Gift guide
Gifts for travelers
Small things that make trips easier, from packing the bag to the long flight home.
Every product below comes from recent independent reviews, and an automated fact check confirmed each detail against its source. We don't test products ourselves. How we pick.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Packing cube set
Zippered bags that keep a suitcase organized.
Budget pick
Amazon Essentials Packing Cube Set (4-piece)
- A four-piece set with one slim, one small, one medium and one large cube. (Pack Hacker)
- Each cube has a mesh top, a handle and double zippers. (Pack Hacker)
- Pack Hacker reports the cubes held up after two years of travel in over twenty countries. (Pack Hacker)
- All four cubes weigh 0.85 lb together. (Pack Hacker)
Recommended in: Pack Hacker, Pack Hacker
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
Osprey Ultralight Packing Cube Set
- Three cubes (small, medium and large) made of recycled 40D ripstop nylon. (Pack Hacker)
- Each cube has two zipper pulls, so it can be opened at any point along the zipper track. (Pack Hacker)
- The three cubes weigh 2.5 oz together; the large one measures 13 x 9 x 3 inches. (Pack Hacker)
- Pack Hacker fit a week's worth of warm-weather clothes in the set with no issue. (Pack Hacker)
Recommended in: Pack Hacker
See price on AmazonMemory foam travel pillow
A neck pillow for flights and long car rides.
Budget pick
Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow
- Can be twisted into several shapes, such as a ring around the neck, a shoulder pillow or a cushion against a window. (Shop TODAY (TODAY.com))
- Reviewers at Shop TODAY found the foam bounced back into shape after being repositioned. (Shop TODAY (TODAY.com))
- Made of cotton and memory foam and weighs 16 ounces. (BestReviews (syndicated on NewsNation))
Recommended in: Shop TODAY (TODAY.com)
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow
- Filled with polyurethane memory foam, with a removable, washable polyester cover. (Mattress Clarity)
- Has straps that attach to airplane headrests with extendable wings. (Mattress Clarity)
- Weighs 11.6 ounces, rolls to about half its size and comes with a travel case. (Mattress Clarity)
Recommended in: Mattress Clarity
See price on AmazonPortable power bank
A pocket-sized battery for charging a phone away from an outlet.
Budget pick
OKZU 10000
- Holds 10,000 mAh. (CleverHiker)
- Weighs 6.6 oz on CleverHiker's scale. (CleverHiker)
- Recharged from empty to full in about 2 hours 36 minutes in CleverHiker's test. (CleverHiker)
Recommended in: CleverHiker
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
Nitecore NB Air
- Holds 5,000 mAh. CleverHiker measured about 16 Wh of usable energy. (CleverHiker)
- Weighs about 3.1 oz. (CleverHiker)
- Rated IPX7, meaning it can be submerged to about 1 m for 30 minutes. (Pack Hacker)
- Has a single USB-C port rated at 18W in and out. (Pack Hacker)
Recommended in: CleverHiker, CleverHiker, Pack Hacker
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
FLEXTAIL Zero Power 10000
- Packs 10,000 mAh into about 5 oz. (CleverHiker)
- Has two USB-C ports and no USB-A. (CleverHiker)
- Supports pass-through charging. (CleverHiker)
- Outputs up to 22.5W and is rated IPX4 for splashes, not submersion. (PaddlingLight)
Recommended in: CleverHiker, PaddlingLight, Adventure Alan
See price on AmazonInsulated water bottle
An insulated bottle for hikes, the gym or a desk.
Budget pick
OXO Strive Insulated Water Bottle
- Double-wall insulated, and it can hold hot water as well as cold. (Food Network)
- Slim enough to fit easily in a car cupholder. (Food Network)
- Entirely dishwasher safe. (Food Network)
- Reviewers at Food Network found it passed their drop test. (Food Network)
Recommended in: Food Network
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
Owala FreeSip Sway
- Flip-top lid offers both a straw-style sip spout and a wider opening for chugging. (OutdoorGearLab)
- Comes in 30 oz and 40 oz sizes. (Treeline Review)
- Reviewers at Treeline Review found it fits car cupholders, which is unusual for a large insulated bottle. (Treeline Review)
- Reviewers at Treeline Review found its lid didn't spill or pop open when the bottle was dropped. (Treeline Review)
Recommended in: OutdoorGearLab, Treeline Review
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
YETI Rambler 26 oz Bottle
- Double-walled 18/8 stainless steel bottle. (OutdoorGearLab)
- Reviewers at OutdoorGearLab found the lid completely leakproof in testing. (OutdoorGearLab)
- Reviewers at Treeline Review found no dents or scuffs after two years of drops off kayaks and down hillsides. (Treeline Review)
- Dishwasher safe. (Treeline Review)
Recommended in: OutdoorGearLab, Treeline Review
See price on AmazonWireless over-ear headphones
Over-ear headphones for music, shows and calls.
Budget pick
Soundcore Life Q30
- Rated for up to 40 hours of playback with noise canceling on and up to 60 hours with it off. (NBC Select)
- Headphones Addict measured 44 hours of playback with noise canceling on. (Headphones Addict)
- Folds up, comes with a hard case, and connects to two devices at once. (NBC Select)
- Has noise canceling and a transparency mode, plus the Soundcore app for iPhone and Android. (NBC Select)
Recommended in: NBC Select
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
1More SonoFlow Pro
- TechGearLab's testers found it comfortable for about 8 hours. (TechGearLab)
- Supports LDAC, multipoint pairing and EQ in the app, and comes with a case. (TechGearLab)
Recommended in: TechGearLab
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
Sony ULT Wear
- SoundGuys measured 32 hours 35 minutes of battery life in its lab test. (SoundGuys)
- Folds, comes with a hard case, weighs 8.99 oz and connects to two devices at once. (NBC Select)
- A ULT button adds bass: a little with one press and a deep boost with two. (NBC Select)
Recommended in: SoundGuys, NBC Select, SoundGuys
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