Going to new places and having new experiences is the whole point of travel. Still, a little personal comfort and convenience goes a long way.
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As a writer and product tester for BestReviews, I’ve had my share of experience picking and choosing products to make life easier. Earlier this season, I took some travel products tested in the BestReviews Testing Lab on a two-week trip to Europe. These products and others kept me comfortable, confident and organized while I trekked through bustling cities, beautiful countrysides and historic towns.
In this article: Samsonite Freeform Checked Spinner, Apple AirTag, Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones and AeroPress Original Coffee Press.
Samsonite Freeform Checked Spinner
Like a lot of travelers, I usually rely on a carry-on, but this trip I wanted space for both souvenirs and laundry. We tested the Samsonite Freeform Checked Spinner a couple of years ago, and it’s a solid combination of name-brand stylishness at an affordable price. My medium-sized Freeform spinner survived cargo handling with just minor scuffing, while its wheels handled cobbles, gravel, pavement and train platforms with aplomb.
If you’re traveling, you need a luggage tracker, especially if you check a bag. We think the Apple AirTag is the best luggage tracker available, thanks to its super-wide network and ease of use. I popped one AirTag inside a pocket of my suitcase, another in my backpack, and was able to track both no matter where I was.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
These days, air travel is far from glamorous. Cocoon yourself in a soothing world without loud talkers or crying babies with a set of noise-canceling headphones. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones are my favorites, with outstanding music quality and a sturdy travel case (with included cables and adapters for in-flight entertainment).
AeroPress Original Coffee Press
It’s easy to find great coffee in Europe — unless you’re up from jet lag, nothing is open, and your digs have only instant coffee or none at all. For delicious coffee in my room first thing in the morning, I relied on the AeroPress Original Coffee Press. It’s compact, sturdy, and requires only hot water and ground coffee to make an excellent cup.
To enjoy my coffee and take it with me on early excursions, I brought along an Owala SmoothSip Travel Mug. It sealed tight and kept hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for hours on trains and car rides. It also fit perfectly in the side pocket of my backpack. I chose the 12-ounce size, but there are 20-ounce and 24-ounce versions as well.
Anker Nano II 65W Compact Foldable Charger
To keep all my devices charged, I used the Anker Nano II 65W compact foldable charger. It has two USB-C ports, one for fast charging and one for trickle charging, and a USB-A port for older gadgets. One adapter was all I needed for every device I had, and was much smaller than my laptop’s power brick.
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Ceptics International Worldwide Travel Plug Adapter 5-Piece Set
A lot of modern electronics have chargers that can handle the different voltages found across the world. But you still need to be able to plug them in. A set of plug adapters like this one is essential to powering up in Europe and anywhere else.
Otlonpe Personal Portable Desk Fan
I stayed in budget hotels in Europe, which aren't known for great air conditioning. Also, I like white noise. I killed two birds with one stone with this rechargeable travel fan. It runs off battery or AC power via a USB-C cable, makes a good breeze in a small room, and adds a soft whoosh of background noise.
Shacke Packing Cubes for Travel
I never used packing cubes before, but after this trip, I’m a packing cube convert. Even non-compression packing cubes make all your things more organized and easy to find, especially with bigger checked luggage. They saved me time and aggravation, particularly when repacking between stops.
UniLiGis Washable Travel Laundry Bags
On a trip, laundry seems to expand to at least twice its size. A good set of travel laundry bags like these keeps dirty clothes separated and they look neat when you travel to the local laundromat halfway through your trip.
Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Pillow
Neck pillows never worked for me, so I brought along a camping pillow like this one. Camping pillows are washable, compressible and versatile, and mine worked for me on the plane, on the train and in hotel rooms if I needed an extra for comfort.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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