Best Travel Gear of the Year: 19 Picks That Earned Their Spot in My Bag

Introduction

After a full year of testing on trips big and small, these are the travel items that kept earning their place in the bag. Most of this gear is relatively inexpensive, because the focus here is on value: things that are small, light, and genuinely useful rather than bulky novelties. The list moves from electronics to everyday extras, clothing, and finally two favorite carry-on backpacks.

Electronics

Chargers and Travel Adapters

The MINIX 66W GaN charger is the pick when you need real power. Its 66W output can charge a laptop, and the three ports let you top up several devices at once. It comes in a larger 100W version too. The trade-off is that the adapter pieces have to be carried separately.

The Card 4 travel adapter is the most versatile of the bunch. It has all the standard plug types on the back, a universal socket on the front, and four USB inputs on the side. At 45W it can charge multiple devices simultaneously and even some laptops, which is why it has stayed in the kit for years.

For cables, the Anker 6ft USB-C to C cable remains a long-term favorite: durable, well made, and long enough to be useful in awkward hotel rooms.

Batteries and Lighting

The Nitecore NB 10,000 power bank is an upgrade over a previous pack that still works, chosen because it is smaller and lighter for the same 10,000mAh capacity at just 5.3oz. That makes it one of the lightest options per ounce of charging capacity around. It charges and discharges over both USB-A and USB-C, has a small charge-level light, and holds enough for two to three full phone charges.

The Nitecore NU25 headlamp is mainly a backpacking item, but it earns its place on trips too. It is tiny, very light, and lasts a long time, with roughly 160 hours of runtime on the lowest setting. It recharges over micro-USB, so a small adapter comes in handy, and it can be topped up from a battery pack on the go.

Organization

Organizer Pouches and Panels

The Think Tank V10 organizer and Tom Bihn 3D organizer cube both work as gear pouches, and both have clear windows so you can see the contents at a glance. The Tom Bihn has clear windows on both sides and a built-in hook for hanging, which makes it the more flexible option, though it costs a bit more.

Cocoon GRID-IT organizers are handy, versatile, and fun to use. Each is a flat panel with stretchy elastic bands in a grid, in a mix of short and long lengths, so almost anything can be secured in almost any orientation. The medium size, around 7.5 by 10.5 inches, swallows a whole electronics kit; the small 5 by 7 inch version suits lighter loads. They slide neatly into thin front compartments on many backpacks.

Sound On the Go

The JBL Go 2 Bluetooth speaker is more fun than essential. It weighs about 5.5oz, similar to the power bank, it is waterproof for outdoor use, and it puts out a surprising amount of sound for its size. It is better suited to car trips and camping than to flying light.

Water, Tools and Small Extras

Water, Tools and Small Extras

The Leatherman Style PS is a nice little multi-tool for longer trips, with pliers, scissors, a screwdriver, a bottle opener, and tweezers. Because there is no knife, it can go through airport security. Just be careful to pick the PS rather than the similar Style CS, which includes a blade.

Water treatment is where this kit gets genuinely practical. The Grayl Ultra Press weighs about 17oz and filters out almost everything except the smallest viruses. Fill the outer cup to the line, press the filter element down, and clean water rises into the upper chamber. It is fast and easy for hiking or places where tap water is not drinkable. The main downside is that the cartridge only handles about 40 gallons before needing replacement.

The Sawyer Mini is the lighter, more minimal option. It can run inline in a hydration system, screw onto standard water bottles, or pair with the included squeeze bag. The filtering process is a bit more involved, needing a dirty and a clean container, but maintenance is minimal: just backflush it occasionally. At around $25 it can filter up to 100,000 gallons.

For laundry days, the Sea to Summit clothesline solves the problem of nowhere to hang wet clothes. Clips at each end wrap around almost anything, the double cord with small beads grips garments between its two strands, and the whole thing packs into a tiny pouch that takes up almost no room.

Clothing and Footwear

Merino Polos, Sandals and a Belt

Merino wool is great for travel because it resists odor and can be worn repeatedly between washes. The Wool & Prince PK polo is a 78% merino blend with a soft grid weave that avoids the itchiness of regular wool. In extra large it runs slightly bigger than its rival below.

The Proof 72-Hour Merino Polo, also tested in extra large, fits a bit tighter and has a higher 89% merino content with a slight sheen and a touch of stretch. It is surprisingly comfortable for a wool shirt. Both blends pair merino’s odor control with nylon’s durability.

The Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV sandal has lasted over a year of use and still earns its spot. It works as a water shoe, but the grippy tread also makes it usable for easy hiking, something a flip-flop cannot do. It is thin and packs down into almost nothing.

The Arcade Ranger belt has been worn all year, and a second one was recently bought. It is a lightweight stretch belt with a thin plastic clip buckle and no metal, so it will not set off metal detectors, though airport scanners may still require taking it off. It comes in a wide range of colors, from plain black to bolder patterns.

Two Favorite Travel Backpacks

The Tortuga 28 was the bag taken to Argentina this year, and it has worked out great. It also comes in a larger 40L version. The waxed canvas fabric looks fantastic, and the organization is excellent: a well-designed front pocket, plenty of internal dividers, and a divider that only goes down halfway so items do not sink to the bottom. The plastic separator between the luggage and laptop compartments makes packing easy, and a half-zip on top lets you reach the main compartment without opening the whole bag.

The updated Osprey Farpoint 40 has had a love-hate relationship over roughly five years and several design versions, but the latest revision fixes many earlier complaints. The harness system now slides and adjusts, the laptop compartment has moved from the front to the back of the bag, and the main compartment zipper placement means the bag opens completely and packs far more easily. Note that Osprey dropped the sizing options but kept separate men’s and women’s versions: the Farpoint here, and the Fairview for women.

Conclusion

The common thread across this list is simple: small, light gear that solves a real problem without adding weight. Start with the charging kit if you want the biggest day-to-day upgrade, add water treatment and organizers depending on how you travel, and let the Tortuga 28 or Osprey Farpoint 40 carry it all if a proper one-bag trip is on the calendar. Whatever you pick, the goal is the same: travels that are a little lighter and a lot smoother.