If you have wanderlust in your soul, you already know that travel is glorious — when it’s not a pain in the ass.
Luckily, people keep inventing brilliant travel gear that takes our travels to a whole new level of ease and fun. These are some of my favorite travel problem-solvers, and I think you might love them, too!
(Note: This site uses affiliate links to help pay the bills. However, I only recommend gear I personally use and love!)
A personal item that organizes every inch of your under-seat space
Your personal item on the plane can hold almost as much as a second carry-on bag, if it’s well-designed.
My must-have features are:
- Personal-item size (fits under airplane seat) so it doesn’t count as your carry-on
- Luggage strap AND backpack straps (so it can ride on top of a roller bag or sit comfortably on your back)
- Opens flat (so you can pack it like a suitcase)
- Interior compression straps
- Water bottle pocket
- Padded laptop/tablet pocket (YMMV)
- Enough pockets to stay organized, so your phone, passport, charging cable, glasses, etc. are easy to access.
I like this one because it has all the features listed above plus some cool extras like wet storage and a shoe bag, and it comes in lots of colors. And it’s affordable!
Just be careful, because it comes in two sizes! Make sure you order the “large”, underseat size rather than the “XL” full carry-on size!
This reusable water bottle
Carrying a reusable water bottle on trips is a game-changer. Bottled water is a nightmare for the environment — and can be expensive to buy on the road. The Hydro cell stainless steel water bottle is a brilliant answer to those issues and several others you may not have thought about.
The double-wall construction keeps your drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 12. The bottle is made of food-grade stainless steel that resists rust and corrosion. It has a slip-proof coating that makes it easy to hang onto, even when you’re juggling your luggage. It comes in several sizes and many colors — and it’s 100% BPA-free.
You’ll find fresh water to refill your bottle at most airports, hotels, and hostels. If the local water isn’t potable, you can buy a gallon jug for refills, and save your wallet and the environment a lot of strain. Plus, your water will stay cool and refreshing all day.
A crossbody purse that doubles as a wallet
Although I love a secure travel handbag, I always carry a versatile crossbody like this one from The Sak.
This purse keeps the basics — phone, wallet, keys — at your fingertips, and wearing it across your body makes it much harder to snatch.
What I really love about these bags is that when you need to carry more, you can easily remove the shoulder straps and TA-DA it’s a wallet that you can drop into your daypack, messenger bag, or tote.
I’ve used (and recommended) less expensive versions of this bag in the past, but this one from The Sak is more durable and comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. I just love it!
This TSA-approved lock for your luggage and so much more
This Master lock has been infinitely useful in my travels. You can use it to lock your luggage zippers together since it’s TSA-approved. The flexible shackle lets you use the lock for so much more, from hostel lockers to cupboards. I’ve even used this lock to secure a backpack to a bedpost.
You can set the combination yourself, so you’ll never forget it. And it’s much lighter weight than most padlocks.
These compression packing cubes
These Suited Nomad packing cubes let you fit twice as much stuff into your luggage. Fill them to bursting with folded or rolled clothing, then use the second zipper to compress them into half as much space.
I use the large ones for pants, shirts, and light jackets and the small one for underwear and swimsuits.
They are built to last, with ripstop fabric and heavy-duty zippers. You can buy a set of three or six, and they come in a variety of colors.
PRO TIP: I used a magic marker to draw a shirt on one bag, pants on another, and undies on the small one so I can always find my stuff!
A lightweight kimono
A lightweight kimono like this one takes up almost no luggage space, but it can dress up a simple outfit, give you coverage when you need it, protect you from the sun, and serve as a swimsuit coverup or even a robe.
This one comes in a wide variety of prints and colors and is super lightweight and very affordable.
Accessories like this help stretch your travel wardrobe by giving you more looks from your basic pieces. I love this over a long t-shirt dress in Muslim countries.
This power bank that doubles as a flashlight
A power bank is an absolute must for travelers. Sooner or later, you’ll be on a long flight where the USB chargers don’t work, and you’ll need your phone when you land to get to your lodging. Or you’ll be deep in the forest seeing amazing wildlife, with a dead phone and no place to charge it.
I love a power bank that doubles as a flashlight. Yes, your phone has a flashlight, but what if it’s nearly dead? Then this device comes in double-handy.
Unfortunately, the power bank/flashlight combo I love has been discontinued. But this one has great reviews, a huge capacity, and can be solar charged in a pinch. Plus, it comes with a carabiner and a compass!
This super light yoga mat
This ultralight yoga mat from Manduka is perfect for travel. It’s thin enough that you can fold it and put it in a suitcase or backpack — which means it doesn’t offer a lot of cushioning (I try to lay mine on a rug or carpet). But it does offer a clean, super-grippy surface, so you can do yoga or work out anywhere.
You can also throw it in a tote and take it to the yoga studio to lay over the community mat. I’ve had mine for nearly 10 years, and it’s still going strong.
This eco-friendly reusable tote bag
Plastic bags are banned in many countries — you’re just expected to bring your own bag to the store. Where they’re they’re not banned, you’ll see the tremendous pollution they create in the countryside. (I once watched helplessly as a lamb tried to eat a bag it found in a field, and I’ve seen birds that couldn’t fly because they were tangled in a bag.)
Either way, you’ll be glad you brought this reusable bag from Chicobag!
It weighs almost nothing, stuffs down to a size smaller than your fist, and can be hooked on the outside of your purse or pack with its own carabiner.
It’s big enough to carry home all your groceries, or to hold a full load of laundry. It’s ethically made, with a zero waste policy, and folds into its own attached pouch. It comes in lots of colors and patterns, too.
This Stuffable Day Pack to Carry Your Things
This daypack (also from ChicoBag) lets you carry a sweater, rain jacket, water bottle, and the day’s purchases hands-free.
It’s very lightweight, stuffs into its own built-in pouch, and can be clipped to another bag with its built-in carabiner.
The quality of this little pack is just exceptional. I love the stretchy bottle pockets and breathable shoulder straps. It’s even got a hydration pouch! Better yet, it’s made completely from recycled materials.
This Universal Power Adapter with USB Ports
This power adapter works in 150 different countries around the world and has plenty of ports and USB ports to charge all your gear while you sleep. Even better, it has a 3-foot extension cord to make awkward outlets that are hidden behind furniture easy to access.
Personally, I prefer this style over the boxy ones with slide-out prongs that feel fragile and slide out of the wall. Note that this is an adapter, not a converter, so it can’t be used with heated appliances like hair dryers, but it can charge your phone, laptop, etc.
These Inshttps://amzn.to/4v5JuB3oles That Turn Any Shoes Into Comfy Walking Shoes
Travel can mean walking many thousands of steps each day — and yet, you want to travel with lightweight, packable footwear. These PowerStep insoles let you do just that. I carry one pair of these and use them in my hiking boots, lightweight tennis shoes, ballet flats, and even stylish low-heeled boots.
The arch support is so incredible, that it feels like a foot massage. Even when I was suffering from plantar fasciitis, I could walk all day when I used these. I’ve used them for over 10 years now, and I’ll never be without them again.
This Portable Door Lock That Lets You Pack Peace of Mind
If you worry about who else has a key to your hotel or Airbnb door, this lock is for you.
It fits easily over any standard lock and prevents the door from being opened — even with a key.
It’s a bit heavy (would you trust it if it wasn’t?) but very compact and easy to pack in its own carry case.
This Cute Foldable Hat
Most foldable hats either scream “TOURIST!” or turn out not to be so foldable in real life. This one hits the sweet spot, offering terrific sun protection and a flattering style. It easily folds in quarters and fits flat in a zippered suitcase pocket. When you need it, it pops back into shape pretty easily.
The cute straw hat comes in two sizes and has a hidden adjustable band so you can get a secure fit. There’s a chin strap, too, for windy days or bicycling. It comes in several different colors and offers 50+ UVA/UVB protection.