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It’s one of the biggest travel weeks of the year, and whether you’re just spending a couple nights at your parents’ house in Vermont or embarking on a two-week vacation, you need to be smart about what you bring along. I’ve packed and unpacked hundreds of times—for long and short trips, domestic and international—and, over the years, I’ve chucked the useless gear and curated a selection of the most helpful stuff.
The larger idea of “travel” usually entails the commute, stay, and journey home. A lot of what you pack (clothes, personal care items) is going to vary from person to person. I’ll leave that stuff up to you. Here, I’ve narrowed down this list to gear that has actually solved my biggest travel problems: space, comfort, and sleep. This isn’t a list of random “finds,” these are items I actually rely on, recommend to my family and friends, and I’ve heavily tested each one personally.
Whether it’s for you or someone on your gift list, here’s my master collection of must-have travel gear.
Sherpani hard case luggage
The bulk of your stuff has to go somewhere, so a reliable piece of luggage makes the most sense. I’ve been using Sherpani’s Meridian hard case rolling luggage for the last two years, and it’s my favorite yet. The luggage itself is lightweight, with the plastic shell affording more protection and less bulk than fabric luggage. The interior storage has a tidy mesh separator in one half and a pocketed flap on the other side. The main zipper has an easy click lock, and the handle and spinning wheels haven’t weakened or jammed up with heavy usage (aka cobblestone abuse). Right now, the 22-inch carry-on size in Caribe is 32% off.
Tucano ¾-zip backpack
Regular backpacks are fine, but I’ll be the first to tell you that the top opening is garbage. Instead of a backpack that requires you to dig through a partial opening, get a backpack designed for packing. I use the Tucano Tugo backpack that zips on three sides so you can completely open it. Situate your packing cubes, sandals, and snacks, and close the top. The Tucano also has a separate compartment in the back so you can easily access your laptop. No need to dig through your backpack anymore for a security screening. The Tucano backpack is strong as an ox, but harder to find these days. Luckily, luggage-style zipper backpacks are around, like this one from L.L. Bean, or this one from Open Story at Target.
Thule compression packing cubes
If I could only recommend one life-changing travel item, it would be these compression packing cubes. Simple packing cubes can help you organize and keep tidy, but good compression cubes will actually help you save space too. You zip the first zipper to close the cube, and the secondary zipper shrinks it down into a dense brick. I adore the set from Thule because, despite all the pressure and pulling, the material and zippers won’t tear or come undone. Additionally, the fabric is translucent so you can kind of locate what you’ve packed in there when your memory is mush from jet lag.
Herschel hip bag
I don’t wear a hip bag for my regular day-to-day life, but when I’m traveling it’s simply part of my outfit—even when I visit my mom in New Jersey. This simple, one-compartment bag makes everything easier for me because I put all of my essentials in this one spot. You might think, “that’s what pockets are for,” but it’s bigger than a single pocket, so instead of putting my wallet, keys, lip gloss, passport, cough drops, and ear plugs in many different pockets, they’re all in one central location. There are loads of hip packs, bum bags, and belt bags you can choose from, but this one from Herschel is the one I use, and it’s 31% off right now.
Trtl neck support travel pillow
Sleep? On a plane? Ha! Humbug. The same goes for sleeping on a train, car, or bus for that matter. That’s how I felt when I was using inflatable neck pillows, or rolled up jackets to prop up my head on planes. It was the time before I tried out the Trtl neck support travel pillow. But now I can actually catch some real sleep on planes or on buses during those idle hours before arrival. Read the details about my Trtl experience here. Right now you can snap one up for 30% off.
Baloo weighted sleep mask
I’ve never considered myself a sleep mask person. The ones I’ve tried have always let light in or scrunched awkwardly. I wasn’t expecting much from the Baloo weighted sleep mask, but I was pleasantly surprised by how different it was. The mask is silk and weighted in the front, which helps for comfort—but more importantly, it has a wide, Velcro-adjustable strap. Not only does it block light from the plane, bus, or your brother’s tablet, but the straps sit over your ears to help mute annoying sounds you might experience. Not just for the commute, this sleep mask can also be useful if there’s any unexpected light at night during your stay.
Active noise canceling headphones
Speaking of blocking out public transportation, the best way to tune out the world might be to put on a pair of active noise-canceling headphones. I have the older generation of these Soundcore by Anker headphones and the active noise cancellation blocks out all of the low-end rumble from engines (plane or otherwise) and has a transparency mode so you can talk to your husband real quick before turning on your favorite podcast and blocking everyone out. These are wireless and last for 40 hours on noise cancelling mode. (Right now, I can’t remember the last time I charged mine, and they are still on “high battery”).
Drip Drop electrolyte powder
Gear typically comprises gadgets or clothing, not usually something ingestible. But Drip Drop is something I need to have, so it’s gear to me. I don’t know what it is about traveling, but if it takes more than three hours to get to my destination then I feel absolutely sapped. My energy is low, my mouth is dry, and there’s a good chance I have a headache. I pack a few tiny sleeves of Drip Drop electrolyte drink mix for just this occasion. One sleeve mixed with water gives me enough nutrients and carbs for the home stretch. Plus the flavors are excellent.
