Packing smart isn’t just about saving space—it’s about bringing the right tools that actually make your trip better. Whether you're a frequent flyer or a weekend road tripper, a few small accessories can make a big difference. From a personal fan that saves you in a stuffy cabin, to a carabiner that keeps your gear off grimy floors, to a book light for late-night reads, these travel heroes punch way above their weight. Add a Bluetooth wireless transmitter for a superior in-flight experience and a compact pen (because customs forms still exist), and you’ve got a kit that’s light, practical, and 100% worth the space.

JisuLife - Portable Turbo Mini Fan

Don’t be fooled by its compact size—this turbo mini fan packs a serious punch, reaching up to ~10 m/s airflow thanks to its 9‑blade, brushless motor design. With a 5000 mAh battery (USB-C charged), it delivers up to 13–18 hours of breeze before needing a recharge. The LED display is crisp and power levels can be dialed from 1-100 through a tactile roto-wheel — which can double as a blow dryer on the 100 setting. The fan also comes in handy when trying to start fires at camp. Built tough and light, it easily fits in your bag or pocket. The fan has a premium, minimalist aesthetic and perfect for hot flights or stuffy trains — this fan keeps you cool with style and stamina. Check it!

86lux Clip-On Book Light

Reading paper books isn’t dead and doesn’t have to be impossible in dark settings. This rechargeable clip-on light from 86lux has an articulating head, 3 color temperatures, and adjustable brightness from 10%-50%-100%. The battery is charged via USB-C and offers up to 80 hours of read-time. The light has user-friendly tactile buttons to power on, and adjust brightness / color with click-through mode settings. The book light really shines (zing)while reading on trains or airplanes in the dark, and not disturb your spouse or children sleeping on your lap). Lastly, the light doubles as a positionable lamp and bookmark, just simply fold it down to save where you left off. Check it!

Hero Clip Carabiner

The Hero Clip carabiner has a secret function — an articulating hook to hang your bag on chairs, tables, or doors — keeping your bag off of dirty floors. A bathroom stall without a hook? Fear not! It also keeps your gear close at-hand and more accessible. Coming in 4 different sizes — mini, small, medium, and large — there’s a perfect size for every bag and situation. Large comes in handy for new parents with strollers and mini’s are perfect for sling bags / purses. Check it!

Fisher Bullet Space Pen - Brass

The Bullet Space Pen from Fisher has been a staple in the EDC community for decades. The ballpoint cartridges are pressurized to ensure performance in various scenarios including: temperature ranges of -30 F to 250 F, various angles (upside-down), through oil/grease, and even underwater! I always suggest carrying a pen while traveling to sign customs forms and jot down notes/numbers when your phone dies (or no reception available). The Bullet pen is tiny in its closed form — measuring only 3.77” — but full-size (5.35”) when opened. Although, I’m not the biggest fan of the writing experience (splotchy and sometimes runny due to pressurized nature), it offers peace of mind to be able to capture information reliably. The brass version also patinas with use (if you’re into that) and is antimicrobial, which is nice when loaning out the pen. Check it!

Twelve South AirFly Duo - Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter

Want to use inflight entertainment but the wired earbuds suck? The Airfly Pro from Twelve South is the answer. Simply plug in the 3.5mm jack and sync to your wireless headphones of choice. It also features Bluetooth 5.0, audio codecs like aptX Low Latency, 25+ hour battery life, and USB-C charging. The transmitter is also handy on roadtrips with older cars, since it is also able to receive audio wirelessly. Check it!

Tip of the Week:  Travel tips on packing light from the travel G.O.A.T. Rick Steves

Strawfoot Handmade

Cycling musettes is a travel essential in my load outs since it’s a convenient catch-all for items you need close — water, conbini snacks, hand sanitizer — and packs down small. They also feature an anti-sway strap, keeping it from swinging around when moving. Lastly, it’s made locally in Santa Cruz. Check it!

I keep hearing good things about this Big Idea Design - Lookout fixed blade. Significant-Cause136 on Reddit keeping it core and compact

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness" - Mark Twain

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