Long-haul flight? Here’s what you need to get through it.
The right clothes, shoes, and tech can make all the difference when you’re on a plane for more than six hours.
Long-haul flights—longer than six hours or 3,000 miles—can be taxing on the body. “It causes us to retain water which makes our tissues, such as muscles and tendons, expand, which in turn causes blood pressure changes and muscle and joint pains,” says Sherly Soleiman, a board-certified physician from California and frequent flier. “There is also the increased possibility of blood clots, especially on the legs, which can result in DVT [deep vein thrombosis], and pulmonary embolism.”
The good news is that, with a little prep, many of these risks can be mitigated. We asked frequent travelers and medical professionals on the tried-and-true items they take with them on long-haul flights. Here are their tips and the best products for a more comfortable flight.
Our top tips for what to pack for a long-haul flight
From comfortable clothes and noise-canceling headphones to hydration kits and entertainment options, packing smart can turn a marathon flight into a more enjoyable experience. To help, we’ve narrowed down a few key essentials, plus our favorite products for long flights.
Tip 1: Wear comfortable clothes. Our experts suggest wearing loose-fitting clothes made with soft fabrics that help regulate body temperature and support unrestricted movement during long flights.
Tip 2: Maximize efficiency with your gear. Efficient packing is always important for any trip, but on long distance flights, it’s key. It’s best to keep items you need close at hand without having to deal with bulky luggage.
Tip 3: Diversify entertainment. From books to movies, having a variety of ways to pass the time can make a world of difference during long flights.
Tip 4: Bring the right shoes. Lightweight, breathable shoes with cushy padding lead to happy feet on tiring flights.
Tip 5: Stay hydrated. Airplane cabins have low humidity, which can cause dehydration, headaches, fatigue, itchy skin, and may even worsen jet lag.
Tip 1: Wear comfortable clothes
Soleiman suggests wearing loose clothes that let you move freely, even if it’s just to walk down the aisle to stretch your legs. “I dress in layers so that I’m prepared for cold or warm and can regulate my body temperature as needed,” she adds.
Duer Performance Pant (women’s and men’s)
Buy it now at Duer (women’s and men’s)
Why we like it: Wearing jeans on a long flight may not seem like the best idea, but these pants are made with Duer’s unique fabric blend of cotton, polyester, and Lycra. This makes them stretchier than regular denim enabling greater range of motion, plus they’re more breathable and moisture-wicking. The relaxed fit is comfortable and looks great, so you’re ready to go as soon as you land.
Keep in mind: These pants have a drawstring opening, which might be a bit too casual for some settings.
Product details: Material: Organic cotton, polyester, and spandex blend | Size: XS-XL with 27-in. inseam (women); S-XXL, with 30-in. and 32-in. inseam (men).
(The perfect wrinkle-free wardrobe to pack for your next trip)
Free Fly Highmile Jogger (women’s and men’s)
Buy it now at Free Fly (women’s and men’s)
Why we like it: The Free Fly Highmile Jogger is a lightweight, moisture-wicking pant made from a blend of bamboo viscose, polyester, and spandex. It feels soft and fits loosely for plenty of active movement. The jogger has a tapered fit, elastic waistband with a drawstring, cuffed ankles, and pockets, including a zippered back pocket for secure storage.
Product details: Material: Bamboo, polyester, and spandex blend | Size: XS-XXL, with 24-in. inseam (women); S-XXXL, with 28-in. inseam (men)
Smartwool Compression Socks
Buy it now at Smartwool
Why we like it: Long-haul flights can be risky for some passengers. Sitting for long periods of time can lead to deep vein thrombosis and blood clots. “Individuals who are overweight, pregnant, those with limited mobility and on hormone therapy are at increased risk,” says Las Vegas-based physician Raj Singh.
Compression socks like these from Smartwool can help improve circulation and reduce muscle fatigue. These are made from moisture-wicking merino wool that can help regulate temperature. They also feature graduated compression and reinforced heel and toe areas.
Keep in mind: Compression socks are generally designed to fit tight, which may feel uncomfortable for some travelers. If you’ve never worn them before, you may want to try them out a few days before your flight to get used to them.
Product details: Material: Merino wool and recycled nylon | Size: M-XL
(The best compression socks for travelers)
Tip 2: Maximize efficiency with your gear
The best bag for long-distance flights should fit under your seat so you can easily reach things you need. Choose bags with at least two pockets and plenty of organizational features so you don’t have to hunt around for your stuff. Packing smaller items in pouches can help minimize clutter, making it easier to grab essentials like your toothbrush and toothpaste before the meal cart comes down your aisle.
Cotopaxi 28L Allpa Travel Pack
Buy it now at Cotopaxi
Why we like it: This Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack doubles as a personal item on flights. It opens all the way through like a suitcase for easy access and has zippered pockets on each side for organizing essentials. It’s also comfortable to wear, thanks to the padded straps and a stowable harness system that helps distribute weight away from the shoulders and onto the hips.
It’s small enough to pass airline carry-on limits, yet roomy enough for efficient packing. It even has a separate padded laptop sleeve on the back.
Keep in mind: This bag may be too small for overpackers or travelers with small children. The harness system gives it the look of a camping backpack, which may not work for business travelers.
Product details: Weight: 2 lbs. 8 oz. | Material: Recycled nylon and recycled polyester | Dimensions: 19 x 12 x 9 in.
Monos Metro Tote
Buy it now at Monos
Why we like it: The Monos Metro Tote Bag is a sleek, versatile everyday bag made from vegan leather or nylon, both of which are water-resistant. We love the multiple internal pockets, laptop sleeve (up to 14 inches), and removable vanity kit for extra organization. The sides open to accommodate taller items like a water bottle and the trolley sleeve easily fits onto a suitcase handle. It can be carried both via shoulder straps and a crossbody strap.
Keep in mind: The two external pockets don’t have zippers, so it’s not a good option for storing valuables like a passport, wallet, or cash.
Product details: Weight: 2.7 lbs. with volume of 16.4 L | Material: Vegan leather and felt from recycled plastic bottles | Dimensions: 15.2 x 12 x 7.2 in.
(The 8 best travel backpacks of 2024)
Peak Design Small Tech Pouch
Buy it now at Peak Design
Why we like it: On long-haul flights it’s important to be organized, especially if you’re packing cables, chargers, ear plugs, or medications. Instead of putting everything into one large bag, we like stowing our things in a tech pouch. This one has pockets to keep everything separate and easily accessible, plus four slots, and it opens wide for easy access. Inside, a zippered pocket holds smaller items like SD cards.
Keep in mind: This pouch comes in two sizes: small and regular. Some travelers may find that this bag gets too bulky when fully loaded.
Product details (small): Weight: 6.9 oz. with volume of 1 L | Material: Recycled nylon | Dimensions: 9.5 x 4.5. x 3.5 in.
Tip 3: Diversify entertainment
Most airlines have plenty of in-flight entertainment to keep you engaged throughout the flight. However, Singh advises against watching TV monitors continuously for too long as they can disrupt sleep patterns. It can help to mix up your entertainment options with reading a paperback book or listening to music or a podcast.
Twelve South AirFly SE Bluetooth Transmitter
Buy it now on Amazon
Why we like it: The Twelve South AirFly SE is a handy little gadget for anyone who wants to use wireless headphones or AirPods with devices that don't have Bluetooth, like airplane entertainment systems. It’s compact and easy to carry around. Setup is a breeze—just plug it into the headphone jack, pair it with your headphones, and you're good to go. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 for a more stable connection without lag. The battery life lasts up to 20 hours and charges via a USB-C port.
Keep in mind: The sound quality is reasonable (not the greatest), and it doesn’t support pairing with multiple devices at once.
Product details: Weight: 0.5 oz. | Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 in. | Battery: Up to 20 hours | Port type: USB-C
Solos Xeon 5 Smart Glasses
Buy it now at Solos Smartglasses
Why we like it: According to the American Osteopathic Association, the duration and volume of earphone usage should be closely monitored in adults and children to prevent hearing loss. They recommend using earphones for no more than 60 minutes a day at 60 percent of the highest volume decibel.
These glasses can help alleviate some earphone listening on long-haul flights. They have Bluetooth connectivity, open-air audio, and basic fitness tracking features like step counting and posture monitoring. The glasses are lightweight so they’re suitable for extended wear and provide good sound quality for casual listening, with around eight hours of battery life.
Keep in mind: These glasses use open ear audio, so it could be distracting to other passengers. The audio quality isn’t as immersive as traditional noise-canceling headphones.
Product details: Weight: 1.2 oz. | Material: Blocks UV & high energy blue light (HEV) and anti-reflection (AR) coated lenses | Dimensions: 1.7 x 5.6 x 5.7 in.
BioLite Charge 100 Max
Buy it now at BioLite
Why we like it: A power bank is an easy way to keep all your devices charged during long flights. They help you stay connected and entertained, without having to search for outlets around your seat, especially if you plan to use multiple devices. The BioLite portable power bank has a high 26,800mAh capacity, which means it can easily charge phones, tablets, and even small laptops. It has three ports (1 USB-C, 2 USB-A) for charging up to five electronics at a time.
Keep in mind: This power bank is bulkier and heavier than others and isn’t waterproof.
Product details: Weight: 1.3 lbs. | Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.4 x 1.3 in.
Manta Sleep Mask
Buy it now on Amazon
Why we like it: Long-haul flights can disrupt your circadian rhythm resulting in jet lag. “This can lead to extreme fatigue, cravings for stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine, smoking, sugar-containing foods, and even mood swings,” notes Singh. “The key is to try and sleep as much as possible on flights.”
That may be difficult on a plane, but wearing a sleep mask can help. If you’re sensitive to light or need complete darkness to fall asleep, the Manta sleep mask is a great choice. It’s designed to block 100 percent of light, with deep, adjustable eyecups that don’t press down on your eyes. We also like that it’s made with soft, breathable materials that don’t feel heavy on your face.
Keep in mind: Because this mask blocks out 100 percent of light, you’ll need to give your eyes a few minutes to adjust to different light levels when you remove them, especially if you need to get up mid-flight.
Product details: Weight: 0.2 lbs. | Material: Cotton and micro-fleece | Dimensions: 28.6 x 2.9 x 1.4 in.
(How to sleep soundly on a plane)
Tip 4: Bring the right shoes
One of the great debates of air travel is whether it’s O.K. for passengers to go shoeless. In a survey conducted by Kayak, 66 precent of Americans said removing shoes at cruising altitude is poor airline etiquette. But footwear can be uncomfortable due to swelling (harmless according to the Mayo Clinic).
One way to mitigate the debate is to wear shoes that are easy to take on and off. “Opt for loose slippers or even just extra socks for comfort,” say Anne Steinbach and Clemens Sehi, Germany-based travel journalists and photographers who regularly fly almost 100 times a year.
Teva ReEmber Slip-on Shoes
Buy it now at Teva
Why we like it: These unisex shoes have a cushioned footbed and a quilted upper that help keep feet warm. They also have a collapsible heel so they’re easy to slip on without using your hands. We especially appreciate the peppermint-based anti-odor treatment, which can help when feet get too hot.
Keep in mind: These don’t have a hard sole, so they’re ideal for casual activities. We don’t recommend them for rugged terrain, wet conditions, or extreme cold. They also may feel a bit loose on narrow feet, so check sizing recommendations before ordering.
Product details: Weight: Not specified | Material: Recycled polyester, synthetic overlay, and recycled rubber | Size: 4.5W to 15W
(The best men’s slip-on shoes)
Tip 5: Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated on long-haul flights is key for comfort and well-being. We like to pack moisturizers, herbal teas, and electrolyte tablets or powders to mix with water. “I always carry skincare essentials, especially facial cleansing wipes and a good SPF cream,” says Thuha Nguyen, who has traveled to over 70 countries. “Even though you’re not outside, the UV rays can penetrate through the plane’s windows. These items help make even the longest flights much more manageable and comfortable.”
Blink Gel Tears Eye Drops for Dry Eyes
Buy it now on Amazon
Why we like it: Dry, irritated eyes are a common problem for many travelers on long-haul flights. It’s often due to dehydration, which can also show up in sinuses. These eye drops help keep dryness at bay and can protect against airborne germs, according to the company. It has a thick lubricating formula, which offers enhanced comfort for daytime and nighttime use.
Keep in mind: This formula is not for contact lens wearers.
Product details: Weight: 0.4 lbs. | Size: 1.3 x 2.1 x 4.3 in.
Supergoop Superscreen Hydrating Daily Cream SPF 40
Buy it now at Supergoop
Why we like it: This daily cream is a great all-in-one product if you’re looking for hydration and sun protection. It’s lightweight, absorbs well, and leaves your skin with a dewy appearance, which is great for dry or combination skin. It also contains antioxidants to help protect against things like pollution and blue light.
Keep in mind: This formula may be too hydrating for oily skin. Some people have said this lotion leaves a slight white cast when first applied, especially on deeper skin tones.
Product details: Weight: 1.7 fl. oz.
