12 MULTITASKING TRAVEL ACCESSORIES THAT’LL MAKE ANY TRIP SO MUCH SMOOTHER — FROM $8
These genius products are the ultimate travel hacks.
As a travel writer, discovering a good hack to make life on the road more accessible is always exciting. Case in point? I was on assignment in Northern California’s remote Siskiyou County, home to Mount Shasta, Lava Beds National Monument, and hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, high alpine lakes, and epic waterfalls. To secure a selfie, I propped my phone up and hit the timer, only for it to slide off the rock and crack its face. Game over.
A few months later, I discovered Ringo, my new favorite multitasking travel accessory that would have saved the day. It is a water bottle that doubles as a tripod, using magnets to securely attach my new Google Pixel 8 Pro to a moveable flat ring on the bottle’s cap. This allows me to securely take selfies on the hiking trail or anywhere else. Game back on.
Since then, I’ve discovered plenty more game-changing, multitasking travel accessories. Some, like the selfie stick water bottle, were built for two purposes, while others are hacks to get more than one use out of a product. Here are the 12 double-duty products I swear by, and best of all, they’re all under $30 at Amazon right now.
Ainope for MagSafe Water Bottle
$30
As mentioned above, discovering the Ringo insulated water bottle that doubles as a tripod is my new favorite travel hack. I always carry a water bottle when on the road but often don’t carry a tripod when hiking, at the beach, or just taking a spontaneous selfie at the airport. And now I don’t have to carry one at all. The Ringo is a little expensive, but Ainope for MagSafe Water Bottle 24oz works similarly and costs less. The bottle is made with double-wall-stainless steel to keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. The ultra-strong MagSafe phone mount ring securely holds your device, whether the bottle is empty or full, and also works great for propping up your phone to watch movies on flights. The ring also acts as a carry handle. Although this bottle was specifically designed to work with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it has a booster ring that makes it compatible with Androids, older iPhones, and even tablets.
Riemot Luggage Travel Cup Holder
$10
If you are like me, you often find yourself running at full speed to catch an early morning plane with your carry-on suitcase in one hand and your phone and an iced cold brew in the other. This scenario never ends well for me, as I’ll end up tripping and spilling the coffee all over myself or, worse, my service dog Poppy. This changed when I discovered the Riemot Luggage Travel Cup Holder. It slides onto the handle of your suitcase and has three pockets to hold up to two drinks and a phone. My dog, embarrassed to board with coffee stains, concurs this is one of the best travel hacks invented.
Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow
$20
If you’ve been following the TikTok travel pillowcase hack for the last few years, you’ll want to check out the Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow. It serves double duty as a neck pillow and secret carry-on storage space thanks to its clever design. The pillow features a removable insert that can be replaced with a few days’ worth of clothes. If your carry-on suitcase and personal items are already overstuffed, but you cannot travel without an extra few shirts, dresses, or pairs of leggings, you can use them as pillow stuffing. Airlines can be strict about carrying even the smallest third bag, but they almost always let pillows slide, so if the clothes are hidden in the pillow, you’ll be good to go. If you keep the memory foam cushions inside, the pillow provides versatile neck, head, back, or cervical spine support and can be twisted into different positions. Even stuffed with clothes, it offers comfort when propped against a window seat wall.
LC-dolida Sleep Mask with Bluetooth Headphones
$21
I need music and darkness to sleep on an airplane, but I find earbuds painful when my head is squished into a pillow propped against a window seat. Face masks can be equally uncomfortable when they rub against my eyes for hours. The LC-dolida Sleep Mask with Bluetooth Headphones solves both problems. The mask has deep contours in the eye areas to keep pressure off. The Bluetooth-controlled headphones provide a crisp and immersive sound experience without digging into your ears. Amazon shoppers also loved this multitasking accessory, giving the mask more than 12,900 five-star ratings.
One satisfied shopper said, “This is the best eye mask I've ever owned. It is completely blackout and super comfortable on the eyes because of the soft, rounded interior.” They continued to say, “The Bluetooth is like surround sound for your head; it's very calming. I travel a lot, and I use these on all my travels, even in hostels, and it truly does the trick.”
Kimguard Magnetic Wallet with Adjustable Stand
Attaching your wallet to your phone is an easy way to keep the two travel staples together. While there are many wallet offerings on the market, if you have a MagSafe-compatible device or case, using magnets to attach the two is the way to go — this allows you to swap the wallet out for a different MagSafe accessory. MagSafe wallets come in all styles, but the Kimguard Magnetic Wallet with Adjustable Stand is a good, affordable choice. The wallet has three individual card slots, a cash pocket, and a transparent inner window to display your ID. It also doubles as a stand that can hold your phone in portrait or landscape mode, making it ideal for watching videos on flights.
Meacolia Travel Pill Organizers
$8
Living with ADHD, an anxiety disorder, and a few other medical conditions, I travel with several medications. I use Meacolia Travel Pill Organizers to compartmentalize my pills, then let them do double duty to store jewelry and other small essentials. The cases have hard-shell exteriors and a compact design that makes them easy to slide into my purse. With eight compartments (two large and six mid-sized), it is easy to store everything I need. I especially love these for long-haul flights; I’ll fill one with just the medication I plan to take on that flight and then use the extra snap-into-place compartments to store rings and earrings I don’t want to sleep in. Amazon shoppers also loved these pill organizers, giving them 6,200-plus five-star ratings, many of which praise their design and compact size.
Charmast Portable Charger
I travel with Android and Apple devices, so I love the Charmast Portable Charger because it has different built-in charging cables that are compatible with various brands. This allows me to carry just one battery pack on the road that works for charging my Google Pixel phone, iPad tablet, or GoPro. The power bank has a slim phone-style shape that is easy to pack and displays how much power is left. It comes in six colors and is 33 percent off on Amazon right now, making it a great deal.
Honeycomb Mesh Laundry Bags
$8
Honeycomb Mesh Laundry Bags are another favorite multitasking travel accessory. I pack these mesh lingerie bags regardless of whether I plan on doing laundry while away. Although they are great for separating clean and dirty clothes, this isn’t their only function. They also serve as great compartmentalizers for underwear, jewelry, charging cords, and anything else you don’t want to get lost in your suitcase. The see-through mesh also lets you keep track of what is where without having to unzip the bags. Each bag can hold up to 15 pounds. Sold as a three-pack, the price can not be beat coming in at just under $3 per bag.
Kizen Solar Lantern and Phone Charger
$25
I usually head to Kenya in June to cheer on my friends participating in The Rhino Charge, the country’s top off-road 4x4 motorsport competition that raises funds for Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust. I always pack the Kizen Solar Lantern and Phone Charger for this trip. Open to spectators, Rhino Charge takes place over 10 hours on extreme terrain in a remote bush location, and the money raised goes towards mountain ecosystem conservation. Everyone camps out before and after, but there is no electricity. This is where the compact solar lantern comes in handy. Collapsing to the size of a hockey puck, the lamp charges in about four hours in Kenya’s bright equatorial sun and provides up to 10 hours of light. It also multitasks as a portable power bank to charge your phone. The lantern also has a USB charge port, so you don’t have to rely on solar if electricity is available. In these instances, it works great as a handheld flashlight. Its small size makes it easy to slide into your bag when not in use.
Tessan International Plug Adapter with USB Ports
$20
Owning multiple international adapters takes up space in my house, and when I am in a rush, I sometimes pack the wrong country’s adapter for trips. This is why I love the Tessan International Plug Adapter with USB Ports. The universal travel adapter works in over 150 countries and can charge up to five devices simultaneously with a universal AC outlet and four USB charging ports. I also like its compact size and how the different plugs use a side level to slide in and out. Amazon shoppers also love this device, praising its compact size, price, and ability to be used in multiple countries. “I used this in the U.K. and Europe; it worked great. It was nice to have one that could be used in both places,” one reviewer said.
Baleaf UPF 50+ Sun Shirt
$23
I do a lot of adventure travel, including rafting the wildest whitewater I can find in summer. There is no better feeling than spending a day running a river in a rubber raft, but the sun can be brutal. Packing a shirt like the Baleaf UPF 50+ Sun Shirt is a must for these types of trips. It is designed to block 98 percent of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays and doubles as a rash guard should you take a spill in rough water. The shirt also dries quickly and is made with lightweight fabric that wicks moisture away from your skin. Besides its usefulness for water sports, it keeps you cool and protected when working out or hiking, adding to its multifunctionality.
SunFeeling Compression Socks
$19
My feet and ankles swell on long flights and in hot climates, and compression socks are my hack for combating this. I like this six-pack from SunFeeling for its affordability and fun vibe. The multicolored socks come in various patterns, from black-and-white stripes to penguins, and can pass for knee socks if that is the look you’re going for. The socks are a favorite choice for Amazon shoppers, garnering over 8,000 five-star ratings. One fan praised them for never “falling (down) or cutting off circulation… They hold up well and keep a positive support for the edema I unfortunately suffer with.”
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2024-03-17T09:12:55Z dg43tfdfdgfd