These 5 airport essentials are the secret to sleeping through long flights — and they start at $14

An achy neck, discomfort and dead legs, sleeping on a plane, bus or train is no easy feat. But after several long haul flights and countless early morning commutes, I've mastered an on-the-go sleep routine.

My friends say they don't particularly enjoy my company on flights — not because I'm a restless traveller or relentless yapper, but because I simply sleep through. I rarely stay awake from take off to landing and I have a handful of sleep products to thank for my ability to drop off in the sky, on the tracks or on the road.

With Memorial Day sleep sales on the horizon, now is a great time to think about which gadgets to snap up for peaceful travels this summer. From SOMO's acupressure sleep mask to Tempur-Pedic's travel pillow and a trusty Kindle, here are the essentials I won't travel without...

1. A good light-blocking eye mask

Your body clock can be thrown all over the shop while traveling, meaning you'll often need to sleep while it's still light outside. Light pollution on an aeroplane can also be distracting, whether it's the flashing lights of the wings or the individual reading lights, making it difficult to sleep.

For this reason, I'm always sure to pack a comfortable sleep mask. My current favorite is the SOMO Sleep Fitness mask, which is made from a butter-soft material and uses acupressure to help you relax.

The eye mask is fitted with a disk between the eyebrows, which gently applies pressure to the Yin Tang acupoint. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, this relieves anxiety and reduces restlessness — a dream mid-flight.

The digital Aura Sleep Mask ($229 at Aura) and Bob and Brad eye massager ($49.99 at Amazon) are two other reliably calming eye masks I'd suggest.

SOMO Sleep Fitness mask: from $59 at SOMO
While blocking out light pollution, this mask also induces calm amongst the chaos of traveling. It comes in two models — the Luxe and Sport, which cost $59 and $69 respectively at MSRP. For an extra $10 you get an adjustable strap with the Sport model, offering a more customized fit while the Luxe creates a snug fit, which people describe as a "hug to the head".

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2. A reliable travel pillow

If I had to pick a favorite on-the-move sleep essential it would have to be a reliable travel pillow. Getting comfortable on-the-move without somewhere to rest your head is near impossible.

Adding cushioning around your neck for you to rest your head, travel pillows do wonders. It also saves you slouching onto the person next to you (a situation no one wants.)

A good pillow for travelling is one that's portable and, like this year's best pillows, supportive. Trust me when I say an infinity pillow or suitable travel pillow will be your wisest-selected travel companion.

The Tempur-Pedic travel pillow below is a plush option, or you can shop more affordable travel pillows at Amazon. For example, this Napfun neck pillow is 28% off now at $15.86 (was $21.99).

Tempur-Pedic Travel Pillow: $79 at Tempur-Pedic
You can always find a quality bed in the Tempur-Pedic mattress sales, and the brand transfers this quality into its sleep accessories too. You can shop the Tempur-Pedic travel pillow for $79 now, or buy two and save $49 (bundle price $109), which is a good deal for travelling couples. The horseshow shape wraps around your neck so your muscles can relax while your head remains supported in a sitting position.

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3. Sleep headphones or earplugs

Blocking out cabin or carriage noise is essential if you want to drift off on a plane or train. Depending whether you prefer a lullaby or complete silence to fall asleep, you can chose between headphones or noise-cancelling earplugs.

While standard quality headphones can do the trick, specialised ultra thin headphones can be more comfortable to doze in.

My sleep-inducing sound track tends to include binaural beats or a sleep podcast, which help me relax when afflicted by the anxiety that can sometimes come with travelling.

Philips Sleep Headphones by Kokoon: was $270 now $200 at Kokoon
The Philips Sleep Headphones by Kokoon are a sleek pair of headphones with advanced noise masking technology  and a wire connection so you're less likely to lose them down the side of the plane seat. You can save 26% now, cutting the price to $200 from $270 or get a couple's package with two sets of headphones for $351 (was $500).

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4. An enjoyable read

For entertainment and relaxation, you'll always find a book (or rather a Kindle) in my carry-on luggage. I prefer a light-hearted read, be it an Emily Henry romance or trending best seller, while travelling as these feel-good stories set the perfect holiday tone.

Alternatively, I'll pick up a magazine at the airport to be inspired travel destinations. In the same way reading at bedtime can help you relax, I find reading mid-flight can have a similar effect. After a chapter or two, you'll be snoozing into your neck pillow.

A Kindle is the travel essential for book-lovers. If you're looking for recommendations, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is our top-rated e-reader of the year.

Kindle Paperwhite: from $159.99 at Amazon
Between the bright screen, comfortable size and impressively long battery life, this is an ideal e-reader for travellers. The lightweight design means it slips into your bag without taking up too much room and with Kindle Unlimited, you have endless books at your finger tips to keep you entertained and relaxed while on the go. There's been a slight price increase on the new Kindle model ($10), but we still think $159.99 is great value for an e-reader of its quality.

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5. Compression socks

Compression socks can help you sleep better on a flight by improving blood circulation, reducing swelling, and potentially alleviating leg fatigue and discomfort.

By applying graduated pressure to your legs, especially at the ankles, these socks help blood flow back to the heart more efficiently, which can improve your comfort while sitting in an upright position in tight plane and train bays.

In a more comfortable position, you're more likely to sleep longer and get better sleep quality on a long flight, helping you feel more refreshed when you land at your destination.

Physix Gear Compression Socks: was $19.99 now $14.24 at Amazon
These Physix Gear compression socks at Amazon are affordable and sport a 4.4 out of 5 rating from 84,553 customers who attest to them being effective at reducing leg swelling during long flights. They're just $14,24 now thanks to a 29% discount. Well worth the investment for a comfortable journey.

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