As Wirecutter’s senior editor overseeing travel-gear reviews, I know all too well that, for most people, summer travel rarely involves jetting off to glamorous destinations with a fancy aluminum Rimowa trunk in tow.
In fact, I write this as I recover from a four-day road trip from California to Calgary, sharing an EV with two dear friends, their adorable toddler, and two large, fluffy, equally adorable dogs.
I brought no fancy luggage—just a carry-on backpack roomy enough to hold my clothes, squishable enough to wedge into the overpacked frunk, and comfortable enough to wear while I waited in a seemingly endless TSA line. (I flew home!)
Here at Wirecutter, we see a lot of seemingly helpful but actually useless travel paraphernalia for sale, meant to appeal to anxious travelers braced for any eventuality.
What we actually recommend—after months of testing on trips like the one I just took—is the luggage, bags, and other gear that will truly make your journeys easier. The carry-on backpack I used, for instance.
I can’t promise that this particular bag will be on sale during Prime Day, but I can promise that all of the deals listed below are for things that we’ve tested, that we use ourselves, and that we stand by.
An Amazon Prime account may be required to secure the deal prices below.
