Gear worth
travelling with.

The benchmark hard-shell case. Rolls better than anything else at this price, the aluminium frame survives checked baggage handling, and the TSA-approved lock is genuinely useful. The 36L size passes cabin baggage on most European airlines. Yes it's expensive — but it's a 10-year purchase, not a 3-year one.

The sensible alternative to spending €600 on a case. Robust polypropylene shell, smooth dual-wheel system, and a 10-year warranty that Samsonite actually honours. Available in a wide range of sizes. The 55cm cabin version fits the overhead locker on Lufthansa, British Airways, and most full-service carriers.

The gold standard backpacking bag. Passes as cabin baggage on most airlines, has a lockable zipper compartment, and the back panel ventilation system makes carrying it for 8 hours genuinely tolerable. The padded hip belt transfers weight off your shoulders. A 40L bag that packs like a 50L one.

Specifically designed to meet Ryanair and easyJet's restrictive personal item dimensions. The only bag that reliably fits under the seat without the gate agent pulling you aside. Not glamorous — but it saves you €40 in cabin bag fees every single flight. For frequent budget airline travellers, this pays for itself in one trip.

Costs €9. Saves €80+ in excess baggage fees on the first trip it catches an overweight bag. Hang it from the handle and lift — digital readout in 2 seconds. Every frequent traveller owns one. The question is whether you buy it before or after your first excess baggage charge.

A retractable steel cable that loops through multiple zippers and locks with a TSA-approved combination. More versatile than a single padlock — secures the whole bag to a fixed point in a hostel, not just the zip. The retractable cable stores compactly in the bag when not in use.

20L hits the sweet spot between capacity and packability. Compresses into its own pocket when empty, so it takes almost no space in your main luggage. When you need it, it unfolds into a proper structured daypack with a padded laptop sleeve and comfortable straps. The Osprey lifetime guarantee is real and useful.

The anti-theft crossbody bag that doesn't look like an anti-theft crossbody bag. Cut-resistant straps, lockable zippers, RFID-blocking pocket — all hidden behind a clean design that works for both city exploring and evening dinners. The 8L capacity is enough for a day out without feeling like you're carrying a bag.

A proper dry bag that doubles as a day pack. Genuinely waterproof (not just water-resistant) — your camera, phone, and passport stay dry during boat trips, kayaking, or walking in tropical downpours. Rolls down to seal and has comfortable shoulder straps. Essential for beach-heavy or water sports trips.

The packing cubes that converted everyone who said they didn't need packing cubes. Ultralight (37g each), see-through mesh top so you instantly know what's inside, and compression zipper to reduce bulk. One cube per clothing category — tops, bottoms, underwear/socks — and repacking takes 3 minutes instead of 15.

Unlike standard packing cubes, compression cubes actually reduce volume — the double-zip compresses clothing by up to 60%. Best for bulky items: fleeces, jumpers, jeans. Noticeably cheaper than Eagle Creek with only a small drop in quality. A good option if you want compression over ultralight weight.

Hangs from any hook or towel rail — useful in hotel bathrooms where counter space is nonexistent. See-through pockets for quick security checks, and at 74g it adds almost nothing to your bag weight. The clip hook has never failed in 3+ years of regular travel.

A washboard inside a dry bag. Fill with water and soap, add clothes, roll shut and scrub for 3 minutes — clean clothes without a laundromat. Life-changing for backpackers and anyone on trips longer than 10 days. Also works as a dry bag when not in laundry mode. Weighs 145g.

Our own luggage tag — designed to be functional and beautiful. QR code links to your personal page where you control your contact details. Update your phone number without reprinting. A finder scans the code and reaches you instantly. Available as a classic vCard tag (free) or Living QR on Etsy.

Covers every plug type in the world including Type G (UK), Type A/B (USA/Japan), Type I (Australia). Two USB-A and one USB-C port built in so you charge multiple devices without a separate hub. More reliable than cheap universal adapters that arc and overheat. Buy it once, own it for a decade.

The sweet spot between capacity and portability. 10,000mAh charges most phones 2.5 times and easily fits in a jacket pocket. USB-C PD charges both your phone and the power bank itself. Anker's reliability record over 10 years of making these is exceptional. The 10000 is more practical than the 20000 for daily carry.

Replaces your laptop charger, phone charger, and tablet charger with a single device the size of a standard plug. GaN technology runs cooler and smaller than old-style chargers. 65W on the USB-C port charges a MacBook or laptop. Genuinely the most space-efficient charging solution available.

The best noise-cancelling headphones for travel, consistently. Folds flat, 30h battery, class-leading ANC that makes long-haul flights and noisy trains genuinely comfortable. The microphone quality for calls is noticeably better than any other travel headphone. Expensive — but if you fly more than 4 times a year, worth every cent.

Zero liquid, zero plastic, zero spillage. One bar replaces a 250ml bottle and lasts 80+ washes. Passes carry-on security without going in the liquids bag. Available in formulas for every hair type. Ethique's bars are concentrated and genuinely effective — not a compromise for travellers, a genuine upgrade.

Chewable toothpaste tablets — no liquid, no tube, no mess. 60 tablets = 2 months of twice-daily brushing. Pack 15 tablets in a tiny tin for a week's trip. Passes security without a thought. Works as well as regular toothpaste once you're used to the format. Also eliminates a plastic tube from every trip.

The best refillable travel bottles for anything that isn't solid. Squeezable silicone, no dripping valve, TSA-compliant 60ml. Fill them with your actual products from home instead of buying expensive travel-size versions. The GoToob's valve design genuinely doesn't leak — which is not true of cheaper alternatives.

Memory foam that actually supports your neck rather than slowly deflating for 8 hours. The shape keeps your head from falling forward when you fall asleep in a seat. Expensive for a travel pillow, but if you've ever woken up with a painful neck on a long flight, you understand exactly what you're paying for.

Foam earplugs work but fall out. Loop Quiet sit in the ear like earphones and stay put through 8 hours of sleep. 27dB noise reduction — enough for aircraft cabin noise, hostel dorms, and noisy hotel rooms. Reusable, washable, and small enough to live permanently in your wallet. The single most underrated travel purchase.

DVT (deep vein thrombosis) risk on flights over 4 hours is real, particularly in window seats where getting up is less frequent. Medical-grade compression at 15–20mmHg keeps circulation moving and reduces the ankle swelling that makes the last hour of a long flight uncomfortable. Worth it from your first long-haul flight.

The best travel compact camera currently available. 18–50mm equivalent zoom, flip screen for vlogging, and a sensor that performs genuinely well in low light. The key selling point for travel: it fits in a large jacket pocket. You'll take it to dinner, to the beach, and on hikes that you'd leave an SLR behind for.

Waterproof to 10m without a case, mounts to anything, and shoots 5.3K video. The Enduro battery finally gives reasonable battery life (previous Hero models were frustrating on this). For skiing, snorkelling, cycling, and anywhere a regular camera would be at risk — GoPro remains the benchmark.

Memory cards fail at the worst possible moments. Bring two cards rather than one large one — if one fails, you've only lost half your photos. SanDisk's Extreme Pro has a proven track record of reliability in professional and travel use. 256GB is enough for a 2-week trip of mixed photos and video without worrying.