This Year's Travel Products That Will Change Your Life
By Caroline Morse
We tested countless travel products this year. Here are the 10 we love the best, along with where to buy them.
OtterBox Resurgence Power Case and Alpha Glass Screen Protector
(Photo: OtterBox)
Why We Love It: Protect and charge your phone all at once with OtterBox’s Alpha Glass Screen Protector and its Resurgence Power Case, which can take your smartphone from zero battery to 80 percent charged. Our final verdict: “The Alpha Glass Screen Protector is a million times better than the cheap plastic protectors that you can get elsewhere. It’s definitely worth the money if you hold your breath every time you accidentally drop your smartphone facedown. If you run out of battery life often while using your phone on the road, the Resurgence Power Case is a great way to protect your phone and keep it charged as well.”
Where to Buy It: OtterBox’s Resurgence Power Case and Alpha Glass Screen Protector are sold separately on Amazon.
Eagle Creek Adventure Pop Top Carry-On
(Photo: Eagle Creek)
Why We Love It: Our reviewer raved, “Two bags in one, the EC Adventure Pop Top Carry-On converts with a few zips from an under-seat wheeled tote to a larger, overhead-bin carry-on … With two main compartments and a series of smaller mesh and zippered pockets, organization and quick access is built in. It’s easy to convert, and it has a back-slip panel so it can be stacked onto a wheeled suitcase. The wheel placement makes the bag virtually unflippable while it’s rolling, a quality I tested extensively on the broken sidewalks of Boston. The lower external pocket has an organizer built in, making it a true carry-on alternative to a purse or man bag. And at 5 pounds 11 ounces, it’s fairly lightweight.”
Where to Buy It: Eagle Creek Adventure Pop Top Carry-On is available on Amazon.
Related: Yes, You Can Do All Your Christmas Shopping at the Airport
First Alert Panic Alarm
(Photo: First Alert)
Why We Love It: This panic/bag/door alarm makes us feel secure: “If you travel solo often or just worry about having your stuff stolen while on the road, the POD is definitely an essential item for all of your future trips.” It’s got a loud alarm (100 decibels), and it can be set to detect motion and vibration or used as an immediate panic button.
Where to Buy It: The First Alert Panic Alarm is available on Amazon.
HISY Remote-Control Shutter
(Photo: HISY)
Why We Love It: The main selling point of this wireless remote for your smartphone camera? “No more awkward-angle selfies! With the HISY, you can set up your camera anywhere and take a group photo or a picture of yourself.”
Where to Buy It: The HISY is available on Amazon.
Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Compression Cubes
(Photo: Eagle Creek)
Why We Love It: Our chronically over-packing reviewer wrote, “Normally, I’m not a huge fan of packing cubes, as they seem to take up more space than just rolling your clothes. However, after carefully packing all my clothing, my organized suitcase quickly turns into a mess after I have to dig through it to find a pair of socks. The Eagle Creek Specter Cubes were the perfect solution to my problems—the compression aspect really worked. I packed a carry-on for a recent trip and had trouble closing my bag. Then I repacked by rolling all my clothes and putting them into three different cubes, and suddenly, I had plenty of room in my luggage. Plus, being able to keep all my shirts in one bag and pants in another really helped me to stay organized. These really did compress my clothing and create more space in my bag! I love that they are super lightweight as well.”
Where to Buy It: Find the compression cubes in a variety of colors on Amazon.
Related: The Perfect Travel Boot
Tortuga Travel Backpack
(Photo: Tortuga)
Why We Love It: When we reviewed this bag, we said, “The Tortuga travel backpack successfully combines the design of a suitcase with the ease of carrying of a backpack.” On our pro/con list, the pros vastly outweighed the cons: “[It] fits carry-on requirements for most airlines, unzips all around so that you can pack it like a suitcase, has a padded laptop compartment that fits a screen of up to 17 inches, and has a padded hip belt that distributes 80 percent of the bag’s weight off of your back and shoulders.”
Where to Buy It: Tortuga’s Travel Backpack is available on Tortuga’s website.
Griffin Skyview
(Photo: Griffin)
Why We Love It: Our tester found that it was easy to “attach this device to the airplane tray-table latch to create a stable and adjustable mount for hands-free use of a smartphone, e-reader, or tablet.” The Griffin Skyview “ends up delivering a very similar experience to a built-in seatback screen.”
Where to Buy It: Find the Skyview on Amazon.
Keds Crashback Slip-Ons
(Photo: Keds)
Why We Love It: So many reasons! The “slip-on style [of the Keds Crashback] is perfect for travel—easy to take on and off for security checks. The canvas upper dries quickly and is lightweight for packing. The back panel collapses, so you can wear the shoe as two different styles. The comfortable, cushioned insole lets you walk long distances in these. The rubber sole helps you keep your balance on slippery streets. Lastly, the low profile makes these shoes much more fashionable than walking shoes.”
Where to Buy It: The Keds Crashback is available in all sorts of colors and styles on Amazon.
Brunton Pulse 1500 Power Booster
(Photo: Brunton)
Why We Love It: This portable battery can charge your electronics without an outlet. Our reviewer concluded: “A great price, the ability to charge your dead smartphone, and it’s about the same size as a pack of chewing gum? This is our new favorite portable power source!”
Where to Buy It: Shop around on Amazon, where a number of sellers are offering the Brunton Pulse 1500 for low prices.
Related: Holiday Gift Guide — Travel Gifts That Give Back
Lipault Paris Wheeled Carry-On Brief
(Photo: Lipault)
Why We Love It: “It’s small size is perfect for short business trips.” It’s also very lightweight. Our favorite parts were the “handy built-in pockets and dividers (like elastic shoe pockets and phone compartments),” an included suitcase lock, and the well-made components backed up by a three-year guarantee.
Where to Buy It: Lipault’s Wheeled Carry-On Brief is available in colors from purple to black on Amazon.
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