The Top 7 Travel Essentials of 2025, From $10

With just three months left in the year, we’re looking back on 2025’s biggest travel trends so far. Between TikTok’s viral “airport theory” challenge and glamorous, in-flight beauty routines, innovation and efficiency appear to be two common threads tying them all together—and that goes for this year’s top trending travel products, as well.

Curious to know which travel essentials are dominating 2025 so far? Keep scrolling; from the internet’s favorite wear-everywhere clogs to this year’s “It” water bottle, these are the 7 travel products that are taking our timelines by storm this year, all available at Amazon.

The Top 2025 Travel Essentials so Far

Loafers and Clogs

Rothy’s The Casual Clog

Step aside, sneakers—loafers and clogs are having their moment in 2025. Comfy, classic, and easy to slip on and off, it’s no wonder that these two shoes hit a peak in popularity among travelers this year. Some specific styles have been topping the charts across social media, though. 

Originally released back in 1976, the Birkenstock Boston Clog has become all the rage once more, thanks to their versatility and contoured cork footbeds. Rothy’s The Casual Clog, with its cozy wool uppers and chic, understated silhouette, also made waves this year, earning a reputation as a comfortable, elevated travel shoe option. As for loafers? The Oprah-loved Vionic Uptown loafers, as well as the Sam Edelman Lorraine and Rothy’s The Driving Loafer have been in the limelight this year for their ability to elevate any travel wardrobe.

Carry-on Bags

Samsonite Freeform Carry-on

Between airlines rolling back their free checked bag policies and the hassle of delayed or lost luggage, it seems as though more travelers than ever are opting to travel light. Going carry-on-only has been one of 2025’s biggest travel trends thus far, and our readers made it very clear which carry-ons were worth the investment.

The Samsonite Freeform Carry-on, equipped with a TSA-approved zipper lock, two inches of expansion, and whisper-quiet wheels, was a 2025 fan favorite among both T+L editors and subscribers. It’s organized, lightweight, and didn’t buckle after several thwacks with a baseball bat in our testing studio. Did we mention it also comes with a 10-year warranty?

Luggage Scales

Travel Inspira Luggage Scale

The verdict is in: paying an overweight checked bag fee is so last year. Similar to going carry-on-only, luggage scales have become increasingly popular this year among budget-conscious travelers. This year, the Travel Inspira Luggage Scale has been leading the charge in this category as Amazon’s number one best-selling luggage scale and the best overall luggage scale we’ve tested thus far.

On sale for $10, this nifty gadget has an LCD display that accurately shows you how much your luggage weighs, down to the first decimal point. Tens of thousands of shoppers have given this scale a five-star rating, with one traveler saying it’s a “travel MVP” that’s worth its weight in gold. “On my last trip, I was just under the limit thanks to this scale,” they wrote. “No repacking in line. No surprise charges. No stress. That peace of mind alone is worth every penny.”

Insulated Water Bottles

Owala FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle

With the costs of rent, food, and, well… everything else skyrocketing this year, frequent fliers have been watching their budgets more closely in 2025 than ever before. That means cutting corners wherever possible, and one increasingly popular method involves ditching store-bought plastic water bottles for durable, reusable insulated water bottles. 

While water bottle brands Hydro Flask and Stanley still have huge, dedicated fan bases, Owala was the clear frontrunner this year. Specifically, the Owala FreeSip—with its fun color combinations and multiple drinking methods—had been purchased over 40,000 times on Amazon in the last month alone.

Lounge Sets

Anrabess Wide-leg Lounge Set

Cozy lounge sets take the guesswork out of building an outfit, so it’s no wonder that they were the airplane uniform of choice among frequent fliers this year. From knit cardigan combos to hooded sweatsuits, matching sets made their mark in 2025. This preppy Anrabess Lounge Set, which includes a half-zip pullover and relaxed, wide-leg sweatpants, was one that our readers couldn’t get enough of. 

Packing Cubes

Basmart 6-set Compression Packing Cubes

Packing cubes have been a longstanding favorite among T+L editors for staying organized, so naturally, we’re excited to see other travellers hopping on the bandwagon this year. Interest in packing cubes has skyrocketed among our readers in 2025, with one certain kind of packing cube earning extra acclaim.

Compression packing cubes—that is, packing cubes that can squeeze any extra air out of your clothes—were all the rage this year. These genius suitcase organizers can condense your outfits to a fraction of the size they’d normally take up, freeing up extra space in your bag. While there are over 1,000 different compression packing cubes to choose from on Amazon alone, this 6-pack from Bagsmart gets our vote for the best overall set. Bonus? It’s on sale right now for $40.

Apple AirTags

Apple AirTag 4-pack

From locating lost luggage to tracking down stolen vehicles, Apple AirTags have been making waves in the news this year. We wish we could say that we’re surprised by the attention they’re getting, but all T+L editors know that they’re well worth the hype.

These tiny, disc-like GPS trackers deliver location updates directly to your phone’s Find My app, helping you keep tabs on your most prized possessions. You can clip them onto your keys, slip them into your wallet, stash them in your checked suitcase, attach them to your pet’s collar, or even put them in your glove compartment to save you time hunting down your car in a packed airport parking lot. 

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