Tyler’s Travel Essentials
My all-time Favorite travel essentials
Here you’ll find some of my all-time favorite travel essentials - items I bring with me on every trip. Bags, electronics, travel day items, and more! These are things I never leave home without. They’ve been road worn and tested by me time and time again (some of them for over a decade), and I keep coming back to them. I hope they’ll make your next trip even better!
Many items I have listed are great for both men & women, but some of my essentials are geared towards men. If you’d like to see Jessica’s travel essentials for women, or our kid-specific travel recommendations, click the links below.
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Luggage & Bags
Beis Carry-On Roller Bag
This is the last carry-on bag I will ever buy. It’s amazing. See the description for the checked bag to find out why
Beis Medium Check-In Roller Bag
This bag has been to hell and back and it still looks as good as the day I bought it. It’s expensive, but it holds up to even the toughest baggage handlers. Have you ever seen those people that load suitcases into airplanes? You would think those suitcases personally insulted their mothers or kicked their dogs. But even after more than a dozen flights, this bag looks like new. Now, Beis has a ton of colors and patterns - but my suggestion would be to go with classic black. That’s part of the reason mine still looks so good. It doesn’t show dirt or scratches as much, it goes with everything, and it never goes out of style. But you do you. The wheels on this thing are a dream. Often times when we travel as a family I’ve got 4 of these bad boys and I can easily wheel them through the airport like it’s nothing. The retractable bag strap on the front makes it easy to hold an extra accessory and cushioned handle makes for a comfortable travel experience. But possibly best of all, when Jessica had an issue with her Beis bag, they sent her a new one, no questions asked. I love a company that stands behind its product.
Eddie Bauer Stowaway Packable Duffle
I bring this packable duffel bag with me everywhere I travel. It folds up super small so I always throw it in the corner of my suitcase “just in case”. If we end up buying souvenirs for ourselves or the girls and suddenly the amount of luggage we left home with is now insufficient, I can bust this bad boy out and voila!, we’re out of a jam. Quick word of advice, though: Only put clothes in this if you’re fighting for room in your luggage. It’s not well suited for your newfound antique crystal snow globe of Neuschwanstein. It’s obviously soft-sided, and therefore doesn’t offer much protection, especially if you end up having to check it at the airport. Luckily, jeans don’t break very easily, so those can be thrown around with no harm done.
Unigear Waterproof Dry Bag
A bit of a uni-tasker, which I’m never too fond of when it comes to travel, but if you’re doing something involving water - be it kayaking, whitewater rafting, or simply beach time, this does indeed keep everything inside nice and dry. Great for a change of clothes, a towel, and any sensitive electronics that would be none too happy about getting wet.
Pack All Luggage Scale
For years, I wondered, “Why in the world would anyone need a luggage scale?” Of course, this was back in my carefree bachelor days of traveling with a carry-on and a small backpack. Then, I had kids, and I understood. Is this the best luggage scale? I have no idea. But it’s worked for us so far.
Electronics
SanDisk Extreme Pro 4TB Hard Drive
Picture it - you’re on vacation. You’ve taken thousands of amazing photos & videos of your family enjoying the trip of a lifetime. You’re even considering submitting one of your photos to National Geographic. Maybe not cover material, but perhaps a featured image inside. You’ve already written the blurb in your head. Then, your memory card corrupts, and all your beautiful memories (not to mention what you assume would be thousands of dollars of sweet sweet Nat Geo money), are gone in a flash. This is why I recommend backing up all your photos and videos every single night. Yes, you heard me. Every. Single. Night. It doesn’t take too long, and you’re going to be so glad you did. For most people, 4TB is enough space to hold a decade’s worth of memories (for me, it’s about a year). Plus, it’s just a smart idea to have all your photos and videos backed up somewhere else, just in case. I have all of ours backed up in multiple locations on multiple drives, so if, God forbid, something did happen, I’ve got our memories backed up elsewhere. This is a great drive for everyday use, but it’s especially great for travel. It’s super small, water resistant, and extremely fast. If you can, spring for the “Extreme Pro” over the “Extreme”. It’s a little more expensive, but it doubles the transfer speeds. Just be sure to use the USB-C cable that comes with it to get the fastest speeds of out it. I can transfer 70GB worth of 4k video files from my computer to this hard drive in about 2 minutes. That’s blazing fast.
Sandisk Extreme Pro Case
A nice little case for the Sandisk Extreme Pro, for extra protection when you throw it in your bag.
Azmuth MagSafe Power Bank
Like it or not, smart phones are a necessary part of most travel these days - and when they die, it can be a huge pain. We’ve tried several power banks over the years, and this is one of the best. My favorite features are A) you can easily see how much charge this has left via the screen at the bottom. B) You can charge your phone and other devices using Mag-Safe magnet, USB-C or USB-A, and you can charge three devices at the same time. C) It has a built in kickstand, so you can watch something on your phone as it charges. At 10,000mAH, it can charge an iPhone 16 about 1.5 times.
LISEN Airplane Phone Holder (For Phones with MagSafe)
If you have a phone with MagSafe, I need you to trust me when I say, this is the best one. I’ve tried a hundred of these things. It is incredibly stable even in the worst of turbulence, and it folds down super small. Buy it, bring it with you, and thank me later.
Universal Travel Adapter (Non-Converting)
It’s important to understand the difference between a “Power Adapter” and a “Power Converter”. This is a “Power Adapter” - which is simply dealing with the physical shape of the plug. This one in particular allows our U.S. plugs to easily work in electrical outlets in pretty much any country in the world. This is nice because you only have to buy one adapter and it has you covered no matter where you travel and it allows you to plug in multiple electronics in one outlet - and outlets can be scarce in other countries. The cons - it’s bulky, and it allows you to plug in multiple electronics in one outlet…in places that maybe weren’t meant for that. Look up where you’re going, and in addition to this one, consider getting a couple cheap adapters specific to that country that you can use. Oftentimes, especially in Europe, outlets are recessed into the wall, so a 3-pack of small adapters the fit into that recessed area are nice in addition to this one larger brick. A “Power Converter” does the same, but it ALSO converts the voltage. Most electronics these days don’t need a converter, as most devices are now “dual voltage” or “multi-voltage”. Really, only older hair dryers, electric shavers and irons require power converters. In the U.S., our appliances run on 110 volts, while other countries run on 220 volts. Check the device you’re planning to travel with to see what you need. If your device says, “Dual Voltage”, “Multi Voltage”, “110v-220v”, etc, then you’re fine.
Universal Travel Adapter (Power Converting)
If you do insist on traveling with one of those older appliances that require a converter, this is a good one. Although, if it’s old enough that you need a converter, you may consider investing in a new hair dryer, curling iron, or electric shaver rather than a power converter. But you do you!
Apple Air Tags
I’ve been singing the praises of Apple Air Tags for years, and they’re especially great when it comes to travel. I put AirTags in each of our suitcases, I have them attached to each of my cameras, I’ve attached them to my kids - they’re great. If you’re not an Apple person, then Tile also makes very similar products. Regardless of where your brand loyalty lies, I highly recommend getting some. That way, when the airline tries to tell you that they didn’t lose your luggage, you can smugly point to your phone and show them that your bags are currently in Sausalito. It won’t do you much good as you stand in Omaha, bagless, but at least you’ll have your pride.
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB
If I didn’t have a Kindle I don’t think I would travel. Ok, maybe not, but aside from my cameras and my phone, this is definitely the most used electronic when I travel. I can download several books before I leave home and read whenever I have free time. At the airport, on the plane, on a hotel balcony, on the beach, in the pool (it’s waterproof!), in the bathroom avoiding my kids - wherever you like to read. It’s also great at night while lying in bed. You can turn on “dark mode” so you don’t disturb your partner as they try to fall asleep while you’re trying to read “just one more chapter” even though you know you’ll regret it when your 7:00AM tour starts the next day. A single charge lasts for weeks, too, so charge if before you leave, and you won’t need to charge it until you get home.
Apple AirPods Pro 2
I own an embarrassing number of headphones. I don’t know how it happened, but over the years I’ve acquired too many. I own two different kinds of Beats headphones, a set of Bose QuietComfort noise canceling headphones, under water headphones for swimming, multiple sets of studio recording headphones for our podcast, Apple AirPods Max (the over-the-ear version of the AirPods), and now three generations of AirPods & AirPods Pros. I say that only to let you know that I’ve tried my fair share of headphones, and when if comes to travel, in my book there is only one option: Apple AirPods Pro 2. Now, if we’re talking about the absolute best sound quality, I’m recommending the AirPods Max. But, they’re not great for travel purposes. They take up a huge amount of room in your carry-on, and the case that comes with them leaves a lot to be desired. But AirPods Pro 2 are absolutely perfect for travel. They are incredibly small, the sound quality is amazing, and they have great noise canceling capabilities. They are sweat resistant, so they’re a great option if you workout while you travel. The personalized Spatial Audio works very well, and you can get up to 30 hours of listen time on a single charge of your case (6 hours of straight play time without putting the AirPods back in their case to charge). That means you could potentially get through an entire trip without charging your AirPods once. I use them to watch movies on the airplane, to listen to music while I run (one of my favorite ways to see a new place), and to do audio walking tours. One of the best features from a travel perspective is that the Apple AirPods Pro 2 work with Find My on iPhone, so if you lose them, you can track them down. Fun fact, last time I was in Germany, I forgot mine on a train. So, while I was in Dusseldorf, I was able to watch my AirPods travel all the way to Frankfurt. I never did get them back, but it was fun to watch their journey. They say if you love something to set it free. Those AirPods are on a different path now, and I wish them well.
Foldable iPhone Watch AirPod Charger
These things are awesome when it comes to travel. They keep everything organized and neat, and they allow you to bring fewer cables. The one I have had for years (that I love) isn’t made anymore. The one I have was made by Apple, and they now have a few options on their site, but they are ludicrously expensive. This is one that Jessica recently purchased and she has traveled with twice now. She loves it. It charges quickly, and it charges all of her devices at once.
Pelican Waterproof Phone Pouch
I’m gonna be honest, I’m not a huge fan of these things. But, sometimes, they’re necessary. If you’re traveling and you know you have some activities planned that involve water - kayaking, whitewater rafting, snorkeling etc - then these are worth having. My biggest issue with them is that I have trouble swiping up to unlock my phone. That said, they’re still nice to have, and these are the best ones I’ve found. Not only do these protect your phone from water and sand - they also float. So if your phone goes flying out of your boat you can easily find it floating on the surface and snag it.
Day One Journal
I genuinely don’t think could recommend Day One highly enough. I’ve been singing its praises for years as the best online journaling app, but it’s especially great for travel. If you’ve ever considered journaling for any reason, this is the app to use. But even if you’re just looking for a great way to write down your travel memories, this is the app I recommend. Someday I’ll write a blog post all about why I love this app and I’ll go into more detail - but for now, I’ll just give you the bullet points as they relate to travel. First, you can journal from anywhere. The app extends from your phone to your tablet to your laptop, so no matter which device you have on you, you’re able to journal. It can add the location of the entry, and it will show that location on a map, so you over time you can see all the places you’ve traveled in one map. You can easily add photos (and even videos and audio recordings) from your day. You can get “On This Day” reminders in future years, which is a fun way to reminisce about old travel experiences. You can have multiple journals all in Day One - for instance - I have one for “Disney Travel”, one for “Travel”, and my standard, “Journal”. I can view all my entries at once, or I can view them separately. And perhaps my favorite feature is that you can have your journals printed into beautiful books. I print mine out every six months, and I now have a shelf full of beautiful hardback journals I’ve written over the last several years. I was reluctant to start an online journal at first, because I liked the romanticism of a handwritten journal - and for years I kept a handwritten travel journal. But, I can type so much faster than I can write, so my travel journals now have so much more detail. And, I have corresponding photos that go right along with what I’m writing. My favorite things to write down are the little things my daughters do throughout the day. Things that I always think I will remember, but then I don’t. Those things I don’t capture on camera. And then, looking back on those journals, even a few years later, I remember so many details that are already forgotten. I can hand down these journals to my kids, and in decades from now I hope they will enjoy reading about their lives as they were growing up. Anyway, I could go on and on - but suffice it to say for now - Day One is amazing, and I highly recommend you give it a try!
Accessories & Travel Essentials
Carfia Vintage Polarized Sunglasses
Ok, here’s the short version - buy these. They’re polarized, they’re really well made, they have a classic, vintage design, and the price is right. I highly recommend them!
Here’s the long version of the story on these (for those that are interested). Anthony Bourdain is one of my heroes, and so naturally, I wanted to wear the exact sunglasses he wore. My assumption being that if I wore his sunglasses, I would automatically be as cool as he was. I also assumed that if they were rugged enough to stand up to his travel lifestyle, they would obviously stand up to mine. Solid plan. Through some research, I finally figured out that he wore Italian sunglasses from a brand called Persol. He owned several pairs of them in different colors, and I found out that they were the same sunglasses that Steve McQueen and several other celebrities wore, including the likes of George Clooney. I was obviously the next logical choice in the succession to wear these fated sunglasses. They were, however, $363. This was very far beyond the amount I normally spend on sunglasses - approximately $343 more than what I typically spend. I tried to find some less expensive look alikes, but had no luck anywhere. So, I decided to treat myself for once, and go for it. I bought them. I finally got them in the mail, and like a child on Christmas morning, I ran to get them from the mailbox and try them on. And lo and behold, they looked horrible on me. Genuinely terrible. For whatever reason, they did not fit my face at all. They made me look like an insect with a drinking problem. Or Manhattan socialite that was past her prime. It wasn’t a good look. And it wasn’t just me. My wife and several of my friends affirmed this suspicion. So I retuned them, downtrodden. Months went by, and I still needed new sunglasses, as I was tired of squinting, and so to Amazon I went again and poked around, in a meager attempt to find some sort of sunglasses that would suffice. And there these were! They were similar to the ones I had tried on that didn’t look quite right, but they had the distinctive look I wanted - and they were 1/10th the price. I ordered them, they came, and they fit my face perfectly. I don’t know exactly what is different about these versus the more expensive name-brand ones, because these still have the retro, classic look I was going for, but there just slightly smaller and they look really nice. They’re also polarized, and they seem very well made. I ended up buying three pairs and these are now all I wear.
Apple MagSafe Wallet
I love this wallet, and it’s especially great for travel. I like to travel a lightly as possible, and this wallet attaches right to my phone, saving me from carrying a separate wallet. It holds 3 cards, which is typically more than enough for me these days. I usually only need my ID and one credit card, and then I’ll bring either my hotel room key, another debit or credit card, or if I’m in a place where I need something like a transit card, I’ll bring that instead. Best of all, once it detaches from my phone, I can use Find My to find it, so if I lose it, I can track it down.
Cabeau Travel Pillow
I’m not going to lie, I’m not a fan of the travel pillow. I’ve tried lots of them. I’ve tried blow up ones, ones that double as blankets, ones with twists and toggles, foam ones, foldable ones, and every possible type in between. They all claim to be “the one!” and none of them work for me. I’m too tall to sleep with them as a pillow on the tray table in front of me, and I can’t sleep with them around my neck while sitting upright. My neck hurts just thinking about it. That said, of all the travel pillows I’ve tried over the years, this is the one I’ve found most tolerable. It folds up pretty small, which is important, and the memory foam is pretty comfortable. And the price is not bad, considering some of the travel pillows out there these days are charging $145 (looking at you maniacs over there at Pluto Pod!). Pair this with a glass of wine and you just may get a few hours of uncomfortable “change-position-every-20-minute” sleep on your next transatlantic flight.
BevLedge Airplane Window Organizer
Ok, I’m very excited about this one. This is a new tool in my arsenal, and I can’t believe it’s taken so long for this to be invented. If you’ve ever traveled with children, you know how precarious ordering a drink on an airplane can be. And no, I’m not talking about anything with booze in it - I’m talking about ginger ale or Coca Cola. Because the second you get that cup on your tray table, there’s a 100% chance that cup is going to end up on your lap when your toddler swings their arm around to show you something on their toy. This little beauty puts two cups and your phone up on the window ledge out of harms way, leaving your toddler to flail to their heart’s content and leaving your pants hot coffee free. And it’s great not just for people traveling with kids! Even in a group with just adults, or if you’re traveling by yourself, having the option to get your drinks up and out of the way, freeing up room on the all too small tray table is a game changer.
Owala Water Bottle
I was a S’well man for many years, and I still own and like my S’well bottle, but I’m now a convert to the Cult of Owala. My wife tried to talk me into getting one for months before I finally relented (and by that, I mean she just bought me one and forced it upon me.) I’m glad she did. It’s awesome. It has everything I love about the my S’well bottle (mainly it keeps my water cold for hours, and it has a nice big open spout at the top when I need gulps of H2O), and some additional features (the straw and a handle). Plus, because the top of this is wide open with the lid removed, it’s much easier to add ice to this than it is for my S’well bottle. As an added bonus, you sound like you have a cool Australian accent every time you talk about your water bottle.
Liquid IV Hydration Packets
Staying hydrated may be the best thing you can do for yourself while you travel, and unless you want to carry a 24-pack of Gatorade in your suitcase, this is probably your best option. When we travel I drink at least one of these daily for several reasons. First, I don’t drink as much water while we travel as I do at home, simply because I don’t have a fridge within walking distance spewing out nice cold water at all hours of the day. Second, we’re usually doing a lot of walking while we travel, and that increased physical activity, usually outside, means I need to be staying even more hydrated. And third - as I get older, any drinks I may have in the evenings leave me with more of a headache the next day than they used to, and these can help stave off any hangovers that might creep up on me. So these Liquid IV Packets are always on my packing list!
Emergen-C Packets
There’s nothing worse than being sick while you’re traveling. You’ve been planning for months, you’ve shelled out the dough, you’re so excited, and boom - here come the sniffles. No good. For at least a week leading up to any trip I start drinking one of these daily, and then I drink one per day while I travel.
KeepGoing First Aid Kit - Adult Kit
This is the perfect little travel starter first aid kit. It has all the basics - bandages, antibiotic ointments, hydrocortisone cream, safety pins, gauze, burn cream, hand sanitizer and more. Perfect to throw in your bag and know you’ve got the basics covered. I like the design of this one because it opens like a book which makes everything easy to find. Keep Going has this adult kit as well as a kid version that pretty much offers the same things, with the biggest difference being the designs on the bandages. They also sell a slightly smaller version, which is nice because it doesn’t take up as much room, but it doesn’t open like a book which makes it a little harder to find things.
Misting Hand Fans
The difference between a small handheld fan and a small handheld fan WITH a mist is insane. You put a little cold water in the top of this bad boy and you won’t know what hit you. Well, you will, and it will be a blast of cool misty air, and it will feel great. We primarily use these when we visit theme parks, because that means we have our kids with us, and therefore we have diaper bags and/or strollers for storage. But for beach trips, camping trips, or even city trips if you know it’s going to be hot and you’ve got the room, these are great!
Ziplocks (All Sizes)
Ziplocks are one of my all-time favorite travel essentials. I bring several of each size, from snack all the way up to 2-gallon, every time I travel. They take up no room in your suitcase or toiletry bag, but they end up being incredibly useful for a million things. I never know what I’m going to need them for, but I’m always glad I have them. Wet bathing suits, damp loofahs, snacks for the kids - you name it. They’re great to have for a myriad of reasons.
Bushnell Falcon Binoculars
These are some great binoculars. We brought these with us to Alaska, and I’m really glad we did. In Alaska, there is wildlife everywhere, and you never know when you’re going to see a bear, a moose, an otter, or a bald eagle. These were perfect for viewing wildlife from our stateroom balcony as we sailed, or as we hiked through glaciers. They are very quick to focus with the rocking lever on top, so we didn’t miss anything. We brought these binoculars along with the second set below so we didn’t have to trade off. Both were great options. These were great for far away scenery, and the smaller ones, while also great for wildlife viewing, are also a great option to bring with you in a day bag anywhere you go since they’re smaller. They’re even good in a place like Europe for seeing details up close inside large churches.
Nikon Trailblazer Binoculars
This is a great little set of binoculars. We brought these with us to Alaska, along with the set above, so that we didn’t have to trade off. Both were great options. Both were great for far away scenery, and these smaller ones, while also great for wildlife viewing, are also a great option to bring with you in a day bag anywhere you go since they’re smaller. They’re even good in a place like Europe for seeing details up close inside large churches.
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