12 Pieces of Travel Gear You Need in 2026

I have a few travel goals for 2026. On the destination side of things, I want to experience Viennese coffee house culture, go horseback riding in Mongolia, and explore Norway’s national parks. On the packing front, my plans involve narrowing down my ever-expanding arsenal of travel essentials. In my role as a travel journalist and the founder of a packing list newsletter, I’ve accumulated more than my fair share of suitcases, tote bags, packing cubes, and other travel gear, so—hold me to this—this is the year I’ll condense my essentials down to just one item (fine, maybe two) per category.

Ahead of my full purge, I put together a no-frills list of travel accessories and gear every frequent flier should own—and yes, one of each is plenty.

A Pro Packer’s Most Essential Travel Gear

Carry-on suitcase

Various marketing campaigns may tempt you into thinking you need multiple carry-on bags, but most travelers only need one. When I’m not testing new brands, I heavily rely on my Away Bigger Carry-on—it’s traveled with me from Alaska to Scotland—and have never had an issue fitting everything I need inside the relatively spacious piece of luggage. If you’re looking for a more affordable version, Travel + Leisure editors recommend the Samsonite Freeform Carry-on Spinner, noting it’s one of the best carry-ons of the year. 

Personal item bag

Traveling gets a lot easier when you have a standard pre-departure procedure to follow, and part of that process should be packing your personal item bag. Look for one with multiple straps—so you can alternate between how you carry it, giving your hands or shoulders a break as needed—and one that can hold all of your in-flight essentials. The Longchamp Le Pliage Expandable Travel Bag or the Tumi Voyageur, both rated highly by T+L editors, will work for just about any trip you go on. For a more wallet-friendly option, the Lovevook Weekender bag at Amazon gets high praise from shoppers and includes a shoe compartment and numerous organizational pockets.

Travel pouch

I keep a couple of travel pouches, similar to this Kusshi style, in my personal item bag, but you can get away with using just one if you travel a bit lighter than I do. I like to use them to keep the contents of the tote organized—snacks in one, cords in the other. It’s a simple, affordable way to feel put-together while facing a hectic travel day. 

Set of regular packing cubes

If you struggle with overpacking or organization in general, a quality set of packing cubes, like this Bagail eight-piece set, will do you a world of good. I frequently use my regular packing cubes on shorter hauls or warm-weather trips—the kind of travel where I don’t need to leverage compression packing cubes. They’re great for separating your clothes by type or by outfit, and I always bring an extra to hold my dirty laundry. 

Set of compression packing cubes

It’s a good idea to have both a set of regular packing cubes and compression packing cubes at the ready. These Bagsmart compression packing cubes are designed with a dual-zipper system to remove any extra bulk created by heavy, thicker pieces (like sweaters or down jackets). And if you think you need more than one set, well…take that as a sign you’re probably overpacking.

Toiletry bag

Over the last 12 months—a period where I went on 28 different work trips—I’ve used the same toiletry bag. The exact one is no longer in stock, but it’s quite similar to this transparent cosmetic case. I love skincare as much as the next person, and I’m very specific about the products I travel with, but I’ve still managed to pare down my travel beauty essentials to fit in just one bag or Dopp kit. I promise you can do the same. Some travelers prefer to use a hanging bag, and thousands of Amazon reviews—as well as T+L staffers—love the Bagsmart Hanging Toiletry Bag, now just $15.

Luggage scale

A luggage scale is an unsung hero in the world of packing. If you constantly worry about how heavy your checked bag is, this is a simple way to ensure you’re never over the 50-pound limit. I’ve used this exact luggage scale for four years (and I’ve only replaced the battery a couple of times). Translation: this is an item you’ll need to purchase only once.  

Tech organizer

I don’t travel with too much technology—just a phone charger, laptop charger, laptop, and headphones—but some people go a bit heavier in this department. If that’s you, then you may want to invest in a tech organizer. And if you find the right one, like this polished Native Union organizer or the budget-friendly Fyy Cable Organizer, you’ll only need one to hold all of your belongings.

Portable power bank​

Traveling with a portable power bank is always a wise decision; you never know when the plug next to your seat at the airport, or the one in your row on the plane, will malfunction. This Anker power bank will power your phone all the way before it needs to be recharged—so there’s no point in carrying more than one with you on a typical travel day. 

Hat clip

The hands-free experience that comes from traveling with a hat clip for the first time is life-changing. Gone are the days of wearing your big sun hat while traversing the terminals or being forced to juggle it alongside your personal item and carry-on suitcase. I’ve used the same one for several years—and it’s become a staple piece when I’m headed somewhere in the Caribbean. 

Universal travel adapter

I only recently invested in a universal travel adapter, and the purchase was a result of bringing the wrong adapter with me to Andermatt, Switzerland, this past summer. This packable little tool has already allowed me to get rid of all my small (and clearly very confusing) adapters, and it worked seamlessly on a recent return trip to Switzerland. 

RFID-blocking travel wallet

I don’t personally carry an RFID-blocking travel wallet, but I know travelers who don’t leave for a trip without one. Even if you travel regularly, you only need one—and this version from Ridge comes highly rated by T+L editors. Bonus: it’s incredibly compact, holds between one and 12 cards, and even comes with a cash strap. Or, check out this compact $26 wallet that has a money clip and pops up whatever card you need for easy access.

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