beats having an entire library of entertainment at your fingertips in one sleek, slim package.
4. Or, a Nintendo Switch Lite perfect for the gamer on the go. A super long Stardew Valley or Breath Of The Wild session while you’re in the air will keep you so busy, you’ll forget you even ended up in the middle seat — and since this particular model is built specifically for handheld gaming, it’s even more lightweight and packable than its larger, more expensive counterpart.
5. Some Earplanes earplugs, so you can finally fly without feeling like your head is going to explode. These lil’ guys aren’t great at blocking noise, but that’s not what they’re supposed to do. Instead, they help equalize the pressure in your ears, preventing unpleasant ear-popping and other weird altitude-induced ailments.
6. An Airplane Pockets seatback organizer, because digging through your under-the-seat carry-on is challenging at the best of times, let alone when you’re sandwiched between two other humans. With this gadget, though, you’ll have ample storage space for all the things you want to keep close at hand during your flight; just stick it over the tray table, pop all your must-haves in it when you board, and you’ll be good to go for the entire flight.
7. A hands-free, rotating phone mount that’ll make watching your in-flight entertainment way easier — definitely a necessity if you’re stuck in the middle seat. It clamps right onto your tray table; what’s more, since it’s got 360-degree adjustability, you can change the angle of it whenever you need to. Like, for instance, when the person in front of you decides to recline their seat aaaaaaaaall the way back. (Rude.)
8. Or, an AirFly wireless transmitter, if you find yourself on a plane where each seat still has its own individual in-flight entertainment screen. Usually, these kinds of systems require wired headphones to use – but not anymore! Just pair the AirFly with your wireless earbuds or headphones; then plug it into the headphone jack to connect ‘em with the in-flight entertainment system. Sure beats shelling out for those dinky little wired earbuds offered on the plane!
9. A cable and electronics organizer that’ll keep all your chargers and other technological bits and bobs corralled and easily accessible — no need to go spelunking inside the depths of your carry-on in desperate search of that ONE charger you need when your phone or tablet is about to run out of juice. This pretty floral case opens up to reveal a large mesh pocket, a whole bunch of smaller mesh compartments for items like thumb drives and memory cards, and, of course, a ton of stretchy bands for keeping cables and cords untangled and neatly stored.
10. A contoured sleep mask that’ll act as your peepers’ own personal set of airplane-friendly blackout curtains. This pick is padded with pillowy bumpers for extra comfort and extra light-blocking abilities: Because it doesn’t sit right against your eyes, it gives them some room to breathe while simultaneously making sure literally nothing will make it through. Snooze in comfort, no matter where you are — even the middle seat!
11. And some good ol’ fashioned earplugs, so you can snooze the flight away, even if your seatmates are a little on the loud side. Of course, I say “good ol’ fashioned,” but these earplugs are a step up from your average foam ones. Made of silicone, they’re washable, reusable, and fit right into your ears — no budging, not even out of the most temperamental of ear canals. They’ll muffle sound up to 33 decibels.
12. A Sea Band or two, because the last place you want to feel motion sick is when you’re wedged between a couple of strangers on a long-haul flight. Just strap one of these wristbands on and let it work its charms on your pressure points. YMMV, but for many, they’re a boon when it comes to staving off motion-induced nausea.
13. Some ludicrously comfortable high-waisted leggings, because no one should have to deal with a painful waistband digging into their stomach when they’re in the air, period, let alone when they’re in the middle of the row. These reviewer-beloved leggings come in so! many! colors! they’ll match basically any aesthetic — and they’re even available with pockets. Your air travel experience will never be the same.
14. A six-pack of playful compression socks that’ll keep the life in your legs during the longest of trips. Not only will these socks keep your circulation going while you’re way high up in the sky — which, I would argue, is doubly important when you’re in the dreaded middle seat — they’ll also make you super happy to see them whenever you look down. Seriously! Look how fun they are!
15. A pack of Wisp brushers, because honestly nothing makes you feel human again when you’re in the middle of an interminably long flight like freshening up your mouth a little. True, they’re disposable, which may not be ideal for everyone – but since they don’t need water to do their thing, they make giving your teeth and tongue a quick brush a little easier and more discrete than it might otherwise be.
16. A lil’ foot hammock that hangs right off your tray table, because sometimes, you just need to put your feet up — literally. Reviewers say this hanging footrest can work wonders for keeping your feet and legs comfortable in a small space, particularly if you’re on the shorter side. Go ahead. Give your feet a vacation while you’re on your way to your vacation. You all deserve it.
17. A soft and cozy travel scarf so multifunctional, it’s basically a Transformer. Toss it around your neck like a scarf! Wear it like a shawl! Curl up under it like a blanket! Make it into a poncho! You’ll never be cold on the plane with this sucker around — and as a bonus, it provides an extra layer of protection between you and the people on either side of you. (No touching, please.)
18. Or, a TikTok-famous packable blanket that’ll make your red eye surprisingly restful, no matter where in the row you’re sitting. This pick comes folded up in a handy little package — which, apparently, makes a great pillow, according to a number of reviewers — for easy transport; then, when you’re all settled on board the plane, you can open it up and yank out a soft, plush, and unexpectedly sizeable blanket to snuggle up under. Ready, set, snooze!
19. And a sleep hoodie, so you can fully retreat into your own private nap cave far, far away from your seatmates. Oversized for comfort and made of cozy fleece, this pick features a built-in sleep mask hidden in the hood. When you’re ready for lights out, just pull up the hood, pull the sleep mask down over your eyes, and voila! Instant privacy.
20. A PackIt freezable snack box to help you keep your hanger at bay without the need to pay for overpriced airplane food. Since this packable snack box is also a cold pack, it’ll let you bring a wider variety of eats with you than, y’know, trail mix and granola bars. A long flight in the middle seat can make the best of us cranky — but you’ll definitely feel better if you keep yourself fueled as you go.
21. And a solid lotion stick that’ll keep your hands hydrated and itch-free in even the driest of airplane environments — without taking up valuable space in your liquids bag. Powered by soothing ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil, olive oil, and vitamin E, this supremely packable tube will give your skin a quick and luxurious little pick-me-up whenever the canned air starts to get to you. Sometimes, it’s the littlest things that go the longest way to keeping you comfortable in otherwise uncomfortable circumstances, you know?
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.