Air Pro Kit
The first travel product on our list is the Air Pro Kit. It has topped my personal list due to its perfect fit for my tech gadgets. I carry it with me every day, and it has become an essential part of my travel gear. One of the features I love about this kit is the zipper mesh pocket on the front. It is the ideal size for my mouse, and it keeps it secure during my trips. Another convenient feature is the stylus loop, which stays out of the way but is always there when I need it. And if I ever want to bring a pen along, the Air Pro Kit has got me covered. On the other side, there are two stretchy mesh pockets that I use for my cords. In front of them, there is a zippered pocket where I pack my dongles and other tiny gear. In the big back pocket, I usually store my wall charger and international power adapter. The compartment is spacious enough to fit a tablet if desired, but we advise against overfilling it, as it can make the kit tip over. Overall, I appreciate the wide flat base of the Air Pro Kit, as it allows the pouch to stand upright on my desk, making it easy for me to find what I need throughout the day. Packing can be a bit tricky due to its non-square shape, but I found that it fits nicely with my Air Doop Kit 3 and my travel backpack. They are somewhat triangular and when stacked together, they create a cube shape that makes it convenient to bring this kit along on multiple trips.
Belroy Venture Sling
Next up on our list is the Belroy Venture Sling 2. This sling bag has quickly become a favorite among our team members. Its sleek design and functionality make it a must-have travel accessory. The Venture Sling provides enough space to carry all your essentials while keeping them organized. The main compartment has multiple pockets, including a dedicated sleeve for a tablet or small laptop. There are also separate compartments for your phone, wallet, and passport, making it easy to access your belongings on the go. The front pocket is perfect for storing smaller items like keys or a travel-sized toiletry bag. The Venture Sling is made from durable materials, ensuring that it can withstand the rigors of travel. The adjustable strap allows for comfortable wear, and the bag can be worn both across the body or as a shoulder bag. Whether you’re exploring a new city or embarking on an outdoor adventure, the Belroy Venture Sling 2 is a reliable and stylish companion.
Peak Design Tech Pouch
The Peak Design Tech Pouch is another travel product that has impressed us in 2023. This compact organizer is designed to keep your tech gear neatly stored and easily accessible. The Tech Pouch features multiple compartments and pockets of various sizes, allowing you to customize the organization to fit your needs. The mesh pockets are perfect for holding cables and chargers, while the internal zippered pockets can securely store smaller items like memory cards and USB drives. The external zippered pocket provides quick access to essentials like your phone or passport. The Tech Pouch is made from weather-resistant materials, ensuring that your gadgets stay safe and protected even in unpredictable conditions. It also has a convenient grab handle, making it easy to carry or hang in your workspace. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler
Sling Bag – Perfect for Every Trip
One of our favorite travel products from 2023 is the 5 L size sling bag. This versatile bag has accompanied us on every trip we’ve taken this year. The front pocket is equipped with a flexible divider that adapts to fit various gear on each side. Personally, I love attaching my keys to the leash and utilizing the remaining space for my AirPods, a small pen, and lip balm.
The back pocket is ideal for keeping my passport and wallet, but I find it uncomfortable to carry bulkier items against my body. Hence, I prefer to stash flat items in this pocket. The main compartment of the sling bag features a padded slip pocket for my phone and an elevated mesh pocket designed to protect my travel sunglasses from any damage. Although there is no additional organization within the main compartment, it conveniently accommodates essential items like a battery bank and cables. The built-in compression strap helps reduce the bag’s size when I don’t need to carry as much. The magnetic buckle allows for easy on and off, although it can occasionally slip around when worn on the front. Nonetheless, this minor inconvenience is a small trade-off for an otherwise durable and sleek bag.
Everg Goods 26 L Civic Travel Bag – Durable and Organized
Our staff writer, Eric, has claimed the Everg Goods 26 L Civic Travel Bag as his favorite. This bag combines durability with excellent organization and a comfortable carry. The large clamshell opening eases the process of loading packing cubes and pouches. Eric even managed to fit his camera cube for a trip across the state.
If you’re in search of a reliable camera cube, stick with us because our video producer, Mod, has a fantastic recommendation. Additionally, the bag offers enough internal organization to make it versatile for daily use. Inside, you’ll find a zipper pocket that’s perfect for storing tech accessories. There’s also a mesh pocket where Eric keeps socks or other items that don’t require a designated packing cube.
Our Favorite Travel Bag: Nightore SL bo5
The Nightore SL bo5 is our top pick for travel bags in 2023. It offers a stretchy pocket for large items that don’t fit in the zipper pockets. This is perfect for travel journals or notebooks, although it may end up buried underneath your other gear. We recommend using it for items that you won’t need until you reach your destination.
The external organization of the bag is excellent. The laptop compartment and vertical front pocket are accessible from the side of the bag, making it easy to swing it over your shoulder and grab what you need. Additionally, there is a small top pocket that serves as a convenient spot for your phone and wallet as you navigate through airport security.
Eric, one of our reviewers, particularly appreciates the durability of the Nightore SL bo5. He has used it extensively as a sling, messenger, and organizer within another pack. He packs the main compartment with his camera, cash, daily tech, and any snacks or souvenirs he picks up along the way.
One of Eric’s favorite features of the bag is the extra protection provided by the front flap. During a 2-hour walk in the rain, it kept his camera from getting soaked, although it did get slightly damp. The bag isn’t the most water-resistant, but it still offers enough protection. Eric also likes the fuzzy lining that prevents any delicate gear from getting scratched.
For less sensitive items, there are two open pockets in the front of the bag. These pockets are great for storing battery banks or small notebooks. However, we do think that adding a snap button or other closure would have been useful for extra protection.
Regardless, Eric thoroughly enjoyed using the Nightore SL bo5 as a go-to sling bag. He believes it is one of the best travel products he has tested all year.
Lauren’s Favorite Travel Product: NordVPN
Now, let’s shift our focus to one of Lauren’s favorite travel products: NordVPN. NordVPN is a video sponsor that we highly recommend for secure and private internet browsing while traveling.
When you are on the go, accessing public Wi-Fi networks can be risky for your online privacy and security. NordVPN offers a solution to this problem by encrypting your internet connection and protecting your personal data from prying eyes.
With NordVPN, you can connect to servers in different locations around the world. This allows you to access geo-restricted content and websites that may not be available in the country you are visiting. Whether you want to stream your favorite shows or access important work documents, NordVPN ensures unrestricted internet access no matter where you are.
Furthermore, NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy, meaning they do not track or store your online activities. Your browsing history remains completely private, giving you peace of mind while enjoying your travels.
In addition to its security features, NordVPN offers lightning-fast connection speeds, making it ideal for streaming, downloading, and browsing without any delays or buffering.
With its user-friendly interface and compatibility across various devices and platforms, NordVPN is a must-have travel product for anyone looking to protect their online privacy and access the internet securely while on the move.
The Nightore SL bo5 and NordVPN are two of our favorite travel products from 2023. The Nightore SL bo5 offers excellent organization and durability, perfect for carrying your essentials while on the
NordVPN: Keeping Your Identity Safe Online
NordVPN is a travel product that not only helps to keep your identity safe online but also saves you money when booking a trip. Many people may not realize that websites tailor their prices based on the user’s location. With NordVPN, you can easily connect to a server in a different state or country to browse deals. By repeating this process from different servers, you can find the best price available. Once you’ve found the best deal, simply clear the cache and return to the cheapest server to book your flight. In addition to saving you money, NordVPN also provides protection against malware on up to six devices. It even alerts you if your password has been leaked on the dark web. Plus, it offers encryption of your data flow, providing a sense of security when working from a coffee shop or using an unsecure Wi-Fi network while traveling. Use the code “packhaacker” at nordvpn.com to get 4 months free on a 2-year plan. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try it risk-free on your next trip and enjoy worry-free browsing without the fear of malware.
Subtle Beauty: The Latest Stack for Makeup Convenience
Lauren, one of our travel enthusiasts, shares her love for the convenience of the latest stack from Subtle Beauty. This customizable makeup palette is designed to fit perfectly into your travel essentials. Its round shape takes up less space in your toiletry bag or everyday purse, making it ideal for travelers. The stack offers options for both cream and powder makeup, including a great brush, applicator, and a mirror. With Subtle Beauty, you can easily reapply your makeup anywhere you go, ensuring that you always look your best during your travels.
Makeup Containers for Convenience
Bringing a single makeup container is excellent, especially when on trips, when she only needs to get dressed up once or twice when she’s not traveling, she throws it in her everyday bag to refresh before going out in the evening. Well, there are containers for blush, bronzer, concealer, highlighter, eyeshadow, and more. She only has to bring what she needs for that day. Leave some behind, and this already small stack gets even smaller. You’ll have to buy another lid base and brush to create a second stack, though. Well, we wish Subtle Beauty was more inclusive with its shades, some of the products like eye shadow and blush, are more likely to match different skin tones.
Lightweight Hiking Pack
If you’re looking for a super comfortable bag for a long hike, Lauren likes this pack from Outdoor Research. Its lightweight is great. If you plan to be active on your trip, she took it hiking in SD’s park near Denver and realized it’s awesome on a winter hike. You never know when you’re going to work up a sweat on a cold hike, so it’s nice to have that space in your bag for extra layers when you get hot. The shoulder strap pockets are great for her sunglasses, phone, and snacks, since she wanted to get at them quickly on the hike. If you think they look a bit bulky, they make another version of the bag without them. So you can pick the one that works best for you. Whichever you opt for, the padded contoured back panel and straps are comfortable and breathable when you get hot. That’s definitely something that you want in a hiking backpack.
Walking sticks with cinch straps
Although the process of attaching walking sticks to the side cinch straps is a bit fussy, we don’t think it’s a deal breaker.
Vessie Cityscapes shoes
Our video producer, Ahmad, has worn these shoes nearly every day since we got them at Pack Haacker HQ earlier this year. The Vessie Cityscapes go with almost everything from casual to slightly more professional clothing. That’s why these were the only shoes he took on a 3-week trip home to Lebanon.
He says the waterproof material is a lifesaver since he never knows what kind of puddles, snow, or other elements he’ll face when shooting footage for the channel. And since the Dex waterproofing material is breathable, they’re great in warm weather too. The uppers are stretchy, so he only had to tie them once, and now he just slips them on and off each day.
The Cityscapes are super comfortable too. One gripe that Ahmad has with them is that he swears he gets more static buildup when he wears them and he gets shocked. He has even shocked me a couple of times. While this may be obvious to serious runners, these shoes are definitely for everyday use, not for sports, since they lack ankle support and extra padding.
4 L. Everything camera insert
Next up is a wreck for photographers. Am Mod has been digging the 4 L. Everything camera insert for its effective organization and rigid padding. They designed it to fit their gear in everyday bags, so it has little toggles in the back that hook on the loops to keep it in place.
Peak Design Travel Backpack 30
Even if you don’t have one of those bags, it works in plenty of other packs too, like the peak design travel backpack 30, which a mod took with him to Lebanon, he had no issues fitting in his camera with a zoom lens. Three batteries, three filters, his charger, and SD cards inside. It may be too small if you travel with multiple lenses unless you’re willing to leave other accessories behind, but packing a small kit like this leaves room for other gear in your pack. So it works great for casual photography. Amod likes its customizability too, because it fits his gear like a glove.
Comfortable and Spacious
Staff Rider Christine really liked using this next bag on her trip to Florida. It has plenty of space for her 5-day trip and is super comfortable to carry even in the hot and humid Florida climate. The harness system is well-padded and breathable, and Christine says the adjustable sternum strap did a great job supporting the load. Plus, she found it easy to stash her phone, wallet, and cash in the top pocket.
Smart Storage Options
At the airport, though, too much weight makes the front of the bag look saggy. Instead, she prefers to store those items in a vertical front pocket if there’s enough space, though it fills up fast. If you also want to bring snacks and a book, we like how the laptop compartment opens to lay completely flat because you may be able to leave your computer inside as it goes through the security check.
Overall, these travel products from 2023 have impressed us with their functionality and convenience. Whether you’re a casual photographer or a frequent traveler, these bags offer smart storage options and comfortable carry experiences. Give them a try on your next adventure!
**Our Favorite Travel Products from 2023**
**X Ray Machine**
The X-ray machine is a must-have travel product in 2023. This portable device ensures that all your belongings are safe and secure at the airport. It is easy to use, and with its advanced technology, you can be confident that it will detect any prohibited items. The X-ray machine gives you peace of mind, knowing that you will breeze through security without any hassle.
**Pull Tab Divider Panel**
If you’re looking for convenience and accessibility in your travel bag, look no further than the pull tab divider panel. This innovative feature allows you to easily access the main compartment of your bag. Christine particularly loves this feature as it provides an alternative to the traditional duffel-like opening. Not only does it make packing and unpacking a breeze, but it also adds a touch of style to your bag. The only downside is that the bag may appear saggy if not packed to its full capacity.
**Travel Mat from Jade Yoga**
Finding a little Zen while traveling is now possible with the travel mat from Jade Yoga. Made with natural rubber sourced from rubber trees, this mat offers an excellent grip, making it ideal for yoga practice on the go. Its compact size, comparable to that of a yoga block, allows for easy storage in your travel backpack. Whether you’re on a family vacation or simply want to maintain your daily yoga routine, this travel mat is the perfect companion. It provides a comfortable and stable surface, unlike hotel towels that tend to slip. Christinas, who has been using this mat for months, recommends it for beach yoga and even camping trips. Despite its thin and lightweight design, it smooths the rough edges of any surface, allowing for a peaceful and serene practice.
**What Are Your Favorites?**
These are just a few of our favorite travel products from 2023. The X-ray machine, pull tab divider panel, and travel mat from Jade Yoga are game-changers in the world of travel. They provide convenience, security, and comfort, ensuring a stress-free journey. We would love to hear about your favorite gear from this year. Have you come across any innovative travel products that have made your trips more enjoyable? Let us know in the comments!