Posts in Travel Gear
Mini-pharmacy

I’ve long carried a mini-pharmacy in my daypack, packed with small doses of common over-counter medicines for occasional use. Mosts are used to supply my companion travelers. I recently upgraded to a very compact container that takes up almost no room. The Portable Travel Pill Box ($4) can hold 10 different medicines, which I label with dosages. It is very handy, and goes with me everywhere my bag goes. — KK

Travel GearClaudia Dawson
Stuffable neck pillow doubles as extra luggage

My wife recently discovered a brilliant travel accessory — the EZ4UVOY stuffable neck pillow. It's a soft velvet neck pillow that you can fill with clothes or other soft items, giving you extra packing space without counting as additional carry-on luggage. You can fit 4-5 pieces of clothing inside, saving baggage fees. While it can get a bit heavy when fully packed, the pillow is comfortable to use on the plane once stuffed, and comes with a shoulder strap and a clip to keep it in a curved shape. — MF

Travel GearClaudia Dawson
Carry-on spinner

Whenever an old piece of luggage breaks, I replace it with a SwissGear model. I finally abandoned my 20-year-old Briggs & Riley because the zippers were all broken and I didn't like having to use both hands to extend the telescoping handle. I bought the latest version of the SwissGear carry-on for under $100. It's a lightweight, 360-degree four-wheeled spinner with two front pockets, a snap-on TSA liquids bag, and a mesh zipper compartment in the interior lid. It also has handles on the side and bottom, making it easy to pull out of stowage areas. We now have 7 pieces of SwissGear - three 21-inch models and four 25-inch check-in models. — MF

Travel GearClaudia Dawson
Lay flat makeup pouch

I try to keep my makeup routine as low-maintenance as possible and this lay-flat drawstring toiletry bag was the missing piece. The bag opens and expands to lay flat so I can see and find exactly what I want without rummaging or dumping everything out. I’m usually rushed when I decide to put on makeup and this saves me time and keeps my things from spilling on the floor. — CD

Travel GearClaudia Dawson
Multiple supercharger

We’ve recommended Anker superchargers before; they will charge phones and computer devices really fast. Now, even better is a four-slotted Anker 747 supercharger, which can handle three USB-C cords (the emerging universal standard plug) and one classic USB. This is ideal for traveling, particularly for more than one user, with multiple devices (phone, Kindle, watch, laptop).  I used to carry a homemade squid with multiple chargers from one outlet, but this fist-size cube is much more compact, simple, and faster. It can charge up to four devices in a jiffy. — KK

Pills on the go

This pill organizer is perfect for travel, but I also use it at home to organize my pills. It comes with seven boxes marked with the days of the week. Each box has two compartments for AM and PM. I take all my supplements in the morning, which allows me to organize my pills two weeks in advance. The seven boxes fit in a clear plastic case. On trips, I just bring the boxes I need. — MF

Titanium spork

Seven years ago, I bought a cheap, lightweight Toaks titanium spork. I take it with me whenever I travel. I use it rather than plastic cutlery when I eat in fast food restaurants or in my hotel room. It’s so durable that it still looks brand new. — MF

Ultra lightweight backpack

The goal of ultralight backpacking is to reduce the weight of your basic persistent stuff to under 10 pounds (4.5 kg). For hiking, the lighter your load, the more enjoyment. A key component to bringing the weight down is a super lightweight backpack. One of the lightest functional packs is the Zpack Nero 38 Liter, the one I use, which weighs 10.5 ounces (under 300 g). It’s a dry bag so no rain shell is needed. Empty, it will fold into a gallon Ziplock bag. — KK

Travel GearClaudia Dawson
Quick-dry travel pants

I own three pairs of Roark Explorer Adventure pants. They dry quickly in my hotel room after being washed. They feature a side zipper pocket for cell phones and passports, as well as a hidden back zipper pocket for wallets. I was in Carcassonne last week and warned that pickpockets were active there, so I was glad to have my belongings secured. — MF

Travel GearClaudia Dawson
Travel clothesline

I’ve used this Retractable Portable Clothesline in 4 different hotels and I highly recommend it. You never lose the clothespins since they are attached to an elastic cord. Positioning beads on the cord prevents clothing items from sliding along it. There are hooks on the ends of the cord instead of suction cups, so you’ll need to be creative to set it up, but I find a way every time. — MF

Travel GearClaudia Dawson
Better toiletry bag

I’ve searched high and low for the perfect size toiletry bag that could fit all of my makeup and hygiene stuff, and I finally found it in this ZEEMO Dopp Kit for Men ($18). It has a main compartment where I can fit larger items, 10 mesh pouches and 2 zippered pockets. None of the unisex or women’s toiletry bags that I came across were as useful or well-designed as this one. — CD

Packable caps

My new favorite hat to wear hiking is this Parapack P-CAP — an adjustable, foldable hat that is so breathable and lightweight it feels like I’m wearing nothing on my head. I love that it looks better than my other sun hats, and is less bulky. I just keep this in my purse now, because it’s so small. You can also fold it and use it as a pouch. — CD

Light-blocking eye mask

This $8 light-blocking eye mask is my go-to relaxation tool for long flights and drives and meditation and afternoon naps. It’s called a “Men’s Travel Comfort Eye Mask” but it’s one size fits all and has adjustable straps. What makes it better than other inexpensive eye masks is the ultra-soft ridge at the bottom of it that prevents any light from leaking in. This mask + noise-cancelling earbuds are the perfect tools for an at-home sensory-deprivation experience. — CD

Keychain flashlight

The Olight i3E is not the smallest keychain light. That is still the Photon, powered by a watch battery. But the Olight i3E is the smallest brightest light that runs on an easily available battery: the AAA. It’s the size of your pinky: 2 inches/6 cm long, and costs $10. One AAA will power it for years of occasional use, for when you need light more focused than a phone’s. (And I use a rechargeable AAA.) — KK

Travel GearClaudia Dawson
Packable mirror

This slim and portable mirror ($15) always comes in handy on trips, especially when only one bathroom is available for everyone or when I am getting ready and relegated to a room with no mirror. It has an adjustable stand and folds into its own protective cover so it won’t get crushed. It’s so slim and weighs only one pound which makes it easy to always pack it. — CD

Travel GearClaudia Dawson
Maximum baggage for basic economy

“Basic economy” is the cheapest way to fly on United. You don’t get to select your seat and you can’t check any bags or even bring a standard carry-on bag without paying extra. You are allowed one personal item, measuring 17x10x9” or less. That’s smaller than most backpacks and is an unusual size. Fortunately, Aerolite makes a bag measuring 16x10x8” (called the 16 Inch Aerolite Carry On Hand Luggage Flight Duffle Bag) and it’s big enough for a couple of changes of clothes, toiletries, electronics, and a laptop. — MF

Best travel pillow

My 22-year-old daughter used this Ralthy inflatable travel pillow ($17) to snag 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep on a recent flight to Singapore. You set the pillow on your meal tray or your lap and lean forward into it, placing your head in the hole, like you would on a massage chair. I just bought another so I can use it on an upcoming flight to Japan. — MF

Travel GearClaudia Dawson