What is an airplane sleep sling, and is it worth it?
Short answer: an airplane sleep sling is a soft wrap that hangs from your seat's headrest and goes around your shoulders and arms, usually paired with a strap that holds your head back. It's worth it if you take long overnight flights and your head keeps dropping when you fall asleep. It isn't worth it if you mostly fly short hops or sit in seats without a headrest you can loop a strap around.
How it works
A sleep sling uses the seat itself as the support. Most sets have three parts:
- A headrest pillow that buckles to the headrest behind your head.
- A head strap or mask that goes around the outside of the headrest, so your head stays back when your neck relaxes.
- A body sling that hangs from the headrest and wraps your shoulders and upper arms, with your arms tucked inside.
Because the support is tied to the seat, you don't need to hold a position. When you fall asleep, your head and upper body stay where they were.
What it does better than a neck pillow
- Forward head drop. A U-shaped pillow has an open front, so your chin can still fall to your chest. A strap around the headrest stops that. More on this in neck pillow vs headrest strap.
- Arms and shoulders. The sling keeps your arms in one place and your shoulders covered, so you aren't pulling a blanket back up every hour.
- Light. When the head strap is also a blackout mask, holding your head and blocking light are one step.
The downsides, honestly
- It needs the right seat. The straps have to go around the headrest. Most economy seats on long flights allow this; some seats with a solid shell around the head don't.
- Setting it up takes a minute the first time. After one go it's quick, but try it once at home on a dining chair before you fly.
- It's more to carry than an inflatable pillow. Good sets pack into one pouch that clips to your bag.
- Toilet trips. You lift the mask off and the sling falls away, so it's easy, but it's one more step than a pillow round your neck.
Who it's for
| Good fit | Probably not for you |
|---|---|
| Overnight and long-haul flights | Flights under two or three hours |
| People whose head drops forward when they doze | People who already sleep well with a neck pillow |
| Window and middle seats in economy | Seats without a headrest a strap can go around |
| Travellers who feel cold on planes | Children (most sets are one adult size) |
What to check before you buy one
- All three pieces included: some cheap listings show the full set but ship only the mask.
- Mask with deep eye cups, so it doesn't press on your eyelids.
- How it packs: one pouch is much easier than three loose pieces.
- Returns and delivery time: if you're flying soon, a set shipped from overseas may not arrive in time.
See the six set-up steps to judge whether it suits you.
