Travel season is upon us. Below you’ll find some of our staff’s must-have travel accessories.
The Phone Case That Doubles as a Wallet
My number one “carrying stuff and/or traveling” favorite thing is this iPhone case with room for two cards. It doesn’t look like a wallet case, but it keeps my ID and debit card from falling out, and it doesn’t get in the way of phone use like cases that have flaps or more of a wallet feel can. It’s also flexible enough to secret away an emergency bill between the case and the body of the phone, and is sturdy enough that even though I drop my phone all the time, both my phone and the case have survived. I like having to remember as few things as possible, and carrying a full wallet hasn’t been part of my lifestyle for a while because who has that many hands/pockets anyway, but this case lets me just go about my life without ever turning up somewhere without my ID or card. — Carolyn, Literary and NSFW Editor
The Passport Cover That’ll Keep You Charged Up
As someone who generally doesn’t carry a purse, this nifty accessory is my holy grail. It stores anything and everything I’ll need to dig out of my carry-on bag (like my phone, passport, charger, credit card, etc.), and has room to stuff other things into it, like boarding passes or train tickets. It’s so handy, and even comes in a variety of colors! #thewanderlustisreal – Priya, Staff Writer
The One-Two Punch for All Your Toiletries
I’ve gotten slightly better over time at packing light clothing-wise, but still struggle to narrow down various goops and serums. Will my bangs get weird if I don’t bring color-safe conditioner? What if I don’t have six lip color options? I should bring extra makeup remover, because I am definitely going to fuck up my eyeliner. This toiletry bag/bottles combo has replaced my previous tradition of attempting to stuff a Ziplock way too full of specially bought travel-size products that I don’t even like; I even give my bottles little taped-on labels now! I may be vain as ever, but when it comes to organization, I’m a whole new woman. – Nora, Fashion and Beauty Editor
The Tomboy Classic Knapsack
Sounds cheesy, but I love my Herschel Bag as a carry-on for flying. It’s slim and light, low-profile and has a pocket for my laptop. No frills, no mess, no back-breaking load. – Ali, Geekery Editor
The Sturdy (and Surprising) Weekender Bag
I just love the ruggedly classy aesthetic of the canvas and leather. It’s got zippered compartments galore, expands to fit some shoes, and after a few years of use it still looks pretty new and the shoulder strap/handles haven’t really worn down at all. – Faith, Staff Writer
The Two-in-One Backpack/Day Bag
This bag was more like my home during my month-and-a-half-long trip to Bangladesh and India last year, so forgive my verbose response, but I am absolutely in love with it. If you’re traveling light and want a piece of luggage that is well-designed, comfortable, and easy to use, this is your backpack. I hate digging through a bag, so I love that it’s zippered compartments mimic those of a suitcase, zipping entirely open so you have full access to all your stuff. It also features all the great things a good backpack should have (compression and adjustment straps, breathable mesh so your back doesn’t swamp out, and a padded harness). The best feature is the detachable day pack, which is essentially a smaller backpack that zips onto the front of the larger compartment. It looks like a miniature version of the big pack, so it’s got the breathable mesh and even a tiny adjustable waist strap! I use it as my day-to-day bag when I’m not traveling. In our first moments in the airport together as bag and girl, something magical happened – the bag was deemed too heavy to carry on, so I just zipped off the day pack and checked the remaining bag. This bag will not let you down! – Sarah, Marketing Director
The Backpack That Lasts, Like, Forever
I love this bag. I’ve used it for backpacking, but it also makes a great suitcase when I’m traveling without a single destination — whether that’s an international trip with multiple cities on the schedule or a long weekend trip where I’ll be hopping between a few friends’ houses. It has many many pockets, and because it’s built for backpacking, it’s extremely durable. It’s a bit pricey, but I’ve used mine consistently for seven years with no rips, and all the zippers still work too. Bonus: if you strap it down tight, it’ll fit in the overhead bin. — Audrey, Staff Writer
The Laptop-Friendly Carry-On Roller
This is my current favorite bag. It fits in most overhead compartments, is very cute, and zips open to be a little bigger if needed. It also has a dedicated spot for a laptop, which I need, and I love the yellow wheels. – Cee, Tech Director
