My 16 Favorite Pieces of Travel & Camping Gear in 2024 

Whether it’s gear for international flights, backpacking, or general travel, I have a clear list of favorites. Some of it is clothing, some of it is shoes, and some of it is equipment, but I use all of it religiously. 

I’m the type of person that when I find something I love, I will use it until the day I die and rebuy it again and again if needed. My sleeping pad that my cat just popped is listed below and a clear example of something that I ruined, and I need the exact thing again. Every single item on this list I would buy again if it was lost or worn out, and I think that says a lot. 

I’ve purchased most of these items myself, although some were gifted to me by brands. Either way, I’m not being paid to make this list by anybody, although some of the links are affiliate links. My main reason for making this article is because I hate wasting my money on shitty gear that doesn’t live up to the hype. And trust me, I’ve done that a lot. Learn from my mistakes, and I hope you find all the gear you need, whether shopping for yourself or for a loved one! 

My Favorite Pieces of Travel & Camping Gear in 2024 

1. LARQ Water Bottle 

I’ve raved about this water bottle on every platform, and if you follow me, you likely know how much I love the LARQ PureVis. The bottle uses UV-C LED lights to purify water. It is my main source of filtering water while backpacking, camping, and traveling. One charge lasts me 4+ days in the backcountry with constant use. I’ve used it all over the world to filter water. It also self-cleaning. I just love technology! 

2. REI Puffer Jacket 

I bought this jacket during the REI Sale last spring, and it has been on every trip in the mountains with me since. It doesn’t cost $200+ dollars like some other down jackets and keeps me plenty warm in the backcountry. It also is extremely lightweight and takes up virtually no room in my pack. 

3. Teva Sandals

I basically live in my Teva Sandals. I have two pairs, and I do everything in them. Travel, hike, casual walks around town, etc. I bring them on backpacking trips to wear around camp, and I bring them internationally because they are comfortable walking/exploring shoes. No matter where I go, I’ll have a pair with me. 

4. Jackery Power Station

Having an additional power source on the road has made all the difference! It is a bit of an expense, but I have zero regrets with the purchase. It would easily fit in the car for tent camping and can run Starlink for 16 hours. Better yet - it fully charges in 1 hour! Make a quick stop at a coffee shop and you’ll be good to go again at full charge in no time. In addition, it’s also a great backup source in case you ever lose power at your house. The EcoFlow is a great off-brand alternative to the Jackey. It has similar features with slightly less watt hours, so if you are looking for something similar for a cheaper price, try that! The only reason I didn't get that one is that it took three weeks to arrive with shipping, and I needed to fix my power issues ASAP. 

5. Decathlon Inflatable Pillow 

I worked with Decathlon a few years ago and got a gift card to their store as payment. I bought a paddleboard and this inflatable pillow, and I’ve used the pillow religiously ever since! I use it not just for backpacking, but I also bring it on planes for overnight flights. It takes up virtually no space and is WAY more comfortable than any neck pillow I’ve ever owned. 10/10. 

6. Packable REI Windbreaker 

I bought this at the same time as the down jacket mentioned above, and my thoughts on it are very similar. It packs into a very small, lightweight case that can be brought anywhere. It’s warm, and I love that it has an attached hood. This pullover and the other REI jackets are the only jackets I bring on backpacking trips - and I bring them both! 

7. NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

I am heartbroken because we went on a backpacking trip with our cat last weekend, which ended in my NEMO sleeping pad being popped. Let’s just say there was an incident with a pine marten coming to say hello and a minor freakout from Mavs, who was sleeping in the tent. Needless to say, I will be purchasing the same sleeping pad again because I loved it so much. Worth every penny! 

8. Pendleton Outdoor Packable Blanket

I originally bought a packable blanket from Pendleton on a whim, and it quickly became one of my favorite pieces of gear to bring with me on road trips. It packs up incredibly easily and has SO many uses. I throw it over my shoulders when I’m cold, lay it on the ground to watch the stars or use it as a tablecloth over a picnic table. It washes super easily, which makes it all the better. 

9. Osprey 46L Backpack 

I first saw this backpack on a group trip to Peru when another traveler had it. I immediately was like “I need that in my life ASAP” and ordered it the moment I got home. It is carry-on size, which makes it all the better. This backpack has been with me from Bali to Greece, and a lot of places in between. It’s not a great backpacking backpack, but it is a great travel backpack for places you wouldn’t want to lug around a suitcase. 

10. Timberland Hiking Boots 

I’m on my second pair of Timberland hiking boots, and will likely buy the same pair again next summer. Yes, I’ve gone through almost two pairs, but I should let you know how much I hike, backpack, and climb mountains in these things. I put hundreds and hundreds of miles on them every summer, which includes a ton of off-trail terrain, shitty rock, and scrambling. They hold up! I’m about to wear them on an 80-mile trek through Patagonia. They are warm, super waterproof, and have great ankle support. 

11. Fire Maple Camping Stove 

It’s the exact same thing as the Jetboil stove, except it’s half the price. I hate paying more just for a brand name, and the Fire Maple is the perfect off-brand solution for a camping stove. I’ve owned mine for years, and it is still going strong. I bring this one on backpacking trips, but I have another stove I recommend for car camping listed at #16. 

12. Rechargeable Headlamps from Amazon 

We’ve tried a lot of different headlamps in our life, and we always go back to these ones from Amazon, which is great because they are way cheaper than some of the other brands like REI, Black Diamond, etc. but are much more powerful. We also love that they are rechargable. I bring them camping and also just throw it in my suitcase a lot - you never know when headlamps are going to come in handy! 

13. Royal Robbins Wool Hooded Sweatshirt

I’m an affiliate with Royal Robbin, and they occasionally send me some clothing to try out. I instantly fell in love with this hemp long sleeve camp shirt and this wool hooded sweatshirt. It is SO much warmer than I expected, and I will be wearing it all fall and winter and spring…and probably summer.

14. ORI London Backpack

Similar to Royal Robbins, my ORI backpack was gifted, but holy hell, I love it. It quickly became my go-to carry-on backpack. It has tons of space, it’s comfortable, and yet still fits easily at my feet when needed. Right after they sent it to me, I took it on a trip to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and it’s been with me on every other plane trip since then. 

15. Amazon Sunglasses (2-pack) 

There’s nothing quite like these two–pack sunglasses from Amazon for $12.99. I buy these sunglasses about twice a year because I lose mine quite often. 

16. Coleman Camp Stove 

I originally bought this stove in 2016 when we decided to live in a van for seven months. We loved it then, but when you moved out of the van, I’m not quite sure where it went. When I built out my truck camper, I bought the same stove again and use it all the time on the road. It’s the perfect size for a van or truck camper or even just cooking at a picnic table at camp. Better yet, it’s super affordable!

My Favorite Pieces of Travel & Camping Gear in 2024 

There you go! Here are my favorite pieces of travel & camping gear for this year. Many of these items have been my favorites for years, while others I recently found through trial and error of other products. It's a great feeling to finally have a list of products you know, love, and will use for years to come. If you buy one of these products or more, I hope you love them as much as I do!