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17 Accessories Our Editors Travel With, From High-Capacity Chargers to Sophisticated Sweats
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Travel is exciting, but to make it a smooth and successful trip, you’ll need the right gear. Wearing earbuds that conk out halfway through your flight, or realizing your U.S. chargers won’t fit in European outlets can make the journey unnecessarily stressful. You’re supposed to unwind, not worry!
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Whether you’re a well-seasoned traveler looking for upgrades, or someone about to take their first big trip through the country or across the pond, you’ll find all of the travel essentials you’ll actually need below.
BEST HIGH CAPACITY BATTERY PACK
Omni Mobile 25600mah Wireless Power Bank
$149.00
It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do, never go on a multi-day trip without a battery pack that can charge your phone several times over. The one we’re recommending is Omnicharge’s 25,600mAh Power Bank, which holds enough juice that it can fully recharge your phone, laptop, earbuds, cameras and even a portable gaming console. It has a USB-A and USB-C port, and even works as a wireless charging pad if you forgot your cables. This Swiss Army Knife-like functionality makes the Omnicharge the first thing you should pack for your trip.
BEST UNIVERSAL TRAVEL ADAPTER
EPICKA All in One Worldwide International Wall Charger
$22.99 $24.99 8% off
Carrying a universal travel plug allows you to use your U.S. chargers abroad without having to invest in all-new cables. We like this one from EPICKA because it can be used in more than 150 countries thanks to its assortment of power prongs (the metal pieces that plug into an outlet), which can be extended and retracted. It also has four USB-A ports, one USB-C port (3A), and one AC socket, so you can charge smaller gadgets without plugging in a power adapter.
BEST USB CHARGING CABLE
Anker USB C Charging Cables (Two-Pack)
$9.99 $13.99 29% off
Need to power up while on the plane or in your Uber? You likely won’t find a full socket setup, so you’ll want to have these USB-C charging cables handy. The cables let you charge your phone or tablet through a USB connection, to give your battery a quick boost on the go. We’ve been using these Anker-branded cables for years, and we love how durable they are and how the six-foot-long length makes it easy to reach a plug (say, if we’re in the back of a taxi). Get a two-pack for under $10 now — a great deal.
BEST CABLE ORGANIZER
FYY Travel Cable Organizer Pouch
$9.85 $12.99 24% off
Traveling with a lot of technology means bringing cables, power adapters, and power banks. And finding the right place for all of these accessories can be tough, which is why we recommend picking up a travel pouch like this one, from Amazon.
The mini travel tote is filled with straps — some adjustable, some fixed — and zippered pockets designed specifically to hold cables and similar accessories. We hate having to dig through our bag to find loose cables tangled up with each other, and this organizer makes grabbing a charger mid-flight a breeze. The best part: we’re recommending the FYY Travel Pouch because of its utility, but we appreciate the fact that it’s no bigger than the size of a book when zipped up.
BEST TRAVEL EARBUDS
Technics Premium Hi-Fi True Wireless Earbuds with Advanced Noise Cancelling
$194.82 $297.99 35% off
$199.99 $299.99 33% off
A good pair of noise-cancelling earbuds is a must for flights, whether you want to tune out with some good music — or just tune out the noise around you. We recently did a 12-hour flight to Japan with these Technics EAH-AZ80 earbuds on, and our anxieties in the air instantly disappeared. The wireless earbuds paired easily to our phone as we put on a playlist, while the noise cancellation technology filtered out the annoying chatter of our neighbors and the lingering din of the airplane cabin. Technics has long been known for their audio prowess and it’s on full display here, with rich, full-sized sound. But the Active Noise Cancellation surprised us with a truly noticeable (and appreciated) difference with ANC turned on. The grippy and flexible earbuds were also comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time (we even fell asleep with them on). Battery life is strong with up to 24 hours of playtime with the included charging case.
BEST TRAVEL HEADPHONES
Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
$349.00
If you prefer over-ear headphones to earbuds, or don’t want to worry about battery anxiety while traveling, our go-to noise-cancelling headphones are still Shure’s Aonic 50s (now in a Gen 2 model).
The ultra-comfortable headphones have incredible active noise cancellation and an equally-impressive 45 hours of battery life. We’ve tested these headphones on planes, trains, automobiles, and even walks around the New York City and they’ve always performed very well.
We were able to block out all plane noise when listening to music at around 60% of the maximum volume level, and the headphones greatly reduced engine sounds when nothing was playing. Most importantly, the headphones remained comfortable for an entire international flight, which is no small feat. This set comes with a storage case for travel.
BEST E-READER
All-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
$134.99 $159.99 16% off
Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite is a true travel essential for anyone who wants to read while they go. It has enough space to hold thousands of books, a battery that will get you through an entire international flight (and then some), and a backlit e-ink screen that won’t irritate your eyes as much as the LCD display on a phone or tablet.
All of these features come packed in a device that’s roughly the size of a paperback book. If you get motion sick, you can also use the Kindle Paperwhite to listen to Audible audiobooks through any pair of Bluetooth headphones.
BEST TRAVEL TABLET
Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet
$74.99 $139.99 46% off
Most long haul flights come with an in-flight entertainment center, but you can bring your own by using Amazon’s Fire HD 10 tablet.
Its 10.1-inch HD display is larger than the one on your phone, which makes reading, watching videos, and playing games a lot more enjoyable. That said, the tablet is relatively small and incredibly light compared to other tablets, which means it won’t take up a lot of precious space in your bag.
The Fire HD 10 comes with either 32GB of internal storage, but we recommend you get a 256GB MicroSD card if you plan on downloading a lot of media for your trip. Amazon’s Fire HD 10 offers all the same perks as an in-flight entertainment center, but you get to pick all the TV shows and movies.
BEST TRAVEL OUTFIT
WHEAT Sweatshirt & Sweatpants
$138
$150
You’re going to want to feel comfortable when traveling, whether you’re on a long flight or road trip. And for the last few years, we’ve always worn the same outfit every time we travel: this sweatshirt and sweatpant combo from LA-based lifestyle brand, WHEAT.
Inspired by laidback seaside vibes with a touch of luxury, the pieces are made from a buttery soft French terry and Tencel Modal material with a hint of stretch. The fit is tailored but not tight, and the sweats are constructed well enough to not look or feel sloppy (think of WHEAT as the “business class” of casualwear). If you want something that’s easy to wear and easy to move around in while traveling, this set is an easy upgrade from gym clothes or jeans. The best part: we wear one set on the plane and keep another set in our bag as go-to loungewear when we’ve arrived at our destination.
EARPLUGS FOR EAR PRESSURE
EarPlanes Plus (3 Pairs)
$19.95
If you’ve ever suffered from pain or popping in your ear (especially during takeoff and landing), you could always load up on chewing gum — or, you could try a more precise solution. It may seem counterintuitive to plug your ears to prevent them from plugging up, but EarPlanes+ helps prevent inflight ear pain by dispensing some of that uncomfortable pressure.
With the EarPlanes+ app, it monitors the cabin pressure on your flight in real time and sends you notifications when you need to put in the EarPlanes for extra protection, like during unexpected mid-flight altitude shifts. They’re made with soft, hypoallergenic silicone, so you won’t want to rip them out of your ears mid-flight. Not only do they help with in-ear pressure, but the EarPlanes also work to reduce ambient noise around you by 20 decibels, protecting your hearing, too.
BEST CARRY-ON SUITCASE
Rimowa Original Cabin
$1,430
With all the stories of lost luggage and travel delays lately, why risk checking-in a bag when you can just pack everything into a carry-on? I finally sprung for a Rimowa suitcase this year and it was the best travel decision I’ve ever made.
While my Rimowa suitcase has not garnered me any free upgrades or perks just yet, I do enjoy the looks and nods of approval from savvy travelers, who respect the classic aluminum construction, distinctive side panel grooves, and sleek tone-on-tone colorway. I chose the Original Cabin — the name for Rimowa’s carry-on suitcase — which has more than enough room to hold a weekend’s worth of stuff. The hard siding makes you feel like you can beat up your suitcase without worry, though the comfortable handle and durable wheels eliminate any unwanted bumps. As for color? While Rimowa is known for its iconic silver colorway, I chose to get my Original Cabin in black just to be a little different. But hey, if you know, you (will still) know.
BEST CHECK-IN SUITCASE
Paravel Aviator Grand Checked Luggage
$368
If you need a checked bag for a longer trip, Paravel’s Aviator Grand is our top choice.
It’s 28.1-inches tall, 19.7 inches wide, and 11.7 inches deep, which is fairly large, but still manageable to maneuver when you get off the plane and head to your home or hotel. It’s 11.8 pounds, which may seem heavy (especially if you’re trying to stay under most airlines’ 50 pound weight limit), but that’s right in line with most hardshell checked luggage.
We packed this suitcase with 48 pounds of gear and took it on a multi-stop international flight, and it handled the trip like a champ. Everything we packed remained perfectly in place thanks to its inner straps and zippers, and the three-digit lock kept the Aviator Grand closed the entire time. One of our favorite features was this luggage’s 360-degree wheels, which allowed us to move quickly around other travelers waiting for their luggage, and people on the street.
Getting a solid checked bag is an investment every frequent traveler should make. Knowing that everything you pack will get to your destination safely makes the trip a lot less stressful. As a bonus, the Aviator Grand is made from sustainable materials, like recycled plastic bottles and aluminum, so you can feel good about using it.
BEST SUITCASE SET
Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Luggage Set
$799.98
For the best of both worlds, get up this Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Luggage set, which gets you a luxe, carry-on suitcase and a checked bag.
We’ve traveled with this suitcase, and it passed all our tests with flying colors. Its wheels moved smoothly, the handle lifted easily to the appropriate height, and it was simple to program the luggage’s three-digit lock. We were especially impressed by this bag’s inner pocket, which is designed to house a battery pack. Once connected, you can plug your gadgets into a USB-A and USB-C port on the side of the luggage.
It’s that commitment to practical, forward-facing convenience features that help the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On stay one step ahead.
BEST TRAVEL BACKPACK
Troubadour Apex Backpack 3.0
$245.00
We’ve had the opportunity to test quite a few travel backpacks, but Troubadour’s Aero was the one that impressed us most.
It eschews the typical school-style backpack shape for one that’s closer to a duffel bag, with one long, deep main pocket that provides ample storage for clothes, gear, and snacks. Its top zippered pocket is big enough to hold essential documents (and in our case earbuds and a battery pack), while the big side pocket easily fit up to a 17-inch laptop easily.
One of the toughest parts of traveling with a fully-packed backpack is fitting it in beneath the seat in front of you. This wasn’t a problem because of the Aero Backpacks tube-like shape. Instead of bulging outward it slid inside the space easily. Its waterproof design and durable construction holds up to all travel conditions too.
BEST PORTABLE GAMING CONSOLE
Nintendo Switch
$291.43 $299.99 3% off
The Nintendo Switch is the best portable game system available right now, and an excellent way to spend time while you’re in transit. The console has a 6.2-inch LCD screen, two built-in controllers, and a battery that lasts up to nine hours. If the system’s battery does run low, you can charge it by plugging it into the Omnicharge battery pack we recommended earlier.
What sets the Switch apart from other portable game systems is its excellent library, which includes titles from the Mario and Zelda series along with hundreds of indie games. You can buy these games physically, but frequent travelers are better off downloading digital copies, so your entire library is just a couple of taps away.
BEST PHONE GAME CONTROLLER
Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller
$99.99
If you don’t want to invest in a dedicated game console, Razer’s Kishi controller offers a similar experience using your phone. Although it comes in one piece, the two sides of the Razer Kishi are designed to extend over the sides of your phone. One side gets plugged into your phone’s charging port, which ensures there’s no latency (lag), which is present when using Bluetooth controllers.
When it’s not in use, both sides contract and snap together into a compact package that’s easy to carry. We’ve tried a lot of gaming controllers over the years, and the Kishi’s buttons, triggers, and analog sticks are truly console-class. It makes the experience of playing popular games like Alto’s Odyssey, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Fantasian, and Chrono Trigger far more satisfying than on-screen touch controls, which lack precision.
BEST PORTABLE SANITIZER
UV Light Sanitizer Wand
$59.99
Ultraviolet light has been an effective way to kill germs (including bacteria that spread viruses) forever, but this UVC Sterilizer lets use it anywhere (think: airplane seats, tray tables and hotel surfaces).
The UV light is attached to a handheld wand, which can kill 99.9% of germs. It powers on almost instantly, and can be recharged with a USB-C cable. This UV wand is great for travel, as it folds down to just 10 inches in length and comes with a travel pouch.
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