frequent travelers - are noise-canceling headphones a must?

I always use noise canceling headphones, but not for preventing jet lag. I see no correlation between the issue of noise and jet lag. And i say the same about ear pressure and and ear plugs.

According to Reid's Italy, noise-canceling headphones will dull the subsonic roar of the jet engines which raise your stress levels causing you to release adrenaline. Then when the flight is over, the adrenaline stops and you crash, thus the jet lag. The headphones supposedly block the sounds that cause that response in your body, making it easier to sleep.

He seems to give lots of good advice on his site, but I wanted to confirm this before I spend money on something I may not need.

Presumably you are younger than am I , so your body is more resilient. You may not even be aware of your ears tensing up to reduce the noise level on the plane. It's hard to get young people to wear ear plugs at rock concerts because they're not interested in future possible hearing loss - so you may have no experience between "ear plugs" and "no earplugs". I can tell you that I feel more relaxed after a long flight with noise-reduction headphones.

That said, I've noticed that the interiors of newer planes are quieter than they used to be. You need to find out whether wearing the phones might make it harder (or not) to get some sleep. I'd say sleep has a bigger effect on jet lag than any form of hardware. If money is a concern, you should get some more travel experience under your belt before you invest a large sum in the headphones. They're easy to forget in the seat-back pocket, by the way-an expensive lesson.

I tried "Ear Planes", which are vented earplugs to reduce air pressure discomfort. They are so unpleasant (this is a matter of personal ear canal anatomy, not purely a product design issue, I'm sure) to wear and so overpriced that I take a decongestant pill an hour before landing instead. This works well for me. I happen to use Sudafed (but there is some evidence that it's illegal in Dubai, a destination of mine last year!)

Interesting link...but I thought jet lag was due to a disruption of your circadian rhythms not adrenaline release? (I have no expertise in the area.)

I also don't know how anyone sleeps or tries to with noise cancelling earphones on. I was recently on a flight and noticed a number of folks with them on and they are so big it looks like it would not really allow you to put your head to the side. I did use earplugs (interestingly Delta was handing out packets with an eyemask and earplugs) which helped dull the engine sounds, but after 4 or 5 hours they are uncomfortable.

On TA's Air Travel forum there was a thread recently with a link to a program you can access on BA which has a sleep hypnosis track. I may download that as it sounds interesting altho it is a little spendy.

That link is bunk. Jet lag has nothing whatsoever to do with adrenaline, and it has everything to do with circadian rhythm disruption. Noise-canceling headphones may make it slightly easier to sleep, but they won't affect jet lag.

"I've read about Earplanes which are earplugs which help regulate the pressure in your ears on airplanes. Is this something I should get, or will regular soft earplugs do?" The structures that cause problems with the pressure differential are behind the tympanic membrane. Something you stick in your outer ear canal will have no affect on this, unless it pierces your ear drum. Another case of advertising claiming something the product can't possibly do.

Tom is closer to the truth than Mr. Reid. It looks like he has reprinted all of the folklore around jet travel. Mostly marginal junk. Some of it I agree with but most is just opinion with little regard for facts. I like noise-canceling headphones simply because they reduce the noise level and makes it slightly easier to sleep for me. The best are over the ear but unfortunately they take up a lot of room in the carryon. I use them on domestic flights when space is not as critical but only ear plugs on international flights. I don't have ear pressure problems other than take off and landings. And it is quick corrected with a big yawn. So what is being regulated with those ear plugs? If you had no problems on domestic flights why would you have problems on international flights? All aircraft is pressurized to about 10,000 feet so it really doesn't make any difference how high or how far the plane flies. That is common sense. There are a lot of travel aids that are only marketing hype to make you think you need something when you do not. You are a worrier. Relax.

They do nothing to prevent jet lag; however, they do make the flight more pleasant by allowing one to listen to music or books or movies without having to crank up the volume to hear over the noise of the plane.

Thanks everyone. I'm leaning towards not getting them. I have earplugs and earbuds and a blow up pillow. If I can find my eyemask, I'll have that too. I do believe he is on to something with that talk of adrenaline, but I wouldn't have any other use for noise-canceling headphones after my flight so it's not worth the expense at this point. Thanks.

I've noticed a definite correlation between my increasing inability to sleep on a plane and my worsening jet leg when I arrive in Europe. Adrenaline may have something to do with jet lag - it may worsen it or ease it, depending on how revved up you are - but adrenaline by itself does not cause jet lag. I must be one of the few travelers who actually like the engine noise on the plane. For me it acts as white noise and blocks out a lot of what I consider more unpleasant noises, such as loud children, babies crying, people talking loudly, etc. I do put in earplugs when I try to sleep, to smooth out all noises in general.

kannd86,

i havent used any earplugs or noise canceling headphones on my trips.

I also don't "sleep" on the plane either. I may nod off every so often, but in general, no sleep for me.

As far as the jet lag goes once i get there, it doenst hit me unless I'm sedentary. So, i will check into my room, drop stuff off, take a shower and get going. Again, if I'm sedentary, it will affect me more, but i try not to put myself in that situation. I do hit the sack around 2100 local time that first few nights so that i can get a good nights sleep - and i usually do too.

to me, being outside of dodge and in a new/cool place is more than enough to keep me awake.

one thing though is that the Jet Lag will affect me more on the way back home.

happy trails.

kann,

I tend to agree with the others about the usefulness of noise cancelling headphones affecting jet lag. It sounds like a load of rubbish to me, and that certainly hasn't been my experience after numerous international flights.

I've been travelling with noise cancelling earbuds for several years, both with active noise cancelling and passive. I've found these useful for reducing the overall background noise from the engines and cabin chatter, which helps when watching movies or listening to music. I sometimes leave them in even with no movie or music, as it makes it a bit quieter if I want to doze for a few minutes (I never seem to be able to actually "sleep" on flights for a variety of reasons, such as window seat passengers needing me to move so they can get to the WC. Also, the excitement of going somewhere new usually keeps me awake.

I've looked at the larger Bose (and other brands) over-the-ear headphones and while they may work well, there's no way I'm hauling those things all over Europe just to use them twice on the flights.

As Ray mentioned, I also try to stay awake until about 21:00 but sometimes that's really difficult to do, so on occasion I'll have a short "power nap" to keep me going. I also find jet lag worse on the way home (not sure why that is?).

Like Emma, I've found that noise-cancelling headphones help reduce the stress and subsequent headache brought on (I think) by hours of low-frequency jet noise. That's a bigger problem on long transatlantic flights because it goes on longer (duh!). I brought big over-the-ear phones on a couple of trips, but agree with Ken that they're very bulky to haul around Europe for such limited use. Then I found Panasonic noise-canceling earbud phones for about half the price of the big ones, and I've taken them on the last couple of trips. They help quiet things but maybe make it harder to sleep because they're sticking in my ears. But, like others, I don't sleep much on those overnight flights anyway (sadly). You might consider earbuds for a space-saving compromise.

FWIW, I never heard of this adrenaline theory, and I doubt if the headphones do much to prevent jet lag unless they help you sleep. What they may prevent is a headache on the flight or the next day. And they do block some of the jet and cabin noises, making it easier to hear music or watch a movie or just sit there wishing you could sleep!

Slow-release adrenaline? Hogwash!

Slow-release adrenaline? Hogwash!

Time to get over an adrenaline shot? About as long as it takes for your heart rate to get back to normal.

It is amazing to me how quick somethings are believe if it is reported on a well dressed up web or blog site. It must be true, it is on the internet.

I have noise-canceling earbuds and folding headphones (both Sony). I find that after several hours, either one starts to hurt my ears, so on very long flights I take both. They can be used on your own devices and plug into the plane's audio. On your own devices, they save battery life because the volume doesn't need to be as high. They block out a lot of the ambient sounds - engine roar, chattering passengers, crying babies. I find it easier to doze with them in because of that (just listening to any music) but they both bother me if I try to rest the side of my head against anything, so they can be awkward to wear.

I don't know how effective they'd be in reducing ear pressure. The pressure changes are mostly during take-off and landing, and since the noise-canceling is battery-operated, they aren't supposed to be on then, with or without a listening device. If I'm wrong about that, please let me know!

My husband flies a lot and invested in Bose noise-cancelling headphones. They are over the ear and not small but they do fold up and for him it's worthwhile to use up space in the carry-on. It does make sleeping on the plane easier. Flying in first class would make sleeping easier, too, but that's even more expensive than those Bose headphones ...

And yes, more sleep on the plane does make avoiding jet lag a little easier.

It may be obvious, but I will point out that you can't wear headphones during the noisiest parts of the flight, takeoff and landing. It's considered a safety issue. While not essential, I do wear them for a somewhat quieter environment and better quality from the in-flight entertainment system.

I've been using my Bose noise Canceling for a few years one, and love it. I have a problem with noise and vibrations, so it helps. Actually helps me to not feel as anxious. Not help with jet lag! I need sleep for that. Highly recommend if noise is an issue.

I use noise canceling earphones to reduce cabin noise (including conversations as well as the jet noise). Over-the-ear works best for me. Mine fold up so they don't take up much room. I also take melatonin to help me sleep. No caffeine (even Coca Cola) or alcohol. We fly from California to London so it's an 11 hour flight.

As others have mentioned, if you keep moving after you land, it helps. Don't lay down or you'll wake up at 3 a.m. ready to go. In 2012, we got off the plane at Heathrow and immediately drove a rental car to Bath, stopping along the way for a delightful lunch.

We've been pretty lucky avoiding jet lag.

I've had Bose noise cancelling head sets for about 6 years and don't travel without them. Not that I thought about this until now, but if I've flown 150,000+ miles in the last 6 years that's only .002 cents per mile. :)

The thing that put me over the edge was a 13 hour flight from China. I don't really sleep much on planes, but I've found that the headsets at least get me into a "cat nap" state. Not only does it reduce the airplane noise, it eliminates nearby conversations and babies crying around you. Likewise, when I'm not sleeping, I can actually hear the sound from the entertainment system, or just listen to RS radio shows on my ipad. I have the small size Bose and the case fits into the front pocket of our day packs. Last couple trips to Europe we've flown business class with miles, and in combination with the Brookstone neck pillow, I can lay on my side with my head on the pillow and the headphone fits in the inside of middle of the pillow.

You can now wear the headphones while "on" the whole time you are on the plane. No need to turn off during takeoff and landing.

Bose QC20 is the best, but it's very pricey. The in-ear models are more convenient. Comfort, ANC performance, battery life and sound quality also should be considered. Check out some best noise cancelling earbuds,
http://www.thebestearbuds.com/best-noise-cancelling-earbuds-in-ear-headphones/

I bought noise canceling headphones with an eye (ear) toward packing them when traveling. I found they were always weeded out as I trimmed my pack list because they're a little bulky and can be lived without.

I then bought some noise canceling ear buds. I decided I prefer taking a set that includes a microphone (for using a cell and/or skype) and I'm not packing more than one set of ear devices. As far as I know, there aren't any noise canceling earbuds that also have a microphone. If there were, I'd probably get those and pack them only.

If something's keeping me awake on the airplane, I blame the narrow seat and inability to change position. (I own cheap, lightweight earplugs but always forget to use them.) In this case, I favor the goal of packing light.

Perhaps you should get a close-up look at the size/bulkiness of various types of noise-canceling headphones, and then decide if you want to haul them around Europe with you. As the above posts indicate, some travelers do and some don't.

Someone above mentioned "EarPlanes"--I'm familiar with this product, which is mainly marketed (I'm reading this off the box of the last ones I got) as "protection from flight ear discomfort." EarPlanes are designed to help those who have unusual difficulty equalizing inner ear air pressure when the plane is changing altitude, typically during the descent. I'm not talking about the slight discomfort that's normal and is relieved by pinching the nostrils and blowing gently, or swallowing air. I'm talking about the kind of ear discomfort that causes severe pain, even perforated or broken eardrums. I've found EarPlanes to be helpful for this condition.

However, if your objective is sound attentuation, such as making the noise of the airplane engines less noticeable, you probably want to look at another product (although EarPlanes have a noise reduction rating of 20, which would reduce noise).

I thought about getting fancy headphones for noise-cancelling but decided they would be just one more thing to keep track of and pack in my under-seat bag. I noticed that seats in the center of the plane are quieter than seats on the sides. If they would run movies with subtitles it would make it easier to enjoy them.

Most important for recovering from jetlag is sleeping on the plane. I've taken pills of various sorts and tried a dietary approach but found I felt reasonable only after having some sleep on the plane. Almost any amount of sleep helps; 3-5 hours are sometimes possible.

I bought a pair of Bose noise cancelling ear buds and it does cut out the ambient noise but makes conversations much clearer. It felt counterproductive to me as I find conversation more distracting and annoying than the noise of the plane. I also found they don't have the double plug that works with the plane's entertainment system so there was no way to watch an on board movie with the noise cancelling benefit. I was so disappointed. I came home and returned them.

Does anyone know of these that does fit the double prong of the planes' system?

I used to have major issues with ear pressure on descent. But not anymore. I guess my ear pressure plugs are the best placebo going? Sweet! :)

As for the Bose noise cancelling headphones, I have the folding kind and they are invaluable for blocking unwanted noise, but were/are no help in reducing jet lag. For us, we accepted the fact that a 7+ hour time change would have some effect on us and heeded the advice to get out and go for a walk. Worked like a charm and slept quite well our first night in Euro-land.

i use just ear plugs.....had soft foam ones fro trip to Italy last summer, I think they help me sleep.....let me suggest also the soft plastic orange ones on their own plastic string.....my brother is handed endless supplies on factory tours........the string makes it harder to loose them on a long flight when I need to scratch or rest my ears.....and they are visible enuf to shut down very chatty strangers in my row. adding to your potential list, Kann, a cheap beach ball to inflate if you have short legs......I got that idea hear last year.

As others have mentioned, noise-canceling headphones don't prevent jet lag. However, having noise-canceling headphones make the trip so much better. I use Bose over-the-ear noise-reducing headphones and don't travel without them. Yes, they are somewhat bulky but are worth it for me. They come with the necessary attachments to hook into the plane's audio system.

My ear pressure regulator is my jaw. When I feel pressure I yawn.

I'm lucky I guess because I sleep quite easily on planes. Sometimes I fall asleep on the tarmac before take off. So I don't need help. Sleep is very helpful in diminishing jet lag so anything that aids sleep without doing harm should be ok.

I read somewhere that noise cancelling head phones someone make airplane food taste better.... you know if you read it on line it must be true. They don't help me sleep, when I wear them I find I feel warmer, they don't block out the guy snoring next to me but they have become like my safety blanket. Don't even get me started on jet lag....

I find my trip to be far less stressful since I bought a pair of the headphones. Mine are Sony, so not huge, but they do take up some space. Well worth it for me to be able to relax and doze on the trip. I think some people are more sensitive to the noise of the plane... I am unable to sleep at all without them and I will not take drugs. With the headphones on and a boring movie I can often times get a few hours of sleep.

I've used various noise-cancel headphones since 2002 when such were less helpful, but better anyway to cut jet sounds.The Sony now used is about six years old, but super, as was the best of the time. A little larger then newer stuff not significant however, as it comes in small case containing all the recharge gadgets, extras, plugs. Use also when roommate snores on non-single room RS tours! Go nowhere without them.