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Gadling Travelers On Their Favorite Gear
Gadling contributors are, by occupation, a well traveled lot and they're hard on their kit. They want stuff that works – stuff that lasts, stuff that's genuinely useful, stuff they're never sorry they packed. While you're hunting little extras to gift your favorite traveler, consider this list of favorites from some of the most traveled people on the Internet.McLean Robbins: As a traveler who can't manage to ever get comfortable on an airplane or with hotel pillows, I can't leave home without this Brookstone accessory. I purchased it on a whim before a long-haul European flight where I thought I'd be stuck in a middle coach seat, and have used it on even short domestic flights ever since. The pillow is great in its U-shaped form, but I place it under those flimsy hotel pillows for extra support too. Best of all? It compacts nicely into my carry-on bag as well.
Jessica Marati: Melatonin. This natural sleep aid is the best way to get rest on redeye flights and combat jet lag. I don't travel without it.
Chris Owen: I usually pack specifically for each trip but one thing that always makes it is my bag full of cords, plugs, power converters and backup battery power. It's called a Flex Pack and made by Victorinox.
Dave Seminara: I travel with a Princeton Tec headlamp so I can read in hotel rooms (or tents) after my sons go to bed! [Note: There's always a headlamp in my pack too. And if you get one that's got a red light mode, you can dig around in your bag or find your way to your bunk in the hostel without waking and/or blinding your roomies.
Kyle Ellison: The two things I never travel without are duct tape and nylon cord, both available at your local hardware store. With the tape you can fix a rip in your backpack, seal a cut on your foot, create a waterproof barrier on anything, make labels, bookmarks, a lid for your food ... anything really. With the cord you can make a clothesline, tie a tent down, fix a backpack, make a tourniquet, a belt, shoelaces ... again, it's a life saver.Mix these in with a Leatherman multi-tool (opening cans, getting out splinters, cutting your tape and cord, opening wine bottles, sawing through wood, unscrewing air ducts in hotels, which are vibrating, fixing your glasses, hammering in tent stakes, etc.) Unfortunately, your multi-tool can only travel with you via land travel or checked baggage.
Laurel Miller: This small, rip-stop compact folding duffel bag. It has zippered side pockets so you can stuff it into itself, and it compacts to the size of a sandwich. I keep it in the bottom of my backpack and use it to bring home the inevitable souvenirs or press materials that accumulate on my travels. It also makes a great overnight bag, especially if I'm on a big trip that has some side trips where I can leave my backpack behind.
Meg Nesterov: I love the TotSeat portable high chair. It fits in a purse/bag, weighs almost nothing, and is handy anytime I want to put my baby in a regular chair and have her stay there. It is way superior to the other "travel" high chairs that are as big as phone books (if that reference even makes sense anymore), though it is essentially like tying your child to a chair!
Alex Robertson Textor: It's super un-techy but I don't like to travel without my Moleskine Classic Large Ruled Notebook. Notes feel more substantial in a paper notebook.
What do you want to add to your travel kit this year? What are you giving your favorite traveler?
[Images courtesy of Brookstone and Leatherman]
Filed under: Gadling Gear Review
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Micki Maynard Nov 25th 2012 10:00PM
Great ideas! I have a zip-lock in my suitcase with packing tape, scissors, matches, and a clothespin. The latter keeps hotel blackout curtains together.