Packing the right travel gear can make or break a trip. Over the years, we’ve tested countless travel essentials—from backpacks to power banks, to comfy shoes, to must-have organizers.
Some were total game-changers, while others didn’t live up to the hype. In this guide, we’re sharing our absolute favorite travel products from our Travel Makes Me Happy Team —the ones we personally use and swear by on every adventure.
Note: We may earn a small commission if you purchase through our affiliate links (at no extra cost to you), but rest assured, every item on this list is something we genuinely love and recommend. Also, as an amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases there.
☀️Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a month-long journey, these tried-and-true essentials will help you travel smarter, lighter, and more comfortably.
Recommended Travel Backpacks:
We have tried many travel backpacks and these are our favorites!
Wandf Travel Backpack
Hynes Eagle Travel Backpack 40L
Taygeer Travel Backpack
Zomake Lightweight Packable Backpack
Favorite Flight Travel Gear:
When we fly there are a few must-bring items that we recommend! These favorites are usually with us on a flight.
Favorite Travel Pillow
Favorite Packable Water Bottle
Absolute Favorite Travel Pants
Our go-to Spinner Carry on
Our Favorite Comfortable Travel Shoes:
Comfortable walking shoes are a must for any trip! It’s easy to rack up miles walking and sightseeing so you need comfortable shoes.
Favorite Men’s Walking Shoes
Our Most Comfortable Walking Shoes
Our Favorite Sandals for Travel
Favorite Mary Jane Walking Shoes
Favorite Travel Beauty Gear:
There are many beauty items that you could bring on a trip, but in order to pack light we keep it to our favorites.
Sol De Janeiro Jet Set
Detox Travel Dry Shampoo
Our Favorite Travel Hair Dryer
Our go-to Travel Shirt
Recommended Handbags for Travel:
We love “easy” when it comes to handbags and these crossbody recommendations are great for travel!
Mundi Anti-theft RFID Crossbody
Gladdon Crossbody Trendy Purse
Telena Crossbody Puffer Sling Bag
Lucia Crossbody Bag
Recommended Road Trip Travel Gear:
A road trip requires a little more gear sometimes. We love the following items and they stay in the car whether we are traveling or just hanging around our own city.
Our Favorite Car Plug Adapter
Our Favorite Fest Chair
Road Trip First Aid Essential
Favorite Phone Mount with Charger
Final Thoughts on our Favorite Travel Gear:
Having the right travel gear can make your trips smoother, more comfortable, and even more enjoyable. Over the years, we’ve discovered these must-have items that we truly rely on, and we hope they help you as much as they’ve helped us. Whether you’re jet-setting across the globe or taking a weekend road trip, investing in quality travel essentials can make all the difference.
If you’ve tried any of our recommendations or have a favorite travel item of your own, we’d love to hear about it!