I love traveling, and 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 Blackbriar Allround Duffle Backpack
When traveling with sports equipment or clothes for a few days, duffle bags and backpacks are the go-to solutions. The Blackbriar Allround Duffle Backpack offers both in the same bag, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg of the flexibility that this travel essential has to offer.
Why is it noteworthy?
For example, many travel-oriented bags have a dedicated pocket for shoes or dirty clothes. More often than not, however, you can’t use the same pocket for both purposes. Blackbriar’s solution is so genius in its simplicity that you’re left wondering why it isn’t more common. This duffel backpack has two such compartments on opposite ends of the bag, allowing you to store two pairs of shoes, shoes and dirty clothes, or just dirty clothes. That way, you don’t have to compromise on storage because your bag doesn’t offer you that flexibility.
What we like
- The shoe pockets can become dividers to create sections inside the bag, thanks to a patented S-Partition design
- The three-tiered structure of its fabric not only protects it from water and scratches but also helps preserve its shape
What we dislike
- No complaints!
3. The SüpKüp
The SüpKüp is a travel mug that is not really a mug in itself but serves more as an alternative to the disposable paper coffee sleeves. It is able to hold the paper cups (medium and large at least) that most coffee shops provide, including the still pretty popular Starbucks.
Why is it noteworthy?
It is made from durable polycarbonate and has a pretty elegant and minimalist design that can still display whatever cup is snugly placed inside. This holder doesn’t need any liquid transfer or constant cleaning that’s why it’s more convenient.
What we like
- SüpKüp has an airtight seal when you place the coffee cup inside
- Has a double helix screw ejector that lets you eject the cup when you’ve finished just by twisting the rotating base
What we dislike
- No complaints!
4. The Folding Kettle
The Folding Kettle comes with a flat-pack design that opens up rather cleverly, expanding its volume while creating a kettle that’s stable enough to stand vertically on any surface.
Why is it noteworthy?
“Due to its unique storage structure, the capacity of this travel-friendly folding kettle after unfolding is approximately 1.2 liters”, says C60 Design’s team lead Chu Wenbao. “It has three main characteristics: simple operation, easy storage, and a minimal aesthetic.” The kettle’s travel-friendly design borrows a lot from a travel iron. It’s compact when you need it to be, and functional when opened. It also has a detachable cable that allows you to connect it to a power outlet to heat water wherever you are.
What we like
- Features a flat-pack design making it completely travel-friendly
What we dislike
- No complaints!
5. The Plover
Named after the tiny, fearless bird that famously cleans the teeth of crocodiles by plucking the food waste directly out of its mouth, the Plover is a tiny toothbrush that does pretty much the same for humans. Built for travel but also built for health, the toothbrush comes with a two-part design featuring a stick with bristles on one end, and a hollow container that the stick fits right into, transforming from an outer case to a handle for the toothbrush.
Why is it noteworthy?
Although this format is rather popular for foldable brush styles, the Plover has another trick up its sleeve. The hollow cavity of the handle also has built-in UV lights that sterilize the brush after you’re done and before you brush again, killing all the germs on the bristles and keeping your oral hygiene at its high standard.
What we like
- Easy to carry around
- Compact size
What we dislike
- No complaints!
6. The Tripper Backpack
The Tripper backpack isn’t the kind of backpack you see too often. After a two-year hiatus, the world is slowly opening up to full-scale traveling again and the Tripper wants you to be as prepared as you can be.
Why is it noteworthy?
Going above and beyond your average backpack design, the Tripper (as its name suggests) prepares you for extensive trips, whether they’re leisure trips, staycations, business excursions, holidays, or just impromptu getaways. The backpack’s 40-liter capacity provides about as much storage as you’d get from a duffle, although where it outperforms your duffle is in its sheer attention to detail and conscientious modularity. Sounds hyperbolic? Well, I assure you it isn’t.
What we like
- It has its own removable IPX8 waterproof laundry bag inside
- It has large storage space for your clothes, accessible via a 180° opening flap
What we dislike
- No complaints!
7. 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!
8. 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!
9. 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!
10. 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
