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The 10 Most-bought Travel Essentials Our Readers Couldn't Get Enough of During Prime Day—From $8
Curious what your fellow travelers saw fit to snag during Prime Day? I was, too, so I took a peek behind the curtain and compiled a list of the top-purchased essentials our readers stocked up on this year. With some markdowns still lingering, even if you missed the official sale, you can still level-up your travel gear collection with items starting at just $8. I'm adding them to my own cart as we speak.
Everyone from flight attendants to T+L readers swear by Apple AirTags for keeping an eye on checked luggage, and you're in luck because a four-pack of trackers is still on sale for $65 at Amazon. The coin-size devices provide accurate location tracking via the Find My app on your iPhone, and they're a great way to achieve peace of mind when traveling. Add one into your checked bag, wallet, or even clip one onto your keys—it may just save you thousands of dollars and help you locate lost luggage.
I never travel without a pair of noise-canceling headphones, and it seems that T+L readers share the same sentiment since the Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds were one of their top picks during Prime Day this year. The upgraded AirPods iteration is programmed with so many smart features, including intelligent noise control, conversation awareness, and boosted audio quality. It even comes with four different pairs of silicone tips so you can find your perfect fit for comfortable listening. The staggering 30 hours of battery life should get you through your next long-haul flight without running out of charge, and they're water- and sweat-resistant if you're planning on getting in a good workout during your trip.
Shoppers couldn't get enough of the Samsonite Freeform 21-inch Hardside Carry-on Luggage during Prime Day this year, and seeing as it's earned thousands of five-star ratings at Amazon, who could blame them? This durable carry-on is fitted with four smooth spinner wheels and a convenient side-carry handle that will make navigating the airport and lifting your luggage into the overhead compartment a cinch. It opens like a clamshell to provide ample packing room (shoppers also stocked up on Bagail Packing Cubes to fit more with less space), and a zippered divider keeps your items neatly packed and organized throughout your trip. The hardshell design is ultra-durable yet surprisingly lightweight, and best of all, the bag is still on sale at Amazon.
It seems like T+L readers were tired of their phones dying while on the go this year, since the Iniu Portable Charger was a top pick for Prime Day that even I've been eyeing. The compact power bank provides high-speed charging to a wide range of devices, and it contains nearly two full charges of the latest iPhone model to keep you on the grid while you're away. The lightweight design is an obvious addition to your purse or carry-on for easy access in-flight, and it's even safe from overheating. Whether you're traveling solo or are often appointed the de facto navigator on group trips, this device will be a boon to your adventures.
Overpackers know the struggle of keeping a checked bag beneath the 50-pound weight limit, but taking the gamble of waiting to get to the airport to weigh your luggage can be a dangerous (read: pricey) mistake. Instead, shoppers have swarmed to Amazon to score the Travel Inspira Luggage Scale while it was on sale for Prime Day, and it's still a must-have accessory at just $8. Simply hang your bag from the handheld scale, and its digital screen will display its exact weight. It's a game-changer if you're prone to shopping on vacation and don't want to be met with a surprise at the airport, and it'll hardly take up any space in your suitcase.
Travelers have long sworn by this hidden camera detector when staying in hotels and Airbnbs, so it's no surprise it was a top pick for shoppers this Prime Day. The device picks up the presence of hidden devices and cameras within a close range, so you can feel confident that your lodgings are truly secure and private. It's easy to use with the press of a button, and even doubles as a flashlight in a pinch. One customer revealed, 'I tried it when I was staying at a hotel recently, and it did exactly what it promised—found a hidden camera I didn't even know was there.'
Vacation is the perfect time for avid readers to power through books on their reading list, but since it's impractical to weigh down your luggage with a stack of paperbacks, shoppers instead turned to the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite as their favorite solution this Prime Day. The slim, packable design boasts an unmatched 12 weeks of battery life on a single charge, and it's fitted with a glare-resistant screen that'll be easy to read in the sun at the beach. It's waterproof and ultra-durable, and it's even been upgraded to turn the page 25 percent faster than older models. Plus, the Kindle store is loaded with more than 15 million titles, so you'll have no shortage of books to choose from if you finish one while traveling.
As temperatures have continued to soar this summer, it's no surprise that a portable fan was at the top of many people's Prime Day shopping lists—in particular, the Jisulife Handheld Mini 3-in-1 Fan. Providing up to 19 hours of cooling time, this compact fan will be a lifesaver during toasty flights and sightseeing days, and it's so small it'll easily fit into your pocket. It's programmed with three cooling modes to best fit your needs for the day, and it even doubles as both a flashlight and a portable charger. The base can be folded and placed on your seatback tray table for hands-free cooling, and right now it's available for just $13.
The purse you choose to travel with should not only be stylish but also equipped to keep your belongings safe while sightseeing and enjoying your vacation. For this, T+L readers have turned to the Travelon Anti-theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag, and it's safe to say it's everything you've been looking for in a purse. This bag features five points of security, including slash-resistant straps, an RFID-blocking exterior, and locked pockets, plus you can lengthen the strap to style it as a crossbody. A bonus? It has a built-in side pocket for storing your water bottle on hot summer days.
Getting good sleep on a plane is no small feat, so a cushy and supportive neck pillow is essential for ensuring that even if you're not sitting in first class, you're still comfortable. Seeing as hundreds of T+L shoppers stocked up on the Napfun Neck Pillow while it was on sale for Prime Day, you can rest assured it's a worthwhile investment for your gear collection—and luckily, it's still on sale for just $16. The memory foam interior supports your head from all angles, and it's designed with thoughtful contouring at the back and sides of your neck. Best of all, it comes with a compact storage bag that'll loop onto the exterior of your suitcase to keep your pillow clean when it's not in use.
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Kareema B. Partin (Kareema Bee) is a senior video producer and writer at Travel + Leisure and has been with DDM since 2021. In her current role, she creates and develops long and short-form content for the brand, one of which earned her a second consecutive Emmy nomination. As a creative, she has also lent her writing, directing, and performing talents to various aspects of the Entertainment industry for over a decade. Kareema received her master's degree in TV, Radio, & Film from Syracuse University's Newhouse School and has a bachelor's degree in English from SUNY Albany, Phi Beta Kappa. She is also a graduate of the AIP Language Institute in Spain, where she studied Spanish and cinema. Whether it's chasing sunshine, discovering hidden gems, or taste-testing her way through a new city, Kareema considers every trip an opportunity to turn curiosity into a story worth telling.
