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15 Travel Essentials That Belong in Your Kit: Bags, Jackets, Shoes and More

The best travel gear our team has tested over the past 20 years, with an emphasis on durability and versatility.

A person wearing a green rain jacket with a hood, looking upward in a rainy outdoor setting. The jacket has water droplets on it, indicating wet weather. The person is also carrying a black backpack.Gear Patrol

By Hayley Helms, Jack Seemer, and Sean Tirman

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Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

On the road, or dirt path, you need gear you can count on. Because one choice product can be the difference between a safe, enjoyable journey and regrettable misadventure — or worse, a trip cut short.

Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best travel items our team has tested over the past two decades, with an emphasis on versatility and durability. After all, you never know what might be around the bend.

Gear Patrol Outdoor Awards 2025 text overlay on a background split between an orange surface with black threaded inserts and a blurred dark area. The word "Outdoor" features a stylized tree inside the letter "O.Gear Patrol

Why You Should Trust Us: Covering products is our core mission, not a side hustle. And we use real-world testing to inform our recommendations. Learn more about our methodology.

A dark gray Patagonia backpack with a rectangular shape, featuring padded shoulder straps and a vertical Patagonia logo printed in light gray on the front panel. The backpack has a zipper closure and a side webbing detail.Patagonia

Best Travel Pack

Patagonia Black Hole Micro MLC Backpack 22

The perfect travel backpack: tons of functional features, tiny footprint. Designed specifically to meet more stringent carry-on standards but rugged enough for a backcountry day hike.
Black Filson duffel bag with beige handles and straps, featuring a front zippered pocket with a snap button flap and the Filson logo printed in beige on the front.Filson

Best Adventure Duffel

Filson Scout All-Weather 50L Duffle Bag

Filson’s take on a rugged adventure duffel is more stylish than a Black Hole but just as functional and versatile. Yet, it still boasts a comparable price.
Black waist bag with a minimalist design, featuring a small gold "pd" logo on the lower right corner and a zipper with a tan pull cord on the right side.Peak Design

Best Crossbody Bag

Peak Design Outdoor Sling

A minimalist, hands-free sling with a weatherproof coating built for just the essentials. Available in three sizes.
Black mesh pouch partially unzipped, containing a folded gray shirt with orange text and two small green and black bottles.Peak Design

Best Packing Cube

Peak Design Ultralight Packing Cube

Doubles as a crossbody bag after you arrive at your destination. Packs down incredibly small when empty.
Orange and black hanging toiletry bag with a hook and mirror, featuring The North Face logo. The bag is open, showing a mesh zippered pocket containing small toiletry bottles and a toothbrush.The North Face

Best Dopp Kit

The North Face Base Camp Travel Canister

A durable, 3.5-liter take on the traditional dopp kit, modeled after TNF’s iconic Base Camp Duffel.
Black squeeze tube labeled "no normal coffee" with a small coffee cup icon and the words "DARK ROAST" near the top.No Normal

Best Camp Coffee

No Normal

Attention ounce counters and coffee aficionados: one tube of this dark roast coffee paste contains 20 cups of coffee. So go ahead and leave the French press at home.
Black waterproof hooded jacket with a front zipper, two zippered side pockets, and adjustable wrist cuffs. The jacket features a small logo on the left chest.Arc’teryx

Best All-Around Mountain Jacket

Arc’teryx Beta AR Jacket (Revised)

This classic maintains its workhorse mentality and streamlined aesthetic while upping its sustainability and durability.
nano air hoodyPatagonia

Best Lightweight Insulated Jacket

Patagonia Nano-Air Ultralight Full-Zip Hoody

Perfect for days that call for a heap of breathability and a touch of coziness.
Dark gray crew sock with a light gray heel, toe, and cuff trim. Features a small red mountain logo near the top and red text on the toe area. The sock has a ribbed texture around the ankle.Darn Tough

Best Hiking Socks

Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks

More-than-average amounts of wool in these mid-cushioned outdoor socks means above-average comfort, mositure wicking and temperature regulation.
Olive green and beige HOKA trail running shoe with a thick beige midsole, black and beige laces, and a black Vibram outsole. The shoe features the HOKA logo in large letters on the side near the heel.Hoka

Best Walking Shoes

Hoka Transport

A high-traction Vibram outsole, an abrasion-resistant Cordura upper and stability, security and comfort right where you need them: the Transport has it all, and then some.
Black slip-on shoe with a sleek, minimalist design, featuring a textured fabric upper and a solid rubber sole with a subtle embossed logo near the heel. The shoe has a pull tab at the back for easy wear.Arc’teryx

Best Travel Shoe

Arc’teryx Kragg

Technically these are approach shoes, but the single layer upper made of breathable, stretchy Spacermesh and collapsible heel scream “comfort on the road”.
Pelican case airtagPelican

Best Bluetooth Tracker

Apple AirTag

Who brings an AirTag into the woods? Smart, savvy campers, that’s who. Keep track of valuables like coolers, bikes and other expensive gear by attaching one of these trackers with a compatible mount.
Black triangular carabiner with a built-in lock mechanism, accompanied by two silver keys on a small keyring. The carabiner has the brand name "Matador" printed on it.Matador

Best Carabiner

Matador BetaLock

This nifty, aircraft-grade aluminum carabiner can be locked to deter theft. Just don’t lose the keys.
Navy blue RTIC insulated water bottle with a wide mouth, a flip-top lid, and a sturdy handle attached to the lid. The bottle has a silver band near the top and the RTIC logo in white near the bottom.RTIC

Best Water Bottle

RTIC Outback Bottle

The ceramic lining on this leak-proof insulated water bottle maintains fresh taste and smell, so every sip goes down easy.
White flexible water bottle with a gray flip-top cap, a black strap on the side, and a gray water droplet logo on the front. It has a capacity of 3 liters (100 fl oz).HydraPak

Best Water Filter

HydraPak Seeker+ 3L

This almost-weightless backcountry water storage can now be used as a go-to water filtration solution. Collect water, then roll and squeeze to filter. Pack it down to pocket size when your thirst is quenched.
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