Our Favorite Gear
We’ve tested a lot of gear over the years
These are some of our favorites items.
Disclosure: We only recommend products that we have used ourselves. All opinions expressed here are our own.
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Featured Favorite
Osprey Waterproof Dry Sack (6L)
This bag goes with me on every trip in the “just in case” category. I’ll use the 6 liter bag to line my daybag when I’m unsure about weather. If I’m spending the day on the water I’ll roll it up with a bit of air for buoyancy and clip it around my hip bag to keep it secure. While tubing or kayaking my car keys and wallet stay perfectly dry!
Dry sacks pack completely flat, so you don’t need to sacrifice any precious space! As a bonus - use it as a backpacking ‘washing machine.’ Add a your dirty laundry, water, and suds, then secure the top and agitate. Rinse the laundry and bag, then hang on your travel clothes line to dry.
Osprey offers dry sacks in several colors between 3 and 35 liters — dial it in to find the right bag for you!
AirFly Pro Bluetooth Adapter
This small device makes a huge difference in my ability to enjoy flights. I’ve been using it for a few years now, and I can’t see myself flying without it. I prefer the Pro version so James and I can play the Nintendo Switch and we can use it in rental cars as an aux adapter.
In Flight Comforts
Power Bank
A decent power bank is always a valuable tool while traveling. Airplane USB ports and outlets aren’t guaranteed to work. A power bank will keep your gear topped off so you can arrive to your destination with a full charge on your favorite devices.
Apple Airpods Pro
I adore my Airpods Pro when I travel. The battery life is impressive, and the noise cancellation helps me get an escape from airplane and other travel noises for some moments of peace.
Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
I have sensitive ears and earbuds tend to hurt after a short while, so I to opt for a pair of over the ear headphones. Anna bought me a pair of these Sony headphones and they have gone with me on every trip since. The noise canceling on these bad boys is incredible, which lets be in my own world without having to listen to the screaming baby in seat 22C.
Sea to Summit Inflatable Travel Pillow
I’ve been lugging a travel pillow around the world for many years now, but this one from Sea to Summit is the last one I’ll use. Its inflatable design lets me adjust how firm it is, and when it’s deflated it’s barely bigger than a deck of playing cards, meaning it doesn’t take up a ton of space.
trtl Travel Pillow
The trtl is the only travel pillow that allows me to rest on the road pain-free. It’s not like classic travel pillows - the flexible frame is wrapped in a soft fabric and stows away in my backpack easily. Since it is fairly flat it takes up very little space, and you won’t find it bouncing around on the outside of my backpack like I often see with classic travel pillows.
Loop Experience Earplugs
Loop Earplugs are one of the best things I’ve added to my Carry On Kit in the last year. There are several variations of Loop with different colors and different ranges of noise blocking capability. These include a set of inserts that can adjust noise blocking from simple plane noise to music festivals at 18-23dB!
Manta Sleep Mask
My Manta Sleep Mask was a gift from James since he knows I have trouble sleeping in bright spaces. This mask has been so great. The adjustable eye pads don’t put pressure on your eyelids, and they completely black out light. These have been great on planes, in hotels, even camping!
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
This Kindle is a powerhouse - It charges via USB-C or wirelessly, uses a Bluetooth connection for audiobooks, has a comfortable auto-backlight with warmth adjustment and dark mode, and it is waterproof for up to an hour for some poolside reading this summer.
This is a current favorite of mine, as I just traded in my 12-year old Kindle 5E and applied a whopping $43 toward the purchase of the Paperwhite. This is an excellent travel accessory!
The Flight Flap
The Flight Flap is a personal favorite! It is bendable and lightweight, and it easily tucks into a seatback without disturbing the person seated in front of you. Don’t worry about holding your phone up or getting a crick in your neck.
Hydro Flask Water Bottle
It's important to stay hydrated while traveling, and carrying a water bottle with you will save you money instead of paying airport prices for bottled water. Not to mention it reduces your consumption of single-use plastic, so, win-win. I like this one from Hydro Flask because it's insulated, fits easily into cup holders and backpack pockets, and it's narrower mouth means I don't spill water on myself when I try to drink from it.
Hydration
14 oz Nalgene Water Bottle
This 14 ounce (~400 mL) water bottle is my favorite travel bottle. This size is perfect for stowing in a backpack side pocket, in any of the compartments, and in a seatback. It can fit in a bag as small as a fanny pack, as I recently discovered. And, most importantly, it gives me a new place to showcase my stickers.
GRAYL GeoPress 24 oz Water Purifier Bottle
This water bottle has been perfect for traveling in areas where water purity might be a concern. We’ve brought this bottle to India and Mexico. Simply fill the filter reservoir and press the bottle body over the filter. The pressure forces water through the filtration system and into the bottle.
Apple Airtags (4 pack)
In the last two years AirTags have become a travel standard for me. I have 4 tags: One for each checked bag, my carry on, and my personal item. It’s not a foolproof tracking or anti-theft system, but it offers some peace of mind at a fair price.
TIP: Name and emoji-label the tags in a way only you can recognize. Avoid labels like ‘Camera Bag’ to keep a low profile.
Tracking & Security
Samsung Galaxy SmartTags
I’m a Samsung boy, and I know there might be one or two others out there as well. AirTags might not work for us, but Samsung has us covered with their version of a wireless tracking device. This helps me keep tabs on where my camera bag, my carry on, and my checked bag might be. In fact, when our checked bags got left behind n Toronto, I was able to pinpoint exactly were my luggage was in the airport and help the staff find it and get it home.
Lip Balm
I don’t use lip balm very often during a normal day, but I make sure to have some when I’m flying, because the dry air at cruising altitude causes lips to chap and crack really easily. My favorite ones are from the Savannah Bee Company. They’re made from high quality ingredients to keep your lips moisturized, and they come in a variety of fun flavors (I’ve become fond of the Sweet Tea flavor, don’t @ me).
Freshen Up
Toothpaste Tablets
If I’m spending 18+ hours getting to my destination, there will most likely come a point where I’m going to want to brush my teeth to help me feel refreshed. Recently I’ve been preferring to bring toothpaste tablets, mainly due to the fact that they do not count towards liquid restrictions. And paired with a lightweight travel toothbrush, they’ll take up so little space you might forget you have them (but please don’t actually forget).
Waterproof Soap Bags
Switching away from liquids can save you some headache in the airport security line, but bars of soap and shampoo are wet and slippery after you used them, and storing them can get kind of gross. I discovered these waterproof soap bags from Matador a few years ago and my soap woes are no more. They’re made of a waterproof breathable material, similar to a high performance rain jacket, so bars of soap can actually dry out WHILE THEY’RE SEALED INSIDE THE BAG! 🤯 I just slip those nasty boys in there when I’m done using them, and by the time I’m ready to shower again they’re nice and dry.
Bags and Backpacks
Cotopaxi Allpa 35L
Anyone that knows me knows that over the past several years I've been on the hunt for the ideal carry-on bag. Now that I've found the Cotopaxi Allpa lineup, that hunt is indefinitely on hold! This travel pack comes in three different sizes to fit trips of any length (all three sizes are carry-on sized, but if you stuff the 42 liter to the max you might catch some side-eye from the stingier gate agents), not to mention a myriad of fun colors! These packs open like a book and pack like a suitcase, giving you two large compartments to fit all your stuff (might I suggest some packing cubes to help keep you organized?). Top it off with a large pocket for toiletries and other loose items & laptop AND tablet sleeves, and you've got a pretty sweet all-in-one package. But what really sets this apart for me is the little things: The shoulder straps unbuckle and tuck behind the back panel, protecting them from snagging and breaking, especially if you (gasp!) have to check your bag. There are several lash points on the outside to clip a shoulder strap or other dangly things, and there's a grab handle on all four sides of the bag. One of the neatest things that I've come to appreciate is the zipper security loops. Passing the zippers under these loops will keep someone from snatching the zipper open and grabbing something really quick, without having to worry about TSA cutting your lock off or remembering the combination.
Osprey Waterproof Dry Sack (6L)
This bag goes with me on every trip in the “just in case” category. I’ll use the 6 liter bag to line my daybag when I’m unsure about weather. If I’m spending the day on the water I’ll roll it up with a bit of air for buoyancy and clip it around my hip bag to keep it secure. While tubing or kayaking my car keys and wallet stay perfectly dry!
Dry sacks pack completely flat, so you don’t need to sacrifice any precious space! As a bonus - use it as a backpacking ‘washing machine.’ Add a your dirty laundry, water, and suds, then secure the top and agitate. Rinse the laundry and bag, then hang on your travel clothes line to dry.
Osprey offers dry sacks in several colors between 3 and 35 liters — dial it in to find the right bag for you!
Stuff
Packtowl Microfiber Travel Towel
These are essential! I’ve found myself using this on every trip. Not all Airbnb’s include linens, so it pays to be prepared. In hotels with towels included, we roll our clean clothes in these microfiber towels after washing them in the Scrubba and both the clothes and towels are dry by morning. They come in several sizes and pack up SUPER small!
Scrubba Wash Bag
When we’re away for more than a week, we bring the Scrubba! It’s a dry sack designed especially for doing laundry on the road. The nubs inside help wash the clothes as you agitate the bag. There is twist port for easy draining. The Scrubba packs ups up flat and fits perfectly in the back of your backpack or luggage.
Earthbreeze Laundry Sheets
Keep a few sheets in a zip bag. When it’s time for a traveler’s laundry session throw a piece in the Scrubba with your laundry and get to work! A light weight, affordable combo for managing laundry on the road.
