21 Cool Travel Gadgets for Flights and Road Trips

Power is everything when traveling, and a lot of times our chargers can take up tons of space. The inCharge is the size of a small keychain and has six different charging input and output combinations to provide power to your phone, headphones, e-reader, smartwatch, and more. For quick reference, the inCharge has these specific ports: an input USB-C, an output USB-C, a USB-A, and an output lightning plus micro USB.

The AirFly allows your AirPods or headphones to be used to watch movies on your plane's in-flight entertainment center. We like the pro version of the AirFly, as it allows up to two people to connect to the same in-flight screen and watch at the same time. No more having to use the corded headphones that are passed out.

Making sure you look presentable while traveling is a subtle style move that will make you feel good and leave a positive impression on others. Ditch the pajamas and aim for a comfortable casual look. For keeping your pants in place, the Groove Belt is your best friend. It's wildly comfortable and simple to clip on and off, and it stretches enough to provide movement in all ranges of motion.

There are a zillion electronic organizers out there, and really you can't go wrong with most of them. Our favorite, however, is this simple water-resistant pouch from MATEIN that has over 5,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. It's got enough space to hold all your charging cords, as well as a space for small e-readers or small tablets. Best of all is the fact it's less than $25.

Read more: Best Travel Backpacks

Portable chargers are a must for every traveler. The 313 Power Bank from Anker has over 50,000 five-star Amazon reviews and comes with a USB input, a micro USB input, and a USB-C input. It's also worth mentioning the power bank comes with its own micro USB charger for powering up. What's great is the charger only costs $30.

Read more: Best MagSafe Chargers

If you think all travel pillows are the same, think again. The Pluto POD acts almost like a sensory deprivation mask that works to block out sound and light with smart design notes like a slide-down eye mask and a deep hood. This travel pillow is perfect for promoting relaxation in the air and on the road.

The LifeStraw Go is like any other refillable water bottle, except for the fact it's got a near-perfect filter built into, you guessed it, the straw. The LifeStraw can protect against a whopping 99.999999% of bacteria and 99.999% of parasites, making it a safe option for drinking water that comes from sinks and water foundations, and even some outdoor streams and rivers.

It's better to think of using this mini pocket projector at the hotel to watch your favorite shows or films, but in the rare chance you get stuck in a flight delay the projector can also be useful in helping entertain your kids. Regardless if you're a parent or not, this is an entertainment option that's fun for everyone.

Built tough enough to take on camping trips, but also portable enough to pack into your carry-on for vacations and business trips, the Scrubba Wash Bag is a portable scrubber (12" H and 21" L) that helps you clean small to medium loads of laundry on-the-go. All you need to do is load in water and a little bit of washing soap, then scrub the clothes along the interior washboard and let the dirty water drain.

This Minipresso from Wacaco is hailed by fans as one of the easiest ways to make espresso while traveling. You can pack it with your preferred beans and coffee grinder or pack it with pre-ground coffee. The only external ingredient you need is hot water, which can be obtained for free at the airport or at a rest stop on the road. Once you pack the coffee and pour it into hot water, all you have to do is flip the device over and press on the pump to pour out your coffee. The only place we don't recommend using the Minipresso is up in the air on a plane—leave it to the flight attendants to handle hot water.

Those who travel with dogs have to consider all the stops needed for their best friend. That includes proper hydration and food. The Ruff Bark Bowl is a collapsible bowl that clips onto the outside of your travel bag and holds up to 800ml. It's easy to clean and easy to pop open, whether you're on the road or in the air.

Made for the toughest environments, the First Aid Kit is a clever waterproof container that holds an array of bandages, pads, towelettes, tweezers, and creams. Built onto the ends of the travel-friendly container are an oil-filled precision compass and an LED flashlight. If you're looking for a first aid kit that carries the basics, you'll be comfortable knowing this will have you covered (and also save you space in your bag).

If you're looking for a better phone holder for eye-level viewing, then this mount will do the trick. The universal design makes it easy to clip in all types of smartphones for a multi-angle adjustment. Place it on the plane seat in front of you for viewing or onto a nearby table for a quick Zoom call before your flight.

Oofos slides are some of the most comfortable recovery shoes on the market, but wearing an open-toe shoe on the plane isn't always the best move. For a cushioned, closed-toe footwear option to pop on for long flights, look to the packable OOmg Low Shoe. The support is excellent, and the upper is made with breathable mesh that has a 4-way stretch.

Read more: Best Travel Shoes

The Steamery No. 2 is super simple to use and wonderfully effective. It's also compact, and thanks to a nifty travel pouch—that also doubles as a mitt to help press out deep creases—you can throw this bad boy into a bag and not have to worry about it taking up too much space or being too heavy.

There are tons of travel blankets out there you can buy, but really only a few are worth your hard-earned money. The Layover from Gravel Travel is our top pick. It's large in area, but also insanely packable. Plus, it's insulated and actually warm. The Layover even has built-in pockets to stick each foot in and a snap closure that goes around your neck so your blanket won't slide.

MagSafe chargers are wonderfully convenient. If you plan on snoozing on your flight but want to get some power, you can attach your phone to this HaloLock Magsafe charger and leave it on the tray table for a steady trickle. Best of all is the fact the charger has a built-in kickstand, so if you do feel like watching something on your device you have the option to prop your phone up. Pretty cool, we know.

We omitted to name a bunch of headphones and earbuds from this list because you can read more in-depth about those at our dedicated roundups. However, we couldn't resist recommending the latest AirPods Pro. Not only do they serve as your music go-to and phone call companion, but their upgraded noise cancellation makes them an effective pair of sleep earbuds.

We love the Whoop 4.0 as an everyday health tracker, and when put in a travel setting it works just as well. Some features that stand out that are especially helpful for travel are its sleep tracking reporting and heart rate monitor—two metrics that you can view to combat how well you're getting along on your journey, which is especially helpful for those who battle flight anxiety.

The ultimate bundle for documenting your adventures. Sure this is the prior generation of the GoPro, but the new Hero11 is nearly $500 by itself. With this bundle, you get the Hero10, a mini-extension pole with a grip, a magnetic swivel clip, a camera case, and two rechargeable batteries.