There are thousands of travel products out there. From checked luggage to carry-on bags, travel backpacks, neck pillows, toiletry bags, headphones, portable chargers and much more, there’s a lot to choose from. At CNN Underscored, our goal is to make the decision of what to get easier in order to help you travel better, smarter and more comfortably.
Today, we’re looking at the travel products that our readers can’t hit the road without. If you’re looking to boost your travel wardrobe before heading off on your 2023 summer vacation, consider one of these Underscored reader favorites.
Technology can make travel so much less stressful, including Apple AirTags. Our readers love adding these small devices to their checked baggage when traveling to keep track of where their belongings were at every stage of the journey. Ultimately, the peace of mind provided by the AirTags can make any travel experience that much better.
Our pick for the best sleep mask overall is a favorite among our readers, too — and for good reason. It's got a nose wire and side covers that help to block out any and all light so you can catch some sleep on any long-haul flight.
There's nothing worse than streaming your favorite TV shows or movies from a plane only for your hand to go numb from holding your phone. Not to mention a sore neck from looking down at your screen! This ingenious phone mount clips onto the tray table on the seat in front of you to provide hands-free viewing. Read our review of the phone mount here.
The July Carry-All Backpack is a showstopper. Not only does it have space to store everything you'll need to carry with you — including space to store a 16-inch laptop — but it doesn't sacrifice on style. Available in three colors, it's one of our favorite travel backpacks.
This is our pick for the best travel pillow overall; in fact, we've dubbed it the "Goldilocks of travel pillows." Readers love it, too, for its firm support and portability. The memory foam interior collapses to half its size, making it a great pick for easy transport.
This travel backpack is not only available at a reasonable price point, but it's got all of the storage you'll need for a trip, whether you're traveling for business or leisure. It can hold everything from laptops to tablets, and offers compartments for small accessories like passports and charging devices you'll take with you on the go.
We love these modular, magnetic and leak-proof containers, and our readers do, too! The TSA-compliant, 100% leak-proof, customizable Cadence Capsules are a perfect option for transporting your liquids, gels, creams and more.
Packing cubes are a must-have for travelers. Our readers loved this set of six bags from Veken. The set is reasonably priced at around $20, and you'll get an extra-large cube, large cube, medium cube, small cube, laundry bag and a travel shoe bag to keep your dirty shoes away from your clean clothes.
This simple accessory is a game changer for travelers. The Bluetooth transmitter plugs into the in-flight entertainment system, allowing you to get the sound directly to your wireless headphones. Use it once and you'll find this is something you won't want to travel without again. Read our review of the transmitter here.
This dual-purpose passport and vaccine card holder will keep some of your most important travel documents safe while you're in transit. Not only will it keep your things in one place, but it will protect your personal information with its RFID-blocking technology.
Our pick for the best budget checked suitcase offers loads of storage in a stylish frame and seven color options. We love this suitcase for its smooth-rolling wheels, high capacity and light weight when empty, meaning you can pack more inside without nearing your airline's weight limit.
This travel backpack from the pros at Monos is also an Underscored reader favorite thanks to its variety of organizational features. It can be used from the airport to your day-to-day commute. Its exterior is made of a water-resistant nylon twill with vegan leather details. Not only can it fit a 15-inch laptop, but it's also got a trolley sleeve to easily slip over your favorite carry-on bag.
Weekender bags are a staple in any traveler's wardrobe. This one from Beis is a favorite, as it's priced at just more than $100 and offers a great amount of storage, including a zippered bottom compartment for storing your shoes and other travel essentials away from your clothes.
This bag holds a lot for a carry-on bag. In fact, its 42-liter volume is among the maximum that's allowed inside the cabin. Readers love, too, that it's got an ejectable battery that will keep your devices charged on the go.
Looking for more packing cubes than the standard set of six? This eight-pack means you'll get more space to store all of your travel essentials on every trip. At a price that won't break the bank, this is a quality set to boost your organization.
Leak-proof bottles are essential when you travel. After all, who wants to end up at their destination with a mess of shampoo and moisturizer all over their clothes? CNN Underscored readers loved this four-pack of silicone leak-proof bottles, which are available in fun color sets to match your luggage.
If you're traveling with a good amount of electronics, the proper storage tools make the trip much easier. Our readers love this travel tech organizer from iMangoo because of its price tag — it's just less than $10 when on sale — the variety of storage space and the fact that it comes in 10 colors to match the rest of your luggage.
Planning to travel abroad? An international travel adapter is essential for keeping your devices charged up while you're on the road. Our readers loved this reasonably priced option, which works in more than 150 countries.
This travel backpack is perfect for both overnight trips and for carrying on a plane with all of your must-have essentials in reach. We love its simple design and useful features, such as room to store a laptop, water bottle pockets, padded shoulder straps and much more. While we love that it's stylish, it could be a bit more comfortable. Read our full review here.
Whether you're traveling solo or with your family in tow, this drink caddy is perfect for keeping your hands free. It can fit both drinks and phones, as well as any other travel essentials, right on the handle of your suitcase. Read our review of the caddy here.
This small but effective portable door lock can help you sleep with the peace of mind of knowing that no one can get in your room. Regardless of whether you're staying at a hotel or a vacation home rental, this simple-to-use tool can fit on most doors that are hinged and swing inwards. Setting it up is easy and it's lightweight enough to fit in your carry-on bag. Plus, it comes with its own travel pouch so it doesn't get lost.
Traveling with a digital luggage scale is essential. They're small and take up little space, but they can save you a lot of money — and stress — when it comes to avoiding overweight baggage fees. Our readers loved this option from Freetoo, which is available for just $11 when on sale.
For travelers, a quality pair of travel pants with enough pockets is crucial for storing all of your must-have items in close reach. This pair from Lands' End is available in regular, petite and tall sizes and they each feature five pockets. In addition to their supreme storage capacity, they're also made of a sweat-wicking material to keep you comfortable whether you're on a long-haul flight or touring a new city.