This is not a random listing of items I found on the internet. I’ve been using all of these products for the last 5 years, longer in most cases, and I personally recommend them for the traveler on your Christmas list this year.
Christmas Gifts for Travelers: Top 5
1. A Quality Piece of Luggage: Victorinox Spectra
All travelers need at least one quality piece of luggage in their arsenal to make the hustle & bustle of traveling easier. I’ve been rolling with Victorinox since 2015 & I can’t recommend the Victorinox Spectra 2.0 Expandable Medium Hardside enough. The 360º spinner wheels are a game changer! It’s so easy to maneuver through airports & across a variety of surfaces (carpets, pavement, etc.).
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and dealing with luggage, especially the 2 wheel variety, causes additional stress & pain on my wrists and fingers. With the Victorinox Spectra, I no longer have this worry. Even after traveling all day through multiple airports, I don’t feel any pain or strain in my wrists. Because of this alone, Victorinox gets 10 out of 10 🌟s with me.
I’ve spent more days on trips than I care to admit popping aspirin. Or better yet, nursing a drink at the bar because I was in too much pain to function normally or do simple things like open doors without gasping in pain. Another handy feature of the Spectra is its ability to extend the capacity by 47%!!! That’s almost like having an additional bag’s worth of storage available on the fly. I’m telling you, I love this suitcase. Her name is Dianne. 💃🏾
2. External Hard Drive: Passport for Mac
With the sheer volume of pictures and videos I amass on my travels, having an external hard drive to back up and store them all on is a critical need. No matter how much storage your laptop has, it will run out eventually. And even through I rarely write over my memory cards, backing up all my source files (images, videos, and written words) is part of my established work flow. (Look, we can discuss how my paranoid fear of losing files causes me to spend more money than needed on memory cards later. I know I have a problem…😊).
Plus having all of my collateral material in one spot makes it super easy to work on any project at any time. I really love the Passport for Mac external drive. It’s very thin and light, which makes it super portable. And you can get one with as much as 5TB of storage space! I use the 2TB version I have linked below. And it’s blue, cos of course it is.😊
3. Powerstation- Morphie XXL External Battery
I can’t imagine embarking on any trip without my Morphie powerstation. This is probably the most underrated gadget I think everyone should have in their arsenal. Whenever I know I’m going to be away from a charging source for more than a few hours–whether I’m on a trip or attending a local event–I make sure I have my powerstation on me. I particularly love my Morphie because, not only does it have 2 charger ports, it stores enough juice to bring my iPhone back from the dead 4 separate times!!
Yes, I’ve tested this. Yes, several times. 😊
I tend to drain my phone taking pics, looking up restaurant ratings, and pulling up maps (because you know I stay lost whenever I head out 🌍). I also love how my Morphie is slim enough to fit in my back pocket with my phone as I’m using it. I got my model a few years back, and the specific one I have is no longer available. So, I’m recommending the Morphie XXL, which is an upgrade from my version: It has more juice (which means more ops to resurrect your equipment from the dead), has 3 charger ports, & is still pretty slim enough to carry with you.
4. Camera Bag- Copper River bag
Of all my Christmas gifts for travelers recommendations, this one is really close to my heart. Back in 2014, I made a promise to gift myself with a passport stamp each year for my birthday. I was so excited about my first international trip that I started packing weeks in advance-lol. This is also about the time I got my first DSLR camera and I knew needed something to safely and comfortably transport my camera & lens around with me as I toured London.
A random search on my pal Google brought me to Copper River Bags and I saw the Newport Voyager camera bag and fell in love. 😍 Their camera bags come with removable/customizable padded inserts for camera gear, room for a laptop/iPad, plus additional internal & external pockets. And the best part, the bag is not bulky at all! I used this bag exclusively in London (and on several trips later) to safely hold my camera and purchases as I strolled around the city.
This is seriously one of my best travel purchases. It was an indulgent, early birthday gift to myself. I’d been good that year, I deserved it. 😉
5. Earphones- Bose
Music is the balm for my soul & a good pair of earphones is one of my key travel essentials. As such, I am NEVER without a pair on me. I have a pair in my car (for emergencies) and keep another pair in my purse.😊 Seriously, travel can be stressful, and the fact that I can pull up my music or the latest audio book I’m listening to, is how I stay calm & zen. And, when I’m not feeling particularly loquacious- hey, it happens, just not very often 🤣- having my earphones in helps dissuade others from chit chatting with me.
I’m partial to the Bose in-ear earphones I’ve been using for about 7 years now. It took me a few minutes to get use to they way they fit in the ear, but once I got the hang of them, it was love at first listen. They are so comfortable, soft, and produce top quality sound. I wear these earphones on average of 8hrs a day and I never experience the pain and discomfort I did with traditional earbuds. These are so comfortable, I usually fall asleep in them on longer flights. Can’t recommend these enough.
There you have it, here are 5 wonderful items that will make the PERFECT Christmas gift for the traveler in your life. Drop me note if you purchase any of these, or currently use them. I’d love to hear how much you’re enjoying them.
This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase any of the products I recommend above through the Amazon link included, I get a small commission. This is a way to support The Spirited Traveler at no additional cost to you. 😊
Christmas gifts for travelers
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