My Favorite Travel Gear

On a recent trip, my girlfriend kept asking about all of my travel gear because she wanted to copy my setup—which I took as a pretty great compliment! 😊

After years of traveling, I’ve fine-tuned the gear that works best for me. These are the items I actually use, rely on, and wouldn’t want to travel without. So, for everyone who’s ever wondered what I pack, here’s my go-to travel gear list! [Updated 7/9/2026]

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Adapters / Chargers

Epic Universal Travel Adapter: My favorite travel adapter for international trips. It’s compact, eliminates the need for country-specific adapters, offers fast charging, and includes five ports (3 USB-C and 2 USB-A) for powering multiple devices at once. I even use it at home between trips.

Skross World to Europe Country Travel Adaptor: I love the simple, plug-and-leave-it design of this adapter. I usually keep it in the bathroom for my portable hair styling tools when I’m traveling in Europe—it’s reliable, compact, and always ready to use.

Anker Nano Portable Charger (C-Cable): Anker is a brand I trust, and I’ve never been disappointed with their products. This compact, portable charger delivers fast charging power in a travel-friendly design

Airplane Bluetooth Adapter for AirPods & Wireless Headphones: This is a small but game-changing device, and now I can’t imagine flying without it. It lets me use my Google Pixel Earbuds wirelessly with in-flight entertainment.

Carrying Everything

**Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-on Luggage: After years of travel, I’ve learned that the weight of your suitcase matters almost as much as what you pack inside it. At just 5.4 pounds, the Travelpro Maxlite carry-on is impressively lightweight. I prefer the two-wheel model because it offers a roomy 52 liters of packing space. While its 23-inch exterior exceeds some international carry-on limits, it’s never had to be gate-checked on any major U.S. airline I’ve flown.

Osprey Daylite Expandable 26+6 Travel Pack: I can’t say enough good things about this as a personal item under the airplane seat. It stays compact for flights, then expands to give you extra space—perfect for carrying more on the trip or packing souvenirs on the way home. The minimalist design keeps it lightweight while maximizing every bit of usable space.

**Osprey Pocket Backpack: This is another item I always carry with me. It flattens down to almost nothing (or you can fold it into its own tiny packet), yet its durable and comfortable to carry for day hikes, or around town.

Nomad Lane Sling Bag: This is my favorite every day carry sling bag when I’m traveling. You can also use this little locking carabiner clips that you can slip onto the zipper pulls to make it extra secure when on metros or in crowded tourist attractions.

**Peak Design Tech Pouch (size small): I really love this item! It has an interior accordion-style pockets perfect for just enough separation for all my gadgets and charging cords. There’s also a larger version available.

Tomtoc 1.5L Sling Bag: I love this slim, minimalist bag for keeping my essentials close at the airport—passport, credit cards, and boarding pass all in one place. It easily packs into a carry-on or can be worn discreetly under a jacket for added security and as a handy “third bag” when boarding.

**Eagle Creek Compression Cubes: These compression packing cubes make it easy to fit more clothes into your suitcase by compressing them into compact, organized bundles. They’re durable, simple to use, and come in a variety of colors.

**Eagle Creek Shoe Sack: It’s lightweight, durable, and keeps dirty shoes separate from the rest of my clothes, helping everything in my suitcase stay clean.

Nanobag Foldable Tote: Incredibly handy for exploring new cities, this lightweight minimalistic foldable tote bag is perfect to keep with you for unexpected shopping stops. I’ve used it for groceries and souvenirs while out and about. It folds down small, but is surprisingly sturdy and reliable when you need it.

Hiking / Outdoors

Garmin: I always bring my reliable Garmin compact satellite device on my outdoor adventures to stay connected, even in areas with no cell service. Not only does it provide peace of mind, but it’s also a lifesaver in emergencies, allowing me to send an SOS message if needed. I put it to the test during my trip to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, when cell service was down, and was able to send texts and keep in touch my family.

Black Diamond Folding Hiking Poles: These carbon fiber hiking poles are, in my opinion, the best combination of quality, lightweight performance, and packability. (They’re also available in a more affordable aluminum version.) They fold small enough to fit in my Travelpro carry-on and even my packable daypack. Just be sure to choose the correct size for your height. They’re an investment, but one I use on every hiking trip—and after seeing friends struggle with bulkier, heavier budget poles, I think they’re well worth it.

Hiking Poles Carry Bag: This inexpensive, lightweight bag adjusts to the length of your folded hiking poles and snaps securely closed. It keeps dirt contained, protects the poles, and packs neatly in the wheel well of your carry-on or inside your daypack.

>> Hiking with a Dog <<

Fi Smart Collar: This GPS-enabled collar tracks her real-time location, offering peace of mind in case she ever gets lost. I can also enable escape alerts, which notifies me if she leaves a designated safe area.

Dog Water Bottle: This keeps water cool and makes it easy for your pup to drink on the go. The built-in bowl flips out quickly, creating a convenient drinking station at-the-ready.

Personal Care

Travel Blow Dryer Brush: This is my one “luxury” travel item I can’t live without. It’s dual voltage (perfect for Europe), compact enough to pack easily, and works beautifully.

Sun Bum Facial Sunscreen: This is my go-to sunscreen for my face, neck, and chest. It’s lightweight enough to carry in my daypack, provides excellent protection, and doesn’t make my skin break out.

Neutrogena Make-up Remover Towelettes: Sometimes convenience is key. These are easy to toss into your toiletry bag, don’t count as a liquid for carry-on travel, and can be used more than once if kept in their foil wrapper. I also love carrying them on hikes for a quick, refreshing face wipe after a dusty trail. You can also buy them at Walgreens.

Cruise Gear

Anker Charging Station: I love the sleek, compact design and the convenience of charging all my devices from a single spot. It’s both functional and attractive, and Anker is a brand I trust for reliable performance.

Magnetic Hat Clip: Perfect for keeping my hat securely attached to the outside of my backpack or beach bag, so it doesn’t get crushed!

Magnetic Hooks: This set of 4 magnetic hooks are invaluable in cruise cabins. They hold up to 50 pounds and instantly create extra hanging space on metal cabin walls—perfect for hats, daypacks, swimsuits, or keeping charging cords within easy reach.

Wet Bags Set: I love this set of 3 wet bags, there are perfect for stashing you wet swimsuits and other clothing, while keeping the rest of the things in your beach bag (or suitcase) dry.

🐾 All My Favorite Dog Gear for Road Trips

For more dog-related travel recommendations, check out my previous post featuring all of my favorite road trip gear for dogs. These are products I use regularly and recommend, whether they’re on sale or not.

Adventures Unleashed: Road-Tripping with a Dog

I hope you find a few travel essentials that make your next adventure even better. Safe travels!