the best travel gifts of 2023: unique gifts for nomads, adventurers, and jet-setters
We’ve been traveling full-time for the past 3 years (I honestly still pinch myself when I say this #dreamcometrue) and there are some items that have made a HUGE difference in our lives. Some of these we’ve learned we need more than others and some items just make travel that much more simple, comfortable, safe, and/or pleasant.
We’re also learning to pack lighter whether it be in our van, when we go abroad, or on a trek in a different country. We’ve come to the conclusion that what we bring needs to be useful in our daily life and is worthy of the space is takes up.
If you are reading this then my guess is that you are either a frequent traveler looking for some cool ideas for yourself (I fully support self gift-giving) or know someone who loves visiting new places and exploring new areas of the globe.
The ideas below are great gifts for anyone who has a sense of wanderlust or just travels frequently. There’s a little something for everyone on this list!
Let’s get straight to it shall we?
Please note: The below post contains affiliate links. Any items we have listed where we receive affiliate revenue are items we trust and/or personally use ourselves. We never suggest items we don’t think are worthy of a mention. We use almost every item on this list daily ourselves.
health & wellness
It’s easy to let your healthy habits slip to the side when traveling but if you travel a lot then your whole life can feel like chaos and you can eventually feel like crap. The items below will help anyone who appreciates health-focused gifts or is working towards a healthier lifestyle even while on holiday.
1. Manduka Travel Yoga Mat
I picked this up earlier this year after realizing we were spending more time abroad than we were in our van in the USA. I thought I would just bring it on international trips but once I started using it I ditched my big, bulky yoga mat and now just use this instead! This sweet little mat is ultralight AND it folds! I can strap it on the outside of my backpack in case we have long fly dates so I can do a quick stretch session at the airport or pack it easily in a suitcase. I LOVE it! It may be thin but it works well even when I use it outside with some rocks or gravel underneath. A game changer for being able to workout in hotel rooms or on-the-go!
2. AG1
I honestly have no idea what we would do without this stuff while traveling. As much as I’d like to bring all my herbs and other goodies with me we just don’t have the room in our luggage. This basically replaces over a dozen different products in one. Probiotics, prebiotics, adaptogens, and more. When traveling I have found it’s harder to keep a daily routine and keep up with our healthy lifestyle but this makes it so much easier. B and I both notice a huge difference when we drink this. You can catch us on our Youtube channel chugging this stuff all throughout our West Highland Way and Great Glen Way treks in Scotland.
Go to https://drinkag1.com/vanhalla to get started on your first purchase and receive a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 and 5 travel packs.
3. LMNT Electrolytes
Hydration is key when traveling and to help with jet-lag. I love LMNT because they don’t add extra sugar or a bunch of unnecessary ingredients like many similar products. I find that when we travel it is hard to find health products that are actually good (no fillers, preservatives, etc) so this combined with AG1 is our lifeline to keep us healthy on-the-go.
luggage and storage items
A few items we have found have held up well even after being on long-distance treks, in the van, and just making their way around the globe. We’re pretty hard on our stuff so these have stood the test of ruggability (not sure that is a word but I’m going with it).
4. Sea to Summit Toiletry Bag
I have several toiletry bags I use regularly and this is one of them. I use this for all my shower items as I can hang it from the door and it’s ultralight, which makes it great when I am on a trek or trying to pack lighter than usual. Everything I have purchased from Sea to Summit has proven to last for years and I have never had issues with any of their stuff.
5. Patagonia Cubes
I use these in addition to my Sea to Summit toiletry bag and B solely uses this for all his stuff. We both have a Large size and I also have a Smaller size as well. It’s heavier than the Sea to Summit Toiletry bag yet I use this for all my miscellaneous items when we go overseas. There’s one zipper that opens to two compartments. The large size fits everything B needs for himself including his own shampoo, conditioner, hair product, electric razor, and other self-care items. I use it for all my other self-care items like skin care, nail care, and other odds and edns I bring with me.
It’s made for those who tend to be a little rough with their bags because it is pretty tear-resistant which I like. Not the best for backpacking due to weight but great for keeping in your luggage. Plus you can use it for a variety of different thing snot just toiletries so it is very versatile.
6. Level8 Luggage
We get compliments on our luggage wherever we go. Even flight attendants comment about how nice our luggage looks (and they know good luggage).
Level8 is our go-to for several reasons after researching and trying more than a few (I think we have about 8 different suitcases we’ve given up on that just sit in our storage now for a rainy day).
We especially love the wide handle, easy rolling, the waterproof inner pocket, and the durability.
The wide handle is one of the highlights and it may seem like a small thing but let me tell you - it makes a world of difference! You get more room inside the bag and it’s easier to lay items down flat (re: saves room) because you don’t have the awkward handle in the middle of one side of the case. And when you want to pack as strategically as possible every inch matters. Not only that but when you put a duffel or backpack on top of the suitcase as you roll around the airport, it won’t fall off so easily as the wide handles stop it from falling off.
The wheels have NOT popped off in over 15-ish flights we have taken so far this year alone and it glides soooo smoothly. It is the smoothest gliding luggage piece we own.
After all those flights, it also hasn’t dented unlike Away luggage which several of our friends own. Maybe it will in time but for now it’s perfect!
Level8 Sponsored a video of ours awhile ago but they are not sponsoring this post. We just really love our suitcases and we would have bought them anyways if we hadn’t been sponsored by them.
7. Packing Cubes
Small spaces mean you need to make the most of every square inch. We keep all our clothes in these packing cubes and we can store about 2x the number of clothes because of the cubes as they compress everything so well.
We suggest getting several different sizes to test which ones work best for you though the sizes. The packing cubes below are ones we have several sizes of and they have all held up well over the past few years. No rips so far!
8. Sea to Summit Dry Bags
I can not explain how much these dry bags have made a difference in my life. I store all my toiletry bags within one of them just in case anything spills none of my clothes in my suitcase get ruined. I also use them for wet clothing, dirty clothing after a hike, or to just keep things dry if I think there may be rain or snow in the forecast.
They are ultralight and weigh next to nothing. It is one of those items that seems expensive until you use it and realize how invaluable they are. I take at least two dry bags with me everywhere we go and now B does too. A great purchase for anyone!
9. Eddie Bauer Packable Day Bag
I am a huge fan of space-saving travel items and this is one of them. I like having a day bag I can pack away and pull out for a quick hike or to fill with dirty laundry if I am in a new city and need to walk to the laundromat. It’s versatile, lightweight, and you can use your water bladder with it as well.
10. Cadence Travel Containers
These leak-proof travel containers are stylish and have a reputation for being some of the best on the market. Every time I researched “best travel containers” online these came up. They work well for shorter trips rather than month-long holidays due to size unless you just want to refill them while traveling. I like them for shorter trips plus the labels make it a breeze to see what you are opening.
techy items
These are great items we use almost daily and you have probably seen us use them in our vlogs over on Youtube if you have been watching us for awhile.
11. Luggage Scale
Not exactly an exciting gift but it can be very helpful when you are debating whether the extra pair of sandals you are bringing are actually going to put you over the weight limit.
This can also be especially helpful if you are flying internationally and are using several different airlines for your trip. Some airlines have a much more strict weight policy so we personally find ourselves using this to ensure we don’t get dinged by some of the smaller airlines who will charge upwards of $170 for an overweight bag! This has saved of us from being overweight many a time. Great stocking stuffer!
12. BOSE Noise-Canceling Earbuds
We have both been using our Bose headphones for over 2 years now and I love how good the sound is plus they block out a lot of noise when we are on a plane, train, or in a big city. They are also small and don’t take up a lot of room like headphones.
13. Anker Power Bank
If you have long fly dates, or go on long-distance treks, having a power bank can be a huge help. Our phones have unexpectedly ran out of battery power several times when in a foreign country and navigating around without the help of a translate or Goole maps was an experience to say the least. Often times huts, refuges, and hostels on long-distance treks can often be crowded and there is only 1 outlet for everyone to share. This has saved my butt a couple times when that has happened so if you are a trekker this could be a great gift for yourself or someone who is.
14. Apple AirTags
I just lost my luggage on the way to Budapest but thankfully I had an Apple AirTag and knew exactly where my luggage was. While airlines can often track down a lost bag, what happens if they can’t? Your Apple Air Tag will help you locate your bag and you can let the airline know exactly where it’s at. You can put them in your suitcase, laptop, backpack, hide them in your packing cube or anything else you want to track via the Find My feature on your apple device. You could even put one in your car in case it got stolen. Pretty brilliant product!
15. GoPro Hero 12 Camera
A great gift for those that like to record their adventures! B and I use this camera A LOT for our Youtube Channel. We like ti because it auto adjusts lighting and has a built-in stabilizer so you can walk and talk at the same time. Whenever I film a trek or pilgrimmage this is my go-to camera for when I am walking. Just keep in mind it does not do well in low-light conditions but if you film during daylight hours it’s great! Almost my entire Camino series was filmed on this.
16. Travel-Friendly Bluetooth Speaker
While there are many great Bluetooth speakers on the market we prefer our JBL mini speaker because it is so small yet the sounds is great. You can hang it from a hook or your backpack and it’s also waterproof!
travel-friendly clothes
For the past year I have been resreaching ‘travel-friendly clothes’ so I could build a capsule wardrobe and slowly, but surely, I’ve found some incredible pieces. I could make a whole blog post about our favorite non-wrinkle, travel-friendly clothes and I will definitely do that some time but for now here are some favorites that I turn to time and time again. These are great choices if it’s for a partner, someon who is looking for staple who loves to travel and needs better travel clothing, or you just feel like treating yourself. Either way, I can vouch for the worthiness of these particular items.
not the best picture I have but I LOVE my Cashmere sweater + joggers from Quince.
17. Quince
Their Cashmere Crewneck Shrunken Sweater and Cashmere Joggers are my all-time favorite! I seriously live in these on fly days and while we edit videos. I have a set in grey and black. They are breathable and you can wear them about 6-8 times before you need to wash them. They are great to just lounge around in, wear on a flight, or to even sleep in. Unless it’s the middle of summer, I bring these with me on every trip. It’s a MUST in my closet.
I also have a few of their Washable Silk items (their skirts go with everything!), sweaters (I am addicted), and their Ultra Stretch Ponte Pants. Besides my cashmere set, I wear the Ponte Pants almost daily. They do not stretch out, you can wear thermals or Woolx leggings underneath (see below), and they go with everything. We just released a Youtube video featuring some of these items which you can watch here.
Oh and another great thing is the price point for Quince. They are very affordable compared to similar items you might find and also have home stuff, men’s items, and maternity sizing.
18. Woolx
GAH…I just love Woolx. We are affiliates for them and I can attest that the people at Woolx are just as nice as their clothing. I want to spend all my money there just because of how wonderful they are!
B has the Henley shirt and Shacket for men which you can see him wearing above. He hasn’t taken off his Henley except to go to bed. Seriously.
My two favorites are the Black Bodysuit and Leggings. The black bodysuit is SO cute on it’s own or you can wear it as a base layer or underneath sweaters. I rarely have to wash it and I have worn it almost daily. The leggings do not stretch out, are super comfortable and warm, and I was able to ditch my thermals to jst bring these to the EU in the Fall/Winter. They double as pants and I wear them as hiking leggings too! Perfect Trail-to-Pub clothes!
These items are well worth the investment and B wanted me to tell you he is OBSESSED with Woolx. So do what you want with that info ;)
during a heatwave in Cambridge earlier this year. Wayre items are perfect for summer!
19. Wayre
I found this brand last year while shopping for ‘wrinkle-friendly clothing’ for Summer and I love them! I have 2 pairs of shorts and a button up shirt from them and they have never let me down. I love how breathabvle the fabric was this past year when we had a heat wave in Europe. I didn’t feel sweaty at all and the clothes never stuck to me. What I love most is that they are also ‘safe travel clothing’. They have hidden pockets in the shirts so if you get robbed, they will never know you have cards or your ID in your shirt. It’s brilliant! Well worth the price point and I love that they have very classic styles which everyone will look good in. You can dress up or down the items.
20. Honorable Mentions: Anthrolopogie & Aritzia
I have loved Anthropologie since I was a little girl and what I love most as an adult is that they carry a LOT of brands that are travel-friendly. They won’t be labeled as such but Maeve is one of my favorites! The fabric ususally stretches quite nicely and is nver prone to wrinkles.
Aritzia is another brand I love because they have great staples in a variety of colors. Their bodysuits are some of my favorite and they hold up well. They don’t stretch out and if you are looking for some contour to hold a little bit of jiggle in, their bodysuits will do the trick.
You really can’t go wrong with any of these 5 brands above. They are worth the investment and will last for years rather than months.
memberships & gift cards
Memberships and gift cards can make for great gifts especially if you are unsure about someone’s specific needs or interests this year. We personally would love any of these ourselves!
21. Harvest Hosts Membership
For the campers and van lifers in your life!
A Harvest Host membership will allow your giftee to stay safely overnight at over 2,300 properties such as wineries, farms, breweries, and more in their own vehicle. We love staying at Harvest Hosts when we want to meet new people and get recommendations from locals about things to do in the area. This membership pays for itself with just a few stays and you get to experience a whole new way of camping!
Tip: When signing up, use the gift recipient’s information – their name, email address, and rig type. If you want to keep it a surprise, you can set up the membership under your email address, then change it to the recipient’s email address under “settings” when you give them the gift.
22. Gift Cards For Fuel
A great gift for those who love road trips! This is the one thing we are always excited to receive as a present and due to high fuel prices it’s especially nice to get one of these as a present.
23. Gift Card For AirBbnb
In case of emergencies, for a little break from van life, or just for a getaway this is a great gift card to have on hand. Between this and the gas station gift card the globetrotter in your life will be quite happy!
We hope this gift list will be of help to you this holiday season! May your friends and family appreciate all the effort you have put into finding them that perfect gift!
p.s. If you are looking for some gift ideas for a van dweller in your life we made a van life gift guide back in 2021 that you may want to check out that has a ton of great ideas too! Head on over to that page right now.
Happy Holidays!
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