Best Travel Essentials, According to CR Staffers

Regardless of where your travels are taking you, a durable yet versatile bag can go a long way. For managing editor Ginger Cowles, that comes in the form of this MZ Wallace duffel. “This is the perfect personal item because of its many accessible pockets and compartments. It can hold my necessities, including my laptop, iPad, water bottle, over-the-ear noise-canceling Bose headphones, snacks, books, and wipes. Just everything. I don’t travel without this bag!”

“My pet peeve is a travel bag that weighs a ton even when empty—but this is not the case for the Baggu Small Cloud carry-on. The super durable nylon fabric is sturdy enough to withstand long-haul travel (and airplane floors), but still lightweight enough to fold up into its own case when not in use,” says baby and health reporter Jessica D’Argenio Waller. “I love the padded straps and the fact that it comes with plenty of pockets, like two water bottle holders and a laptop sleeve. It has a lightly structured shape that makes it easy to fish around for tiny items, like a book light or AirPods case. I have the small size to make it count as my ‘personal item,’ but there’s a larger version too, and a tote!”

Luggage tags can be a hit or miss for some, but for home and tech writer Justin Krajeski, they’re a travel must-have. “These silicone luggage tags come with sturdy metal cables to wrap around your luggage handles. You can write your address, telephone number, name, and email on the luggage tag insert—in regular use, all but your name remain hidden. In the case that you’ve lost your luggage, someone can untie the cable loop, pull the card insert from the tag, and read the rest.”

Storage space on most airlines can be, well, lacking. This clever seatback organizer can help. “I prepack mine with essentials (tissues, mints, earbuds, hand wipes, pen, backup battery, Shout wipes, hair ties, etc.) then pull it out of my carry-on and hang it up in front of me as soon as I sit down so I have everything at hand,” says IT Solutions’ Kristina Sabesan.

Packing cubes aren’t for everyone, but when used efficiently, they can be quite an organizational workhorse. CR deputy home editor Deb Silber calls herself addicted and has several—although her favorite is this compression trio by Travelon.

Home and garden writer Yasmeen Khan is also a fan. “I actually just bought more, so I have enough for each child as they pack for sleepaway camp. It makes everything less overwhelming when you’re packing a big trunk!” 

In our evaluations of the best packing cubes, this set from Bagail won us over thanks to its extra organizational features, including a cosmetics pouch, a shoe bag, and a laundry drawstring bag.

Brian Goldstein, associate director of video operations, doesn’t leave the house without his Belkin 3-device charger for his iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods—in addition to a good book and a lightweight laptop. 

Senior home and appliances writer Daniel Wroclawski feels similarly about the wireless Anker MagGo, a foldable three-in-one charging station. “I absolutely love this thing. It’s usually the first thing I unpack when I get to a hotel or Airbnb. It’s super compact, fits well on a hotel nightstand, and allows me to easily charge my iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at the same time.”

To make it even more compact, Wroclawski recommends swapping the included USB-C cable for a retractable USB-C cable that’s powerful enough to charge a MacBook. 

Deals editor Samantha Gordon and Krajeski are both avid fans of Amazon’s Kindle, the portable device that’s made reading on the go easier and lighter. “It obviously takes up way less space than a physical book, even though I read those too, and I can fill it with library books for free,” says Gordon. She recommends this model, the retailer’s lightest version yet, which features faster page turns and a higher contrast ratio.

Krajeski’s go-to is the Kindle Paperwhite, which boasts a glare-free display that’s one inch larger than the standard Kindle. 

“I recently fell back in love with my Amazon Kindle Paperwhite after realizing I could have all my library books delivered as e-books. Truly life-changing. Not kidding. Thank you to the Brooklyn Public Library system," says Krajeski. “While reading article after article about how no one reads anymore, it feels nice to flex my eyeballs. (And flex my, er, ability to read. Is that a flex? According to The Atlantic, it is.) Plus, it’s a great way to pass the time while traveling. On my way back from Europe, a couple of months ago, I devoured ‘Thick’ by Tressie McMillan Cottom. I’m currently reading ‘Station Eleven’ by Emily St. John Mandel. Next? ‘Yesteryear’ by Caro Claire Burke.”

Hotel room outlets aren’t always in a convenient location, and more often than not, they’re scattered about the space. Cue this travel extension cord that’s earned CR digital marketing specialist Yusuke Tomizawa’s seal of approval.

With three AC outlets, four USB ports, and a USB-C port that comes with different plug adapters, I could use it for international or domestic travel, so I always have enough outlets for charging all our devices, he says. 

A couple of years ago, I came off an international flight only to find out that my checked luggage was still stuck in the connecting city I flew from—something I knew thanks to my trusty Apple AirTags. Rather than idling at baggage claim, waiting for items that would never show up (something I’ve unfortunately experienced before), I was able to easily coordinate their return with the airline.

“I feel like I’m always yapping about AirTags, but whatever: I love them, deservedly so. I’m very moved by my own worries, and I like to know where all the important things I own are at any given time, so I’ve employed a bunch of AirTags to help,” says Krajeski. “I can count on both hands the number of times I’ve actually needed my AirTags, so feel free to laugh at me and move on with your life—but those few times I’ve needed my AirTags, they’ve saved me some serious heartache. Now I can laugh about it, too.”

Getting a solid snooze on a plane sometimes requires a little help. A great eye mask that can block out your neighbor’s reading light or the uncovered window across the aisle is a start. Khan recommends this cotton sleep mask, which features an adjustable nose bridge and five layers of breathable fabric to block light. 

On a recent red-eye flight, I sat near a boisterous individual who loudly conversed with his seatmate for far too many hours. I wish I had these ultra-soft foam earplugs to dull out some of the sound as I attempted to sleep.

“These from Mack’s are hardcore, with Noise Reduction Ratings (NRR) of 33 decibels, so you can truly clock out during that five-hour, cross-country flight,” says Krajeski. “Plus (and I’m extremely picky), these are actually comfortable—they don’t bug me at all when I use them.”

If you’re the sort of person who can’t be without your daily cup of coffee, this all-in-one device might be for you. The Cafflano Klassic combines a ceramic burr grinder, drip kettle, a filter, and an insulated tumbler all into one compact vessel.

“I use this for camping, but it would also fit neatly in a carry-on and ensure quality coffee wherever you have beans and hot water,” says Vreeland. “No disposable filters to worry about reordering, and it cleans easily.”

For more options, check out the best portable coffee makers from our evaluation.

“Instead of paying for a crappy airport water bottle, bring your own," says Krajeski. “Make sure it’s empty if you want to get it through TSA, then fill it up at the nearest water fountain. I love my Owala FreeSip.” 

Need more convincing? In our evaluations of the best water bottles, it earned the distinction of being the most versatile option. We found it was the easiest to open thanks to its push-pop lid and two spouts (large and small) with a removable straw. 

“I have a bigger and bulkier 40-ounce Owala FreeSip tumbler for home, but the 24-ounce FreeSip is easy to transport, its insulation keeps your water cold for hours on end, and its push-to-open lid keeps the important parts clean, especially when you’re in a place as dirty as an airport or a train,” adds Krajeski. “Plus, it comes in a bunch of fun colors. That said, mine is black. Sorry to disappoint.”

When traveling with kids, product marketing manager Nahrae Tinney won’t leave the house sans a pack of Clorox wipes and a roll of doggy bags. “You can use them to wipe down the seats, windows, trays, and screens on public transportation that your child refuses to stop touching. Also, the toilet in a public restroom. Doggy bags are small to carry around and great for throwing out stinky trash.”

The restroom kit is a travel must for UX visual designer Sharon Seidl. It’s comprised of all the essentials a bathroom trip might warrant—a toilet seat cover, three feet of toilet paper, and two wipes, one of which is an antibacterial hand wipe—plus the comfort of knowing you won’t be stuck in the uncomfortable situation of having to go without. 

For the hotel bathroom that lacks counter space, a hanging toiletry bag is essential. Tinney recommends this zippable option, part of a larger 10-piece packing cube set, made from waterproof material and featuring an easy-to-carry handle to boot. “I only use the toiletry bag and shoe bag, but they both come in very handy whether you’re at a campsite, or staying with lots of family and don’t want to clutter the bathroom counter.”

A quick hair revival on the go shouldn’t have to hinge on a shower. A dependable dry shampoo is an easy fix. “When I’m on the road or in the air, you can’t always get a fresh wash in before your destination. I love this dry shampoo because it’s a powder product, not an aerosol, so I don’t have to worry about packing it in my carry-on,” says shopping editor Mary Beth Quirk. “It’s my go-to for giving my hair volume and de-greasing my strands, even after a sweaty workout.”

In evaluating the best dry shampoos, most of our testers found this Klorane option very effective at absorbing oil. 

The next best thing to hauling a bottle of facial cleanser on your travels is these individually wrapped makeup remover wipes. “[These] are great for trips where I don’t want to bring liquid face wash, like flights where I just have a carry-on, or [when] camping,” says Vreeland. Thanks to their subdued scent and not-overly wet composition, Vreeland also prefers to use them as refreshing wipes.