We’re minimalist travelers here at ���ϳԹ���—we don’t want any extra weight slowing us down as we explore the world. What we do like are practical gifts that make traveling easier, more convenient, and more fun. So our travel editors are revealing the items on their wish list this season—and the gifts they’ll be giving to their favorite travelers.

I’m definitely adding that water bottle and the Hipcamp gift card to my wish list. —Alison Osius

1. Best Gadget

AirFly Pro ($55)

At first, I was skeptical of this tiny gadget. As a lightweight packer, I refuse to schlep more chargers or adapters than absolutely necessary to survive a long-haul flight. Yet this year, my husband, tech-savvy guy that he is, insisted we try the AirFly Pro Wireless Audio Transmitter/ Receiver on our trans-Atlantic trip to England. Usually, I just use the freebie headphones flight attendants hand out. But our vacation happened to fall during the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament, which we watch obsessively, and I instantly became a convert to this gizmo: a pocket-sized, 15-gram transmitter that plugs into your seat-back audio jack and Bluetooths to any wireless headphones on the market.

We watched game after game on the plane’s live TV app, and time flew by. Since we had no cords to mess with, bathroom breaks were easy, and we streamed from two screens in tandem, each able to listen with both buds. The AirFly Pro has a nice 25-hour battery life as well, and now we never fly without it. This is the perfect stocking stuffer for any frequent flyer. —Patty Hodapp, senior contributing travel editor

2. Best Fanny Pack

Yeti Sidekick Dry 1L Gear Case ($40; strap is an additional $10)

Fanny packs, in theory, should make hands-free travel easier, right? Not always. My entire life I’ve searched for the perfect pouch, only to be disappointed in the wild by their size, or lack of pockets, or uncomfy straps, or performance in poor weather. Enter the Yeti Sidekick Dry 1L Gear Case—officially everything I need and more, available to use alone or with a strap.

The waterproof technology of the exterior has kept my stuff dry on brutally rainy trips in Iceland and Ireland, and is made from similar material to that of whitewater rafts, so it can take a beating. The case also floats if I accidentally drop it in water (been there, done that on a recent fly-fishing trip). And its internal mesh pockets ensure my passport, wallet, keys, phone, lip balm, and other gear stay organized.

I’m partial to the one-liter option because it’s the ideal size for me. But if you’ve got a camera or bulky layers to protect, you may want the three or six liter. Don’t forget the Sideclick Strap (sold separately), which attaches to the bag so it doubles as a belt or sling. Now, you can carry your gear in comfort, worry free.—P.H.

3. Best Personal Item

Longchamp Le Pliage Original M Travel Bag ($205)

I always try to carry on when I’m flying. This means that my personal item has to be incredibly efficient at holding a lot but must still fit under the seat. I have spent hours searching for the perfect backpack, but nothing has ever held as much as my nylon Longchamp tote bag does, or held up to wear and tear the same way. I jam this thing with shoes, my laptop, chargers, food, my dopp kit, you name it. The wide-top shape of the bag allows it to hold more than any other while I can still cram it under the seat. It easily attaches to my Away Carry On Suitcase, too.

The Longchamp has been on a lot of plane trips with me over the last 15 years and still looks great. It folds down to nothing when you aren’t using it and also makes a great beach, gym, or day bag once you get where you’re going. Be sure to order the shoulder strap with it, or you can to get the extract size, color, and straps you want, which is what I did. —Mary Turner, Senior Brand Director

4. Best Extra Layer

Patagonia’s Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket ($179)

I have had a version of this Patagonia rain jacket for years, and I take it on every trip. The jacket is super lightweight and packs down to nothing. It’s great for rain protection or when you need an extra layer for warmth in cold or wind. I bought mine a size up so that I could easily layer underneath it. The Torrentshell comes in men’s and women’s versions. It lasts almost forever, too.���.��.

5. Best Gift for Long-Haul Travelers

Resort Pass (from $25)

ResortPass, which allows you to pay a fee to use hotels for the day, is the perfect gift for travelers. Maybe there’s a hotel that you can’t afford, but you’d really love to spend a day there, or you have a long wait for your red-eye flight home from Hawaii after checking out of your Airbnb. This is where ResortPass becomes wonderfully handy. You can chill by a hotel pool instead of hanging out at the airport.

I searched for day passes in my hometown of Santa Fe and found some great deals, starting at $25, at beautiful properties. ResortPass partners with more than 1,700 hotels around the world and that list is constantly growing. It’s easy to purchase . How much I would have loved this in my backpacking days, when sometimes I just needed a little TLC and a hot shower . —M.T.

6. Best Day Spa for Travelers

Olympic Spa (gift cards from $100)

If you’re ever in Los Angeles—for a few days, overnight, or during a long layover—there’s an amazing women-only spa in Koreatown, and I’ve been telling everyone about it, because it is that good. doesn’t look like much from the outside, and the website isn’t going to convince you. But let me testify: this is a spotless oasis that will leave you blissed out after a couple of hours. There are three pools (saltwater, mineral water, and cold plunge), three saunas (herbal steam, red clay, and ice, the last of which was novel but not that cold), an oxygen-therapy room with a charcoal ceiling, and—my favorite—a salt halotherapy room where the warmth thoroughly seeped into my bones.

All that would be enough, but a friend recommended the Goddess treatment ($220), and that put me over the edge: a masseuse scrubbed nearly every inch of my body, from my ears to between my toes; plied my muscles down to overcooked-noodle consistency; and moisturized me to a seal-like slickness. After I spent 105 minutes on the table, the masseuse had to guide my limbs into the bathrobe and slippers. I am returning the next chance I get. Somebody get me a . —Tasha Zemke, managing editor, ���ϳԹ���

7. Best Phone-Camera Accessory

Joby GorillaPod Mobile Mini Tripod ($17)

I work with ���ϳԹ��� Online’s astrotourism writer Stephanie Vermillion, and this past fall she recommended a tiny tripod that pairs well with smartphones. She uses her mini-tripod when shooting the northern lights and other dark-sky scenes that require long shutter-speed times with no vibrations. But honestly, I’m just tired of long-arming photos of myself and friends in beautiful places. I can tuck this accessory into my daypack—it’s about the size of a large iPhone, and weighs the same as two Hershey chocolate bars—and then set it up, adjust its flexible legs, pop my phone into its rubber jaws, set the timer, and take a snap that’s not a blatant selfie. Just what I’m looking for. —T.Z.

8. Best Gift for Nervous Flyers

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 ($349)

Listening to music while flying helps lessen the anxiety I often feel, especially during takeoff, landing, and periods of turbulence. I was gifted these excellent noise-canceling headphones a few years ago, and they were comfortable over my ears and even looked cool, but, sad to say, I left them in the seat-back pocket on a leg to Paris. I’m going to have to replace them, but I have a plan to avoid paying full price: by going to Bose’s amazing , which sells returned products at a significant discount. The brand’s tech team fixes the defects, and you’d never know the items weren’t brand-new. You also still get a year warranty. The only catch is that the item you’re seeking may not be available immediately. I just checked the shop for headphones, and they’re sold out, but upon the click of a button, I’ll be notified when the next pair comes up—and you can believe I’ll wait.��—T.Z.

9. Must-Have for Star Parties

BioLite HeadLamp 425 ($60)

I always travel with a headlamp, and not just for camping and being outdoors. Headlamps are tiny and easy to pack, and I’ve stayed in cabins at the Red River Gorge or in Tahoe where the rooms were so dark I needed a light to find my socks. I still have the original Biolite 330 headlamp from when it was introduced five years ago at an affordable $50: it is super light (2.4 ounces), bright, and functional; is USB rechargeable; and has an integrated design that puts the lamp flush into the headband for simplicity and comfort. It also has a strobe light for rescues and red lights for night missions.

Compared to white lights, low-intensity red ones minimizes pupil dilation, allowing better night vision; red light is also less disruptive to wildlife. Red lights are essential for star gazing, and these days everyone is going to dark-sky parks and peering at the stars, meteors, and northern lights. Recently, looking for a headlamp for my stepsister as she went off to an astrophotography class in the Tucson desert, I picked the 425. —Alison Osius, senior editor, travel

10. Best Travel Pants

The prAna Koen Pant ($95)

When I went to Abu Dhabi to see my nephew graduate from high school, my luggage was delayed for three days out of a five-day trip. So I wore the same mahogany-colored Title IX capris nearly every day as well as on all my flights, and came back loving them more than ever, which is some testament. Sadly, I later lost those red pants. Yet I hit on a match: the Koen. I bought the Koen capris (two pairs), then the Koen shorts (also two pairs), and then the pants: my new fave travel pants and apparently fave anything pants, since I just wore them to the hospital for a finger surgery.

They are lightweight, silky, stretchy, and wrinkle free, and work for anything from hiking to around town. The front pockets are flat and unobtrusive, with hidden zippers, yet deep enough to hold a phone securely if you need a quick stow, like when juggling items in the airport. The pull-on waist is ideal for comfort and upright cat naps, since it lacks zips, snaps, or external ties. The Koen is overall sleek in its lines. I am psyched that it comes in regular, short and tall versions, and am getting the long ones for my older sister, who is taller than I am and travels 70 percent of the time for her work. Don’t tell her, because it’s a surprise.—A.O.

11. Best Gift for Campers

HipCamp gift certificates (starting at $75)

Wasn’t it Clint Eastwood, he of The Eiger Sanction lore, who said, “I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth”? No, wait, Steve McQueen. Point is, with digital for booking a campsite on Hipcamp, you can give that experience. A card ushers someone into an expanding community with sites across the country and in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia. And these sites are not just for a tent in a grassy lot. They are for a yurt in the middle of a flowering meadow; they are for camping, glamping, RV spots, cabins, and canvas. The gift card never expires, nor will you ever run out of places.—A.O.

12. Best Soak With a View

Mount Princeton Hot Springs�� (gift cards from $50)

The old mining town of Leadville, Colorado, sits way up there at 10,000 feet, and it’s cold. Luckily within an hour you can reach any of half a dozen hot-springs resorts, some of the nicest in the state or anywhere, to warm your bones. My sister used to live in Leadville, and when I visited we often took our young sons and let them play and soak..and maybe even slow down a little. The mountain-ringed Mount Princeton Hot Springs, in Nathrop, has geothermal springs, an infinity pool, natural creekside pools, and a view of the Chalk Cliffs on the 14,197-foot peak the property is named for. It that work for day passes, lodging, and dining.—A.O.

13. Best Water Bottle for Travel

Katadyn BeFree 0.6 L Water Filter Bottle ($40)

I sure could’ve used this lightweight collapsible filtered bottle last summer for mountain hiking. On one trip with an eight-mile approach followed by a day on a peak and then the dread march out, I filled my bottles time and time again from a stream near camp, thirsty and getting careless when my filtration system took time. (Luckily I got away with it, or rather without giardia, this time.) Filtering at a rate of up to two liters of water per minute, the Katadyn is a fast and light (two ounces) system that would also be perfect for the trail runners and bow hunters in my household who don’t want to carry heavy water bottles. I would like to take the Katadyn hiking and traveling, since it’s light, packable, and makes for safe drinking.—A.O.

14. Best Reading App

Everand Subscription (from $12 per month)

Whether traveling by car or air, I always download a series of audiobooks from my Everand (formerly named Scribd) app before going. With a library of more than 1.5 million ebooks and audiobooks—plus a collection of magazines and podcasts—to choose from, I never run low on options. Often, I’ll base my pick on the destination: Desert Solitaire for a trip to Moab or A Walk in the Woods for a hiking adventure in Maine. Every time I board a flight, I pop in my earbuds and am fully entertained until we land. Or, since I like to sleep on planes, I might set Everand’s sleep timer to 30 minutes, and drift off by the time we finish takeoff. I love the app so much that I’m getting a subscription for my 14-year-old stepdaughter this year, too. —Abigail Wise, Digital Director

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Finding a backpack to handle your on-the-go whims isn’t an easy feat. To keep your stuff organized, you need ample space with storage compartments. To ensure it stays secure, comfortable straps and reliable closure technology are a must. That said, your pack can’t be so bulky or heavy you’ll never use it. Here are the best travel backpacks of the year—all engineered to get you from point A to point B, worry free.

4 Best Travel Backpacks for ���ϳԹ���rs

Best Crossover Potential

REI Co-op Flash 18L ($40)

Our minimalist testers were drawn to this year’s version of the Flash 18. The pack’s drawstring closure makes it easy to secure and get out the door in a jiff. Want to cut weight? Leave the chest strap and waist belt behind. Planning a multi-pitch climb? With its streamlined profile, you’ve got an exceptional follow pack. It can also be flipped inside out to serve as a stuffsack in a pinch.

Best for Local ���ϳԹ���

Outdoor Research Field Explorer 20L ($99)

Equipped with reflective webbing and 600-denier polyester, this was our favorite for tough commutes. We loved the padded sleeve inside the roll-top main compartment, which kept our laptop secure, and a second, zippered opening allowed us to slip it out with no fuss. External flaps and a zip pocket kept sundries organized, while the weather resistant body and padded shoulder straps played nicely on trails and trains.

Best for Long Days

Mammut Lithium 15L ($100)

The Lithium (and the women’s Lithia Speed 15) squeezes a stunning array of features into a modestly sized pack. Four small pockets (three with zippers) accommodate all manner of essentials, a rain cover tucks into its own dedicated space, and the padded hipbelt includes a phone-size pocket for quick access. In the main body, dividers keep crumbly snacks separate from your favorite puffy.

Best for Fast-and-Light Missions

CamelBak Cloud Walker 18L ($80)

Following a recent redesign, the classic Cloud Walker now offers a sleeker profile while still boasting 18 liters of storage space. CamelBak tapered the body, added breathability courtesy of a vented mesh back panel, and used recycled materials for that panel and the shoulder straps. To trim ounces for long outings, you can remove the waist strap. Slide the pack under your airplane seat, then throw it on for hours of comfortable trekking.

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There are two types of travelers in this world: those who need a specialized compartment for everything, and those who prefer to toss their belongings in a bag, zip it up, and go. Whichever you are, or if you’re somewhere in between, here are three of this year’s best outdoor luggage offerings to fit your travel style.

Norrøna Trolley Bag ($329)

The problem with most giant rolling duffels is that the internal frame takes up almost as much room as the gear you’re packing. But Norrøna’s Trolley duffel offers a cavernous 120 liters of storage space, thanks to a simple yet smart design feature that nixes the telescoping handle—and therefore the internal frame—in favor of flat-lying handles sewn into the top. This keeps the bag’s weight low, making it easier to stay under an airline’s 50-pound limit. Half-inch-thick, cushy trekking-style backpack straps make carrying this thick-skinned, 450-denier recycled nylon duffel over rough terrain more comfortable—even when it’s fully loaded.

STM Goods Dux 30L Backpack ($250)

STM stands for “smarter than most,” which sounds pretentious until you try the Australian brand’s Dux backpack. With 360 degrees of foam padding within the casing, our tester felt comfortable lugging around delicate cameras, lenses, and audio equipment. Flexible and adjustable polyethylene foam shelves form up to three protective compartments in the main body of the bag and are accessible through a zippered, butterfly-wing panel on each side. Plus, the laptop and tablet compartments are suspended above the bottom of the pack with a thick EVA foam cushion adding an extra buffer against dings and drops.

Gregory Quadro Pro Hardcase Carry-On ($230)

Many rolling carry-on bags now have a specific storage compartment for laundry or shoes. But Gregory ups the ante with a removable 22-inch sleeve that features an antimicrobial coating to prevent even the gnarliest items from permeating the luggage with their smell—a refinement that came in handy for our tester during a two-week trip without a way to do laundry. We also appreciated the external USB charging port (just zip your power bank into the interior pocket and plug it in) and compression straps with zippered storage for small items. The four wheels are buttery smooth rolling over all sorts of surfaces, from city streets to gravel.

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Larq Movement Self-Cleaning Bottle ($78)

Count on clean water whether you’re deep in the backcountry or high above it. This 24-ounce thermos has a built-in UV light that vaporizes bacteria. The self-cleaning mode activates every two hours for up to a month on a charge.

Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Traveller Pillow ($43)

A good neck pillow is hard to find, but the Aeros Premium Traveller defies expectations. The tapered back and easy adjustability make it perfect for sleeping (or movie watching) on extended flights. Bonus: it packs down smaller than your palm.

Mr. Lentz Double Passport Wallet ($82)

Finally, the perfect travel wallet. It’s thin enough to fit in your pocket but can still hold your passport, cash, and cards, along with the included notebook and pen. The hand-tooled leather becomes more attractively worn the longer you keep the Double in your go bag.

Skullcandy Crusher ANC Headphones ($320)

Activate the one-tap ambient mode on these noise-canceling headphones if you want to hear flight announcements while listening to podcasts. Embedded tracking technology helps you locate them with an app on your phone.

Tile Slim Tracker ($30)

About the size of a credit card, the Tile Slim slips into any passport holder or wallet for insurance against lost valuables. Press a button on your phone and the Tile will ring if it’s within 200 feet. Press another to crowdsource its location from a global network of users when out of range.

Fjällräven High Coast Hip Pack ($45)

Fanny packs are the perfect travel accessory for hands-free accessibility. This one has enough space to hold a wallet, passport, and phone, while an against-the-body zippered pocket makes it functional without turning you into an eighties flashback.

Peak Designs Tech Pouch Organizer ($60)

Traveling with electronics can lead to endless digging for cords, cards, and other accessories. The book-size, water-resistant Tech Pouch from Peak Designs is an organizational masterstroke. On a recent overseas excursion, it kept two hard drives, four chargers, and an e-reader at the ready.

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���ϳԹ��� staffers are on the road a lot. Just like everyone else, we’re constantly trying to avoid ever rising baggage fees by fitting everything we need for a trip into our carry-on bags. Here, six of our frequent flyers talk about��luggage��that has��withstood the test of time and cramped overhead compartments.��

Lo and��Sons the Hanover 2 ($115)

When it comes to the compartments in my carry-on bag, the perfect number is always n plus one. The ��is my new go-to, under-the-seat personal item��because of��its understated look and plentiful internal and exterior pockets that help me stay organized even on a 48-hour, five-flight travel itinerary from Santa Fe��to New Delhi. It’s so well designed that I’ve also started using it as a gym/work bag—my running shoes go in its roomy main compartment, my computer in the separate laptop sleeve, my keys in an interior pouch, and my headphones in the nifty top pocket. As the proverbial��saying goes: a��place for everything, and everything in its place.��

—Kelsey Lindsey, associate health editor

Roam Jaunt ($495)

I’ve long been a backpack-or-bust traveler. For all my previous trips abroad, from Iceland��to��Mongolia to New Zealand, I never considered anything other than my trusty ��backpack. So when one of our editors asked me to test a rolling suitcase earlier this year, I was skeptical I could be won over. But the ��surprised me: the wheels are a marvel and make navigating streets and airports easy, and the compact size means you’ll never struggle to fit it in an overhead bin. The best selling point, though, is how roomy this suitcase is for its small size—like Mary Poppins’s bag, it��seems bottomless. For my next flight to Scotland, my backpack will be staying home.��

—Abbey Gingras, associate audience editor

Tortuga Outbreaker ($299)

I’ve been using the unisex ��for a little over a year now, and I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve lugged it on every trip that has��required flying, including a 20-hour slog to Indonesia, a series of connecting flights to Norway (with lots of running through the airports), and on domestic business trips everywhere from California��to New Orleans. On all those excursions, I only took the Outbreaker and a personal item��and felt like I was able to bring everything I needed��while still having space for souvenirs and snacks on the way home. As an organization nerd, the smart system—with a spacious main compartment, mini zippered pockets for items like socks and toiletries, and a laptop sleeve—is right up my alley, and I never leave behind ��that fit snugly inside. My one big disclaimer is that I wouldn’t recommend the pack for a trip that’ll require you to carry it for prolonged periods of time, like backpacking around Europe, as the straps tend to dig into your��shoulders after a couple hours.��

—Jenny Earnest, audience development director

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel ($97)

I’ve tried every kind of fancy adventure carry-on bag you can imagine—backpacks that open like duffels, duffels with backpack suspension systems, bags with laptop sleeves and shoe compartments. But almost every time I test one, I wind up dumping everything out at the eleventh hour and repacking in my 55-liter ,��because it seems to swallow more gear more efficiently than anything else. Most likely��this is because it’s so simple: just a large rectangle that you can stuff to your heart’s content, with durable yet pliable walls that are somehow always capable of stretching just a little more. But I like to chalk it up to magic.��

—Ariella Gintzler, associate gear editor

Helly Hansen Duffel Bag 2 and Bric’s Bellagio Spinner Trunk ($110 and $595)

For years��I’ve gotten away with using my ��as a personal item and my ��as my carry-on. Despite holding up to 50 liters, the cylindrical shape of the duffel bag somehow makes it seem much smaller on my back than it actually is—it just��squeezes��into the overhead bin—so check-in and gate agents have yet to stop me. The Bric’s is super sturdy and packs down well,��which makes it perfect for heavy��or��more fragile items. On a recent trip to Seville, Spain, for a three-day-long��wedding, followed by a few days in Tangier, Morocco, I managed to fit��four sets of clothes, two wedding outfits, two pairs of shoes, a winter coat, two blankets from Fondouk Chejra (Tangier’s central weaver’s market), and a decorative pot that was gifted by the very sweet owner of Le Saveur de Poisson (arguably the best fish lunch in Tangier)��in both��and spent zero��on baggage fees.��

—Erin Riley, senior travel editor

��

Osprey Fairview Wheeled Travel Pack Carry-On 36L ($240)

I spent over three years living out of a 65-liter ��backpacking pack��while��traveling abroad. Its durability made me a loyal Osprey fan, but I found myself frustrated with its one-dimensionality. While��traversing dirt roads in Borneo, I was thankful for its cushy straps and hipbelt, but while��searching the streets of Auckland, New Zealand,��for a hostel, I wished it had wheels, and while��getting on a plane, I longed for a built-in personal item so I wouldn’t have to carry my small backpack in front. Luckily, Osprey now makes a bag that checks all those boxes: the , which morphs into the perfect carry-on for any situation. It has rugged wheels that made it a breeze to roll (even over Sicily’s cobblestone streets), a daypack that attaches to the back or front and can be removed as a personal item, and comfy straps and a hipbelt that make it easy to carry over long distances. Now��instead of having multiple bags for different uses, the Fairview is all I need.��

—Kaelyn Lynch, assistant travel editor

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There are a lot of travel-specific bags out there, but most are packed with unnecessary features. In this video, Bryan Rogala ​​​​​explains why he loves the Gregory Border 25 for everyday airline travel.��Read the full article here.

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You love your mountain bike. You don’t want to leave it at home when you fly to Arizona or British Columbia to ride, just like you don’t want to leave your surfboards at home when you fly to California or New Zealand. But flying with gear can be downright expensive, and some airlines charge gear-specific baggage fees in excess of $200 one-way. Then again, some of them let you fly with your oversize��gear for free. “It’s a bit like the Wild West,” says Michelle Linton, general manager for , the adventure-travel side of the online gear retailer. “Every airline has different rules and procedures, and every large piece of gear is treated differently.”

How to Fly with Skis

Skis are considered a normal piece of luggage by most airlines, and you aren’t charged any extra fees as long as your skis don’t exceed the 50-pound weight limit. Linton recommends using your ski bag as your primary piece of luggage, filling in the dead space with clothing. Even better, many airlines don’t count boot bags as separate pieces of checked luggage. If you don’t have a boot bag, drape the boots over your carry-on backpack. “I just got back from a ten-day ski trip in��Japan, and I had everything packed in my ski bag and carry-on,” Linton says. “It didn’t cost me any extra to take my skis.”

���ϳԹ��� Bag Pick

Douchebags Douchebag Snow Roller Bag ($250)

This padded is light and can be adjusted to the length of your sticks, so you don’t suffer from floppage. And the rib-cage construction keeps your skis safe while baggage handlers toss it around.

How to Fly with Bikes

Bikes exist in a gray area. If you pack your bike in a hard case or cardboard box, most airlines will charge you an extra fee, which can be as much as $150 each way. Soft bike bags, on the other hand, will often qualify as a checked bag if the whole package weighs less than��50 pounds. So if you’re flying international, where��you often get two free checked bags, it won’t cost any extra to take your bike. If you’re flying domestic��and you pack your bike in a soft bag, it could be free, or it might be a $25 checked-bag fee, depending on the��airline. Even if you’re paying $150 each way to fly with your bike domestically, it will probably be cheaper than renting a high-end bike at your destination, which could run you $100 a day. Meanwhile, Linton says it might be cheaper to ship your bike to your destination via FedEx or , a bike-specific shipping company that beats airline bike fees every time.

���ϳԹ��� Bag��Pick

Orucase Airport Ninja ($499)

You have to do some extra disassembly to your bike, but has padded sleeves designed to cradle all your bike parts��and is small enough to wear as a backpack.

How to Fly with Surfboards

Surfboards aren’t as airline friendly. Some airlines charge you per board bag (usually $150 one-way), which means you can put a few boards in the same bag. Other airlines charge you per board, regardless of if they’re sandwiched in the same bag, which can get expensive��if you’re bringing a board for different kinds of breaks and conditions. There are a few airlines that are surfboard friendly. Air Tahiti Nui and Air New Zealand will let you check one board for free. So will Bahamas Air and British Airways. Hawaiian Airlines charges $100 per surfboard bag one-way, but you can put multiple boards in it. Check with individual airlines, because these rules are constantly changing. “You have to do your research ahead of time��and factor the price of [bringing] the boards into your ticket price,” Linton says. “Also consider that you can rent really nice boards in most destinations pretty inexpensively. So if budget is a consideration, it might be cheaper to rent when you get there.”

���ϳԹ��� Bag Pick

Pro-Lite Finless Coffin ($240)

This is made from a tough-denier poly with a ten-millimeter��foam lining for full protection, and it has pockets for your fins and wax. It can fit up to three boards.

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We get it—a lot of the travel gear we cover at ���ϳԹ��� is expensive. There’s a reason for that: gear that’ll stand up to years of abuse is worth paying for, and it takes a lot of it to, say, pull off a cycling trip through the Italian Dolomites or a trek in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park.

That said, not everything has to cost as much as a plane ticket to New Zealand, and when we find quality gear that costs less than an Uber to the airport, we’re the first to celebrate it. From headphones to a truly stellar camping app, here are some of our favorite travel essentials that will make life on the road that much easier.���� ��

JBL Live��100 Headphones��($40)

A set of simple earbuds is an essential travel item for me, mainly as a backup for times when I forget��my Bluetooth headphones or they run out of battery. Fifty bucks won’t buy you a set of AirPods, but you can score a pair of . They’re reliable��and sound as if they cost twice the price.��

Therm-a-Rest Trekker Pillow Case��($13)

My wife and I use every time we fly. We simply stuff one of our extra layers inside instead of dragging a cumbersome neck pillow��around the airport with us. The brushed-polyester exterior is incredibly soft, and better yet, it packs away to almost nothing in our carry-on when we’re not using it.

Anker PowerCore 20100��($50)

Anker makes my favorite portable chargers. I use the company’s in lieu of a generator on video and photo shoots to recharge camera batteries and its 12-ounce for travel. The PowerCore lets you charge two devices at once and will fully charge my iPhone 8 nearly seven times before it’s out of juice, making it great for couples that only want to bring one battery pack.

Bellroy Classic Pouch��($49)

I used to think organizers were stupid, but I also spend way too much time hunched over in my airplane seat digging through my bags trying to find cords, headphones, or lip balm. Bellroy, perhaps better known for its streamlined wallets, solves that problem with its . The wide-mouth opening, three internal��pockets, and large main storage area��mean you’ll have easy access to all your stuff and plenty of room for everything from chargers and cables to toiletries.

AllStays Camp and RV Tents App��($10)

Camp and RV is consistently rated for a reason: you’ll get a database of over 32,000 campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada, plus extras like lists of amenities provided by each site and overnight parking reports for Walmarts and other stores that allow campers, such as��REI and Cabela’s. All that translates to a much easier road-trip experience, especially for��#vanlifers and anyone who just likes to camp a lot.

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Peak Designs Camera Leash��($40)

If you bring a camera with you to document your trips, treat it right with . Peak Designs makes the best camera straps I’ve ever tried, and this one’s versatility makes it perfect for travel. Its Anchor Link connection system allows you to configure it as a sling, neck strap, or safety tether��and adjust the length from 33 to 57 inches with one finger. The Leash��holds up to 200 pounds, so it’ll work with just about any body and lens combination.

Tanner Goods Minimal Card Wallet��($40)

Ditch . There’s no reason you need to carry more than a few cards and some cash when you’re on the road. is constructed��from just two pieces of Meridian English bridle leather and keeps things simple and classy with just two slots for your plastic and a pocket for cash. It’s meant to be carried in front, too, which brings me a little extra peace of mind while traveling.

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Travel is often a great test of patience. Long layovers, delayed flights, lost luggage, and a seemingly constant stream of new fees and unexpected expenses can add up to a lot of stress. But for me at least, nothing is worse than cramming all of your stuff into your carry-on to avoid checking a bag, only to forget about your liquids and get held up by the TSA. Thankfully, some new��liquid-free grooming products can help you avoid the security-line shuffle and reduce how many single-use plastics you’re wasting��along the way.

Primal Life Organics Dirty Mouth Tooth Powder ($15)

Forget travel-size��tubes of toothpaste. Not only can you leave ��in your bag at security, you won’t have to worry about your toothpaste busting open in your Dopp kit. Bonus: the��one-ounce tube��is enough for 200 brushings.

Sea to Summit Trek and Travel Pocket Soaps ($5)

Sea to Summit has nearly all of your toiletry needs covered, thanks to an expansive��line of dry travel soaps. Each pack comes with 50 “leaves” of soap and is formulated for your hands, body, hair, clothes, or even shaving. Just add water and you’re good to go. We’re particularly fond of the��, which can be used in your��hotel or hostel’s��sink.

Beauty and the Bees Shampoo and Conditioner Bars ($25)

Since they don’t require plastic packaging, shampoo and conditioner bars are better for the environment than their liquid cousins. ,��from Beauty and the Bees, are made in Tasmania with hop-infused,��organic raw coconut oil, leatherwood beeswax, and a bit of beer for a 100 percent natural hair cleanse.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face and Body Sunscreen Stick ($6)

Don’t let the fear of exploding sunscreen tubes keep you from protecting your skin. ��is perfect for hands and faces��and��feels a heck of a lot nicer than thicker sunscreens.

Badger Anti-Bug Balm Tin ($6)

There’s a reason this lab-tested ��has a bit of a cult following. It travels well, is deet-free, smells great, and is certified organic with ingredients like caster oil, citronella, rosemary, and lemongrass. ����

Lush Ugai Mouthwash Tabs ($10)

Refresh after a long flight with these packable��. Just add a little water, swish, and spit. The company also makes toothpaste powder, shampoo bars, soap paper, and more.

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Packs, duffels, and rollers that shake off abuse.

Victorinox Swiss Army Lexicon Hardside Global Carry-On ($460)

VSA’s 34-liter carry-on is the ultimate hard-sided, four-wheel roller. For those who value their belongings (and who doesn’t?), the 100 percent polycarbonate shell is virtually indestructible. The Lexicon is slim, so it fits easily in overhead storage, yet it doesn’t sacrifice interior space, thanks to efficiently designed handles and wheel wells. Compression straps and mesh pockets keep toiletries and other small items secure, and a waterproof divider pocket is useful for damp bathing suits and yesterday’s skivvies. The Lexicon has plenty of bells and whistles, including a hardy lock and a USB port you can connect to a third-party battery pack for recharging devices on the go. Not to mention that your purchase includes free registration in VSA’s bag-tracking program, which assigns your suitcase an ID number and provides a 24-hour, toll-free number that whoever finds it can call to have it routed back to you. Naturally, since it’s a Swiss Army bag, there’s a multitool hidden in the handle. (We used the toothpick-size pen to fill out paperwork at customs.) But more than anything else, we were sold on the Lexicon’s puncture-resistant zippers and polycarbonate construction. This bag will be with you for decades—it’s that well made.

Filson Dryden 2-Wheel Carry-On ($295)

Best weekender

In step with Filson’s Seattle origins, the Dryden is at once rugged and sophisticated, weatherproof and handsome, city-worthy and adventure-ready. With 36 liters of capacity, this roller combines lightweight, water-repellent ballistic nylon with leather accents and off-road-capable, molded plastic-composite wheels that rolled with equal ease across rocky driveways in Hawaii and the snowy resort towns of British Columbia. Nylon cinch straps on the front ­allowed us to compress and expand the bag’s size as needed, and the large ex­terior pocket was perfect for stashing last-minute items without having to open the main compartment.

Timbuk2 Quest Rolling Duffel ($199)

Best soft roller��

On an eight-day trip in Kauai, the 48-liter Quest stood up to everything we threw at it while oozing quality craftsmanship. The coated-nylon exterior is water-resistant, and the bag tips the scales at just 5.5 pounds—even with burly zippers, reinforced handles, and double-stitched seams. Handles on all sides help it function perfectly as a duffel. But if you don’t feel like toting it around, the Quest has two large wheels that rumble over anything and a sturdy double-pole handle system. A shoe pocket fits a pair of sneakers and two pairs of flip-flops, and mesh inner pockets swallow smaller items. If that isn’t enough, the Quest also comes with a lifetime warranty.

Douchebag Carryall 40L ($179)

Best duffle-pack crossover

The 40-liter Carryall is both the perfect oversize pack and, with a tuck of the straps, the quintessential duffle. Mesh pockets inside the back plate and at the top (for headphones and other accessories), plus a separate spot for shoes, give it nearly the same packing capacity as a bag 30 percent larger. Testers liked the durable construction, comfortable straps, padded back plate, abundant pockets, and sleek, minimalist styling (the brand was founded by Jon Olsson, a Norwegian product designer and professional skier). Despite the company’s unfortunate name, this has become our favorite bag for everything from short, gear-intensive trips to longer jaunts that call for traveling light.

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