I’ve tested hundreds of pieces of travel gear. These are my 11 favorite items

Ever since product reviewing became part of my day job in 2015, I have tested an amount of outdoor apparel and gear that borders on obscene. There has been stuff I’ve tested for specific assignments, and then there’s stuff that has just arrived, at my office or my house, or which was given to me at trade shows, on press trips, or at media events.

We’re talking hiking boots, performance denim, merino wool underwear, packable duffel bags, travel backpacks weighed down by way too many zippers, packing cubes filled with other packing cubes, eight or nine ‘last pair of sunglasses I’ll ever need,’ and jackets. So, so many jackets. Most of them have been purple.

Over the last 10 years, I’ve given the vast majority of it away after finishing my reviews. There have been a few things, however, that are still in my suitcase many years later. These things have withstood the test of time. 

Fjällräven Totepack No. 1
In 2018, I got a Fjällräven Totepack ahead of a month-long backpacking trip around Europe. I’ve been on dozens of international trips since then, and I can’t remember the last time I traveled without it. It’s not just a super-sturdy totebag; its clever design converts from tote to backpack in about half a second, and it’s surprisingly comfortable to wear. I’ve used it as my carry-all personal item on budget airlines, a shopping bag at farmers markets, a daypack on city trips and short hikes, and my laptop bag in everyday life. Now, after seven years of heavy use, I’m starting to see signs of wear. But nothing that doesn’t look easily repairable with a needle and thread. I expect to get many more years out of this bag.

Ibex Essentials Cami
I have yet to find a better fabric for adventure travel than merino wool. You can wear it for days on end without getting stinky, and it doesn’t wrinkle. I’ve taken Ibex’s Essentials Cami on nearly every trip I’ve taken since early 2021. If you look closely, you can see a few tiny holes and runs here and there, but I’ve easily worn it hundreds of times. I wear it to bed, I wear it on backpacking trips, I wear it under other tops or dresses to work events, I wear it on planes, and I wear it on its own out on the town. It’s the most versatile thing in my wardrobe. I’m also a huge fan of their Woolies Tech and Pro Tech Bottoms. Unlike other merino leggings I’ve tried that have lost shape fairly quickly, these have stayed like a second skin.

Ombraz Cammina Sunglasses
Before I tried Ombraz’s armless sunglasses, I was not a fan of those strings that allow you to wear your glasses as a necklace. It seemed so unstylish, and unnecessary. That’s what the top of your head is for! But after a few days, I forgot about all other sunglasses. Ombraz stay in place with a soft, lightweight, adjustable cord, and when you’re wearing them, they look exactly like ‘normal’ sunglasses.

Unlike normal sunglasses though, these won’t fall off your face on a sweaty hike or climb; they’re not at risk of falling in the water when paddling or swimming; and they won’t blow off the top of your head when a gust of wind catches you off-guard. When I take them off and leave them hanging around my neck, I often forget they’re there until I need them again. I’ve taken many flights, trains, and bus journeys with these around my neck the entire time, ensuring I won’t forget them in a seatback pocket. As a bonus, they’re also super-flattering. I’ve never gotten more compliments on sunglasses than on these. 

8-oz MiiR Tumbler
MiiR’s 8-oz Tumbler is the perfect size for travel. It’s small enough to fit in a personal item like a handbag or small backpack, and big enough to accommodate a typical hot drink from a European café. Since its lid just pops off rather than unscrewing it, it’s ideal for replacing single-use plastic on airplanes (though I’ve had mixed success getting flight attendants to pour directly into my cup rather than pouring into a disposable cup first). The lid isn’t spill-proof, but it’s a great mug for drinking coffee on a walk around town. It’s also just so cute.

Grayl UltraPress Filter
If you often travel to countries where the tap water isn’t safe to drink, a Grayl filter is the eco-friendly solution you need. It looks and functions like a water bottle, and works kind-of like an aeropress: Remove the filter that nests inside the body of the bottle, fill up the body, and then press the filter back into the body. In seconds, the filter removes pathogens including viruses like salmonella and dysentery, and particulates like silt and microplastics.

The filter itself can function as a water bottle, though I find its capacity is low for my needs. So, I usually do a few rounds of filtering so I can fill up my one-liter Vapur bottle. A single Grayl cartridge can filter up to 40 gallons (150 liters) of water. That’s a lot of single-use plastic bottles.

reMarkable 2 Tablet
For about five years now, the reMarkable tablet has been my do-it-all notebook. I have dozens of folders with hundreds of notebooks with thousands of pages. It has changed the way I work both at home and while traveling. I find it easier, sometimes, to draft articles either by hand or with reMarkable’s minimalist keyboard (sold separately) than to break out my whole laptop on flights or trains.

You can’t access a web browser on the reMarkable, so it’s easier for me to stay focused on the task at hand. When I’m done, the tablet can convert my writing to text and I can email it to myself right from the tablet. I love being able to use it as a travel journal on the road, rather than bringing multiple paper notebooks and planner with me to stay organized. Individual pages can be expanded infinitely, so I usually have one ‘page’ per day so it’s easier to flip through to find what I’m looking for later on.

Vapur 1-Liter Anti-Bottle 
Show me a better collapsible water bottle. I dare you. It isn’t possible. I got my first Vapur bottle in 2016, and since then, I’ve purchased many more—some as gifts, and a few to replace mine when I have accidentally left it behind (devastating). When empty, the bottle packs about as flat as a credit card. When folded, it nestles neatly into a carabiner attached to the lid. Unlike other flatpack bottles I’ve seen that are more like ‘squeeze bottles’ with sports caps, this one has a free-flow mouth and is freestanding. It holds its shape while you’re drinking from it and fits in most backpack side pockets.

Danner Mountain 600
I’ve tried dozens of hiking boots and sneakers in the last 10 years, and there’s one stand-out pair I repeatedly recommend to friends: The Danner Mountain 600. I got my first pair in 2017 or 2018, and replaced them in 2023 after putting them through hundreds, if not thousands, of miles of wear and tear. My second pair is the ‘Leaf’ version, which can be deconstructed and repaired when needed. These boots are comfortable straight out of the box and I often wear them with jeans as city shoes on bad weather days. They come in both men’s and women’s sizes and a variety of color combinations.

Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat
Therm-a-Rest’s Z Seat is about as simple as it gets: It’s a seat-sized piece of foam that folds into quadrants and easily fits in a water bottle pocket. And let me tell you, there are few things that have incited as much jealousy as this thing has when I’ve hiked with a group. No matter the weather or the terrain, the Z-Seat offers a clean, soft place to sit. It’s far superior to sitting on damp fallen logs, ice, or frigid boulders. And it’s basically weightless. There’s no reason not to bring it.

Alpine SleepDeep Ear Plugs
Even after many sleepless nights of finding myself stuck sharing a room with snorers, I resisted ear plugs. I tried using the disposable foam ones you can get for free on airplanes and in hostels, but I could never quite figure out how to make them work for me, so I gave up. Then I tried Alpine’s SleepDeep ear plugs last year. They’re made of a soft, silicone-free material, and they’re comfortable even for me as a side sleeper. I now bring them with me absolutely everywhere. I have snore-tested them many times, and I can confirm: They work.

Apple AirPods Pro
I have an amazing pair of over-the-ear, noise-canceling headphones, but they rarely fit in my overstuffed carry-on bag. Enter: Apple AirPods Pro. Equipped with noise-canceling capabilities in a package that fits in the palm of your hand, these have become non-negotiable for me when I fly. I didn’t realize how well the AirPods Pro worked until I took them out mid-flight to speak to a flight attendant, and the ambient noise of the airplane seemed so loud, I momentarily thought something was wrong. The noise cancelation works even if you’re not actively listening to music or a podcast, so I often pop them in and fall right asleep. 

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