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The Best Travel Gifts for the Jet-Setter in Your Life

From graduation day to Father’s Day, these are the travel accessories worth gifting.

collage of headphones, a suitcase, packing cubes, a thermos, a shoe, and a toiletry bag

By Gerald Ortiz, Will Porter, and Grace Cooper

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Summer is on its way and with it probably a vacation, family gathering or weekend getaway. To sum it up: your loved ones will probably be traveling more than any other time of year. So whether you’re looking for a gift for a recent grad that’s spending the next few months backpacking Europe, a newly married couple about to set off on their honeymoon or your jet-setting dad ahead of Father’s Day, a travel accessory might just be the perfect gift.

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Luggage is a given, but there’s much more to travel than the bag you check. Dopp kits, portable batteries, hand sanitizer — these are just a few of the things needed for every vacation. But, also required is a pair of comfy shoes, some sunglasses and a packable bag for day trips. For the most adventurous folks in your life, they may even need some binoculars, a bathing suit or some hiking sandals. Or maybe if they enjoy a nearby adventure, you can pick up a hat or a towel for poolside happy hours. Regardless of what type of travel they like, there’s something out there that they’ll love. These are the best travel gifts to give if you or your loved ones are going to be globe-trotting in 2023.

It’s a dopp kit and tech organizer wrapped in a durable packing cube, so they’ll stay organized throughout their many travels.

THESE ARE OUR FAVORITE DOPP KITS

Merino is basically a miracle material — it’s odor resistant, wicks sweat and regulates your temperature whether it’s hot or cold outside. These shirts are called the 72-Hour Tee because you could rock a single tee for three days without it smelling bad. This is the only travel tee they need.

READ MORE ABOUT PROOF MERINO

These viral hexagonal toiletry containers come pre-labeled, so all they have to do is load up their favorite products and hit the road. No more relying on watered down hotel shampoo bottles.

If they’re an avid journaler, scrapbooker or notes app user, then this top-tier travel journal will help them document their adventures and memories.

This unusual travel pillow improves upon the basic pillow you’ll find around the airport. It has a velcro closure to provide 360-degree support, and it won’t fall off during their nap. This is perfect for the person who loves a roadtrip snooze or is prepping for a long-haul flight this summer.

One of the absolute best durable duffels, Patagonia’s Black Hole line is virtually indestructible. If they’re buying a new bag every year, then this is the one for them.

WE FOUND THE BEST DUFFEL BAGS

It may not be winter where they live, but it might be colder where they’re traveling. And this lightweight, packable jacket is the perfect versatile layering piece for trotting the globe.

If you’re struggling to think of something personalized or useful, everyone could use a tech organizer. This pouch will help keep their cords together and out of site, so they’re never left without a phone charger or earbuds during their trip.

The Beis Weekender bag has gone viral for a reason. With bells and whistles like a separate shoe compartment and a sleeve to attach to your roller suitcase, this bag will soon replace their battered carry-on. But it has been known to sell out, so be sure to buy while you can.

At the size of a lacrosse ball, the Hypersphere Go is the ideal companion for the traveling athlete. The 10-watt motor delivers three speeds of percussive massage that can work wonders around sore necks, feet and other pain points.

BEST RECOVERY GEAR

If they’ve already got their emotional support water bottle covered, then an adventure-ready flask might be just the gift.

WANT MORE FLASKS? THESE ARE THE BEST

The Paperwhite is one of the best e-readers and therefore the best gift for the traveling bookworm in your life. It’s lightweight and waterproof, and it has a high-resolution screen and built-in Bluetooth (which works great with Audible). And its battery life is so good that it’ll go weeks between charges.

100 ESSENTIAL READS

If they’re into water sports or beach trips, then these versatile, quick-drying trunks will make their summer adventures even better. Plus, they come in lots of colors to fit their style.

Don’t pack single-use plastic bottles when you’re on the go. Invest in a great reusable tumbler like this one from Fellow, with its gorgeous styling, leak-proof seal, double-wall vacuum insulation and so much more.

MORE COFFEE GIFTS

There’s enough noise out there. These headphones cancel all that and help them rock out to Rush or knock out to Gigi Masin.

BEST NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONES

Not only are these Allbirds remarkably comfortable in motion — which can be very important when scrambling around airports and subway stations — but they’re also absurdly lightweight, making them the perfect shoe for travel.

MORE SNEAKERS

Good travel starts with good luggage. Gift them a good start with Away’s Bigger Carry-On. It’s made from lightweight, yet durable polycarbonate material for the shell, has even more space than the regular Carry-On (great for frequent travelers) and even includes a battery so he can charge his devices quickly and easily.

BEST CARRY-ON SUITCASES

Nikon’s Z 5 mirrorless full-frame camera is an incredible value that can take the aspiring photographer in your life up to the next level of technical quality. Don’t let them take photos with their shitty iPhone camera.

BEST MIRRORLESS CAMERAS

Everyone could use a little bag for some bits and bobs when they travel, whether it’s stashing oft-misplaced earbuds or charging cords. These come in three sizes, a bunch of different colors and even the biggest one is under $20.

MORE TRAVEL ACCESSORIES AND ORGANIZATION

This pen was designed for NASA astronauts and has been to space, so why not use it for Earth-bound travel? It’s balanced when opened, tiny enough to stash in your pocket closed and it’ll continue to write reliably in zero gravity and extreme temperatures.

OUR FAVORITE PENS

This speaker is waterproof, has great 360-degree sound and holds its charge for 14 hours. They can take it in the shower, drop it in the pool or rock it on the beach. One of our editors has had a Wonderboom since 2016 and it’s still going strong.

THE BEST PORTABLE SPEAKERS YOU CAN BUY

A multi-tool is remarkably handy, especially when traveling. But you can’t exactly bring a knife blade on a plane unless you want to have it confiscated by the TSA. This option, however, is fully TSA-compliant, is small enough to stash on your keychain and still boasts an impressive array of tools you might need in your travels.

He may not be near his neighborhood cafe, but he can bring this handy coffee brewing kit with him and bring his beans of choice.

THE BEST TRAVEL GEAR AND ACCESSORIES

Not only are Ray-Ban Wayfarers about as iconic as sunglasses get, but these ones can fold down for easier out-of-the-way stashing between uses. And that makes these one of the best options for travel shades around.

Compact enough to throw in a tight suitcase, this little guy can grind its way to a beautiful morning mug, wherever he goes.

Packing cubes are a huge headache-saver. Belongings stay organized in transit and are easily unpacked once he finally gets to his destination. These ones from Osprey are made from a durable, lightweight fabric and have easy-access zippers.

With Lunya’s Washable Silk Sleep Mask, anyone can shut out the lights in silky luxury and maybe even have some good dreams. It’s super comfy and, most importantly, is washable — unlike most silk items.

THE BEST TRAVEL GEAR AND ACCESSORIES

It’s nice to carry your essentials close if everything else is packed away. This mini sling bag has enough space to store your phone, wallet, key and other daily necessities.

THE BEST CROSSBODY BAGS

The Trail Series water bottles from Hydro Flask are made for the outdoors and are, therefore, lighter and more portable than their traditional counterparts. That also makes them ideal for travel — you know, since you can’t bring liquids through security but you can fill up a bottle after you pass through.

MORE TRAVEL MUGS

When on the road, your grooming doesn’t have to suffer. This beard trimmer from Bevel gives you over four hours of use on a single charge and it’s incredibly easy to clean.

THE BEST ELECTRIC SHAVERS

If you know a watch fanatic, they’re probably going to need a proper case for when they want to travel with their favorite timepieces. And they don’t get much better than this premium leather option from Shinola.

THE BEST TRAVEL GEAR AND ACCESSORIES

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