I Travel 100+ Days A Year. Here's What I Pack.

As a travel journalist, long flights and lack of personal space in economy is just part of the job. At 33, I've traveled to all seven continents from visiting penguin colonies in Antarctica to scuba diving in Fiji.
Once I land, I need to hit the ground running, so I do everything I can to make the journey as smooth as possible. That means prepping for the chaos, controlling what I can, and packing smart. Here are the flight essentials I never travel without.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
These Bose QuietComfort headphones might just be your lifesaver for your next 10 hour flight. The noise cancellation is top-tier (seriously, it's like flipping a switch on the outside world), and the plush earcups make them wearable from gate to gate without any pressure or pinching. Bonus: they last a full 24 hours on a charge and come with an old-school cord for when Bluetooth isn't an option.Get them from Amazon for $249 (available in eight colors).
MZOO sleep eye mask
This isn't your average flimsy airline freebie — it's an eye mask that actually works. Made with breathable memory foam and a contoured design, it gives your eyes space to blink and blocks out all the light without squishing your face. It stays put, doesn't pull your hair, and somehow feels like a tiny pillow for your face. Whether I'm trying to nap on a plane or reset after a weird hotel check-in time, this mask is a game-changer.Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in eight styles).
The Brevitē backpack
Meet a lightweight, carry-on approved travel backpack that fits perfectly under the seat or over your suitcase handle. This isn't your average laptop bag — it holds up to a 16-inch MacBook Pro, has a passport pocket, and is extra spacious for my most precious cargo: camera gear. An added perk: It comes with a lifetime warranty!Get it from Amazon for $129.99 (available in eight colors).
Crocs
Once you fly in Crocs, there's no going back. These are my go-to shoes for long travel days: they're lightweight, breathable, ridiculously comfy, and slip off in a second at security. Bonus: they rinse off easily if you spill your coffee mid-flight. When I'm running late I convert them to 'sport mode,' utilizing the strap on the back to keep the shoes in place. Get them from Amazon for $37.94+ (available in women's sizes 4–19, men's sizes 2–17, and tons of colors).
Hypervolt Go 2 massage device
After long flights or cramped car rides, I use this compact massage gun on every trip. The Hypervolt Go 2 may be travel-sized (it weighs only 1.5 pounds), but it packs a serious punch when it comes to loosening tight shoulders, calves, or that weird spot in your back from sleeping uncomfortably on a plane. It's lightweight, portable and easy to pack into a backpack. Get it from Amazon for $139 (available in two colors).
An 8-pack of Purell hand sanitizer
Some bulk hand sanitizer might seem like an obvious choice for this list, but it absolutely cannot be skipped. I fly with a few — tucked into my pocket, backpack, and fanny pack. Purell's formula kills 99.99% of germs without wrecking your hands (it's free of harsh, drying ingredients like parabens and triclosan), and the adorably named 'jelly wrap' holder makes it easy to clip onto a bag for quick cleanups. Get an 8-pack from Amazon for $14.99.
Cotopaxi's Bataan fanny pack
This fanny pack is definitely an original – each one is handmade in the Philippines from repurposed materials, so no two are alike. I don't trust my loose pockets on a plane, so all of my valuables (wallet, passport) will be kept safely in my fanny pack. I wear mine crossbody for easy access in the airport and always get compliments. Get it from Amazon for $27.
A YETI Rambler water bottle
This is the water bottle that's survived every trip, tumble, and TSA bin I've put it through. The YETI bottle keeps water ice-cold for hours, and it's totally leakproof — so I never have to worry about it soaking the rest of my bag. It's hefty but easy to carry, and the wide mouth works great for easy refills. Hydration station, secured.Get it from YETI for $32+ (available in three sizes and 148 colors).
Ostrichpillow Go travel neck pillow
I've tested more travel pillows than I care to admit, and the Ostrichpillow Go is the one I actually use. The high-density memory foam molds to your neck like it was custom-made, and the 360-degree ergonomic design means no more awkwa6rd head bobs or waking up with a crick in your neck. I used it on a 14-hour flight to South Africa and I slept eight hours. It compresses down small enough to stash in your bag, but still offers full support.Get it from Amazon for $63.64 (available in three colors).
Away's 'bigger' carry-on
This is the suitcase I take when I want to pack a little extra without checking a bag. This popular suitcase from Away fits in most US airlines' overhead bins, but gives you more space thanks to its interior compression system. It's sleek, durable, and glides through airports smoothly. I've brought mine to more than 10 different countries and it still feels brand new. Get it from Away Travel for $295 (available in 10 colors).
An Apple iPad
Sadly, more and more new aircrafts are dropping their built-in televisions, so my iPad has become my in-flight entertainment center. Before the flight, I download all of my movies and shows so I have hours worth of mindless content to consume from 35,000 feet in the air. It's lightweight but powerful, with enough battery to last from wheels up to touchdown and then some. Get it from Amazon for $299+ (available in two three storage sizes and four colors).
TheraFace depuffing wand
This little wand has become my secret weapon for looking decent after a red-eye. The device chills in seconds to zap under-eye puffiness, then switches to heat to boost circulation. I use it mid-flight, post-flight, or even just when I'm feeling a little dull — it's like giving your face a reset button. I always have it in my fanny pack onboard and it instantly makes me feel fresh again after sitting in my seat for hours. Get it from Amazon for $169.99 (available in two colors).

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

USA Today

2 hours ago

• USA Today

Blue Origin rocket launch: How to watch Bezos-owned company conduct human spaceflight

Blue Origin, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, will provide a livestream for its 13th human spaceflight of New Shepard rocket from Launch Site One, Texas. Blue Origin is preparing to send its next group of passengers on a brief spaceflight high above Earth from its launch facility in West Texas. Reaching the very edge of space, the six people on board the company's New Shepard spacecraft will be treated to some stellar views and a few minutes of weightlessness. When they land, the Blue Origin space tourists will join an exclusive club of more than 60 others who have embarked on a similar expensive venture across 12 previous spaceflights. As for the rest of us? Well, we'll have to watch them have their fun from solid ground. Blue Origin, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, will provide a livestream for the launch and spaceflight that you can watch from the comfort of your own home. Here's everything to know about Blue Origin's next human spaceflight and how to watch the livestream. When is the next Blue Origin launch? What to know about New Shepard liftoff, crew What is Blue Origin? Billionaire Jeff Bezos, best known for founding Amazon, is the founder of the private space technology company Blue Origin. Bezos himself even boarded Blue Origin's New Shepard for its maiden crewed voyage in July 2021, which came after the spacecraft flew on 15 flight tests beginning in 2012. For nearly four years since its first crewed mission, the New Shepard spacecraft has served as a powerful symbol of Blue Origin's commercial spaceflight ambitions amid a growing space tourism industry. In addition to sending space tourists on brief joy rides to the edge of space, including pop star Katy Perry and CBS News host Gayle King, Blue Origin has also increasingly sought to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX. Blue Origin's massive New Glenn rocket, which flew on its inaugural flight test in January 2025 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is also being developed for future spaceflights. At 320 feet tall, the spacecraft rivals SpaceX's 400-foot Starship in size. When is the next Blue Origin launch? Blue Origin's next crewed launch, known as NS-33 or New Shepard-33, could get off the ground as early as 9:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. local time) Saturday, June 21, the company announced. Where are Blue Origin rocket launches? Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launches take place from the company's private ranch facility known as Launch Site One. The facility is located 30 miles north of the town of Van Horn in Culberson County near the U.S.-Mexico border. How to watch the Blue Origin New Shepard take off Blue Origin will provide a webcast of the launch beginning about 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled liftoff on its website. Who is going on the New Shepard? What to know about NS-33 Here's a look at the passengers on the next Blue Origin spaceflight, known as NS-33: What happens during a New Shepard rocket launch? Each spaceflight on a New Shepard vehicle lasts about 11 minutes from liftoff to capsule touchdown. Named after astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space, the 60-foot-tall New Shepard rocket is topped with the gum drop-shaped crew capsule. The spacecraft operates completely autonomously, meaning no pilots are aboard. During its ascent, the spacecraft reaches supersonic speeds surpassing 2,000 mph before the rocket booster separates from the crew capsule. At that point, those aboard the capsule become weightless as the spacecraft continues toward its highest point on its brief voyage above the Kármán Line – the 62-mile-high internationally recognized boundary of space. While experiencing a few minutes of microgravity, passengers have the opportunity to unstrap themselves from their seats to gaze out the capsule's large windows and take in a stunning view of Earth. Meanwhile, the rocket booster heads back to the ground while firing its engines and using its fins to slow and control its descent to land vertical about two miles from the launchpad. The capsule itself eventually begins what Blue Origin refers to as a "stable freefall' – plummeting back to Earth as three massive parachutes deploy and the capsule makes a soft landing in the desert, sending up plumes of dust. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@

CNET

16 hours ago

• CNET

This Bluetooth Transmitter Lets You Finally Ditch Airline Headphones

If you fly often, you know the drill. You finally settle into your seat, scroll through the in-flight movie selection, and then it hits you: your AirPods won't connect to the seatback screen. That leaves you stuck with the airline's clunky wired headphones that barely work, don't block any noise and make everything sound muffled. It's one of the most frustrating parts of flying, especially on long trips when decent audio can make all the difference. Between the engine noise, crying babies and that one guy snoring in 14C, you need a better option. The good news is there's a simple device that fixes the problem completely and makes flying feel a lot more like streaming at home. If you travel often, you probably already know the struggle: You're settled into your seat, ready to dive into the in-flight entertainment, only to realize your AirPods won't connect to the screen. The airline's wired headphones? Practically useless. They're uncomfortable, have no noise cancellation and let in every engine roar and crying baby within a three-row radius. For long flights, it's a recipe for a frustrating, low-quality listening experience. That's exactly why the AirFly Pro has become a must-pack item in my travel bag. It's a simple Bluetooth dongle that lets you connect your wireless earbuds (like my AirPods Pro) directly to the airplane's entertainment system, no adapters or wired workarounds required. Since I started using it, I've stopped dreading in-flight audio and finally get to enjoy movies the way they were meant to be heard. If you fly often, this little gadget might completely change how you travel. The AirFly Pro lets me truly enjoy in-flight entertainment The AirFly Pro from Twelve South is a minimally designed dongle that lets me connect to the 3.5mm headphone jack on my flight to listen to in-flight entertainment on my noise-canceling earbuds. All I have to do is pair the AirFly Pro with whichever Bluetooth headphones I'm using, like my AirPods Pro, plug the AirFly Pro into the display in front of me -- and I'm all set. I don't even need to use my phone to connect the two devices. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET There are four versions of the AirFly: the AirFly SE, which costs $35 on Amazon and connects to just one set of headphones; the AirFly Pro ($55); the Pro V2 ($60), the newest version of the Pro; and the Pro Deluxe ($62), which comes with an international headphone adapter and a suede travel case. I use the AirFly Pro, and it's been a game-changer for me on flights. I've never had to worry about battery life -- the AirFly Pro lasts for more than 25 hours and can fully charge in 3 hours. I can also pair two separate pairs of headphones to a single AirFly Pro, in case I'm with someone else on a flight and want to watch the same movie or show. And if that's not enough, the AirFly Pro also doubles as an audio transmitter, so I can turn any speaker with a headphone jack, like my old car stereo, into a Bluetooth speaker. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET The AirFly Pro makes a great gift The AirFly Pro is the perfect present to give to someone who's planning to travel this year. Besides my Anker MagSafe battery pack, the AirFly Pro really has become my most treasured travel accessory when I fly, which is why I consider it to be one of those can't-go-wrong gifts. For more travel gear, here are our favorite tech essentials to travel with and our favorite travel pillows.

Engadget

a day ago

• Engadget

Get a free $30 Amazon gift card when you buy the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones

Noise-cancelling headphones are a must-have for anyone who travels often and wants to drown out airplane noise, commuters who want some peace and quiet amongst the crowds and anyone else looking to dull the daily chaos of life. Sony's 1000X line has had our favorite noise-cancelling headphones for a long time, and it remains the same now with the latest edition to that family. Sony released the WH-1000XM6 edition of its wireless noise canceling headphones in May, and really the only downside about them is their new, higher price tag. But if you're on the market for a new pair of cans right now, Amazon will throw you a bone if you opt for the XM6. Right now, you can get the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones plus a free $30 Amazon gift card for $448. While you're not saving much on the price of the headphones (a whopping $2), you're getting a $30 gift card for free on top of it, which you can use towards anything else you want to buy on Amazon. Sony released the WH-1000XM6 headphones three years after their predecessor, but the new model quickly proved to be worth the wait. We gave the M6s a 94 in our review thanks to features like improved sound and better active noise cancelation. One of the best things about this model compared to the M5s is the return to a folding design — I love my M5s but it's very annoying that they don't shrink at all. The M6s are also very comfy and have a wider headband for easy wear.