Essential Medical Gear and Everyday Essentials for Travelers

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There are countless articles about the best travel items: the best travel umbrellas, travel accessories- you name it, you’ve read it. But what about products you use every day that you aren’t going to get a special travel version of? For people who travel a lot, it’s much easier to have the best products that work at home and on the road. We have the best medical equipment and everyday products for travelers. 

Best Travel Products for Chronic Conditions

Best Glasses For Travel

Anyone with glasses has had the unfortunate experience of trying to get comfortable laying their head down with them, which proves uncomfortable when you are on an airplane. Or maybe your headphones dig into the temple of your glasses, causing dents in your temple. Whatever it is, glasses can be annoying when you’re traveling. Since glasses aren’t cheap, it’s doubtful you’d want an everyday pair and a travel pair, so we have a great solution. Glasses that you can use every day but are also great for traveling, like these Optiflex glasses from Zenni. They are super flexible, so they won’t dig into your skin, lightweight and durable. I have never worn more lightweight glasses than these, and I cannot recommend them enough for travel. They are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Please note: a prescription is required for purchase. 

Best Contact Lenses for Travel

Anyone who wears contact lenses has been there: You find yourself dozing on the plane, and when you wake up, your eyes are like sandpaper; they are so dry. So, anyone who travels a lot and wears contacts needs to think about what contacts they use daily. Dailies AquaComfort Plus features a blink-activated moisture technology that keeps your eyes hydrated throughout the day, and daily contact lenses are perfect for travel, as you don’t need to worry about packing solutions or cases – just throw in the number of contacts you need for your trip, and you’re done! Please note: a prescription is required for purchase. 

Best Insulin Carrier for Travel

My sister has had Type 1 diabetes since she was 11, and this carrier has become a lifesaver, even since getting her insulin pump years ago. The cooler pack easily stores and protects two bottles of insulin, keeping it cool for up to 12 hours. It’s excellent for any diabetic to use daily- to take to work, school, and, of course, when on the road. There are pockets for syringes and wipes, and you get two cooler packs- one to use and one to keep in the freezer. 

Best Glucose Monitor for Travel

Many glucose monitors are bulky, with several parts and accessories, making them a pain to travel with. For people with conditions that require them to monitor their glucose, this can be a pain when packing for a trip. The Dario Smart Glucose Monitor Kit offers quick and easy glucose monitoring with six-second results using minimal blood samples. It includes test strips, lancets, and a meter. It can be used with the Dario Health App on iPhone 15s. 

Best Pill Case for Travel

As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve reached the age where I need a pill case to keep track of the pills I take and organize them for am and pm doses. This case is durable for everyday use, but each day has a separate compartment you can pop out to take with you when you go away for less than a week. 

Best C-Pap Machine for Travel 

More and more people are getting their sleep apnea under control. While C-pap machines are medical devices and don’t count towards your carry-on luggage, they are cumbersome, and having an extra bag isn’t fun. Enter the ResMed AirMini Travel CPAP Machine. This mini machine is as big as a smartphone and takes up much less space than its bigger version. It’s also perfect for those with limited space on their bedside table. Please note: a prescription is required for purchase. 

Best Compression Boots for Travel

Compression boots can be a bit cumbersome for those who need them to help with circulation. However, the Normatec Go is a fantastic compression boot for home and on the go. They won’t take up a lot of space in your luggage, are FSA/HSA eligible, and use HyperSync™ technology, which “synchronizes the set of wearables to give you a symmetrical massage with 3 zones of 360-degree gapless compression.” 

Best Blood Pressure Monitor for Travel

Going away may prove stressful for anyone who needs to monitor their blood pressure (and not help that blood pressure!) Luckily, the OMRON Evolv Bluetooth Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor is reliable, easy to use, and ultra-compact- the perfect option for anyone who needs to check their blood pressure at home or on the road. Instead of having a tube connecting the armband to the monitor, the monitor is built into the armband, meaning less bulk for your suitcase. It will record your readings using the Omron app on your phone for easy logging. 

Best Nebulizer for Travel

Unfortunately, people with asthma occasionally need a nebulizer, even when traveling. The Mayluck Portable Nebulizer is perfect for keeping tucked away in your medicine cabinet at home for home use but is compact enough to throw into your suitcase easily. It has two modes: mode 10 for a strong mist (best for adults) and Mode 20 for a weaker mist (best for kids and the elderly). It has auto cleaning and lets you know when the water is low. 

Best Oxygen Concentrator for Travel

While portable oxygen concentrators may not be ideal for every day use, they are vital for people who rely on them and want to travel. The Inogen One G4 Portable Oxygen Concentrator weighs less than three pounds, has three pulse dose settings, and has an optional extended battery for up to five hours of use time on the lowest setting. It’s FAA-approved, making it perfect for jetsetters.  Please note: a prescription is required for purchase. 

Best Travel Products for Mobility Issues

Best Cane for Travel 

If you need a cane, either occasionally or whenever you walk a good, durable, fold-up cane is vital for ease of storage. The HurryCane Freedom Foldable Walking Cane is lightweight, folds to under 14 inches, has a broad steadi-grip base, and has a large, ergonomic handle. 

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Best Wheelchair for Travel

For persons who use wheelchairs, traveling with a lightweight, easily foldable wheelchair is key to making travel more accessible. The Featherweight Wheelchair weighs just nineteen pounds with the wheels on (thirteen and a half with them off), the wheels easily pop off, and you can effortlessly fold it up for easy storage or stowing away on an airplane. 

Best Crutches for Travel

Imagine you have a dream vacation planned, but you break your ankle a week before you are supposed to leave. Rather than postpone your trip, you’ll want the best pair of crutches to take with you. Or, perhaps you use crutches regularly for mobility and love to travel- you want to make sure the crutches you choose will be easy to transport. The 7G Ergobaum crutches from Ergoactives provide comfort in an easily foldable design- perfect for on the go and at home. They feature adjustable settings, padded cuffs, and shock absorbers, are recommended by medical professionals, and are suitable for adults of various heights and weights.

Best Walker for Travel 

Walkers are essential for a smooth travel experience for anyone needing extra help walking. The Stander Wonder Rollator Plus easily folds up, has a seat that holds up to 250 pounds, is compact, and weighs less than fifteen pounds. It’s available in black, pink, or blue. 

Other Everyday Products For Travelers

Best Water Bottle for Travel 

Staying hydrated is critical, whether you are traveling or at home. Finding a water bottle that is lightweight enough for traveling but durable enough for everyday use is a challenge, but the Yonder water bottle from Yeti fits the bill. It’s lightweight enough so that it won’t weigh down your bag, but it is super durable, and it will last even if you use it every day—carting it around from your house to work and beyond. 

Best Flats for Travel 

I got my Allbirds for a trip to Europe, thinking they’d become my perfect travel shoes—which they did. However, they are also my perfect everyday shoe. I wear them all the time. They are perfect for throwing on to bring my son to the bus stop, heading to the grocery store, or meeting a friend for dinner. They are comfortable, washable, and easily roll up for easy packing. 

Best Headphones For Travel 

You can’t beat Bose QuietComfort Headphones for everyday use or travel. One traveler and everyday user claims, “The noise canceling is the best I’ve experienced, and I can adjust the level of noise cancellation…They have an epic battery life that allows me to use them with full noise cancellation for a full workday and still have battery left for evening entertainment.” As for comfort? He comfortably wears them for eight hours plus a day and has used them on flights without issue. 

Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds For Travel

Our Executive Editor Caroline swears by the Sleep A20 Noise-Cancelling Earbuds to get a good night’s sleep wherever she is: home, camping, or in a hotel. She uses them every night and says they are amazing for travel if you are a light sleeper. They have 14 hours of battery life, include a customizable white noise library, and have a Bluetooth connection if you have a favorite noise you like to fall asleep to. Their design makes them comfortable, even side sleepers, no matter what position you sleep in. 

Best Hair Dryer For Travelers

It may seem hard to believe that a travel hair dryer is good enough to use daily, but Smartertravel Editor Carol swears by this hairdryer from Conair all year long. She says, “It’s great for apartments with smaller bathrooms since it folds up for storage or packing.” It does a great job getting her “very thick,” short hair dry. If you’re like me and need a diffuser for your curly, frizzy hair, pair it with this collapsable diffuser, which folds up nicely to pack in your suitcase easily.  

Best Umbrella for Travel

There is no reason to have more than one umbrella – and with this umbrella, you won’t want any other one, no matter where you are. This super compact umbrella can withstand up to 72MPH winds, is made with heavy-duty yet flexible materials for durability, and opens up to 39.4 inches for the ultimate coverage. Available in fifteen colors. 

Best Tablet for Travel 

Tablets are incredibly convenient for travel and are perfect for browsing social media or the internet while winding down for the evening at home. While Kindle Fires are great for an e-reader, their internet usage is less than stellar. So, instead of having two tablets, I love an iPad to take on the road with me—the web functionality is amazing, I use the Kindle app for reading, and I even got a handy case that has a built-in keyboard for easy typing. 

Best Sound Machine for Travel

I can’t sleep without some sort of white noise, so I love traveling with a sound machine. While a small one like this is great to take along on a trip, it’s just one other thing to keep track of, and it only has three sounds to choose from. This one is compact, has fifteen different non-looping sounds to choose from, and a timer. 

Best Wearable Blanket/Throw for Travel

While toddlers are known for their security blankets, many adults have them too. Imagine a wrap so cozy, indestructible, and soft you use it every day at home and take it with you when you travel – but you don’t look like Linus from Peanuts. That is what Chappywrap’s Herringbone Shawl comes in. It’s insanely cozy, machine washable, and comes in six colors. You won’t want to take it off- no matter where you are.

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