When you take off in a plane, you’ll notice right away that your ears will start to pop. This is because your body is attempting to equalize the air pressure in your head with the changing air pressure in the cabin. Have you ever taken off (or landed) and not had your ears pop? This is one of the worst feelings to have, especially if you have to wait three hours to catch your next flight (at which time, you’ll have another chance for them to pop as they should). One way to help prevent this issue, and to make your flight generally more enjoyable, is to wear a pair of these EarPlanes Earplugs.

Unlike regular earplugs, these silicon ones have a ceramic pressure regulator inside. This allows it to change the pressure slowly, rather than all at once. Having experienced significant pain from air pressure change a few times, I’m intrigued enough to consider buying a pair. At $4 for a set, it’s definitely worth a shot.