We may earn a commission from links on this page.Its one of the biggest travel weeks of the year, and whether youre just spending a couple nights at your parents house in Vermont or embarking on a two-week vacation, you need to be smart about what you bring along. Ive packed and unpacked hundreds of timesfor long and short trips, domestic and internationaland, over the years, Ive chucked the useless gear and curated a selection of the most helpful stuff. The larger idea of travel usually entails the commute, stay, and journey home. A lot of what you pack (clothes, personal care items) is going to vary from person to person. Ill leave that stuff up to you. Here, Ive narrowed down this list to gear that has actually solved my biggest travel problems: space, comfort, and sleep. This isnt a list of random finds, these are items I actually rely on, recommend to my family and friends, and Ive heavily tested each one personally.Whether its for you or someone on your gift list, heres my master collection of must-have travel gear.Sherpani hard case luggageThe bulk of your stuff has to go somewhere, so a reliable piece of luggage makes the most sense. Ive been using Sherpanis Meridian hard case rolling luggage for the last two years, and its my favorite yet. The luggage itself is lightweight, with the plastic shell affording more protection and less bulk than fabric luggage. The interior storage has a tidy mesh separator in one half and a pocketed flap on the other side. The main zipper has an easy click lock, and the handle and spinning wheels havent weakened or jammed up with heavy usage (aka cobblestone abuse). Right now, the 22-inch carry-on size in Caribe is 32% off. Sherpani Meridian, 22-Inch Hardside Luggage $128.80 at Amazon $184.00 Save $55.20 Shop Now Shop Now $128.80 at Amazon $184.00 Save $55.20 Tucano -zip backpackRegular backpacks are fine, but Ill be the first to tell you that the top opening is garbage. Instead of a backpack that requires you to dig through a partial opening, get a backpack designed for packing. I use the Tucano Tugo backpack that zips on three sides so you can completely open it. Situate your packing cubes, sandals, and snacks, and close the top. The Tucano also has a separate compartment in the back so you can easily access your laptop. No need to dig through your backpack anymore for a security screening. The Tucano backpack is strong as an ox, but harder to find these days. Luckily, luggage-style zipper backpacks are around, like this one from L.L. Bean, or this one from Open Story at Target. TUGO Travel Backpack for Laptop $95.99 at Sharper Image $119.99 Save $24.00 Shop Now Shop Now $95.99 at Sharper Image $119.99 Save $24.00 Thule compression packing cubesIf I could only recommend one life-changing travel item, it would be these compression packing cubes. Simple packing cubes can help you organize and keep tidy, but good compression cubes will actually help you save space too. You zip the first zipper to close the cube, and the secondary zipper shrinks it down into a dense brick. I adore the set from Thule because, despite all the pressure and pulling, the material and zippers wont tear or come undone. Additionally, the fabric is translucent so you can kind of locate what youve packed in there when your memory is mush from jet lag. Thule Compression Cube Set $44.95 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $44.95 at Amazon Herschel hip bagI dont wear a hip bag for my regular day-to-day life, but when Im traveling its simply part of my outfiteven when I visit my mom in New Jersey. This simple, one-compartment bag makes everything easier for me because I put all of my essentials in this one spot. You might think, thats what pockets are for, but its bigger than a single pocket, so instead of putting my wallet, keys, lip gloss, passport, cough drops, and ear plugs in many different pockets, theyre all in one central location. There are loads of hip packs, bum bags, and belt bags you can choose from, but this one from Herschel is the one I use, and its 31% off right now. Herschel Supply Co. Herschel Classic Hip Pack, Black, One Size $23.99 at Amazon $35.00 Save $11.01 Shop Now Shop Now $23.99 at Amazon $35.00 Save $11.01 Trtl neck support travel pillowSleep? On a plane? Ha! Humbug. The same goes for sleeping on a train, car, or bus for that matter. Thats how I felt when I was using inflatable neck pillows, or rolled up jackets to prop up my head on planes. It was the time before I tried out the Trtl neck support travel pillow. But now I can actually catch some real sleep on planes or on buses during those idle hours before arrival. Read the details about my Trtl experience here. Right now you can snap one up for 30% off. Trtl Travel Pillow $45.49 at Amazon $64.99 Save $19.50 Shop Now Shop Now $45.49 at Amazon $64.99 Save $19.50 Baloo weighted sleep maskIve never considered myself a sleep mask person. The ones Ive tried have always let light in or scrunched awkwardly. I wasnt expecting much from the Baloo weighted sleep mask, but I was pleasantly surprised by how different it was. The mask is silk and weighted in the front, which helps for comfortbut more importantly, it has a wide, Velcro-adjustable strap. Not only does it block light from the plane, bus, or your brothers tablet, but the straps sit over your ears to help mute annoying sounds you might experience. Not just for the commute, this sleep mask can also be useful if theres any unexpected light at night during your stay. Baloo Silk Weighted Sleep Mask $71.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $71.00 at Amazon Active noise canceling headphonesSpeaking of blocking out public transportation, the best way to tune out the world might be to put on a pair of active noise-canceling headphones. I have the older generation of these Soundcore by Anker headphones and the active noise cancellation blocks out all of the low-end rumble from engines (plane or otherwise) and has a transparency mode so you can talk to your husband real quick before turning on your favorite podcast and blocking everyone out. These are wireless and last for 40 hours on noise cancelling mode. (Right now, I cant remember the last time I charged mine, and they are still on high battery). Soundcore by Anker Q20i Noise Cancelling Headphones $49.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $49.99 at Amazon Drip Drop electrolyte powderGear typically comprises gadgets or clothing, not usually something ingestible.But Drip Drop is something I need to have, so its gear to me. I dont know what it is about traveling, but if it takes more than three hours to get to my destination then I feel absolutely sapped. My energy is low, my mouth is dry, and theres a good chance I have a headache. I pack a few tiny sleeves of Drip Drop electrolyte drink mix for just this occasion. One sleeve mixed with water gives me enough nutrients and carbs for the home stretch. Plus the flavors are excellent. DripDrop Electrolyte Mix $27.99 at Amazon $35.99 Save $8.00 Shop Now Shop Now $27.99 at Amazon $35.99 Save $8.00