The Best 10 Travel Gifts of 2025 for Explorers, Adventurers & Globe-Trotters
As someone who’s visited nine countries and taken hundreds of trips, I’ve tried out a lot of travel gear. And there are two things I learned very quickly. 1) Not all travel gear is created equal. 2) People tend to give the same travel gifts, which are also not created equal.
After receiving duplicates of items that just didn’t fit what I actually needed on the go, I started putting together this annual guide featuring top gifts that travelers will actually want and use!
Now, that’s not to say the traveler in your life won’t enjoy another airplane necklace or a “not all who wander are lost” sign. But if you want to get them something that’s both fun and practical, I have you covered!
This year, I’ve pulled together a great mix of new products I recently discovered and some tried-and-true options I’ve gotten a ton of use out of over the years. From the best travel bags to my favorite electronics, there’s a great range for every travel style and budget.
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NEW! The Ultimate Gift Guide for Travelers!
I also got super motivated this year, and instead of just writing this blog post (and creating a YouTube video), I put together a massive gift guide for travelers with over a hundred amazing options in every category!
It takes all the guesswork out of buying the perfect gift for the traveler in your life, whether that’s a friend, family member, or yourself. (I am literally so excited for this, you have no idea!)
It’s also completely free, so be sure to download your copy and start flipping through. Many of these items will be on sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and I’d hate for you to miss out on some epic deals!
But for now, here are my top 10 game-changing travel gifts for 2025!
Best Travel Gifts of 2025: The Bag Edit
Travel Inspira Vacuum Compression Bags
The first pick on my travel gifts list is these travel vacuum compression bags. Now, I love my compression cubes and use them year-round on trips to condense my clothes. But these vacuum compression bags just take things to another level!
Instead of just compressing your bags with straps or zippers, the Travel Inspira bags use a small rechargeable vacuum to suck out all the air. It makes a huge difference in volume! And since the vacuum is also super portable, you can easily repack at your destination.
They claim each bag holds 3-4 days’ worth of clothes, but I tested them extensively and can fit a week’s worth of bulky winter items into just one bag! And once that bag is compressed, I can fit it into a personal-sized backpack, saving a ton of space and money when I fly.
I also love that each bag can be used as a waterproof duffel bag with detachable straps. So, they’re pretty versatile, depending on what you need. And my two-pack also included a small carrying pouch that’s perfect for holding the straps and vacuum in between trips.
Prices start at $25.99 for just the bag and strap or $50 for the two-piece set I mentioned above, and they come in several great colors. They’re also on sale on TikTok right now in one- or two-pack options, so definitely grab these before they’re gone!
Lovevook 40L Travel Backpack
This backpack is proof that the right bag makes all the difference! I have actually been reaching for this one for road trips over a suitcase because it just packs so well and it’s way less bulky!
This 40L backpack has soooo much I love, starting with the suitcase-style opening and roomy interior that really maximizes packing potential. There are even compression straps in the main compartment, and the lid has a mesh pocket and a waterproof pocket to keep everything separate.
The exterior has several additional pockets with lots of organization, including a hidden anti-theft pocket that sits right along your lower back.
I also like the exterior compression straps, adjustable padded shoulder straps, large water bottle pocket, and side carrying handle. The icing on the cake is the lay-flat laptop compartment— with room for a full-size laptop and tablet—and the 3-piece packing cube set for even more organization.
I have the 40L, which fits personal bag size restrictions, but there’s also a 50L that works great as a carry-on, too!
Etronik Weekender Duffel Bag
This bag immediately won my heart when I bought it this spring. I saw it advertised as a great “dupe” for the expensive Beis tote and knew that I had to check it out. Needless to say, I was not disappointed!
For starters, the bag has a separate, vented shoe compartment that can hold up to two pairs of shoes—or a bunch of sandals—keeping those stinky fumes away from your clothes.
The main compartment is nice and roomy with a built-in wet pocket and two additional slip pockets inside. There are also several small exterior pockets, a luggage strap, and a USB port to connect a portable power bank!
As far as accessories, the Etronik duffel comes with a small toiletry bag and a detachable shoulder strap.
I’m also a big fan of the fabric because it cleans up so well. I got the white one, and I’m not nervous about it getting dirty because the waterproof nylon wipes clean in a flash and keeps the bag at just 2 lbs empty.
It’s currently on sale for as little as $22 for the personal-sized bag and $35 for the carry-on!
Best Travel Gifts of 2025: The Style Edit
Wavytalk Travel Jet Brush
Next up is one of my favorite travel gifts of all time: the Wavytalk Travel Jet Brush! Trust me, whoever unwraps this is going to be psyched!
Now, I tend to leave my hair pretty natural when I travel for three reasons: time, space, and power. But the Wavytalk Travel Jet Brush offers a solution to each of those problems.
This travel-sized blow-dry brush is insanely portable, taking up about half the space of my full-size version! It’s small enough to slip into my personal or carry-on bag, too, saving me the hassle of choosing to check a bag or forego styling tools. And since it’s a blow dryer and styling tool in one, I can save even more space and time by drying and styling my hair at the same time!
It’s also dual-voltage, so I don’t have to worry about traveling with it internationally and causing a city-wide power outage.
It comes as a cute little set, with the brush, two clips, and a velvet carrying pouch. Absolutely giftable!
Kuangre Refillable Travel Perfume Bottle
If you’re looking for small travel gifts or stocking stuffers, a refillable perfume/cologne bottle is going to be a hit every time.
I know there are travel-sized perfume bottles, but I still feel like they take up more space than I need for a trip. I mean, a 3-oz bottle can last for months, so why would I pack that much—especially if I’m trying to go carry-on only when every inch of that 4-1-1 bag counts?
Enter these 1.6 oz, leak-proof travel bottles! They have a special atomizer valve that pumps perfume directly from your nice bottles, then seals up tight to prevent spills. They give a nice, even spray—not some awkward squirt—for good distribution.
I also love that the exterior casing is made with cowhide leather, so they look super sharp.
This one just feels like a no-brainer, especially at $10.
Stelle Fleece-Lined Leggings
I feel like I almost always include at least one Stelle item, and I just love their designs so much for travel and daily wear!
Stelle is a women’s athleisure brand that puts a lot of thought into every design, keeping up with trends while making sure they’re actually functional, too. And the fabrics are always incredibly soft, stretchy, and squat-proof.
The item I’m raving over this year is their fleece-lined leggings, a perfect pick for winter adventures! (And therefore, a fantastic holiday gift!)
These leggings feature a snuggly blend of polyester and spandex fleece lining that’s thick but not fluffy, so it won’t get all gross and pilled after just a few washes. The pants also have deep side pockets, a tummy-control waistband, and a trendy bootcut that works with tennis shoes or winter boots.
They’re super comfy for just curling up at home (or waiting forever in the airport), but they’re tough and trendy enough to wear out for cold-weather adventures. These check all the boxes for me, and I’m low-key thinking about gifting myself another pair!
They come in black, blue, and charcoal gray and 29” to 33” inseams!
Best Travel Gifts of 2025: The Electronics Edit
Life360 Slim Tile Trackers
I don’t know why I haven’t included Tile Trackers in my holiday travel gifts list before, because these things are absolutely amazing!
They have so many different options, but I personally love the Slim trackers, which are perfect for slipping into my wallet, passport case, backpack, or camera bag! They give me so much peace of mind when I travel because I can easily track each item right from my phone.
They also have a great “Find My Phone” feature. So, if I leave my phone behind (or just drop it in the couch cushions), I can press a button on the tracker to make my phone ring—even when it’s on silent.
The Slim trackers have a 3-year battery life, are water-resistant, and even work with the free Life360 app on iOS and Android. Last but not least, they have a built-in SOS feature, so you can alert friends and family if you’re in a bad situation. They’ll receive an immediate alert with your location. Love, love love.
Grab these on Amazon for just $30 each, or bundle up to save more.
Amazon Fire Tablet
I’m honestly shocked I haven’t included this in any of my previous travel gift guides, because I absolutely love my Amazon Fire Tablet when I travel. In fact, that’s when I use it most.
I got the Fire HD 10 a couple of years ago when it was on sale (Amazon devices are currently up to 50% off, btw), and it was such a perfect choice for traveling. It functions beautifully, with great battery life, plenty of storage for shows, movies, and games, and even doubles as an e-reader!
I use this all the time to binge movies and shows at the airport, on planes, and at my destination. It supports Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and more, so I can really stock up on entertainment if I plan to be away from WIFI for a while.
As someone who also tends to work a bit on the go, I appreciate that I can pair the tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard and use it like a mini-computer when I need to.
The screen is a 10.1” 1080p full HD display, and you can grab it with 32 or 64 GB of storage. Need more storage? It supports a micro-SD card up to 1 TB!
The final reason I recommend this over a more expensive tablet is that I don’t worry about losing this when I’m traveling, like I would a several-hundred-dollar iPad or other tablet. I got it for about $60 (it’s currently on sale for $70 from $140). So, while I’d definitely be bummed if it got stolen, it’s not going to be a huge deal to replace, yet it functions beautifully for what I need.
I think this is such a great, high-quality gift for a traveler that makes a big impact without completely breaking the bank!
Amazon Kindle
This is another item I’m shocked that I haven’t mentioned sooner because it makes an amazing gift for a traveler! In fact, I received mine for Christmas one year, and it’s still one of my favorite gifts ever!
I got my Kindle Paperwhite back in 2015, and it is still going strong. The battery lasts for days, it holds sooo many books, and it’s insanely portable. It’s just natural to toss it into my personal bag so I can read while I travel, at the beach, or in the evenings at my accommodations.
The big thing about the Kindle versus a tablet is the glare-free display and insanely long battery life. It makes such a big difference when I’m trying to read in bright areas, and I don’t have to bring a charger for this because I know it’ll last even on a 2-week trip.
I am typically more of a hard-copy book girl, so I like that the Kindle Paperwhite keeps the classic black-and-white page look. However, if you do want to enjoy your book covers and accents in color, they have options that support full color. (The Amazon Fire Tablet does this as well.)
This is such an amazing gift pick for anyone who spends a lot of time sitting and waiting during travel, or just loves to read while they relax. So definitely grab one of these for your traveling bookworm!
Best Travel Gifts of 2025: The Accessory Edit
Frost Buddy Togo Buddy
Last but not least on my 2025 Travel Gifts List is the Frost Buddy Togo Buddy!
I originally saw these on TikTok and loved the concept. Frost Buddy has a number of insulated tumblers and sleeves that keep your drinks hot or cold all day long. But I love how the Togo Buddy works with any size to-go cup! So, all those coffees I’m grabbing on road trips or at the airport actually stay hot or iced.
It has a double-walled stainless-steel body that vacuum-insulates your drinks for long-lasting temperature control. There’s an adjustable silicone top that ensures the tumbler works with any size to-go cup, and a non-slip silicone pad at the bottom. And in between to-go cups, you can screw on the leak-proof lid (with an optional straw hole) to enjoy water or whatever else you want to drink on the go.
But the extra-fun part is that these come in tons of colors and designs, so you can find one that really fits your traveler’s personality! Mine has bookshelves all around it, but you can also get designs with sharks, ice cream, sparkles, and more.
It’s such a great gift that they’ll be able to use over and over again, from road trips and flights to hiking and long days of exploring. They’re also currently on sale on TikTok for up to 36% off for Black Friday, and they have a bunch of cute holiday designs! But check Amazon, too, because they might extend the sale there soon.
Watch These Gifts in Action on YouTube
Closing Thoughts on These Top 10 Travel Gifts
And those are my top 10 travel gifts for 2025! These are all items that will add comfort and convenience to life on the go, making travel more enjoyable all around. Hopefully, you found something here that really resonated with you and seems like a perfect fit for the traveler in your life.
But if you do want to view some more ideas, don’t forget to download my free 2025 Ultimate Gift Guide for Travelers! I have over a hundred amazing items to choose from, so you’re guaranteed to find the perfect gift.
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Thanks so much for stopping by, and I wish you many happy travels!