We all have that one person in our lives who cannot be tied down. They’re forever looking for the next chance to brave the wilderness, sneak into a blockaded country, take snapshots of ancient ruins, or just go for a jaunt across the country. They make wanderlust look sexy and inviting, and always return with new ideas and stories from the ends of the Earth, or at least the next town over. If you aren’t lucky enough to be able to join them, then the least you can do is secure a good keepsake from their next trip. All it takes is one of the right travel presents to help ease their journey and they’re likely to return bearing a cursed money’s paw with your name on it.
EasyAcc 6000mAh Ultra Slim External Battery
A slender battery is never a bad gift for the airport jockey who needs to keep their devices ready for action during a 9 hour layover in Belfast. Able to completely recharge a smartphone a couple of times, get a tablet back in power bars, or even put a little life back in a laptop, this is low on weight but long on portable volts. Purchase: $20
MeCam
Travelers who want to really capture an experience could slap on an action camera with a helmet, but that’s hardly practical. For a less intensive solution that can be worn discreetly, the MeCam is a necklace camera which shoots well in low light for getting every spooky second of the Paris catacombs. Purchase: $70
ButterFox Electronics Accessories Travel Organizer
Cords are a necessary evil that can vex the most seasoned globe-trotter. To make sure they have the micro USB they need for their camera, the Lightning connector for their iPhone, the power cable for their laptop, and their standard USB for data transfers, this compact cord case keeps everything in its place. Purchase: $20
Zolt Laptop Charger Plus
You can choose any number of smart charging adaptors for plugging in on the go, but what makes Zolt unique is in spite of the small size, it allows for multiple ports to be used, turning a standard outlet into a charging station for a laptop, tablet, and phone. Sure to make your jet-setting compatriot the toast of the airport lounge. Purchase: $100
Tarriss Jetsetter Digital Luggage Scale
Airlines are becoming increasingly greedy when it comes to baggage fees, and going an ounce in the wrong direction can cost the unwary traveler dearly. To ward them against paying extra for a weighty bag, this go-anywhere luggage weight gives an accurate heft measurement while requiring less space than an umbrella. Purchase: $17
Moji 360 Mini Massager II
It’s a 14-hour flight from LAX to Sydney, and that’s going to cramp muscles as well as style. Jet lag alone is tough without battling knots in their back and legs with a massager made for solo use. We’re not going to ask exactly how they deploy it, but we can say it’s tremendous on hitting all the right spots for tension relief. Purchase: $30
Tile Mate
At home you have a bowl or a key hook to keep your items on lock. There’s no such safety mechanism out on that long and lonesome road. Forgetful travelers who need to make their passport, keys, or rental car easy to find will enjoy the GPS features of Tile, as well as its noise-making ability should you know you’re close but still can’t put a hand to that money belt. Purchase: $25
AirBolt Travel Lock
Fully TSA approved, the AirBolt doesn’t use a crackable set of numbers to unlock it, but relies on a Bluetooth connection with your phone. The ultimate smart gadget for travelers who want to keep their carry-on goods safe from roving thieves, AirBolt is a new level of digital safety. Purchase: ~$54
Multifun Cool Mist Humidifier
Hotels, motels, driving around, airports, planes, trains, and cars are all dry places that can wreak merry hell with your lips and skin. A nice little humidifier helps make every room feel a little more comfortable, and can make you feel more human after burnout from your wayward ways. Purchase: $16
Samsonite World Wide Power Adapter
For the gadget junkie who can’t survive without power, but is never sure where they’re going to be next, this simplifies using an outlet, whether in Asia, Europe, or the United States. A quick flip changes the prongs and lets you get onto the grid, so long as you have the proper power needs. Purchase: $28
Flytographer
Imagine using Uber to order up a photographer, rather than a cab. That’s what Flytographer does for you. It’s a simple service that will find a quality, local photographer anywhere you happen to be so you can get dreamy destination wedding photos, Christmas-card worthy pyramid shots, and never again need a selfie stick for anything other than…why would you ever need a selfie stick?
Blue Bottle Timbuk2 Coffee Sabbatical Travel Kit
Born in Seattle, the spiritual home of modern coffee, Blue Bottle adherents have come to know the company as the premium purveyor of all things bean. So that the java-loving traveler never again has to settle for local swill when they find themselves in the land of tea-drinkers, they can now have Blue Bottle’s award-winning coffee anywhere they happen to be.
Garmin Epix
Garmin has rewritten the book on GPS systems, and their Epix watch is literally a life-saver. Anyone who prefers survival treks in the wilderness or testing themselves against the rapids of the Amazon to resting easy at a Ramada needs one of these. Good for geocaching, mountain climbing, and finding your way home after a halo drop into the jungle, it’s a survival tool for the wrist. Purchase: $445
Tylt Ribbn
Road warriors who do their voyaging over land rather than by air or sea need a savvy way to draw power from the simple car outlet that is the lifeline of their road gadgetry. Tylt’s Ribbn is long enough to reach up and away from your driving controls, while pushing enough juice to give all your gear a jolt mile after lonesome mile.
Huzi Design Infinity Pillow
Travel pillows are a dime a dozen, but few are as smartly crafted as the Infinity. You can wrap it around your neck for when you get stuck in the dreaded middle seat, fold it into a roll for leaning against the bulkhead, or pack it down so it virtually disappears into your duffel. It’s the one-size fits all travel pillow.
Karma Go
Most mobile hotspots charge you a flat monthly fee for using their service. Not so with Karma Go, which allows you to pick and choose how much data you need. You’ll never again be overcharged for extra bandwidth, and won’t need to sign any long-term contracts to get online with a quickness. Purchase: $99
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
The only name in serious noise-cancelling travel headphones, the QuietComfort line is a vacation for the ears. Audiophiles will respect the sound quality. The sensitive will adore the soft cups that can be worn for hours on end without aches; and the irritable will love the active noise-cancellation so much, they’ll start wearing them at home. Purchase: $305+
Samsung Gear VR
One of the few Samsung products that won’t explode, the Gear VR is made for multimedia travelers who can’t stand small screens. It’s an immersive theater that fits on your head, giving you a 3D experience wherever your eyes happen to be. Purchase: $60
