Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers
This Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers will make shopping for the jet-setters on your list a breeze — and you won’t have to fight the crowds at the mall.
If you’re doing some holiday shopping for a friend or family member that loves to travel the world, here are some really cool items that will be sure to make them smile. As a frequent traveler myself, I’ve tried every product in this guide — and loved it.
Disclosure: Products were provided in order to do my review and this article contains affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.
Luggage
I have to admit, I’m obsessed with suitcases and have several that I use depending on the type of travel I’m doing — whether it’s a quick overnighter or a longer adventure trip. Here are a few of my favorites.
Sterling Pacific
Although this luggage is not cheap, it is an investment in a product that will be long-lasting. Sterling Pacific’s aluminum suitcases are not only stunning, but they are also built using a customized reinforced alloy for 50% more durability, 67% thicker corners, and more than a hundred stainless steel rivets with the strength of 26,000 pounds of weight per square inch. I love the 40L Cabin Travel Case — it’s a great carry-on for shorter trips.
These spare-no-expense suitcases also feature beautiful Italian full-grain leather handles, a faux-suede interior, 360-degree wheels, and TSA double combination latch locks (way better than zippers!). The best thing is that they include a lifetime warranty and repair service, which prevents them from ending up on the landfill.
Lojel
The Lojel Cubo suitcase is great if you’re staying in a hotel that has a small room and you need to save space because it opens from the top, rather than like a clamshell. It is durable, expandable, has a removeable and washable interior lining and is made with 50% recycled materials. I really like the “fit” size.
Solgaard
I love the shelves that the Solgaard suitcase offers. It makes it easy to pack because once you’ve packed your clothes in the shelves, you can cinch the shelves to make more room in your suitcase. Once you arrive at your hotel, you take the shelves out and hang them in the closet to stay organized. You can also add a USB charging port. The lining is made from 100% recycled plastic and each purchase cleans up 6 pounds of ocean-bound plastic from coastal communities. I also like that it has hinges, rather than zippers.
SteamLine
The vintage-inspired SteamLine Luggage is the ultimate fashion statement while traveling. You can buy a matching set of up to 10 different sizes. The Entreprenuer — Pink has become popular since the Barbie movie came out. The suitcases are made from a variety of leathers and fabrics. They do take extra care to maintain the look and quality — and might not wear well if they’re being thrown around in the luggage compartment of airplanes. I prefer the overnighter size for short road trips. The Entreprenuer and Alchemist lines are made of eco-friendly vegan leather. I do love the red Entreprenuer — Lip Print set that has chic lip print on the interior fabric.
Skincare
The Organic Skincare Co: Essentials Travel Pack
Pack the Essentials Travel Pack skincare products in your toiletry bag for skin that looks and feels good while you’re on the road.
The bundle includes:
- Clean Slate: Fruit Acid Complex Cleanser
- The Good Oil: Honeysuckle and Turmeric Face Oil
- Daily Rituals: Sea Buckthorn and Rosehip Moisturizer
Products are planet friendly, certified organic and certified vegan with eco-friendly packaging, so you can feel good about what you’re putting on your skin.
One Skin: One Skin Travel Kit
This four-item One Skin Travel Kit contains products that are the perfect travel size to pass through TSA and will keep your face and body clean and moisturized while trotting the globe.
The anti-aging kit contains:
- OS-01 FACE (15mL)
- OS-01 BODY (60 mL)
- OS-01 EYE (7 mL)
- PREP (50 mL)
- OneSkin travel bag
The products come in a handy travel case that has enough room to pack additional toiletries.
Eyewear
Smith Sunglasses: Embark, Venture, Pursuit
Smith’s line of performance eyewear are an essential piece of gear for adventure travelers. These lightweight and durable sunglasses are not only functional, but stylish, as well. The Venture, Embark and Pursuit styles have added features to block out as much light as possible, including removable ventilated side shields, and the ChromaPop™ polarized lenses take it easy on your eyes by cutting down on glare. The Purist frame offers the most coverage and features a ChromaPop™ Glacier Photochromic lens that adapts to changing light conditions.
Caddis Readers
There’s nothing worse than not being able to read the fine print of a restaurant menu or boarding pass, but you don’t have to wear “grandma” readers. Caddis creates stylish glasses to help you see up close, and look cool doing it. They offer traditional readers, progressive readers, sunglasses readers and more.
Apparel
Aviator USA
Aviator’s Best Travel Jeans are perfect for travel because the two back pockets have hidden zippers to keep your belongings safe. I love the “relaxed” fit that makes them comfortable and flattering. They are available for men and women in a variety of colors and styles.
You can feel good about your purchase since they are manufactured locally in Los Angeles. Most of Aviator’s denim also includes tencel, which is 10x more resistant to bacterial growth, is sustainably sourced in an eco-friendly process in which 99% of water and solvent is reused and recycled, and they dry faster than traditional cotton jeans.
VIM & VIGR: Compression Socks
Compression socks are essential for long plane rides, but VIM & VIGR makes them fun with lots of colorful designs. Their sock feel good and are good for you by increasing circulation in the legs, preventing swelling and potentially preventing blood clots, during times of inactivity.
SPORTS GEAR
Smith Snow Goggles: I/O Mag XL, 4D Mag XL
Smith makes high-performance goggles for hitting the slopes. Select from a variety of lenses that fit various visible light transmissions, depending on whether you typically like to shred in full sun, partial clouds or low light conditions. The magnetic interchangeable ChromaPop™ lenses will not fog up and provide high contrast for the best visibility. For maximum field of vision, the 4D Mag XL features BirdsEye vision for added peripheral views.
LEKI Ski Gloves: Griffin Thermo 3D
The Griffin Thermo 3D ski gloves will keep your hands warm and dry in extreme conditions, fit comfortably and provide a good grip on your ski poles. And with MF touch technology, you can use your smart phone with your gloves on. A unique feature is the Trigger 3D System that allows the gloves to easily clip onto LEKI alpine Trigger ski poles for better control and no bothering with wrist straps.
REI: Swiftland TT Trekking Poles
These carbon folding poles will keep you steady on your feet whether you’re trail running, fastpacking or speed hiking, and their compact size makes them easy to pack. They are lightweight, durable, ergonomic and easy to assemble. Rather than having to adjust the height, you purchase them in a size that best fits you. You can feel good about this purchase since REI is a Climate Neutral Certified company.
FOOTWEAR
Allbirds: Superlight Wool Runners
Allbird’s Superlight Wool Runners are the perfect pair of shoes to pack in your suitcase. They are super lightweight, which makes them easy to pack and won’t weigh down your suitcase. Plus, they are made of wool, so they dry quickly if they get wet. These shoes are comfortable for a day full of walking around to see your favorite sites. The best part — the SuperLight Wool Runners have the lowest carbon footprint of any of the Allbirds shoes. They are made with regenerative Merino wool, sugar-cane based foam, and recycled pastic bottle shoe laces. If you want more of a sturdy shoe, try the new Wool Runner 2, for men and women, with 14% more foam, more room in the toe, and improved durability.
HOKA: Arahi 7 and Anacapa 2 Low GTX
HOKA offers some of the most comfortable and supportive shoes around, which makes them great for wandering around a new city or hiking scenic trails. The Arahi 7 has a streamlined footprint with maximum support using J-Frame™ technology. It’s a great shoe for walking or running. The Anacapa 2 Low GTX is perfect for the adventure traveler that wants to explore the outdoors. These shoes are made with recycled materials, are lightweight and waterproof, and feature a Vibram® Megagrip outsole that will give you a good grip on the trails, even in wet weather.
Travel Journal
Color-Your-OwnTravel Journal
Learn about the destination you’re heading to and have fun recording your expderiences while visiting with a Color-Your-OwnTravel Journal. There are several destinations to choose from, including Venice, Tokyo, New York City, Paris, Boston, London and Thailand. Each has a information about various sites in the destination, a blank page for journaling and a page to color an image of the site. Pack your colored pencils for this creative way to remember your travels.
Have a favorite travel product that you love? Share in the comments below.
