Nothing saps the excitement of a transoceanic journey more than an 18-hour flight next to a brood of crying babies. And while three stiff rounds of your favorite in-flight liquor might numb the screeching, blissful release can only be found by retreating into pure sonic refuge. With the flip of a switch, Bose's QuietComfort headphones will transform the plane into your own private cocoon by electronically distinguishing the ambient noise and then reducing it via high- and low-frequency outputs. The nail-gun-to-the-temple wailing? A mere whisper. The incessant, high-pitched squeal of that lady one row back who just can't believe she's flying to South Africa!!!? Gone. Plug 'em into your own portable audio device and it's like hearing your favorite song for the first time. Use them with the on-board entertainment system and only the screen size will hold back delusions of an Imax-quality theater-going experience. The ear cups rotate flat for easy storage, and you can remove the cord (which feeds into the left speaker) entirely if you desire nothing more than pure silence. This is travel sanity, pure, simple, and crystal clear.
$299; www.bose.com