NBC Select Travel Awards 2024: The best travel accessories

At NBC Select, we spend hours researching and testing products so that you can be more selective about the things you buy. With our first-ever NBC Select Best of Travel Awards, we spent months thoroughly testing numerous products that cover a wide range of travel categories. We traveled across the globe to Japan with hardshell suitcases, we took train rides from our New York City office to test weekenders and duffel bags and we tried packing cubes, toiletry bags, noise-canceling headphones and more. After all that testing, our editors sat down to choose products deserving of the Travel Award winner’s stamp of approval.

Below, we’ve rounded up the best travel accessories, including earbuds, Bluetooth trackers, neck pillows, packing cubes, and more. We’ve also included information about how we evaluated each product.

SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best travel accessories | Best travel accessories

We consider travel accessories all the little odds and ends that end up inside your travel bag — tools and knick-knacks that make any trip more enjoyable. We focused on headphones, Bluetooth trackers, travel pillows, toiletries, packing cubes and more.

Products endured an eight-week trial before being selected as our favorite. In some cases, winners were products staffers have used for years before testing. Each accessory category required different testing:

• We tried headphones and earbuds in different settings: a coffee shop, airport, train station, and hotel. We made notes on sound quality, noise-canceling capabilities, battery life, comfort, and portability.
• We tried travel pillows in real and mock airplane seating. Did the pillow feel supportive and comfortable? Was it easy to store in a bag?
• We tested the range of different Bluetooth trackers and how easy they were to setup.
• We tossed our toiletry bags around and ran them under the sink to test what “waterproof” really means.
• We stuffed our packing cubes to the brim and tested how they held their shape and how the zippers held up when fully packed.

We did all of this and more to select our favorite travel accessories. All of our winners performed well in our tests and were great products to use.

<https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/best-suitcases-travel-awards-2024-rcna158269>

Best over-ear headphones: Bose QuietComfort Headphones

A good pair of over-ear headphones can make any plane ride more comfortable, more relaxing and more enjoyable. These over-ear headphones from Bose do just that with their excellent automated noise canceling, light and compact design, good battery life and durable carrying case. They connect via Bluetooth but also come with a wired cable that plugs into things like seatback entertainment systems. “They are my go-to travel headphones, and that’s saying a lot because I test out a lot of different headphones,” says NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz.

Best earbuds for iPhone: Apple Airpods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)

These are some of the best wireless earbuds for the iPhone in general, not just for travel. What makes them good for travel is their pocketable size, great noise canceling and transparency modes, and easy pairing with all your Apple devices. Multiple NBC Select staff use these headphones for travel. While they don’t deliver as much noise canceling as over-ear headphones, they are much smaller to pack, and when you are tight on space, every inch counts.

Best earbuds for Android: Sony WF-1000XM5

If you have an Android phone and want to immerse yourself in your favorite music or podcast, these Sony earbuds do just that. They have excellent audio quality, with clear, detailed instrumentation across all genres. With eight hours of battery life, they can last through most flights — if they run out, you can put them back in their charging case for up to 24 hours more on time.

Best iOS Bluetooth tracker: AirTag 4-Pack

“I use Apple AirTags for all kinds of travel: everything from international trips to commuting to work,” says Rabinowitz. He has one in his work backpack, his suitcase and his keys. You can use the Apple FindMy app to pinpoint the exact location of your AirTag if it’s within 30 feet. If it’s outside that range, the app will point to the location via maps. AirTags only work with iPhone and Apple devices, Android owners should consider another Bluetooth tracker like the Tile Pro.

Best Android Bluetooth tracker: Tile Pro 2-Pack

Android owners can attach these Bluetooth trackers to anything they want the exact location of: think keys, luggage or a bike. Using the Tile app, you can pinpoint the location of the tile from up to 400 feet away using the Tile app. You can also ping the tile, it will ring audible to help you locate it.

Outside of 400 feet, the app will give a more approximate location on a map using the Tile Network. Like the Apple AirTag, the battery lasts up to a year, and is easily replaceable.

Best portable charger: Anker 523 PowerCore Portable Charger

This portable charger has saved Rabinowitz’s phone from dying dozens of times — without it, he would be lost somewhere on the streets of London with a dead phone and no maps app to save him. It can fully recharge a phone or tablet on the go, and has a USB-A and USB-C port, meaning it can connect to all sorts of cables and devices. Jordan Bowman, NBC Select commerce editor is also a fan of the Anker portable charger, which he used extensively during a trip to Japan. “I was able to keep exploring the city without worrying about my phone losing all its battery and turning into a brick,” he says. 

Best in-flight gadget: Twelve South AirFly SE

This little dongle is an essential travel gadget for anyone with Bluetooth earbuds or headphones — it lets you connect to a plane’s seatback TV wirelessly. It’s a must-have for NBC Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez, who travels regularly with the wireless Apple AirPods Max.

After an initial pairing process, the AirFly will recognize your wireless device whenever it is on and near it, says Rodriguez. It’s small enough to fit into any carry-on or personal item, and it has lasted multiple four hour flights without a need for a recharge.

Best travel blanket: Rumpl Packable Travel Blanket

NBC Select production coordinator Kelsey Fredricks says the Rumpl packable blanket kept her warm during her seven-hour flight to Ireland. “Overall, I am very impressed by the design of this blanket and think it’s a must-have for anyone who gets cold on flights,” she says. You can also store the blanket back inside the carrying pouch, which is about the size of a medium-sized Nalgene bottle, so it takes up less space in your bags or suitcase. It’s also a great option for anyone going on an outdoor trip, thanks to its insulation and water resistance. Plus, you can easily clean off your blanket by throwing it in the washing machine. 

Best jewelry case: Dagne Dover Frankie Jewelry Case

Jewelry is an essential part of travel for many, but storage has been challenging for our staff in the past. “This little case is the perfect compact size, and it doesn’t take up much room in my backpack or weekender, which is where my jewelry lives when I’m traveling,” says NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin. She loves that each side of the interior has organizational slots and loops for different sized necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets. The case is made with recycled polyester, microfiber and silicone. 

Best luggage scale: Etekcity Heavy Duty Luggage Scale

We used this Etekcity Heavy Duty portable scale to test the weight of all the suitcases and bags for the Travel Awards. You can easily hook your suitcase onto the scale for a quick reading before you need to check your bag for any international flights. We found it to have an accurate sensor with a weight limit of up to 110 lbs. It’s a must have accessory for frequent travelers, thanks to its affordable price and portable design. 

Best Pillow: Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow

The Ostrichpillow Go was selected as a Travel Awards favorite thanks to its ergonomic design and comfort. During a recent trip, NBC Select senior social media editor Rosalie Sparaco, used the Go travel pillow and liked the memory foam core, which offered great support. “I also discovered that you could use this to double as an eye mask/pillow and lean against the side of the plane if you have a window seat,” she says. One minor setback for Sparaco was the amount of space that the Go travel pillow took up in her bag. 

Best Toiletry Bag: Bagsmart Toiletry Bag

Multiple NBC Select editors used the Bagsmart Toiletry bag during trips and found it to be useful, thanks to its spaciousness and multiple compartments, making it easier to organize makeup, skin care or any other items. “I use this bag every time I go on longer trips because it’s so spacious,” says NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio. “I like that it extends and has multiple compartments, so it’s like having multiple different bags all pressed into one.” 

Best Packing Cubes: Quince Revive Nylon Eco Compression Cubes (6-Pack)

Packing cubes can turn into travel life savers. They can help you easily compress and organize all of your items before you start your trip. “I have used a lot of different packing cubes and these were great. Love the expandability, love the material and love that cushioning,” says NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin. We were also able to stuff multiple shirts inside the largest packing cube and compress them down to a more suitable size. Fredricks says the packing cube also held its shape well even after stuffing her packing cubes fully. 

Products underwent an eight-week trial before being selected as our favorite in their respective categories. We utilized our editors as shopping and trying experts. Each editor was given the same criteria during the testing period to ensure each item was held to the same standards and procedures. You can read more about our process here.

When a product carries the NBC Select badge, you can trust that our team of editors as shopping experts and professionals vetted the item thoroughly. First and foremost, we are journalists, so we will always do our research and reporting.