Many travelers prize packing light, which makes stocking stuffers a great way to gift them a raft of useful, fun, and travel-related gifts that won't weigh them down.
When you have a long-term traveler in your life, you’re familiar with the fact that they travel light. These carefree globetrotters are too mobile and footloose for heaps of “stuff,” so you have to make a gift really count. The solution is to load up your travel-lover with the best stocking-stuffer goodies that will make life more convenient, more luxurious, or simply more fun. This holiday season, these small travel gift ideas will make a big impact when your traveler finds them in their stocking Christmas morning.
Gifts for World Travelers
It’s highly likely that someone with thousands of travel miles under their belt already has a packing system, but you can elevate their humdrum routine to greatness with the Pack-It™ Essentials Set ($55), which comes with a small antimicrobial compression cube, medium see-though cube, and a shoe sac to keep the dirt contained and away from the rest of the clothes in their luggage. Play Santa and also stuff their stocking with a handy Travel Lock ($12) or Luggage Strap ($15) to secure their luggage and make it easy to spot on the luggage carousel. We also recommend picking up a Silk Undercover Money belt its soft-to-the-touch washable moisture-resistant natural silk fabric and 2 zipper pockets make easy to wear and discrete.
For a practical and fun splurge, SmartWool socks provide luxury your traveler will thank you for every day—and socks will easily fit in a stocking! For Eagle Creek’s new SmartWool kit, shop here. If you want more choice over sock pattern, the Men's Diamond Jim Socks ($23) and Women's Jovian Stripe Socks ($23) are both medium-cushioned socks built for travelers on their feet all day—the natural antibacterial properties of merino wool are an added bonus.
Gifts for Weekend Warrior Travelers
If your favorite traveler loves extensive day trips and three-day getaways, treat them to a Packable Daypack ($32) in breezy Blue Sea, which allows them to dump their bulky luggage in the car or hotel and explore their surroundings with abandon! If they’re headed on cold-weather explorations, this Unisex Waypoint Scarf ($70) and Unisex Mogul Beanie ($35), both made from merino wool, are warm and stylish enough for city wanders or mountain escapes.
For a useful stocking stuffer, help your international traveler keep their passport safe with an RFID Wristlet Wallet ($35), which keeps their documents well organized and RFID technology ensures their credit card data is never stolen.
Gifts for Families with Kids
Families have special considerations when traveling. For the mama traveling with a babe, a grey bamboo wool nursing shawl ($55) by Seraphine does double duty as a stylish cape/shoulder cover for cool days. Parents of active kiddos will appreciate a Wayfinder Small Waist Pack ($40), where they can easily store everyone’s travel essentials (plus a few snacks!). Kids of all ages can travel greener with a sunshine-y lemon Hydro Flask ($30) that will keep their favorite drink cold for 24 hours, and eliminate the need for single-use plastic on the road.
Gifts for Readers and Dreamers
Every traveler, no matter how seasoned, probably has some means of documenting their journeys, be it digital or analog. For the daydream believer in your life, a Moleskine Passion Travel Journal ($30) is the ultimate in keepsakes—the pocket for ticket stubs is a bonus feature. Or flip the script—think about next Christmas. On December 26th, start a journal of poetry, doodles, quotes, and personal thoughts inspired by your loved one. Wrapped and delivered in 2020, it will be an unforgettable keepsake. To ink their thoughts, a luxury ballpoint pen ($53) made by Conklin—Mark Twain’s favorite brand—will keep their words flowing as smoothly as their ideas.
Gifts for All Types of Travelers
No matter what type of traveler you have on your list, these small items make the perfect stocking stuffers. Go for easing their travel days with the Exhale Neck Pillow ($28), which is a cinch to inflate, the Sandman Eyeshade ($16), and Travel Ear Plugs ($9). And streamline their packing organization with the Pack-It™ Isolate Cube Set (XS/S/M) ($40) , It’s made of lightweight and durable nylon ripstop—meaning it will last for years of future travels, and meaning it will easily squeeze into your loved one’s stocking.
If you’re also looking for a great larger gift, use our Ultimate Travel Gift Guide to select just the right gift.
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