After all the planning, the anticipation, the arguing with your boss that you
submitted that PTO weeks ago,
the time has arrived: your vacation. There's no right way to travel, but a lot of people lie back and accept that getting from point A to point B is miserable. It doesn't have to be. Even for us coach-flying peons. Find below a spate of goods that'll make your next flight, train ride, or traipse through Europe's sketchiest Airbnbs way more comfortable. (By the way, here are ways
make your flight cheaper
, too.)
The more prepared you are, the more you can truly escape and unwind. Enjoy Vienna without freaking that your phone's going to die. Is it just me, or does everything seem to double as a power bank these days?
If you've got a bit of dough to spend, here is your new carry-on. It's weather-resistant, scratch-resistant, and can charge your phone six times. It's trackable via GPS and has got a digital lock that you can unlock remotely with your phone (it is TSA approved, but it's not going to keep them out; they have a master key). The
Bluesmart Black Edition
also has a built-in a digital scale to help you avoid overage fees at the airport and extra cushiony sections for your delicate electronics.
$600
.
The Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack is—I’m going to say it—the best carry-on. The bag can hold 35 liters, opens from the front like a suitcase, and is sturdy enough to withstand harsh weather, with got tough ballistic nylon paneling and a smooth waterproof coating on the front. It will keep you organized with zippered mesh compartments sleeves that keep clothing and accessories separate. There are also quick-access zippers along the sides of the bag to more easily access the padded laptop section or the main compartment. For extra security, the bag features YKK security zippers that can be tucked under built-in loops, making it hard for pickpockets to unzip your bag. The Allpa Travel Pack also comes with a bright yellow rain cover, a mesh laundry bag, and a smaller day-pack for shorter trips.
$200
.
Jaybird X3 Sport Bluetooth Headset
Some really solid headphones.
The Jaybird X3s have 8 hours of battery life, are water/sweat-proof, and can be connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Sync them with the MySound App to customize your sound preferences. To ensure a secure fit, the headphones come with silicone ear fins—small, medium and large sizes included—that help lock the earbuds into place. They are small enough that they can fit underneath a helmet, so feel free to use these while you are snowboarding or biking.
$130
.
1MORE Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones
For those of you who haven’t switched over to wireless headphones yet—don’t worry airplane entertainment systems haven't either—the
1MORE Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones
let you plug in and enjoy clear, hi-res audio. The headphones have a lightweight aluminum body, four drivers (the elements that make the sound), and a kevlar, tangle-free cord. A diamond-like carbon driver delivers the midrange and bass and three armatures help produce clear higher frequencies. The in-ear headphones come with a leather traveling case, nine silicone ear tip sizes, and a quarter-inch adaptor.
$200
.
If you’ve got work to do on your trip but don’t want to take your laptop with you, a foldable Bluetooth keyboard will keep your load light. This compact Jelly Comb keyboard has a two-hour rechargeable battery and works with laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
$30
.
And now for a different type of keyboard. The
Korg nanoKEY2
is diminutive, but reliable. The 25-key USB MIDI keyboard has buttons that bend pitches, shift octaves, and sustain notes for more control over your playing. It’s also portable, requires no separate power supply, and has improved velocity control that allows you to play notes bolder and softer, rather than at one consistent volume.
$50
.
Attachable smart bike compass
There is no better way to discover a city than on a bike. You can cover more ground faster, park anywhere as long as you have a lock, and get a workout in while sightseeing. The one problem with biking around a new city is you probably have no clue how to get around. The Beeline is a smart compass—with a four week battery life—that helps take care of that. Put in the desired destination on your smartphone (there’s an app) and the waterproof and wireless device gives you two navigation choices. The Route Nav option will send you on a bicycle-friendly route and the Compass mode just shows you an arrow on the screen pointing to the location.
$139
.
Flight 001 Go Clean Laundry
Keep your dirty clothes separate.
Yes, you could use a Hefty bag, but those are ugly and prone to getting holes, granting your dirty underwear permission to mingle with your clean shirt. Gross. This
laundry bag
will keep things nice and sovereign. Nothing ruins a laid-back vacation vibe like facing the stinky results of living without a laundry machine.
$24
.
This compact
power bank
can charge your smartphone more than three times. It's smaller than your phone and weighs less than half a pound. Micro USB cable and travel pouch included.
$24
.
This Is Ground Genuine Leather Cordito
The
Leather Cordito
from This is Ground helps you wrangle all your cords in a way that looks sophisticated as heck. The case is 100% leather, with a snap to keep it closed. Simple but brilliant.
$55
.
PORS-ELA International Travel Power Adapter
One adapter to rule them all.
Unless you're well and truly,
literally
unplugging, you'll need
travel adapter
for your devices abroad. This PORS-ELA adapter has got a "no-fry" fuse system and strong polycarbonate shell. Charge up to three devices at a time with the two USB ports and AC socket. It can be used in over 150 countries, weighs a quarter of a pound and includes a travel pouch.
$22
.
Ventev 3000c Chargestand
A 2-in-1 phone stand and charger.
The
Ventev 2-in-1 charger
and phone stand will keep your phone upright and full of juice. It is compact and works with both micro USB and lighting charging cables. While it isn't the largest power bank out there, the material is super lightweight and sturdy.
$45
.
iPhone 7 Waterproof Case
Take your phone in the water with you.
Snorkeling between tectonic plates in Iceland? This
case
is designed to ensure all of the buttons are still functional while keeping water out. It is designed to go underwater and can reach over 10 feet deep for 2 hours. It's also shockproof and can safely be dropped from more than 6 feet high. It's built with an anti-scratch sensitive Touch Screen protector that tightly fits the iPhone 7 and doesn't obstruct the camera.
$22
.
OAXIS AirScale Digital Luggage Scale with Power Bank
If you aren't in the market for a new smart suitcase but still want to be able to protect yourself against fees for heavy luggage, grab a
OAXIS AirScale
, which can measure up to 80 pounds. Oh, it also has a power bank that can charge your phone more than twice.
$50
.
Iblue Canvas Travel Toiletry Organizer
A place for your toiletries
Malin + Goetz Essential Starter Kit
Travel size goodies for your dopp kit.
This kit of travel essentials by
Malin + Goetz
is A-OK by the TSA and provides everything you'll need for your vacation to keep your hair and skin feeling fresh. The six-bottle kit comes with a grapefruit face cleanser, a vitamin E face moisturizer, bergamot body wash, a body moisturizer, peppermint shampoo, and a cilantro conditioner.
$44
.
Be able to document your trip without having to lug around a heavy camera. The
Hero5
by GoPro records stabilized 4K video, can take 12MP photos and has a screen on its back so you can monitor or take a look in your photos or footage. There are three photo modes: Single, Burst, and Time Lapse. The camera is waterproof up to 33 feet—without any housing—and can record audio without a separate mic. Once you have recorded the videos or photos, connect to WiFi and upload the media to the GoPro cloud account. You will be able to access the footage from your phone and can share with friends and family from... anywhere.
$419
.
Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean Rechargeable Toothbrush
Do: neglect your inbox. Don't: neglect your teeth. The
Philips Sonicare
is a great toothbrush that happens to come with a charging travel case. The brush itself has five cleaning modes: a standard "2-minute Clean" mode, a natural whitening mode, sensitive gum and teeth mode, a gum care mode, and deep-clean mode for harder-to-reach areas.
$190
.
Twone Unlined Travel Journal
You can get three
Twone notebooks
for $8. If you use one to write down your adventures on vacation, you're guaranteeing an incredible souvenir (and the capacity to enjoy your trip for years to come) for ... $2.67. Each notebook has 60 pages made of 50% post-consumer recycled paper.
$8 for 3
.
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