Best Footwear for Long-Haul Flights

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:27:54 +0000

Since publishing the long-haul flights travel tips article a large number of people have asked ‘what is the best footwear for long-haul flights?’ There is no fast and hard answer for this question as it is really down to taste and comfort. However here are some following points to consider.

The cabin temperature – Are your shoes warm enough?
Comfort – Are your shoes too tight?
Breathability – Will your feet sweat?

Cabin Temperature – Are your shoes warm enough?

The cabin temperature on long-haul flights can tend to get cold at times and by keeping your feet warm you will feel warmer all over. Though most airlines provide free socks on most longhaul flights, it is a good idea to avoid open toe shoes and wear your own socks.

Don’t wear sandals, keep your feet covered and keep warm.

Comfort – Are your shoes too tight?

Sitting for long periods of time and flying at high altitude increases chances of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) due to restricting the blood flow through your body. Don’t wear shoes that are too tight and shoes that come high up on your leg, also avoid shoes with thin straps that when fastened could restrict your blood flow even more. Slip on shoes and comfortable loafers are ideal a they are easy to remove when sitting and slip on when you need to get up and stretch your legs.

Breathability – Will your feet sweat?

Do your shoes allow your feet to breath? Not only can it be embarrassing to remove shoes unleashing an odour so powerful penetrating every corner and every orifice of the cabin, making people talk and heads turn, but shoes that aren’t able to let your feet breathe are more likely to make your feet swell causing some discomfort and possibly reducing the flow of blood. Therefore avoid shoes made from plastic and cheap synthetic materials and buy yourself a nice pair of shoes that let your feet breathe.

These are just a few tips and points of advice for you to think about before you fly, if you have any other tips please feel free to leave a comment and let our readers know.

Long Haul Flights – How to Cope?

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:39:46 +0000

If you want to get to that remote island, that exotic destination, or far flung place you are will need to endure a long haul flight. Long haul flights can be testing but if prepared they can be part of the experience and even sometimes enjoyable. The following 10 tips are useful in helping you cope and prepare for your flight ahead.

Sleeping & Eating Before Flying
Accessories
Exercise Regularly
Drinking on Long Haul Flights
Prepare Your Bodyclock
Avoid Long Connecting Flights
Choose the Correct Flight
Choose the Right Airline
Footwear and Clothing
Sit Back and Relax

Sleeping & Eating Before Flying

Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before your travel date and avoid eating unhealthy junk food and drinking alcohol. You will need the sleep because any sleep gained on the flight is going to be broken sleep, and sitting for long times you will want your digestive system working in as it should be, and avoiding junk food and alcohol will help with avoiding an uncomfortable bloated feeling.

Accessories

Make sure you take extra layers of clothing and a packet of soft tissues. The air con can get unbearably cold at times which can make your nose run, and if it does, you will be glad of having soft tissues with you.

Exercise Regularly

Feeling lazy and tired is no excuse not to get up and stretch from time-to-time, It is important that you don’t remain completely still to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Also try not to sit crossed legs for too long or in any position that could stem the rate of your blood flow.

Drinking on Long Haul Flights – Rhydration

Drink plenty of water; this will help with dehydration and tiredness keeping you more alert when you arrive at your destination.

Prepare Your Bodyclock

Set your watch to the local time of your destination whilst on your flight, this will help you with adjusting your body clock to the new time-zone. Also try sleeping when it is time to sleep at your destination, if this means watching another movie to try and stay awake then do it, it is well worth doing everything you can on your flight to reduce the effect of jet-lag.

Avoid Long Connecting Flights

Cheap is not always a good idea, often airlines offer cheap flights when you have a long time to wait for your onward connecting flight. Often in the time you spend waiting at the airport for your onward flight, you will be tempted to spend money on food and drinks and possibly gifts. In the long run you waste time and not save much more money. Choose your flight carefully so you don’t have to wait a long time for your onward flight

Choose the Correct Flight

If you have a connecting flight, try choosing an airline that connects roughly halfway to your destination. This will break up your journey and you won’t spend too long sitting in one position.

Choose the Right Airline

Choose an airline that provides good in-flight entertainment to help occupy your mind. Not all airlines provide personal entertainment systems and being able to choose what you watch when you like really helps with making the time go by.

Footwear and Clothing

Wear comfortable clothes and footwear, slip on shoes are a good idea so you can easily take them off and slip them back on again when you get up to stretch your legs. Don’t worry about looking your best, no one cares what you look like after a 14 hour flight.

You might also be interested in reading about best types of footwear for long haul flights.

Sit Back and Relax

Last of all, make the most of it, relax and enjoy the service. Make the flight part if your holiday not just a journey!

My Travel Corner » long haul flights