Here is a list of perfect gifts for the traveler in your life. From small items to expensive technology, there’s something to fit any price range. I didn’t just pick each item out of thin air though: there is a method to my madness. I either own it (and love it), have owned it (and loved it so much that I’ve destroyed it and want more), or I want to own it (and hence have been researching the crap out of it).
So without further ado, please use this random list as a guide, and enjoy shopping for the traveler in your life!
This post was originally published in 2009. It has been updated for accuracy of links. If you click on the product links in this post, I will receive a small commission on anything you purchase. This doesn’t affect your price. Thank you for your support!
Things I Own (and love)
SteriPen
I wrote about the SteriPEN in all its glory, after traveling through Asia for 6 weeks without drinking bottled water. The money (and plastic) we saved was incredible. It has more than paid itself off; every time we use it from here on in is gravy – for our pocketbooks, and for the world (which is already drowning in plastic garbage).
See also: How to Get Clean Water Around the World
Travel Journal
I have also sung the praises of the Travel Journal in the past, as an awesome piece of travel gear. I may be old fashioned, but there’s something about the plain old pen & paper that brings out creativity. Without my journal at my side, I could not have written the Victorian Bushfire diary, which was archived by the National Library of Australia as a little piece of history.
You don’t have to be as ambitious with your travel journal! Just have fun, and see where it takes you.
Waterproof Bags (Dry Bags)
As long as you get lightweight ones, these waterproof Dry Bags are great for separating items in your pack. (I like to organize this way, so I don’t have to sift through loose belongings to get to what I need). They take up almost no room, and add additional levels of protection against toiletry leakage or pervasive humidity. We especially like them for our electronics when we are in tropical climates.
Headlamp
Absolutely invaluable to us throughout all kinds of travel have been our Headlamps. They’re compact and light, and so useful in so many ways. I use mine almost every day, and it never leaves my purse.
Travel Towel
Where, oh where would a traveler/camper/outdoorsy person be without a Travel Towel? They’re perfect: they are lightweight, they come in different sizes of super-small, they absorb way more than you would ever expect them to, then dry way faster than they should considering how much water they just absorbed. In short – they’re magic!
Really Flat (Folding) Bowls, Plates, Cups
I was introduced to folding plates, bowls, and cups while camping in Canada, and we brought these nifty folding plates and bowls around the world with us. They are incredibly lightweight and flat, and can tolerate both hot and cold foods. The cups in particular are quite the feat of impossible-ness – I mean seriously: a folding origami cup? That works? (Yes).
Although they’re not entirely practical along the backpacker trail (where most hostels provide full kitchens with dishes), they come in quite handy while camping, and have indeed proved to be invaluable to us a few times whilst traveling too (ie: while eating street food in Asia and trying to avoid the use of disposable plates).
Things I Have Owned
(and Want Again, or Want More of)
Passport Wallet
I have a Passport Holder and love it, but it’s a touch bulky, and it has no neck strap for ease of use in airports. A friend just received one as a gift that’s absolutely perfect – protective and water-resistant, yet light and flexible. It’s not quite the one pictured, but it’s close.
Icebreakers
Icebreaker is the name in merino wool clothing. They use the best of the best wool (believe it or not, Armani gets second pick over these guys!), the design is great, and most people in the outdoor industry sing their praises. I like the one pictured here, which has all the bells & whistles of a great piece of gear.
It may be a touch costly, but it will last, and ultra-light packing gurus endorse it.
Our Icebreaker tops (they have bottoms/socks/hats/jackets too) have proven themselves to us over and over again:
- They don’t stink when we wear them lots and don’t get to wash them so much
- They protect us against fire
- They keep us warm when we get wet
- They’re lightweight
- They dry quickly (good for hand-washing)
- They’re super-comfy, and stylish enough to wear just about anywhere
- I LOVE the holes for your thumbs (only on some shirts), to keep your wrists warm
Mini Video Camera (Go Pro)
I haven’t pulled the trigger on this one yet, but I’ve long been toying with getting a Go Pro. It’s just so darn small and so darn cute, and great in all scenarios, wet and dry.
Hi!
Love some of the items you posted here! Especially the steriPen and headlamp! (Can you use the headlamp comfortably to read at night or does it cramp your neck?)
I wanted to post your post (with credit to you) on my blog. May I?
Barbara
@Barbara – The SteriPen & headlamp are among our favourites too. And because you can adjust where the headlamp shines, neck cramping at night is not a problem. The bugs flying into your light, however – are! (It all depends on where you are. In Hawaii where we had no actual doors or windows and anything/everything came through, it was pretty intense!)
@Rachel – The flat plates/bowls/cups are awesome! And yes – they all hold hot foods and liquids. The cup softens a bit when filled with really hot liquid, but fingers stay cool by virtue of the neat little handle.
Nice list! Dry bags for me are a prized possession! Compression sacks too. Great for dirty laundry.
I will have to check out that steri pen for water once i reach a place mainland again! Seems better than iodine tabs!
@Dave – Thanks! And the SteriPen is way better than iodine tabs! You don’t have to let the water sit after treating it, and there’s no residual taste. Just make sure the water is clear (as in no debris) to begin with…
Thanks for the tips. I’ve got quite a few of these things myself – but I’m especially fascinated by the flat plates (since we tend to pack plastic plates on every trip). Can the cups take a proper hot drink without burning your fingers?
Hey Nora,
One thing I found out about the Kindle (as I was going to get one from Eddie for Xmas) is that it is currently available worldwide, but you can only download books if you live in America. Amazon is not advertising this fact, but will explain it to you if you ask them specifically. The Sony Reader is supposed to be inferior to the Kindle because there is way less material available for it. Obviously a company like Amazon can offer you a better selection, but in my investigations for my own Xmas present, I found that once the Kindle actually becomes available worldwide, it will be the far superior option in terms of having a virtual bookstore at your fingertips.
Great post Nora,
I too lust after some of the things on your list! We don’t go anywhere without our headlights when we are travelling or hiking. They are probably the most useful piece of gear we own.
We own a stack of dry bags and use them all the time. A compression sack when travelling is a great idea for dirty clothes.
Thanks Frank! (And thanks for the tweet too!)
Great list and I look forward to hearing some more comments. Hope you manage to get your testimonial for the new bags.
Fabulous list. I have to get that compression sack next trip. That steripen looks great too! Ah, if only this list came out before we left for India:) Oh well, we will buy them for next trip. I am with you, I still write a lot in my journal still. Although, I have my laptop with me at the same time. Ha!
@David – thanks! We seem to be some of the few people out there who “discovered” the OR Summit Sacks (and everybody we meet seems to think it’s a great invention), so I’m not holding my breath on a review of the Sealine packs! But you never know…
@Kate – Woah – thanks for the awesome info on the Kindle! I thought Amazon had sorted out the whole “America” issue with an offer of International Kindles….but it may still be a work in progress. Looks like I’ll be well served with my iPod Touch then! (hopefully) Cheers!
@Dave & Deb – The journal is great for bits and pieces you want to jot down before you forget, and the laptop is great for focused writing etc. You won’t find me anywhere on the road without both very close by.
How is India???
Hey,
I have a few of the SealLine backpacks that I’ve used for several years doing heavy construction work in remote, mountainous locations. They are completely waterproof, rugged, built to last. I’ve never had so much as a small hole or tear. They’re light, and have comfortable, durable shoulder straps. I’ve hiked long distances with heavy loads on my back. Wouldn’t use anything else. Clean regularly, as ventilation is non-existent.
Hey Greg – Awesome! Thanks for the cool review. I love the super-light weight and flexibility of the OR sacks, but with the amount of use and abuse we’ve subjected them to, little holes have cropped up.
Question for you: can I crumple up the Sealine pack or use it as a compression sack in my luggage as well?
Nice list! with photo and short brief love to read it