Ultimate Gift Guide: 25 Best Gifts for Travelers

A fearless hiker is standing on an overhanging rock enjoying the view towards famous Half Dome at Glacier Point

Written by Eagle Creek on July 24, 2020

Eagle Creek was established in 1975 by Steve and Nona Barker, a couple who revered the planet and explored it accordingly. In the process, they invented an entirely new product category: adventure travel gear. Half a century later, no one offers more expertly conceived and crafted gear for experiencing the earth in every hemisphere. Thoughtful, sustainable, function-forward solutions inspired by the belief that travel can be a force for good.

Whether you’re a travel lover yourself (and let’s be real: who isn’t?) or you’re simply picking out the perfect gift for your jetsetting loved one, consider this your ultimate list of unique gifts for anyone who loves to travel.

When you’re picking gifts for the travelers in your life, find that sweet spot between something truly unique that they wouldn’t buy themselves, but also a gift that they’ll really love and use—you want a gift that makes their journeys easier, comfier, safer, and just plain more fun.

Our ultimate travel gift list includes ideas for every type of travel lover in your life, whether that’s gifts for a millennial traveler planning to backpack Asia, ideas for that coworker who maximizes every vacation day, and even options specifically made for women and men with serious wanderlust.

International Carry-On Suitcase

Every traveler needs the perfect carry on bag—it’s the single best way to ensure travel days go off off without a hitch. For the backpacker in your life, the best-selling Global Companion 40L ($159) is ergonomically designed for comfort, features a padded laptop compartment, and boasts lockable top zippers—it’s a bag designed to see your travel lover through years of adventurous trips (it also comes in a women’s fit). Frequent international and business travelers will love the flexibility and sleek look of the Caldera™ Convertible International Carry-On ($469), a three-in-one suitcase that can be worn as a backpack, wheeled on the ground, or separated into a backpack and wheeled bag for maximum flexibility (and increased capacity).

Quality Rain Jacket

The travel gods can disrupt even the most meticulously laid travel plans, which is why every traveler should be prepared for rainy weather. The Resolve 2 Jacket ($90) from The North Face (available in men’s and women’s fit) is the perfect lightweight coat to pack for every type of trip. It’s waterproof and windproof, but also features a breathable mesh lining so you can use it in warm climates over a t-shirt, or as your final outer layer in chilly weather.

Packing Cubes

The packing cube may just be the single greatest thing to happen to travel. If you’re gifting to a new traveler, the Pack-It Original™ Starter Set ($46) is the perfect way to help them organize their travel bag. For travelers who you suspect might already know the magic of packing cubes, help them expand their packing options with a Pack-It Specter™ Garment Folder ($35) or Pack-It Specter™ Compression Cube Set ($40).

Travel Journal

Sure there are some great digital travel journal apps out there, but there’s nothing quite like the written word. The Passion Journal ($30) from Moleskin encourages travel lovers to savor every moment of the journey, from pre-planning to packing to jotting down memories when on the road. We love the added compartment to store ticket stubs, maps, and more.

Wide-Angle Smartphone Lens

Most travelers today carry only a smartphone on their trip—the photos are good enough and it’s handy. But on bucket list journeys, they should have the best tools to capture the memories, which is where the Wide 18mm M-series Lens ($119) from Moment comes into play. The tiny lens snaps onto most any smartphone without hassle and features a wide angle design that allows a phone to capture crisp, clear pictures.

Travel Adapter & Charger

International travelers need not only the right adapter, but sometimes outlets are scarce too! The USB Universal Travel Adapter ($60) is a handy adapter that works in more that 150 countries and features two integrated grounded USB chargers so your traveler’s phone stays charged no matter where in the world they travel. Pair this gift with Anker’s slim but powerful PowerCore 5000 ($20) portable charger so your traveler is never without juice.

Headphones & Portable Speaker

Gift your traveler ways to enjoy music on the road. Bose Soundsport Wireless Headphones ($130) are rugged enough to face many travel situations head on, and the Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth® Speaker ($100) is small enough to easily fit in a day pack (they have one of those right?!) and offers incredible sound quality for it’s micro size.

Hanging Toiletry Organizer

Hanging toiletry bags are the best way to maximize convenience on the road. The Pack-It Original™ Wallaby ($37) features a removable 3-1-1 pouch for so your traveler breezes through TSA checkpoints, a water-repellant lining, and a stow-away swivel hook for hanging.

Foldable Duffle Bag & Daypack

For the traveler who loves bringing back souvenirs, a Packable Duffel ($36) or Packable Daypack ($32) ensures they’ll have ample space to bring back every single treasure they find on the road.

Passport Holder or Wallet

Passport holders are a natural fit for a thoughtful and thoroughly useful travel gift, although the best option depends on the traveler. The RFID Blocker Money Belt ($27) or RFID Blocker Neck Wallet ($23) are both great options for backpackers. The RFID Travel Zip Wallet ($40) is a perfect option for frequent international travelers—the low-profile design keeps things inconspicuous, and the many pockets and compartments makes it a central point of safety for your belongings. Bonus? The front slip pocket can even carry a smartphone.

Quality Travel Socks

Hiking socks are a great travel gift idea because if there’s one thing you can count on: Your loved one plans to explore. Smartwool’s PhD® Outdoor Light Micro Socks ($19, offered in women’s fit as well) make the perfect travel sock—mesh venting, light cushioning, and 60% Merino Wool make this durable sock a no-brainer for travelers. Is your traveler is planning a specific type of adventurous trip? Smartwool’s handy sock finder tool displays options with the right amount of cushion, support, and warmth for your loved one’s adventure.

Great Travel Shoes

Just important as socks are the shoes your traveler packs. Boat shoes are a stylish yet comfortable option for travelers. Look no further than Timberland, where premium leather body meet durable rubber outsoles for a perfect travel shoe. We love the Women's Custom Classic Boat Shoe ($120) and Men’s 2-Eye Leather Boat Shoe ($95). (Gift a Pack-It Specter™ Shoe Sac ($19) too so they are truly ready to unwrap their gift and hit the road.)

Spacious Travel Bags

A great carry-on bag is a no-brainer for most travelers, but perhaps the travel lover you have in mind needs a bit more space for their trip. The Migrate Wheeled Duffel 130L ($159) features a water repellent coating that makes this a great choice when packing for wet-weather adventures, like a dive or ski trip. Every travel-loving family should have an ORV Trunk 36 ($459)—multiple compartments make organization a cinch and rugged wheels make for easy travel days no matter the terrain.

Neck Pillow & Blanket

Be the unsung hero of the trip when your adventurous traveler has everything they need for a cozy and comfortable plane, train, or bus ride. Travel pillows come in all shapes and size, but we love the Headphone Pillow ($18), which is ergonomically designed for those sleeping with headphones. Pair that gift with a Sandman Eyeshade ($16), and Travel Ear Plugs ($9) for a unique gift that ensures your traveler arrives at their destination ready to climb every peak and explore every sight.

Need other travel gift ideas. Check out our list of travel gifts for every type of traveler: