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. 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, whether it’s a camera to capture unforgettable moments or noise-canceling headphones to block out the screaming baby in seat 17G, these are the best gifts for frequent travelers.

Best camera for capturing adventures: GoPro HERO12 Black

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Travel photos and videos have come a long way from the days of clunky camcorders and finicky film cameras. GoPro’s flagship action camera can capture 4K and even 5.3K video to preserve every last detail of a journey. The built-in HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization provides an almost unbelievably steady frame, even if you want to shoot while walking or running (with or without bulls chasing you through the streets of Spain). High-res screens on the front and back of the camera make navigating menus, frame shots, and review footage easy. The HERO12 Black is waterproof to a depth of 33 feet without an external case, so it can go tons of places that your smartphone camera can’t. We recommend pairing it with GoPro’s new Extension Pole + Waterproof Shutter Remote, which extends from 10 inches all the way out to 48 inches to offer some truly unique angles. You’ll come home from your trip with a clutch of HDR videos and photos you’ll want to revisit instead of letting them rot in your cloud storage forever.

Best noise-canceling headphones: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e

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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 (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

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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: UGREEN 45W Dual USB C Wall Charger

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This charger may be lightweight at 3.35 ounces, but it’s got plenty of power and works with a wide range of devices, making it a perfect travel companion. This 45-watt charger can top off your devices to at least 72 percent capacity within an hour. Its two USB-C ports work with everything from the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the MacBook Air M2 to the Samsung S22 Ultra (though you’ll also need a 5A USB-C to C cable for the latter). And its safety features that protect against over-voltage and overheating are ideal for international travel.

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

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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 gift for world travelers: Safest Travel Adapter Kit

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There are few inconveniences of international travel more frustrating than arriving in a new country and not being able to use your electronics in your hotel or Airbnb because the plugs won’t fit into the wall outlets. This travel adaptor kit has six different adaptors that cover pretty much the entire globe, as well as a main unit that can accommodate two USB and two plug items so you can use one kit to power four different devices. The adapters fit into an opening in the main unit. Surge protection and a voltage indicator protect your electronics from unexpected acts of electricity, and it’s usable with most kinds of electronics, as long as the devices are dual voltage. A travel pouch keeps everything in one place, and the set is lightweight, so it won’t add much bulk to carry-on luggage.

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

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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

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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. You can also get text and photo translations in 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 lifetime of the device, 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 be dependant on how often you use it.

Best gift for tired travelers: Loftie Sleep Mask

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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 that needs to pull into the relaxation station.

Best checked luggage: Travelpro Platinum Elite

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Hardside luggage may add more weight to check-in allowances than a fabric suitcase (12.3 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 Travelpro Platinum Elite also looks incredible. It features self-aligning magnetic wheels to ensure easy mobility and a TSA-compatible lock. You’ll pay more for little details like its genuine leather trim and overall build quality, but using this checked bag will give you the person you gift it to a taste of first-class travel even if they’ve got an economy ticket.

Best carry-on luggage for travelers: Monos Hybrid Carry-On Traveler

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If all goes well, a carry-on bag will be with you from the moment you depart to the moment you arrive, which is why it’s critical to use the right one. Monos’ Hybrid Carry-On Traveler can spin in 360-degrees, and we’ve had no problem zigging and zagging around while testing it out. The bag’s reinforced corners will come in handy if you’re carrying something fragile and need to gate-check your bag. Even little details, like how easy it is to extend and collapse the bag’s handle, feel great. We’re also pleased with the Hybrid Carry-On’s locking mechanism, which is easy to open when you have the code and secure if you don’t. Simply put, Monos’ Hybrid Carry-On Plus offers the perfect balance of elegance and engineering, which makes it a fantastic gift.

Best luggage tracker: Apple AirTag

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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 weekender bag: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Carry-on Weekender

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The perfect bag for short-term trips can be an elusive find indeed. How large is too large and how small is too small? Only the travel gods know for sure, but Travelpro’s 19-inch weekender bag can hold enough gear to get you through three to four days on the road. It has a water-resistant outer coating, ergonomic zipper pulls, and recycled inner lining for easy cleanup in case of spills. This weekender has multiple compartments, so you can segment your gear for easy access, and a cutout strap around the back, which allows you to easily secure the bag to a piece of luggage. If you’re shopping for someone who’s into taking weekend trips, this is the ultimate gift.

Best backpack: TIMBUK2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe

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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 backpack is largely made from recycled materials without sacrificing durability.

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

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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 Dot w/ Clock (5th Gen)

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High-impact sound can be hard to come by on the road, and the Echo Dot 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. It’s 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 733 Power Bank

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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 773 Power Bank. The 10,000mAh battery pack can fully recharge a smartphone once, and extend the life of a tablet or computer for a couple of hours. Power banks are ubiquitous at this point, but the 733 stands out because it’s also a multi-port charger that can be used to top up to three devices when it’s plugged into an outlet. These two functions are what make Anker’s 733 a great gift for travelers when they’re at home and on the go.