Crying babies, endless delays, and that one aggressive seat-kicker are almost inevitable travel companions. Doesn’t mean you can’t have a nice journey: savvy packing will keep you collected and calm. We can’t promise the same for the new parents across the aisle.
Upgrade Your Luggage
Rollers sacrifice serious space with all that wheel infrastructure, so invest in a maximum-carry-on-size duffel. We like . It converts into a comfortable backpack and comes with a protective compartment for your smartphone or camera. $150.
Tune Out
A flight without noise-canceling headphones is like a traffic jam with no radio. Protect yourself. We love the . They鈥檙e lightweight, compact, and easy on the ears. $299.
Refill Your Own
Stop buying plastic and bring along this sharp-looking . From $25.
Bring a Small Tablet
For everything from watching movies to surfing the Web, it鈥檚 the best device out there. We still love the because it鈥檚 superlight, small, and the most user-friendly gadget on the planet. $400.
Pack These
Let us now praise : they鈥檙e comfortable, fast-drying, and featherweight. Pack two pairs and you鈥檒l be set for a three-day or three-week trip (with washings, dirtbags). From $40.
Essential Overnight Items
OluKai Pahono Lace shoes
Don鈥檛 fumble to tie your shoes for a 3 A.M. bathroom run. The聽聽heel folds down, so you can slip in and out of them easily. They鈥檙e bedroom-slipper cozy but still sharp enough for everyday wear. $120.
CW-X compression socks
We wear聽聽to reduce foot and leg swelling at altitude. $55.
Eagle Creek Sandman neck pillow
Super comfy and deflates down to聽. $24.
REI Cushioned Eye Mask and Earplugs set
聽and the hick-hop blasting from your seatmate鈥檚 iPod. $11.
Sleep Aid
国产吃瓜黑料 editors recommend melatonin, Tylenol PM, or Ambien*.
*聽The best way to beat jet lag on a long journey is to hydrate, walk around the cabin every couple of hours, set your watch to your destination time, and swallow five to ten milligrams of Ambien on the longest leg. (I take mine with an airplane bottle of Johnnie Walker, even though our fact-checkers insist this could kill me.) Just be sure you tell the flight attendant what you鈥檙e doing, in case you start to sleepwalk鈥攁 known side effect. When you arrive, you鈥檒l feel ready to go. Bonus: Ambien is the only sleeping pill that doesn鈥檛 slow your breathing, so it鈥檚 generally safe at altitude. Most physicians will prescribe it as a travel medication. 鈥擥rayson Schaffer