There are thousands of travel products out there. From checked luggage to carry-on bags, travel backpacks, neck pillows, toiletry bags, headphones, portable chargers and much more, there’s a lot to choose from. At CNN Underscored, our goal is to help make the decision on what to get easier in order to help you travel better, smarter and more comfortably.
As the year comes to a close, we’re looking at the travel products that our readers can’t hit the road without. If you’re looking to boost your travel wardrobe before heading off on your first vacation of 2023, consider one of these Underscored reader favorites.
$20 $10 at Amazon
Mavogel
Our pick for the best sleep mask overall is a favorite among our readers, too — and for good reason. It’s got a nose wire and side covers that help to block out any and all light so you can catch some sleep on any long-haul flight.
$18 $13 at Amazon
Amazon
There’s nothing worse than streaming your favorite TV shows or movies from a plane only for your hand to go numb from holding your phone. Not to mention a sore neck from looking down at your phone! This ingenious phone mount clips onto the tray table on the seat in front of you to provide hands-free viewing.
$175 at July
July
The July Carry-All Backpack is a show-stopper. Not only does it have space to store everything you’ll need to carry with you — including space to store a 16-inch laptop — but it doesn’t sacrifice on style. Available in four colors, we love this backpack, too.
$275 at Away
Away
The Away Carry-On has a cult following for good reason. It’s an expertly crafted, durable piece of luggage that we dubbed the best overall hard-shell carry-on luggage in our testing. Not only are there plenty of colors available for every style, but it’s available at a reasonable price point.
$40 at Amazon
Amazon
This is our pick for the best travel pillow overall — in fact, we’ve dubbed it the “Goldilocks of travel pillows.” Readers love it, too, for its firm support and portability. The memory foam interior collapses to half its size, making it a great pick for easy transport.