45 best travel accessories, according to readers | CNN Underscored

There’s nothing worse than a dead phone when you’re traveling. Be prepared with this compact 10,000 mAh portable charger that has enough juice to charge your iPhone multiple times. It has USB-A and USB-C outputs for maximum compatibility and high-speed 3 amp charging speeds.

This travel power adapter is perfect for anyone who regularly travels to Europe, and our senior money and travel editor has used it for years. It has three US-style power outlets, four USB-A ports and a single USB-C port, so you can charge all your devices. It also includes an adapter so you can use it with UK-style plugs.

Technology can make travel so much less stressful, including Apple AirTags. Our readers love adding these small devices to their checked baggage when traveling to keep track of where their belongings are at every stage of the journey. Ultimately, the peace of mind provided by the AirTags can make any travel experience that much better.

This simple accessory is a game changer for travelers. The Bluetooth transmitter plugs into the in-flight entertainment system, allowing you to get the sound directly to your wireless headphones. Use it once and you’ll find this is something you won’t want to travel without again.

If you’re traveling with a good amount of electronics, the proper storage tools make the trip much easier. Our readers love this travel tech organizer from iMangoo because of its price tag — it’s just less than $10 when on sale — plus the variety of storage space and the fact that it comes in 10 colors to match the rest of your luggage.

Planning to travel abroad? An international travel adapter is essential for keeping your devices charged up while you’re on the road. Our readers loved this reasonably priced option, which works in more than 150 countries and has four USB-A ports for charging smartphones, tablets and other devices.

This compact wireless charger can charge your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch at once, and it folds into a compact package that easily fits into any backpack. Better yet, it costs just $36 when you clip the on-page coupon.

Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are a favorite among frequent travelers. They provide solid sound quality and excellent noise cancellation, all in a small package. This can make any flight more enjoyable when you’re listening to music or watching movies. You can buy AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C or Lightning charge ports.

There’s nothing worse than streaming your favorite TV shows or movies from a plane only for your hand to go numb from holding your phone. Not to mention a sore neck from looking down at your screen! This ingenious phone mount clips onto the tray table on the seat in front of you to provide hands-free viewing.

For travelers, a quality pair of travel pants with enough pockets is crucial for storing all of your must-have items in close reach. This pair from Lands’ End is available in regular, petite and tall sizes and they each feature five pockets. In addition to their supreme storage capacity, they’re also made of a sweat-wicking material to keep you comfortable whether you’re on a long-haul flight or touring a new city.

This packable puffer jacket from Amazon packs down small enough to fit into a backpack or carry-on bag. Plus, it has a water-resistant polyester shell and is very affordable at less than $40 in many colors and sizes.

Underscored readers know the importance of selecting the right travel shoes before heading off on any adventure. These are great for travelers of all kinds and can take you from a day of exploring to dinner on the town. They’re made of water-resistant premium leather and are built to last for many vacations to come.

Crocs have long been one of our favorite travel shoes, and for good reason. They’re easy to take off at airport security and are breathable thanks to their vented design, which is key for long flights. As an added bonus, they’re made from a lightweight antimicrobial resin that’s both comfortable and functional.

As one of our favorite carry-on bags under $150, the Samsonite Freeform Spinner is great for casual travelers and road warriors alike. Its modern design both looks good and is very durable, so don’t worry if you have to check it. Plus, it’s expandable, so you can fit in any surprise accessories you buy on your next trip.

Our pick for the best budget checked suitcase offers loads of storage in a stylish frame and seven color options. We love this suitcase for its smooth-rolling wheels, high capacity and light weight when empty, meaning you can pack more inside without nearing your airline’s weight limit.

The Omni carry-on is another great luggage option from Samsonite. You get a lot of bag for under $100, with built-in TSA locks, a durable scratch-resistant polycarbonate shell and four multi-directional wheels that make navigating airports and train stations a breeze.

This carry-on from Briggs & Riley is packed with features for the modern traveler. This includes a trifold garment keeper and an expandable compression system, so you can maximize your packable space. If you prefer two-wheel luggage to four-wheel luggage, this is the bag to buy.

The Away Carry-On has a cult following for good reason. It’s an expertly crafted, durable piece of luggage that we dubbed the best overall hard-shell carry-on luggage in our testing. Not only are there plenty of colors available for every style, but it’s available at a reasonable price point.

If you’re seeking more space in your carry-on bag, Away’s The Bigger Carry-On is a solid option. Featuring all of the best components of the classic Away Carry-On, this version can hold more while still fitting in most airline overhead bins.

This bag holds a lot for a carry-on bag. In fact, its 42-liter volume is among the maximum that’s allowed inside the cabin. Readers also love that it’s got an ejectable battery that will keep your devices charged on the go.

This viral travel backpack costs less than $50 and truly does it all. It has a ton of internal pockets for organization, and can fit a weekend’s worth of clothes and a laptop with room to spare. Buy one before your next short trip and you might be able to skip bringing a carry-on bag altogether.

This travel backpack is not only available at a reasonable price point, but it’s got all of the storage you’ll need for a trip, whether you’re traveling for business or leisure. It can hold everything from laptops to tablets, and offers compartments for small accessories like passports and charging devices you’ll take with you on the go.

Samsonite has a suite of interesting travel backpacks, and this is one of our favorites. Its sleek design makes it perfect for business travelers who pack light but want a professional-looking bag they can bring to meetings and trade shows. Plus, it can fit up to three days’ worth of clothes and up to a 17-inch laptop and 10-inch tablet. There’s also a variety of internal pockets that makes organization easy.

This travel backpack from the pros at Monos is also an Underscored reader favorite thanks to its variety of organizational features. It can be used from the airport to your day-to-day commute. Its exterior is made of a water-resistant nylon twill with vegan leather details. Not only can it fit a 15-inch laptop, but it’s also got a trolley sleeve to easily slip over your favorite carry-on bag.

This backpack has water-resistant nylon, a breathable mesh back panel and padded shoulder straps, making it a great option for travel or your daily commute. Plus, it has convenient features like a full wraparound zip opening, a padded 15-inch laptop pocket with a magnetic locking zipper and a detachable key clip.

Weekender bags are a staple in any traveler’s wardrobe. This one from Beis is a favorite, as it’s priced at just more than $100 and offers a great amount of storage, including a zippered bottom compartment for storing your shoes and other travel essentials away from your clothes.

We love a crossbody bag for travel. This versatile option from Travelon can go straight from the airport to touring a new destination. It’s got plenty of organizational features to keep all of your travel credit cards and other essentials in place, and it also comes with RFID-blocking technology.

These budget-friendly packing cubes from Hotor ended up being some of our favorites. This set of six has enough variety to help you pack all your necessities efficiently, maximizing the space in your carry-on or checked bag. Plus, they cost just $13 on Amazon.

Amazon Basics packing cubes are made with a durable polyester material that should hold up well to frequent travel. They have mesh siding, letting dirty clothes breathe and making it easier for you to see what’s inside each packing cube. Plus, with a 4.7 star rating across almost 38,000 Amazon reviews, you can be sure you’re getting a good product for the price.

Looking for more packing cubes than the standard set of six? This eight-pack means you’ll get more space to store all of your travel essentials on every trip. At a price that won’t break the bank, this is a quality set to boost your organization.

Packing cubes are a must-have for travelers. Our readers loved this set of six bags from Veken. The set is reasonably priced at around $20, and you’ll get an extra-large cube, large cube, medium cube, small cube, laundry bag and a travel shoe bag to keep your dirty shoes away from your clean clothes.

These aren’t packing cubes per se, but they are a must-have for traveling with an extra pair of shoes. These shoe packing bags separate dirty shoes from the rest of the items in your luggage. They’re waterproof, so you can be sure that anything on shoes will stay within the shoe bag and not on your clothes.

This is our pick for the best travel pillow overall; in fact, we’ve dubbed it the “Goldilocks of travel pillows.” Readers love it, too, for its firm support and portability. The memory foam interior collapses to half its size, making it a great pick for easy transport.

Our pick for the best sleep mask overall is a favorite among our readers, too — and for good reason. It’s got a nose wire and side covers that help to block out any and all light so you can catch some sleep on any long-haul flight.

This neck pillow is our pick for the best splurge option out there thanks to its full 360-degree support. We love that it can fit around any neck thanks to its Velcro strap, and it’s an extra-great option because it compresses to 60% of its size for easy transport. Read our full review for the full scoop.

These bottle protectors are a must-have if you travel with wine, beer or spirits in your checked bag. Just seal your bottle in a Bottle Shield and it will be protected from bumps and drops as it moves through the airport. And in the unlikely event a bottle breaks, the Bottle Shield’s triple-sealing system keeps liquid from ruining your clothes.

These bottle covers slip over the top of your toiletries, preventing leaks when in your checked bag. This could mean the difference between arriving with clean clothes or clothes soaked in conditioner or other liquids, so we think it’s worth the price.

This dual-purpose passport and vaccine card holder will keep some of your most important travel documents safe while you’re in transit. Not only will it keep your things in one place, but it will protect your personal information with its RFID-blocking technology.

Leak-proof bottles are essential when you travel. After all, who wants to end up at their destination with a mess of shampoo and moisturizer all over their clothes? CNN Underscored readers loved this four-pack of silicone leak-proof bottles, which are available in fun color sets to match your luggage.

Whether you’re traveling solo or with your family in tow, this drink caddy is perfect for keeping your hands free. It can fit both drinks and phones, as well as any other travel essentials, right on the handle of your suitcase.

This small but effective portable door lock can help you sleep with the peace of mind of knowing that no one can get in your room. Regardless of whether you’re staying at a hotel or a vacation home rental, this simple-to-use tool can fit on most doors that are hinged and swing inwards. Setting it up is easy and it’s lightweight enough to fit in your carry-on bag. Plus, it comes with its own travel pouch so it doesn’t get lost.

Traveling with a digital luggage scale is essential. They’re small and take up little space, but they can save you a lot of money — and stress — when it comes to avoiding overweight baggage fees. Our readers loved this option from Freetoo, which is available for just $11 when you clip the on-page coupon.

Keep your luggage protected while remaining TSA-compliant with these travel luggage locks. The set of four means you’ll have enough for each of your bags, or for each member of the family. At just under $20 when you clip the on-page coupon, the peace of mind you’ll get from knowing your belongings are protected with these locks is worth it.

Underscored readers aren’t the only fans of this travel jewelry case. In fact, it made the list of Oprah’s favorite things of 2022. Not only does it have all of the space you need to store your favorite jewelry, but its plush velvet exterior comes in nine stylish colors.