The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
Traveling should always be enjoyable. It allows you to see new places, try different things and get out of a rut. But it can also be stressful. You have to decide what to pack, make sure you have any documentation you might need and be sure you’re at the airport plenty early. Also, buying new travel gear might make you worry that it won’t stand up to being lugged around.
According to a recent survey done by Wyndham, 37% of travelers have canceled or delayed their trips due to the stress of planning their vacation. Nearly half of those asked said that packing was a top stressor, and 61% worried about spending too much money. One way to reduce your travel-planning anxiety is to ensure you’re not throwing away cash on luggage, accessories and other travel gear that’s not up to par.
Amazon is always a great place to look for product choices that have been bought and used by thousands of people, so we turned to the website’s section of “Customers’ Most Loved” items in the category of travel gear to come up with a good list of recommendations. Here, Amazon maintains an entire storefront of various products with more than 1,000 reviews and at least a four-star rating.
Following are our 10 favorite pieces of travel gear listed there that can help you plan your next trip with less stress.
Travelers Club Midtown Hardside Luggage Travel Set
This four-piece luggage set includes a 26-inch spinner suitcase, a 20-inch spinner carry-on suitcase, a boarding tote that can slip onto the luggage handle and a toiletry bag. The set has nearly 8,000 five-star reviews, with customers saying the pieces are lightweight, easy to maneuver and of good quality for a great price. Priced at $129.99-$139.99, colors include black, lilac, navy, rose gold and tan.
Modoker Carry-On Garment Duffel Bag
This unassuming duffel bag is perfect for overnight or weekend travel, as it is also a hanging garment bag. Open the bag and lay it out to pack suits or dresses without worrying about creating wrinkles. It also has interior and exterior pockets for shoes, keys, toiletries and more. The bag has more than 6,500 ratings so far and 4.5 stars overall. It is available in six colors for $43.99-$69.99.
SwissGear 1900 Scansmart TSA 17-Inch Laptop Backpack
This laptop bag was designed to get you and your essentials through airport security quickly and easily, as it allows laptop-in-case scanning. In addition, the bag features zippered laptop access, a padded tablet pocket, a primary compartment with an accordion file holder, an RFID-protected organizer compartment and multiple exterior pockets. At $89.99, the backpack has more than 20,400 ratings with 4.7 stars overall, and it comes in 10 colors.
Hibag 12-Pack Travel Compression Bags
These compression bags can help you save up to 80% of the space it typically takes to pack your suitcase. Unlike similar bags, you don’t need a vacuum for these. Instead, place your folded clothing inside, zip the bag closed, roll the bag toward the venting end and pack rolled or stretched flat.
“These were the only reason I was able to pack just a carry-on, which I was incredibly thankful for as I was constantly moving cities and hotels,” one Amazon reviewer wrote. “Definitely recommend if you need to somehow fit two weeks of clothes and ski pants in a carry-on!”
This set of travel compression bags includes six medium and six large bags for $16.39. Other sizes are also available at different prices.
FYY Electronics Organizer
How many phones, tablets, laptops, earbuds and chargers do you bring along when you travel? This electronics organizer has two zippered layers and many pockets to keep cords, chargers and small devices safe, untangled and convenient to access. With more than 3,400 ratings and 4.4 stars overall so far, this handy bit of travel gear is $12.99.
Collapsible Silicone Travel-Size Bottles
Pack your favorite toiletries without worrying about bottles breaking, leaking, taking up precious space or being snatched by TSA for being too big. These reusable travel-size bottles are made from premium quality food-grade silicone, so they can stand up to bumps and bangs without cracking. In addition, you can customize the capacity with the collapsible design, and the leakproof lids provide peace of mind.
At $7.99, this set includes four TSA-compliant travel bottles, a 1-milliliter spray bottle and a content identification card.
Valante Premium Family Travel-Document Organizer
Keeping your important identification, documentation and financial information close is crucial when traveling. Gear that helps you protect and organize your money, cards and other essentials will save you time and stress. This organizer, priced at $24.99, has pockets and slots for a phone, coins, memory or SIM cards, cash, passports, pens, keys, credit cards, boarding passes and larger documents.
“Very useful, especially for a big family,” one reviewer wrote. “So much easier traveling with the kids. So long to the stressful times digging through my bags in search of passport and documents while my kids are crying.”
Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella
Don’t get caught in a sudden downpour without some protection. This travel umbrella has 4.6 stars overall and more than 50,000 ratings as of this writing. It features a vented double canopy that is more windproof than traditional umbrellas. It weighs less than a pound, fits easily in a bag or purse and opens with the touch of a button. Priced at $26.95, this umbrella comes in six colors, such as pin stripe, blue sky and sunny yellow.
Alpine Muffy Baby-Ear Protection
Traveling with young children poses many unique challenges. These soft earmuffs protect babies and toddlers from loud noises, and many customers report that they work well when flying.
“My 2-month baby wore these on a 3.5-hour flight and didn’t cry once,” wrote a reviewer. “He did not wake up when other children were screaming and crying.”
The unique design prevents pressure on a baby’s soft spot. They are lightweight, soft and easy to use, according to ratings. These earmuffs, selling for $29.99, are available in six colors.
Ultra-Slim Portable Charger Power Bank
Flights may be delayed. Storms can cause power outages. Whatever the case, you won’t be caught without a charged device if you have this packed with your travel gear. This slim-profile power bank will charge two devices simultaneously via its USB ports.
“Easy to use, charges well, small and compact, great for purses,” one reviewer wrote. “Took on the airplane, great for charging mid-flight on smaller planes without plugs.”
This portable charger has 4.4 stars at Amazon and almost 4,000 ratings so far. Usually $38, this gadget was marked down by nearly half, on sale at $19.75 as of this writing.
What travel gear can you not imagine leaving at home when you take a trip?
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories.
