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Travel Essentials

The gear that seasoned travelers never leave home without.

We have collectively spent hundreds of hours in airports, on overnight trains, and living out of backpacks. These are the products that survived all of it — the ones we keep repurchasing and recommending to friends. Every pick below solves a real travel problem, from dead phone batteries to lost luggage to wet electronics. No novelty gadgets, no impulse buys — just the essentials that earn their space in your bag.

Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack

Fits as a carry-on on most airlines, has a padded laptop sleeve, and opens like a suitcase for easy packing.

$140–$180

This is the backpack that converted us from rolling luggage. It disappears on your back during long walks but holds a surprising amount. The suitcase-style opening is a game-changer for staying organized.

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Peak Design Packing Cubes

Compression cubes that save up to 30% of packing space with a simple zip.

$40–$50

Most packing cubes just organize — these actually compress your clothes down. The difference between fitting five days of clothes vs. seven in the same bag.

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Anker 737 Power Bank (24,000mAh)

Charges a laptop and phone simultaneously, TSA-approved for carry-on luggage.

$80–$100

We have tested a dozen power banks and this one strikes the best balance of capacity and portability. It can fully charge a MacBook Air and still have juice left for your phone.

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Universal Travel Adapter (Epicka)

Works in 150+ countries with USB-C and USB-A ports built in.

$15–$25

At this price, there is no reason to risk arriving somewhere and not being able to charge anything. The built-in USB ports mean you can leave extra charger bricks at home.

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Cabeau Evolution S3 Neck Pillow

Memory foam with raised chin support, machine washable cover.

$35–$50

The chin support strap is what separates this from every cheap neck pillow. Your head actually stays upright when you fall asleep, which means you wake up without that awful neck kink.

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Away The Carry-On

Hardshell suitcase with built-in USB charger, 360-degree spinner wheels, and TSA-approved lock.

$275–$325

Yes, it costs more than a budget suitcase. But the build quality means you will buy it once instead of replacing cheap bags every year. The built-in charger has saved us at more airports than we can count.

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AirTag 4-Pack

Track your luggage globally via Apple Find My network with precision finding.

$80–$100

After airlines lost our bag twice, we started putting AirTags in every checked piece. Knowing exactly where your luggage is — even when the airline does not — is worth every penny.

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Industry-leading noise canceling, perfect for blocking airplane engine noise on long flights.

$350–$400

The noise canceling on these is so good that a crying baby three rows back becomes barely audible. If you fly more than a few times a year, they pay for themselves in sanity alone.

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Matador On-Grid Packable Daypack

Packs into a palm-sized pouch, waterproof material, comfortable enough for all-day use.

$50–$70

Having a daypack that weighs nothing and takes up zero suitcase space means you always have a bag for exploring. Way sturdier than it looks when packed down.

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Sea to Summit Dry Bag

Keeps electronics and valuables dry at beaches, pools, and during rainstorms.

$15–$30

We learned the hard way that a Ziploc bag is not a real waterproof solution. These roll-top dry bags have survived kayaking trips, surprise downpours, and beach days without a single leak.

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LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Drink safely from any freshwater source, filters up to 1,000 gallons.

$15–$20

Whether you are hiking in a national park or traveling somewhere with questionable tap water, this tiny filter removes 99.9% of bacteria and parasites. Weighs almost nothing.

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Eagle Creek Pack-It Shoe Cube

Dedicated shoe compartment that keeps dirty soles separate from clean clothes.

$20–$30

Wrapping shoes in a hotel shower cap works in a pinch, but this dedicated cube means your hiking boots never touch your clean shirts. The ventilation panel keeps things from getting funky.

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