The 10 Most Useful Things You Can Buy on Amazon for Travel
I think it goes without saying that Amazon has a seemingly endless range of strange and incredible gadgets.
It is weirdly addictive scrolling through pages and pages of items, most of which are your everyday bits and pieces, but every now and then I come across something that makes me say ‘wow’ (50/50 on whether it is good or bad). I’m sure most people would agree!
It has also been incredibly difficult to narrow down this list of the truly weird and wonderful travel gadgets found on Amazon…. but by using the following rules I was able to do so:
Rule 1: Must be something that would suit a person staying in hostel/hotel/airbnb etc
Rule 2: Must be realistically usable (have an actual purpose) as well as being multi-purpose
Rule 3: Must be easy to pack and carry, without needing its own suitcase!
Now without further ado, here they are in no particular order my top 10 best and strangest travel gadgets from Amazon:
No. 1 - Collapsible Water Bottle
This is actually brilliant – and perfect for any activity. I’ve been reading about collapsible water bottles for a while as an eco-friendly option to cheap plastic water bottles, but each one I tried just didn’t last. So far this particular brand has held up well.
Made of silicone, it folds up nice and tight, is easy to drink from and easy to clean. Even better, when it is empty you just roll it up, and instantly have extra space. Perfect for when out exploring, at a festival, at the gym or anywhere else.
I recommend the Valourgo Collapsible Water Bottle
No. 2 - Silicone travel bottle set for toiletries
In a bid to get away from single-use, difficult to recycle plastic travel sized bottles, I’ve turned to silicone. Easy to fill, clean and store, silicone bottles are a great way to store a full bottle of shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen or body lotion while minimising the risk of an accident in your luggage.
Have a look at this Portable Soft Silicone Travel bottle set, it comes with 6 bottles in 2 different sizes. Perfect for all your travel needs.
No. 3 - Reusable Rubber Twist Tie - small but mighty!
I can now throw out my cable ties… these gems are perfect for wrapping around cables, open packets that need resealing and just generally holding things together. I used to use the ones from the hardware store, but these are reusable and so much better! They are so useful and not just for travel. I love that they wrap around securely, have a super strong hold and yet are easy to open thanks to the hidden wire inside the rubber exterior.
Get the assorted pack for every size: Nite Ize Original Gear Tie, Reusable Rubber Twist Tie in Assorted Colours and sizes
No. 4 - Airplane Footrest - Swings for your feet
This is amazing, and until I saw it in action I didn’t actually believe it could work. Just lift out your tray table, clip the footrest in and adjust the length to suit you. It keeps your feet off the ground (I don’t know about you but I can’t sleep properly on planes due to the constant vibration of the flight) but this nifty little device lifts your feet enough to make a difference and helps reduce swelling as well. Unfortunately it won’t be useful in the exit aisles but for everyone else this is gold!
**Disclaimer: this only has one purpose but I’ve included it because it is so amazing and it really does help me sleep on planes
Click here to see more information on the Ergonomic Adjustable Foot and Heel hammock (a fancy name for hanging foot rest!)
No. 5 - A Portable Utensil Kit
Don’t hate me for this… but honestly how many times have you found yourself in need of a straw or a fork and not had one? Not saying you need to carry this around all the time, but there are definite uses and hygiene can be an iffy thing at many share places (and offices!). Think of it this way… you’ll always be ready for a spur of the moment picnic! Bonus points on the chopsticks, two types of straws and a straw cleaner.
Have a look at this stainless steel cutlery kit that comes in some pretty amazing colours and has chopsticks, brush cleaner, straw, knife, fork & spoon in a cute little case: Devico Portable Utensils, Travel Camping Cutlery Set (you don’t need to get the multi-coloured set, I just love the colours!)
No. 6 - Travel Adaptor with Surge Protection
This is not something I would normally say is handy but this is the first travel adaptor I have come across with surge protection and USB ports.
Underrated but so useful, especially when you have no idea what the power compatibility might be or you are staying somewhere with iffy power.
Most of us travel with phones, tablets, laptops, eReaders and so on. This travel adaptor is specifically designed for these items with built in USB ports, a quick charge 3.0 port and micro USB cable. You are all set!
Have a look at the World Travel Adapter Kit by Ceptics
No. 7 - Travel Hangers - Something that is Always Needed
Coat hangers are both essential yet bulky and annoying to pack (how many times have you stayed somewhere with no hangers?) Most travel ones are also flimsy and prone to breaking. However this set is specifically designed to bypass the usual annoyances. Turn the loops upside down to prevent lumps or top hold strappy tops. Turn them upwards to hold socks and underwear after a quick hand wash to dry. Definitely on the list of must have travel accessory (and you can get them in plain black if colour is not your thing!)
Check out this pack of Portable Folding Clothes Hangers
No. 8 - Handheld Travel Steamer.... Because sometimes we need a quick fix
I have to admit that I am a convert to steamers, to the point that I even gave away my iron and ironing board. While steamers won’t get rid of the truly deep and stubborn wrinkles, they do an amazing job of freshening up clothes and making them look presentable, while also getting rid of any lingering odours that might stick around.
When travelling you don’t always have access to an iron, or have time to send things to the hotel dry cleaners. This solves that problem (and is a must have when travelling in places where people take *extra* care with their appearance).
There are many different types of steamers to choose from that are all portable and easy to use, however I recommend the Polardo Portable Steamer as it is designed specifically for travel.
No. 9 - Something for your skin... the portable humidifier
It is easy to ignore humidifiers, they tend to put in the pile of interesting but ignore, but the benefits are many, especially when you travel.
Planes, hotels, air conditioning in general can really wreck our skin, and when travelling you don’t exactly have all your normal products or routine (and depending on the country, easy access to what you need).
A mini portable humidifier is a perfect solution. Designed to be rechargeable (and even use when plugged in), just pop it into a glass or bottle of water and it will last for 4 to 6 hours. Use it in a car, at work or next to your bed. As long as the glass is filled with water this will keep working.
One of the options available on Amazon is the FIGROL USB Portable Mini Humidifier with Built-in 800mA battery.
No. 10 - For the rainy season... a portable umbrella
An umbrella is normally the last thing on anyone’s packing list. But let’s face it – travel isn’t just for just the sunny season.
Depending on the destination and season, rain is inevitable. If you find yourself going somewhere in winter or the rainy season then it is wise to invest in a strong portable umbrella, rather than finding the first cheap thing that will break after one day’s use (we’ve all done it).
The Repel umbrella is Teflon coated, and even better, covered by a lifetime warranty (subject to standard exclusions). At 11.5″ it is not the smallest, but it is strong and durable and will definitely fit in your carry-on.
For something you can use at home and abroad, this is a no-brainer.
Click on the link to have a look at the Repel Windproof Double Vented Travel Umbrella with Teflon Coating.
So that’s it… a short list of items that make you think twice when you see them, but then you go “wow that is actually pretty cool”
Well I did anyway! I hope you enjoyed reading this, and please comment below if you have used any of the gadgets or have found other things that have been useful when travelling.
This post was last updated 12th September, 2021
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
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6 Comments
This is really a brilliant content. I am a passionate traveler who loves to explore new places and meet new people.
Your article gives me a clearer idea of what’s the necessary items that I should bring along when I begin the journey to travel the world as a digital nomad.
But I really doubt for one thing, how do you use Airplane Footrest on the plane? I really can’t figure that out LOL, since the space is so small if we’re on the economy class.
Hi Zac, It does seem like the footrest wouldn’t fit but it does (I am short though!), you can rest your feet or your calves on it. Just loop it over the hinges of the tray in front of you. The main benefit is that with your feet just elevated you are not feeling that constant vibration when your feet are on the floor, it actually does make a massive difference in being able to sleep!
Wow, what an amazing array of useful travel gadgets. The pill carrier which is also a water bottle is absolutely ingenius, and I know it will also make the perfect gift for more than one person I know. The same with the waterproof pill organizer and I agree with you that it can be used for many other things as well, not just pills. The fact that it is waterproof is even better! The nifty little umbrella is a must and will take up no space.
I’ve had a very good look at the travel adaptor and it mentions that it has the 2 USB ports and 2 USA outlets. But do you know if it can be used if you don’t live in the USA and therefore need different outlets? Would love to get your answer. Thanks
Hi, there are so many useful things available online now that it is hard to know where to start! I love the waterbottle, it is such a simple idea but so useful. With the travel adaptor it does come with plugs for other countries/regions, so it can definetly be used outside of the US.
Dear Gigi
This is an excellent and interesting article. It is really a great help to all people especially those who like to travel regularly. My family and I really enjoy traveling and at the beginning of next month we will travel to a neighboring country for leisure. Thank you for this article, it has come at the right time and will help us a lot. Best regards
Baraka
Hi Baraka, thank you for the comment and feedback. I’m glad you enjoyed reading it and found it useful!