Gallery: 16 Travel-Friendly Gifts to Make Flying Less Miserable
Etymotic0101 Etymotic Hf3 Headphones (wired photo)
Ditch your huge Bose cans, because you don't need active noise-cancellation. What you want is isolation: the feeling like you're alone in a room listening to beautiful music, not having the air sucked out of the room and your ears. [Etymotic's HF3 buds](http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/headset-earphones/hf3.html) ($149) sound great, and fit so snugly they'll keep the world out. Plus, these in-ear 'phones won't take up half the space in your bag.
The North Face0202-North-Face-Surge-II-Backpack-(manufacturer-photo)
The North Face's [Surge backpack](https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/surge?variationId=BSR) ($129) is the only bag you'll need for a weekend getaway. It has plenty of space for a few days' worth of clothes and the separate laptop compartment folds down to make the TSA happy.
Blackout Bands0303-Blackout-Bands-(manufacturer-photo)
When you wear an eye mask, you don't have to look like you're undergoing spa treatment. These [Blackout Bands](http://www.blackoutbands.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html) shades ($30) block out 98 percent of light so you can sleep even when the sun is shining right through the window. That they make you look like a paparazzi-avoiding A-lister is just icing.
Samsung04samsung
You know what's better than being on a plane? Being literally anywhere else. Go anywhere you want just by dropping your phone into the [Samsung Gear VR](http://www.samsung.com/eg/gearvr/index.html) ($100) and diving into virtual-reality games and movies, or just chill in the virtual movie theater. You'll forget you're on a plane altogether, at least until the guy in the window seat taps you on the shoulder needing a bathroom break.
IOHawk0505-IO-Hawk-Hoverboard-(manufacturer-photo)
OK, so hoverboards are maybe a little bit not allowed in every airport. And some might say it's heavy and awkward, and that you look like a douchebag riding one. You won't hear them saying so, because you'll be zooming by on the [best thing](http://iohawk.com/products/iohawk-white) to happen to mile-long airport journeys since the moving sidewalk belt.
Amazon0606-Melotonin-(manufacturer-photo)
You could take a hardcore sleeping pill to get through the flight, but you never know what might happen (also just a bad idea altogether if you have a layover!). A [Melatonin tablet](http://www.amazon.com/Natrol-Melatonin-Strawberry-Sweeteners-Dissolve/dp/B004KUAI4E/ref=zg_bs_3764301_3)---which contains the natural hormone your body releases to make you sleepy---won't knock you out of commission, it'll just make it a lot easier to fall (and stay) asleep a few ZzZzZs longer.
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED0707-Nexus-6P-(wired-photo)
Need a great phone that does everything and won't be a hassle every time you touch down in a foreign land? That's the [Nexus 6P](https://store.google.com/product/nexus_6p). The best Android phone ever comes with the camera, battery life, and fingerprint security you'll need, and it'll work on just about any network anywhere.
W&P Design0808-Carry-on-Cocktail-Kit-(manufacturer-photo)
You may not have first-class leg room, but you can sure drink like the one percent. The [Carry On Cocktail Kit](http://wandpdesign.com/pages/carryoncocktailkit) ($24) contains airport-friendly sizes of everything you need to make two killer drinks---all you need is a glass. Mix one for yourself, one for the cutie in the seat next to you.
Josh Valcarcel/WIRED0909-iPad-Pro-(wired-photo)
Now that you can use your gadgets during taxi and take-off, you never have to be stuck thumbing over to the half-finished in-flight crossword again. Just whip out Apple's huge [iPad Pro](http://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/) ($799), and spend every second you're on the plane watching movies, reading, even getting work done.
REI1010-REI-Self-Inflating-Travel-Pillow-(manufacturer-photo)
Whether you're stuck in a middle seat or luxuriating with your own row, [REI's self-inflating pillow](http://www.rei.com/product/763637/rei-self-inflating-travel-pillow) ($19.50) can keep your head cushioned enough that you won't wake up 20 minutes into the flight with a sore neck. It packs away small enough that you might as well leave it in your bag all the time, just in case.
Baubax1111-Baubax-Travel-Jacket-(manufacturer-photo)
Sure, it's just a Kickstarter, but $20 million in crowdfunding means Baubax's insane [jacket-meets-hoodie](http://www.baubax.com/) is worth the $170 pre-order. It has everything from a built-in neck pillow and microfiber cloth to a pocket specifically for your blanket, all in a top that looks refreshingly normal. You'll never forget something important, because it'll all be in your coat already.
Vector Werks1212-Vector-Cupholder-(manufacturer-photo)
With this clip-on [Vector cupholder](http://www.amazon.com/Vector-Cup-Holder-Drink-Clamp/dp/B00DH0D2M8) ($50), you can stop playing the impossible game of trying to fit your cup, snacks, and laptops all on that tiny tray table. And you can stop spilling your coffee on your keyboard every time you hit a little rough air. You'll feel silly the first time you take it out, and then superior when yours is the only dry lap left on the plane.
Audible13audible
Flying is mostly waiting: in line, at the counter, in your seat. It's a perfect time to brush up on some of your old favorite books, or finally *actually* read *Infinite Jest* instead of just lying about it. [Audible](http://www.audible.com/) is the only name in audiobooks worth knowing, and it's also just a great service. $15 a month.
Tile1414-Tile-(manufacturer-photo)
You know that moment when you get off the plane, and right about as you get to the hotel you realize you left your Kindle in the seat pocket? Or when you get on the plane and remember your carry-on's still at security? Slap one of these $25 [Tiles](https://www.thetileapp.com/) on anything valuable, and it'll help you find whatever you've lost.
Dubs1515-Dubs-(manufacturer-photo)
[Dubs earplugs](http://www.getdubs.com/) ($25) don't have batteries that need charging, and they're not even noise-cancelling headphones. They're just cheap, easy, comfortable earplugs that will tune out some of the din of the airplane so you can watch your movie or get some work done in peace.
Knomo1616-Knomo-Organiser-(manufacturer-photo)
Your passport, your boarding pass, your ID, your phone, your headphones---there are a lot of small things you'll need while you're flying. They're all too easy to lose, so drop them into this zippered [Knomo organizer](http://www.knomobags.com/uk/knomad-zip-folio-organiser-shoreditch-black.html) (about $90), where there's a snug place for everything you need. Check your bag, carry this thing on, and enjoy the extra space under the seat.
