Which travel accessories are actually worth buying?

Which accessories are worth buying, and what decides each one?

Four accessories solve a problem you can check before you leave, and each of our four comparisons ranks eight models. The table shows the winner of each, a second pick where it matters, and the spec that decides the purchase.

Is a universal travel adapter worth buying?

A universal travel adapter is worth buying whenever your destination uses different wall sockets, and all eight models in our universal travel adapter comparison list plug Types A, C, G and I. Three list 45W of USB output (the EPICKA Pulse Air, the EPICKA PD&QC and the Ceptics), while the Anker, NEWVANGA and Decqle top out at 20W on USB-C.

The EPICKA Pulse Air 45W Universal Travel Adapter is the comparison winner: 45W USB-C charging, two AC sockets and four USB ports in a 5.3 oz (150 g) body, with a two-year warranty listed. The EPICKA 45W Universal Travel Adapter PD&QC is the best-value pick in the entry price class and the only model that adds Type B. The Decqle Universal Travel Adapter, 2 USB-C + 1 USB-A is the budget pick, with 20W Power Delivery and no listed warranty. No model covers India (Type D) or South Africa (Type M).

Is a digital luggage scale worth buying?

A digital luggage scale is worth buying if you pack close to an airline’s weight limit, and all eight scales in our digital luggage scale comparison list the same capacity, 110 lb (50 kg). The readout step differs. Four scales list 0.1 lb (1.6 oz), which the comparison calls usually enough for checking a suitcase against an allowance.

The SKEAP SKEAP-002 Digital Hanging Scale (Fish Scale) is the comparison winner with the finest readout, 0.01 lb (4.54 g), plus tare and data lock. Its listing is aimed mainly at anglers, and at 5.6 oz it is the heaviest scale. The Pwkauka Digital Luggage Scale, 110 lb / 50 kg is the best-value pick at 3.04 oz with a CR2032 battery included, although its listing states the readout two ways, 0.1 lb and 0.02 lb. The SkyStage ST-B01 Digital Luggage Scale, 110 lb is the budget pick, with tare and automatic data lock at the same 3.04 oz.

Are vacuum storage bags worth taking on a trip?

Vacuum storage bags are worth taking on a trip only for bulky soft clothes and only in a suitcase-sized set: two of the eight sets in our vacuum storage bag comparison, Pavefira and Vacbird, pair a cordless pump with bags sized for clothes and luggage. The Pavefira Vacuum Storage Bags with Cordless Pump is the comparison winner. Its pump lists 4,500 Pa and a 2,000 mAh battery charged over USB-C, and the set holds 16 bags in three sizes up to 28 × 20 inches. It belongs to the top price class. The Vacbird Travel Vacuum Bags with Rechargeable Pump ranks second with 15 bags in three suitcase sizes and a slim pump listed at 2 × 2 × 6.2 inches.

The rest of the field is built around bedding. Five sets list bags of 39 to 40 inches on the long side, and one of them, the GONGSHI 12 Jumbo Vacuum Storage Bags, ships without a pump and needs a household vacuum cleaner. Compression saves space, not weight, so bags do not replace a scale.

Is an insulated water bottle worth buying for travel?

An insulated bottle is worth buying for drinks on the move, and the stated cold hold hardly separates the models in our insulated water bottle comparison: seven of the eight state up to 24 hours, and only the RAYMYLO 40 oz states more, 36 hours. A hot or warm hold is listed less often: 18 hours for the RAYMYLO and 12 hours for the HASLE OUTFITTERS, Bambaw, POWCAN and WATERSY, with no figure for the CIVAGO, Meoky and Owala. These are “up to” claims under unstated conditions.

The RAYMYLO 40 oz Insulated Water Bottle is the comparison winner with the largest capacity, 40 oz (1,183 ml), and a lifetime warranty; it is also the heaviest at 2.5 lb and hand wash only. The CIVAGO 32 oz Insulated Water Bottle with Straw is the best-value pick: dishwasher safe, 12.8 oz and three lids. The HASLE OUTFITTERS 32 oz Insulated Water Bottle is the budget pick, with 12 hours hot and a lifetime warranty in the entry price class.

What should you check before you buy?

Four details in the listings decide whether a pick fits your trip.

• Your destination’s plug type. No adapter in the comparison covers India or South Africa.
• The use line of a scale. The winning SKEAP is listed mainly for fishing, while the Pwkauka and SkyStage are listed as luggage scales.
• The size of the vacuum bags. Sets with 39 to 40 inch bags are made for comforters and blankets, not for a carry-on.
• The hot-drink line on a bottle. The CIVAGO, Meoky and Owala data gives no hot hold, so confirm it before you fill one with coffee.

Our pre-trip packing checklist covers weight, space and power at home.

How we compared

This article draws only on our four comparisons. Each ranks eight models from manufacturer data, specifications, included accessories and price class; we did not handle the products. Missing details limit a model’s score instead of being guessed. The criteria, weights and how awards are decided are on our methodology page. More gear for trips is collected in the Travel Gear category.