Pack like a pro: Our updated guide to essential travel gear for the season

With travel season in full swing, it’s time to gear up for unforgettable journeys with the right essentials. From beach lounging to mountain hiking, this guide covers versatile options for every kind of escape. For those seeking a restful night’s sleep and a way to beat jetlag, we’ve scoured the internet for innovative, plant-based products with soothing remedies. If effortlessly stylish sunglasses that blend fashion and function are what you’re after, you'll find them here, too. Additionally, there are products to boost your immune system while traveling, protect your skin from the sun’s harsh rays, and repair skin damage with a regenerative serum that works at the cellular level. And that’s just the beginning. Dive into this curated selection and get ready to embark on your adventures with confidence and flair.

Factorfive Regenerative Serum for a radiant glow

For hydrated and radiant-looking skin, the Factorfive Regenerative Serum is an absolute must-have.

This advanced serum uses ethically derived human stem cell media combined with copper peptides to repair and rejuvenate your skin at the cellular level. It effectively targets wrinkles, sunspots, skin laxity, thickness, and uneven texture, restoring your skin to its smooth, hydrated glory. Not only does this serum smell delicious, making it a pleasure to use every morning and night, but it also delivers visible results quickly. After just a few days of consistent application, you’ll notice the renowned Factorfive glow – a more hydrated and youthful appearance.

Priced at $199, the Regenerative Serum is formulated with humanity in mind. It contains no parabens, mineral oil, sulfate detergents, phthalates, urea, DEA, or TEA, and it is not tested on animals. Key ingredients include human stem cell conditioned media for powerful skin rejuvenation, green tea for protection and relief for irritated skin, and aloe barbadensis leaf juice to help moisturize and soothe the skin. Plus, it’s vegan, proving that high-end skincare can be both effective and cruelty-free.

Make this regenerative serum part of your daily skincare, and experience the transformation to smoother, more youthful skin.

Scent of the season: Clean Reserve's Acqua Neroli

Acqua Neroli by Clean Beauty Collective, priced at $110 for 100 ml, captures the essence of the clear blue Mediterranean waters. This fragrance offers an unparalleled freshness that appeals universally, making it a perfect choice for any occasion. The addictive unisex fragrance balances citrus notes that blend into a white floral heart, anchored by the enchanting neroli flower. The lingering watery musk evokes the essence of sunshine by the sea, making it the ideal companion for coastal adventures.

Behind this delightful scent is a commitment to sustainability. The mandarin oil, known for its bright and effervescent citrus scent that uplifts your mood, is cultivated in Brazil, where local growers carefully harvest the fruit. The fragrance opens with top notes of bergamot, mandarin, and Sicilian orange, transitioning into a heart of jasmine, neroli, and orange blossom and finishing with a base of acqua musk, amber, and ambrette. The 100-percent recyclable packaging further underscores Clean Reserve’s dedication to sustainability. The glass bottle, sustainable wood cap, scents infused with sustainable ingredients, and products manufactured in a solar-powered facility reflect their commitment to the environment.

Fresh breath on the go: Fizzy Mouthwash Concentrate

For fresh breath on the go, the Fizzy Mouthwash Concentrate is your best bet. Priced at $17.99, this powerful mouthwash is 20 times concentrated, requiring just one drop mixed with water to eliminate bad breath. Its compact, TSA-compliant size and long-lasting nature (lasting up to 70 uses) make it a perfect travel companion. Available in watermelon and mint flavors, it ensures long-lasting freshness without any burning sensation.

But what truly sets this mouthwash apart is its eco-friendliness. It reduces plastic waste by over 95 percent and your carbon footprint by more than 90 percent compared to single-use travel mouthwashes. It’s also non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free, and free of alcohol, artificial colors, and fluoride. Packed with good ingredients like tea tree oil to combat bad bacteria, xylitol to prevent plaque buildup, coconut oil for gum health, and aloe vera to soothe irritation, it’s a powerful yet gentle option for oral care. Say goodbye to bulky bottles and enjoy a convenient, sustainable way to keep your breath fresh wherever you go.

This is a must-have for your travel toiletry bag—small, compact, great-tasting, and long-lasting.

Stay protected with Thrive’s Natural Mineral Sunscreen

Thrive Skincare’s natural mineral Bodyshield 50 sunscreen is the ultimate sun protection for the whole family. With broad-spectrum SPF 50 coverage, it ensures your skin is shielded from harmful UVA/UVB rays without any greasiness or white residue. Perfect for active outdoor activities, it’s water-resistant and absorbs quickly, providing effective protection without feeling heavy. Powered by non-nano zinc oxide, this sunscreen is safe for you and the planet. It offers naturally safe, water-resistant protection using pine rosin instead of synthetics. Plus, it’s reef-safe, cruelty-free, GMO-free, vegan, and comes in a recyclable, recycled plastic tube.

For your face, Thrive’s Daily Defense Sunscreen Balm is the perfect companion. This all-natural, plant-based lotion combines SPF 30 mineral sunscreen with a moisturizer to protect your skin from UVA/UVB rays while hydrating, nourishing, and revitalizing.

Sunglasses of the season: Zegna Orizzonte I

Elevate your style with these Zegna sunglasses. With their hybrid design, these transparent light grey acetate and metal sunglasses offer an ultra-contemporary look that stands out. If transparent light grey isn’t your style, these frames also come in other colors, such as transparent golden syrup and dark foliage, giving you plenty of options to match your vibe.

Inspired by the Italian word for “horizon,” the Orizzonte I style features a raised bridge borrowed from classic aviators, beautifully framing the rounded lenses. The sunglasses are equipped with adjustable nose pads for a secure and comfortable fit, and the shiny frames are detailed with chiseled lines on the temple tips and the matte aniline Zegna 232 Road Brand Mark on the corners. Featuring the Zegna logo, these sunglasses, priced at $465, blend sophistication and practicality, making them the perfect accessory for your upcoming travels.

Plus, they’re compatible with prescription lenses.

Stylish protection for your laptop

Elevate your laptop style and protection with the Uniqfind Mint Green Crocodile MacBook Case, priced at $59.99.

This chic, simple, and highly protective case is constructed from dense polycarbonate for maximum durability and wrapped in premium faux crocodile material for a luxurious look and feel. The eye-catching design ensures you can easily spot your laptop during airport security checks. The case offers 360-degree outer protection, access to all device ports, and a vented base for optimal cooling. Crafted from durable rubberized plastic, it protects against drops, bumps, scratches, and scrapes, which, speaking from experience, are more prone to happen while traveling. The two-piece design snaps on and off easily, with an Apple cut-out that lets the logo shine through without interfering with the device’s opening and closing. While the texture is on the top, the bottom has a matte black finish.

Available in Mint Green (pictured), Blush Pink, White, and Black, this case combines style and functionality perfectly. Uniqfind also has phone cases available for a coordinated look.

Travel light and stretch right with this foldable yoga mat

For those who love to stay active on the go, this foldable yoga mat by Gaiam is a must-have travel essential.

With prices starting at just $24.98, the ultra-lightweight and highly compact foldable mats feature charming designs, such as the Midsummer Nights theme (pictured), adding a touch of style to your practice. Measuring 68” x 22” x 2 mm, it folds into a compact 10” x 11” square, easily fitting into your carry-on, tote, or checked bag without taking up too much space. With a sticky texture that ensures you stay in place, you can confidently flow through your Warrior II or Downward Dog on any weekend getaway, retreat, or even a trip across town.

Weighing only two pounds, this mat is perfect for yoga on the go, providing the comfort and stability you need without the bulk.

Ultimate travel companion: The Atom by Hydragun

Sore after a long flight or achy after walking 30,000 steps exploring a new city? You’re not alone. That’s why I always travel with The Atom by Hydragun, the ultimate mini massage gun.

Setting the bar for portable massage devices, The Atom packs exceptional power and industry-leading battery life into a compact, travel-friendly design. Weighing just 1.2 pounds (550 grams) and featuring an aerospace-grade aluminum body, the Atom is the perfect balance of form and function. Its self-standing design (smaller than a Coke can) and USB-C charging make it incredibly convenient. With adjustable speeds, you can customize your massage to suit your needs. Recover from sore muscles after a workout or long flight, quickly relieve trigger points and chronically aching areas, and release muscle knots and tense fascia that create tightness.

The Atom features a 5-hour battery life, includes three attachment heads, and comes with a stylish carrying case. Like all Hydragun products, it’s beautifully designed, powerful, and quiet as a whisper.

This Vessi backpack makes globetrotting so much easier

Looking for the ideal backpack for globe-trotting? The Astoria Backpack from Vessi is your answer.

Rain or shine, you can easily access what you need while cruising through life in comfort, keeping your essentials close and dry. Priced at $170, this backpack packs a punch: it’s fully waterproof, includes a 16-inch laptop sleeve, secure zipper pockets, internal mesh pockets, a luggage sleeve to easily add onto a suitcase, and a stretchy key loop for quick access to your keys. With a 17-liter capacity, it comes in Black (pictured) and limited-edition colors, Twill and Limewash. Made from the same waterproof Dyma-tex® technology found in Vessi’s footwear, this bag keeps water out and the adventure going.

Whether commuting or exploring new destinations, this Vessi backpack is designed to meet all your travel needs.

Stay sun-safe in style with this Solbari Long Sleeve Rashguard

Priced at $79, the Solbari Long Sleeve Rash Guard is essential for sun-soaked adventures. It is available in vibrant colors like Deep Sea Navy, Oasis Green (pictured), Cool Grey, Black, and Pacific Blue, plus stylish color block options.

While a regular white cotton t-shirt may provide a sun protective rating equivalent to SPF 5 sunscreen, this rash guard boasts a UPF50+ rating, comparable to wearing SPF50+ sunscreen without the need for reapplication. During my recent trip to Tahiti, this rash guard was a lifesaver for my sensitive Irish skin, providing reliable sun protection while snorkeling and swimming. Perfect for long days at the beach or pool, it can be worn in and out of the water, adding a splash of color to your swimwear.

The UPF50+ fabric offers a smooth, cooling effect on the skin, dries quickly, and is saltwater and chlorine-resistant. Crafted from 80 percent recycled nylon and 20 percent Lycra® Xtra Life™, it features a four-way stretch and is lightweight, breathable, anti-odor, and quick-drying.

Plus, the thumb holes provide extra coverage for your hands, making this rash guard a must-have for any beach or pool day.

Explore and remember with these keepsake travel journals

This season, I have two terrific keepsakes for travel memories: Jessica Laughlin's The 50 States Bucket List Journal and Linda Mohammad’s The National Parks Bucket List Journal. These beautifully crafted, vegan leather-bound journals are not just companions for your adventures but practical tools to ensure you capture every memorable moment.

The 50 States Bucket List Journal is a unique guide to the most exciting places across the U.S. Organized by region, it provides fast facts about each state, key attractions, and customizable destination plans, helping you stay organized and prepared for your journey. With beautifully illustrated state maps and journaling prompts throughout, you can document your journey, making any road trip or visit extraordinary and memorable.

The National Parks Bucket List Journal is ideal for recording your adventures in each of the 63 national parks. These journals feature detailed prompts and encourage you to document every expedition, camping trip, and hike, making them perfect for any traveler looking to create lasting memories and document their explorations in a meaningful way.

Both journals are priced at $19.99.

Stay balanced on the go with I Travel Well Liquid Extract

Priced at $15.99, Banyan Botanicals’s I Travel Well Liquid Extract supports your body's natural ability to adapt to the stresses of travel, including changes in time zones.

Formulated with a powerful blend of Ayurvedic herbs, such as ginger, Amalaki, turmeric, and tulsi, it helps maintain optimal immune, respiratory, and nervous system function, reestablish healthy sleep patterns, and support digestion. Just 30 drops in water, taken one to three times daily, can keep you energized and calm, ensuring your body and mind stay in top shape throughout your journey.

Plus, there’s no undesirable taste. Perfect for the modern traveler, this 30-milliliter bottle of liquid extract helps you adapt to hectic schedules, disrupted sleep, and oftentimes, limited healthy food choices, making travel less stressful and more enjoyable.

Relieve your discomfort with Galyna’s Soothe Pain Relief Cream

Vacations are the perfect opportunity to explore new activities and enjoy outdoor adventures whether it’s hiking, picking up a new hobby like surfing, or anything else that gets you moving. However, these adventures often lead to soreness by day’s end. But don’t worry, I've got you covered.

Soothe Pain Relief Cream by Galyna is your go-to solution for reducing sore muscles and joint pain sensations. Priced at $47, this 1.7 fluid-ounce jar is packed with 400 milligrams of CBD and enriched with vitamins A, C, and E, nourishing the skin while alleviating inflammation and tightness. Use it to help alleviate sore muscles, aching joints, text neck pain, menstrual cramps, or hangover aches. Ideal for post-flight tightness, this cruelty-free, plant-based, sustainably sourced cream is also gluten-free and vegan.

Safe for travel within the U.S. thanks to its hemp-derived CBD, a dab of Soothe on each temple can even calm you after a night of heavy drinking.

Restful nights on the go

Whether it’s jet lag, overstimulation from new sights, too many cappuccinos or espresso martinis, or struggling to sleep on the annual camping trip your friends insist you endure, sleep schedules can get seriously out of whack when traveling. To combat this, I’ve been using two fantastic sleep aids that have made all the difference.

First up are the CBD Gummies for Sleep by Alchemy Naturals. Available in two strengths – 1500 milligrams (30 gummies for $59.99) and 750 milligrams (30 gummies for $39.99) – these Pomegranate Berry-flavored gummies are all-natural and formulated with ingredients you can trust. They feature a soothing blend of full-spectrum CBD, CBN, and Passionflower, designed to help you fall asleep and stay asleep without the side effects of prescriptions or melatonin. With 25 milligrams or 50 milligrams of CBD for relaxation, 5 milligrams of CBN for restfulness, and a touch of THC to promote deeper sleep, these gummies are perfect for maintaining a healthy sleep routine on the go.

Another great option is the Goodnight Grape 2:1 CBN Ripsticks. These mouth-watering powders offer a burst of sweet and tart candy grape flavor with a perfect blend of THC and CBN. With 5 milligrams of THC and 2.5 milligrams of CBN per packet (10 packets per pouch, priced at $22), they are not only effective but also incredibly convenient. Just pour the powder on your tongue for fast-acting effects, whether you’re at home or on the road.

Both sleep aids are flight-friendly within the U.S., ensuring you can rest easy wherever your adventures take you.

The shoe you can swim in

Priced at $395, the HYDRO .B swimmable trainers by Orlebar Brown are designed to effortlessly transition from beach lounging to casual strolling.

This water-ready shoe is one of the most technical trainers Orlebar Brown has ever made, ensuring comfort with every step. Featuring an innovative sole design for quick water drainage, a perforated insole, and a seamless padded mesh upper, these shoes are not just lightweight, but also incredibly comfortable, making them perfect for travel.

Not only do they excel in functionality, but they are also a Carbon Balanced Product. The brand rigorously measures its carbon impact, reduces it where possible, and balances anything it cannot mitigate, making these trainers a stylish and environmentally conscious choice.

Sun-ready style: Le bob Artichaut by Jacquemus

The Le bob Artichaut frayed expedition hat by Jacquemus is a must-have for your next sun-soaked adventure. Priced at $165, this chic hat combines practicality with style.

Made from 100 percent cotton canvas and featuring a playful Capri Cars print, it offers both comfort and a fashion-forward look. The topstitched brim with a frayed edge adds a touch of casual elegance, while the long adjustable strap ensures a perfect fit. Adorned with a silver metal Jacquemus logo, this hat is not just an accessory but a statement piece from the LGBTQ-owned brand.

Whether you’re exploring the streets of Capri or lounging on the beach, Le bob Artichaut provides essential sun protection with undeniable style.

Be the center of attention: reversible low-rise swim brief by Timoteo

Priced at $55, the Maui side tie reversible low-rise swim brief by Timoteo is not just swimwear; it’s a statement.

Designed to make you the center of attention at pool parties, circuit events, or any playful gathering, this stylish swim brief features the Timoteo flaglet logo on the right hip and functional tie sides for a perfect fit. Made from a blend of 75 percent nylon and 25 percent spandex, the fabric offers both comfort and durability. The reversible design in black and metallic (pictured) adds versatility to your swimwear collection, allowing you to switch up your look effortlessly.

Crafted with passion and pride by the independent LGBTQ-owned label, Timoteo celebrates inclusivity and diversity. Each piece from their collection reflects the beauty of individuality, redefining beachwear with empowering and unique designs.

Sometimes you gotta pop out: fuchsia swim trunk by Todd Sanfield

The Fuchsia Swim Trunk by Todd Sanfield, priced at $90, ensures you make a statement with its vibrant color. These versatile shorts offer unmatched comfort and style, perfect for both land and water adventures.

Crafted from recycled polyester, they are ultra-lightweight and quick drying, making them ideal for water activities. With a 3.75-inch inner seam, these swim trunks are perfect for those who prefer a shorter inseam without opting for bikini length, ensuring you get a great tan. The soft and comfortable lining enhances the overall experience, and the high-quality construction guarantees durability and elegance.

If fuchsia isn’t your vibe, these swim trunks also come in Jet Black and Navy.

From land to sand: ultimate hybrid swim shorts by Saxx

Dive into versatility with Land to Sand Hybrid Swim Shorts by Saxx, priced at $78.

Perfect for lounging at the hotel before heading to the beach, hiking, or relaxing by the pool, these shorts feature the patented BallPark Pouch™ designed to keep everything in place and reduce friction. They offer moisture control, a soft feel, four-way stretch, and odor control, with an anti-roll waistband for a secure fit. The hybrid design combines a Slim Fit liner with a Standard Fit shell, offering form-fitting support around the butt and thighs. The DropTemp™ Cooling Hydro Liner and quick-drain pockets ensure your comfort whether you're cooling off in the water or exploring rugged trails. Constructed from a blend of polyester and elastane, the shell boasts a 9-inch inseam, while the liner has a 5-inch inseam. Available in multiple colors and patterns.

Also, if you’re looking for underwear, Saxx recently partnered with Portland-based illustrator Kyle Letendre in a special collaboration to create the unique Disco Fruit print, supporting SAGE, the world’s largest organization advocating for LGBTQ+ elders.