I love traveling! And although I may not be able to do much of it during this pandemic (although travel is opening up slowly), that doesn’t stop me from daydreaming about it or planning my next vacation in my head. My travel bucket list is brimming to the top with exotic holiday destinations. And, as any experienced traveler (not that I am one…YET) will tell you, having a set of handy and trusty travel accessories is essential! These are the nifty little products that can help you out in the most impromptu and sudden of situations, and you’ll never regret having packed them in your suitcase. So, we’ve curated a bunch of travel-friendly designs that we think you will absolutely need in your travel kit when you’re jet-setting across the globe next! From an ingenious suitcase that doubles up as a bedside table to a travel cutting board with a built-in knife – these handy products are sure to make your next vacation much more comfortable and easier.
1. Mitchell’s suitcase
A British designer came up with a concept suitcase that will make it easier for travelers to pack and unpack, especially if they have a tiny hotel room or Air BnB space. It’s carry-on luggage that can also function as a bedside table in case the room doesn’t have one.
Why is it noteworthy?
The product is designed so that you don’t have to unpack everything when you arrive and then repack them when it’s time to leave. It will be especially useful for cramped spaces and if you’re traveling from one place to another.
What we like
- The suitcase/bedside table can also serve as a lamp
- The storage is designed as drawers that will make it easier for you to access the items that you need at the moment
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept!
2. The BA/CA Board
Portability is a quality that’s often mutually exclusive to kitchen appliances. Or so was the case earlier. Recently, we have been seeing a lot of travel-friendly kitchen appliances being introduced into the market, however, a travel-friendly ‘cutting board’ isn’t something that’s been truly experimented with. But, AK Studios Design decided to change that with the BA/CA Board.
Why is it noteworthy?
The BA/CA Board is a compact, travel-friendly cutting board that’s perfect indoors and outdoors… because it also happens to have a chef’s knife docked right into it! The cutting board doubles as a sheath for your knife, making it safer and easier to carry outdoors, and if you’re not a travel bug, The BA/CA Board works just as well in your indoor kitchen, conveniently organizing your knife and board together so you can easily begin meal prep in just seconds
What we like
- Super portable and easy to carry around
- A strong magnetic retention system makes sure that the razor-sharp 440c stainless steel knife stays put and safe inside
What we dislike
- No complaints!
3. The Terrein Ascent
The German start-up called Terrein has developed a high ankle Ascent boot that will provide advanced freedom to hikers while actively protecting their ankles against potential twisting injuries.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Terrein Ascent is made primarily with the idea to reduce the risk of ankle injuries in adventurers. The adaptive ankle support – touted to be three times more responsive than a human reflex – can reduce the risk of injuries and provide constant support to the ankle. Moreover, the Ascent is made to increase stability with its immaculate construction (we’ll talk about it a bit later).
What we like
- The hydraulic ankle protection system is fastened to the outside of the ankle and wrapped around with a Velcro-enabled strap
What we dislike
- No complaints!
4. Oogo
Oogo is described as a smart hand luggage concept, but in reality, it is the handle alone that really has the brains. It houses a bunch of electronics such as Bluetooth, RFID, and a screen that makes the transfer and display of data effortless.
Why is it noteworthy?
The idea is that you no longer need to even pull out your phone to pass through checkpoints or remind yourself of your boarding details. All you need is to press that button on Oogo’s handle.
What we like
- The fingerprint scanner on the button lets you authenticate your identity, removing the need for an ID check
What we dislike
- No complaints!
5. The Lexon Nomaday biometric lock
Imagine being able to use TouchID on stuff apart from your phone. The Lexon Nomaday biometric lock lets you secure your backpack, room, locker, or even bicycle just by using your fingerprint.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Nomaday is a tiny yet impressive padlock that ditches the keys for something much more secure – biometrics. Designed to be as easy to operate as unlocking your phone is, the Lexon Nomaday comes with a small fingerprint reader that has a response time of just 0.5 seconds, unlocking faster than the time it would ordinarily take to even find your keys. The Nomaday can store up to 10 different fingerprints and comes with an LED indicator, giving multiple people keyless access to whatever’s behind the lock.
What we like
- Tiny + compact form
- Designed for indoor and outdoor use
- Uses biometrics to secure your belongings
What we dislike
- No complaints!
6. The Pita!Tag
Following the Pita!Flow lines for the iPhone and iPad, Zheng went on to debut their latest collection dubbed the Pita!Tag, a 3-product accessory set revolving around the AirTag.
Why is it noteworthy?
The first product in this series is the Pita!Tag for Multi-tool, a tiny AirTag holder that also packed 4 fold-out mini tools for all sorts of activities from tightening screws to opening boxes. The $59 Pita!Tag for Multi-tool is just marginally larger than the AirTag itself and fits perfectly around a keychain, so you can carry it anywhere. The AirTag’s ultra-wideband technology would enhance the Multi-tool’s usability, ensuring you always have it handy and can track it when it’s lost.
What we like
- The Pita!Tag for Cable comes with its own USB-C to Lightning cable plugged in and has an AirTag attached to it too for good measure
What we dislike
- No complaints!
7. The Cue
Smart wristwatches are found dime a dozen. But to everyone’s surprise, smart pocket watches are a thing and the smart version of these timepieces for the pocket has gained a foothold in the niche market. A charm for collectors, these intricate devices have always left me fascinated. No wonder, when I came across the Cue – a concept for a smart pocket watch – I couldn’t help but share the idea.
Why is it noteworthy?
Indian designer Rahul has conceived the idea of a feature-rich pocket watch every adventurer would want to have handy when venturing into the wild. Designed with features to allow travelers to navigate better, track their daily activities, and keep tabs on their health, the minimalistic yet powerful Cue can send out emergency SOS alerts and even remind the user of medication time when traveling.
What we like
- Can be mounted to your bike or backpack or carried in your pocket for convenience
- Can send out emergency SOS alerts and even remind the user of medication time when traveling
What we dislike
- A seven-second long press opens the menu, while a long press of 15 seconds opens up the SOS slider
8. LEGO-inspired suitcase
Liam de la Bedoyere designed a suitcase that can be stacked like legos. It really looks like a lego brick, complete with a pair of tubes on one side and six studs. There is a handle on the right and another one on top.
Why is it noteworthy?
This concept luggage design is perfect for Lego fans and the child-at-heart. We won’t stop you from using it as storage for your lego brings, but it will be much cooler if used for travel. Imagine the stares you will be getting from the parents and the kids when you are at the airport.
What we like
- Takes you back to your childhood!
- Can be stacked like real LEGO bricks
What we dislike
- No complaints!
9. ILMA
This portable device might be a literal lifesaver for those who stay at hotels and Airbnb frequently, exactly because it mashes three devices into one.
Why is it noteworthy?
At first glance, two of ILMA’s functions are immediately apparent. It’s a cylindrical lamp sitting on top of a tall circular base with what is obviously a camera right in the middle. Aside from the obvious signs of a recording device, ILMA’s shape and design are meant to be a calming presence in any environment. It runs on a battery that can be charged via a USB-C cable, so it’s actually a portable lamp that you can take with you on your journeys. In fact, ILMA doesn’t actually make sense unless you actually travel a lot and stay at unfamiliar lodging.
What we like
- The camera serves the purpose of a typical indoor home security camera, except it’s portable
- The box is made from 100% recyclable material
What we dislike
- No complaints!
10. The Lulley Luggage
How about getting a piece of luggage that converts into a trolley in the blink of an eye? A dual utility product that intends to serve all the avid travelers during their trips, and sits confidentially in the hallway as an attractive trolley.
Why is it noteworthy?
After having a vacation, it would be great if the luggage could be converted into an attractive trolley to keep mementos, desk clock, family frames, or even books. That’s exactly what the Lulley luggage is about. It doubles as trolley storage for modern homes in the most enticing manner possible. According to the brainchild of the concept, the imagined product fills the usability gap by combining the function of a trolley with luggage. The idea is to make judicious use of a suitcase that’ll otherwise be out of sight when not needed. The frequency of use of luggage is very less, and it ends takes up space unnecessarily in your home.
What we like
- Lulley takes advantage of the form factor similarity between luggage and trolley
- Both the halves of the luggage attach to each other in an open configuration to create a dual-sided trolley to store more than you would have bargained for
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept!