Are you planning your next adventure, but not sure what to pack? Or are you trying to find the perfect gift for someone that loves to travel? Look no further! This ultimate guide to travel gear will help you pack like a pro and ensure you have everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable trip. From essential items to comfort items, sustainable gear to travel photography equipment, and unique gift ideas to beach and adventure gear, we’ve got you covered.
Below you will find an ultimate list of travel gear, gifts, gadgets and product ideas, ideal for those that love to travel. The suggestions will be perfect for Christmas or birthday presents, or for yourselves if you’re looking for travel gear.
We’ve split our suggestions into different sections, such as “general travel products”, “gadgets”, “products for him”, “products for her”, “adventurer products”, “for the photographer” and some “travel book” suggestions. Many of these products we have used or own, and some of them such as the solar charger and the men’s toiletry bag we would personally want to own ourselves.
If you click on the picture, product name, or “Buy” button, you will be able to buy the products from Amazon.com. Those are affiliate links so we will get a bit of commission at no cost to you. We use this to invest in new content for this website. If you have any other suggestions on amazing travel products please let us know. You can of course use these travel gear ideas to look elsewhere online, or keep them in mind if you’re in high street shops too.
| Menu |
| General Travel Gear Gadgets/Electronics For the Plane For the Beach Adventure Products For the Him For the Her Travel Games For the Photographer Book Suggestions |
So, from essential items to comfort items, sustainable gear to travel photography equipment, and unique gift ideas to beach and adventure gear, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best suggestions of travel gear, including gifts, gadgets and more that are perfect for travellers.
General Travel Gear
This first section has general travel products that would fit all purposes and a variety of destinations:
A travel money belt is a great accessory allowing you to keep your valuables hidden and safe from pickpockets. They can also eliminate the risk of important items falling out of your pockets.
A leak-proof bottle and the company claims 99.99% of waterborne bacteria can be removed. This kind of bottle may be a good choice for when travelling in countries where you’re unsure of drinking out of the tap directly or to use when hiking and you want to fill up from streams.
4 Set Packing Cubes – Travel Organizers with Laundry Bag (Aqua Teal)
Packing cubes are a great way to keep your clothes and other items organised in your luggage. This particular version has four different-sized cubes and also a laundry bag included.
Travel Scratch Off The World Map
A scratch map is a fun way to mark where you’ve been in the world! On the outer layer is a metal foil type layer, and using a coin or your nail you can scratch off and reveal another layer with various colours.
Microfiber Bath Towel and Carry Bag, XL
This kind of towel would be great for those camping or staying in hostels where you may not get provided towels. In the Amazon description, the towel is claimed to be compact and quick-drying which is important when travelling.
Silver 100% Pure Mulberry Silk Sleeping Bag Travel Sleepsack
This liner is perfect for when you are staying somewhere and you’d prefer not to touch the sheets, or if you just wanted to have a liner in your sleeping bag.
All-purpose First Aid Kit, 299-Piece Kit
Whenever you travel it’s always a good idea to have a First Aid kit, just in case you have any small accidents. You can also use the case to pack medicine, such as paracetamol, anti-sickness etc.
Great for taking photographs with your family or friends. A selfie stick allows you to put your phone in it, extend it and then take a photograph. This particular product even allows you to pair with a Bluetooth smartphone and then press the button on the stick to take photographs.
Antibacterial Waterproof Toilet Seat Covers
When travelling and especially when using shared facilities, such as in public toilets and in some shared accommodation, it’s always good to have toilet covers in the event that the facilities are not to a good standard. This package of toilet covers are antibacterial, waterproof and even claim to be biodegradable.
Gadgets and tech
Technology has made travelling easier and more convenient than ever before. Here are some of the best travel gadgets and tech gear that you may enjoy or find helpful during your travels:
These battery packs are great and we use one for our Google Smartphone. It manages to fully charge our smartphone twice. A power pack like this is great for when you are on the move, such as on a train, bus etc for long periods of time and without access to main power.
DOSS Touch Wireless Bluetooth Portable Speaker
Fancy listening to some music whilst travelling. Then this Bluetooth speaker may be just what you need. You can use Bluetooth-enabled devices to stream music to the speaker. The device is also claimed to last up to 12 hours with 75% volume and can recharge in 3-4 hours.
Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling
Noise-cancelling headphones are great for use on planes, trains, buses and anywhere where you just want to become immersed in your music. These speakers from Bose connect wirelessly and offer 20 hours of battery life per charge.
It’s worth noting that big headphones can sometimes be a bit of a pain as they are bulky so if you’re backpacking then you might want to consider some smaller in-ear headphones instead.
One of Amazon’s own products. The Kindle Paperwhite allows you to download books straight from the store onto your device. The display is none glare and provides a feeling of almost reading from a book. As well as this the device is small, light and portable.
The Skross World Travel Adapters are great for when you are travelling to multiple countries. This particular model takes a range of inputs/plug types and also has a range of outputs.
The Fire HD8 is a high-performance table-type device from Amazon. Using this device you can watch movies, play games, browse the net and so much more!
Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch Laptop
We currently use a MacBook Pro for all our blogging and photography. The MacBook Air is also incredibly high quality and versatile, allowing you to browse the net, watch movies, work, play games and so much more. What’s more this device is light and compact allowing you to easily take it on your travels.
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean rechargeable electric toothbrush
The ultimate electronic toothbrush! We have used this model for years and love it! With the toothbrush, you get a case that allows you to carry two toothbrush heads and even charge it.
Items for long flights or road trips
Long flights or road trips can be uncomfortable and tiring, but there are ways to make them more bearable. Here are some comfort items to consider:
Aeris Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow with Sleep Mask, Earplugs, Carry Bag
A good quality memory foam neck pillow is a must when flying. We have previously owned a bean-based and also a blowup pillow and they don’t compare! This product even comes with a sleep mask, earplugs and carry bag!
Travelrest 4-in-1 Premier Class Travel Blanket
This high-quality travel blanket goes over your shoulders and fits comfortably, meaning it’s not going to fall off while you’re sleeping!
BlueCosto Luggage Strap 4-Pack, 4-Color
As well as adding a bit of extra support to full and overpacked luggage, these straps also help you find your suitcase as it comes out at luggage collection.
Earplug are great for when you’re trying to sleep on a plane, train or bus, or when staying in noisy accommodation. This pack from Mack’s provides 50 for you to use.
Bedtime Bliss Sleep Mask with Moldex Ear Plugs
A comfortable sleep mask, great for use on the plane, buses, trains, or even at home when you need to sleep but it’s too bright. This sleeping mask also comes with earplugs to block out unwanted sound.
Tarriss Jetsetter Digital Luggage Scale
This handy little luggage scale is small and portable. You can use this to check your luggage when you are packing to ensure it’s within the limits for the cabin or the hold. It can also weigh up to 50kg/110lb.
TSA Heavy Duty 3 Digit Combination Luggage and Travel Padlock, 2-PACK
This kind of lock would be great for your luggage as it allows TSA airport agents to check your luggage if necessary and then re-lock.
For the beach
Heading on a beach trip? Here you’ll find products that would be great for these types of trips:
Earth Pak -Waterproof Dry Bag With Waterproof Phone Case
Dry bags are great for the beach, boats and other places where you may want to keep clothes and other items dry. They aren’t 100% waterproof so wouldn’t be guaranteed to keep your items dry if submerged, but should be good for most other purposes.
This solar power bank comes with a built-in flashlight, as well as a compass. The gadget can hold up to 10,000mAh which can fully charge many mobile devices more than once. Note that solar panel charging is best used as a backup not as the primary method.
This universal waterproof case is for a smartphone and is designed so you can keep your phone on you, whilst doing water sports such as snorkelling, swimming etc. The case is stated that it can keep your device dry for up to 100 feet (30 metres).
Crocs are awesome for the beach and the pool. They are also great for kids such as when they are clambering over potential sharp rocks etc.
Adventure gear
Here is some of the best travel gear which would be great for adventure-type trips:
Winner Outfitters Double Camping Hammock
This hammock is designed so you can put it up in minutes and you just use the included equipment to attach it between trees. It should be able to support up to 500lb.
Floating Waterproof LED Flashlight with Carabineer Clip, 55-Lumens
This torch is perfect for outdoor and adventure trips. As well as being bright at 55 lumens, it is also waterproof and can even float.
Thermos Stainless Steel 40 Ounce Beverage Bottle
This flask allows you to take hot and cold drinks with you and keep them cold or hot for 24 hours. The flash can hold 40 ounces of liquid and is designed with a vacuum.
A multi-tool gadget with lots of components, such as a bottle opener, knife, pliers, screwdriver, scissors and various others.
For him
Here is some of the best travel gear which is great for the guys:
Vetelli Leather Toiletry Bag For Men
This bag is nothing short of beautiful. Made with luscious brown leather, a waterproof lining and with an interior pocket, this bag would be great for the guys.
Fossil is a great brand making high-quality products. This passport wallet is made of leather with a textile lining and has space for your passport as well as 4 cards.
For her
Here is travel gear which is great for the girls:
Traveller Compact Hanging Toiletry Bag
A beautiful hanging toiletry bag with multiple compartments allowing you to keep your products organised when you travel.
Fintie Passport Holder Travel Wallet
This passport holder has a beautiful design and comes with space for both your passport as well as multiple cards.
BaBylissPRO Tourmaline Titanium Travel Dryer
A tiny, portable and yet powerful hairdryer for your travels. This little device is 1000watt and has a dual voltage switch allowing 110-125v or 220-250v operation.
Travel Refillable Perfume Bottle Spray
These handy little bottles allow you to take small amounts of perfume with you on your travels. This product comes in a set of three which will allow you to take multiple perfumes on your trips.
Travel games
Games can provide entertainment and also bonding opportunities for travellers. Here are some fun travel games that you may like:
Wonders Of The World Top Trumps Card Game
If you’ve never played Top Trumps then you should definitely get this game. It’s heaps of fun and you deal cards between the players and then have to compare stats and then whoever has the highest wins. This product is even travel-related and is about Wonders of the World.
UNO is a super fun and highly addictive game great for the family. You take turns matching cards with colours and numbers, and there are various rules to beat your opponents.
Charades is the ultimate family game and will provide fun and laughter. This game involves acting out things from the cards you read and then your team has to guess the answer.
Chess is a great way to keep yourself busy for hours and involves quite a lot of tactics to win. This game is also magnetic meaning it would be great for use when on transport.
For the photographer:
Capturing your travel memories is important, and having the right photography gear can make all the difference. Here are some travel products which are great for those interested in photography. You may also like our article that contains other suggestions including digital products: Best Gifts for Photographers (Top Ideas)
For a more detailed photography list head to Equipment Recommendations where you’ll find all the photography equipment, we use when we travel.
Canon EOS 6D Mark II 20.2 MP Digital SLR Camera
The Canon 6D Mark II is a fantastic camera allowing you to capture professional travel photographs. It’s not the cheapest and there are plenty of other options available, however, this is what we use and we highly recommend it. The camera capture images at 26.2 megapixels and allows for interchangeable lenses allowing you to customise the camera for different shots. As well as this the camera has a vari-angle touchscreen which helps with taking pictures, has built-in WiFi and GPS and lots of other great features. Read more about top features of the Canon 6D Mark II.
We also use this camera and think it’s great. The picture quality is fantastic and you can even shoot raw. The camera has lots of the functionality of a professional camera and if you are into night photography you can even take long exposures that come out amazing.
GoPro is a great camera for adventures, action and underwater photography. You can also get lots of add-ons for it so you can use it for different purposes.
Dome Port with Waterproof Case for GoPro Hero
Have you ever seen pictures where the image is half above and half below the water? Using a device such as this should allow such a thing. As well as shooting those types of images it should allow you to take higher quality images underwater as they’ll be less water directly in front of the lens.
The ultimate device for capturing aerial shots. DJI Mavi Air is a small portable drone that will allow you to capture next-level photos when you travel. These drones are now used by many travel photographers all around the world. It’s worth noting though that many countries now have restrictions on drone use and sometimes you even have to get a license in advance. Read Should You Buy a Drone? (Pros and Cons) to help decide if it’s right for you.
MeFOTO Aluminum Roadtrip Travel Tripod/Monopod Kit – Blue (A1350Q1B)
We’ve used a MeFoto Travel tripod during our travels for years and highly rate them! The tripod is strong, well made and even looks good! When buying they have several models, with a smaller and larger version. The smaller version is good for compact or light cameras, whilst the larger tripod is more suited for heavier products. Before buying check the specification for what weight the tripod can handle.
Another top choice is the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Tripod which we have recently started using for our travel photography.
Lowepro Event Messenger DSLR Camera Shoulder Bag
A great bag for travelling around the city. The bag isn’t huge so wouldn’t be suitable for those wanting to carry around huge amounts of kit, but it’s perfect for your camera whilst you explore cities, or want to pack less for a day trip. Messenger camera bags are excellent if you need to carry a few items but not too much. We’d recommend Lowepro or Manfrotto as great brands to consider for your camera bag.
Memory Card Case For 12SD Cards & 12 Micro SD Cards
If you are travelling for quite some time you may take thousands and thousands of photographs. Because cameras are getting higher and higher quality they take pictures that are a larger file size. This means you are likely going to need multiple memory cards. Using a device such as this will help keep them organised so you don’t lose them. This cardholder can hold 12 SD cards and 12 Micro SD cards.
Seagate 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0
Whenever we travel for long periods of time, such as over a week we always take an external hard drive with us. We then duplicate our pictures from our SD (camera cards) onto the hard drives so we have a backup. Read more about backing up your photographs.
GorillaPods are awesome and allow you to attach your camera to doors, fences and almost anything you can wrap or position the legs around. You can get different types which can handle different strengths, such as for compacts, SLRs or just for GoPro cameras.
Lens Pens should always be in your camera bag. They are a way of cleaning your lens and filters whilst you are on the move and they take up minimal space.
The ultimate travel and photography computer. We currently use an earlier model (2016) for our website and all our photo editing and we love it! You can get various models which come with a high-performance specification and includes a large amount of RAM, hard drive space and beautiful screen. One thing we love about MacBooks is the touch screen which adds an interactive element to the computer. Also note that the space grey colour looks fantastic.
Book suggestions
Travel books and guides can provide inspiration and information for your next adventure. Here are various book suggestions which would be great for those wanting to improve their photography, want some ideas on places to visit, or simply want a nice coffee table book:
Unforgettable Places to See Before You Die
This book is one of the first travel books we ever purchased. Within the book you will find stunning pictures and tons of information suggesting ideas of beautiful places you should visit in your lifetime. It’s actually part of a series which we also recommend. We have them all on our shelf.
Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Photography (2012 edition)
Probably one of the best travel photography books out there. We have read every page from the front to the back. It has helped us on our journey to take high-quality travel photographs and understand the ins and outs of photography and cameras. If you wanted to see some of our travel pictures head to www.mikecleggphotography.com (personal website). You can read our review on the book here: Review of the Lonely Planet Travel Photography Book
Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Photography (2016 edition)
An update to the book above. It’s written by Richard I’Anson who also wrote the 2012 edition which we was a huge fan of.
100 Countries, 5,000 Ideas by National Geographic
A book from National Geographic, you’ll find lots of ideas and inspiration of places to visit, as well as things to do whilst there.
A book from Rich McCor @paperboyo who is an extremely creative photographer making pictures using cities, architecture and paper cutouts.
How to choose the perfect travel gear?
Choosing the right travel gear can be overwhelming, but it’s important to consider your (or the person that you’re buying for) individual needs and preferences. Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect travel gear:
1. Consider the destination and activities
Think about the climate, terrain, and activities in the travel destination, and choose gear that suits those conditions.
2. Check reviews and recommendations
It’s very important to read reviews and recommendations from other travellers to get an idea of the quality and suitability of different gear. Many websites have list reviews for individual products and this can help you to make a more informed decision about whether the product is right for you and your needs.
3. Consider your budget
Set a budget and choose gear that provides the best value for your money, without sacrificing quality or functionality. This can be more important if you’re looking to buy quite a few items or more expensive gear such as photography equipment.
4. Try before you buy
If possible, try on or test out gear before you buy it, especially if it’s a significant investment like a backpack, hiking boots or photography equipment. This is where high street stores help and although purchasing online is always convenient there are also lots of benefits to going into a store.
5. Choose light and versatile items
Choose gear that can be easily packed and carried, and opt for versatile items that can serve multiple purposes. When you carry lots of heavy items or have packed too much you might be kicking yourself after a while. But then again on the overhand if you miss items that can also be a pain, so plan well when deciding what you need and write a list of items in a packing list.
Summary
Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or embarking on your first adventure, having the right travel gear can make all the difference. From essential items to comfort items, sustainable gear to travel photography equipment, and unique gift ideas to beach and adventure gear, we hope that this ultimate guide has provided you with helpful tips and ideas for your next trip, or on what to buy as a gift for someone that you know loves to travel.
Disclaimer: Please read full product details and reviews (as necessary), before making any purchasing decisions. Please check compatibility for any electronics and applicable products. Many of these products have been used by us, but some are recommendations based on things we would like as a traveller and products which have good reviews from previous buyers.
Noticed a mistake? Let us know.
