Our Favorite Travel Gear for Under $25

Published September 28, 2017 12:00AM

Traveling is expensive. The gear you bring along for the ride doesn’t have to be. Here are six affordable items you’ll want to pack for your next trip.

Nomad Key Charger ($20)

Leave this little guy on your keychain, and you’ll have an iPhone charger anywhere you go. In your jeans, it’s barely noticeable and surprisingly flexible, which makes it friendlier for those who carry their keys in their back pocket.

Gerber Shard Keychain Tool ($7)

The Shard is a bare-bones multitool you can keep on your keychain or in the bottom of your backpack. It’s most useful as a screwdriver, bottle opener, and mini pry bar. I can’t count how many of these I’ve bought—not because they break, but because people rarely give them back after borrowing them.

Vapur Element Water Bottle ($12)

It can be hard to stay hydrated on the road, so bring your own water bottle. The Vapur Element is a rugged yet foldable plastic-and-nylon bottle that packs down to the size of thin wallet.

Field Notes Expedition ($13)

All-weather notebooks are often too big to fit in your pocket, or, worse, have paper as thick as playing cards. This version from Field Notes is the same size as its standard pocket notebooks but will keep your notes legible, even after getting soaked. Heads up: The pages are slick, so it’s best to avoid gel pens.

Brainwavz Jive Headphones ($15)

Isolating headphones can offer much-needed quiet when you’re traveling. These, from Brainwavz, probably offer the best sound quality at their price point. The cable is made with a matte plastic, which means you can toss them in the bottom of your bag without having to spend five minutes untangling them later.

Natti Bars ($32 for 16)

These Natti Bars are just dried and compressed bananas mixed with chocolate nibs. Unlike most energy bars, they won’t lose their appeal or texture if they get smashed in the bottom of your bag. The bars are also available without chocolate nibs and are always delicious.