Back8 gadgets to make air travel more comfortable
Gadgets and accessories that can help you survive the din and discomfort of a long flight
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One of the most annoying aspects of flying is just how loud everything seems to be, especially when you’re trying to sleep. There’s the quiet but insistent hum of the aircraft, which becomes a rumble the further you are from the cockpit. Then there are people talking, laughing, babies crying, cold blasts of air, and the sharp thuds of washroom doors. Technology can help you shut off some of this noise.
Sleepphones classic
$39.95 (Rs2,550) on Sleepphones.com. Shipping charges extra.
Don’t like sleeping with bulky noise-cancelling headphones? Opt for SleepPhones. These super-thin, high-quality speakers come inside a soft, cosy headband so the earphones don’t dig into your head as you sleep. Play some white noise or your favourite music. They come in both wired and wireless versions.
Google Daydream view
Rs6,499 on Flipkart.com
There’s nothing like a good new VR headset to make you forget the snoring sounds around you. Daydream has a soft fabric, is lightweight and designed to fit comfortably over most eyeglasses. There’s a remote with buttons including a trackpad to control and interact the VR apps. All you have to do is place your smartphone into the strap and choose a 360-degree app. The Play Store for VR offers YouTube 360, Google Play movies, Netflix VR, and more. Currently, the headset is compatible with Google Pixel, Moto Z, Axon 7, Asus Zenfone AR and Huawei Mate 9 Pro. If you own a Samsung Galaxy, choose Samsung Gear ($88, plus shipping), which works better for Facebook 360-degree videos and has a side panel and focus adjustment. Don’t forget to plug in the phone, though, for this will drain the battery.
Travelrest travel blanket
$29.95 on Travelrest.net. Shipping extra.
Sometimes all the world’s problems can be solved by a blanket. This one comes in the form of a poncho made from plush coral fleece that covers your shoulders and won’t slip. It comes in a carry-case with a strap, so you can wrap it up and use it as a pillow too.
QuietOn
$199 on Quieton.com
Frankly, sometimes you just want to sleep it out. QuietOn earplugs, the only ones in the category, offer advanced noise cancellation for a quiet environment. You can reduce low-frequency bass noises like the hum of the aeroplane engine, snoring or normal background noise. There are no wires, settings or buttons, and the product weighs just 25g. All you have to do is put them on, and they will be active for 50 hours on a single charge.
Here One
$300 on Hereplus.me
These tiny wireless earbuds offer noise cancellation and speech enhancement. Here One comes with high-fidelity balanced armature drivers and NFMI (near-field magnetic induction)—this syncs perfectly with your phone and supports Google Assistant and Siri. Noise filters allow you to tune into sounds you want to hear. So you can cancel the aeroplane’s engine sound.
Earplanes Buds
Rs1,608 on Amazon.in
Just want to block out all noise? Opt for Earplanes Pressure Ear Plugs. These reusable earbuds, designed by the House Ear Institute in the US and tested by the US navy, even regulate air pressure to prevent pain, if any, during take-off and landing. They’re made of hypoallergenic silicone and come with a ceramic pressure regulator.
Skylights Theatre
Available on hire on select flights (like Inflight Dublin and XL Airways) for £15 (around Rs1,250) per flight.
This VR headset comes with noise-cancelling headphones and preloaded movies from 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Lionsgate, National Geographic etc. There is 128 GB of storage, enough for 40 HD movies, and weighs just 280g. Just put it on and create your own personal virtual reality theatre on the flight.
Milk Makeup sleep mask
$15 on Milkmakeup.com. Shipping extra.
A great solution to refresh the eyes, the Milk Makeup sleep mask comes with a cooling gel pack inserted into a slit at the back of the mask. It’s paraben-free and depuffs the area around tired eyes, so you wake up refreshed and ready to conquer the world.
*Prices may vary
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