Our Favorite Travel Gear of the Year: In-Flight Essentials, Versatile Bags, & Comfy Slippers
Our editors' favorite travel essentials of 2023 were a bit of a mixed bag: New tech gadgets, versatile travel bags, and wireless headphones all made their way into purchasing history. Comfort, practicality, and durability were at the top of our list when upgrading our travel gear this year. We aren't immune to trends—especially when it comes to vibrant colorways and plush, cloudy exteriors. And while we've written about our favorite travel gear along the way—sharing our go-to summer accessories, comfortable leggings, and fall wardrobe essentials—we decided to take a look back at everything we bought this past year and narrow down our list of our very best purchases. Noise canceling headphones, a new tablet, and lightweight sling bags were among our favorite purchases. One thing’s for sure: We won’t be traveling without these items next year.
Read on for the purchases that stuck with us most in 2023. And if you’re looking to upgrade your own gear, consider adding some of these editor-favorite travel essentials to your haul.
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Baggu crescent bag
I can’t believe I didn’t own this bag until just a couple months ago (thanks to my friend Charlie, who influenced me by calling it the ‘perfect travel bag’). It’s deceptively roomy—I write this from the Atlanta airport, as it holds two sunglass cases, my film camera, wallet, phone, bulky passport holder, two giant clips, and toiletries like hand lotion and lip balm; my Nalgene is meanwhile looped on the strap—yet it has a small enough profile that I’ve managed to wear it everywhere from a hike to a night out. The black version is especially wearable, but I also think the brown and navy are just as versatile (frankly most of the colors are). I used to carry a roomy purse for flights, then also stuff a thin tote and cute night-out bag in my carry-on for other moments on a trip. Now, the one bag does it all. I’ve since convinced my sister to buy this bag, who has then bought it as a gift for five different friends. This is the bag. —Megan Spurrell, senior editor
Todd Snyder Mid Weight Short Sleeve Sweatshirt
This summer, I spent the Fourth of July in Martha's Vineyard thanks to a fortuitous home swap situation pulled off by my industrious cousin Evelyn. The following week, staying with the other side family at the beach in Rhode Island and inspired by my recent island time, I rewatched Jaws. Having just been there myself for the holiday during which the film is set, I was amused by how clear it was that production occurred in the off-season—according to Wikipedia, in May, before it's actually warm, and everyone is rather bundled up. Sartorially, the smartness made up for the lack of skin bared by Roy Scheider. In that tense beach scene, he dons this impeccable black short-sleeved sweatshirt and it turned me green. The closest item I could find in the modern age is at Todd Synder—100 percent cotton—my initial purchase of the number in navy blue was soon followed by additional orders in white and black. It's a very good shirt that works in more weather than your ordinary T-shirt or sweatshirt, the best of both worlds! —Charlie Hobbs, destinations editorial assistant
Travelrest Ultimate travel pillow
As a window seat girl, I’ve often just bunched up a scarf or sweatshirt to lean against the side of the plane when I’m attempting to get some sleep on a flight. But this neck pillow has changed the game, and works well in any seat (I’ve now used it in the window, aisle, and dreaded middle), providing a spot to rest your head without the clunkiness of a traditional neck pillow. It’s comically easy to blow up—just two to three big breaths will do it—and can be adjusted to your preferred level of firmness. Even better, when it’s deflated, it takes up a minimal amount of space in your tote or backpack. —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor
Monos Metro Duffel
After months of using tote bags as my personal carry-on item, I finally switched to a more organized travel companion: this Monos Metro Duffel. It’s designed with handy compartments on the inside, but also comes with interchangeable clip-on kits made for extra odds-and-ends like charging cables, hand sanitizers, and makeup kits. The Metro is available in nylon and vegan leather, both equally practical (scratch- and water-resistant) and chic. But my favorite feature? The trolley sleeve for easy pairing with your suitcase—no more flopping bags as you run for your gate. —Arati Menon, global digital director
Swedish Lanolin Agg Tval soaps
My pocket-size delight of the year: Swedish egg white soap. The writing on the box tells me that Swedish women have been making facial masks with rose water and egg whites for generations—clearly they were onto something. This bar soap, which also has yogurt and Edelweiss in it, leaves my skin feeling scrubbed clean, but also softer and tighter (two promised benefits) than most face washes. I haven’t been able to fully convert to bar shampoo or conditioner yet, but it’s already easier to have a solid face wash that doesn’t have to be poured into a travel-size container or risk spilling. Plus, the little tin box it comes in brings a moment of luxury to my morning routine on the road. —M.S.
Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet
This tablet is so convenient—I can't help but take it with me everywhere. It’s great for bringing on the plane and watching Netflix or reading your favorite book. I got it because it's Kindle-compatible, but still has all the great features of other tablets, like the ability to use the internet or create digital art. I’ve had it for a little over a year now and love how lightweight and compact it is—perfect for stashing in your carry-on without adding too much weight. It’s really helped me meet my yearly reading goal and has a pretty good battery life. While it’s a bit bigger than a classic Kindle, I find it easy to read on since there’s more screen space, and love that I can use it to stream my favorite shows, too. —Jamie Spain, travel bookings editor
Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag
The Condé Nast Traveller UK team covered the trendy Uniqlo sling bag back in fall 2022, but it took me a while to finally join the converted. Sometime in late spring of this year, I dropped into Uniqlo after a visit to The Met, and picked one up in a tannish beige color. Ever since, it’s been added to my suitcase nearly every time I pack. It’s super lightweight, rolls up or lays flat, taking up virtually no space, while still being able to hold a healthy amount of items. I like to use it for casual day outings, trips to the beach, hikes, or any other activities where I want my essentials on me—usually, that’s my phone, keys, wallet, sunglasses, hand sanitizer and lotion, lip balm, and tissues. —M.F.
Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
I never leave the house without these on. I usually gravitate towards earbuds because over-the-ear headphones often end up hurting my ears with how bulky they can be, but these are incredibly lightweight and fit over my ears, encasing them in a soft cushion. These Bower and Wilkins headphones come in such cute colors (I have the blue), come with a durable case that's easy to pack, and they have a noise-canceling feature so I can tune out the background noise on a flight or take in the sounds of the city while walking. –Paris Wilson, commerce producer
Calpak Luka Large Duffel
I’ve raved about Calpak’s Luka duffel for being the perfect personal item on flights: it neatly fits under the seat in front of you, has a separate shoe compartment, and easily holds two outfits and my toiletry bag. You can imagine my excitement when the brand launched a larger version of the same duffel this year: the Luka Large duffel. While I continue to use the original size to accompany me on flights and overnight trips, the Large duffel has become my go-to travel bag for all of my weekend getaways and shorter vacations. I can fit almost as many outfits in this duffel as I can a traditional carry-on suitcase and it’s much less fuss. It has all the features I know and love about the original version—easy-to-clean material, soft handles, and endless pockets—but with much more space for overpackers like myself. It’s available in a variety of colors, from neutrals like black and oatmeal, to bright, fun hues like watermelon and celery. —Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor
Sheperd of Sweden Jenny Toffel slippers
I’m usually, definitively, a beach person. But I found myself traveling to very cold places last year (Vancouver B.C., Colorado, Chile) and these sheepskin slippers—I know, not exactly an obvious travel purchase, but stay with me–were a godsend. I’ve started throwing them into my carry-on and wearing them on the plane. Despite their fabulous fluffiness, they pack down well and spring back very nicely. They’re also a dream to slip into when returning to my Airbnb after a day of skiing. —Rebecca Misner, senior features editor
Moleskine classic notebook
Every time I find myself on a new adventure, I buy a small, pocket-sized notebook to recount the future endeavors. A new color each time presents an exciting fresh slate, not to mention Moleskine mini notebooks are just a comforting classic. It’s definitely a tradition that forces me to get away from the iPhone screen and stay in the present moment—counting the colors! —Jessica Chapel, editorial assistant
Comrad Knee High Ombre compression socks
I never understood the hype of compression socks until I started wearing them while traveling. Now I truly can't travel without them. I've worn them during flights, train rides, and even on days when I knew I would be doing a lot of walking around New York City. The best way to get into wearing them is to buy a cute, fun pair like these from Comrad. They're offered in a bunch of different patterns and color combinations: striped, polka dots, and these with a cool ombre effect. The knee-high socks are perfect for winter, they limit swelling and discomfort while also giving an extra layer of protection from the cold. I have my eyes on the ankle compression socks for summer when I know I'll be venturing off to an amusement park and spend the whole day on my feet. —P.W.
