The best travel gifts for 2025

Twelve South's AirFly Bluetooth transmitters have been a mainstay on Engadget's travel guides for years. As of 2025, the company offers four different models, but for most people the $40 AirFly SE is the best bet for most people. It's perfect for solo travellers who want to use their Bluetooth headphones with the in-flight entertainment systems offered on most airplanes. With 20-hour battery life on a single charge, it's also perfect for all but the longest trips involving multiple layovers. — Igor Bonifacic, Senior Reporter

This is one of the most useful gadgets I purchased this year, and it'll make a great gift for anyone regardless of the climate they live in. It's a powerful handheld fan that can also be worn around the neck, or folded to sit on a desk or table, keeping you cool hands-free. It has five different speed settings and a nifty little display in the middle of the fan that shows how much battery life is left. All summer, this fan never left my bag and saved me many times from the sweltering heat of New York City, and made things a bit more bearable during multi-hour outdoor events. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor

The Insta360 Flow Pro is a gimbal that can automatically track your movement. It's also a tripod, with foldout legs, hidden away inside the grip, with an extendable neck to perform selfie stick duties too. (Oh, the Flow 2 Pro is also a battery pack. Insta360 can't help itself.)

While there are countless branded (and off-brand) phone gimbals, Insta360 brings its action-cam experience to this upgraded Flow, adding support for Apple DockKit, meaning it can track you around. It's your own automated cameraman: you can step out of framing and the Flow Pro will track you, both horizontally and vertically.

Insta360 has recently introduced a more affordable model, the Flow 2, which omits the DockKit tracking feature, but that's one of the main benefits of this gimbal. The DockKit support means it works across most mainstream iOS apps, but if you're an Android user, the integrated tracking will still work well, just not on the likes of Zoom or Snapchat. Regardless of your choice of smartphone, Insta360's companion app offers a rich array of shooting options if you're looking to beef up your shooting repertoire. Inside the app, you can select an object for your camera to focus and track, then move around as much as you want. — Mat Smith, UK Bureau Chief

This two-pack of European power adapters was a last-minute purchase of mine before my husband and I went on a 10-day Italian vacation earlier this year, and it was easily one of my best impulse buys. Each give you three AC outlets, all accessible thanks to their strategic locations on the adapter itself, plus two USB-C and one USB-A port. Between all of those options, I was able to use just one of the adapters for all of my necessary tech, including my phone, smartwatch and earbuds, while my husband used the other. They even worked well on high-powered tools like my mini hair dryer. And despite their prongs not folding down, both take up very little space in a suitcase. If your next trip isn't to Europe, don't fret, the two-pack comes in a variety of country options including Japan, Ireland and Australia. — V.P.

When you're traveling with a handful of Apple gadgets, do yourself a favor and leave the extra wall warts at home. This nifty multi-charger handles a trio of Apple gadgets — newer iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watch models — with a single cable and power adapter, all via MagSafe, so it'll save space in your bag and on your nightstand. And unlike some cheaper knockoffs, it utilizes faster Qi2 charging, too. Like most Anker products, the price on this charger yo-yos across a wide range — the time to buy is when it's $70 or less. — John Falcone, Executive Editor

For folks who travel often and want a multi-device charger with a bit more style, you'll be hard-pressed to find one better than this from Mophie. It folds down into a very compact puck, and once opened, it can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and pair of AirPods without taking up much space at all. It's Qi2-certified for fast charging, and it comes with multiple travel adapters (that can all fit in the included case) so you can use the accessory almost anywhere. — V.P.

JBL's clip line of Bluetooth speakers have gone through a few different iterations over the years, but the appeal remains the same: they're small but surprisingly loud speakers you can easily attach to a backpack, tote or purse. The latest model, the JBL Clip 5, continues that tradition while offering some great supporting features, including 12-hour of battery life, IP67-certified waterproofing and even Bluetooth Auracast support. That last bit means you can easily add the Clip 5 to a multi-speaker setup for impromptu parties. — I.B.

Bellroy's travel packs are sleek and organized, just like I wish I was during travel. The Toiletry Kit Plus goes overboard with pockets — zippered, stretch, mesh, magnetic — and that's great for keeping one's toothbrush, comb, face wash, lip balm, Advil and deodorant separate and easily findable. The whole thing opens wide and sits upright on a countertop, making it easy to get at what's needed and it's made from a recycled woven fabric that's water-resistant. The traveler in your life will see this as a serious upgrade from the ziploc baggie they've been using for ages. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter

For those who often end up wanting to read on a red-eye flight or in the hotel room before bed, a book light like this one from Glocusent should be a nice stocking stuffer. It's a slim and affordable little light that clips on securely without scuffing up your pages and includes various brightness and light temperature settings, which makes it easier to see what you're reading without overwhelming your eyes in the dark. The whole thing charges over USB-A and comes with a helpful battery life indicator, plus it's available in a few cute colors. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter

I am not known for being the best at taking care of my things. But the exception is my MacBook Air, which I use for work and entertainment. When its hardshell case broke, I needed a new protective, yet sleek way to protect my laptop. After searching for a long time, I found the Hyzuo Laptop Sleeve Case for $25.

The MacBook accessory meets all my requirements: slim, magnetic clasp, lightweight and nice color. Plus, it has a back flap that can be folded into a stand. The Hyzuo sleeve also came with a small pouch that has become a catch-all for everything from hand sanitizer to extra contact lenses as I switch from bag to bag. I opted for the midnight green version of the laptop and pouch, but with close to 20 options, there's a color for just about every taste. I would recommend it as a cute but practical present for college students or family members. — Sarah Fielding, Contributing Reporter

The Rode Magnetic Smartphone Mount is a MagSafe (and PixelSnap) compatible mount with a pair of cold-shoe connectors for accessories like the lights and microphones. The Mount comes with two arms with different lengths so you can use the phone in portrait or landscape, with a threaded arm so you can attach it to most tripods. The magnetic pad has a rubbery surface, so it's unlikely to scuff your phone either as you attach and remove it.

And if you really mean business, there's the Phone Cage, with five cold shoe mounts and a heady 33 different threads for practically any peripheral. It's a handheld rig for your next smartphone film shoot. The frame is easy to hold and keep stable, and has plenty of space for, Rode hopes, its various lights, wireless and shotgun mics. — M.S.

Sleeping on a plane is nearly impossible, so anything that can help would be a great gift. I've been using a Manta Sleep Mask since before the pandemic, and it's what I recommend to everyone that will listen. The adjustable design means it's easy to ensure no light seeps into your periphery. At under $40, it also won't break the bank. — I.B.

Travel has become far easier since the advent of the smartphone, but we've also made ourselves pretty reliant on the tech. Having a reliable way to revive a dying phone can feel like a lifesaver when one is out and about. I've tested nearly 50 batteries for our power bank guide and the Nimble Champ Pro is the one I take with me when I travel. It's compact but packs a high, 20,000mah capacity that can refill a large smartphone nearly three times — and quickly. It'll even juice up an iPad just under two times. There's a USB-C port at each end which can be used to either charge the battery or a phone. I also like the attached lanyard that makes it easy to fish the battery out of a pack. The fact that the company is a certified B Corp somehow makes it an even classier gift. — A.S.

Read more: The best power banks

We have concerns with virtual private network (VPN) services when it comes to cybersecurity, but for folks who just want to log into their streaming accounts outside of the country, they can be useful. ExpressVPN is our top pick for frequent travelers. It passed all of the geoblock, streaming and gaming tests in our VPN buying guide, and more generally, it provides access to a wide range of server locations with relatively quick connection speeds. It also works on devices, like game consoles, in addition to phones and laptops. It's not our top overall pick, nor is it free, but it should be useful the next time your recipient wants to keep up with an US-only Netflix show while staying in Europe. — J.D.

Read more: The best VPNs

I have been looking for this backpack my entire life. I've bought packs from Timbuk2, Bellroy, The North Face, Fjallraven, Patagonia, Osprey and more, all in search of something I thought didn't exist: A lightweight daypack that stands on its own, has a reasonable amount of pockets and is comfortable to wear all day. On a recent trip to Chicago, when I found myself on a cross-city trek without a pack, I dipped into REI and settled on the Topo Designs Light Pack. I've been continually impressed since.

Some bags load up on ergonomics and end up weighing two pounds empty, but this one is super light yet has just the right amount of padding. The two expandable bottle slots on either side hold water and travel cups securely and there are just enough pockets inside to keep smaller bits organized. There's even a laptop pocket for computers up to 15 inches. The 15-liter capacity is perfect for day trips in the destination city, fitting a couple of hoodies, snacks and even some impulse buys from pastry shops. It stands upright when you set it down instead of tipping forward like a sleepy toddler, something that other bags do that drives me mad. The padding lends structure and both the 400D (medium-heavy) nylon and the uncluttered design make it look polished, something I appreciate on day seven of a seven-day trip. — A.S.

We previously recommended the Kobo Libra 2 in this gift guide, but this year, the Libra Colour is the ereader to get. It's one of the most versatile ereaders we've tested as of late: it's got a lovely color E Ink Kaleido 3 screen, an upgraded processor, stylus support, page-turn buttons and handy Overdrive integration. Color adds live and vibrancy to those travel guides you may have in your ebook library, and stylus support means you can underline, circle and otherwise mark up pages of your digital books as you please if you spring for Kobo's stylus to go along with it. Not only can you buy ebooks directly from Kobo's store to fill the Libra Colour, but you can also search for and borrow library books directly on the device thanks to its Overdrive integration. All of that's to say that regardless of what you like to read and how you like to read it, the Libra Colour has you covered. — V.P.

Read more: The best ereaders

Boox has been in the ereader game for over 15 years, but the Palma is arguably the most intriguing device yet. The smartphone-sized 6.3-inch E Ink device is an ereader with an Android skeleton. That means you can read your Libby books, your Amazon Kindle library and myriad others on this tiny thing, with none of the aggressive light of your smartphone screen.

Unlike most ereaders, the Palma's physical buttons can be customized to your reading needs, for page turning or screen refreshing. This being 2024, we're probably reading a lot on our smartphones, meaning there's also a certain degree of comfort to the Palma, even if it's not book-sized. Its portability makes the Palma a great addition to our traveler gift guide, but it's easy to recommend to any bookworm in your life — or anyone unwilling to pack their Kindle. — M.S.