We travel quite a bit, and over the years I’ve tried a lot of different travel products. Some have worked well, some seemed like a good idea but really weren't necessary, and a few have become things I use on almost every trip.
I’m also someone who likes to have a system for things. I don’t want to bring five different chargers if I can come up with one setup that handles everything. I don't want a toiletry bag plus a separate TSA liquids bag if I can fit everything into one. And if something is going to take up space in my luggage, I want to have a reason for bringing it.
So this isn't meant to be a list of every travel gadget you can buy. These are simply the things I actually use and have found helpful when we travel.
My Travel Charging Setup
This is probably the area where I've spent the most time figuring out what works for me.
I actually have three slightly different setups depending on the trip and whether I'm in the hotel or on the airplane.
Hotel Set Up - Longer Trips
For an extended trip, I bring an Anker Prime 140W 6-in-1 Travel Charging Station.
Anker Prime 140W 6-in-1 Travel Charging Station
It gives me USB-C charging plus regular outlets, so I can basically turn one hotel outlet into the charging area for everything I have with me.
I connect the Anker to my Ridge 10,000mAh Magnetic Power Bank with a 3-foot USB-C cable.
Ridge 20W Magnetic Power Bank – 10,000mAh
The Ridge is probably the most important part of the system. It can charge my Apple Watch and has built-in Lightning and USB-C cables. I use those for things like my AirPods, Ozlo Sleepbuds and Oura Ring.
I can also plug a 3- or 6-foot USB-C cable into the Anker for my iPhone or iPad.
The other reason I like this setup is that the Ridge gets charged every night.
When we leave the hotel in the morning, I have a fully charged 10,000mAh MagSafe power bank to take with me. When you're out sightseeing all day and using your phone for Google Maps, pictures, tickets, restaurant searches and everything else, it's pretty easy to run down the battery.
At the end of the day, the Ridge goes back on the charger and is ready again the next morning.
Hotel Set Up - Shorter Trips
If we're taking a shorter trip and I'm trying to pack lighter, I don't necessarily need the Anker power strip.
Instead, I bring a UGREEN Nexode Pro 65W GaN Slim Wall Charger.
UGREEN Nexode Pro 65W Slim Wall Charger
I connect that to the Ridge with a 6-foot USB-C cable and basically use the Ridge the same way I do on a longer trip.
It gives me most of the same functionality with less to pack.
On the Airplane
I have a slightly different setup for the airplane.
If there's a working AC outlet at my seat, I use the UGREEN wall charger with a 6-foot cable to keep my iPad charged.
In my experience, the USB charging ports built into airplane seats are still usually USB-A. I carry a small UGREEN USB-A to USB-C adapter so I can use my USB-C cables with them.
I normally use a 3-foot cable from the seat charger to my iPhone.
I've also switched to retractable USB-C cables. I carry both a longer Baseus cable and a shorter UGREEN cable.
Baseus 100W 6.6-ft Retractable USB-C Cable
UGREEN 100W 3.3-ft Retractable USB-C Cable
I also keep a small SAUX USB-C to 3.5mm audio adapter with my travel tech. It lets me connect standard 3.5mm headphones or an audio cable to a USB-C device when I need to.
SAUX USB-C to 3.5mm Audio Adapter
None of this is particularly complicated. I've just gradually eliminated extra chargers and cables until I got to a setup that works for the way I travel.
My Favorite Underseat Bag
My favorite personal-item bag is the Nomad Lane Bento Bag.
The biggest thing I like about it is the way it opens. Instead of digging down into a traditional duffel bag, the Bento opens more like a suitcase.
It fits well under an airplane seat but still holds quite a bit. I can put a packing cube of clothes in it and still have room for a pair of shoes. I frequently put my suede loafers in there so I don't have to use valuable space for them in my main luggage.
It also has a side pocket that fits my 18-ounce YETI Rambler.
YETI Rambler 18 oz Water Bottle
I like the 18-ounce size because it's big enough to be useful without being so wide that it becomes difficult to carry in a smaller bag.
If you're looking for something similar at a lower price, the Quince Voyage Nylon Split Travel Bag has a similar concept.
Quince Voyage Nylon Split Travel Bag
I haven't used the Quince bag myself, so I can't recommend it from personal experience, but it's worth looking at if you like the Bento layout and don't want to spend as much.
My Tech Organizer Is Nothing Special
This is one category where I don't have an expensive recommendation.
I've been using an FYY Electronic Organizer.
It's inexpensive, easy to use and keeps my cables and adapters organized. That's really all I need it to do.
It's also the item I managed to leave on the airplane on our way to South Africa.
I already put an AirTag in every piece of luggage we travel with. After that experience, I'm going to start putting one in the tech kit too.
Sometimes the best travel tip is the one you learn after doing something stupid.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
For a long-haul flight, I use Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
There isn't much more complicated about this one. On a long flight, I want comfortable headphones with good noise cancellation, and these are what I use.
They take up more room than earbuds, so I don't necessarily need them for every short domestic flight. But when we're going to be on an airplane for eight, ten or more hours, they're worth the space to me.
Ozlo Sleepbuds
These have become one of my hotel essentials.
I sleep with my Ozlo Sleepbuds every night we're in a hotel.
They help mask the things you can't control when you're traveling—someone snoring, traffic outside, people talking in the hallway or noisy neighbors in the room next door.
You can spend quite a bit of money on a nice hotel and still end up with a room next to someone who decides midnight is a good time to have a loud conversation.
The Ozlos come with me.
My Entire Toiletry Setup Fits in One TSA Pouch
I used to think about a toiletry bag and TSA liquids bag as two separate things. I don't anymore.
I use the Gravel Pouch 3-1-1 TSA-Compliant Shower Bag as my entire toiletry bag.
Gravel The Pouch 3-1-1 TSA-Compliant Shower Bag
Inside it, I use Matador FlatPak Toiletry Bottles for liquids.
Matador FlatPak Toiletry Bottles
I also use Matador Refillable Toothpaste Tubes.
Matador Refillable Toothpaste Tubes
For smaller items, I use humangear STAX stackable containers.
Everything goes into the Gravel pouch. I don't need another Dopp kit taking up room in my luggage.
It's another example of something I've simplified over time. If one bag can do the job, I don't need two.
A Simple Hotel-Room Organization Trick
This is probably one of the least expensive things on my list.
I travel with one of the plates from a set of OULIGET collapsible origami-style plates.
When we get to the hotel, I unfold one and put it somewhere convenient in the room.
My keys, cash, receipts and whatever else comes out of my pockets go into it.
I don't have to remember whether I put my keys on the nightstand, desk or dresser because I have one place where those things are supposed to go.
When we're packing up, it folds flat again.
It's a very simple idea, but it's something I use.
Reading Glasses That Don't Take Up Much Room
I use NOOZ Alba reading glasses in Espresso.
They're well made, but the thing I particularly like for travel is how slim they are.
The protective case is also very thin, so I can put them in my pocket, Bento Bag or tech kit without taking up much room.
Reading glasses aren't exactly exciting travel gear, but if you need them, you need them.
Washing a Few Things in the Hotel Sink
On longer trips, I usually bring a small 3.4-ounce bottle of Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap.
I wear quite a bit of merino wool when we travel, and I'll use the Dr. Bronner's to hand-wash a merino shirt, merino socks or underwear in the hotel sink.
I don't carry a special travel laundry system. I don't need one.
I wash a few things in the sink, let them dry and wear them again.
This is one of the ways I'm able to reduce the amount of clothing I bring on a longer trip without needing to use the hotel laundry service every few days.
The Things That Keep Making the Trip
I don't think anyone needs to go out and buy every product on this list.
These are simply things I've found that work for me after quite a bit of traveling.
Some solve bigger problems. Others solve very small ones.
The Ridge means I leave the hotel every morning with a charged power bank. The Bento Bag gives me an organized underseat bag with enough room for clothes and a pair of shoes. My Gravel pouch eliminates the need for a second toiletry bag. Ozlo Sleepbuds help me sleep when the hotel isn't as quiet as I'd like. A collapsible plate gives me somewhere to put my keys.
That's generally how I decide whether something stays in my travel setup.
Do I actually use it? Does it make traveling easier? And is it worth the space it takes up?
If the answer is yes, it usually comes with me again.
And after South Africa, I've added one more question:
Did I put an AirTag in it?