Here are the travel tools worth investing in once—and how they’ll help improve your travels, trip after trip.
Smart Carry-On Suitcase
Finding the best carry-on luggage for your next vacation depends on a number of factors, including your personal style, design preferences, and needs. For those who want to look and feel like James Bond, Then this smart bag is for you!
Made of lightweight aluminum alloy, this futurist carry-on is sleek, compact, and loaded with tech features. A built-in LED light illuminates when the bag is opened in dim light, the flat top allows you to use it as a portable working surface while traveling, and its removable power bank with a USB-C connection can power a mobile device up to 10 times. On top of that, the suitcase is fireproof, recyclable, and comes with a smart tracking app that lets you know its location at all times, and when and where the bag is opened in your absence.
"Packing cubes help me stay organized. I always organize my cubes by what's in them: workout clothes in one, fancier clothes in another, and so on. It's made traveling between destinations on the same trip a lot easier."
—Louisa G., 32, a luxury travel adviser who goes on at least one trip each month. 4-Pack Packing Cubes
Best Multisport GPS Watch
Combine style and adventure with the new Garmin Fenix 5, one of the best multisport outdoor watches on the market.
Complete with a wide range of tracking capabilities, plus built-in GPS and smart notifications, this versatile, lightweight device has you covered whether you’re skiing in the Alps, swimming in the Med, of hiking off the beaten path in Nepal. Available in multiple models, with a selection of Quick Fit interchangeable bands (in premium leather, metal, or silicone) to choose from.
Travel Alarm Clock
When you stay in fancy hotel rooms, there’s usually an alarm clock; when you travel cheap and stay in hostels, pensiones, and other low-cost accommodations, you can’t rely on a clock being provided. Or on being able to figure out how to set it and make sure it wakes you up. Having a clock whose workings you’re familiar with can ease a lot of stress.
Best Hiking Backpack:
TETON Sports Ultralight Plus Backpacks; Lightweight Hiking Backpack for Camping, Hunting, Travel, and Outdoor Sport.
A Cross body Travel Bag
Security, utility, and fashion can all be achieved with the right cross body bag. Purchasing one on the smaller side is convenient and will force you to carry only what you need, and zippered pouches will keep pickpockets at bay. Traveler’s Anti-Theft LTD Cross body is fashionable enough for all environments.
Hiking Boots
If you’re a hiker or camper, or you just enjoy a walk in the woods, stop heading out in your gym sneakers. A durable pair of hiking boots will save your feet and ankles from injury and fatigue, and your sneakers from getting ruined—plus, they’re a travel tool that will last you forever.
Keen has hiking shoe variations for every type of adventure, whether you want packable sneaker-like hiking shoes for shorter treks, or true boots with ankle support for rockier adventures. Keen’s waterproof Gypsum II boots come in both a men’s and women’s style and a variation of colors. These were my first hiking boots and may be my last: They’re packable and durable, and they provide all the support I need.
Best Travel Slippers- Sunshine Code Memory Foam Slippers:
Cheap hotels don’t usually provide any slippers. And the ones that given for free are paper-thin and fragile. Make your travel comfortable with Sunshine Code’s memory foam slippers. It is made of ultra-soft cotton that feels great to your feet as you wear them. The slippers are lightweight enough to be carried for multiple uses- travel, hotel room, home, etc. The outer sole is made of anti-slip rubber and is durable enough to be worn in all seasons. These slippers are washable and are available in many different colors and size for both men and women.
Best Water Bottle: Nomad Collapsible Water Bottle
MANLYCAMP REAL. TOUGH. GEAR. Collapsible Water Bottle - 22 Oz - BPA Free Silicone - for Hiking, Camping, Gym, Military & Travel
Water Purifier Bottle
Most of the travelers’ health problems are caused by contaminated drinking water, which means a water purification system is a must when traveling abroad. This is especially useful when venturing into remote locations with harsh environmental conditions or destinations such as the Middle East, Central America, Asia, or Africa, which are also known for their unsafe tap water. Fortunately, these days there are many products designed to help in such circumstances.
GRAYL’s Ultralight Purifier, for instance, is a state-of-the-art device capable of transforming almost any tap or clear natural water source into pure drinking water in just 15 seconds. Perfect for travelers and outdoor adventurers, each 0.50-liter bottle comes equipped with a replaceable purifier cartridge (lasts for about 40gal (150L)), providing protection against viruses, bacteria, heavy metals, as well as many chemicals. This is an excellent way to get safe drinking water on the go, while at the same time, saving money on bottled water.
Travel Pillow , Eye mask, and Ear Plugs
Conventional, U-shaped travel pillows work for some people, but if you can’t see the appeal, we recommend trying out the Trtl pillow — essentially a fleece scarf with a support system built in — or the Infinity pillow, which applies the infinity scarf concept to your comforter for grade-A cozy results.
First-Aid Kit
When it comes to medicine and first aid items, the more off-track you’ll be, the more items you should pack. For a regular holiday, you should still have these essential medical travel items in your bag:
- Band-aids (plasters)
- Antibiotic/antiseptic lotion for cuts and scrapes
- Ibuprofen/Paracetamol or some sort of painkiller & fever reducer
- Pills for nausea/indigestion/diarrhea/upset stomach)
- Cold & flu pills Sore throat lozenges
- Antihistamine (for allergic reactions to anything from hay-fever to bug stings).
- Vaseline
- Immune boosters (we like oil of oregano and ginger)
- Tweezers nail clippers, and safety pins (for splinters, ingrown nails, blisters, etc.)
10. Hand sanitizer
11. Thermometer
12. Pain and fever relievers (also children’s strength if you are traveling with kids)
13. Cold medicines and throat lozenges
14. Diarrhea/laxative medicines
15. Oral rehydration salts
16. Allergy medicines
17. Hydrocortisone cream/antibacterial ointment
18. Multivitamins
19. Hand sanitizer or wet wipes
20. Sleeping medicines
21. Sunburn relief
22. Insect repellent/mosquito net/sting reliever
23. Motion sickness pills or bands
Emergency Breakout Fix
Traveling for a special event? Make sure to pack iS Clinical Active Serum if you’re prone to travel breakouts. One T+L editor has even called this serum a miracle cure.
Microfiber Towel
People who stay in hotels and motels are used to towels being provided for them. Cheaper digs — and, depending on the country, even in more expensive lodgings — don’t usually supply towels. Your normal Turkish cotton towel from home is big and warm and soft and snuggly, but ill-suited to international travel: cotton takes forever to dry, it’s heavy, and it’s bulky. Instead, grab a microfiber towel, made of the same stuff car washing cloths are made of. Microfiber absorbs many times it’s weight in water, almost all of which will wring out easily; it dries fast; it’s super-light; and it folds up tiny.
"My extension cord comes with me on any international trip I take. Depending on where I'm staying, it can be hard to find enough outlets—and sometimes, those I do find are hidden or out-of-reach. But when I bring an extension cord with me, it becomes a lot easier to keep my devices charged." —Jacquie W., 61, a travel company owner who takes between three and six multi-week trips a year
Buy it: 12-Foot 3-Outlet Extension Cord
A Combination Back-up Charger
A portable charging bank is a must-have travel tool in case you run out of phone battery in an unfamiliar place—but new versions are combining them with other travel tools like luggage scales and flashlights for added value.
The Oaxis Air Scale can give you a digital reading of your bag’s weight when it’s not charging your device, and other packable chargers like Xcentz’s flashlight power bank have built-in flashlights that can come in handy in an emergency. Having a multi-use version on you at all times will put more than one travel problem at bay and make the purchase more worthwhile.
Travel Adapter
It may be tempting to pack your travel adapter in your checked bag, but it’s another essential you wouldn’t want to be caught without in a lost luggage snafu. This Conair adapter works in more than 150 countries and gives you three outlets and a USB slot to plug into so you can keep all of your tech charged and ready to go. Just be sure to use it with dual-voltage devices only, as it doesn’t convert electrical voltage.
Best Power Bank:
RAV Power 32000mAh Portable Charger
Are you craving for infinite power like the mighty Thanos from Marvel Universe?
Well, you can have it too, sort of. The RAVPower Portable Charger has a monstrous 32000mAh high capacity power made to last for several days or even weeks to provide extra battery juice for all your electronic devices. Power Banks are an absolute necessity when traveling. It has three USB 2.0, 2.4A ports that can handle three gadgets at a time.
The hardware is made up of a sturdy alloy that is fire resistant. The high-density Li-Polymer battery performs amazingly even after hundreds of charge cycles. Inside the box, there is a carry pouch, two micro-USB charging cables and a quick start guide.
If you want a smaller, less capacity external power bank, then the Anker PowerCore 10000 is a crowd-favorite among frequent travelers.
Protect your gear with this anti-theft shockproof backpack that’s ScanSmart TSA friendly and water resistant
Swiss Army Knife
I bought my first Swiss Army Knife right before heading to Europe for the first time, and I’ve kept one in my pocket virtually every day since. Get a medium-sized one — the big “everything plus a kitchen sink” models are too big and heavy to keep comfortably in your pocket; the three- and 4-tool ones aren’t useful enough for the hassle (and there is some hassle — see below).
I use the scissors virtually every day when I’m traveling, from first-aid to removing airport claim tags to quick sewing to trimming my nails. The knife blade is useful for cutting bread and cheese picked up at a local grocery or market — a great lunch to enjoy in the hills overlooking Florence or on the piazza/plaza/place of any European town. The screwdrivers, bottle openers, corkscrews, and other tools will prove themselves useful time and time again.
The problem is, you can’t take a pocketknife in your carry-on, which means checking bags, which sucks. I’d like to see the Swiss Army knife manufacturers put out a line of travel-friendly “pocket tools” — with everything but the knives.
Best Shaver: Panasonic Electric Travel Shaver
The Panasonic Electric Travel Shaver has been specially made for any man who is often traveling. It uses a floating single blade system positioned at a unique angle to match facial contours and gives a close shave consistently. The wet/dry feature lets you wash the shaver to clean it or use it with lather foam for a nice and clean shave even in the shower. The battery life is equally impressive; just 2 AA batteries allow you to shave every day for more than 60 days!
Panasonic Arc4 Electric Razor for Men with Pop-Up Beard Trimmer, 4-Blade Foil Cutting System, Flexible Pivoting Head, Hypoallergenic, Wet/Dry Electric Shaver – ES8243AA
Storage wise, it comes with a soft travel pouch. Being lightweight, it is slim enough to slip inside your backpack when hitting the road.
Best Travel Jacket: SCOTTeVEST Windbreaker Jacket
The most versatile travel jacket is here: loaded with 19 pockets and many more features and partition, the Windbreaker Jacket from SCOTTeVEST is the best fashionable travel jacket to have in your accessory list. The zippered pockets are made from a water-resistant polyester material. They can hold almost anything- be it a passport, tablet, mobile phone, wallet, documents, camera, pens, and the list goes on. This jacket can practically be worn anywhere in any season due to its removable hood and sleeve.
This double-duty appliance works as both an iron and a steamer, while still weighing only 1.6 lbs. It did well in our Cleaning Lab tests, just be prepared to take some extra time if you need to de-wrinkle a full garment.
