Travel gear
A short list of things that genuinely change a trip — and an honest note about what we earn nothing on.
Written by Sienna for Roaminger · Updated September 2026
Get one cabin bag sized to the strictest airline you actually fly, one multi-port GaN charger with the right plug adapter, and your maps downloaded for offline use. Beyond that, most travel gear is preference dressed up as necessity.
The cabin bag that actually passes
There is no universal carry-on size. Full-service airlines are generous, budget carriers are not, and the gap between them is the entire problem. A bag built to the most restrictive airline in your normal rotation works everywhere; a bag built to the most generous one will eventually cost you a gate fee that exceeds the bag.
Two structural notes. Soft-sided bags compress into a sizer when they are slightly over; hard shells do not bend and get caught. And wheels and handles count toward the measured dimensions even though nobody wants them to.
Power, simplified
One GaN charger
A single multi-port GaN brick replaces the phone charger, the laptop brick and the spare. It is the biggest weight saving available for the money.
One universal adapter
An adapter changes the plug shape. It does not change voltage. That distinction matters more than the price.
Check the voltage
Phones, laptops and cameras are almost all 100–240V and fine anywhere. Hair dryers, straighteners and travel kettles frequently are not, and fail loudly.
A modest power bank
Airlines require it in your cabin bag, never checked, and most cap the capacity they will carry. Small is also enough.
The connectivity kit
An eSIM-capable, unlocked phone is now the single most useful piece of travel equipment you own. Pair it with offline maps downloaded before departure, boarding passes saved to your wallet app, and screenshots — not links — of every booking reference. Screenshots survive a dead connection. Confirmation emails do not.
Documents, and the rule people forget
Passport validity is the most common avoidable disaster at check-in. Many countries require three or six months of validity beyond your departure date, and some count it from the date of entry. Check the requirement for your specific destination and nationality on an official government source before you book, not at the airport.
Beyond that: a second payment card kept somewhere separate from the first, a photo of your passport stored offline, and any prescription medication in its original labelled packaging with a copy of the prescription.
What we would skip
Travel-branded versions of ordinary objects, at roughly triple the price. Enormous first-aid kits for city trips where pharmacies exist. Money belts, which are uncomfortable, conspicuous when used, and solve a problem better solved by not carrying everything at once.
Common questions
Can I really do a week in carry-on only?
For most city trips, yes, once you accept doing laundry once. The constraint is usually shoes and outerwear rather than clothing volume.
Do I need a voltage converter?
Almost certainly not for electronics, which are nearly all dual-voltage. You may need one for heat-generating appliances like hair tools, and those are usually easier to leave at home.
Are packing cubes worth it?
They organise, and compression cubes genuinely reduce volume for soft clothing. They add a little weight and do not make a bag lighter.
Do you earn commission on gear recommendations?
No. We have no affiliate partners for luggage or accessories, so nothing on this page pays us. Our commissions come from connectivity, insurance, transport and ticketing partners.
Go deeper
- Travel eSIMs explained — the compatibility check and the five things that go wrong
- Best travel eSIM in 2026 — providers compared side by side
- Travel insurance explained — what your belongings are actually covered for
Roaminger earns a commission when you book through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which option we recommend — and where the honest answer is a service we earn nothing from, we say so.