We tested the latest travel-friendly innovations and sorted them for all kinds of itineraries. These are the essential products worth stowing in your suitcase.
The Long-haul Flight
Bose’s QuietControl 30 wireless headphones offer adjustable noise cancellation (turn it down for the PA, up for engine roar) to rival that of the over-ear classics in a slim, ultra-packable design. The neckband battery stays charged for up to 10 hours and prevents tangled wires.
To buy: nordstrom.com, $300
The City Excursion
The analog aesthetic of the Hagen Connected hybrid smartwatch lets you go from gym to dinner without an accessory overhaul. It instantly adjusts to new time zones, tracks steps and sleep, and vibrates for VIP e-mails and texts. A traditional watch battery means no charging required.
To buy: nordstrom.com, $195
The Romantic Escape
Nannette de Gaspé’s reusable dry facial masks smooth and brighten skin with an innovative peptide-embedded fabric. A waterless formula means they’re mess-free, and since you don’t rinse, the active ingredients keep working for up to eight hours.
To buy: barneys.com, $120
The Corporate Retreat
Handwritten notes can be quickly digitized with Moleskine’s new Smart Writing Set. A tiny camera in the aluminum pen uploads every mark on the page to an app for editing and sharing. Record audio while you write and it syncs to your notes for real-time playback.
To buy: bestbuy.com, $200
The Group Getaway
In a market saturated with speakers, the UE Roll 2 takes top marks. It’s waterproof, weighs less than a pound, and at up to 85 decibels is far louder than its size would imply. Stream for nine hours without charging; a mini float and built-in bungee let you take it anywhere safely.
To buy: bestbuy.com, $87
The Backcountry Trek
The twin lenses of Nikon’s KeyMission 360 capture immersive stills and 4K video of your adventures—all automatically stitched together in-camera. It can also capture loops and time-lapse footage, and it’s shockproof, waterproof, and freezeproof to 14 degrees.
To buy: bestbuy.com, $500
The Road Trip
Dashboard gadget Navdy takes GPS to the next level by projecting directions onto your view of the road ahead. The app lets you control music, accept calls, and send texts with a gesture or command. It installs with relative ease—tote it along to turn your budget rental into a smartcar.
To buy: navdy.com, $799
