Some gadgets are gimmicks, but others genuinely make your life that little bit easier. At Locals Insider, we love testing the latest travel gadgets designed to take some of the stress out of journeys.
Our writers rarely travel without useful accessories such as a power bank, an e-reader, a booking app, and an RFID-protective wallet, which are essential in this day and age. We also reveal several other essential travel gadgets that our writers have tried and tested, which we feel will help you significantly as you plan your adventures in 2025.
Anker MagGo Power Bank
- Price: From $74.99
Due to the poor battery life of most modern smartphones, a power bank is a travel essential. We love this Anker power bank because it is so slim (0.58 x 2.78 x 4.09 in). You can slip it into your backpack or handbag and barely notice it’s there. It also features super-fast 15W wireless charging, taking your phone from 0 to 50% in less than one hour.
Vaultskin Manhattan RFID Protective Wallet
- Price: From $42.99
This classy, trendy leather RFID wallet is a regular traveler’s best friend. It can take dollar bills and other currencies while protecting all your debit and credit cards. It is made with the best-grain Italian leather for a luxurious feel. If you’re traveling to Europe and plan to use GBP or EUR, opt for the City wallet over the Manhattan, as it’s slightly wider for the bigger notes.
Knog Smart Luggage Tag
- Price: From $59.95
If you’re taking a flight anywhere in the world in 2025, the Knog Smart Luggage Tag should be one of the first items on your list. It’s highly accurate, compatible with iOS, and has an in-built 85dB motion-sensitive alarm to help you find your case. You can opt for multiple color options, and when you order directly from Knog, you’re eligible for $15 off your first order.
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Earbuds
- Price: From $229.00
Bose is the undisputed market leader in noise-canceling earbuds and headphones. These Quiet Comfort Ultra Earbuds are perfect for traveling, thanks to their noise-canceling feature and the slim, ergonomic design. We also highly rate the six-hour battery life, meaning you can listen on long-haul flights without worrying about your headphones dying.
Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle
- Price: From $34.95
This smartly designed collapsible water bottle from Hydaway is a superb choice for anyone on the road. At 25oz, it’s big enough to keep you hydrated at the airport. You can collapse it into your bag as you pass through security. Then, fill it back up on the other side as you wait to board your flight. You can then use it on adventures and outings during your vacation.
AirBolt Smart Travel Lock
- Price: From $44.99
This high-quality travel lock from AirBolt can be attached to anything, from your handbag to a locker in the gym. You then connect it to the app on your phone and let 128-bit encryption do its thing. It’s the best way to protect your luggage and other personal items as you travel. What’s more, when you order directly from AirBolt, claim up to 10% off your first order.
AirFly Headphone Adaptor
- Price: From $34.99
Order AirFly before a flight in 2025 and refuse the airline’s offer of those horribly uncomfortable headphones for your in-flight entertainment. When you connect the AirFly Headphone Adaptor, you can use your wireless headphones or earbuds to listen to your favorite movie or TV shows properly. You can also use it at the gym to plug it into the jack on a treadmill.
Kobo Libra Color E-Reader
- Price: From $219.99
While we also love the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, the Kobo Libra Color is one of our top-rated e-readers for travel in 2025. Browse and read all books in color and listen to your favorite podcasts and audiobooks. You can also journal with a Kobo stylus and read up to 24,000 eBooks. It’s the perfect device to keep you busy on a long flight or train journey.
JBL Go 3 Portable Waterproof Speaker
- Price: From $29.95
JBL’s mini portable speakers are perfect for chilling at the beach, relaxing in an Airbnb, or clipping to your bike as you zoom through the countryside. Though tiny, they pack a big punch and offer up to five hours of playtime on a single charge. They’re available in several vibrant color options and offer free shipping when you order directly from the JBL online store.
Solis Global WiFi Hotspot
- Price: From $159.99
If you’re a digital nomad or plan to work on the road in 2025, the Solis Global WiFi Hotspot will help you get online in over 135 countries. It slips into your pocket and provides 4G and 5G internet speeds via a lifetime data plan. You don’t need to worry about buying SIM cards for every country you visit, and with 24-hour battery life, this is the perfect hotspot for any digital nomad or virtual worker.
KeySmart Urban Union Passport Wallet
- Price: From $29.99
This excellent leather passport wallet is a great choice for keeping your passport, documents, money, and flight tickets safe and in one place during your travels. It’s made from high-quality Tectuff leather and has space for 14 cards. It also offers 360-degree RFID protection and features a quick-flip design that makes it easy to access your documents when needed, such as at the immigration or security windows at the airport.
Conair Compact Luggage Scale
- Price: From $29.25
When you travel on budget airlines, the weight of your luggage can cost you several hundred bucks in extra fees if you’re not careful. Therefore, traveling with this super accurate compact luggage scale will take the pressure off before arriving at the airport. Use it to weigh your hand and hold luggage so you don’t exceed your stipulated allowance, with a clear digital display showing accurate readings.
Invest in the best travel gadgets for smarter travel
Each of the travel gadgets introduced here has the potential to transform the way you travel in 2025. The noise-canceling earbuds, combined with the headphone adaptor, will enhance your in-flight movie experience, while the compact luggage scale will save you from unfair excess baggage fees.
We also love the collapsible water bottle, which will keep you hydrated and prevent you from buying overpriced water at the departure gate. So, if you’re ready to take your travel experience to the next level in 2025, invest in our recommended gadgets today.
Popular and Essential Travel Gadgets for 2025
- Anker MagGo Power Bank
- Vaultskin Manhattan RFID Protective Wallet
- Knog Smart Luggage Tag
- Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Earbuds
- Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle
- AirBolt Smart Travel Lock
- AirFly Headphone Adaptor
- Kobo Libra Color E-Reader
- JBL Go 3 Portable Waterproof Speaker
- Solis Global WiFi Hotspot
- KeySmart Urban Union Passport Wallet
- Conair Compact Luggage Scale
We’d love to hear from you! Share your favorite travel gadgets that we might have missed by emailing us at hello@localsinsider.com.