Packing List: Top 10 Travel Accessories You Actually Need in 2026
We have all been that traveler: standing in the security line fumbling with tangled wires, or waking up on a red-eye flight with a stiff neck and a dead phone battery.
The difference between a stressful trip and a smooth one isn’t usually the destination; it’s the gear. In 2025, the best travel accessories aren’t just “nice to haves”—they are problem solvers. They are designed to save you space, keep you safe, and save you from paying $8 for a bottle of water at the airport.
After scouring the latest travel tech trends and testing gear on the road, here is the Top 10 Travel Accessories List that deserves a spot in your carry-on this year.
1. The Audio Saver: Twelve South AirFly Pro
Best For: Wireless headphone users.
If you own AirPods or Sony noise-canceling headphones, you know the pain of getting on a plane and realizing the seatback TV only has a dusty, two-prong headphone jack.
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Why you need it: The AirFly Pro is a tiny dongle that plugs into that old airplane jack and transmits the audio via Bluetooth to your wireless earbuds. No more using the cheap, painful headphones the airline hands out. You can watch the latest blockbuster movie using your own premium noise-canceling gear.
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Real-world win: It also works on treadmills at hotel gyms.
2. The Peace of Mind: Apple AirTag / Tile Pro
Best For: Anyone checking a bag.
Luggage handling is improving, but bags still get lost. In 2025, flying without a tracker in your suitcase feels reckless.
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Why you need it: This is passive insurance. If your bag doesn’t appear on the carousel in Cairo, you don’t have to wonder where it is. You can open your phone and see exactly where it is (e.g., “It’s still sitting in London Heathrow”).
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Real-world win: It gives you leverage when speaking to airline staff. Instead of saying “I think my bag is lost,” you can say, “My bag is located at Gate B42.”
3. The Power Brick: Epicka Universal Travel Adapter (GaN)
Best For: International travelers.
Throw away that bag of loose, plastic converters. You need one adapter that does it all.
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Why you need it: The new generation of adapters uses GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology. This means they are smaller, don’t get as hot, and can output massive power. The Epicka models (and similar competitors) have a universal plug for the wall, but they also feature multiple USB-C and USB-A ports.
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Real-world win: You can charge your laptop (MacBook Air/Pro), your phone, your watch, and your camera all from one outlet in a hotel room that only has one free socket.
4. The Neck Savior: TRTL Pillow Cool
Best For: Economy class sleepers.
The traditional “U-shaped” foam pillow is bulky and pushes your head forward. The TRTL (pronounced “turtle”) looks weird, but it is the undisputed king of sleep.
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Why you need it: It’s essentially a fleece scarf with a hidden internal support structure. You wrap it around your neck, tilt your head, and it holds you upright. It prevents the dreaded “head bob” that wakes you up every 20 minutes.
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Real-world win: The “Cool” version uses breathable fabric, which is essential because airplanes can get stuffy and hot.
5. The Space Creator: Peak Design Compression Cubes
Best For: Overpackers.
Packing cubes organize your bag. Compression cubes shrink your bag.
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Why you need it: These cubes have a second “compression zipper.” You pack your clothes, zip the first zipper, and then zip the second one to squash out all the excess air. It’s like vacuum sealing your clothes without the vacuum.
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Real-world win: It separates your clean clothes from your dirty ones. Keep a “laundry” cube that expands as the trip goes on.
6. The Battery Backup: Anker 622 MagGo (MagSafe)
Best For: iPhone users and city walkers.
Walking around a new city while using Google Maps and taking 4K video drains your battery fast. Carrying a power bank and a cable is annoying.
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Why you need it: This battery snaps magnetically onto the back of your phone. No wires, no dangling cables. It just sits there and charges while you use the phone.
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Real-world win: It has a little kickstand on the back, so you can prop your phone up on an airplane tray table to watch movies while it charges.
7. The Hotel Hack: Portable Door Lock
Best For: Solo travelers and Airbnb users.
Security standards vary wildly around the world. A flimsy hotel chain lock or an Airbnb keypad code that hasn’t been changed in months can keep you up at night.
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Why you need it: This is a simple metal device that installs in seconds on almost any inward-opening door. Once it’s in place, the door cannot be opened from the outside, even if someone has a key (like housekeeping or a landlord).
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Real-world win: It costs less than $15 and provides priceless sleep security.
8. The Liquid Solution: Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case
Best For: Minimalist packers.
Liquid restrictions (the 100ml rule) are still a pain. The best way to beat them is to switch to solid toiletries (bar soap, shampoo bars). But wet soap gets slimy and gross in a plastic bag.
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Why you need it: Matador uses a high-tech “Dry-Through” fabric. You can put a soaking wet bar of soap inside, snap it shut, and the water evaporates through the fabric without leaking onto your clothes.
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Real-world win: It weighs almost nothing and takes up a fraction of the space of a shampoo bottle.
9. The Hydration Station: Vapur Element Collapsible Bottle
Best For: Everyone.
Buying water at the airport is a scam. But carrying a bulky stainless steel Yeti or HydroFlask takes up valuable bag space when it’s empty.
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Why you need it: The Vapur bottle stands up when full but rolls up into a tiny bundle when empty. You can clip it to your bag loop with the built-in carabiner.
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Real-world win: Fill it up after security at the water fountain. When you finish it on the plane, roll it up and stuff it in your pocket.
10. The Entertainment Mount: Perilogics Universal Airplane Phone Mount
Best For: Planes without TV screens.
Many short-haul flights (and budget airlines) have removed seatback screens. Holding your phone at eye level for 3 hours is a recipe for arm cramps.
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Why you need it: This weird-looking clamp attaches to almost anything—the tray table latch, the seat pocket, or a luggage handle. It holds your phone at eye level so you can watch Netflix hands-free.
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Real-world win: It rotates 360 degrees, so you can adjust the angle if the person in front of you reclines their seat aggressively.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need to buy the entire store. Start with the Universal Adapter (because power is non-negotiable) and a Tracker (because lost luggage ruins trips). Once you have the basics, upgrade your comfort with the TRTL pillow or the AirFly.
Smart travel isn’t about bringing more stuff; it’s about bringing the right stuff. Safe travels!
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