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Whether you’re headed towards a cold winter clime or indulging in some warm weather R&R, packing appropriately is essential. Even for one or two-day trips, I’m a chronic overpacker, but I’m of the mindset “prepare for the worst and hope for the best” when it comes to traveling.
According to a 2025 trend report from Priceline, consumers are seeking “in-person connection and experiences in pursuit of their passions”, and the desire to travel remains high even during these periods of economic uncertainty. One of our favorite trends released in the Priceline report included the idea of “Star Trekking” following the 2024 total solar eclipse, with younger travelers interested in traveling for celestial, astrology or space-themed excursions.
So if you’ve been lured by the promise of a holiday retreat, we’ve rounded up a few travel essentials to get the most out of your vacation. Whether it’s luggage scales for our overpackers, a trusty umbrella for our weather planners, or sleeping gear for our cozy nappers, we’ve got something for every kind of traveler.
12 Travel Essentials For The Holidays
1. Travel Inspira Luggage Scale
Lowest Price: $9.99, was $12.99 at Amazon
All of the luggage overpackers can unite under this travel inspira flag - never leave home without this luggage scale if you don’t want to risk going over that 50 pound limit. Paying $150 per bag for overweight bags (or up to $200+ per bag that is over 100 pounds) would put anyone in a bad mood at the start or end of their vacation.
The travel inspira luggage scale has a 110 pound (50 kg) max capacity, a LCD backlight display and rubberized handle for an easy grip. Low battery and overload indicators, as well as an auto-off feature for battery life preservation, make this easy to use and read. It has 4.7-stars and over 30,000 ratings, with over 6,000 purchases over the past month according to the Amazon company page.
2. MATEIN Travel Laptop Backpack
Lowest Price: $21.99, was $39.96 at Amazon
It’s not to say that spending hundreds of dollars on a luxurious travel backpack isn’t worth it, but in this economy, we couldn’t justify including it in our travel essentials roundup where both quality and price point matter. So maybe save that $100 and use it towards your vacation if that’s what is important when it comes to your vacation shopping list.
The MATEIN travel backpack has 4.7-stars on Amazon, over 100,000 ratings and has been extensively reviewed by other companies, so shelling out less than $30 seems like a steal to us. It comes with a laptop compartment, packing compartment, front pockets and organizers, adjustable straps, USB charger and built-in charging cable, and an interior anti-theft pocket for valuables.
Some commented that this might not be the best backpack if you need to haul a lot of heavy items, but one reviewer said, “This pack met all my needs…it has more pockets than you could imagine, has a huge capacity, and the blue color and material are really nice.” They went on to say that it held up under use, including flights, ferries, and other trips.
3. SY COMPACT Travel Umbrella
Lowest Price: starting at $11.99 at Amazon and Walmart
From Connecticut to Florida, and Columbia to Costa Rica, nothing can rain on your parade faster than being caught in a downpour during the rainy season while on vacation. That’s why it would be remiss of us to skimp out on a trusty travel-sized umbrella.
The SY Compact travel umbrella has over 35,000 company ratings on Amazon and is available in 17 different colors and unique patterns. Our personal favorite is the ‘planet’ graphic. While the company claims it can withstand high wind gusts, some reviewers note it’s not really sturdy or large enough for that kind of wind stress. It is waterproof, compact (10.8 inches when folded, and approximately 12 ounces), and has an auto open and close feature.
4. COOFANDY Packable Rain Jacket
Shop It: Amazon
Lowest Price: starting at $21.26 (Medium) plus extra coupon on Amazon
If you need something a little more universal than an umbrella, a trusty waterproof rain jacket is perfect for the rain or snow while traveling. This lightweight rain jacket on Amazon comes in a variety of colors and sizing options, and comes with a carrying pouch for easy storage. Note that this should be hand washed or spot cleaned, since it could remove the waterproof wax.
5. INIU Portable Charger (10,000 mAh 5V/3A Power Bank)
Lowest Price: $17.99 at Amazon and $19.99 at Walmart. Limited time deal.
When searching for a portable charger, you’ll see power ratings listed as mAh (milliamp hours), which represents how much charge a battery can hold. The higher the rating, the more energy a battery can store. According to Anker, a 5,000 mAh power bank is suitable for most general users and can provide one full charge for a smartphone, but for larger devices like a tablet or multiple electronic devices needing a charge, a power bank with higher capacity would be more suitable.
As for the INIU portable charger, this model offers 10,000 mAh and holds enough charge to top up an iPhone, Samsung or AirPods Pro a couple of times according to the company page. It also comes with a USB-C in and out port, high-speed charging, and safe charging protection.
6. Manta Sleep Mask
Shop It: Amazon
Lowest Price: $35 at Amazon
If you’re traveling internationally (and if you’re like us, economy to boot), you’re going to need as many creature comforts from home to make it to your destination without feeling like a zombie. This Manta sleep mask won us over thanks to the adjustable eye cup molds, so you can have space them to your eye width and blink without the mask pressing against your lashes. It’s made from soft, breathable and machine-washable materials. Be sure to check out the reviews – the eye mask currently has 4.5-stars and over 13,000 company ratings on Amazon.
7. LYSIAN Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs
Lowest Price: $9.59 at Amazon and $8.98 at Walmart
I was never a big believer in earplugs until I went to my first racing event, and afterwards became a believer in these small but mighty foam earplugs. The Lysian earplugs come in a pack of 60 pairs, and are made from silicone and polyurethane foam, with the company claiming a noise reduction of 38 decibels (single-number rating). So if you’re a light sleeper on a plane or train, or need to get some work done without interruptions, these could be an inexpensive option to get some relief.
8. 16-Pack Travel Bottles Set
Shop It: Amazon
Lowest Price: $9.99, was $11.99 at Amazon
There’s a number of different sellers on Amazon, but this 16-pack reusable travel bottle set makes it easy to take your favorite haircare and skincare products on the go without worrying about TSA throwing it out. I had what I thought was an appropriately-sized haircare product packed away in my carry-on – and let me tell you, it hurt to throw it out before I could go catch my flight!
This travel bottle set is made from silicone for easy squeezing, and the company boasts a leak-proof design to protect your precious gear during travel. This kit comes with four travel bottles, four travel jars, spray bottle, spoon, funnel, cleaning brush, labels and makeup bag – and all under $10.
9. Napfun Neck Pillow
Shop It: Amazon
Lowest Price: $15.86, was $21.99 at Amazon
We’ve written about the sale price for the napfun travel neck pillow before, and if you wait until the last minute, you’ll probably end up spending much more at an airport. This neck pillow is currently listed as the best seller on Amazon (with over 30,000 purchases in the last month), and over 17,000 company ratings. It’s available in a variety of colors and patterns, and claims to be designed for a comfortable concave chin rest, made from skin-friendly fabric and filled with memory foam. The main complaint may be for those with shorter necks who find the memory foam a little too firm to fit around the chin or cheeks.
10. Fleming Supply Heated Car Blanket
Lowest Price: $33.98 at Lowe’s
This is definitely a must-have winter accessory when you’re making that long haul to see friends and family over the holidays. Whether it’s for you, kids, or pets, this electric travel blanket can plug into a 12V accessory socket (or cigarette lighter). It has a 96-inch long cord so it can be used in front or back seats, and should only be spot cleaned.
11. Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds
Shop It: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy
Lowest Price: $24.99 at Amazon
Sound quality doesn’t necessarily have to come at the expense of your monthly budget. These Soundcore by Anker P20i earbuds claim to have 10 hours of battery life on a single charge, with the case extending it to 30 hours. Drained the battery? Not a problem - a 10-minute quick charge could give you up to two hours of playtime. So whether you’re using them to game on your phone, watch a movie during a flight, or simply find your zen place as a princess passenger during a long drive, these little wireless earbuds may do the trick at a cost that won’t break the bank.
12. Samsonite Omni PC Hardside Carry-On (20-inch)
Shop It: Amazon
Lowest Price: $115, was $159.99 at Amazon
Travel in style (without the $200+ cost) with this Samsonite hardside carry-on, fitting most airline carry-on size restrictions. It comes with a 10 year limited warranty and is made from polycarbonate for a scratch-resistant finish, along with multi-directional spinner wheels that won’t trip you up when you’re rushing to the next gate. It’s currently available in 13 different colors on Amazon.
How We Made Our Decision
Functionality
You only have so much room in your luggage, backpack or car, and to make the most of the space (excluding the additional 10x pair of underwear you inevitably pack), we wanted to highlight the most functional - and comfortable - products designed to make your travel experience just a little easier.
Price
There’s a fine balance of “you get what you pay for” and “why pay more for less”. The goal of this article was to keep the prices reasonable, and if you’re hesitating between spending a little more for a longer-lasting product, it ultimately depends on your budget and your long-term use case. For example, the Samsonite luggage we listed was on sale, but if you prefer another premium brand like Away or TravelPro, we certainly wouldn’t deter you.
Reviews
We let the reviewers speak for themselves. If a product complaints outweigh the purpose and price of the product, we won’t feature it in our lists.
Our experience
When pulling together this list of travel essentials, I made sure to survey the results from our weather.com news and editorial team, and these were the collection of most suggested items used during travel. Be sure to check out our Carry-On Must Haves for more ideas on what to pack for your trips.
Prices accurate and items in stock at time of publish.
