2023 Traveler Stocking Stuffers: Fun and Functional
If you’re looking for creative travel stocking stuffers that will be appreciated by their recipients, take a peek at our curated list of ideas:
On Choosing Travel Stocking Stuffers
THINK SMALL
Travelers prefer items that are small enough and light enough to take with them. No one wants to take the extra-large size of any item with them, even if it’s more economical.
Most importantly, you want to be able to stuff it in a stocking (or offer it as a small gift).
THINK INTERESTING
Even if it’s small, stocking stuffers for travelers should have a WOW factor, perhaps something they never thought of buying themselves or something that just looks like fun.
THINK USEFUL
Travelers prefer functional items that they’ll be able to use.
With these criteria in mind, we have curated a list of travel stocking stuffers, keeping price and value in mind.
Some of these items may be more appealing to men than to women and vice versa, but most are unisex.
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THE BEST TRAVEL STOCKING STUFFERS
Cozy Earth Serenity Silk Sleep Mask
On a long-haul flight (and sometimes on shorter ones), travelers want to take their best shot at getting some shut-eye. This cozy, uber-soft, and comfortable mulberry silk sleep mask will block out light and enhance sleep.
Unisex and available in five different colors, the sleep mask is hand washable.
Cozy Lounge Socks
You can never have enough pairs of socks but these will be a favorite. These ultra-light lounge socks, although ultra-warm won’t make your feet sweaty. They come in packs of three.
Great for wearing on the plane or rolling up in your suitcase to wear on your trip. What better travel stocking stuffer is there than socks?
Tweezerman Neon Hot Nail Files with Case
Tweezerman is one of my favorite companies. Their precision tweezers are one of their handiest travel products but I love this Neon Hot Filemate ensemble.
Three emery boards come packed as a set of three with a plastic case. They are right-sized (5” long) and easy to throw in a purse or carry-on.
They have both a coarse and smoother side and come in fun neon colors.
Easy-To-Spot Luggage Tags
You don’t necessarily have to be a pickleball fanatic. These sturdy but lightweight luggage tags come in a wide variety of delightful designs and colors.
They will not only tag your bag with your name and phone # (discretely hidden inside) but will also help you identify your luggage when coming off a plane, train or bus.
We love that they attach with a secure steel loop, which is less likely to break off than conventional materials.
Londontown Nail Concealer
I first read about this nail concealer in a woman’s magazine and never thought it would be as good as it is.
If you are traveling and don’t have time for a manicure before leaving, you can put on two coats of this polish in less than 5 minutes. It makes your nails look clean and blurs any imperfections.
It is also long-lasting and easy to remove with nail polish remover. I purchased the pink one, but it comes in four different colors. Great little product to give or get!
C.O. Bigelow Shaving Cream
A little bit of luxury goes a long way in preventing razor burns on your face or legs.
You don’t need to pack a can of aerosol shaving cream when you have this little 1.7-ounce tube of C.O. Bigelow in your suitcase. It’s TSA-friendly, too, for carry-ons.
European Travel Plug Adapter
If your travels take you abroad, this handy travel plug adapter turns the European socket in your room into two standard American outlets (one grounded), three USB-A ports, and one USB-C charging port.
It’s a lightweight, compact travel necessity for international travelers.
World Map Travel Laundry Bag
We love the bright color and world design of this drawstring laundry bag. It’s made of lightweight polyester and folds into its own compact pouch (about 6×5 inches).
When opened full-size, it’s 22×16 inches.
It’s perfect to separate the dirty clothes from the clean ones in your suitcase (We use it primarily for underwear). And it’s handy to have if you are planning on doing laundry during your trip and need to carry it to a machine or laundromat.
Compact Travel Power Strip
You can’t be certain you’ll have enough outlets for all your devices in your hotel room or cruise ship cabin. Both compact and lightweight, this round power strip is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
It comes with a 5-foot extension cord, 3 AC outlets and 3 USB charging ports (Max output is 3A/15W) that can power and charge up to 6 devices from a single wall outlet.
A Handy Multi-Function Key Chain
We fell in love with this handy key chain the minute we saw it. It is lightweight and has a minimalist design—but is much more than a conventional keychain.
Yes, it is an attractive key chain. The carabiner hook opening is secure but allows you to easily take keys on and off. But it’s also a bottle opener, and it has a short lightening cable for when you need one in a pinch (it’s concealed inside).
If you don’t want to use it as a keychain, per se, you can easily hook it onto a bag. It comes in black or white.
Grooming Tool Kit (for men)
Tweezerman products (a company has been in business for 40 years) are reliably good. This little kit includes everything a guy will want to take on a trip.
This five-piece set is perfect for on-the-go grooming, it includes a mini-tweezer for unwanted hairs, a blackhead remover, a mini mustache comb, and a precision folding razor.
Apple Watch Power Bank
It is handy to have backup power for your Apple Watch without any cables when you’re away from home. It is small enough to slip into a pocket or purse.
The size of a keychain and weighing only 3 ounces, it can fully charge an Apple watch in 2 hours; that’s one-half hour faster than the magnetic charging cable that comes with the Apple watch.
Pretty in Pink Petite Tweezer Set (for women)
This Tweezerman tweezer set comes in a lovely pink leather case. It includes a stainless steel slant tweezer and a stainless steel point tweezer. The size is perfect to slip in a purse or travel case so it’s with you when you need it.
It comes with a lifetime warranty in case the implements ever need sharpening.
Apple AirTag
The Apple AirTag sends a secure Bluetooth signal to iCloud that allows you to trace the location of your luggage or other items (e.g., an attache)on your phone.
The battery is long-lasting. Each AirTag weighs only .39 ounces, and they offer peace of mind because you’ll know the location of your luggage (and whether it made it on the next segment of your flight during a layover).
You can purchase the AirTags singly or multiples as gifts for couples or families.
A TagVault
Speaking of discreetly tucking an AirTag in your wallet, the female police officer in my town suggested that I look into a featherweight, flexible AirTag holder called TagVault. You might consider this an offspring of the AirTag.
It is just about the size of a credit card (although slightly shorter, so it stays hidden in any card slot) and adds no thickness to the AirTag. I bought a set of two, one for me and one for my husband.
Travel Medication Organizer
By the time you reach a certain age, you’re likely to be taking multiple medications and vitamins.
This lightweight, slimline polyester pouch from Lewis & Clark allows you to organize your pills (both day and night). And the 16 clear, slide-locking pill pockets make it easy to see your next dose.
The organizer also includes a medical reference card with spaces for your name, emergency contact information, physician contact information, medical conditions, allergies, and current medications, which can be very important when you’re away from home.
Silicon Toe Spacers
Most trips require a lot of walking, whether on group excursions or on your own. I’ve tried many toe spacers and found these Pedifix Gel Smart Visco-GEL Toe Spacers are the best.
If you develop irritation between two toes or have a nasty bunion, these two spacers (recommended by my podiatrist) will make a huge difference. They’re tiny enough to tuck in a pocket and come in small and medium sizes. The former is for little toes; the latter is right-sized to put between your big toe and the one next to it.
This is definitely a functional gift!
Travel Surge Protector
If you are traveling domestically, this Anker USB compact surge protector will help make sure your devices (laptop, phone, etc) are protected against sudden power surges.
It offers six outlets and 3 USB-A ports. It’s especially handy for someone who works remotely and the device comes with an 18-month warranty.
Wine Protector Sleeve for Travel
If you’re heading to a wine region, you’ll want to slip one of these bags in your suitcase so you can carry home that special bottle of wine without it breaking and spilling in your suitcase.
We’ve used them on transatlantic flights, and they really work. They’re lightweight, leak-resistant, reusable, and come in a package of six. Roll two in a stocking and save the other four for yourself.
Pack of Face Masks
With COVID still lurking around us, you can never have enough face masks if you travel. These high-fashion face masks also can protect you from colds, the flu, and other viruses often resulting from long-haul flying.
These attractive MASKC masks hold up well with multiple uses, are lightweight, and extremely comfortable to wear on a long flight.
TSA-Approved Luggage Locks
These TSA-approved 3-digit combination locks allow your luggage to be inspected by authorities without damage to your lock or bag. An alert indicator lets you know your bag has been opened and inspected.
They come in a colorful 4-pack. They’re easy to use, and you don’t have to worry about whether you’ve lost your keys!
Folding Beard Comb
With its own case, this attractive sandalwood comb sure ranks high on the cuteness scale. Perfect for the bearded traveler who wants to be well groomed without knots or food from his last meal stuck in the crosshairs.
It’s also easy to stash because it’s only 4” when folded.
Folding Travel Hair Brush
I can’t count all the times I’ve left my hair brush at home or on the shelf of a hotel. If you’ve had the same problem, these folding hairbrushes are perfect to keep in your purse.
You’ll want one to fix “bed head” after falling asleep on a flight or to fill in if you can’t find your hairbrush at your destination.
It comes in a set of two (you can use the extra one at the gym). When folded, the brush is only 4 inches long. Inside the handle is a handy 2.5” mirror.
A Magic Hair Potion
Whether you’re male or female, this is the one hair product you’ll want to be sure you have on your trip.
Many travelers don’t want to pack heavy (and possibly leaky) bottles of shampoo and conditioner because most accommodations provide them, although the quality may differ from whatever you use at home.
Olaplex #6 is an almost magical, texture-enhancing potion (recommended by my hairdresser) that will smooth out all the wrinkles caused by harsh hair products. When used before blow drying, it hydrates, moisturizes, and speeds up blow dry times while eliminating frizz and flyaway hair until the next wash.
A Reusable Travel Tote in a Zippered Pouch
These Loqi totes are made of an ultra-light, water-resistant polyester fabric. And they come with a convenient, matching zippered pouch.
The pouch is small and light enough to stuff in a pocket or tucked in a purse or backpack. Thrown in a purse, they’re always available when you least expect to be shopping.
Remarkably, the bag can hold up to 44 pounds, so I’ve used mine to carry water bottles back to my rental property when traveling.
This one has an airport motif but the bags come in a number of different colors and designs. I never leave home without one of these.
A Lightweight Luggage Scale
Having a luggage scale before you board a plane can save you from overweight baggage fees.
Hooked onto your suitcase, this one can give an instant LCD easy-to-read display on any baggage up to 110 pounds. It requires a lithium battery (which is included). This scale is lightweight and pocket-sized.
Handy Phone Lanyard
When traveling, having a cellphone lanyard means your phone is always conveniently located around your neck. No more searching in a pocket or purse to retrieve your phone when you want to take a photo on the spot.
These lanyards don’t block the charging port and can fit most fully covered phone cases. Made of nylon, they hold the phone tightly and come packaged in a pack of four in a variety of colors.
Pretty Compression Socks
Wearing compression socks on a long-haul flight can be a lifesaver, literally.
Some of the benefits of compression socks: They reduce pain, swelling and inflammation; help prevent fluids from pooling in the feet and ankles, promote increased flow toward the heart, and most importantly help prevent blood clots and embolisms.
These socks come in a variety of styles and sizes for men and women.
Travel Electric Toothbrush
Before a trip, travelers often wonder whether or not to bring their electric toothbrush, which can be heavy.
This sleek set of Samseel electric toothbrushes lasts for up to 90 days. The size and packaging is no larger than an ordinary toothbrush but they are three times more effective.
The two-pack comes in two different colors so two traveling companions can share them. If you haven’t used an electric toothbrush before, these will convince you of what you are missing.
Moisturizing Hand Cream
Whether you’re headed to a ski resort or the beach, you’ll want to have hand cream with you, maybe even as close as your purse.
Made in France, the one-ounce travel-size L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream tube will protect and nourish your hands. It’s easily absorbed and leaves no oily residue.
Pack of Disinfectant Wipes
With winter viruses at their peak, travelers will want to be armed with disinfectant wipes to clean the high-touch areas of their hotel room or cruise ship cabin. Some of the most risky items in the room include the TV remote. You’ll also want to wipe down the bathroom counter.
These Clorox Disinfectant Wipes are easy to pack and easy to dispense. They are proven to kill the COVID-19 virus and 99% of other viruses and bacteria. Better safe than sorry!
Flavored Lip Balms
Dry lips happen…at the beach, while skiing, on a windy ship. Burt’s Bee products use natural ingredients and are produced sustainably.
This four-pack has subtle scents and tastes great. They also add a sheen to your lips when worn over lipstick.
Mobile Travel Shaver
This silver-toned Braun travel shaver is lightweight (about 5.5 ounces), compact, and offers a close shave on your face or beard.
It allows you to travel without a cord or bulky charge, and you don’t have to worry about whether or not the shaver fits in the outlet when you’re abroad. The shaver conveniently works on two AA batteries that will last as long as most trips.
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