Plane travel: Sleeping on planes? Yes, even in the middle seat

My recent flight to Asia was 15 hours, and I had ended up in the middle seat.  I guess that was the price I paid for getting that flight for around $500.  Despite that, I did get a decent night’s sleep on the way.  Here’s how.
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Leg rest

They sell them on the internet as “foot rests” but don’t think of them only for your feet.  Depending on how tall you are, this might be better as an ankle or even calf rest.  This is the one I have: Flight Carry-On Foot Rest

This gives your legs the illusion of being stretched out a bit as it can hold your legs/feet right under the seat in front of you. Make sure to get one that has two connections on each side of the footrest (like the linked one) and not with just one connector in the middle, as those just flip around.  Also, it’s better if you can get one with a flocked surface (or really anything other than smooth slippery nylon). This is so that your feet don’t just slide around.

Neck rest

My favorite so far is the Trtl Super Soft Neck Support Travel Pillow. This can go either way on your neck and holds your head up without choking you. It is also pretty small and light for you when you carry it around the rest of the trip. Also, it can just be wrapped around a backpack strap or such to take it with you. The only thing I don’t like about this is that it’s very warm but something wrapped around your neck is sort of prone to that, so I just manage my other clothing layers appropriately to try to deal with that. Another one I have liked is this one.

Lumbar Support

Have proper lumbar support.  There are many inflating lumbar supports on the market, but this one is my absolute favorite. Why? For one reason – it has a waist strap so I don’t have to worry about it falling between the seats, or popping out the side of the chair, or leaving it behind when I leave the plane.  You regulate the amount of support by allowing air in, or pushing it out. Wonder-Roll Self-Inflating Back Support

Sleep mask

To keep you from waking up each time they turn on the lights, get a good soft 3d sleep mask. 

The cheap ones they give you on the plane are worthless, what you want are the ones with the eye bubbles like these on the left (it’s a clickable link).  These don’t push on your eyes, and fully cover your eye area so light doesn’t come in the sides when they do their service passes.  Leave a note on your tray table or with a seatmate if you want them to leave food or drinks. Also, bring earplugs if you can use them.

Compression socks

When you are on a long flight, whatever your age, compression socks are great for keeping your circulation going.  I can’t stand the ones that cover my toes, so I buy these: Open Toe Toeless Compression Socks 6 Pairs

This is a wonderful set, so I gave 4 pairs away, that way I have a clean pair going and coming back even if I don’t have time to do the wash.

Arm sling

 Have somewhere to put your arms – I have a sleep set that has a neck scarf and neck pillow that can either attach to a blanket or an arm pouch.  I haven’t been able to find this for sale anywhere recently but I will try to put in a link when I find it. This is wonderful for 2 reasons: no “fighting” over the armrest (even in the middle seat), and I have somewhere to put my glasses while I sleep.  If anyone knows where I can get one of these, please let me know.

Seat Cushion

Long flights really give your butt and tailbone an unpleasant experience.  Thermarest has several different self-inflating cushions to help with that, and for me, this one was the best combo of comfort and size/weight: Therm-a-Rest Trail Seat Cushion

It is 16×12 so it fits on all seats on planes and is 1.5 inches thick, so enough to cushion your butt and tailbone for the entire ride.

Summary

So there you have it, the basics of a sleep kit for long haul flights.  All of this, plus reading materials, and all the stuff I would cry over if lost, fit in a small backpack that is my personal item on the plane.  Everything else goes in my carry-on so when I land I am hopefully fresh and ready to go quickly to my destination.
Read more about how I pack for just carry-on nearly all the time:

• Packing light – reversible/convertible clothes
• Travel nearly anywhere in carry-on – clothing
• Packing: My small “random things” pouch that comes everywhere with me
• Health and Safety pouch for travel: stay safe, travel well