26-Minute Recharge
Photos in Order: Courtesy Nap26 (3)
Story by Joseph Alexiou
Even the most seasoned travelers shudder at the thought of a 12-hour flight. Jetlag can be detrimental, setting an undesirable mood during the first few hours of a vacation in a distant and exotic place. The power-nap is unattainable for many, and most travelers prefer not to rely on the usual drugs (alcohol, caffeine, and sleep aids) to help us sleep and wake us up in time for landing. Thank goodness for science which has provided Nap26.
This nifty product is a form of sound therapy that helps lull to sleep even the most restless person. Marketed as a “non-drug audio sleep system,” Nap26 comes as either a CD or saved in a personal digital audio player. It uses modulated audio pulses and beat sounds to relax a listener enough to take a 26-minute nap. This amount is no accident: a NASA study showed that a 26-minute nap increased awareness in airline pilots. This same principle was used by the folks at at Nap26 to create the "binaural sound system" of pulses and beats to aid in your slumber.
This amount of rest will allow folks to catch up on their beauty sleep before stepping off the plane, waking “as refreshed as if they had just enjoyed 3 hours of sleep.” Our Editor-at-Large Justin Ocean found it to be “pretty nifty,” as he was able to use the recording to catch some power-naps during some long flights on his tour of Southeast Asia. It can easily be downloaded into an iPod or similar mp3 device—and we know that gay travelers don’t go far without their gadgets to keep them company. Sweet dreams!