Don’t worry if you’re already wondering what the heck an eSIM is – I got you covered. We’ll start at the beginning, and by the end of this article, you’ll know everything you need to know to harness your phone to travel like a pro. 

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Understanding eSIMs 

A SIM card is what enables your phone to connect to cellular networks, so you can have a phone number, send and receive SMS text messages, and have a data connection. SIM cards don’t necessarily provide all three however; some are just for data, others are just for a phone number and texts. 

The predecessor to eSIMs were/are pSIMs (which stands for “physical SIM”); these were actual physical chips that go into your phone. 

What is an eSIM?

Most cell phones these days are eSIM compatible. ESIM stands for “embedded SIM”. It’s a digital SIM card that is built directly into your device. 

Unlike traditional physical SIM cards, eSIMs eliminate the need for swapping cards when changing networks/phone numbers/countries. This technology is especially beneficial for travelers, as it allows you to switch between local carriers seamlessly.

How does an eSIM work?

Like magic. 

You can activate your new eSIM online with a QR code, and/or a link that gets sent to your email after you buy a package, or even manually through your phone’s settings. The setup takes just a few minutes, and you can do it from the comfort of wherever you are, without going into a cell phone store and handing over your phone to somebody to install a card and mess with your settings. 

The Benefits of Using eSIMs for International Travel

Choosing the best eSIM for your international travels comes with a plethora of benefits that will significantly enhance your experience abroad. Here’s what you stand to gain:

Cost Savings

Traditional roaming charges can add up quickly, but eSIMs often offer more competitive rates for international data and calls. This can result in significant cost savings during your travels.

And because you can shop online for eSIMs, the market is considerably more competitive with better pricing, especially when compared to “regular” cell phone plans with exorbitant international roaming charges. You can choose plans that align with your data and calling needs, potentially saving you a significant amount.

Convenience

Swapping SIM cards can be cumbersome, and finding a local SIM in a foreign country might not always be straightforward. 

When I was in India in 2017, I landed at the airport at an awkward time of day, so the airport kiosk selling SIM cards wasn’t open. This was unfortunate, because the local cell phone stores were not equipped to help foreigners get phone plans nearly as easily as I could have gotten one from the airport. 

Since switching to eSIMs, I haven’t had to endure those kinds of hassles at all. I usually set up my eSIMs in advance, so that as soon as I land in a new place, I have a connection. 

Flexibility

eSIMs give you the flexibility to choose from various carriers and plans based on your needs. Only staying for a week? Get a week-long plan. Staying for a month? Get the month-long plan. Need to extend? Go for it. 

Also, with the ability to switch between carriers without physically changing SIM cards, eSIMs provide unmatched flexibility. This is particularly handy if you’re visiting multiple countries during your journey.

I often have multiple eSIMs from different companies on the go, to take advantage of the best rates in whatever regions/countries I’m visiting, since each eSIM company has its own sweet spot (as you’ll discover in my breakdown below).

Multi-Number Support

Some eSIM-enabled devices allow you to have multiple phone numbers on a single device. This feature is is handy if you want to keep your home number active while you’re abroad while also getting a local number for your destination. It’s also great if you want to keep personal and business contacts separate while using the same device.

Seamless Activation

Activating an eSIM is a straightforward process that can usually be done through an app. No more complicated manual setups or dealing with language barriers at local stores.

Multi-Device Connectivity (Hotspot Use)

If I don’t have a solid WiFi connection, I can turn my phone into a hotspot that my laptop and other devices can connect to. This was a lifesaver while I was traveling up, down, and all around the United States by train. Because I had a robust data plan on my eSIM, I used it as a hotspot for my laptop to have a connection so I could get work done while chugging my way around the country, since many train routes had no WiFi on board. 

Eco-Friendly 

The advent of eSIM technology is eliminating the manufacturing – and disposal – of plastic SIM cards. While I’m sure one could argue that cell phones aren’t in and of themselves the most environmentally friendly things on the planet, baby steps. The lack of plastic SIM cards is progress. I don’t see anybody giving up their phones in the name of being environmentally friendly any time soon. 

See also: Eco-Friendly Travel Products That Help the Environment 

Loss-Proof 

There’s nothing worse than changing physical SIM cards for a trip, then losing your original SIM card. With eSIMs, there’s nothing to lose! 

Top eSIM Options for International Travel

In some countries, eSIMs are still a new concept, and infrastructure isn’t always quite set up if you want a local phone plan with a phone number and data via eSIM. But this is changing quickly, since the latest models of some phones don’t allow for physical SIM cards at all! 

In general, most of the time the thing we need the most when we travel is data; not so much a local phone number since apps like WhatsApp make messaging, voice calls, and video calls possible with just a data or WiFi connection. In fact, in some countries it’s the preferred method of communicating, including for locals! 

So most of the eSIMs for international travel that I profile below are data eSIMs; while some offer phone numbers, I consider that information largely incidental. It’s the data that’s gold. 

(That said, a common question I get from readers is “what if I need to make a phone call at my destination, for example to call a hotel?” Never fear: there are a couple of eSIMs below that will help you if that’s your concern).

Some of the links to eSIM providers listed below are affiliate links; this means if you click through and make a purchase I get a wee commission. This is one of the primary ways I make my living, and it allows me to continue to create and update mammoth resources like these, so you can travel smart, in style. It doesn’t cost you anything extra; but that simple click-through on your part means a lot to me. Thank you in advance for your support. 

Roamless

Use NORA5 for a $5 credit!

Roamless turns the entire eSIM industry on its head, and I love them for it. Instead of making you buy specific data packages with set amounts of data and limited geographic coverage, they work solely on a pay-as-you go basis. This eliminates the problem of unused data going to waste. Your data will never expire, since you only ever pay for what you use!

It also eliminates the need for multiple eSIMs; one installation and you’re set up to use any amount of data, anywhere in the world. All you need to do is put money in your in-app wallet, and you’ll have fast data wherever you go.

MY STRATEGY: I always have credit sitting in my Roamless wallet. When I’m about to travel, I check the per/GB rates for the country I’m about to visit. If it’s competitive, I use Roamless. If it’s not, or if I know in advance that I’ll need a boatload of data, I start researching the other eSIMs in this article to find a competitive rate.

2025 UPDATE: Roamless originally launched with only the pay-as-you-go credit model above. This is now referred to on Roamless as their Flex plan. They also have Fix plans that behave like traditional eSIM plans, offering fixed amounts of data with 30-day expiry dates. The Fix plans are competitively priced and might be ideal if you know in advance you’ll use a lot of data.

If all that wasn’t enough, they also offer in-app phone calls. Using the money in your Roamless wallet, you can call any number around the world (rates vary by destination/carrier, but start as low as $0.01/minute). This is great if you need to make a call at your destination (eg: to a hotel) and don’t have a phone plan. While they don’t currently have the ability for you to receive incoming numbers, this is a feature they’re developing.
Note: you don’t even need to be using their eSIM to use the in-app phone call feature! All you need is to load some money in the app and you can make calls over any WiFi or data plan, including your home carrier.

Pro Tip: Turn on your notifications for the app, because they offer special deals that give you up to a 100% bonus credit! For example, they had a 1-day sale on Valentine’s Day; top up any amount over $14 and get a $14 credit! Needless to say I jumped on that one. With deals like that, your actual cost per GB of data – even for the Flex plans – will be among the most competitive on the market.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Flex Plans: 100% Pay-as-you-go, works in 200+ countries
• Fix Plans: Fixed data amounts and locations with 30-day expiry

PRICING INFO

• Pricing varies depending on the country and whether you choose Flex or Fix.
• For example: France = $2.45/GB Flex, and as low as $1.24/GB on Fix; Canada = $4.45/GB Flex, as low as $2.20/GB on Fix

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• Funds in wallet never expire
• Supports device tethering
• Easy-to-follow steps & instructions when installing
• Turn it on or off whenever you need to
• Works on Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops
• 4G/5G connections, no throttling
• Make in-app voice calls to 200+ destinations

Click here to check out Roamless and use NORA5 for a $5 credit!  

Saily

Use NORA10 for 10% off!

Saily covers 200+ destinations and offers high network speeds like 4G, LTE, and 5G. They are associated with my fav VPN company that I’ve been a paying customer for years (and one of the top-rated VPNs around): Nord VPN. This immediately bodes well for my confidence in Saily being a good eSIM provider.

As soon as Saily launched I checked out their rates and I was very impressed: some of the most competitive rates I’ve seen yet, especially for 30-day plans.

Even better: they also have some of the only long-term global data plans on the market! I almost always have a 20GB global plan with a 365-day expiry date on my phone – either with Saily or Airalo (below).

This is noteworthy for a couple of reasons; a big one being that most eSIM data plans have very short expiry dates (usually between seven and 30 days). The 365-day plans help to set Saily apart.

I use this global plan either as my main eSIM (especially in places where the cost of data is normally expensive), and/or somewhere where I know I’ll have WiFi most of the time and won’t need much data, and/or as a backup for places I’m transiting or traveling quickly through and don’t want to bother getting a dedicated data eSIM for.

I also used one of their Regional plans for Europe, and again I used them when I visited Tanzania. In all cases I was super pleased. The process of buying and installing was very easy.

With only one tap, you can install your eSIM plan and start using it right away. If you ever need to top up your active plan, you can do that smoothly without buying and installing another one. This includes when hopping from one country/region to another; you never have to reinstall a new eSIM profile. All you need to do is to get a new deal, and you can swap your plans conveniently through the app.

2025 UPDATE: Saily just launched yet another new type of plan that is rocking the eSIM industry for long-term travelers and remote workers: Saily Ultra – an unlimited global eSIM monthly plan. Here are the features:

• 30GB high speed data per month (if you use more than 30GB it switches to 1mbps speed)
• Coverage in 113 countries
• Access to Nord’s full suite, including NordVPN, NordPass (password manager), NordLocker (secure cloud storage) and Incogni (personal data removal service) – all this would normally cost you $8/month, for free
• 8% cashback in Saily credits
• Ad blockers
• Virtual location (masks your IP address) – this helps accessing sites you can only access from your home country
• Web protection
• Priority 24/7 support
• More to come

Depending on how much data you need per month, rates start at $29.99/month.

I have recently started testing out eSIM monthly subscription plans (there are a few available, including Saily, Holafly, Pangia Pass, and GigSky – all featured below), and I am surprised at how refreshing it is to know I have unlimited data, everywhere I go.
And with the entire Nord suite of services as well (including a VPN which is critical to have), Saily Ultra is a good option.

TYPES OF SAILY PLANS

• Variety of local plans for 200+ destinations and regions
• Multiple data packages, starting from 1 GB up to 20 GB
• Flexible validity periods, starting from 1 day up to 30 days (plus the 365-day global plan)
• Saily Ultra global monthly subscription plan

PRICING INFO

• Pricing varies depending on the country, the duration of the plan, and the amount of data you want to get.
• For example: Turkey: 1 GB data for 7 days = $3.99; Spain: 3 GB data for 30 days = $6.99; Thailand: 1 GB data for 7 days = $2.99; Europe 5 GB for 30 days = $19.49; Global 20 GB for 365 days = $67.
• Saily Unlimited, for $29.99/month

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• 24/7 customer support
• Supports tethering
• Easy-to-follow steps & instructions when installing
• Supports 5G connection
• Multi-use eSIM profile
• Many plans offer 3% cashback which can be used towards your next eSIM

Click here to check out Saily and use NORA10 for 10% off!  

Pangia Pass

Get 10% off (discount embedded my links below)

There are now a few eSIM providers that offer global monthly renewable data plans. Saily Ultra (described above), and Holafly and GigSky (coming below).

However unlike these others who offer these types of plans as a supplement to their core offering, Pangia Pass eSIM does one and one thing only: global unlimited renewable data.

I’m in the process of testing out these plans across all these providers. Here are some general observations.

Why Monthly Renewable Global Data Works

In the “old days”, landing in a new country was hard work: find Wi-Fi, find a SIM shop, compare plans, choose/buy/install, and hope it all works. If I landed at an awkward time of day or night, the airport kiosks wouldn’t be open and I’d have to dedicate half a day to finding a cell phone shop that could help me as a non-resident traveler. 

Then eSIMs came along; big improvement. Still, I would spend hours before each trip researching the best eSIM, downloading and installing it, and hoping it would connect when I landed at my destination. 

Now, the plane lands, I turn on my phone, and I’m already connected. This is monthly renewable global data at its best. 

Here’s why it’s magic

• Pangia Pass in particular has the best rates in the global monthly data market (save for Gigsky’s current sale promo which is a bit cheaper).
• Because the data is unlimited, I don’t worry about trying to connect to public WiFi wherever possible, like airports, hotels, and cafes – where the WiFi is notoriously insecure. 
• I no longer spend hours researching and comparing eSIM plans every time I’m about to travel. My phone simply works, everywhere I go, all the time. 
• I don’t have to monitor my data usage meticulously, to make sure I bought enough for my trip length.
• I just never think about data any more, and it’s way more of a relief than I ever thought it would be.
  

Who it’s for

Digital nomads and long-term travelers are the obvious choice for Pangia Pass, but I would also say anybody who travels frequently (even on shorter trips) can benefit from having this perfect option that works every time you go abroad. 

Some specifics / drawbacks

• While the data is unlimited, the coverage isn’t quite global. Pangia Pass covers 105 countries (and counting). Regions with limited coverage include a huge chuck of Africa, the Stans, a bit of SouthEast Asia (including Laos and Cambodia), and a bit of Central/South America (including Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Venezuela). So check the coverage map before you travel to make sure you’ll have data. If not, you can supplement with another eSIM for the time you’re in those countries. 
• No phone number is included (which is standard for most eSIMs). 
• In order to keep data unlimited and global for all customers, Pangia Pass asks everybody to adhere to a fair usage policy. This means don’t do things like stream video 24/7 (literally), or hotspot to devices that consume ridiculous amounts of GiGs daily. The good news is if you’re using up too much bandwidth you’ll get a warning first (they won’t just boot you off).
  

Payment options

Panga Pass has 3 plans to choose from (in $USD):

• $27/month, paid annually ($324/year)
• $35/month, paid monthly, cancel any time
• Lifetime Unlimited plan: $5,000 one time payment

The monthly and annual plans auto-renew. You can cancel any time through the dashboard, but you don’t get a refund for unused time if you cancel mid-cycle. 

Curious? Try out Pangia Pass eSIM here, and this link has a 10% discount embedded! 

Holafly eSIM 

Use promo code THEPROFESSIONALHOBO for 5-10% off!

Over the years I haven’t been super excited to promote Holafly because I haven’t found their rates particularly competitive. But they revamped their program and now have a couple of standout features that just might be up your alley.

FOR SHORT-TERM TRIPS AND BIG DATA NEEDS: Holafly offers unlimited data at a fixed cost per day at your destination. The longer the plan you select, the lower the cost per day will be. This makes your vacation super stress-free, because you don’t need to worry about running out of data.

FOR LONG-TERM TRAVELERS and DIGITAL NOMADS: Holafly Plans gives you monthly global data plans. You can choose from three beefy plans, depending on your needs. You can use your phone as a hotspot, and you can cancel whenever you like.

I tested out the Holafly Plans feature and the process was seamless. And I must admit, with large-to-unlimited data amounts and global accessibility, I don’t have to think about my data needs (geographically) nor consumption. I just know it works….everywhere.

If you want to try out Holafly Plans, use THEPROFESSIONALHOBO to get 10% off every month for 12 months.

TYPES OF PLANS

• “Regular” Holafly – Prepaid Local, Regional, or Global data that is unlimited and charged on a per-day basis
• Holafly Plans – Monthly data plans for long-term global data users

PRICING INFO 

• “Regular Holafly pricing varies depending on the country or region and the duration of the plan
• For example: Europe – as low as $1.58/day for 60+ day plans, $6.90/day for less than 30 days
• Holafly Plans is currently offering launch pricing starting at $68/month. (Use THEPROFESSIONALHOBO to lock in the launch price plus 10% off). Note: this is far from the most competitive of the subscription plans. Check out the other subscription plans featured in this article to find the one with the best coverage and prices for your needs.

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• Extremely positive feedback from users in testimonials/reviews
• 24/7 Customer Support
• 200+ destinations
• Hotspot enabled
• Flexible refund policy (you can request a refund up to 6 months after purchase if your travel plans change)
  

Click here for “Regular” Holafly, and click here for Holafly Plans. Use THEPROFESSIONALHOBO for 5% off regular Holafly, and 10% off Holafly Plans!

GigSky

GigSky offers a variety of plans for 190-plus countries and regions. For those preparing to go on a cruise, their new Cruise + Land plans make staying connected while at sea, in port and on land seamless – a standout quality among eSIM providers. . 

Plans start as low as $2.99 for 1GB of data. When combined with their Rewards Program (earn 5% credit on every purchase you make) and their Refer-a-Friend offer (earn $3 every time a new referee buys a data plan), it’s easy to get addicted to being a repeat customer.  

Additionally, they offer all new customers a 100MB Free Trial – the perfect way to “try before you buy.” The best part about this is there’s no credit card required to take advantage of this offer.

GigSky also has a series of Unlimited plans, available in certain regions/countries (check their website for details). These plans range from 1-day to 30-days and is priced based on location. This is a great solution for heavy-data users. 

My partner has used GigSky in a few countries now. The purchase and installation is easy and the connection has been smooth and unlimited. The only downside is that each new plan (eg: for different countries or regions) requires a separate installation.

2026 UPDATE: GigSky One is their latest creation – a monthly subscription model that offers global data, similar to what I’ve described above with Holafly, Pangia Pass, and Saily. You can choose how much data you wish to have per month (25GB, 50GB, or 75GB), and at the time of this update they are running a 50% off special which makes their 25GB plan the most competitive of all the eSIM subscription plans on the market! This plan offers coverage in 120+ countries.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Country
• Regional
• Global
• Cruise + Land
• Off-Shore/North Sea
• Monthly Global Subscriptions

PRICING INFO

• Free 100MB data (for new customers)
• Pricing depends on destination, duration and data allowance. Take, for example, a United Kingdom Plan:
  • 100MB – Free – 7 days
  • 1GB – $5.99 – 7 days
  • 3GB – $9.34 – 15 days
  • 5GB – $15.29 – 30 days
  • 10GB – $23.37 – 30 days
  • Unlimited – $20.29 – 7 days
  • Unlimited – $30.79 – 14 days 

ADDITIONAL INFO / FEATURES

• 100MB Free Trial
• Plans in 190+ countries/regions
• Operates on 5G (when available)
• Automatically connects to the fastest networks
• 24/7/365 Live Support: chat, email, phone call & through their website
• Easy top-ups
• Data sharing (hotspot) allowed with other devices

Check out GigSky’s many offerings here!

Airalo eSIM 

Airalo has long been the darling of my fellow digital nomads and international travelers, much to my chagrin. When I first looked at them a few years ago, their rates were horrible. But they were easy to use, which apparently was worth its weight in gold. Or maybe it was that they had a robust loyalty/referral program; many eSIM providers now do, but Airalo was one of the first, and I think it served them well. 

The I looked at them again a couple of years ago and their rates were more competitive.

Also, something caught my eye: they also have a 20GB global plan with a 365-day expiry (similar to Saily) that is almost exactly the same price! It’s a fabulous back-up plan in case you need coverage in transit countries or for short spurts. If you’re in the market for a global eSIM check the current rates for both, as one or the other might have a sale on.

I have since used (and topped up) Airalo’s 20 GB global plan, and in 2024 I also found a great rate on a 30-day plan for a country I was visiting (Bosnia & Herzegovina for the record).

Sadly with Airalo, unless you’re topping up an existing eSIM, getting new plans requires you to go through the installation process again. While I’ve never struggled with the installation, I have heard from readers who have; if you’re not tech-savvy, you stand warned.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data
• Local data
• Global data

PRICING INFO 

• Pricing depends on the destination, duration, and data allowance 
• For example: Canada: 1GB for 7 days = $6; Australia: 2GB for 15 days = $8; Latin America: 3GB for 30 days = $39; Global (130 countries): 20GB for 365 days = $69

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• 24/7 support
• Airalo Loyalty Program – earn additional credit for every purchase (cashback)

Click here to check out Airalo!

Simbye

Use HOBO10 for a 10% discount!
The links below have the discount embedded

Simbye stands out by going beyond the typical “data-only” eSIM model, offering real mobile numbers, calling capabilities, and highly customizable plans alongside global data coverage. This makes it particularly appealing for travelers who need a more complete mobile solution—not just internet access.

One of its most distinctive features is the inclusion of real phone numbers (not VoIP), which means you can receive OTP codes, register apps, and make calls just like you would with a traditional SIM. Combined with flexible plan-building options and coverage in 190+ countries, Simbye positions itself as a more fully featured alternative to standard travel eSIM providers.

Prices vary, but are generally a bit more premium as compared to most data-only eSIM providers. This is because of the inclusion of additional features like real phone numbers, calls, and texts. It’s more like a full phone plan that you can use on the road, and in that realm they are competitive.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Global and regional prepaid data plans covering 190+ countries
• Europe plan with a real European mobile number, including unlimited calls & SMS within Europe and international minutes
• US number option that functions like a real mobile line (supports OTP verification and app registrations)
• Build-your-own eSIM: choose up to 10 countries and set validity up to 365 days

PRICING INFO

• Europe plans (with unlimited data, phone number with calls/SMS): starting at $30 for one month
• Custom plans: price varies by countries + duration (up to 365 days)

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

• Beware of purchasing a long plan (eg: 365 days) then changing phones; the eSIM does not transfer over to a new phone and you’ll need to buy a new plan
• Supports hotspot tethering
• App-based setup and management (including the call/SMS management)
• Don’t need to install a new eSIM if you get a new plan for a different region/country

Click here to check out Simbye and enjoy an automatic 10% discount!

Nomad eSIM 

Nomad eSIM was the first eSIM I ever used. Keep an eye out for their sales; I started using them because they had a great deal on a European plan, and I got hooked on the ease of setup and the solid connectivity. 

I will admit, the sale package offered more data than I would normally consume, and once I got a taste of having obscene amounts of data at my fingertips, it turned me into a wee bit of a data-pig. It’s a tough habit to break once Pandora’s box has been opened. 

Caution: if installing new eSIMs gives you the heebie-jeebies, Nomad eSIM requires you to install a new eSIM for every country/region/plan you purchase. It’s not difficult, but you’ll need to keep track of which eSIM is which and potentially clean up old ones.
Many newer eSIMS to the market (including all the eSIMs listed above) only require you to install their eSIM once, and you can use any of their plans with the one eSIM, saving you the hassle of switching. This is important if your phone limits the number of eSIMs you can have.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data
• Local data
• Global data

PRICING INFO 

• Europe: Starting from $1.25/GB
• US: Starting from $2.00/GB
• UK: Starting from $1.50/GB
• APAC: Starting from $2.40/GB

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• 24/7 Message support is built into the app
• Data sharing (hotspot) allowed with other devices
• Loyalty program plus referral bonuses available
  

Firsty

Firsty is totally unique and has a great value proposition: as in, it’s free! The idea is, if you land at a new destination and you haven’t yet installed a local SIM card, or perhaps whatever plan you are using is on the fritz, Firsty is there to save the day with free global data.

Their free plan offers a basic connection with a low bandwidth, but fast enough to get the essentials done; check emails, order an Uber, etc. Every 60 minutes you will be asked to watch a 30-second advertisement to keep the free juice flowing.

They also have Firsty Fast, which is their premium product and divided into two different tiers depending on your data needs. For those looking to roam like at home, they have Firsty Fast Ultra for around 2.50EUR/day. Those looking to get by with 500MB of fast data per day is Firsty Fast Lyte, starting at 1EUR/day. Being the only provider where you can buy days instead of bundles, you’ll never worry about running out of data. You can easily top up in the app or you can fall back on Firsty Free to message, check your email, online call, use navigation and other low-bandwidth apps like ordering an Uber.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Global
• Per country. List of countries and plans here.
• Pay per day

PRICING INFO 

• Free plan, low bandwidth, you get shown a 30-second ad every 60 minutes
• Firsty Fasty Lyte, approximately 1 EUR/day for 500 MB
• Firsty Fast Ultra, approximately 2 EUR/day for 2GB

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• You can pause your data and save it for your next trip. In this way, your data never expires!
• 24/7 customer support built into the app
• Free mobile data for apps like messaging, navigation, ordering an uber and facetime
• Buy days instead of bundles (2GB a day)
• One eSIM for the globe, automatically connecting you to best available network
  
  

aloSIM

Use NORA for 15% off!

aloSIM is a Canada-based eSIM provider. They’ve got great reach (175+ countries) and relatively competitive rates. Where aloSIM shines is in their alliance with Hushed, which offers online phone numbers. When you get an aloSIM eSIM, you will also get a FREE online phone number (your choice of a US or Canadian phone number) that can make and receive calls and texts over WiFi and data – for free – for the duration of your plan!

I recently found some great rates for a 30-day Europe/UK eSIM with aloSIM and so I tried them out. While this particular 30-day plan didn’t come with an online phone number, I will say that installing and activating aloSIM through their app was incredibly easy and seamless.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional plans
• Country plans

PRICING INFO

• Europe: Starting from $5.00/week
• US: Starting from $4.50/week
• Asia: Starting from $5.00/week
• Canada: Starting from $6/week

ADDITIONAL INFO / FEATURES

• Offers 24/7 live chat 
• 5G speeds available
• Quick and simple activation process
• Data sharing (hotspot) allowed with other devices
• Most data packages come with a free international phone number from Hushed (their sister app) that can call or text anywhere in the world
• Comprehensive FAQ – They’ve meticulously compiled answers to every imaginable question, ensuring you don’t need to resort to searching on Google or YouTube for solutions
  
  

Orbit Mobile eSIM

Use HOBO10 for 10% off!

Orbit Mobile e-SIM offers some very competitive prices. After discounts, their plans start at just $1.40/GB. 

Their plans are quite flexible. Most country plans allow you to buy from 1-20GB with a 30-day expiry. Some regional plans also include 50GB for 60 days, and 100GB for 365 days.

And at $120 for 100GB of global data over 365 days, this puts Orbit Mobile in top spot for value per GB on the 365-day global plans, as compared to Saily and Airalo’s global 365-day plans! However, Orbit Mobile’s Global plan currently only includes 64 countries, so make sure you’ll have coverage where you want to be. For example, I was surprised to see Canada is not on the list of countries covered in the Global plan.

Orbit Mobile e-SIM supports 4G+ to 5G. It lets you make in-app voice calls to 190+ countries. The network stays strong across urban areas and decent in most rural areas. 2025 Update: Orbit Mobile now works in 190+ countries (up from 170). And you don’t need to buy a new e-SIM every trip. One profile handles regional and global top-ups.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Local data 
• Regional data 
• Global data

PRICING INFO 

• Prices vary by country, duration, and data size
• Europe: Starting from $5.50/GB for 30 days
• US: Starting from $3/GB for 30 days
• Australia: Starting from $3/GB for 30 days
• Asia: Starting from $9/GB for 30 days
• Global Pass: Starting from $1/GB for 1 day or $120/100 for 365 days

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

• Supports 4G+/5G for fast connections.
• Multi-use eSIM profile- one eSIM, many top-ups.
• Works on phones, tablets, and laptops.
• In-app voice calls to 190+ destinations.
• 24/7 customer support.
• Quick QR-code and app-based activation.
• Hotspot support for tethering.

Click here to check out Orbit Mobile eSIMs, and use HOBO10 for 10% off!

Airhub App

Airhub provides comprehensive voice and data eSIMs in 80+ countries. A significant advantage is the inclusion of local numbers for receiving calls and texts, making it easy to receive OTPs for taxis, book hotels, and more. The Europe eSIM even includes a voice plan that supports international calls, facilitating communication with family and friends while abroad.

When you type in a destination, you’ll get a range of eSIM options including data only, data + voice, and different data amounts/expiry dates. The rates are very competitive. 

A word of advice/caution:

Read the additional information before buying, as there may be restrictions. When I searched Bulgaria’s voice + data plan, the phone number attached to the plan is a UK number. While it included roaming support so I could make local calls, a local Bulgarian wouldn’t likely want to call a UK number to reach me down the street. 

Also, I noticed some plans restrict hotspot tethering. If you plan to use your phone as a data hotspot, you’ll want to confirm the plan you get allows for it. 

Airhub ensures connectivity across popular travel destinations with a user-friendly activation process through QR codes or an app, ensuring you’re connected as soon as you land. Additionally, Airhub offers a range of plans tailored to different travel needs, such as family plans and cruise plans; whether data, voice, or both. This flexibility surpasses many competitors who often focus primarily on data-only plans.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional plans
• Local plans
• Global plans
• Voice plans (available in specific regions)

PRICING INFO

• Thailand: 2GB for 7 days – $3.2
• Europe: 65GB for 30 days – $32
• Australia: 20GB for 30 days – $12
• Latin America: 5GB for 30 days – $19.5
• Global: 25GB for 30 days – $39.9 (More plans available quarterly and annually)

ADDITIONAL INFO / FEATURES

• 24/7 Support: Available via in-app messaging.
• Airhub Loyalty Program: Earn additional credit for every purchase (cashback).
• Airhub’s Free eSIM: Avail up to 100 MB of free data covering over 80 countries. If you end up exhausting the data, you can always go for affordable top-up plans.
• Exciting offers like Family and Cruise Plans are tailored specifically for various needs.
  
  

Jetpac

Jetpac is a Telco company based out of Singapore. As a telecommunications company, they have direct relationships with other telcos globally, which in turn allows them to offer extremely competitive rates. As of May 2024, they claim to have the lowest rates for Japan, Europe, and the US. Most data packs have a 7-day or 30-day expiry, and you have up to a year to activate a pack after purchasing it.

In addition to data roaming services, Jetpac provides exclusive travel convenience perks such as free lounge access, meal and drink vouchers for delayed flights at over 1,000 airports worldwide, and one-click access to emergency hotlines in foreign countries.

I bought a 7-day plan with Jetpac and installation/use was fairly easy.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Global plan
• Regional plans
• Country plans

PRICING INFO 

• 1-day, 4-day, 7-day, and 30-day plans, up to 40GB
• Europe (28 countries) GB for 4 days = $1! 3GB for 7 days = $8.50
• USA 0.5GB for 1 day = $0.60! 1GB for 4 days = $1; 3GB for 7 days = $5

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• Data sharing (creating a hotspot with your phone) is allowed with other devices
• Rates are great if you just need data for a few days
• They’re coming out with additional travel-friendly features and add-ons, so check their Perks page for the latest!
  
  
  

Truely

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Truely offers 4G, LTE, and 5G connectivity in over 200 locations worldwide. Its Switchless technology eliminates the need to reinstall or switch eSIM profiles when moving between countries, allowing for a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.

Truely offers a single lifetime eSIM solution — you don’t have to juggle multiple SIM cards or profiles. Their pricing model is straightforward: choose either a total amount of data for a specific number of days or a set amount of data per day for up to 60 days.

While the single eSIM solution isn’t super unique any more, Truely may have competitive rates depending on where you’re going.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data
• Global data
• Day passes

PRICING INFO

• Pricing depends on the destination, duration, and data allowance 
• For example: US: 1GB for 7 days = $4.49; Europe: 1GB for 7 days = $4.99; UK: 1GB for 7 days = $4.99

ADDITIONAL INFO

• 24/7 support via live chat or WhatsApp
• Only one eSIM required for all destinations
• 5G speeds available
• Wireless hotspot is allowed
  
  

Kite.Mobi

Kite.Mobi is fairly new to the scene, and when I checked out their site I was impressed with their global reach (160+ countries), their relationship with multiple cell networks in each country, and competitive rates.

What’s unique about Kite.Mobi is that they don’t have individual country plans; rather, they work with bundles. So, type in the country you plan to visit, and you’ll likely find that it’s also good in a few dozen other countries as well! The idea with multi-country access is that you can activate the eSIM before you leave home to make sure it works, and it will then work as soon as you land at your destination – and likely any layovers you have in between!

This sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole searching individual countries, then seeing which countries were included in that bundle, then searching other countries in that bundle to see if the rates were the same. In most cases they were; in some, they weren’t. For example, I searched New Zealand and found a bundle of 44 countries, including Bulgaria. So then I searched Bulgaria and got a different bundle with 37 countries (not including New Zealand) that cost a bit less!

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data (up to 72 countries per bundle)

PRICING INFO 

• 7-day and 30-day plans, up to 20GB
• 37-country bundle (including most of Europe) costs up to $25 for 20GB; a 73-country bundle (including Canada/USA and countries around the world) costs up to $68 for 20GB

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• Data sharing (creating a hotspot with your phone) is allowed with other devices
• eSIMs are reusable up to 12 months after your last trip
• Customer service is only online, with a cautionary note that with timezone differences it may take a while for the team to get back to you
  

KeepGo eSIM 

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KeepGo has both eSIMs as well as physical SIMs and also mobile WiFi hotspots. I’ve had their mobile WiFi hotspot for a few years and whenever I’ve traveled with other people and needed to tether multiple devices, it has been great. Their rates aren’t the most competitive, but the data is valid forever (as long as you top up once per year, even with a tiny amount). 

I find the eSIM plans to be overwhelming; I searched for eSIM plans in Canada, and there are five different “eSIM bundles” that include Canada coverage. Each one has different coverage in terms of the number of carriers they have access to and/or the number of countries they offer coverage in. 5GB of data ranges from $40-$120!

So it’s a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack, but the prices CAN be very reasonable. Eg: if you’re going to Europe and you get the EU+ eSIM, 5GB costs $14 and never expires! 

But if you’re looking for a fast and easy one-click choice, you won’t find it here. 

If you click the link above and find a plan that works for you, use PROFESSIONALHOBO for 10% off! 

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data
• Global data
• They also have physical sim card bundles, and mobile WiFi hotspots

PRICING INFO 

• Each package has different countries and networks that it supports, and different pricing.
• For example: Perseus: 9 main Asian destinations and Saudi Arabia | 5GB = $30; Phoenix: Global data | 10GB = $112; Orion: Europe and the USA | 50GB = $400

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• Data is valid forever if topped up at least once a year
• Data sharing allowed with other devices 
• You can switch between different mobile networks with the best coverage in your area. You can also manually select your preferred network via the Keepgo app
• Cannot purchase individual country eSim plans
  

TravelSim eSIM 

I have no experience with TravelSim, but they seem to be a popular choice and their rates are pretty good for Europe. It’s a Europe-centric service, with customer service hours limited to European time zones. I will update this post as I test them out or get more information. 

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data
• Global data
• Physical SIM cards also available

PRICING INFO 

• You can manually add a data plan and credit for calls & SMS to your eSIM
• eSIM Embedded Sim Card = $6
• Credit for calls and texts starts at $10
• Data plans differ per region. For example: Europe: 5GB for 30 days = $18; Zone A: 3GB for 30 days = $87; Zone B: 5GB for 30 days = $175

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• TravelSim airtime/credit lasts one year (12 months) from your last recharge/top-up
• Your eSIM card will stay “live” as long as you recharge/top up once a year
• Customer service hours are limited to Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 Eastern European Time Zone
  
  
  

Making the Most of Your eSIM

Here’s some super important info to make sure your eSIM adventures go smoothly. 

Check compatibility

Before traveling, ensure that your device is eSIM-enabled and unlocked. Some devices might require carrier-specific eSIMs. If you have a phone plan that includes payments for your phone (ie: you didn’t buy your phone outright for a whack of dough), then your phone could be locked and thus you won’t be able to change SIMs. You can find out by contacting your current phone carrier. 

Consider regional or global plans 

If you’re bopping around countries, it may be easier to just get a regional or even a global plan. Recently I was in Europe for a summer, and (including layovers) I set foot in seven countries in three months. I got a regional plan that covered me throughout Europe, so I had a seamless connection everywhere without having to do anything. 

Consider expiry dates and your usage needs

While some data plans looks like a steal at under $2 per gigabyte of data, if that data expires in just a few days and there’s no way to roll it over, dollar for dollar it might be a crappy deal. Think about how much data you’re likely to use during the plan period. 

For example when I’m at my home base in Canada I have a solid WiFi connection most of the time, so I don’t use a lot of data. So it doesn’t make sense to pay $30 (for example) for a 30-day plan that gives me 20GB of data if I won’t use it. It might make more sense to pay the same $30 for 7GB of data that is good for 180 days. The cost per GB is greater, but overall it’s way cheaper if I’m around for a while. 

Know your plan’s expiry and rollover rules 

The thing people almost never seem to consider when choosing an eSIM provider, is their rollover rules. And it’s so important, especially for long-term travelers, or people like me who use data eSIMs 365 days a year – at home and abroad. (My phone number in Canada is through an app called Fongo, so I don’t have a “regular” phone plan). 

So when you’re evaluating plans, consider: What happens to the data you buy when it expires? Do you lose it? Or can you roll it over by topping up? I never really know how much data I will use in a given period of time, so I appreciate plans that allow me to preserve unused data on expiry. 

Do you need a phone number with calls and texts? 

Some eSIMs come with a phone number that gives you a certain number of SMS texts and calling minutes. But before you take the bait, where is the phone number? 

I was considering a global data plan with one of these providers above; they had packages with just data, and packages with data/calls/texts. But the phone number they give you is for a random country that I have no plans to visit! So the phone number would be useless to me. That said, if one of these eSIMs gives you a number for a country you actually plan to visit, this could be very useful. 

Activate beforehand

I appreciate having a connection as soon as I land, so I can leave the airport and hop right into an Uber or use Google Maps to get public transportation directions. And you usually need some kind of WiFi connection to initially set up your eSIM. By setting up and activating your eSIM before you travel, you’ll be connected on arrival. 

Look at the carriers an eSIM uses

Some eSIMs only have arrangements with one carrier in a country, and that carrier might not have the best coverage for the area you want to visit. Other eSIM providers have the ability to switch carriers to whichever one is strongest in that area. 

If you’re doing a road trip through remote areas of a country, certain phone carriers may be better than others to have. Make sure that the eSIM you choose uses carriers with strong coverage in the areas you plan to visit. 

Check for customer support 

If something goes wrong or you need assistance with your plan, you want to know that a robust 24/7 customer support can get you out of your bind. By reading reviews, you’ll find out pretty quickly what a company’s state of affairs is regarding customer support. 

Getting a New Phone? Beware

Most eSIMs don’t automatically transfer over to a new phone. You’ll need to go through an installation process again, and in some cases it requires a call to customer service because it’s not a standard installation.

Moreover, some eSIM companies don’t allow for an installation on a new phone at all. They make you buy a new plan. So if have your eye on an eSIM plan with a far-off expiry date and you also plan to get a new phone, make sure it will transfer over.

FAQs about the Best eSIM for International Travel

Staying connected while traveling internationally is more important than ever, but no longer needs to be difficult or stressful With the convenience, cost savings, and flexibility offered by eSIM technology, you can enjoy your trip without worrying about roaming charges. 

With the top eSIM options mentioned in this article, you can make an informed decision and stay connected wherever your wanderlust takes you. 

This post Finding the Best eSIM for International Travel: Your Ultimate Guide appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

They’ve come along way though, and I’ve tried a bunch of packing cubes in different luggage and packing scenarios. I’ve learned that some are definitely better than others. From design to materials to specific features, packing cubes could actually make – or break – your luggage experience. 

In this article you’ll get the dirt on the different kinds of packing cubes, what to look for (and what to stay away from), and a full breakdown of the best packing cubes for travel so you can choose the best ones for your next tip. 

See also:
The Ultimate Packing List for Long-Term Travel
Top Packing Hacks: Best Travel Accessories for 2023
How to Decide Between Checked vs Carry on Luggage 

Why are Packing Cubes So Great? The Benefits of Using Packing Cubes for Travel

While I was once staunchly against packing cubes, I’ve softened. Most of the time I travel with packing cubes now, and here’s why. 

Keep Your Luggage Organized and Tidy

Rather than opening your luggage to an explosion of random bits of clothes and accessories, you can keep your stuff organized using packing cubes. 

This is ideal for couples or families using the same luggage; each person could have their own packing cubes, so it’s easy to see what belongs to whom. You can also use packing cubes to separate clean and dirty laundry, or to group similar items together (like shirts vs. pants). 

This is especially handy if you’re changing destinations/locations a lot – it’s much easier to reach for the packing cube you need rather than to unearth a pile of clothes while digging around for the one thing you need, only to have to re-fold/re-roll and repack everything before moving on. 

Also, no matter how clean you are, the inside of your luggage is likely to get a bit dirty, and packing clean clothes into dirty luggage isn’t ideal. 

Maximize Your Luggage Space

This one is a bit debatable, since not all packing cubes actually maximize luggage space. Compression packing cubes are the trick to optimizing space (we’ll get more into this in a bit). 

The other trick is to use packing cubes of different sizes, so the smaller ones can fit into the corners and other nooks around larger packing cubes. 

Easily Access and Find Your Belongings

Not having to rummage through your entire suitcase in search of the one thing (that will inevitably be at the bottom according to Murphy’s Law) is a definite pro for using packing cubes! 

The trick is to be able to identify which packing cube has what you need; you can do this by using different sizes and/or colours of packing cubes so you can pack thematically and know where everything is. 

Some packing cubes also have mesh panels to help you to see what’s inside; others have number systems, and others yet have pockets with labels you can write on if you like to get granular about the contents. 

Protect Your Clothes and Other Items

Packing cubes can protect your clothes in three ways.

First, toiletry leaks or dirty items won’t contaminate everything else, which will be protected in their packing cubes.

Also, by using packing cubes, you are neatly rolling or folding your clothes and putting them in the cube. Assuming you fill the packing cube to capacity, then even if your luggage gets jostled around, the clothes within the packing cubes won’t move – which keeps everything together and reduces the chances that your stuff will come out wrinkled. 

Last, at your destination, the clothing drawers at your accommodation may not be as clean as you’d like. By keeping your clothes in the packing cubes, you just made unpacking a breeze, and you’re protecting your clothes against any drawer-ickies. 

Airport Security 

This is a bit of an “out-there” benefit to packing cubes, but it’s an important one. Picture this: you’re traveling with carry-on luggage only, and when your bag goes through the x-ray, it gets flagged for secondary inspection. The airport security officer then opens your bag and then has to rifle through all of your neatly rolled/folded clothes and even underwear! Not only could this be awkward, but then you have to refold/repack everything on the spot! Packing cubes help to avert this challenge. 

Not sure whether to use packing cubes or just roll your clothes and put them directly in your suitcase? I created a video where I did a side-by-side comparison. The results were surprising! Check it out here. 

Do Packing Cubes REALLY Help? Why You Shouldn’t Use Packing Cubes 

Everything has pros and cons, so let’s get into it. 

They’re Space Hogs

If you don’t use compression packing cubes, chances are you are not saving luggage space – rather, you’re wasting it. 

That said, my friend Alex who created Compass Rose packing cubes (which I profile below) begs to differ – she has a method of using regular packing cubes like they’re compression packing cubes that is pretty killer; check out her video here. 

Lose Track of What is Where 

If you use a bunch of identical packing cubes, you’ll have no way of identifying what’s inside; finding what you need will be more difficult than necessary. 

Wrinkles

Depending on how you pack your packing cubes, your clothes could end up more wrinkled than if you just rolled or folded them directly into your luggage. This is especially true of compression packing cubes, which really squish everything down. 

Comparing Compression Packing Cubes vs. Regular Packing Cubes

The secret to maximizing luggage space with packing cubes lies in the ability to compress your stuff down. Certain clothing items (I’m lookin’ at you, sweaters/hoodies/jumpers) take up more room than necessary if they’re not compressed. 

That said, they’re not categorically the best choice – it depends. 

What Are Regular Packing Cubes?

Regular packing cubes are simply rectangular or square-shaped organizers made of sturdy fabric that unzips on two to three sides. They’re like mini suitcases. They come in different sizes and are often sold as a set, designed to help you organize and compartmentalize your stuff within your luggage. 

Pros and Cons of Regular Packing Cubes

What Are Compression Packing Cubes?

Compression packing cubes feature an additional zipper or straps that compress the air out of your clothes, creating additional space in your luggage. 

If you want to get the most compression, it’s best to fold your clothes, however many people prefer to roll their clothes that go in the packing cube because it fends off wrinkles more effectively and it’s easier to open the cube and retrieve what you need without having to unpack the whole cube. 

Are Compression Packing Cubes Good? Pros and Cons of Compression Packing Cubes

In addition to the pros and cons for regular packing cubes listed above, here are some pros and cons specific to compression cubes. 

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Top 10 Packing Cubes for Travel: Packing Cube Reviews and Recommendations

Behold: a list of some of the most popular – as well as a few obscure – packing cubes! I obviously want to cover the top packing cubes, but I also want to highlight some lesser-known ones for their unique features that may be appealing to you for your next trip. 

I’ve further categorized them into two groups: compressible packing cubes, and non-compression cubes, so you can choose the best packing cubes for your travel needs. 

Keep reading after this list – because I’ll get into the specifics of what some of the features mean (like breathable mesh panels – which are a double-edged sword!) so you can figure out which features will be most important to you, and under which circumstances packing cubes are best (hint: the type of luggage you have is pivotal). 

Note: I bought some of these packing cubes myself, and others were sent to me for free. In all cases, the links to purchase these packing cubes are affiliate links, which means I’ll get a wee commission if you click through and buy something. This is how I make my living and continue to provide in-depth travel resources like this for free, so thank you in advance for your support. 

COMPRESSION PACKING CUBES 

Tripped Travel Gear Compression Cubes Sets

These packing cubes from Tripped Travel Gear have been making the rounds, and I know so because they stand out! They come in a variety of colours and sizes, but they are the only packing cubes I know that also have sets with unique colourful designs like national parks (pictured here) or travel bucket list scenes!

Aside from looking cool, these packing cubes also go the distance in construction, compression, and practicality. They’re ultra-light, well-made, the zippers are solid but not overly bulky, the compression is real (but doesn’t add too much weight), and depending which set you choose you’ll also get a roll-top dirty laundry bag and tech/miscellaneous (non-compressible) cube.

I have the 6-piece “carry on set” pictured above, and I think it’s perfect for any kind of travel.

Get your Tripped Travel Gear Compression Packing Cube Sets here.

Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Compression Cubes 

Eagle Creek is probably known best for these packing cubes. They’re made from ultralight material and compress down really well. Although I’ve never owned them myself, I traveled with somebody who had them and loved them. 

Get your Eagle Creek packing cubes here. 

Peak Design compression packing cube sets 

As the most expensive packing cubes on this list, I probably wouldn’t have considered investing in them….if I hadn’t hung out with a travel companion who had them and absolutely raved about them. So I performed a critical inspection! 

They are far and away the nicest packing cubes to feel and touch, and are made of this unique self-healing material that magically heals from small punctures and scratches. The tear-away zipper also makes it smooth and easy to open when unpacking. Everything about it just feels lovely. Like everything made by Peak Design, they’re thoughtfully designed, and environmentally friendly. 

Shop for Peak Design packing cubes here. 

Well Traveled Deluxe Compression Packing Cube Set

I was ambivalent about these when I ordered them, but I must admit they’re super handy. I love the variety of sizes in the 8-piece set; I can pick and choose which ones to take on each trip so everything fits perfectly together in my luggage. 

They also feel nice to the touch and the compression factor is amazing. I’m not in love with the card system for identifying what’s in each cube (I’m too lazy for that), but some people would probably love it. And they include a huge stack of cards that fit perfectly into the little pockets designed for them. So it’s the best of both worlds: sturdy material for compression, but still with the ability to know what’s inside each cube. 

Get your Well Traveled packing cubes here. 

Knack Bags

I rarely go on a trip without at least one of these packing cubes by Knack Bags. I like everything about them, from the oblong shape, to the breathable mesh windows, to the sturdy material that helps them compress effectively. Knack Bags also makes compressible shoe bags and other handy travel accessories, in addition to their signature expandable backpacks (which I created a video review about here). 

Buy your Knack Bags compressible packing cubes here.

BAGAIL 4 Set/5 Set/6 Set Compression Packing Cubes

I don’t have these (yet), but no packing cube review list would be complete without them, given their massive popularity on Amazon! This many people can’t be wrong; these must be good. 

Get your BAGAIL packing cubes here.

NON-COMPRESSION PACKING CUBES

Compass Rose Slim Packing Cubes

These are designed by my friend and travel colleague Alex of Travel Fashion Girl. She personally told me about her journey of tirelessly going through all the best packing cubes and identifying standout features, then the best materials, and then designing (and redesigning, and tweaking etc) the perfect packing cube. 

Shop for Compass Rose packing cubes here. 

Osprey Ultralight Packing Cube Set 

I haven’t tried these, but everything I’ve ever owned by Osprey has been well-made and strikes a great balance between being durable while still lightweight. I can only imagine their packing cubes follow suit. 

Get your Osprey Ultralight Packing Cube Set here. 

Amazon Basics Packing Cubes 

AmazonBasics’ packing cubes are a budget-friendly option that still offer good quality and functionality. They are far and away the most-reviewed of the packing cubes on Amazon, and still have a 4.7 rating, which is pretty outstanding. 

Get your Amazon Basics packing cubes here. 

eBags Classic Packing Cubes 

eBags is a well-known brand in the packing cube market, and on Amazon they’re well-rated and reviewed. I don’t own them (nor do I know anybody who does, curiously enough). 

Shop for eBags Packing Cubes here. 

Standard Luggage Packing Cubes (3pc set) – A Hanging Travel Dresser

You won’t see these on many (if any!) packing cube reviews, because they’re an accessory designed to fit perfectly inside Standard Luggage’s expandable carry-on backpack (which I review along with the packing cubes in a video here, and also in an article about one bag travel here). 

But you don’t have to own the backpack to own and appreciate the packing cubes – which convert ingeniously into a hanging travel dresser! 

Get your Standard Luggage Packing Cube / Hanging Dresser here. 

How to Choose Packing Cubes: Things to Look For in the Best Quality Packing Cubes

Now that you’re familiar with the various types of packing cubes (eg: compression vs non-compression), and why to use (or not use) them, let’s take a closer look at exactly what features to look for in choosing the best packing cube for you. After reading this, you can scroll back up to the list of top packing cubes and perhaps reevaluate your needs! 

Ways to Know What’s Inside

One of the top complaints of certain packing cubes is that if there’s no way to know what’s inside, then if you’re looking for something specific and don’t remember which packing cube you put it in, you have to unpack them all to figure it out. And if you’re using compression packing cubes, it’s an additional hassle. 

So it’s nice to have either a mesh panel on top, or colour-coded cubes, or different-sized cubes, or the ability to put labels on them with what’s inside written on the label (Well Traveled does this well).

Examine Your Zipper!

There are three things to look for when it comes to packing cubes zippers: 

1. High quality and durable, so it can hold the contents better (especially if it’s a compression packing cube, which will put stress on the zippers) and withstand wear & tear.
2. Ensure the design of the zipper isn’t such that the packing cube’s contents can easily get caught while opening/closing the packing cube. 
3. Some of the packing cubes above don’t open up fully (clam-shell style), and instead only allow the packing cube to open halfway. Some people like the half-opening style because you can leverage it to cram more into the cube, but most people (myself included) prefer clam-shell. 
   

Material

Look for packing cubes made of lightweight and strong materials, such as rip-stop nylon. Water-resistant or waterproof material offers added protection for clothes (though it’s a compromise in the breathability department).

Bonus points if the material is recycled, contributing to sustainability efforts. 

See also: Eco-Friendly Products That Will Help the Environment

The Cost of Packing Cubes

Obviously cost is an issue, but don’t let it be the only determining factor. There is usually a balance between cost and quality. Higher prices can mean the packing cube will last longer and may have better functionality.

If you travel a lot and want some packing cubes that will go the distance, you may want to spend more money. Then again, if you’re new to travel or on a budget, there’s nothing wrong with starting off with something cheaper to see if packing cubes are complementary to your travel style and needs. 

How to Pack Efficiently with Packing Cubes

Okay, you’ve chosen the best packing cubes; now to figure out the best way to use them! On every trip, I experiment with different ways to fill and organize packing cubes, and I encourage you to be equally experimental in your approach. There is no right or wrong answer! Here’s some guidance: 

Choose the Right Packing Cubes for Your Needs

Do you need a whole set, or just one or two? What sizes do you need? Think about what you’ll pack into the cube; it will help you choose the best one for your trip. 

Remember: although most people think about putting clothes into packing cubes, you can pack whatever you want into them! Get creative. 

Roll or Fold Your Clothes Before Packing Into Cubes

Ah, rolling vs folding: always a debate! You can do either in a packing cube: they each have pros and cons. 

ROLLING 

In general, I think rolling clothes in packing cubes is best used with non-compression cubes. You can roll tightly and stuff the clothes into the packing cube more effectively. 

FOLDING

In general, it only makes sense to fold stuff into packing cubes if you are unpacking everything immediately at your destination. If you live out of your luggage, it’ll be a wrinkled mess in no time. 

Use Packing Cubes to Separate Items by Category

One of the best things about packing cubes is that they help you organize your luggage. Here are a few ways you can organize your packing cubes: 

• By clothing type (eg: tops in one cube, bottoms in another, workout gear in another)
• By outfit (eg: one packing cube per day of your trip) 
• By family member (when multiple people are packing into one piece of luggage, packing cubes are ideal!)
• By weather or location (if you’re visiting different places, you can pack cubes according to where you’ll be and what you’ll need in that place) 
  
  

How to Decide If Packing Cubes are Worth It For YOU: The Best Packing Cubes for Different Types of Travel

Let’s put everything in this article together so you can decide in which cases packing cubes will make sense for you, and when they might not. 

Best Packing Cubes for Carry On vs. Checked Luggage 

If you are traveling super-duper ultralight with carry-on luggage, packing cubes might tip you over the edge in terms of space or weight. In this video where I do a side-by-side comparison of packing cubes vs. rolling, rolling comes out ahead….if even just by a wee bit. 

I say if you are using packing cubes in carry-on luggage, then it’s best to use compression packing cubes. (This is what I do). 

If instead you’re traveling with checked luggage, packing cubes (regardless of whether they’re compressible or not) will be invaluable from an organization perspective, since you’re bringing more stuff and your luggage will be more cavernous than carry-on. 

Not sure whether checked or carry on luggage is best for you? Click here. 

How Important is Organization? 

I’m a sucker for a well-organized pack. Not everybody is though. If you’re sharing luggage space with others, packing cubes are doubly important. 

Ultimately if we go on the premise that organizational packing cubes come at the expense of space and weight, the question to ask is how much time do you spend searching for the things you need, and how much does that frustrate you? If it’s not an issue, then maybe packing cubes aren’t worth it for you. 

Are Your Clothes Wrinkle-Resistant? 

Compressible packing cubes in particular may result in wrinkles if your clothes aren’t wrinkle-free or wrinkle resistant. Then again, packing cubes keep your stuff from shifting within your luggage, which means it will be exactly as you folded/rolled it within the packing cube vs. getting jostled about in your luggage. 

I think the lesson here, is don’t pack clothes that wrinkle! 

See also: The best wrinkle-free travel clothes for women 

How Often Are You Changing Locations on Your Trip? 

With packing cubes, you can “unpack” by putting the packing cube directly into a drawer, which might be easier than manually unpacking and repacking your whole suitcase each time you move. 

Conclusion: Are Travel Packing Cubes a Smart Investment?

As with so many things in the travel world, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and the value of packing cubes varies for everybody. It’s good to know your personal travel habits before deciding to invest in packing cubes (especially the really expensive ones). 

Personally, I love having a bunch of different packing cubes to choose from for each trip, and I’ve found that you definitely get what you pay for in terms of quality, functionality, durability, and sheer enjoyment of use (eg: Peak Design’s cubes feel soooooooo nice). 

But I have a lot to choose from because I’m in this biz, and I’ve been accumulating packing cubes and testing them in various circumstances for well over a decade. Start with the packing cubes on this list that intrigue you the most, and go from there. 

Happy travels!

This post How to Choose the Best Packing Cubes for Travel in 2024 appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

I am writing this during a three-month carry-on only trip through Europe in summer. I have a travel capsule wardrobe made of only merino wool. Why on earth would I bring nothing but merino wool clothes to Europe in summer? Read on. 

Stay tuned for the secrets to staying comfortable, stylish, and prepared for any travel adventure that comes your way.

Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase I’ll get a commission. This in no way affects your price, and it helps me to keep this site running and new content coming your way. Thank you in advance for your support! 

At a glance: My Top Picks for Merino Wool Travel Clothing

UNISEX: Unbound Merino – Super-fine (aka super soft) wool, sustainable brand, nice balance between fashion & function.

WOMEN: Wool& – Huge selection of fashionable clothes, creative fabric compositions such that you wouldn’t even know it’s merino!

MEN: Wool & Prince – Men’s counterpart to Wool& (above). Great selection for an entire merino wool travel wardrobe that behaves like canvas, denim, linen, and more.

The Basics of Merino Wool

Merino wool is a natural fiber that comes from the Merino sheep, a breed known for its exceptionally soft and fine wool. This is one of the key characteristics that sets it apart from other types of wool and makes it incredibly soft to the touch, resulting in a comfortable and itch-free fabric that is gentle on the skin.

In addition to its softness, merino wool is highly breathable, which helps regulate body temperature and prevent overheating. Merino wool benefits also include natural moisture-wicking capabilities, drawing sweat away from the skin to keep you feeling dry and fresh in hot weather. It also has impressive odor-resistant and anti-bacterial properties due to the presence of lanolin, which gives merino wool garments the ability to stay fresh for longer periods without needing frequent washing.

Merino wool can also be considerably more lightweight and less bulky than other types of wool, making it easier to pack and suitable for both hot and cold weather (depending on the weight of the piece of clothing, which we’ll get into later). Its natural elasticity also makes it more durable and resistant to wrinkling.

Why Merino Wool Clothing is Perfect for Travel

As you can probably tell from the merino wool basics listed above, it’s great for home use and outdoor adventures, and also for travel. Here’s why merino wool for travel is the way to go: 

• When cotton gets wet (from sweat or rain or whatever), it can’t keep you warm – in fact, it lowers your core temperature. Merino wool still keeps you warm, even when wet. 
• Merino wool is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and thus odor-resistant. Antimicrobial shirts are like magic. You can wear your merino tee for an entire week (or longer) without smelling. This means you don’t need to wash it as much, which makes it easier to care for on the road.  
• It’s soft and delightful to the touch. 
• It’s moisture-wicking and breathable. 
• It regulates your body temperature. A relatively light weight merino wool shirt can still keep you warm, and also cool. (Magic). 
• It’s easy to care for. Hand wash or machine wash on cold, hang to dry overnight. Done. 
• It lasts forever. 
• It’s better for the environment. Some synthetic materials that have similar warmth and moisture-wicking properties also contribute to micro-plastic pollution. 

Merino Wool Terminology Explained

When you start shopping for merino wool clothing, you’ll see a lot of lingo. It’s important to understand this lingo so you can ensure you’re getting the right clothing for your needs. 

Two key terms are GSM and microns, which provide insights into the fabric’s characteristics and performance.

GSM

GSM, or grams per square meter, is a measurement of fabric weight and thickness. 

It tells you how warm and breathable a merino wool garment will be. A higher GSM value indicates a denser, warmer fabric, while a lower GSM corresponds to a lighter, more breathable material. When choosing merino wool clothing, consider the climate and activities you’ll be engaged in to select the appropriate GSM for your needs.

Microns

Microns refer to the diameter of individual wool fibers, with a lower micron count indicating finer and softer wool. Lower micron counts often come with a higher price tag due to the superior quality of the wool used.

Other terms

In addition to GSM and microns, other relevant merino wool terminology includes anti-pilling treatments and UPF ratings. 

Anti-pilling treatments help prevent fabric balls from forming on the fabric’s surface, which can be an annoying byproduct of many wool garments that makes them look older and more worn than they actually are. 

UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) ratings indicate the level of sun protection provided by the fabric, which can be important for outdoor activities. 

It’s also worth noting the concept of “mulesing-free,” which indicates that the wool used comes from sheep that have not undergone the controversial practice of mulesing; a treatment of the sheep that involves a painful procedure to remove problematic skin around the buttocks. 

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How to Choose the Best Merino Wool Clothing for Your Needs

Here are some key factors to consider when selecting merino wool clothing for travel:

Purpose 

Determine the purpose of your merino wool clothing. Are you looking for base layers to provide insulation and moisture-wicking properties? Or do you need versatile garments that can be worn in different weather conditions and for various activities? Identifying your specific needs will help you narrow down your options.

Climate and Weather

Consider the climate and weather conditions of your travel destinations. Merino wool offers excellent temperature regulation, keeping you warm in cold environments and cool in warmer climates. Choose the appropriate weight and thickness (measured in GSM and microns) based on the anticipated weather conditions.

Style and Design

Once upon a time, merino wool clothes were utilitarian and mostly used as base layers and activewear. Now it comes in a wide range of styles and designs. Determine the type of clothing you require, such as shirts, pants, socks, or accessories, based on your travel activities and personal preferences. Additionally, consider the fit, cut, and features that enhance comfort and functionality. 

You will see a huge variety of merino wool clothing companies profiled below. Each has their own style. Not into athletic clothing? Then don’t buy a bunch of it just because you think it’s practical for travel! Find a brand that suits your style – and perhaps also the style requirements of your trip and also your destination; for example, Europe generally demands an elevated sense of style. Check out my video about Europe packing tips and mistakes for more on this.

Durability and Quality

Not all merino clothing brands are equal. Look for reputable brands known for their craftsmanship and use of high-quality materials. Consider factors like the fabric’s density, stitching, and overall construction to ensure that your clothing will withstand the rigors of travel.

Fabric Composition

Not all merino clothing is 100% merino wool, and that’s okay. Incorporating other materials can change how the fabric behaves, which might be important. For example, a pair of leggings may need some nylon and spandex to help them retain their form and resist stretching out and pilling. By strategically including other natural fibers, merino wool clothing can behave like jersey, linen, terry, and even tweed and denim. 

Beware, however, of “merino” clothing that has very little actual merino wool in it. I once saw a shirt marketed as being merino, but when I looked at the composition, it only had 10% merino wool. Wool& is a company that has one of the best selections of fabric composition that I’ve ever seen; you can even shop their clothes by fabric.

Sourcing and Sustainability

If sustainability is important to you, research the brand’s sourcing practices. Some brands prioritize responsibly-sourced merino wool, ensuring the welfare of the sheep and minimizing environmental impact. Look for certifications or indications of sustainable and ethical production.

See also: My roundup of Eco-Friendly Travel Products (including clothes, cosmetics, and more).

Now that you have a clear understanding of the factors to consider when choosing the best merino wool clothing for your needs, let’s dive into a comparison of the top merino brands. 

Are you as much of a nerd for Travel Gear as I am? Then check out my collection of articles about a variety of items to make your next trip a breeze! 

Travel Gear articles

Do you like to see these things in action? Then check out my YouTube series featuring Travel Gear & Remote Work Tools to level up your travel game.

Top Merino Wool Clothing Brands for Travel

Here are the best merino wool clothing brands for travel – each has their own style, clothing properties, etc. Use this list to find the perfect fit for you! 

MERINO WOOL BRANDS FOR MEN & WOMEN 

Unbound Merino

Unbound Merino offers a range of clothing made from merino wool, including T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, pants, shorts, dresses, jackets, socks, underwear, and accessories such as beanies and scarves. Their clothing is designed with a minimalist and classic style that is versatile and suitable for a variety of occasions.

While men currently have a slightly wider variety of options, they are massively developing their women’s line with tons of new releases, many of which I own.  

They source their merino wool from independent, mulesing-free farms that are Woolmark certified, ensuring high-quality wool that is ethically and sustainably produced. Their clothing is also made in factories that meet high ethical and environmental standards.

Their commitment to environmentally friendly practices extends beyond the sourcing of their wool. They use only natural, biodegradable materials in their clothing, making their products not only stylish and functional but also eco-friendly.

Of all the merino wool clothing I’ve tried, I find Unbound Merino clothing to be among the softest and most comfy, in part because they use super fine wool with a low micron count (the lower the microns, the finer the wool strands and the softer the clothes are). If you’re new to merino wool you might worry that it’s going to be itchy; Unbound Merino will challenge that notion.

I started off with their leggings – which surprisingly hold their form really well, and they’re super soft and comfy. They also have a hidden zipper pocket at the waistband, which is handy for travel. I also originally got their travel dress, which is super versatile, comfortable, and packable. Both of these are staples in my travel wardrobe.

Since the early days, I’ve expanded to own almost everything they have, and at times with some degree of skepticism. I mean, the V-neck t-shirt is a no-brainer; it’s super soft, flattering, and comes in a ton of colours. But then I thought the T-shirt dress and the lightweight travel pants wouldn’t look stylish or fitted enough; on the contrary they both fit and function very well and are incredibly versatile in a variety of situations.

I’m also in the process of vicariously testing out the men’s line; I bought my partner a travel capsule wardrobe of best-selling items; although he’s a hard sell when it comes to spending money on clothing, he’s learning that a few well-made pieces of long-wear clothing like merino wool will go much further and travel way better than many poorly made “fast-fashion” pieces.

Click here to shop at Unbound Merino and use NORA10 for 10% off!

WoolX

WoolX has a wide repertoire of merino wool clothing and accessories for women and men, with a focus on outdoor apparel but including styles that can take you everywhere from mountain hikes to riverside cafes.

It’s a small family-run business in New York, with a few value-propositions that include specially-designed merino wool clothes that can be machine washed and dried for easy care (though I still air-dry my merino wool clothes; clothes driers contribute to unnecessary wear & tear and an accidentally high heat setting could ruin your merino).

They source their wool from Woolmark-certified merino sheep in Australia, additionally ensuring that all their wool is certified non-mulesed. They also have a no strings attached 100% satisfaction guarantee and 100% No-Itch Guarantee! Free shipping (in the US) on returns and exchanges seal the deal for a hassle-free customer-centric experience.

I was particularly drawn to WoolX for some of their unique styles like the Charlotte Puff Sleeve Top (which I adore), cold weather pants (which are on my list), and an entire line of ridiculously soft can’t-believe-it’s-merino pyjamas (merino wool’s temperature-regulating properties make for an extra comfy night of sleep, which can be especially problematic for menopausal women and others who get night sweats). I also really like some of the colours on offer, including the heather-coloured Piper Pocket leggings, which are unique, warm, and very flattering (and have pockets!!).

Click here to shop at WoolX!

Aviator

Aviator offers comfortable and lightweight merino wool tops, including hoodies, polos, and tee-shirts. Aside from merino wool, they also make award-winning travel-friendly jeans. Customers have given Aviator’s products high ratings for comfort and suitability for travel.

The wool is sourced from New Zealand, where the sheep are raised in humane and sustainable conditions. Their products are designed with travel in mind, as they are lightweight, packable, and versatile (yep, even the jeans!) 

Aviator, proudly made in the USA, is committed to sustainability and ethical production practices, using eco-friendly materials and ensuring fair treatment and living wages for their workers.

I have everything in Aviator’s merino collection (at least, everything they offer for women). 

The T-shirt is pretty thick, which means it resists wrinkling and holds its form nicely (some merino shirts are a bit flimsy and can show bra straps). 

The First Class Merino Hoodie is a great zip-up hoodie that has a few nifty travel-friendly features like a hood that doubles as an eye mask and some mitten cuffs. 

The Red-Eye Hoodie is the lightest weight of the three shirts, and is super comfy. It also has the same travel-friendly features of the First Class hoodie. 

Click here to see my video review of these and other Aviator duds I have. 

Click here to shop Aviator’s merino tops and travel-friendly jeans!

Icebreaker 

Icebreaker offers a variety of clothing for men, women, and kids. The style and purpose of their clothing is geared towards outdoor activities and adventures, with features like body-mapping ventilation to keep cool and a blend of merino wool and plant-based TENCEL Lyocell for unbeatable freshness in warm weather. Icebreaker also offers 100% pure merino tees that are breathable, odor-resistant, and made for wearing everywhere.

Icebreaker is an OG in the merino clothing space. These days they also use other materials in some of their products, such as TENCEL Lyocell. They source their wool from a variety of places, including New Zealand, Australia, and South America. They have a program called “Baacode” that allows customers to trace the origins of their garment and learn about the ethical and environmental practices involved in its production. They are committed to responsible and sustainable practices, including using natural and biodegradable materials, reducing waste, and supporting ethical and fair labor practices.

I have had a few Icebreaker tops over the years, but honestly, none of them have made the cut in the long run for my personal sense of style and multi-purpose needs on the road. When I lived in the Rocky mountains they were great for mountain treks, but not so great if I wanted an elevated look. 

However a guy friend of mine who travels full-time with carry-on luggage only, wears almost exclusively Icebreaker t-shirts and boxers and socks. He likes that there is a good selection of different GSM weight options for your needs. He has the lightest GSM t-shirt for running, and heavier weights for other times of day and ambient temperatures. He says the “base layer” shirts are perfectly fine to wear as “normal” tee-shirts. 

Click here to shop Icebreaker’s products on Amazon!

 

Smartwool 

Smartwool offers a huge variety of clothing, including socks, base layers, mid layers, and accessories such as hats and gloves. Most of their clothing is designed to be used for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and running, as well as for everyday wear.

They use ZQ-certified Merino wool, which ensures the wool is ethically sourced and sustainable. They also use other sustainable materials such as recycled polyester and TENCEL Lyocell. Their clothing is not 100% merino wool, as they also use other materials such as nylon and elastane for stretch and durability. So, while merino wool is a significant part of their overall offering and branding, it’s important to check the fabric composites closely.

Smartwool has several environmentally friendly and responsible practices, including using sustainable materials, reducing waste, and supporting conservation efforts. They partner with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Alliance to give back to the environment.

I bought their Sport Fleece Wind Tights, and was all excited to have a warm pair of merino leggings that I planned to travel with and use for cool/cold-weather hikes. They are indeed lightweight and very warm and comfy and super sturdy, but despite the Amazon listing saying they’re 100% wool, they are in fact, less than 50% merino. 

A male friend of mine has their everyday socks that he wears as dress socks and he LOVES them. Similarly, the listing says “100% wool”, but further down you learn it’s only 55% merino wool; granted for socks, that’s still pretty good. 

Shop the Smartwool store on Amazon here! 

Merino.tech 

Merino.tech offers a variety of clothing made from 100% organic New Zealand Merino wool. Their collection includes shirts, socks, underwear, base layers, and accessories like neck gaiters.

Founded in 2018 in Canada, Merino.tech is a collaboration between the company and some of the finest mills and factories worldwide. They use only environmentally friendly paints in their manufacturing process. 

I have their V-Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt, which is super soft and incredibly comfortable. It’s also very lightweight and thin, which makes it great for travel packing, but if you order a light colour it will likely be a bit see-through. I have the purple (nice shade) and I use it for sleeping. 

I also own a pair of their merino socks, and I really like them; they’re comfy, hold their form, resist pilling, and are 85% merino wool. 

Shop the Merino.tech store on Amazon here!

Woolly 

Woolly offers a wide range of clothing items, including shirts, pants, leggings, socks, and underwear for both men and women. Their clothing is designed to be comfortable, durable, and stylish while providing the natural benefits of merino wool.

Woolly sources their wool from Australia, ensuring it is ethically and sustainably produced. They use merino wool as a foundation fabric and develop innovative products like NatureDry.

As a small independent business in Seattle, they support local causes and ensure responsible production as members of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI). They donate to organizations like Recovery Café and reinvest profits into organizations that inspire them, including Black Lives Matter Seattle, the NAACP, and the Northwest Avalanche Center.

Shop the Woolly clothing store on Amazon here!

Ridge Merino 

Ridge Merino is a small, family-owned business based in Mammoth Lakes, California. They offer an extensive collection of clothing for men, women, and children, featuring items such as base layers, hoodies, shirts, pants, underwear, socks, and an array of accessories like neck gaiters, beanies, and hats.

Shop Ridge Merino Clothes here! 

MERINO WOOL BRANDS FOR WOMEN ONLY

Wool&

Wool& specializes in women’s clothing, with an incredibly diverse and stylish collection that includes dresses, tops, bottoms, and accessories. They prioritize environmental responsibility, aiming to minimize their carbon footprint throughout their operations.

When it comes to crafting their garments, Wool& takes a thoughtful and innovative approach. They not only have pieces that are made from 100% merino wool, but they have created a series smart blends that are still mainly merino wool, but have a combination of other materials to give each fabric their own unique properties. They have merino wool blends that are like jersey, tweed, linen, and even denim. 

I have a huge number of Wool& clothing items; in fact, they primarily made my merino wool travel capsule wardrobe for my 3-month carry-on trip through Europe possible. You can check out this video (including the links in the description) to see the full packing list in action. Here are some of my fav pieces: 

• Sofia midi dress (since discontinued but just peruse their dresses and you’ll find something to your taste)
• Poppy tank top (check out their full selection of tanks here)
• Florence tunic – since replaced with Venice Shirt Tunic (perfect for layering over anything for a bit of warmth and looking stylish)
• Frame ponte culotte (which I worried I might not like as much and isn’t quite as soft, but has ended up being very useful as it’s a heavier weight of fabric and a bit more durable; excellent for travel days. Only con is that they are cropped which isn’t as versatile as full-length pants)

Get your Wool& women’s wardrobe here! 

MERINO WOOL BRANDS FOR MEN ONLY

Wool & Prince

Wool & Prince is the men’s counterpart to Wool& (above). They have a diverse selection of clothing items for men, including shirts, pants, socks, jackets, vests, underwear, and accessories. 

Similar to Wool&, they have created unique mainly-merino blends that result in super practical clothes that you wouldn’t even know are merino, including stretch canvas pants/shorts and denim jeans. 

Wool & Prince offer a satisfaction guarantee, ensuring that if an item does not meet expectations, they will make it right. They also support thoughtful consumption and simple living through their sponsorship of the Only What Matters online community. They value customer feedback and actively seeks input to improve their products and services.

Shop for Wool & Prince duds here! 

Libertad 

Libertad does one thing and one thing only: 100% merino wool travel shirts. Nice ones. 

The founder was inspired to create Libertad while on his own travels, noticing that most leisure travel clothes are utilitarian and comfortable but not stylish. Wanting the best of both worlds, Libertad was born. 

They offer a variety of shirt styles, including single pocket, no pocket, double chest pockets, and short sleeve options.

Get your 100% merino dress shirt at Libertad here!

 

Proper Cloth

Proper Cloth offers a wide range of custom-fit, made-to-order clothing for men. Their clothing collection includes shirts, pants, jackets, suits, and accessories.

They have developed fit prediction algorithms and 3D visualization tools that allow customers to create custom sizes and modify designs.

While Proper Cloth offers a diverse range of fabrics, merino wool is one of the materials they use. They source their merino wool from New Zealand and ensure that it meets ZQ certification standards, guaranteeing high animal welfare and a sustainable supply chain. 

I have a guy friend who is tall and quite slim, and he has a very long torso in particular. Getting properly fit clothing within the standard “small / medium / large” clothing structure is difficult for him; he is the one who told me about Proper Cloth, and while he doesn’t have any clothes from Proper Cloth yet, but he plans to order some. 

Get your custom merino clothes at Proper Cloth here! 

Tips for Caring for Your Merino Wool Clothing

Merino wool care is important to maintain its performance and extend its lifespan. Merino clothes aren’t typically cheap, so you want to make sure they’ll last. By following these tips, you can ensure they’ll stay in excellent condition:

Washing: Hand-wash or machine-wash using a gentle cycle with cold water. Use a mild, wool-specific detergent. Avoid using bleach or fabric softeners, as they can damage the natural fibers of the wool.

Drying: After washing, gently squeeze out excess water from your merino wool garments. Avoid wringing or twisting the fabric, as this can lead to stretching or distortion. Lay the clothing flat on a clean towel or a drying rack to air dry. Avoid direct sunlight or heat sources, as they can cause shrinkage or damage.

Stain Removal: Treat stains as soon as possible. Blot the stained area with a clean cloth using cold water and a mild detergent. Avoid rubbing vigorously, as it can push the stain deeper into the fibers. 

Here are common mistakes to avoid:

Avoid using hot water: Hot water can cause merino wool to shrink or lose its shape. Stick to cold water for washing and rinsing.

Don’t over-wash: Merino wool has natural antibacterial properties that help resist odor. Avoid washing your garments frequently, instead air them out between uses to refresh them. Yes – it actually works! There are people who have done 100-day merino wool challenges; wearing the same shirt for 100 days without washing! While I wouldn’t go that far, I’ve worn my merino clothes for way longer than other clothes and they almost never smell. 

Skip the dryer: High heat from a dryer can shrink or damage merino wool. Always air dry your clothing to maintain its shape and integrity. Don’t worry – it dries very quickly. 

Avoid abrasive materials: When washing or drying your merino wool clothing, avoid using rough surfaces or materials that can cause friction or pilling. 

Choose the Best Merino Wool Clothing for Your Next Adventure

Merino clothes are adaptable, comfortable, low maintenance, long lasting, multi-purpose, durable, breathable, and even biodegradable. 

In order to choose the best clothing items for your next trip, remember to factor in the purpose, climate, and weather conditions of your destination, as well as your personal style preferences.

With the right merino wool pieces in your wardrobe, you can confidently face any adventure, knowing that you’re well-equipped with the exceptional benefits of this remarkable natural fiber.

See also: 

My Travel Capsule Wardrobe: Best Travel Clothes for Women

Best Travel Clothes for Men (+ 5 Items you NEED From Western Rise)

Eco-Friendly Travel Products and Clothes 

This post Merino Wool Clothing for Travel: A Guide to Choosing the Best Brands appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

In this article I’m sharing everything I learned through experience, and and I’ll compare the top packable daypacks on the market, so you can choose the best ultralight backpack for your next trip. 

See also: The Ultimate Packing List for Long-Term Travel
Check out my entire collection of Travel Gear posts

At a Glance: My Top 4 Picks for Ultralight Packable Daypacks 

Further down, you’ll read a full rundown of each of these packs as well as a bunch more. I have personally used all of these packs and I think they’re terrific. (Buying through these links earns me a small commission; it doesn’t affect your price, and it does help to support this site, so thank you in advance). 

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Day Pack – packs down the smallest and is the most lightweight. 

Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack – same capacity as the pack above but packs down slightly larger; this is because it includes water bottle pockets and more interior organizational features.

Osprey Ultralight DRY Stuff Pack – slightly larger again, but has 2L extra capacity and is waterproof. 

Tortuga Packable Backpack – The least ultralight of these four, but with a structured/padded back and straps that make it the most useful/comfortable as an overall daypack.

Don't be me. 

I started traveling with all the worst stuff. 

I wasted a fortune.

Instead, use this FREE travel gear and packing list cheat sheet.

Learn from my 2 decades of career travel, and kick off your trip with the best clothes, toiletries, luggage, remote work gear, and more. 

INCLUDED: Special discount codes up to 25% off! 

This will be emailed to you to download, for FREE. 

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Why a Packable Backpack is a Must-Have Travel Accessory

Packable backpacks are lightweight, collapsible bags designed for easy storage and portability. They’re typically made from durable, water-resistant materials that can be folded or rolled into their own pocket or pouch when not in use. 

In addition to their convenience, durable packable daypacks are also an eco-friendly alternative to disposable bags. By using a packable backpack, you can say no to disposable grocery bags (for example), thus reducing waste and promoting sustainability while exploring new destinations. See also: My Zero Waste Kit for Travel

These backpacks are essential for travel because they take up minimal space in your luggage, and at your destination they’re perfect for a variety of activities from spontaneous day trips or excursions to grocery shopping and more.

Pack More with Less: The Advantages of a Compact Backpack

In my opinion, no packing list is complete without a lightweight packable daypack. From convenience to versatility, ultralight travel backpacks are the ultimate travel companion for adventure seekers and globe-trotters alike.

Here’s why: 

Packs Into its Own Pocket

One of the most remarkable features of a ultralight travel backpack is its ability to pack into its own pocket. This is not only instrumental for travel packing, but also at your destination. It’s easy to pop a packable backpack into a small purse or bag while you’re out, and then if you find yourself buying something and you need the extra space, you’ve got your pack ready and you can skip the disposable bags! 

Ease of Packing (Into Luggage)

You’re not likely going to want to use a packable daypack on travel days; for protecting/organizing/transporting your beloved belongings, you’ll want a travel backpack a bit better designed for the task. 

So the more compact a packable travel backpack can be, the easier it is to fit into your suitcase, which is especially important if you like to travel with carry-on luggage only. 

See also: Checked vs Carry on Luggage – Which is Best? 

Multiple Uses 

The number of things you can use ultralight packable daypacks for are limited only by your imagination. You can take them on hiking adventures, overnight trips, to the co-working space, grocery shopping, day-trip excursions, and more. No matter the situation, an ultralight packable daypack is a versatile and reliable choice.

Convenience & Portability

Because they pack down so small, you can take your packable backpack anywhere – which means it will always be ready when you need it. 

Great for Travel with Carry-on Only

If you prefer to travel light and avoid checking luggage, ultralight packable backpacks are downright essential. They’re lightweight and compact enough to fit in your carry-on, so you have a reliable bag with you at your destination. 

Just recently I was on a “one bag travel” trip (which means I traveled with one carry-on bag only, instead of the usual carry-on entourage which includes a carry-on suitcase plus a personal item). Not only was my packable backpack invaluable at my destination for outings and excursions, but even on my travel day it saved my skin! 

I was flying on a small plane, and because the overhead bins were tiny, they were gate-checking all carry-on backpacks and suitcases. Luckily I pulled out my packable backpack and loaded it up with valuables and fragile items like my laptop, electronics, medications, etc to take on board with me while my carry on backpack got loaded into the cargo hold. 

I’m not sure what I would have done without my packable backpack. 

Find Your Perfect Adventure Companion: Tips for Choosing a Packable Daypack

Everybody’s criteria for the perfect portable daypack will differ. Here are some essential features to consider when selecting a travel daypack, so you can find the best one for your needs. 

Before you even look at the specific features, consider the nature of your trip and how you might use your pack at your destination. Are you going to be doing outdoorsy stuff like day hikes, or perhaps even taking it on multi-day excursions? Or are you an urban warrior or remote worker who will want to use it to take your laptop and essentials to the co-working space? Or maybe you want your packable backpack to help you do both? 

With this in mind, consider the features below and which will be most important to you. 

Size and Capacity

The goal when considering size and capacity, is to hit that sweet spot between the smallest possible size when packed down, and the largest possible capacity when being used as a backpack. But the reality is, the larger the capacity of the bag, the larger it will be when packed down as well – which might be an important factor if your luggage is already full. 

In the breakdown of packable backpacks below, keep an eye on the weight, because that will give you an indication of how bulky it will be when it’s packed down, since most companies don’t actually give the dimensions of their bags when packed into their pouches or pockets.  

Material and Weight

When it comes to material and weight, there’s a balance between durability and packability. The more durable or waterproof the material is, the heavier it will be and/or the bulkier it will be when packed down (ie: the more luggage space it will take up). 

The more features it has like extra pockets or reinforced shoulder straps, the more useful it might be for heavier loads, but again, the less packable it will be. 

Here are some common materials used to make packable backpacks: 

30D siliconized CORDURA® is a lightweight, durable, and water-resistant material that offers excellent tear resistance. The siliconized treatment makes it ideal for use in harsh or wet environments, although it may be less breathable than other fabrics.

40D Nylon Ripstop is a robust and lightweight fabric that features excellent tear and abrasion resistance. The ripstop weave prevents tears from spreading, making it a great choice if you’re an active traveler and/or you like to abuse your stuff. However, it may not provide the same level of water resistance as siliconized CORDURA®.

The “D” in 30D and 40D refers to the fabric’s denier, which is a unit of measurement for the linear mass density of fibres. A higher denier indicates a thicker, more durable fabric, while a lower denier suggests a lighter, more breathable material. In this context, 40D Nylon Ripstop is thicker and more durable than 30D siliconized CORDURA® but may be slightly heavier.

Additional Features and Accessories

It’s the features and accessories of your ultralight daypack that can make or break your experience. Some examples of additional features and accessories to look for include:

Water bottle pockets: Daypacks with dedicated water bottle pockets provide the convenience of carrying your water bottle securely, ensuring easy access when needed. The extra material of the pocket adds to the overall bulk of the pack, but is immeasurably handier than having to keep your water bottle in the main compartment which isn’t as accessible. Also a lack of water bottle pockets eats into the capacity of the bag itself, which may be important.

Interior pockets for organization: Keeping your belongings organized is crucial, especially on-the-go. Interior pockets offer designated spaces for your valuables, electronics, and smaller items, allowing you to locate them quickly and prevent them from getting lost or damaged.

Compression straps: Compression straps found on the exterior of daypacks help reduce bulk and secure your gear. By tightening these straps, you can maintain a compact profile, which is particularly useful when navigating through crowds or trying to fit your daypack into tight spaces.

Exterior loops for gear attachment: If you need to carry extra equipment or accessories, exterior loops offer a handy way to attach items using a carabiner. These loops allow you to attach items such as umbrellas, walking poles, or even a jacket to the outside of your daypack, freeing up valuable interior space.

Waterproof materials and construction: You never know when the skies will open up. Waterproof materials and construction protect your belongings from getting wet, ensuring your gear stays safe from potential damage. However most waterproof packs will also be a bit bulkier and heavier. 

Best Packable Daypacks for Travel

Here’s a list of top contenders for the ideal packable daypack for your next adventure. 

Disclaimer: I have personally received some of the below packs for free so that I can travel with them and provide experiential advice. In some cases, I have also included affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. It doesn’t affect your price, and it helps me to keep this site up and running. Thank you in advance for your support! 

Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack

Key Features:

• Material: 40D high-tenacity nylon
• Weight: 5.26 oz (149.23 g)
• Capacity: 18 L 
• Size: 16.54H x 8.66W x 7.48D in

Pros:

• Ultralight and super packable
• 2 dual-stretch side pockets (for water bottles or extra gear)
• 1 additional interior pocket with key clip
• Sustainable design, featuring bluesign® approved and GRS-certified 100% recycled main body fabrics
• Comfortable padded mesh shoulder straps with adjustable sternum strap

Cons:

• Takes a while to get the hang of how to pack it into its pouch
• Super wrinkly when you first unpack it (this goes away with time and use)

This is my current top pick and what I travel long-term with. 

Buy the Ultralight Stuff Pack here. 

Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack 

Key Features:

• Material: 40D Nylon Ripstop
• Weight: 6.85 oz (194.13 g)
• Capacity: 20 L
• Size: 17.72H x 10.24W x 8.66D in

Pros:

• Waterproof sealed seams, making it ideal for wet environments or activities
• Roll-top main compartment and zippered external front pocket for added storage
• 2 stretchy side-pockets with compression straps to keep contents secure (the compression straps are a really nice touch if you have a smaller water bottle or want to keep other things in these pockets)
• Top zippered pocket for small items, including a key clip
• Padded mesh shoulder straps with adjustable sternum strap for added comfort and secure fit
• Built with sustainability in mind, using bluesign® approved recycled fabrics

Cons:

• Non-submersible, meaning it cannot be fully submerged in water (although in my recent video about this pack, I did exactly that and it held up pretty well!) 
• Takes a while to get the hang of how to pack it into its pouch
• Roll-top closure is a little awkward to use
• Super wrinkly when you first unpack it (this goes away with time and use)

As the waterproof sibling to the above pack, I love this bag. 

Check out the Dry Stuff Pack here. 

If you want to see how the two Osprey packs above measure up, then check out my video reviewing and comparing these exact packs! 

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Day Pack 

Key Features:

• Material: 30D siliconized CORDURA® 
• Weight: 2.5 oz (72 g)
• Capacity: 20 L
• Size: 11.0 x 7.9 x 18.9 in 

Pros:

• Ultra-lightweight and compact, packs down to the size of a tennis ball (packs down the smallest and weighs the least of all the packs in this list)
• Packs into an attached stuff sack with a handy carabiner 
• Ultra-sil fabric is great for strength, durability, and water resistance
• Reinforced shoulder straps

Cons:

• No water-bottle pockets on the sides. This eats into the overall capacity of the bag since I have to keep my water bottle inside the pack, and it’s not as convenient to access 
• Shoulder straps aren’t padded; maximum load limit recommendation for a comfortable carry is 15 lbs / 7 Kg
• Not waterproof, only water-resistant; contents may get wet in heavy rain or prolonged exposure to water
• Packs down small for a reason: there’s no external or internal pockets or organizational features

Get the (ultra-light, ultra-small) Ultra-Sil Day Pack here. 

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Day Pack 

Key Features:

• Material: Ultra-Sil 30D siliconized CORDURA® 
• Weight: 3.9 oz (110.56 g)
• Capacity: 22 L
• Size: 18.9 x 11.8 x 8.7 in (unpacked); 5 x 2.5 x 1.5 in (packed)

Pros:

• Of all the waterproof packs on this list, it packs down the smallest and is the lightest
• Non-PFC, bluesign® approved
• Waterproof with roll-top closure
• Reinforced shoulder straps for increased carrying comfort
• Packs into an attached stuff sack with a handy carabiner
• Double stitched seams and fully tape sealed construction for added durability
• Reflective compression lacing system for visibility and adjustable storage

Cons:

• No external water bottle pockets
• No internal organization features
• Not suitable for paddle sports or environments with sharp/abrasive elements
• Shoulder straps and pack are not padded, limiting comfortable carrying weight to 15 lbs/7 kg for short durations

This pack is the waterproof cousin to the (ultra-light, ultra-small) pack above. 

Check it out here. 

Tortuga Packable Backpack

Key Features:

• Material: 70D ripstop nylon with an Extreema®-reinforced bottom panel
• Weight: 11 oz (312 g)
• Capacity: 19 L
• Size: 18.1 x 10.2 x 6.3 in (unpacked); 7.9 x 5.9 x 3.5 in (packed)

Pros:

• The structured padded back and mesh shoulder straps provide ultimate comfort
• Holds its form better than any of the other packs mentioned so far (which tend to sag)
• I feel much better about putting my laptop in it (in a sleeve)
• Reinforced, tear-resistant bottom panel
• Two external water bottle pockets
• Removable and adjustable sternum strap
• Top front zippered pocket into which the backpack can stuff itself
• Main compartment zippers are lockable

Cons:

• Doesn’t pack down particularly small, not particularly ultralight (compared to above options)
• A bit awkward to pack into its top pocket given the bulk/rigidity of the padded back panel
• On the pricier side

Of all the packs listed so far, this is the most functional and enjoyable to use as a daypack. If luggage space is not an issue, it’s a great choice.
Check it out on the Tortuga Site here!

Matador Freerain22 Waterproof Packable Backpack

Key Features:

• Material: 70D Robic® nylon PU waterproofing
• Weight: 10.6 oz (300 g)
• Capacity: 22 L
• Size: 19.5 x 10.5 x 7 in (unpacked); 3.75 x 3.75 x 5.75 in (packed)

Pros:

• Super duper waterproof (with roll-top closure) main compartment for protection in extremely wet conditions
• Includes compression sack for travel
• UHMWPE-reinforced wear panels for extreme durability, abrasion resistance, and tear strength
• Gear loops, compression straps, and other features designed for more technical adventures
• Removable hip belt and adjustable sternum strap 
• Water-resistant front zipper pocket and side pockets for water bottles 

Cons:

• Not intended for submersion, not completely waterproof in such cases
• Considerably heavier and bulkier than all the packs listed above, some of which are also waterproof with the same capacity
• Not hydration compatible (consider Freerain28, Beast18, or Beast28 for hydration compatibility)

If you want a super durable waterproof pack, this one may be for you. 

Check it out here. 

Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole® Tote Pack 27L

Key Features:

• Material: 100% post-consumer recycled nylon ripstop with a silicone face coating and a PU back coating
• Weight: 13 oz (370 g)
• Capacity: 27 L
• Size: 15.5″ x 10.25″ x 8″

Pros:

• Lightweight, strong, and weather-resistant fabric made from 100% recycled nylon
• Multiple pockets for gear organization, including internal zip pocket and external zippered organizer
• Stretch water-bottle pockets on both sides
• Comfortable, adjustable, and breathable mesh shoulder straps that can be tucked away
• Can be carried as a tote or a backpack
• Supports fair labor practices with Fair Trade Certified sewing

Cons:

• Both the heaviest and bulkiest of all the packs listed so far (though it also has the largest capacity so far)
• May not be suitable for carrying very heavy loads 
• Not fully waterproof; only weather-resistant

For versatility of size and carry methods, this pack is great. But it’s a bear in terms of weight and bulk. Still though, it looks pretty nice. 

Have a gander here. 

Eddie Bauer Stowaway Packable Backpack

20 L Version

Key Features:

• Material: 200D ripstop polyester
• Weight: 11 oz (311.84 g)
• Capacity: 20 L
• Size: 18″H x 10″W x 9″D (unpacked); 8.5″H x 7″W x 1.5″D (stowed)

Pros:

• StormRepel® WR finish sheds moisture for added protection
• 2 external zip pockets, 2 elasticized mesh side pockets, and 1 interior Velcro® back panel pocket
• Lightly padded adjustable shoulder straps with breathable mesh lining for comfort
• Four front lashing loops for attaching carabiners or clip lights

Cons:

• For a non-technical 20L bag, this is way too heavy. Designed more for fashion/comfort than function
• Some reviews indicate overall quality is not as high as the other packs in this article 
• Not waterproof, only water-repellent 

Check out the 20L pack here. 

30 L Version

Key Features:

• Material: 200D ripstop polyester
• Weight: 13 oz (370 g)
• Capacity: 30 L
• Size: 13in x 8.5in x 14.4in

Pros:

• Largest packable backpack in this article
• Durable ripstop polyester material with a water-repellent StormRepel® WR finish
• Specially designed for plus size, with longer and specially shaped shoulder straps and waist belt
• Hydration-compatible sleeve for convenient hydration on the go
• 2 exterior zip pockets, 2 side mesh pockets for water bottles, and a hook-and-loop-closure interior pocket
• Padded mesh back panel for comfort

Cons:

• Heaviest and bulkiest pack of them all, by far
• Some reviews say it feels cheap
• Not waterproof, only water-repellent 

Get the 30L Pack here.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations: The Best Ultralight Packable Backpacks for Travel

I personally own a few of these packs; specifically the Osprey packs (both of them), the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Day Pack, and the Tortuga Packable Backpack. I wanted to include some others in this article to make this a comprehensive review, but to be honest, in my opinion none of them measure up. (The only other one I would consider would be the Sea to Summit Ultra Sil Dry Day Pack for its ultralight qualities, though I don’t like that it doesn’t have any extra pockets). 

The Matador pack might be an option if I required a super heavy-duty pack for a technical excursion, but it comes at a pretty heavy (literally) price of weight and bulk. 

But in the end it boils down to you and what you need in a packable backpack. For me, it needs to be ultralight, pack down super small, and be multi-functional for a variety of uses on the road. Your needs may be different. 

Have you used a packable backpack that you think deserves to be profiled in this article? Please let us know in the comments! 

This post Ultralight Packable Backpacks: Essential Travel Accessories appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

In my personal and professional life, I’ve taken environmental responsibility to heart, and it was inspired by my world travels. I’ll never forget that river cruise I did in Hoi An where, once outside of the harbour it looked like the entire place was built on plastic waste. Or the road in Panama lined with garbage – bags of it – simply thrown out the window as people drove along. Or the mall in Chiang Mai where the garbage cans were literally overflowing with plastic bubble tea cups by lunchtime. Seeing these things, I promised myself I would not further contribute to the problem.

In this article, I will introduce you to some unconventional eco-friendly travel products that go beyond the norm; things you can use at home and abroad to reduce your footprint, while supporting companies that go the extra mile in terms of the good they’re doing the planet. I’ll also show you the filter through which I process all my buying decisions – including for everyday items. 

See also:
18 Eco Travel Companies and Booking Tools to Use in 2023
Merino Wool Clothing for Travel: A Guide to Choosing the Best Brands
My Zero Waste Kit for Travel (and Home) 
Is the Digital Nomad Lifestyle Environmentally Sustainable?

Disclosure: I have included affiliate links to some of the products in this post. This means if you click through and end up making a purchase I will get a small commission. Thank you in advance for supporting The Professional Hobo. 

Eco-Friendly Products You Must Pack with You

Traveling can be a time when you generate a lot of trash and where your eco-friendly best of intentions take a hit. Think long flights, ready-to-eat meals, plastic bottles, travel-size shampoos, and the like. 

But traveling doesn’t have to be waste and plastic-intensive. Below we’ll explore some everyday travel essentials that are a better choice for the planet and its creatures, and that you may not have necessarily considered.

When education and infrastructure are lacking, people don’t know better, until it’s an evident problem, as it now is. And as travelers, it’s our responsibility to minimize our impact and not contribute further to existing problems. 

Switching from plastic cutlery to bamboo cutlery and reusable straws is making an impact already. It may seem small but purchasing a reusable water bottle for when you travel and avoiding buying bottled water can make a big difference. As well as getting a reusable razor and bringing reusable bags when you go shopping.

These things may seem minor in the grander scheme of things, , but given the state of the environment right now, these positive habits  can save waste and maintain the beauty of the place we’re visiting.

Eco-Friendly Products for Travelers

Beyond the ecological dilemma of whether or not to travel (which is beyond the scope of this article), there are concrete choices you can make that will significantly enhance your eco-score. The first one is to look inside your home.

When thinking about going abroad, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the options, products, and in-case-of items. And for many people, the knee-jerk reaction is often to buy new (specially tailored) products to prepare for their trip. 

Buying new products isn’t the problem as such, especially if you are certain that you don’t own an acceptable alternative. But buying mindlessly something you don’t necessarily need is not the best eco-friendly practice. 

The smarter option to make your travel habits more earth-friendly is to use what you already have and use it for as long as you can. In the same logic, borrowing and buying second-hand are great habits too.

The bottom line is to become more conscious about your consumption needs and how you can help the environment by lessening your generation of (unnecessary) waste. 

Remember: one of the fundamental principles of going green is your approach regarding waste: 

• Refuse what you don’t need (and thus, avoid buying new if possible), 
• Reduce your consumption/quantities (pack light, with versatile items),  
• Reuse as much as possible (for example, by borrowing from friends).
  
  

Earth Loving Eco-Friendly Products For You

One of the easiest ways to help make the environment better is to start living a more environmentally friendly way of life by switching  from unsustainable items to sustainable ones. If you travel  often, it’s time to start using  some reusable products.

Here are some eco-friendly travel products you may  not have considered:

PAKA: Sustainable Traceable Alpaca Clothing from Peru

There is A LOT to love about PAKA and their use of traceable alpaca. So much, that I need to use bullet points: 

• PAKA’s clothing is sourced from free-roaming alpacas in Peru. And because they’re native to the land and only eat top grasses, they are fully sustainable. 
• One alpaca shearing makes four sweaters (by contrast, four cashmere goat shearings make one sweater).
• They use a special technique for shearing alpacas that minimizes time and stress to the animals. 
• They work through a Peruvian NGO to train and employ single mothers coming from domestic violence situations. Each sweater is signed by the woman who made it. 
• Similar to merino wool, alpaca wool is thermo-regulating, odour-resistant, moisture-wicking, durable. It’s also 3x lighter than sheep’s wool and as soft as cashmere. 
• PAKA is a Certified B-Corp.

Believe it or not, that’s not all. I dare you to visit their site and NOT be inspired by their Story and Impact pages. 

I started with their classic Hoodie, which is the piece that kicked off the whole company and the PAKA initiative. It’s incredibly soft and comfy, surprisingly lightweight, flattering, and very warm. If you use a compression packing cube, you’ll get the best of all worlds; a comfy cozy sweater that doesn’t take up too much space or weight in your luggage. 

I also have their ankle socks which are surprisingly technically sound, with triple-sole cushioning, a heel tab to protect against blisters, and a tightened compression arch. 

Since getting these initial pieces in 2023, I got a few more – specifically the lightweight puffer (with a better warmth-to-weight ratio than down, though it does pack down a bit larger than a nano-puff….apparently in winter 2025 they’ll release an even more packable version so stay tuned!), the Sol Hoodie, and the Ultralight COOLPLUS Crew – both of which are made for summer/warm weather (which one wouldn’t think alpaca wool could handle, but here we are). These three pieces are some of the most comfortable and flattering things I own.

It gets even better: because alpaca is naturally odour-resistant, it needn’t be washed as much, which means it will last longer.

Get your alpaca clothes at PAKA today, and feel good about your contribution to the environment, the people of Peru, and of course, your travel wardrobe. 

Low Waste Makeup

Conventional makeup products usually have plastic packaging and casings that are either tough to recycle or not recyclable at all. Not to mention the number of ingredients that have questionable origins and are not necessarily healthy for your body and skin. 

Eco-friendly makeup is slowly becoming more accessible, as a growing number of brands are taking responsibility for their products; making packaging more sustainable, their products cleaner, and more. 

When looking for eco-friendly makeup products, consider three things:

• What it’s made of, 
• How it’s made,
• How it gets to you. 

The most eco-friendly makeup products are those with clean ingredients, are sustainably sourced, and are ethically made. Look for brands using reusable containers such as glass jars, and/or come in easily recyclable or compostable cartons and containers. 

Shipping-wise, opt for brands that have a sustainable and earth-friendly policy in place; for example, by compensating and offsetting their carbon footprint, or by sourcing/distributing as locally as possible.

Look for products that are naturally derived or plant-based. Avoid buying items that use nonrenewable energy sources such as petroleum. Another ingredient to avoid is palm oil, the production of which is causing massive environmental issues from deforestation and dwindling animal habitats to the displacement of indigenous communities. 

Zero waste champion River Organics offers a wide range of clean, trustworthy makeup products. Use coupon code PROFESSIONALHOBO for 15% off! 

Shampoo and Conditioner Bars

Liquid shampoos and conditioners usually come packaged in plastic bottles that are not easily recycled and thus often end up polluting our soils and oceans. When you’re traveling, you’re likely to buy travel-sized versions of everything, especially considering the carry-on restrictions on liquids. 

A great workaround is opting for shampoo and conditioner bars. You can cut up a bar and take just what you need for your trip (a great tip for carry-on and one bag travel). There are no packaging or liquid restrictions to worry about. 

And if you’re balking at the price, don’t: they last way longer! I’ve been a fan of LUSH’s shampoo bars for years (they’ve been a consistent staple in my packing list), and one bar lasts me (and my long hair) a minimum of six months. 

Whatever bar-looking product you buy in bulk or online, make sure it lists ALL the ingredients. For example, vegans should avoid beeswax and other animal-derived components. Similarly, soap and shampoo (whether liquid or bar) mentioning ‘fragrance’ in the list is a typical way to ‘hide’ questionable ingredients.

Reusable Cotton Swabs and Rounds

Cotton rounds and swabs are useful for hygienic purposes and for removing makeup. Keeping a couple of cotton rounds handy when traveling always has its benefits. However, these products are wasteful given their single-use nature. The plastic part of conventional cotton swabs in particular is difficult to work around and recycle properly. 

A great eco-alternative to move away from these single-use items are Last Object’s washable products. They designed reusable cotton swabs made of silicone that you can reuse up to 1000 times! I have one, and it works great and also saves space! The Danish brand also created reusable cotton rounds and tissues. 

All in all, Last Object’s brilliant ideas are an easy swap for you to make if you want to decrease waste (and its harmful consequences) at home, and also when traveling.

Don't be me. 

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I wasted a fortune.

Instead, use this FREE travel gear and packing list cheat sheet.

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INCLUDED: Special discount codes up to 25% off! 

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Pacsafe Recycled Backpacks, Luggage, Purses, and More

I’ve been a Pacsafe girl for years now (I bought my first Pacsafe daypack in 2010), because of their thoughtfully designed bags with anti-theft features and more. If I didn’t already have enough reasons to love their stuff, they’re now leading the way making eco-friendly bags. 

Browse through their collections, and you’ll see coloured recycling symbols next to increasing numbers of their products. This means those bags are being made with ECONYL material, which is made from recycled fishing nets and other plastic waste. 

Pacsafe is on a mission to reduce ocean plastic, and in addition to all their new bags being made from recycled plastic, they are converting their existing collection too. In 2020, 35% of all their bags were made from recycled material, and in 2021 they increased that to 75% of the entire Pacsafe collection. 

They’ve also switched out their packaging and tags to recycled cards and they’ve changed up their shipping materials. They’re close to achieving their goal to eliminate all virgin plastic from their entire supply chain. 

I have had the pleasure of testing out a variety of their new releases over the years. Everything is incredibly well-built to last, has thoughtful features for usability, and is stylish enough for everyday use without standing out so much that you become a target for theft.

(2026 UPDATE): For over 12 years I wouldn’t travel without the Pacsafe GO Anti-Theft Tech Crossbody – which is my passport/valuables carry case on travel days and my hands-free out-on-the-town-with-bare-essentials bag at my destination).

Pacsafe now carries a massive number of slings and crossbody bags of various sizes, and I’m currently testing one that I think will replace the above bag as my go-to because it is just a bit larger and more versatile while remaining slim and low-profile: the Pacsafe W Anti-Theft Micro Sling.

Vivaia Sustainable Washable Shoes

I have a new obsession. It’s with a company that makes stylish, sustainable shoes for women. We’re talking made-from-plastic-bottles, machine washable, lightweight, anti-odour, comfortable, flexible, suitable for wide feet….not to mention they look AMAZING. 

I bought my first pair of Vivaia shoes – the Vienna pointed toe V-cut flats. I traveled for seven solid months with them, through varying climates and scenarios. Every single time (every single time!) I wore them I got at least one compliment. 
(2026 update: 5 years, a dozen or so countries, and hundreds of kms later, they’re still holding up.)

I can wear them absolutely all day in total comfort. The break-in period was painless and took one day (which for me is unheard of), and I’m really not exaggerating when I say they’re among the most comfortable shoes I own. 

Bonus: they look incredible. They level up every outfit I have. And as long as comfort isn’t being compromised, then I say why not look a little more well-dressed? 

Vivaia took notice when I sang their praises in a Facebook post and after that we started working together. They asked me if I’d like to try another pair of their shoes, and I said “yes please – I’ll take three pairs”. 

It was a gutsy move, to be sure. But I wanted to try a few different styles of shoes to see if it’s possible to wear exclusively Vivaia shoes (with just one exception – and that’s for my Xero barefoot shoes that I use for hiking and working out). 

So, I got a pair of loafers for cooler weather, these cute-as-a-button mules for an easy slip-on upscale alternative to sandals, and I got a pair of their new Aria 5 style (pointed toe shoes designed to accommodate wider feet). Now that I have four pairs, I won’t travel with them all on every trip; depending on where I’m going and what I’m doing, two pairs should do. 

They also have sneakers (and viral sneakerinas!), boots, and more.

Learn more about Vivaia’s sustainable practices here.

Aviator 100% Merino Wool Shirts and Hoodies

After reading that certain kinds of polyester may be responsible for the majority of micro-plastic pollution in the Arctic (it comes out when you wash it), I learned the importance of choosing eco-friendly fabrics. 

Aviator is known for their jeans, and many claim they make the most travel-friendly jeans out there. But Aviator doesn’t just make jeans; they also make 100% merino wool tops.  They have t-shirts and travel hoodies for men and women, and a snappy-looking polo for men as well. 

Here are a few reasons why merino wool is  my #1 favorite material for travel clothing: 

• Antimicrobial (ie: anti-stink; you don’t have to wash it as often)
• Moisture-wicking
• Temperature-regulating 
• Wrinkle-resistant
• Lightweight and packable
• Breathable
• Comfortable
• Fast-drying 
• Naturally degrades when disposed of

Aviator’s Travel Hoodie goes the extra mile (travel pun intended) with the following features: 

• Two exterior zipper-secure pockets
• Multifunctional cuff can be worn standard, as a fingerless glove, or as a mitten
• Multifunctional hood can be worn standard or as a sleep mask

Encircled: Women’s Sustainable Clothing Champion

First off, what makes Encircled travel-friendly? Many of their products can be worn multiple ways, which means one piece of clothing can be dressed up, down, and all around. Their first ever product was the Chrysalis Cardi, which can be worn more than 8 ways! 

I’ve been a friend of Encircled since their early days almost 10 years ago. I started off with their signature Chrysalis Cardi, then got their Evolve Top, then their Flipside Leggings, and finally the Revolve Dress. Since then, they’ve changed and expanded their lineup a lot, but one thing remains unchanged: their commitment to sustainability. Here are some highlights: 

• They’re a Certified B Corp, which means they’re legally required to consider the impact of every decision on their workers, suppliers, community, environment, and customers. 
• They’re Oeko-Tex Standard 100® Certified, which means the majority of all threads, buttons, and accessories have been tested for harmful substances. 
• Their sewing studios save all scrap fabric and upcycle it into accessories. 
• Their web hosting provider is wind-powered. 
• Their studio/warehouse uses eco-friendly paper and cleaning products, and single-use plastic water bottles are banned. 
• Packaging is 100% recyclable. 

Here’s what Encircled makes their clothes from: 

• Modal® – One of the softest fabrics in the world, made from sustainable beech wood pulp
• Tencel^TM Lyocell – Made from sustainably-sourced wood pulp, and the yarn is created through a closed-loop process (ie: no water/chemicals/byproducts are released back into the environment)
• Rayon from Bamboo – Grown without pesticides, naturally regenerates, and is naturally biodegradable
• Organic Cotton – Grown without pesticides or GMOs
• Linen – Made from the resilient flax plant, and is biodegradable

So, feel good about your buying decisions, and check out the extensive sustainable clothing collection at Encircled. 

Peak Design: Recycled Durable Travel Bags and Camera Bags

Peak Design made a name for itself by designing ingenious bags and gear for photographers. A number of years ago they crossed over into travel bags and luggage, and between their clever design features, durability, use of recycled materials and sustainable/responsible practices, they’re leaders in the space. 

A few years ago I tested out their 45L Carry-On Travel Backpack; you can read my review of it here. Ultimately my boyfriend at the time loved it so much, he took off with it when we broke up!

Now, I have their Everyday Totepack, which I use as my personal item / daypack on longer trips to go along with my (Pacsafe) rolling carry-on.

In addition to making their bags with 100% recycled materials, here’s why Peak Design is a company I can get behind:

• They’re a Certified B Corp,
• A member of 1% for the planet,
• Bluesign Certified,
• A member of multiple carbon offset and climate action organizations, 
• They Cofounded a Climate Neutral non-profit,
• They have Factory codes of conduct for fair wages, with official standards for worker treatment, pay, safety, and conditions,
• They’re Fair trade certified, 
• They use recycled materials,
• And they specifically develop durable products with longer life-cycles

Check out what Peak Design has on offer here.

WAMA Hemp Underwear

Hemp is another one of those miracle fabrics. It’s like cotton, except way better. Here’s why: 

• Naturally anti-bacterial with anti-odor properties
• Comfy, breathable, and gets softer with every wash
• Organic, sustainably farmed
• Uses 3% of the water conventional cotton uses
• Farming hemp uses 18% less energy than conventional cotton

So why not trade in your tattered tighty-whities for WAMA’s hemp underwear? They have a variety of styles for both men and women. WAMA sent me a selection of undies and a bra, and they’re great. They absolutely do get softer with each wash, and even after working out in them, they remain totally stink-free. 

Here are a few more reasons to choose WAMA: 

• They are a Green America Certified Business, meaning they show leadership in the green business field and are committed to positive social and environmental change.
• All their packaging and shipping materials are made from sustainably-sourced recycled materials, and are reusable and recyclable, and in some cases naturally biodegradable too.  

Check out Wama Underwear here. 

Eco-Friendly Sunglasses

Sunglasses are a traveling must to protect your eyes, especially in tropical or high-altitude destinations. 

But did you know that you can take your sunglasses game up a notch by buying sustainable and eco-friendly ones? While traditional sunglasses are often made of plastic, many brands are now coming out with eco-friendly options such as plant-based acetate or bamboo. 

Thus, look for sunglasses that use bamboo, recycled, or plant-based materials. Those are usually the ones that will leave the least amount of environmental footprint. Be on the lookout for brands that openly share information on their supply chain and manufacturing practices.

Reef Safe and Eco-Friendly Sunscreen

Speaking of sun protection, conventional sunscreen has many issues. For one, lots of sunscreens like the one at your local drugstore are not reef-safe. Concretely, this means that they contain ingredients that harm precious coral reefs and marine life. 

In case of doubts when scrutinizing a label, have a look at the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory (HEL); their certification guarantees the absence of harmful environmental pollutants. Some HEL-certified sunscreens include Stream2Sea and Sunblocz. 

If you are located in Europe, Suntribe’s sunscreens are certified coral safe, free of synthetic chemicals, and contain a high proportion of organic ingredients.

Lastly, as mentioned earlier in the makeup section, the extra points are attributed to sunscreen products with reusable, recyclable, or even compostable packaging. Sunscreen brands that use recycled plastic for their packaging are also better alternatives.

Soap Saver Bags

Just like the liquid shampoo, liquid soap isn’t particularly eco-friendly, and it doesn’t pack gracefully especially if you’re traveling long-term and/or with carry-on luggage. 

But what happens when you need to shower and pack right away and your soap bar is still wet? Even if you put it into a (large and unwieldy) soap case or plastic bag, it still comes out slimy at your destination if not given a chance to air dry. 

Enter: The FlatPak Soap Bar Case. Put your wet soap into this case and it (magically??) dries on its own. 

Things to Keep in Mind Before You Purchase an Eco-Friendly Product:

• Quality: Is the product high quality? If it doesn’t last you a long time, then it defeats the purpose if it ends up in a landfill. .
• Origin: Is the product sourced and/or made locally? Will you be advocating for a small business within your country and steer clear from the negative ramifications of having to import goods?
• Ingredients: Check if they carry damaging ingredients like Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Parabens? If you want to purchase sunscreens – are they reef-friendly?
• Packaging: Are they using too much plastic to ship out these products? Will you be able to reuse or make use of the remaining packaging items after opening the product?

Other things to consider are eco-friendly phone cases, and lip balms with  paper packaging that can be reused as compost for plants. People are catching on and we still have a long way to go but every little bit helps create positive changes for the environment. 

Little changes in your travel (and daily) routine can add up to more conscious and earth-friendly adjustments on a larger scale. Bonus: you can save a lot of money if you’re creative, borrow, and reuse what you already have.

I like to vote with my dollars, so when I do need to buy something, I do my very best to buy from trustworthy brands that are putting ethical and sustainable standards first on their charts.

This post Eco-Friendly Products That Will Help the Environment appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

Don't be me. 

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I wasted a fortune.

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Learn from my 2 decades of career travel, and kick off your trip with the best clothes, toiletries, luggage, remote work gear, and more. 

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Every year in November, I publish a gift guide filled to the brim with cool travel gear you can use at home and abroad, books, and services that I’ve had a chance to review over the course of the year. (You can find them all in my Travel Gear Archives). Thing is, I haven’t had a chance to really “road-test” any of the items I received this year. (Because…COVID.)

So what a boon it is that the gadgets I review here are actually travel gear you can use at home and on the road! I’ve been using––and continue to use––each of the items below, some on a daily basis. Included below is also an awesome way to give back and keep travel alive in our minds and spirits. 

Check it out. 

NOTE: If you haven’t already figured it out, this article was originally published in 2020. I continue to tweak it to keep it up to date with relevant links etc.

I received all the items below for free in exchange for a review. In some cases, the links provided are encoded to pay me with a small commission if you end up making a purchase. Thank you in advance for your support; 2020 has been an atrocious year for the travel industry, and every bit helps. 

TESALATE SAND-FREE BEACH TOWELS

Tesalate proclaims to have the world’s leading beach towel, and for good reason: they are sand-free. It is the only towel of its kind, and allows you to leave the beach…at the beach. 

They also happen to be pretty terrific travel towels. Their exclusive AbsorbLite fabric can absorb over one litre of water, and air-dries very quickly. 

They’ve been featured in all the high-profile travel publications, and their towels have a rating of 4.9 based on 39,000 reviews from verified buyers. So when they contacted me to try out a towel, I had to find out what all the fuss was about. 

For lack of a beach to test its sand-free properties, I jumped right in with my Tesalate towel and used it instead of my normal daily bath towel at home so I could put it through its paces. (Talk about travel gear you can use at home; it’s actually better than my bath towel).

It’s a full-sized towel, which many travel towels are not. Thus, it dried me off very quickly and efficiently. Microfiber travel towels are generally great lightweight absorbers, but not always the most efficient, requiring many passes over the skin to actually dry yourself. The Tesalate is as – if not more – efficient than a normal bath towel. 

In comparison, my former travel towel was a lot smaller, which is great from an ultralight travel perspective, but I couldn’t use it to dry my hair (turban-style), nor was it remotely up for the task of providing any sort of modesty if I were using a shared bathroom or if I had to make a dash from the bathroom to my room in a house with other people who might not want to see a streaker at 8am. 

I’ve taken my Tesalate out for pool days, weekend trips, cottage excursions, and other watery events. Every single time I whip it out, it becomes a topic of conversation, from the colourful pattern (they offer a huge variety of patterns and colours) to the soft waffle material (which gets softer over time) and super-thin absorbent qualities. 

Despite my extensive testing, I never got my Tesalate near a grain of sand, but I believe wholeheartedly that it would live up to its sand-free claim. Thus, simply put, if you are going on a trip that involves hitting the beach at any time, you must bring a Tesalate. Even if you’re not hitting the beach, I’d recommend it. 

Now. Here’s the bad news. It ain’t cheap. If I hadn’t gotten mine for free and learned first-hand how awesome these towels are, I would have to think long and hard about buying one. But they offer free shipping around the world, no customs or duties will be charged, and you can return or exchange your towel (even if you have used it) with no questions asked; they’ll even pay for the return shipping. 

Next up, a double-edged sword. Even though it’s lightweight for what it is, as a full-sized towel, the Tesalate is probably not going to be an option for carry-on travelers who have space and weight limitations. (One of the reasons why I actually prefer checked luggage these days). But if you have the space, it is a full-sized towel, which many adventure towels are not. 

That said, Tesalate has just released their line of anti-bacterial workout towels which are the perfect size if what you want is an ultralight travel towel. 

In my own life, I’ll be using my Tesalate towel not only at the beach and the pool, but also the gym, yoga studio, and camping. Oh yeah, and also, when I travel. 

Shop for your Tesalate Sand-Free Beach/ Travel Towel here. Get 10% off first-time purchases with the discount code THANKS10. 

PACSAFE CONVERTIBLE BACKPACK/PURSE

I received a couple of Pacsafe items this year, but I want to highlight the best of the best here. I’m something of a Pacsafe poster-child; I’ve been using Pacsafe gear for over 10 years. I started off with their Venturesafe daypack (which is still in great condition despite over a decade of abuse), then I got their anti-theft rolling carryon (tragically discontinued for now) with which I traveled for two years full-time with carry-on luggage only, among other travel adventures. (At the moment I’m playing with this hardshell spinner expandable carry-on luggage by Level8).

I bought both of the above with my own money, so it’s safe to say I love Pacsafe. So I was thrilled when they reached out to me to partner up this year. They sent me the Vibe 100 Hip Pack which is great for a hip pack, but personally is a bit too small to be my everyday bag (especially with my zero waste kit) and too big to be a throw-a-few-things-in-and-go kind of gal. For somebody else it might be perfect; for me? Well, maybe I’m still traumatized by the 80s. 

But the item I’ve used every day since I got it, is the Pacsafe Citysafe Anti-Theft Convertible Backpack. It ticks a lot of boxes; it’s a sleek purse, as well as a cool little backpack. The zippers and hardware are stylish, classy, and packed with pragmatic anti-theft features. Mine is black so it matches everything, but Pacsafe offers this in a variety of colours, including their ECONYL material made from recycled plastic bottles (which I totally would have gotten but they only just came out with it). 

I’m like the Goldilocks of purses and travel bags; most have too many or too few pockets for me. This one gets it just right. And the flexibility to change the size (5.5L – 8L) and style (purse to backpack) within seconds? WIN. When it comes to long-term travel, the more multi-functional an item is, the more justified it is a part of my packing list. This bag goes from casual sightseeing with the backpack by day, to dressing up in the evening. 

All this says nothing of the anti-theft features of the bag, which are extensive, and include: 

• Water-resistant slash-proof material and straps 
• TurnNLock security hooks 
• Zipper locks, tabs, and clips 
• RFID-blocking inside pockets 
• Puncture resistant zippers

Before you think I’ve gone round the bend and totally drunk the Pacsafe-koolaid, here are a few things I’m not thrilled about with it. First of all, the front and back pocket zippers are clunky and don’t zip smoothly. This is because they’re puncture resistant and have very large plasticky teeth. Most of the time properly zipping and unzipping these pockets requires two hands; one for the zipper and the other for leverage. 

Speaking of two hands, the disadvantage of a convertible backpack with a strap that converts from single purse strap to backpack straps is that the top anchor point for the backpack straps isn’t fixed (the strap loops through a doo-hickey at the top). This means when holding the backpack by one strap, as you would do putting it on and taking it off, the strap slides all the way through. Imagine wearing it as a backpack then taking one arm out to swing the backpack around in front of you and get something from it; the bag drops down a foot as soon as it is sitting on just one shoulder, making it awkward to fetch something from it. It’s not the end of the world but it takes some getting used to. 

But them’s the breaks with a convertible backpack, and these are relatively small concessions to have a multi-functional attractive anti-theft bag. 

Shop for your Pacsafe Citysafe Anti-Theft Convertible Backpack at Pacsafe or Amazon. 

Want to see all my Pacsafe gear in action? Check out this video: 

OTHER COOL TRAVEL GEAR I REVIEWED THIS YEAR

In addition to the above travel gear you can use at home, there are two other items that I received and tested out (as best I could) in 2020, but that aren’t actually useful unless you’re traveling. Perhaps you’ll want to stock up, or get these for the traveler in your life who is planning their next adventure. 

STANDARD LUGGAGE CARRY-ON BACKPACK (WITH NIFTY ADD-ONS)

I review a lotta luggage, as evidenced here:

• Wheeled Backpacks, 
• Checked Luggage, 
• Rolling Luggage vs. Backpacks,
• … and Carry-On Backpacks designed for One Bag Travel 

The Standard Luggage Carry-On Backpack falls gracefully into the latter category; it’s an expandable carry-on backpack that has a whole host of cool add-ons (like packing cubes that convert into daypacks and hanging travel wardrobes, floating laptop sleeves, and more) that add a level of flexibility to allow you to travel with this bag and nothing else (should you so choose). 

I review this bag in great detail in this article, so I won’t reiterate its delightfulness to you. 

Instead, I’ll whet your appetite with this video I made about it. 

Check out the Standard Luggage Carryon Backpack here. 

This post Cool Travel Gear You Can Use At Home AND While Traveling appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

In this article I’ll describe exactly what he owns, and what he likes (and doesn’t like) about each, and in turn why I think Western Rise makes some of the best travel clothes for men.

2026 UPDATE: this article was written a few years ago. Western Rise has gone through various challenges and changes, and although I’ve stuck with them through these changes, I can no longer personally attest to the quality of what they’re producing. It might be better….it might not.

Some of the items I discuss in this article are no longer on the website. I can’t get answers from the company as to whether they’re restocking/redesigning or have discontinued them entirely. In short…it’s not going well.

My advice? Read the article to learn what qualities to look for in the best travel clothes for men. Then apply the criteria to your own search or fav clothing retailers.

I also fully endorse Unbound Merino for their full lineup of men’s clothing (and women’s clothing too). My partner and I both traveled the better part of a year with travel capsule wardrobes made up almost exclusively of Unbound Merino clothes. They passed every test we gave them. Check out Unbound Merino here, and use NORA10 for 10% off!

See also: Merino Wool Clothing for Travel: A Guide to Choosing the Best Brands 

Don't be me. 

I started traveling with all the worst stuff. 

I wasted a fortune.

Instead, use this FREE travel gear and packing list cheat sheet.

Learn from my 2 decades of career travel, and kick off your trip with the best clothes, toiletries, luggage, remote work gear, and more. 

INCLUDED: Special discount codes up to 25% off! 

This will be emailed to you to download, for FREE. 

Get Instant Access

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About Western Rise Men’s Travel Clothes

Western Rise is a men’s outdoor/travel clothing company based in Colorado. Their designs are very intentional with a stylish edge that can seamlessly take men from the office to the mountains in one fell swoop. 

They make outdoor gear that masquerades as smart casual clothing; rugged enough for the trail, and snappy enough for the office. 

Or maybe, it’s the other way around. 

Either way, when it comes to men’s travel wear, the key factor here is the intersection of performance and design, which results in multi-functional clothing that can be worn in multiple scenarios. And if you’re traveling light, this isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a downright necessity. 

Creating a Capsule Wardrobe for Men: What Makes the Best Men’s Traveling Clothes

Remember when I wrote about the best travel capsule wardrobe for women? Well, fellas: now it’s your turn. Here’s what makes the best men’s traveling clothes, and how you can design the most efficient capsule wardrobe for men. 

All of the clothes reviewed in this article fit the following criteria. 

• Quick Dry – The best travel clothes for men will air dry, overnight. Period. Quick dry shirts and pants are essential. 
• Antimicrobial / Antibacterial – The more wears you can get before washing, the less travel clothing you need to bring. Antimicrobial and antibacterial properties keep the stink away. 
• Wrinkle-Free – No matter how meticulously you fold, roll, or cram your clothes into your luggage, they’re going to come out creased if the material isn’t wrinkle-free. Even the best packing accessories won’t solve this problem. 
• Same Family of Colours – Ideally everything you pack matches. This creates more wardrobe possibilities within a smaller selection of clothes. Don’t forget about your shoes, which also need to match! 
• Lightweight – If you’re going to Siberia, a breezy lightweight shirt may not be appropriate. But extreme weather conditions aside, the right selection of lightweight clothes will be great on their own, and can layer for cooler temperature variations. And of course, lightweight clothes pack down easier. 
• Multifunctional – The more scenarios your clothes are suitable for, the more multifunctional they are. The Limitless merino wool button-down shirt as an example (reviewed below), can be worn in different ways to fit in with both super casual and business scenarios. 
  
  

Why Merino Wool is the Best Travel Clothing for Men (and Women)

Western Rise specializes in about half a dozen different performance fabrics, including merino wool, hemp, and various composites. But the star of this article when it comes to men’s travel shirts is merino wool. 

Here’s why merino wool clothing rocks for travel (for men and women). I wrote another article here going even deeper, including a breakdown of a variety of companies selling merino clothing.

• When cotton gets wet (from sweat or rain or whatever), it can’t keep you warm – in fact, it lowers your core temperature. Merino wool still keeps you warm, even when wet. 
• Merino wool is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and thus odor-resistant. Antimicrobial shirts are like magic. You can wear your merino tee for an entire week (or longer) without smelling. My fella tested this theory – he wore it for a week straight and it passed my deep-inhalation-of-the-armpit test. 
• It’s soft and delightful to the touch. 
• It’s moisture-wicking and breathable. 
• It regulates your body temperature. A relatively light weight merino wool shirt can still keep you warm, and also cool. (Magic). 
• It’s easy to care for. Hand wash or machine wash on cold, hang to dry overnight. Done. 
• It lasts forever. 
• It’s better for the environment. Some synthetic materials that have similar warmth and moisture-wicking properties also contribute to micro-plastic pollution. 

The challenge with merino wool, however, is that you’re going to have to pay for it; as a sustainable material, merino wool clothing is almost always more expensive than its synthetic counterparts. But in my experience if you treat your merino wool travel clothing well, it will treat you (and the environment) even better, by not only doing a better job than any other material, but also by lasting way longer. 

2025 UPDATE: Western rise used to offer a wide variety of merino wool clothes; they recently redesigned their store and as of late 2025, they now only offer two shirts and some socks. However merino is just one of many magical fabrics they use in their clothing; be sure to peruse the site to see it all!

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, my boyfriend received two Western Rise shirts on my behalf for free to review. The rest of the shirts and pants, he bought with his own money. If you use the links in this post to buy your own duds, I’ll earn a small commission. 

StrongCore Merino Tee – Best Casual Shirts for Men 

This is Western Rises’ best-selling tee, and with good reason. 

My fella was initially impressed with the shirt’s light weight and soft feel. He wore it on an especially hot summer day and went from outside-swelter to inside-over-air-conditioned-chill and was comfortable in both environments. He was also impressed with how quickly it air-dried after washing. 

Style-wise, my fella is a little persnickety, and is accustomed to cotton t-shirts. The StrongCore Merino T-Shirt fit him a bit differently; it was longer than he’s used to, and also a little bit looser (while still being the correct size for him). 

It’s also a bit thinner than a standard cotton tee, which slightly affects how it hangs on the body. This is a plus when it comes to being travel-friendly, because it is much lighter and packs down smaller than its cotton counterpart, without sacrificing on the warmth or protection a thicker cotton tee would offer. 

Lastly, my guy was perplexed by how the wool got a little bit fuzzy after a few washes. He thought it was lint! It’s not. It’s just the material; merino wool gets that way – unlike cotton. Honestly it’s barely noticeable; my boyfriend took his role as travel t-shirt reviewer very seriously. 

He has now worn this shirt (heavily) for well over a year. Nothing has changed; the shape remains in tact, the material hasn’t degraded at all, there’s no stink-factor even with many wears between washings, and it’s so comfortable he wears it all the time. 

For the Best Men’s Casual Shirts, check out Western Rise Travel Tees here. 

Limitless Merino Button-Down (Merino Wool Dress Shirt) – Best Men’s Dress Shirt for Travel 

A wrinkle-free dress shirt for travel? Say it ain’t so. 

In the name of comfort, my fella is a t-shirt-wearing kind of guy. When the Limitless Merino Wool Button-Down Shirt came out however, we both saw potential for this to be a comfortable way to look dressier while traveling (and at home). Because sometimes circumstance requires you to level up your look, and dressy collared shirts do not travel well. In his words: 

“I was immediately surprised at how stretchy it is. I’ve often felt restrained by the material of other button-downs which kept me from wearing them and opting for a tee instead. This is a button-down shirt that is so comfortable, I lounge in it. 

No matter the occasion, it can be dressed up for a day at the office or a date with my special lady, or dressed down for an evening spent with friends, at the beach, or even on a hike. This really is an everyday shirt.”

A classic button-down shirt is a men’s travel wardrobe essential. You can achieve different looks by rolling up the sleeves, wearing it unbuttoned over a tee, tucking and untucking it, etc. It is essentially many different shirts in one, and the merino wool makes it wrinkle-free, anti-bacterial, odour-resistant, and well-equipped for the rigours of travel. It’s one of the best men’s wrinkle-free travel shirts I’ve ever come across. It ticks ALL the boxes.

Western Rise has both long-sleeved and short-sleeved merino collared shirt designs. Learn more here.

Limitless Merino Polo Shirt – Best Collared Shirt for Travel 

With a merino tee and a long-sleeved button down, the last piece to complete the perfect trio of best travel shirts for men is the Limitless Merino Polo Shirt. In terms of both climate and dressiness, it falls right in the middle with short sleeves and a collar. 

By this point my guy was convinced that Western Rise makes the best men’s travel clothing and started buying other pieces; this was the first. 

While you might not think that wearing wool in hot humid weather is wise, here’s what my fella said: 

“The temperature regulation has been helpful during the hot and humid days of summer. There was little to no odor retention until the third or fourth day of consistent sweaty use. With light activity around the house I can go a week without washing.”

Speaking of washing merino wool, it’s much easier to care for than you might think. Simply machine wash it in cold water and air-dry (it dries incredibly quickly). The label even says you can dry it in the dryer on a delicate cycle (as my fella has done many times), but I believe drying merino wool decreases its lifespan, and let’s get it right: merino wool ain’t cheap. You’ll want it to last. 

Check out the Limitless Merino Polo Shirt here.

Western Rise Pants

While this article thus far has been about Western Rise shirts, it’s worth noting that Western Rise Pants are some of their staple, multi-award-winning, cornerstone products. 

Evolution Pant: Best Travel Pants (The Only Men’s Travel Pants You’ll Ever Need)

Western Rise calls the Evolution “the ultimate travel pant”, for the following reasons: 

• The material is water-repellant, stain-resistant, super durable, and Blue Sign approved for sustainability
• It’s soft, stretchy, abrasion-resistant, and anti-pilling
• They pack down smaller than a t-shirt!
• Dressy enough for the office, while rugged and comfortable enough for the outdoors
• Hidden back right zipper security/wallet/passport pocket
• Front pocket is large enough for a smartphone
• Voted Best Travel Clothing in Carryology’s 2019 Carry Awards

My guy loved his first pair of Evolution Pants so much, two months later he bought another pair (in another colour; they offer it in six colours after all). He says:

“The Evolution Pant touts itself as being “the only pair of pants you need” and so far it’s hard to argue with that statement. They’re the best travel pants I’ve ever had. The fit is just right straight out of the packaging and I’ve worn them for multiple days at a time. These pants are ideal for summertime, but I am confident they will be great in all climates. They’ve already taken the place of a couple pairs of pants.”

Evolution Pant 2.0 – Taking Men’s Travel Pants to the Next Level (2022 UPDATE)

Since originally writing this post, I parted ways with my boyfriend, and Western Rise levelled up the Evolution Pant 1.0 to create the Evolution Pant 2.0. So I found a new test subject for the Evolution 2.0 pant (now called the Evolution Classic), and he was just as enthralled with Western Rise as my first fella was.

The Evolution Pant has been Western Rise’s flagship product since 2018, but they wanted to improve on it anyway, and that they most certainly did. While the biggest changes are the stretchier waistband, 4-way stretch fabric, and a new durable water repellant formula, as you can see from the image above, these are just the tip of the iceberg. They went to town with the improvements.

In their words:

The Evolution Collection can be worn for multiple days in a row without washing. The pants pack smaller than a t-shirt, move with the body, and replace at least three pants in your closet. The new design ensures they can dress up for any meeting or wedding, yet are rugged enough for any outdoor activity. Sustainably built from the yarn up with the comfort of your joggers with the performance of high-grade nylon. The most versatile pants for travel, outdoor, and everyday. The Everyday Pant, Elevated.

When I asked Fella 2.0 for his feedback on the Evolution 2.0 Pant, the things that really stuck out for him included:

• Stain Resistant – I would go so far as to say stain proof. He spilled a large amount of red wine on the pants (unintentionally of course, but I wasn’t entirely displeased with the event as it was a chance to test out their stain resistant claims). What happened next shocked us both. The wine beaded up and rolled off the pants, leaving no mark or stain whatsoever. It was like magic.
• Wrinkle-Free – These pants hang perfectly without a wrinkle in sight, despite being crammed into luggage.
• Secret Zippered Back Pocket – Within the back pocket is another zippered pocket that is perfect for extra travel security, to keep valuables (like cash, credit cards, or a passport) out of the hands of pickpockets.
• “Media Pocket” at Front is Big – You know that tiny pocket at the font that has been a feature in 5-pocket jeans and pants since forever? The one that is so small it’s useless? It’s called a media pocket. And on the Evolution 2.0 pant, it’s actually big enough to hold something – even a smartphone (depending on the side of the phone).
• They’re dressy, AND casual – My fella’s immediate reaction on seeing the pants is that they are dress pants. I didn’t see them that way; I don’t tend to think of 5-pocket pants as being dressy. But this just goes to show that the Evolution Pant straddles the line between casual and dress. Depending on what you wear them with, you can dress them up or down – an incredibly useful trait for travel.

Shop for the Evolution Travel Pant (they also have slim and chino styles) – check out the Evolution Classic here. 

AT Pant: The Travel-Friendly Alternative to Jeans

My guy is from a relatively warm place, and we are contemplating spending the winter in Canada. Being his first real winter, I warned him that the Evolution Pant might not have what it takes to get him through. So, he bought a pair of the AT Pants, which are Western Rise’s alternative to jeans.

It’s a classic 5-pocket pant, but it’s lighter, more durable, and more comfortable than cotton denim. They also keep you from getting wet if it rains, and in keeping with all travel-friendly clothes for men in this article, they dry quickly.

He hasn’t thoroughly tested the AT pants yet, but here is his initial reaction:

“The fabric breakdown is 97% Nylon and 3% Spandex versus the Evolution’s 96% Supplex Nylon and 4% Elastane, which makes it not as flexible as the Evolution (probably couldn’t do yoga in the AT Slim whereas I could in the Evolution), but they’re a tad thicker and feel more hardy and durable.
Definitely a cooler weather pant.
Idk what else to say besides…I really like them! ?”

2025 update: looks like they temporarily discontinued the AT Pant, but they have a few others on offer.

These are only a few Western Rise Men’s Clothing options! Check out their Best Sellers here.  

One Last Reason to Check Out Western Rise Clothing

When I went on an expedition cruise around Newfoundland, I attended a number of workshops about various environmental ideas and practices. I learned about “buy-cotting”; it’s like the positive cousin to boycotting. It involves using your buying power to vote for the things you care about. I think about this every time I am at the grocery store and compare an organic/sustainable product to it’s cheaper counterpart. Which product reflects and supports my values and concerns? Every dollar I spend counts. 

This applies to more than groceries. Which is why my heart sang when I read about Western Rise’s commitment to sustainable and ethical manufacturing (which you can read about on their About page). 

See also: My Zero Waste Kit for Travel (and Home)

You Might Also Be Interested In: 

Pro Packing Hacks: These are the Best Packing Accessories 

The Ultimate Packing List for Long-Term Travel 

Checked vs. Carry on Luggage, and Best Options for Both

The Best Travel Capsule Wardrobe for Women

This post Best Travel Clothes for Men No Matter Where You’re Traveling (+ 5 items you need from Western Rise) appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

What’s an Anti-Theft Bag?

Anti-theft bags are becoming increasingly popular and sought after due to the growing number of theft cases being reported. Whether it’s an anti-theft backpack, anti-theft purse or anti-theft bag, these special accessories are designed to offer a higher level of security and protection than regular travel purses and bags when travelling.

What sets anti-theft bags apart from other types of bags is the fact that they are crafted from materials that offer an extra layer of security, such as slash-resistant fabric and hidden zippers. Some even come with built-in RFID blocking layers to protect against unauthorized access to your personal data stored on your bank cards or passport.

What Should I Look For In An Anti-Theft Bag?

When choosing an anti-theft bag, there are four key features that you should look for to ensure your valuables are as secure as possible. I’ve mentioned some already above, so let’s go over them one by one.

Slash-Resistance Fabric

Slash-resistance fabrics are one of the key features to look for when selecting an anti-theft bag or purse. This type of material is designed to be resistant to knives and blades and helps to protect your belongings from being stolen in a slash-and-grab attack. Not only that, this fabric will also help to protect your belongings from being damaged in the event of a theft attempt.

The fabric typically consists of woven materials that have been reinforced with steel or carbon fibre wires to make them incredibly difficult to cut. Ideally, if the straps of your bag are also slash-resistant, it will be even more difficult for a determined thief to get away with your valuables.

Hidden Zippers and Lockable Compartments

Having hidden zippers and lockable compartments on an anti-theft purse is an essential feature that can significantly reduce the chances of a thief attempting to access your valuables. Hidden zippers are discreetly placed within the fabric of the bag, making it much more difficult for a thief to identify them and quickly open your bag.

Lockable compartments, such as those that are built-in to many anti-theft backpacks and travel purses, are also a great feature to look for. These offer an extra layer of security by allowing you to attach a lock and key to your bag, thus making it much more difficult for someone to gain access to your belongings.

RFID Blocking Layer

The final feature to look for when purchasing an anti-theft bag or travel purse is the RFID-blocking layer. Below I’ll explain why RFID technology is important to be secured properly. Passports and credit cards that have RFID technology cannot be protected by a mere piece of fabric or clothing, that’s why a dedicated RFID-blocking layer is necessary.

An RFID blocking layer is designed to protect your personal information and sensitive data stored on bank cards or passports by preventing unauthorized access. This works by creating a barrier between the antenna of your credentials and the reader, thus preventing any data from being transmitted and stolen.

Ideally, the fabric should be thick enough that it will block all signals from being transmitted to and from the cards or passports stored in your bag. Some anti-theft bags even come with additional pockets that are specifically designed to store these items, thus providing an extra layer of security.

Now the main question is – What are the best anti-theft bags?

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The Ultimate Guide To Traveling with Money

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Everything You Need to Know About Travel Insurance (including how to structure your policy and a glossary of terms in plain English)

The Best Anti-Theft Travel Bags and Accessories

In addition to being vigilant and applying the tips above, you can get ahead of petty theft by using the following items specifically designed to deter criminals. From small to large, wearable to attachable, here are the best anti-theft travel bags in the industry. 

I have owned most of the items listed below, and with the exception of the Pacsafe purse and hip pack and some of the pickpocket proof clothing (which were given to me to review over the years), I bought them all outright. If you click on the links and make a purchase of anything at the stores I linked to (in this case mostly Amazon and Pacsafe), I will earn a small commission. Thank you in advance for your support. 

Best Anti-Theft Purses

The two leading makers of anti-theft travel purses are Pacsafe and Travelon. Both have a huge selection of styles and colours of purses. I own all of the purses below. 

Citysafe CX Anti-Theft Convertible Backpack: Best Slash Proof Backpack/Purse Combo

This is both a stylish 5.5L travel purse, as well as a cute and trendy 8L backpack, and as such I adore it for its flexibility while traveling and at home. Here are some features: 

• Smart zipper security and cut-resistant materials protect your belongings
• Cut-resistant anchor strap secures around a fixed object to protect your bag
• RFID-blocking pocket protects your credit cards and passport against unwanted scans
• Can be worn as a backpack or folds down into a handbag
• Detachable strap can be tucked away
• Fits a 10″ tablet
• Internal pockets to keep your gear organized
• 5.5L expands to 8L

Shop for the CitySafe Convertible Backpack on Pacsafe or Amazon.

Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag: Best Anti-Theft Crossbody Bag With Water Bottle Pockets

This is the best travel purse crossbody that I’ve found. It is a much cheaper alternative to the Pacsafe purse above, but also lacks the flexibility of being a purse/backpack combo, as well as some of the more unique features of Pacsafe’s purses like the interlocking tamper-proof zipper pulls. I do, however, adore the two side pockets for a water bottle (max 500ml) or small umbrella. 

• Locking compartments, slash-resistant body construction and slash-resistant, adjustable shoulder strap attaches to post or chair
• RFID blocking card and passport slots
• 2 mesh expansion pockets hold water bottle and umbrella
• Removable LED light
• Holds a 10” tablet, but reviews indicate it may not if you have a thick tablet case
• I don’t know the capacity; it’s more than 5.5L but less than 8L

Shop for Travelon Anti Theft Bags on Amazon.

Pacsafe Vibe100 Hip Pack: Best Anti-Theft Hip Pack for Travel

Pacsafe has a couple of different anti-theft waistpacks to choose from. I like this one because it’s not too small and not too big. I like the fact that it expands. That said, I haven’t used a “fanny pack” for a few decades, and I’m still a bit traumatized by how utterly unfashionable they originally were. So I’m still getting used to having it around my waist. The good news is it can also comfortably be worn as a stylish anti theft sling bag. 

All the zippers lock together to prevent somebody from getting into your bag in a crowd unbeknownst to you, but if you don’t secure all the zippers, they jingle when you walk which is a bit annoying. 

• Lockable zips and cut-resistant materials protect your belongings
• Cut-resistant anchor strap secures around a fixed object to protect your bag
• RFID-blocking pocket protects your credit cards and passport against unwanted scans
• Fits a 7″ tablet in a padded sleeve for extra protection
• Internal pockets help keep your gear organized
• Internal attachment point for wallets and keys
• 4L capacity
• Can be worn as a hip pack or a sling

Shop for the Vibe100 on Pacsafe or Amazon.

Best Anti-Theft Backpacks

Just like purses, backpacks are a very personal choice; from size to style to features, everybody needs something different. My #1 recommendation for security backpacks is ANYTHING made by Pacsafe. Here are a few dozen to choose from. They all have most if not all of the following features: 

• Lightweight
• RFID-blocking pockets
• Exomesh slashguard material
• Lockable tamperproof zippers
• Slashproof straps
• Ability to secure it to a fixed object
• Fits tablets/laptops and/or hydration packs

For the last decade (literally!) I’ve owned the Pacsafe Venturesafe 25L Anti-Theft Backpack and it’s not only indestructible, but it’s also understated and flexible to my needs. I’ve taken it on multi-day hiking trips into the Andes of Peru (as seen in the picture below), out to the internet cafe, and on every plane I’ve ever boarded. Even packed full, it fits underneath the seat in front of me, allowing me to keep my valuables close by all the time. 

Check out the Pacsafe 25L Daypacks on Pacsafe.

Best Anti-Theft Luggage

Once again, Pacsafe is the leader in anti theft luggage; in fact I don’t know of any other luggage producers that have anywhere near the same security features. Pacsafe makes wheeled luggage as well as carry-on and checked backpacks. 

See also: How to Decide Between Checked and Carry-On Luggage

Pacsafe Toursafe Anti-Theft Wheeled CarryOn (Since replaced by the Pacsafe Venturesafe EXP21): Best Anti-Theft Rolling Luggage 

I’ve owned this bag since 2014 and it’s still like-new. I even traveled for two years, full-time, with only this luggage (and my Pacsafe Venturesafe Daypack)! A friend of mine owns the larger checked version of this bag, if carryon travel isn’t your thing. 

• Smart zipper security and cut-resistant materials protect your belongings
• Stainless steel anchor cable locks around a fixed object to protect your bag
• RFID blocking pocket protects your passport and credit cards against unwanted scans
• External attachment points for bulky items like a jacket, sleeping bag or yoga mat
• External compression straps secure and stabilize contents during travel
• Fits a 15″ laptop in a padded sleeve for extra protection
• Internal compression straps to reduce bulk and to keep gear in place
• External transparent pocket for contact details to help with bag ID
• Internal pockets to keep your gear organized
• Internal attachment point for wallets and keys
• 42L capacity
• Weighs 7lbs
• (H x W x D):22.8 x 15.0 x 9.8 in / 58 x 38 x 25 cm

NOTE: Tragically, supply chain issues forced Pacsafe to discontinue their lineup of anti-theft luggage. I have left this blurb above intact in the hopes that they’ll bring it back to life, or I find some comparable anti-theft luggage to love and feature in its place; whatever happens first. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, I have been testing out the Osprey Daylite Carry-on Wheeled Duffel – soft-sided wheeled luggage that also has backpack straps! They’re also removable if you need the extra packing space, which I did on the 3-month carry on only trip that I took it on. Note: it doesn’t have any particular anti-theft features, and you won’t want to carry it far by the backpack straps (your back will pay the price). But it is a great size for international carry-on standards, and for soft-sided luggage it has some great features.

Want a closer look at all the above Pacsafe gear? I walk you through it in this video. 

Safe Bags (Locking Backpacks)

Pacsafe Travelsafe Portable Safe: For Securing Valuables

These slash-proof bags with cable locks and combination padlocks come in varying sizes from 3L to 25L, and they’re a safer alternative to locking your valuables in your luggage or even the in-room hotel safe. Instead, you can fill this bag with your valuables and lock it to a fixed object, and nobody is going to be able to get into or steal the bag. They have the additional functionality of allowing you to secure your valuables (inside the bag) to fixed objects while you’re out and about (classic scenario: at the beach). 

NOTE: I ordered a couple of these bags to see how – or if – I could use them. I didn’t like them….at all….and I returned them. I am keeping this listing here because you may think they’re great! Here’s what I didn’t like:

• They’re not particularly lightweight
• The material is very stiff
• Cinching the bag closed at the top is very awkward
• The combo lock is fiddly (though you could replace it with your own padlock
• As an ultra-light traveler I just couldn’t justify the weight and bulk of these safes

If you’re still interested, you can shop for the Pacsafe Travelsafe Portable Safe on Pacsafe or Amazon.

LocTote Flak Sack: For Securing (and Transporting) Valuables

This lightweight drawstring backpack is slashproof, includes RFID-blocking pockets, and can lock to a fixed object. While it has the advantage over Pacsafe’s model of having backpack straps, the disadvantage is that it’s not as flexible in terms of what it can be locked to. Also, it has some disturbing reviews about the lock resetting and the material not being quite as slash-proof as indicated, and the straps probably aren’t very comfortable if the contents of your bag are heavy. If what you want is an anti-theft backpack, check out the Pacsafe daypacks that I featured earlier. 

Shop for the LocTote Flak Sack on Amazon.

Luggage Locks, Cables, Straps

I always look for luggage and backpacks that have lockable zippers and I always have a couple of TSA luggage locks on hand. But never fear; if you don’t have lockable zippers, you’re covered here. 

TSA luggage padlock: For Locking Luggage

I specifically use TSA locks so that if my checked luggage needs to be searched by authorities while it’s out of my hands, they can open it with a universal key and lock it again (rather than having to cut off the lock entirely). But these locks are also great for keeping the contents of your backpack secure while it’s on your back, or the contents of your luggage secure while you’re outside of your hotel room. 

Shop for TSA Luggage Locks on Amazon.

Prosafe / Retractasafe adjustable cable locks: For Securing Your Bag to a Fixed Object

Wrap these light-weight heavy-duty cut-proof cables around your bags to tie them together, and/or to secure your bag to a fixed object. Handy if you need to take your eyes off your stuff in public, and also to secure your luggage to a fixed object in your room if security is an issue.

Shop for the Pacsafe Locks & Cables at Pacsafe or Amazon.

Luggage Strap: To Prevent Your Luggage From Opening

A lockable luggage strap prevents somebody from fully opening your luggage (or if your luggage is old, it prevents it from falling apart while being tossed around by luggage handlers). Use this as an alternative or addition to luggage locks. It has a TSA lock so it can be opened if your bag needs to be searched. Added benefit: it adds an extra layer of protection if you have some pockets in your luggage that aren’t locked. 

Shop for your Luggage Strap on Amazon.

Anti-Theft Wallets, Neck Pouches, Travel Belts, Etc.

Anti-theft wallets are very personal choices according to your sense of style and needs, so I’ll refrain from making specific recommendations here. The good news is, most wallets these days are also RFID-blocking wallets. Never buy a wallet that doesn’t have this protection!

For travel days, I use the Pacsafe Anti-Theft Tech Crossbody Bag to carry my passport, phone, cards, and other essentials that I don’t wish to part with. It also serves as a great hands-free alternative to a wristlet when I go out on the town with just a few things.
A money belt is always good for stashing extra cash, as are hidden pouches. There are many ways to hide money in clothing while traveling, as can be seen here and below. 

These are all a matter of personal preference: check out various options here. 

RFID-Blocking Sleeves

If you love your wallet and/or passport holder but it isn’t RFID-blocking, then get a few of these lightweight paper/foil RFID-blocking sleeves for your passport and credit cards. Don’t be deceived by how thin they are; they do the trick and they’ll protect your identity from being stolen by a passer-by. 

Shop for RFID-Blocking Sleeves at Amazon.

Pickpocket Proof Clothing (Travel Clothing With Security Pockets)

I have many travel colleagues who swear by pickpocket proof clothing. I’ve honestly had mediocre results. My personal challenge with travel clothing with security pockets is that I’m not accustomed to using pockets; I always have a purse and everything I own has a place in it. And since most women’s clothing is unreliable in the pocket department, switching back and forth between using pockets and not having/using them is begging for something to go missing (in my opinion). 

That said, if you like using pockets, then this stuff is made for you. Literally. 

Pursesuitz Pocketwear®: Tank Top with Hidden Pockets for Active Pursuits (get it?) AND Travel Security

When I was speaking at Women’s Travel Fest in 2023, Pursesuitz had a stall set up, and I was drawn to it like a moth to flame.

I immediately saw the versatility in these unique tank tops; you can wear one as an undergarment on travel days to keep your valuables close and totally hidden, AND at your destination you can wear the top on its own while working out, hiking, whatever – and have pockets for the stuff you need with you. Perfect example: when I stay at hotels I like to use the gym. But my workout gear doesn’t have a pocket for the hotel room key, my phone, headphones, etc…..until now, that is.

Here are some features of the Pursesuitz tank tops:

• The Level 2 & Level 3 tops have pocket closures using the most amazing patented hook & loop fabric (works like velcro except it’s totally soft and flexible)
• Made from a recycled polyester / spandex blend
• Anti-microbial, moisture-wicking
• Various levels of bra support depending on the level you choose

Despite its supposed anti-microbial features, I found that after working out in it for a while, my tank top almost immediately started holding on to sweat-stink the way polyester tends to. Also, I have the Level 2 top, and the bottom of the tank (where the pockets are) rolls up and doesn’t entirely stay in place. The Level 3 top has an elastic band at the bottom that would solve this problem (as well as a built-in shelf bra that I would have preferred).

Use code Hobo for 10% off at Pursesuitz!

Clothing Arts: Best Anti-Pickpocket Pants for Adventure, Business, and Travel  

That’s me above, in 2014, wearing the Clothing Arts Women’s Travel Pants, when they were just starting to expand into women’s styles. 

To this day, Clothing Arts is primarily a menswear company, with relatively few styles for women in comparison to their men’s selection. I tried out their pants a number of years ago and the fit wasn’t ideal, but perhaps they’ve improved their women’s design with time. 

In addition to pants, Clothing Arts makes shorts, shirts, and jackets, each with travel-friendly material and an innovative use of zippers, flaps, buttons, and hidden pockets to deter pickpockets. 

According to them: “best described as “gear masquerading as a pair of pants,” our apparel represents the future of travel and the fusion of travel pants with the security of money-belts.”

Global Travel Clothing: Best Travel Jacket 

Global Travel Clothing keeps things simple with thoughtfully-designed travel jackets for men and women. They’re very high-quality, comfortable, water-resistant, and have a host of pockets to stash as much (or little) stuff as you like. I got my Global Travel Clothing jacket in 2016 and used it all the time in Peru (pictured above). 

A Special Shoutout to Pacsafe

Throughout this article you’ve seen a lot of Pacsafe items, and I own a lot of them. I never intended it this way, but having used Pacsafe gear for over a decade (on my own dime), I’ve become quite the poster-child for them! There’s a reason for that: they make excellent, high-quality, stylish, useful anti-theft travel gear and bags for both men and women. 

They have a large number of collections, which include (but aren’t limited to):

Metrosafe LS Classics – Understated unisex bags and anti theft crossbody bags with up-to-date security features

Citysafe – Travel purses for women, backpacks, totes, slings, travel purse crossbody, and more 

GO – Including the cross body bag for travel / small travel purse combo that I love and use daily (watch my review of it here).

Venturesafe – Backpacks, slings, and waist packs designed to be durable and lightweight (my Venturesafe daypack is still going after 10+ years of almost daily use)

Vibe – Men’s and unisex slings and backpacks

Travelsafe – Portable safes

Econyl – Bags made from regenerated fishing nets and discarded nylon (designs include Metrosafe, Venturesafe, and Vibe)

Metrosafe X City – Men’s crossbody, backpacks, slings; 2020 redesign of their most successful bags over time. 100% recycled 

Stylesafe – Women’s backpacks, travel crossbody bag, travel handbags, slings, and travel purse for women with an extra hint of style

Camsafe – Bags with camera-friendly dividers and compartments for Photographers

Coversafe – Hidden pouches to store valuables while you’re on the move

Dry – Water-resistant backpacks and duffels

Transit Apparel – Men’s and women’s jackets, vests, and pants with anti-theft pockets and other features

Shop for your Pacsafe gear here. 

Given my recent greater focus on environmentally friendly/sustainable materials and practices, in future I plan to explore their Econyl products, made from regenerated fishing nets and discarded nylon. 

See also: My Zero Waste Kit for Travel (and Home)

If you are looking at a different anti-theft travel product like a backpack, purse, or luggage, then at a minimum, make sure it has the same security features as Pacsafe, including: 

• Slashproof material
• Slashproof straps
• RFID-blocking pockets
• Tamper-proof zippers
• Lockable zippers
  
  

Top 6 Tips to Protect Your Stuff While Traveling

Anti-theft travel gear is important, but even more so is how you use it. Here are some tips and techniques that will keep you and your stuff from being parted unnecessarily. 

1. Always Maintain Contact With Your Purse/Daypack

The surest way for somebody to steal your daypack or purse is for you to put it down and lose contact with it. Classic opportunities for robbers include hanging it off the back of your chair when you’re at a restaurant or cafe. Or when you’re standing at a ticket counter and you put your daypack down near your feet. In both cases as soon as you are distracted, your stuff is easy pickings. 

Instead, when I’m at a restaurant I hang my purse off my leg, or put it beside my foot and wedge the strap underneath my thigh. Similarly with a daypack, I will put it at my feet while maintaining constant contact between my lower leg and pack, and if possible I’ll loop the strap over my knee. If I’m standing and put my pack down, I rest it between my feet. 

A travel colleague of mine was bereft of all his valuables (laptops etc) which were in his daypack resting on the ground at his feet while he was buying a bus ticket. A scam artist distracted him while an accomplice took everything. 

See also: 24 Classic Travel Scams, and How to Avoid Them 

2. No Room Safe? Lock Valuables in Your Luggage When you Leave Your Room

Luggage locks aren’t just for travel days. Crimes of opportunity are about getting in and out quickly, and hotel thefts are more common than you might like to think. If your valuables won’t fit in the hotel safe, or if there is no safe in your room, then lock everything inside of your luggage. An opportunist is less likely to steal your entire bag than they are to rifle through it or steal a laptop or tablet left sitting out while you’re at breakfast or sightseeing. 

Not sold on the security of in-room safes? You’re not alone. Check out the safe bags below for an additional option to keep your valuables secure when you’re not with them. 

3. Always Use RFID-Blocking. Always. 

Did you know that somebody can simply walk by you from many feet away, with a scanner in their pocket, and effectively steal your identity in that flash of an instant? Airports in particular are rampant with RFID-scanning scammers, but it’s not just there. Almost all credit and debit cards now have RFID chips in them to allow for contactless payment, which means wherever you go, if your credit cards and bank cards aren’t protected by the best RFID-blocking wallets, pockets, and sleeves, you are vulnerable. 

Also, you may have an RFID-blocking passport wallet, but consider how many times you take your passport out unnecessarily. For example, you’re standing in line for security or boarding. You’ve probably got another 10 minutes before you get to the front of the line, but there you are holding your passport out of its protective wallet. Don’t do it. Keep it in your RFID-blocking wallet or sleeve until you absolutely need to take it out. 
Note: here’s what I use instead of a passport wallet – it’s much more multi-functional.

The same goes for credit cards; be aware of how often you take them out, and how long they’re out. If I’ve thought of how easy it would be for somebody to steal your identity this way, then sure as can be somebody else with less honourable intentions has thought of this too, and they’re prepared to take advantage of it. 

4. Activate the “Find My Device” Feature For Phones and Laptops

If your phone or laptop is stolen, or even simply lost, you stand a chance of recovering it using this feature, and if you can’t recover it, you can erase it to protect your data. 

When I was living in Grenada, I hopped on my scooter one day with my phone in my pocket. Unbeknownst to me it fell out of my pocket along the way and I arrived home minus an iPhone. I tried calling it but there was no answer; perhaps the battery was dead, or it had been damaged, or it was still lost, or somebody had taken it. So I logged into “Find my Phone” on my computer and was able to pinpoint its location. Sure enough somebody had seen it on the road and picked it up. They had no evil intentions, and when I arrived to the area where it was and asked around, I was quickly reunited with my beloved phone. 

5. Never Leave Your Travel Purse Dangling off One Shoulder

Women, hear me now. Wear your travel purse across your body. This not only makes it infinitely easier to move around hands-free securely, but it will thwart most purse snatchers. 

In addition, if you’re walking on a sidewalk beside the road, be aware of the traffic beside you and carry your purse on the opposite side of your body to the road; it’s classic for somebody to come along on a motorbike to scoop your purse off your shoulder and make a speedy getaway. Even if you wear your purse crossbody, your strap could be slashed as they grab-n-go. (See below for purses with slash-proof straps). 

Wearing your purse in a cross-body fashion protects you not only against robbers, but against yourself. My purse was stolen in Cusco not because it was grabbed, but because I stepped out of a taxi with handfuls of grocery bags, unaware that my purse had slipped off my shoulder and remained in the taxi. Once the driver saw what I’d done, he made a speedy getaway despite me and two friends chasing him for many blocks. 

See also: The Day I Had my Purse Stolen, and Lessons Learned

6. Don’t Keep All Your Valuables in One Place

The other thing I learned the day my purse was stolen was something I already knew but needed to be reminded of. Don’t keep everything in one place. After over a year of living in Peru I’d become complacent and kept my cash, identification, debit card, and all my credit cards in my wallet. When my purse was stolen I was left with absolutely nothing except for my passport. I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have a supportive network of friends who could cover my expenses until I received replacement cards. Now, I always keep at least one credit card separate from the others, and I stash some cash in my luggage. 

Do Anti-Theft Bags Work?

In short, YES. 

Anti-theft bags are designed with specific features that make it more difficult for a thief to access your valuables by deterring them or slowing them down. This will buy you time in the event of a theft attempt, giving you the opportunity to assess the situation and call for help if necessary.

It is also worth noting that anti-theft bags are not just a deterrent against theft, but they also provide extra protection for your belongings in the event of attempted theft. The slash-resistant fabric and lockable compartments will help to keep your valuables safe and secure, while the RFID-blocking layer will prevent your sensitive data from being compromised.

For extra peace of mind when travelling, an anti-theft bag is a great choice to ensure that your valuables are properly secured and protected against potential theft attempts. Regardless of whether you choose an anti-theft backpack, purse, or travel crossbody bag, these features can help to keep your valuables safe and secure.

What are your favourite anti-theft travel bags and gear? Have you tried out any of the products listed above? Share your experiences in the comments! 

This post Best Anti Theft Bags & Accessories for 2024, Plus Tips to Keep Your Stuff Secure appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

Best Travel Accessories At A Glance

Best Travel Packing Bags for Organization – Compression Packing Cubes by Knack Bags

Best Packing Accessories for Toiletries – 3-Piece Customizable Toiletry Set by Tripped Travel Gear

Best Cable and Cord Organizers – These Simple Reusable Cable Ties

Best Tech Pouch for Cables, Adaptors, and more – Tech Organizer, by Tortuga

All the above – and so much more – are profiled in this article, along with pros, cons, features, and more. Enjoy!

What are the Best Travel Organizers and Luggage Accessories?

This post is going to outline a whole heap of luggage organizers, almost all of which I’ve used at one time or another. But it’s very important to note: using them all simultaneously will not make you a better traveler! In fact, too many luggage accessories will take up so much space that you won’t have any room for the things you actually need to bring! 

You’ll also notice that some items are great for travel organization, and others are meant to save space. The best traveling accessories are those that save space and organize your stuff, and when I find one of these gems, I take them on every trip (you’ll read about a few in this post). 

But generally speaking, each trip is different, and you’ll need to employ different travel packing hacks and travel organizers to suit the mission at hand. 

So have a gander at the various must have travel accessories that I’ve used over the years, and pick and choose best travel items that work for you. 

Note: Many of the links below are affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a (paltry, but still noteworthy) commission on anything you buy when you click through. This doesn’t affect your price, but it does help me to keep running this site and kicking out quality content, so for that, I thank you in advance. 

Best Suitcase Organizers for Saving Space

Clothes have a nasty habit of taking up a lot of space. Even if you’re judicious about how many items of clothing you take with you, they’ll likely take up a large portion of your luggage space. With the help of these suitcase organizers, you’ll be traveling in style. 

(See also – Travel Capsule Wardrobe: Best Wrinkle-Free Clothes for Women)

SegSac Traveler (aka The Hoboroll) – Best Luggage Organizer for Carry on

I reached out to these guys over 10 years ago when they launched The Hoboroll (before they renamed it SegSac Traveler), and we’ve been BFFs ever since. Not only did I adore their product, but with a name like “The Hoboroll”, it was like a match made in heaven for “The Professional Hobo”. 

Ingenious names aside, this has ever since been my #1 all-time favourite travel accessory. So much so, that I use it even when I’m not traveling, because not only is it a fabulous space saver, but it’s a great organizational tool. I traveled full-time for two years with carry on luggage only, and it is in large part thanks to The Hoboroll. It’s that awesome. 

The ultralight cylindrical compression stuff sack features segmented compartments inside (including a zippered pouch for valuables) and cinches shut on both ends. Then, the straps around the body of it compress the contents down to a fraction of the size. 

I use the Hoboroll to organize and compress smaller items that would otherwise be lost in my luggage, like socks, underwear, workout clothes, scarves, hats, gloves, bathing suits….it’s a catch-all for smaller wardrobe bits. When I arrive at my destination, I simply open one side of the SecSac Traveler to gain access to the contents, and I leave it like that – no need to unpack! 

SecSac Traveler Features and Specs: 

• Ultralight
• Water-resistant, rip-stop, 30D fabric
• 5 internal compartments
• Opens at both ends
• Converts to day bag by attaching shoulder strap (which admittedly I never use, but makes it handy if you want to use it for outings)
• Storage pouch reverses to secret pocket
• Aircraft grade, lightweight aluminum buckles
• 2 compression straps
• NO PLASTIC is used in their packaging or shipping process
• 2 Sizes: 18.5 Liters | 30 Liters
• Weight: 18.5L – 3.5oz | 30L – 4oz
• Size: 18.5L – 15″ x 10″ | 30L – 17.5″ x 12″

Gobi Gear – which also makes the Free Spirit 30L Adventure Travel Backpack (which I review in this video), is a part of 1% For The Planet, and they donate 1% of their profits to One Tree Planted (a non-profit in Vermont). 

Click here to order your SegSac Traveler (aka The Hoboroll) – and use the Discount Code the-prof-hobo for 25% off ($10 minimum purchase)!

2023/2024 update: Gobi Gear has been on a hiatus as they redesign their gear and product offerings. They will return in 2024 with a newly designed SegSac Traveler!

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Are Packing Cubes Worth It? These Compression Packing Cubes Are

What are packing cubes? They’re basically square or rectangular travel pouches with zippers. Nothing special. Packing cubes are great for organizing stuff, but they’re not always the best at saving space. That said – throw in a compression feature, and you’re off to the races. 

Compression packing cubes offer many of the same benefits as the SegSac Traveler – just in rectangular form. I use compressible packing cubes for clothing – especially sweaters and jackets and other things that are especially squish-able. 

From a space-saving perspective, it’s worth noting that I’m specifically recommending using packing cubes that compress. Why? In an ideal world, everything would fit into regular rectangular luggage cubes, which would in turn fit perfectly (like Tetris shapes) into rectangular luggage, making optimal use of all space. In reality, this doesn’t happen. Packing cubes in general are great for organization, but not always for saving space, since it leaves gaps in your luggage that you can’t always fill with other things. But the compression feature in packing cubes marginally makes up for this, which means they’re good for both organization and making the best use of space. 

I own and am a big fan of Knack compression packing cubes (pictured above). The material is sturdy yet lightweight, the mesh on top allows me to see what’s inside, and the compression zipper is easy to use and helps me save lots of space.

Click here for more info on packing cubes and a breakdown of the top brands and styles to choose from!

Compressible Shoe Bags

New to my packing tool entourage in 2021, I am adoring my Knack compressible shoe bags. First of all, they make it easy to pack my shoes without worrying about any of the gunk from the bottoms of my soles sullying anything else in my luggage. The compression straps help to maximize space, and having my shoes in these bags is a great organization tool. The material (similar to Knack packing cubes, as above) is both sturdy and lightweight.

Since my shoes are size Women’s 8.5, I ordered both a medium and large compression shoe bag. The large is absolutely enormous! The medium is plenty big enough, and in fact I can pack both my ballet flats and my travel sandals into it, no problem! I actually use the large shoe bag for dirty laundry, since it’s not just a shoe bag; it’s a great way to organize – and compress – anything at all.

Check out Knack Compressible Shoe Bags here!

Does the Knack name seem familiar? It’s because I own their expandable carry-on backpack and wrote about it extensively here. It’s a solid piece of travel gear.

Spacesaver Bags / Compression Bag for Travel – Vacuum Bags Without the Vacuum

If you have a ton of clothes to pack, then spacesaver bags (also called compression bags for traveling) will be your saviour. They’re the travel version of vacuum bags, which suck all the air out, leaving a compressed brick of stuff. The difference is, you don’t need a vacuum to make these work; simply fill the bag, zip it closed, and roll it so all the air can escape through the one-way valve. 

These travel space bags are incredibly useful for sweaters, puffy jackets, and other items that unnecessarily take up a lot of luggage space. Also, if you are traveling long-term or full-time with a wardrobe for multiple climates, you can have an organized suitcase by keeping your winter clothes in a space saver bag while you’re traveling through warm climates, and vice versa – making them valuable suitcase accessories. 

Get your travel space saver bags at Amazon! 

The Rolo (Roll-up Garment Bag) – Best Space-Saving Travel Clothes Organizer 

The Rolo is another travel organizer bag favourite of mine. It squeaks into the space-saving category only by a hair though – in truth, it straddles the space-saving and organization categories equally. I love it because it’s a portable closet; I pack my clothes into it, roll it up, compress it with the straps, and throw it in my luggage. When I arrive at my destination, unpacking is as simple as unrolling it and hanging it up.

It’s water-resistant and incredibly sturdy; I abused mine for over five solid years of travel and it still looks brand new. However this is a double-edged sword, since sturdy comes at the cost of being ultralight. Thus, when I’m traveling carry-on only with just one bag, I don’t usually take The Rolo with me. 

The Rolo Features and Specs: 

• 2 big clothing pockets, each 13” x 16.5”
• 2 small clothing pockets, each 14.5” x 8”
• Unrolled size 45” x 17”
• Military grade nylon mesh zipper pockets
• Patented high-performance buckles and zippers
• 360 degree swivel hook for hanging
• Reinforced support bar for hanging 
• Waterproof PVC-coated ballistic nylon fabric shell
• Compression straps on the outside
• Shoulder strap for carrying on its own (which admittedly I never use)

Click here to level up your travel packing strategies with The Rolo travel bag organizer! 
2024 UPDATE: Their website says they’ve temporarily closed their doors. I’m leaving this up in the hopes that they’ll get started again! Here’s hoping.

Best Travel Packing Bags for Clothes

Sometimes having your clothes well organized is more important than saving space. For example, if you must travel with clothes that easily wrinkle, squishing them down will only exacerbate the wrinkle-effect. In other cases, you might have plenty of room in your luggage, or you’re moving around all the time, and it’s more important to have easy access to your luggage’s contents than it is to save space. 

If this is you, then these travel packing bags – which aren’t really bags at all – are optimal. 

(See also: Checked Luggage vs. Carry-On – and Why Checked is Best for Long-Term Travel)

Packing Sleeves / Garment Folder

I know people who use packing sleeves and love them. I am not one of those people; at the best of times, folding clothes neatly is not one of my strong suits, which is why I generally must have wrinkle-free travel clothes. 

These little packing envelopes for clothes usually feature a flat board with detailed instructions on how to fold your stuff around it so it lies perfectly flat, then the garment sleeve wraps around your pile of perfectly-folded clothes. You’ll probably love having a garment folder if you have dress shirts and other clothes that are susceptible to wrinkling. Or, if you’re like my boyfriend and you have a compulsive need to fold everything perfectly, even dirty laundry (I find it endearing). 

This Garment Folder by Eagle Creek is very highly reviewed! 

Packable Shelves / Portable Closet

Packable shelves will do nothing to help you to save space, but as far as packing accessories go, they make packing and unpacking ridiculously easy. It’s like a mini hanging dresser; put your clothes and other items on the shelves, then take it off the rod and plunk everything directly into your luggage. The bottom zippered portion in the model pictured here is great for dirty laundry, shoes, or miscellaneous items. This fits into carry-on luggage (20”), although it wouldn’t leave much room for anything else (depending on how much stuff you put on the shelves). 

Sto-N-Go Portable Luggage System Features and Specs:

• 3-tiered organizer with zippered compartment at bottom
• High-strength hooks for hanging shelves in closet, on shower rod, or over door
• Latches help to keep everything in place when stowing shelves
• Fits suitcases 20” and larger
• Measures 17.7” x 11.8” x 25.2”
• Amazon Choice product with great ratings

Click here to get your Packable Shelves! 

Packing Accessories for Toiletries and Other Miscellaneous Items

Clothes are only part of the battle when it comes to organizing and packing for travel. Here are some other best travel gear and tools to help you stay on top of your travel packing game. 

Tripped Travel Gear 3-Piece Customized Toiletry Set – Best Toiletry Bag for Organization and Daily Use

This is a new addition to this article as of late 2023; until this time I traveled with the Sea to Summit bag below. But the bag below had some shortcomings, all of which are solved with this kit!

While both are hanging toiletry kits, this one is infinitely more practical from a daily use perspective. There are three distinct pouches that hang together, and the bottom one can be detached if you want to keep the contents of that part elsewhere, or if you don’t have enough room to hang the full monty.

Here are some of the things I love:

• The three separate hanging compartments allow better organization and access to the contents.
• There are handy slots on each side of the top compartment ideal for holding a toothbrush and razor for super easy access.
• On travel days, the three compartments fold into each other and zip up to make one nice contained package.
• You can access the main compartment from the outside of the bag when it’s zipped up!
• There is a separate TSA 3-1-1 approved liquids bag, that can also be attached to anything and hung anywhere.
• There is also a separate catch-all cube that can be used for anything.

Tripped Travel Gear Toiletry Set Features and Specs

• Hanging Toiletry Bag Dimensions: FOLDED: 6” x 8.5” x 3”; UNFOLDED: 21” x 8.5” x 2”
• 3-1-1 Liquids Bag Dimensions: 6” x 8.5” x 3”
• Slim Accessory Bag Dimensions: 12.5” x 4.5’ x 3”
• Detachable clear plastic bag on bottom holds four 3 oz liquids and secures tightly to hanging bag with metal snaps.
• 3-1-1 Liquids Bag has an adjustable plastic quick-clip to secure around shower heads or towels racks.
• YKK Zippers and zipper pulls.Fabric is 70D Nylon/poly mélange for super soft feel and ultra lightweight performance.

Get your Tripped Travel Gear 3-Piece Customizable Toiletry Set here!

Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag – Best Ultralight Toiletry Bag

A few years ago I did some ultralight trips and got the Sea to Summit Traveling Light Hanging Toiletry Bag. I was initially worried that I wouldn’t fit everything I needed into it, but my worries proved futile. The large size fits everything I need, and takes up less space than I thought it would!

It satisfies a lot of criteria that I believe a toiletry case needs, such as: 

• It hangs, so you can access and use your toiletries anywhere
• Made of water-resistant/waterproof material
• Multiple compartments for organization
• Easy to see the contents for use on the go
• Super-light, strong and water-resistant Ultra-Sil fabric (similar to the SegSac Traveler material, which I adore)
• It even comes with a wee mirror, which comes in handier than I thought it would

The Sea to Summit toiletry bag comes in two sizes: Small (3L) and Large (6L). I have the large and although there’s lots of space in it, I wouldn’t want anything smaller. (Then again, I have five months’ of toiletries in the bag. If you’re on a short trip, the small might be just fine.)

Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Case Features and Specs:

• Dimensions of Large: 10x9x4, 6L capacity, weighs 4oz/112grams
• Dimensions of Small: 9x6x3, 3L capacity, weighs 2.8oz/80grams
• Water-resistant fabric
• Internal mesh pockets and dividers for organization and visibility
• Durable zips with good grabs for easy opening and closing
• Shatter-proof mirror

Get your Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag here!

Pill Organizer (For More Than Pills)

Sure, you can use a pill organizer to bring along nutritional supplements (here are the supplements I travel with) and prescription medications (although, for prescription meds, be sure to have the medicine/prescription label in case you’re asked what the pills are). But these handy organizers are also good for so much more! Here are just a few things you could store in them: 

• Earrings
• Necklaces
• Rings
• Over-the-counter meds (painkillers, allergy meds, etc)
• Ear Plugs
• Coins (if you’re carrying around different currencies)
• Spices (if you’re renting an apartment with a kitchen) 

Really, anything small that you don’t want lost in the shuffle is a good candidate.

There are plenty of pill organizers out there. Here’s one that looks pretty solid and fits any budget. 

Small Travel Tubs

There’s nothing worse than a headache on a travel day (or any day). So I keep a small stash of easily accessible painkillers (and allergy meds) in my purse, in a little tub like this one. I also use these small tubs to travel with sunscreen, various creams, and other toiletries that I use in small quantities. 

GoTubbs are a popular option for travelers; easy to open (and stay shut when they need to). 

Contact Lens Case (for Creams or Condiments)

These are ideal for small amounts of creams and other toiletries you don’t need much of. Also, they’re great for condiments or spices (think: salt & pepper, chili flakes, etc) that you like to add to food on the go but don’t want a whole jar of. 

They’re cheap n cheerful here. 

Electronic Bag / Cord Organizer / Travel Charger Organizer 

This is new to this list as of January 2024. I’ve now taken it on two trips, and it’s currently with me on a 5-month trip where it has been useful not only on travel days, but also every day at my destination in “commuting” to the local coworking space.

I was highly dubious of the Tortuga Tech Organizer Bag at first. After years of using another tech pouch that had more bells & whistles, I didn’t think I’d be able to fit everything into this bag, much less keep it organized.

As it turns out, all those bells and whistles of the other tech bag made me think I had more stuff than I actually did! Everything I have fits into this bag – with room to spare. This includes a USB hub, all my charging cords and adaptors, a portable hard drive, cell phone stand, various USB keys, SD cards and even a compact travel light!

Everything has its place, the construction is solid, it’s made of durable waterproof sailcloth material, but it’s not heavy. It’s also flexible enough that it won’t ostensibly take up any more space than what’s in the bag, so you can fit it into whatever nook or cranny your personal item bag allows.

Check out the Tortuga Tech Organizer here.

Reusable Cable Ties

At first glance I thought these were thoroughly frivolous. Now, I’m amazed I lived like such a savage before. 

These reusable velcro cable ties come in a variety pack of different sizes and are so handy for organizing cables and cords for storage, and even for keeping excess cord out of the way while in use. This is money well spent – both for home and travel use. 

Click here to get your reusable cord and cable ties. 

The Scrubba Wash Bag

Even though I consistently hand-wash my clothes (because I’m traveling with carry-on only and/or I have delicate items like merino wool that I don’t trust in many foreign washing machines), I resisted getting a Scrubba wash bag for years in the name of minimalism. This is a shame, because only about 50% of the sinks I encounter can properly handle hand-washing. Many don’t hold water properly, and my universal sink plug is often useless (depending on the sink/drain configuration). I initially thought The Scrubba wash bag was simply a water-tight roll-top bag (aka: dry bag), but there’s more to it than that, and it doesn’t take up so much space that my inner minimalist feels violated. 

Features and Specs of The Scrubba Wash Bag:

• Uses less water than normal hand-washing in a sink would
• Textured washboard inside for thorough cleaning
• Transparent window so you can monitor clothes (eg: make sure it’s as sudsy as you want it to be)
• Twist valve releases air prior to scrubbing with the washboard feature
• Outside backing is sticky so the bag doesn’t slide around while you’re scrubbing 
• Folds down to pocket size when not in use 
• Multi-functional: doubles as a dry-bag

Get your own Scrubba Wash Bag at Amazon! 

Note: I have the Allurette version of the Scrubba wash bag, which is made for delicate items. This is ideal if you travel with merino wool.

And, if you love multi-functional items, Scrubba makes a wash bag/compression sack/waterproof backpack combo that even serves as an outdoor shower!

Luggage Scale

There’s nothing worse than standing in line to check in for a flight, and watching the check-in agent meticulously weighing all the bags of people ahead of you (even carry-on and personal items), before forcing customers to either pay extra to check their bags or repack on the spot. 

I’ll admit, I don’t own a luggage scale. But, this also means that every time I pack, I’m pretty stressed out. Many airlines weigh carry-on luggage (especially if you’re not checking a bag), and some airlines have very strict (and stingy) weight limits for both checked and carry-on luggage. Thus, a luggage scale is a handy packing aid for luggage that’s on my list of things to get, to reduce pre-travel stress. 

This portable luggage scale is simple, cheap, and does the trick. 

Cheap/Free Travel Packing Hacks and Tips

I didn’t write this post intending that you would race out and buy every single travel product on this list. It’s a comprehensive collection of travel packing aids so that you can pick and choose what works best for you.

Because let’s get it right: if you bought all these handy packing tools, you might not have much space left in your luggage for your actual stuff, nor money left for your actual travels – and travel is what this whole thing is about. 

When traveling across the world, you’d definitely want to come prepared. From packing the right clothes to packing the best travel accessories, it’s important to make sure you have everything you need for an amazing adventure….including what you need to keep it all organized.

I’m frugal (some would say to a fault). So let’s look at my favourite kind of traveling accessories: the free (or very cheap) kind. Also included are some travel packing hacks that I suspect you’ll enjoy. 

To help with packing, I’ve also included some space saving packing hacks and tips that can come in handy:

1. Ziploc bags

Ah, the almighty ziploc bag. I’ve always got a stash of them in various sizes that I use (and reuse and resuse) for a variety of purposes, including: 

• Keep small things separate and organized
• Hand-wash small items
• Makeshift packing cube / space saver bag 
• Pack a wet bathing suit (or other wet items)
• Separate dirty laundry from clean
• Fill with water then freeze and use to keep foods cold while in-transit
• Keep liquid toiletries from contaminating other things if they leak 
  
  

2. Dryer Sheets

Luggage can get a bit musty over time, either because it’s not being used enough (and has been stored in a humid airless space for too long), or because it’s being used too much (and has seen too much dirty laundry). In both cases, a dryer sheet will prevent icky smells from setting in. Also great for stinky shoes. 

3. Shower Caps for Shoes

Worried that your items will get dirty from your shoes? To avoid packing in a mess, make sure to cover your shoes with disposable shower caps. This will ensure that your items are kept safe from dirt and debris.

Next time you’re staying at a hotel, grab the free shower caps and use them to cover the bottoms of your shoes before you pack them. (And don’t forget to stuff your shoes with other items to help them maintain their form and to maximize luggage space). 

4. Foolproof Liquid Spill Prevention Trick

This one’s gold. Before you pack your liquid toiletries, unscrew the cap and place some plastic over the opening. The plastic can be cut from a plastic shopping bag, plastic food wrap, an old ziploc bag; you only need a small piece. Then, screw the top back on. Ta-dah! You’ve leak-proofed your toiletries. 

I still take it one step further after doing this and put them in a separate ziploc bag, but that’s as much for organization as for protection. 

5. Go For a Color Schemed Clothing

When everything coordinates, packing becomes a breeze. This means packing clothes in the same color so you can mix and match them. Darker colors are easier to pack as they hide dirt better, while lighter colors can help create more outfit options when mixing and matching. Read more about this in my travel capsule wardrobe for women.

6. The Pillowcase Hack

You might be already aware of this hack but packing the pillowcase hack is an outstanding way to save packing space. To do this, simply stuff your clothes inside a spare pillowcase and zip it up. This will help keep your clothes organized and in place, with less packing mess! On top of that, you can use it as a pillowcase when you reach your destination.

This can also be a sneaky way to bring more stuff on the plane than your carry-on luggage will allow; they don’t count travel pillows as luggage space, so your “pillow” could smuggle some extra things on board.

7. Virtual Packing Check List

You can never be too sure when packing, so creating a virtual packing checklist is the best way to ensure you’re packing what you need. Make a list of all the items that are essential for your trip and then make sure to check them off as you pack.

8. Keep a Toiletry Go Bag

As you’re on the go, packing a toiletry go bag is the best way to make sure you have all your essentials with you. A compact and simple pouch that can fit into your carry-on should do the trick. This hack can avoid several times of unpacking and packing, as you’ll have everything you need in an instant. This is exactly what my 3-piece customizable hanging toiletry set is.

9. Wear the Bulkiest Clothing You Have

You might be confused about this packing hack, but wearing the bulkiest clothing you have is the best way to save packing space. Jackets and boots are usually bulky items that take up a lot of packing space, so wear them while traveling instead. You’ll be in luck if your destination will be cooler than the place you’re leaving from.

10. Foldable Day Pack

A foldable day pack can be folded up to the size of your hand and will come in handy when you need it. Instead of packing a large, bulky backpack, packing a foldable daypack is the best way to go as you’ll have a smaller bag when packing and more space for those items that don’t fit into your suitcase.
Here is The Top Ultralight Packable Backpacks for Travel – a comparison so you can decide which one is best for you.

11. Tangle-free Jewelry

Avoid wearing bulky jewelry that can easily get tangled by packing them in a tangle-free jewelry organizer. These organizers come with multiple compartments, specially designed to prevent your items from getting tangled or lost. Honestly I’ve yet to find a truly travel-friendly jewelry organizer, so let me know if you have one! Because of this I travel with minimal jewelry and I always make sure it won’t end up in an irrevocably tangled ball.

12. Laundry During the Trip

You don’t want to be packing too many clothes, so the best way is to do laundry during the trip. This can easily be done depending on your destination. Bring a small bottle or bag of detergent (or even better, some eco-friendly and ultralight laundry strips) and hand wash your clothes when needed. It’s a great way to save packing space and packing time.

15. 3 Ingredients to Keep Your Bag Smelling Fresh

Using a small cedar chip, a sprig of lavender, or even cinnamon sticks can do the trick. Simply tuck them into your packing cubes and enjoy fresh scents throughout the duration of your trip.

16. Use Socks as a Cushion

Heels and hats can easily be crushed or bent if placed in a packing cube. To prevent this, simply stuff socks and fill them with small fragile items such as hats, or even shoes to keep them safe from getting crushed.

15. Pack Spare Clothing in Your Carry-on

Traveling is making sure you’re packing everything you need for the trip. But packing a spare set of clothing in your carry-on is a great way to be prepared for any unexpected outcome. In case of lost luggage or any unexpected event, packing an extra set of clothing can save you from potential packing mishaps.

18. Track Your Items with Photos

Taking photos of your items before packing is the best way to remember what you have and where it’s located. It also helps in packing, as you can easily refer to a photo and find where your items are located within your suitcase. If an unfortunate event happens and your stuff managed to get lost, you can use these images for filing an insurance claim.

17. Roll Your Clothes in a Bundle

It may sound ridiculous, but rolling your clothes instead of folding them can save tons of packing space. Roll each item tightly and secure it with a rubber band or packing cube.

18. Packing Cubes are the Holy Grail for Traveling

I’ve already mentioned that packing cubes are essential for packing. Not only do packing cubes keep your items organized, they also prevent clothes from wrinkling and taking up too much space in your suitcase. Always go for the compressible packing cubes to help maximize luggage space.

Here’s a mammoth article I wrote comparing all the top packing cubes on the market.

19. Wrinkle-Proof Fabric is the Way to Go

Regardless of whether you’re rolling up your clothes or folding them meticulously, they’re going to come out wrinkled. So packing wrinkle-proof fabric is the best way to go. You don’t have to worry that your clothes will be wrinkled when you unpack them. Merino wool, polyester, denim, wool, knits, spandex and lyocell are just a few of the fabrics that don’t wrinkle easily.

2o. Solid Toiletries are a Must

With numerous unpleasant encounters with airlines regarding our toiletries, packing in solid form is always the best way to go. Besides being safer and lighter, solid toiletries can be used for multiple purposes such as shampoo, body wash, and even toothpaste. Even solid perfumes are already available in the market. Here’s a video I made about solid toiletries.

21. Multipurpose Clothing

Since you’ll be wanting to pack light, packing multipurpose clothing is a must. A few items you can bring that suit multiple purposes are shawls, which can be worn as a scarf or used as an extra layer over your outfit or even a beach towel or sarong in a pinch; and packing light jackets with multiple pockets for extra storage.

22. Develop a System

Here’s a final piece of advice to tie everything together. Successful travel packing (and unpacking, and packing again) depends on having a system from which you don’t deviate. Everything has its place, and that’s that. This is especially important when traveling with checked luggage, because the larger your bag is, and the more stuff you have, the more likely you’re going to lose stuff in it. 

I don’t know how many times I had to tear my luggage apart in search of one thing; something I’d ingeniously tucked into a specific pocket (thinking it was so smart I’d never forget) before immediately forgetting where I’d put it. I actually lost something for years, once. Years.

By developing a system that is uniquely yours, you’ll not only be able to put your hands on anything and everything with ease, but it will also dramatically reduce the time it takes you to pack. 

Frequently Asked Questions For Packing Like A Pro

Apart from this amazing list of packing accessories for travel, you might still have some questions about packing for your next journey. Here are some frequently asked questions that can help you plan your packing list:

Q: What is the most useful item for traveling?

A: The most useful item for traveling would depend on the type of trip you are taking. However, some of the best travel accessories that can come in handy regardless of your destination include packing cubes, a lightweight daypack or crossbody bag, and earplugs. I’m also a sucker for this travel power strip and surge protector. I never (ever) leave home without it.

If you are a fan of carry-on bags, I would highly suggest that the SegSac Traveler luggage organizer is the most useful item (which I featured at the beginning of this article). It’s an ultra-lightweight packing cube that can fit into any suitcase or backpack, and it’s made with compression technology to maximize space. It also features great organizational systems such as pockets and compartments, so your packing items are neatly organized.

Q: What accessories do I need to travel?

A: When it comes to packing for a trip, the best thing you can do is keep your packing list short and simple. 

Here’s a list of essential packing accessories that everyone should have when traveling: a packing cube or two, a lightweight daypack or crossbody bag, the SegSac Traveler, and some cable ties to organize cords. 

You’ll also need to pack adapters for charging devices such as your phone or laptop, as well as a travel adaptor if the outlets at your destination are a different configuration. If you’re going somewhere with unpredictable weather conditions, packing a rainproof jacket is also a must.

Q: What should you not bring on vacation?

A: In addition to fact that packing light is important, some items are just better left at home. Electronics such as laptops and tablets take up a lot of space and can be difficult to carry around while traveling, if you’re not working remotely along the way. If you’re a professional or a digital nomad who needs to bring your laptop with you, consider packing your tech in a lightweight sleeve and packing it in your carry-on.

Another item that may not be necessary for a short trip is extra sets of clothes. Instead, try packing accessories like scarves and shawls which can be used in multiple ways to change the look of your outfits and won’t take up too much space.

Other items that shouldn’t be brought on vacation include expensive jewelry, excessive amounts of clothing and shoes, and items that could easily get lost or stolen.

Q: How do I pack for 7 days?

A: Knowing how to pack for a 7-day trip can be tricky. To make packing easier, it’s best to plan out your activities and plan what you’ll need accordingly. Planning these are just the beginning and can be too mind-racking as you don’t know what packing items you need to bring.

Packing for a week-long trip can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! To ensure you’re packing everything you need without overpacking, refer to this post for a full packing list guide.

Q: What should I pack and not forget?

A: When packing for a trip, it’s easy to forget essential items. To avoid this, make sure you pack items in your carry-on such as your passport or visa (if necessary), ID and credit cards, any medications you may need, chargers for devices, and some basic toiletries such as sunscreen, insect repellent, and hand sanitizer. It’s also a good idea to pack a map of the area you’re visiting and cash in the currency of your destination.

Do you like Travel Gear and Packing Hacks as much as I do? 

It’s okay! You’re not alone. Don’t seek therapy. Instead, read these posts: 

The Ultimate Packing List for Long-Term Travel

The Best Anti-Theft Bags, Purses, Backpacks, and Luggage

Travel Capsule Wardrobe: Best Wrinkle-Free Travel Clothes for Women

Best Travel Clothes for Men

Checked vs. Carry-on Luggage – and Which is Best for You

The Best Carry-on Backpack for One Bag Travel

…and all my other Travel Gear posts and reviews

This post Top Packing Hacks: Best Travel Accessories for 2024 appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

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This year’s holiday gift guide with best gifts for travel lovers is a comprehensive collection of stylish performance clothing (for men – for once! I used a fella to test drive some duds), multi-functional backpacks, health and sleep enhancers, custom travel insoles, airplane gadgets, internet hotspots, destination activities, and more. 

And who says you need to buy holiday gifts for other people? If you’re a travel lover yourself, you might have a hard time going through this gift list not getting yourself a holiday present too. ‘Tis the season, I say. 

Note: I received most of the items in this post for free in exchange for doing a review. I am 100% honest about my experiences, and as you’ll read in some cases, I’m not afraid to say if something isn’t a great piece of travel gear for one reason or another. If you make your purchase using some of the links in this post, I will receive a (deplorable, but still noteworthy) commission that will provide my holiday supper. For that, I thank you in advance.

Travel Clothing

Over the years I’ve featured mostly women’s travel clothing or unisex travel clothing on my site (for obvious reasons). Well, huzzah. Today, it’s about fellas. Enjoy! 

Western Rise Strong Core Merino Tee – Best Men’s Clothing for Travel, Outdoors, and Office

Western Rise is a men’s outdoor/travel clothing company – with a stylish edge that can seamlessly take fellas from the office to the mountains, and returning to their roots served them well in the last year. They’ve focused on and expanded their men’s lineup and achieved some accolades in so doing, like Best Travel Clothing in Carryology’s 2019 Carry Awards (this award was specifically given to their men’s Evolution Pant). 

Now, I’m not a fella. But I know one or two. So I asked one to test out their best selling tee: the StrongCore Merino Wool Tee. 

If you’re not already a stark raving fan of merino wool as awesome travel clothing, let me enlighten you. Here’s why merino wool ROCKS:

• When cotton gets wet (from sweat or rain or whatever), it can’t keep you warm – in fact, it lowers your core temperature. Merino wool still keeps you warm, even when wet. 
• Merino wool is odor-resistant. It’s like magic. You can wear your merino tee for an entire week (or longer) without smelling. My fella tested this theory – he wore it for a week straight and it passed my deep-inhalation-of-the-armpit test. 
• It’s soft and delightful to the touch. 
• It’s moisture-wicking and breathable. 
• It regulates your body temperature. A relatively light weight merino wool can still keep you warm, and also cool. (Magic). 
• It’s easy to take care of. Machine wash on cold, hang to dry overnight. Done. 
• It lasts forever. 
• It’s better for the environment. Some synthetic materials that have similar warmth and moisture-wicking properties also contribute to micro-plastic pollution. 

Now that I’ve created a case for merino wool, let’s look at how the Western Rise StrongCore Merino Tee fared. 

My fella was initially impressed with the shirt’s light weight and soft feel. He wore it on an especially hot summer day and went from outside-swelter to inside-over-air-conditioned-chill and was comfortable in both environments. He was also impressed with how quickly it air-dried after washing. 

Style-wise, my fella is a little persnickety, and is accustomed to cotton t-shirts. The StrongCore Merino fit him a bit differently; it was longer than he’s used to, and also a bit looser (while still being the correct size for him). He was also perplexed by how the wool got a bit fuzzy after a few washes. He thought it was lint! It’s not. It’s just the material; merino wool gets that way – unlike cotton. 

On the whole, my fella adores this shirt, and it is always in his luggage, regardless of season or activity. He’s not accustomed to spending $96 on a tee-shirt, but he also understands the value, and the fact that this shirt will likely last him a lifetime. 

A few more reasons to shop with Western Rise: they practice sustainable manufacturing, and donate 1% of their profits to grassroots environmental non-profits. (Here’s why/how I’m into all this environmental stuff). 

Shop for Western Rise Men’s Clothing Here. 

See also: Merino Wool Clothing for Travel: A Guide to Choosing the Best Brands

Performance Enhancers

I wasn’t sure what to label the next three items in this holiday gift guide, but “performance enhancers” is an apt enough description. The truth is, if you’re not on your game, your travel experience won’t be as good. (Trust me). Stay ship shape with these: 

FitMyFoot Custom Insoles (formerly Wiivv) – Best Affordable Way to End Foot Pain and Foot Fatigue While Traveling

If you’ve read my post about travel sandals, you’ll already know I’m a big fan of Wiivv’s custom travel sandals for ending my foot pain, foot fatigue, plantar fasciitis, fallen arches, and more. Well, sometimes it ain’t sandal weather, which is where FitMyFoot (formerly Wiivv) custom insoles come in. 

I’ve been road-testing their original insoles for over a year now (and they’re still going strong), and I was even a beta-tester for their newly redesigned insoles. I’ve used them in running shoes, walking shoes, flats, boots, and even heels. 

Because let’s face it: sometimes the shoes we want to wear when we travel don’t offer the kind of support that travel demands. FitMyFoot’s custom insoles are like orthotics, but for a fraction of the price and they interchangeably fit into almost any shoe.

You can order the 3/4 insoles (which are great if you sometimes wear shoes with pointy toes), or full sized insoles. I have the 3/4 size, and while I originally worried that I would feel the front edge of the insole, I was surprised that 99% of the time I don’t feel a thing. Occasionally, depending on the shoe I’ve got them in (or the socks I’m wearing), I can feel it a bit. So I would say unless you wear shoes with a narrow toe box, then just order the full sized insole. But….don’t let this stop you from ordering a 3/4 insole, especially if you do wear pointy shoes. I truly adore the versatility that my 3/4 custom travel insoles offer. 

Here are some of the features of both sizes: 

• Shock-absorbing heel cushion to reduce foot fatigue
• Dynamic custom arch support to distribute pressure and loading across the entire foot, reduce ankle rotation, and keep your whole body aligned
• Multi-zone cushioning
• Deep contoured heel cup
• Breathable fabric
• Personalized design and colours (with your name on the bottom for a nice touch)

Ordering and creating your FitMyFoots are as simple as downloading their award-winning app and taking some photos which then digitally map over 200 points on your feet so FitMyFoot can 3D print your unique customized insoles. They ship within two weeks, and they have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee so if you’re not pleased, you can simply return them for a full refund. 

Shopping for a last minute gift for the traveler in your life? FitMyFoot also offers digital gift cards. 

Want to learn more and see just how excited I am about FitMyFoot? Check out this video: 

SleepPhones – Best Bluetooth Headphones for Sleeping and Exercising

If you like to enhance your sleep with ambient music or binaural beats, then this baby is for you. Additionally, if you like to block out ambient noise that can disrupt your sleep while traveling, read on. If you like to run, or do yoga, also….this is for you.  

SleepPhones are a unique headband-style of earphones that are perfect for sleeping! They connect to your device of choice using bluetooth so there aren’t any cords to worry about, and the fleece (or lighter moisture-wicking material) headbands are super comfy. 

I don’t usually listen to music when I sleep, but I tried my SleepPhones out in two sleepy scenarios:

1. While visiting a place with a lot of ambient noise (that I normally would have used earplugs to block out).
2. During a period when I wasn’t sleeping well so I could try out binaural beats in the hopes that they would help. 

In both cases, the act of sleeping with the SleepPhones was divine. They were perfectly comfortable and didn’t interfere with my sleep (and I sleep on my back, sides, and tummy so anything goes). 

They didn’t do much for blocking out ambient noise, however; in addition to my beats, I could still hear outside noises, just less. But that could have more to do with the placement of the little speakers within the headband; you have to fiddle with them a wee bit to get the positioning just right for your ears – the silver lining to this being that they can be a perfect fit for any size and configuration of head/ears. I will say that with the beats in the foreground, outside noises were of minimal disturbance. 

Personally, where I think these headphones shine is their versatility between sleep and exercise. They’re perfect for running, walking, yoga, dancing, and any situation where you want to listen to music on the move without disturbing anybody! 

I like to do guided yoga sessions and exercise programs through apps on my phone, and earbud-style headphones simply don’t stay in my ears when I’m bouncing around or doing downward dog. And sometimes (like when I’m staying with other people), it’s not appropriate to blast music or yoga instructions through my phone’s speakers. Enter: SleepPhones (also branded on their site as RunPhones). 

Wondering what the difference is between the SleepPhones and the RunPhones? The internal components are exactly the same. The SleepPhones were originally designed with a comfy fleece headband, and the RunPhones use a moisture-wicking lighter fabric. But then they started offering moisture-wicking fabric for the SleepPhones as well to cater to “hot sleepers”. 

So….while the site is a bit confusing, rest assured, they’re exactly the same. You simply choose the fabric for your SleepPhones and you’re off to the races. 

Learn more about SleepPhones here. 

While Flying

Hurtling towards your destination in a cylindrical tube is efficient, but not particularly comfortable. Make your journey a bit easier with these travel tools! 

The Airhook – Best Tool For Tablets and Drinks While Maximizing Airline Seat Space 

The Airhook has been around for a while. They even recently redesigned it, earning all kinds of accolades, including the 2019 Innovation Award For Best New Design For A Travel Accessory. 

The idea is, instead of lowering your airplane tray table to hold your drink and your tablet/phone (thus compromising your seat space, and being a pain when you get up to go to the bathroom), The Airhook “hooks” over the top of your tray table in its closed position, and then holds your tablet and/or drink. 

It’s fully adjustable, holds a variety of devices from phones to tablets, and you can even use it on a flat surface (like a kitchen countertop) to hold your device up. And if you’re not using an electronic device, The Airhook can hold your drink securely without having to lower your tray table. 

There’s even a vehicle support adaptor (additional accessory, sold separately) that’s a spring-loaded crossbar allowing you to anchor The Airhook within the crossbars of a vehicle headrest (hello: mommies with kids in the back seat!) – or even your luggage handlebars (hello: long layovers!). 

I think it’s an absolutely awesome piece of travel gear, but it’s also not for me. Why? Because I don’t have a tablet, and I don’t watch shows on my phone when flying (or ever). The cup holder is designed to hold cans or plastic drink cups, neither of which I use on flights because I don’t do single-use waste. And while it’s light and collapses to take up relatively little space, it’s not entirely practical for ultralight or carry-on travelers. Lastly, I don’t have a car, so there’s no applicable uses there. 

However, I’d say my biggest obstacle is the lack of tablet. If I had one, I’d likely be a whole lot more optimistic about The Airhook. There’s a reason everybody else loves it; it’s a pretty cool piece of travel gear. I gave mine to a friend who flies a lot for business (and he’s also a bit rounder such that tray tables aren’t always practical) – and he adores it. 

Shop for The Airhook here. 

Eustachi – Best Tool for Unclogging Ears Naturally

You know that plugged-up feeling you get in your ears when you’re descending in an airplane? You normally try swallowing, yawning, pinching your nose and blowing, or chewing gum to try and clear it  – but that doesn’t always work. Some people suffering from allergies, sinus problems or a cold might have this same feeling whenever cold and allergy season kicks in. 

This is where the Eustachi (pronounced You-Stah-Shee) comes in. Eustachi is 100% natural and can be used anywhere, anytime. It works by simply blowing a little air up your nostril while you (plug the other nostril and) swallow, which exercises your eustachian tubes and clears clogged ears. Eustachi is the first of its kind, and is specifically marketed as a eustachian tube exerciser.

I met one of the founders of Eutstachi at a travel conference, and described how many flights are uncomfortable to downright painful for me, due to difficulties I have in clearing my ears on descent. I often look around in wonder that other people aren’t suffering like I am. I also gave up scuba diving because of my immense difficulties in equalizing underwater – something which requires the same technique used to clear ears in the air: plugging your nose and blowing. More often than not, doing so plugs my ears up even more. 

He gently pressed a Eustachi into my hand an assured me that my troubles were over. 

I’d love to say it solved my problems…but it didn’t. Just like the equalization exercise, the Eustachi plugged up my ears even more and I had to go back to yawning maniacally for 20 minutes to clear them. 

But…..perhaps there’s something to the whole technique of “exercising” of the eustachian tubes. Because while using the Eustachi didn’t work on that first flight of the day, I noticed that on the second flight, I didn’t have any trouble with my ears on descent. Coincidence? I don’t know. 

Dear Eustachi: It’s not you, it’s me. I think it’s a delightfully gentle and natural way to clear your ears, and it can be great for children who might not be able to clear their own ears when they’re plugged. However I’d say that if you can’t clear your ears by plugging your nose and blowing (and I can’t), then Eustachi won’t be any more effective. It’s also not great for ultralight travelers, and it requires AA batteries, which either means using disposable batteries (bad), or carrying around a battery charger (added space/weight). 

At Your Destination

Okay. You packed your merino wool and supplements. You survived your flight with the help of The Airhook and Eustachi, and caught a few more z’s with your SleepPhones. Now it’s time to make the most of your destination. 

KeepGo Mobile WiFi Hotspot – Best Secure Way to Get Online Anywhere

A mobile WiFi hotspot (also called MiFi) is a portable device that fits in your pocket and harnesses global cellular data to give all your devices (cell phones, tablets, laptops – up to 16 devices at once!) a WiFi internet connection, regardless of where in the world you are.

With KeepGo, you buy your mobile hotspot ($99) and then buy data on a pay-as-you-go basis. While the data may not seem cheap at first blush, they recently reduced their rates, and the more data you buy with KeepGo, the better the deal (eg: 1GB is $26, and 5GB is $88). The data you buy never expires, so if you have data remaining from one trip, you can use it on your next trip; you do need to top up your data at least once per year however to keep your account in good standing. 

It’s also exponentially more secure than using a hotel/cafe/public WiFi connection; even if public WiFi is password-protected, your data is vulnerable to anybody else who is – or ever has been – on that connection. With KeepGo’s mobile WiFi hotspot, you are your own private connection with your own password that nobody knows. Thus, it’s not necessary to use your VPN with KeepGo. (Though a VPN in general is an absolute must; here’s why). 

The KeepGo mobile WiFi hotspot is best for people traveling with partners and/or friends, since one hotspot works simultaneously with multiple devices, and then the expense of the hotspot and data can be shared. That way, it’s often cheaper than each person having their own data SIM card or other form of local cellular data. (If you’re curious about your options, here are all the different ways you can use your cell phone while you travel). 

KeepGo is even more effective in areas where the local WiFi is dodgy (as has been the case for me in parts of Central and South America, Southeast Asia, India, and Indonesia). 

Here are just a few of the unexpected uses I found for my KeepGo WiFi hotspot over the course of this year: 

• When I checked into a fancy hotel that charged $16 USD per day for internet, I said “no thanks!” and used my hotspot. 
• When I visited a friend’s cottage and we both used the hotspot to get some work done. 
• When I took an expedition cruise around Newfoundland and didn’t want to pay for the expensive on-board internet. 

My biggest complaints about KeepGo are the cost of data (there are cheaper – though perhaps less convenient – ways to connect while abroad, especially if you’re traveling solo), and your IP address with the hotspot might mess with email logins and such (which could be flagged as suspicious logins and shut down until you verify that it was you). 

But for a convenient and reliable way to connect up to 16 devices to the internet while traveling, KeepGo has earned a place in my luggage. They also offer international data SIM cards and smartwatch SIM cards. 

Shop for KeepGo Hotspots here. 

Let’s Roam – Best App for Self-Guided City Scavenger Hunt Tours

“Explore any of our 300+ cities on a two-hour scavenger hunt adventure! Walk to all the best landmarks and hidden gems, answering trivia questions and solving challenges through an interactive app,” says the Let’s Roam website. 

Let’s Roam is an app that is not only a way to discover a new city when you travel, but even more so, it’s a fun way to discover your own city with their themed hunts for Bachelorette Parties, Ghost Tours, Birthday Parties, Team Building, Date Night, and more. 

Personally I’m a big fan of walking tours in cities as a way to get a feel for a place; Let’s Roam is a different take on the walking tour concept. However, that’s also where the similarities end, for better and worse. 

I tested out Let’s Roam in my home town (Toronto) along with my boyfriend, who was new to the city. We both learned a few new things in our interactive afternoon of tramping around downtown Toronto. 

The process is simple. You download the app, find a hunt you want to do, buy tickets (one for each person participating), and go – whenever you want. 

Each person chooses a “role” that dictates the kind of challenges they’ll get – like Brainiac (who answers trivia questions), Photographer (tasked with an evolving list of things to find and photograph), Explorer, and more. Regardless of the roles you choose, the whole team will have Location Challenges (eg: find this random plaque to answer the question/task), Photo Challenges (eg: pretend to be a guard on the steps of the courthouse and take a picture), and Trivia Challenges (self-explanatory). 

Once at your starting point, you’ll receive clues guiding you to the next destination in the hunt. There’s a map with a circle covering a fairly large area (three or four city blocks, squared) so you don’t stray too far in the wrong direction. Once you reach the site you’ll get some challenges, learn some cool facts, and receive clues for your next site. 

Each hunt has an estimated amount of time that it will take (usually in the 2-3 hour range), but the pace is ultimately up to you. If you’re super-competitive, you’ll want to hustle so you can get the best score of everybody on Let’s Roam who has ever done that hunt. 

I do have a few bones to pick with the app, from a traveler’s perspective. 

The writers of the app (understandably) have not visited all the cities. One of the locations we were to find included the “Toronto Domino” centre, complete with cutesy references to dominos. It’s not the Toronto Domino centre, and the place has nothing to do with dominos. In real life, it’s called the Toronto-Dominion Centre, and it’s the headquarters for a bank. This unfortunately made me question the validity of anything I “learned” for the rest of the hunt. 

Let’s Roam is also a data-pig; you must have a data connection to use the app, which if you’re traveling in a foreign city/country might be a limited resource. We each used about 500mb of data during the hunt, which is quite a lot if you’re buying data by the gigabyte. (The KeepGo WiFi hotspot could be an option for the whole team to share a connection). Click here to see all your options for getting data with your cell phone when you travel – regardless of whether your phone is locked or unlocked). 

Some of the challenges were also a bit silly; my boyfriend chose the Photographer personality, and was tasked with taking some pretty silly photos and videos (which was likely responsible for a good chunk of the data consumption). I don’t mind being silly, but after a while we were over it. That said, I could see a family with children loving it. 

I’m not sure how this would go in a foreign city. Knowing Toronto like the back of my hand, we still struggled to locate a few of the sites, nor was the list of sites anywhere near a comprehensive collection. Had we both been tourists, I think the hunt would have taken a lot longer than the predicted two hours. 

Lastly in terms of my criticisms of Let’s Roam, I don’t think it’s for solo travelers. This is a team activity. You’d learn a few things while wandering aimlessly, but my advice if you’re going solo is to find a guided walking tour and acquaint yourself with your destination that way. 

All that said, I think Let’s Roam is a fun afternoon activity for a small group of people. It’s great to do in your home town not only to learn a few new things, but also to see your proverbial backyard with fresh new eyes and wonder; which creates a deeper appreciation for everything. 

See Where Let’s Roam Roams Here. 

Still looking for Travel Gift Ideas? 

Check out my Travel Gear Archives for plenty more inspiration. 

Also, you can’t miss my Ultimate Packing List for Full-Time Travel, which includes everything I take on a long-term trip. 

This post 2019 Holiday Gift Guide – Best Gifts for Travel Lovers appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!