The best gifts for travelers

We all have those friends or family members who just can’t sit still. They’re always off jaunting around the country or even the world. And while traveling is fun and rewarding, it can also be a grind, especially if that travel schedule includes ample work trips or hectic holiday transfers. The best travel gifts provide endless utility without taking up a ton of space in a bag. They’re durable goods built to endure the rigors of the road. And most importantly, they enhance the travel experience. So, these are the best gifts for frequent travelers, whether it’s a camera to capture unforgettable moments or noise-canceling headphones to block out the screaming baby in seat 17G.

Best noise-canceling headphones: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e

Whether for keeping your sanity or keeping in touch, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones is essential for travelers who want to drown out the sounds of babies crying, engines whirring, or chatty passengers exchanging life stories. Bowers & Wilkins’ Px7 S2e Bluetooth headphones are those headphones. The Px7 S2e headphones sound phenomenal, offering a surprising amount of sonic depth whether you’re listening to the latest singles, throwback jams, or spoken word content like audiobooks or podcasts. Similarly, their active noise cancellation performance is excellent, blocking out unwanted sound without impacting your audio quality very much. And, with their integrated microphones and sleek profile (available in Anthracite Black, Cloud Grey, Ocean Blue, and the all-new Forest Green, shown here), you can join in a video conference with friends, family, or coworkers from anywhere and look and sound great doing so. All of this is thanks to newly evolved 24-bit DSP and a refined acoustic tuning of the custom-designed, optimally angled 40mm drive units trickled down from the impossibly luxe, leather-bound B&W Px8 flagship ANC wireless headphones (an upgrade featuring exclusive ultra-high-resolution carbon drive units that extract that extra last ounce of sonic extension and engagement). The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e headphones sound so good you’ll wonder how you ever traveled without them.

Best noise-cancelling earbuds: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Not everybody likes over-ear headphones, so if you’re shopping for a traveler who loves earbuds, you’re in luck. Bose’s 2023 flagship QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have noise-cancelling performance similar, or in some ways superior to an over-ear pair (and Bose makes an incredibly comfortable, effective pair of those, too). Bose’s tuning blocks out so much noise across the entire spectrum, not just those standard whirs and rumbles, that you may not need to listen to audio at all if you’re trying to block out a consistent sound, like an airplane engine. But an energetic tuning and features like the new Immersive Audio, which applies spatial processing to expand the soundstage of any source regardless of format, ensure that these are no mere earplugs. They may not be able to match the audio quality of Bowers & Wilkins’ headphones, but they sound excellent for a pair of earbuds and should please even a traveling audiophile temporarily away from their home system.

Best wall charger: Satechi GaN Travel Charger

The best gifts for travelers can be used on a trip or at home, and Satechi’s SaN Travel Charger is the perfect example. The four-port USB-C charger can output up to 145W of power—either sent to one port or distributed between multiple ports—enough to charge laptops and smaller gadgets at their fastest speeds. The Travel Charger comes with interchangeable adapters for U.S., European, U.K., Asian, and Australian outlets. These plugs get attached to the charger itself rather than connecting on top of the U.S. prongs, which reduces bulk and provides a more direct connection to the wall outlet. This is a simple tech accessory, but one that any traveler can use domestically and abroad to keep all their gadgets topped up at top speeds.

Best gift for frequent travelers: MLVOC 100% Pure Memory Foam Neck Pillow

Sleeping in coach can be super uncomfortable, and those tiny pillows most airlines provide don’t help. A frequent traveler can always use a pillow to rest on, particularly when stuck waiting forever at the departure gate. If they don’t want to lug one of the memory-foam headrests on their bed at home through airports, a neck pillow will serve as a good substitute in a pinch. This travel pillow is curved to fit your neck and stop your head from falling forward while you’re drifting off into dreamland. It comes with a sleep mask and earbuds to ensure a comfortable slumber.

Best for mobile workers: Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk Kit

We’d all prefer to travel exclusively for pleasure, but some folks have to hit the road to work. Logitech’s Casa Pop-Up Desk is a kit that includes a Bluetooth keyboard and Bluetooth trackpad, which fit neatly into a case that can be folded to transform into a laptop stand. This allows travelers to create an ergonomic work desk setup anywhere they go, and the system works remarkably well. The keyboard and trackpad are compatible with Windows, ChromeOS, and macOS, while the stand can accommodate laptops with screens up to 17 inches wide.

We were skeptical about this tool, but it’s earned a permanent spot in our backpack when going on work trips. The stand elevates the laptop enough that using a computer in a hotel room for an extended period doesn’t lead to neck pain. The keyboard’s keys have enough compression that our fingers don’t hurt after typing on them, and the trackpad works remarkably well on macOS. Additional design features, including a closed compartment inside for holding chargers or cables and a flexible strap that keeps the system securely closed while traveling, are icing on the cake.

Best gift for business travelers: Wooden Pens Set with Pen Gift Case

Even those who are not letter-writing types and aren’t inclined to buy postcards, much less write messages on them and mail them, will find themselves in situations where they need a pen. They especially come in handy when it’s time to fill out the landing card upon arrival in a new country. This three-piece set includes a ballpoint, gel, and fountain pen, as well as refills. They all come in a stylish wooden box designed to make business travelers look extra classy and professional.

Best translator: Vasco V4 Language Translator Device

Traveling to a new country can be intimidating if you don’t know the language, but Vasco’s V4 can solve that problem once and for all. The device, which looks like a smartphone, can translate between 108 languages by speaking into it. Translations will be displayed on its five-inch display. Text and photo translations can also be translated win 90 and 108 languages, respectively. The V4 works over Wi-Fi but can connect to cellular satellites in roughly 200 countries. Cellular connectivity is free for the device’s lifetime, so there’s no monthly or one-time fee you have to pay while traveling. Vasco says the V4 is dust-proof, shock-proof, and water-resistant, so it should hold up in the face of minor accidents. The company says it can last for roughly five days per charge, but the amount you get will depend on how often you use it.

Best gift for tired travelers: Loftie Sleep Mask

If you can only sleep with ambient noise in the background, you most likely love taking a quick snooze on the plane. And, it’s hard not to when you have that gentle whirring happening for six hours total. An eyemask is great for daytime flights or at night when someone has their reading light on. This one from Loftie—the same company behind our favorite sunrise alarm clock that doubles as a lamp—is made out of orange silk and includes interior eye pockets to relieve eye pressure and protect eyelashes. The head strap is comfortable, very stretchy, and won’t fall off while you’re sleeping. Getting some shut-eye on your red-eye never looked so good. You don’t need real-world travel anxiety to enjoy an eyemask, however; this makes a great stress-relief gift for anyone who needs to pull into the relaxation station.

Best checked luggage: Monos Expandable Check-In Medium

Hardside luggage may add more weight to check-in allowances than a fabric suitcase (10.1 pounds in the case of this suitcase), but it’s more durable and less likely to be ruined by airport personnel who load and unload luggage. In addition to the durability benefit, the Monos Expandable Check-In Medium has plenty of features to recommend it. Its namesake feature allows you to add a couple of inches to its width (and 14 Liters to its carrying capacity) by unzipping one of its zippers. Traditionally, you’d have to choose the size of your check-in bag wisely, but this design makes a single piece of luggage appropriate for a one- to two-week trip, even if you’re packing bulkier items.

Opening up the bag reveals plenty of zippered pockets for organization, plus a zippered panel on one side and a cover panel with compression straps on the other. A TSA-approved triple-digit lock ensures the checked bag Expandable Check-In Medium stays closed en route but is accessible if necessary. Picking which bag to take on a trip can be frustrating, but Monos’ Expandable Check-In Medium will give the traveler in your life a single, simple choice for longer journeys.

Best carry-on luggage for travelers: Aer Carry-On

If all goes well, a carry-on bag will be with you from when you depart to when you arrive, so it’s critical to use the right one. Aer’s Carry-On is a luxe choice, but it has some features you won’t find elsewhere. This includes a physical switch, which locks the Carry-On’s wheels to prevent it from rolling around on uneven surfaces. We’ve tested this on planes and boats and are pleased to report it works very well. The luggage is made from rigid materials, including a zipper that Aer says is three times more durable than the ones typically used on carry-ons. Our biggest takeaway from using Aer’s Carry-On is the wheels’ smoothness—a glorious glide on even surfaces. If the person you gift it to has to dart through the airport to make a connection, this luggage won’t slow them down.

We were also pleased with how much gear we could fit in the Carry-On. There are multiple zippered pockets on the inside of the bag, with a compression system on one side and a fully zippered compartment on the other. Light packers traveling to warm places could fit a week’s worth of clothes in the Carry-On with no issue. In the event that you have to gate-check your bag (a more common occurrence these days), a three-digit TSA-approved lock ensures the Carry-On remains secure in transit. If you’re shopping for a traveler insistent on never checking a bag again, Aer’s Carry-On is the upgrade they’ve been waiting for.

Best luggage tracker: Apple AirTag

Apple developed AirTags to help you track down lost items, and this is particularly handy for travelers whose luggage has gone missing. The small tracker can fit into any small pocket and will allow you to track your luggage as it moves from one place to another (or doesn’t). Apple hardware is often locked down to their platform, but not in this case: The AirTag can be set up and managed with Apple or Android devices.

Best for gamers: Nintendo Switch OLED Model

One of the only frustrating parts about traveling is getting to and from your destination, and one of the best ways to pass the time is playing video games. The Nintendo Switch OLED Model is the ideal gift for travelers who want to disassociate for a few hours on a plane, train, or bus. The slim video game system has an incredible library of titles from both well known and indie developers, so there’s something for every type of gamer to play. One of the Nintendo Switch OLED Model’s best features for travelers is its kickstand, which allows you to prop the console up on an airplane tray table rather than holding it in your hands. Each of the included Joy Con controllers can be used independently, which means people traveling in pairs can pass the time with their fellow traveler.

Best for readers: Kindle Paperwhite

If the traveler you’re shopping for prefers books to games, Amazon’s newly released Kindle Paperwhite is the best gift. This updated model has a larger seven-inch screen and can show a new page 25 percent faster than previous versions. Both of these improvements make a big difference when reading digital books. The Paperwhite retains all the features that make the Kindle a top-tier e-reader, including a battery that lasts weeks between charges, enough storage to hold thousands of digital books, and an e-ink display that won’t show a strong reflection of the sun when reading outside. The best part is that owners of previous Kindles can easily sync their entire digital book library to the new device. Their place in every book will be synced too, so there’s no worry about losing their place. Bookworms who travel—or even commute daily—will find the Kindle Paperwhite a must-have gadget.

Best weekender bag: Line of Trade Weekender

The perfect bag for short-term trips can be an elusive find indeed. How large is too large, and how small is too small? That answer is in the eye of the traveler’s beholder, but Lien of Trade’s Weekender Classic is the one we recommend. The cotton canvas bag is durable, large enough to fit a few days’ worth of clothes or accessories, and has dedicated slots for laptops. The reinforced frame keeps the Weekender from toppling over as it is being packed, and two straps ensure it stays closed in transit. Flexibility is one of the Weekender’s biggest strengths and is typified by its removable shoulder strap, which offers an alternative to carrying the bag by its built-in handles. Little touches, like the rigidity of the Weekender’s construction, set it apart from similarly sized bags and it will become the go-to long bag for your giftee’s long weekend trips.

Best backpack: TIMBUK2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe

Every traveler needs a good backpack regardless of whether they’re adventuring through land, air, or sea, and we highly recommend the Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe from Timbuk2. Its shoulder straps are well padded, which makes it easy to carry for extended periods of time, and there are plenty of pockets for a laptop, tablet, chargers, accessories, snacks, and anything else you might need to bring with you. We’re also pleased that the backpack is largely made from recycled materials without sacrificing durability.

Best travel toiletry kit: Convenience Kits International Assembled Necessities Travel Kit

Packing can be a drag, especially when you have to shove oversized toiletries into a miniature bag. A 21-item kit that comes with a selection of sampler-size toiletries packed and ready to go can take that particularly annoying ritual out of the travel prep process. This fabulously unisex, toiletry travel kit, which makes an excellent travel gift for men as well as women, includes everything a person might need to remain well-groomed while away for a few days. It’s all TSA-compliant, too, so if they stuff this into their overhead luggage, they won’t have to worry about size restrictions. Of course, they’ll have to replace the items when they run out, but this kit, which comes with a stylish travel bag, will give frequent jet setters a good start.

Best “travel alarm clock”: Echo Spot

High-impact sound can be hard to come by on the road, and the Echo Spot can give music lovers great tunes and excellent audio with just a simple “Hey, Alexa” command. As an added bonus, it includes an alarm clock so travelers with early departure times won’t have to depend on wake-up calls or the natural body clock. The Spot has a display, which can show the time, weather, and other relevant information at a glance. This is an advantage over the Echo Dot, which could only show the time.

The Spot’s built-in speaker will sound way better than your tinny phone alarm(s). And, back home, this device also can be used to control compatible smart devices. While rocking out to a favorite playlist and getting dressed for dinner, just issue a command to Alexa to turn on a light so your house doesn’t appear to be vacant all night.

Best battery pack: Anker Prime Power Bank

Nobody wants to realize their phone, tablet, or game console is about to run out of juice in the middle of a trip, which is why the traveler in your life needs Anker’s Prime Power Bank. The 9,600mAh battery pack has two USB-C ports, can fully recharge a smartphone once, and can extend the life of a tablet or computer for a couple of hours. Battery packs are everywhere, but the Prime Power Bank has two features travelers will appreciate. First, it has a plug built into it so that it can be connected directly to an outlet. For domestic trips, this means the Prime Power Bank can top off your devices both in your hotel room and on the go. Anker says the Prime Power Bank is powerful enough to recharge a 14-inch MacBook Pro’s battery to 50 percent in 32 minutes, which is pretty impressive. Second, its display will show you exactly how much juice is left, so you know whether it’s charged before taking the trip. If you’re shopping for someone who always returns from their vacation with tales of battery anxiety, this is the gift to give.