Best Travel Gadgets for Backpackers 2024

Want to try backpacking for the first time or just want to update the list of items to take on your next trip? Our picks for the best travel gadgets for backpackers include essential backpacking gear that you need either for camping or for traveling around Europe on a budget. Some of these are useful for both.

What all of the best backpacking accessories have in common is the fact that they’re pretty compact and lightweight because backpack space is limited and not everyone can carry really heavy loads for more than a few minutes. If that sounds good to you then read on to know how to prepare for any upcoming backpacking trips on your calendar! We have 10 products in all.

If you’re packing for a different kind of trip, there are a few other necessary travel accessories that you should not forget to pack. And here’s a another list for 2020 that should help just as well.

 

EcoGear FX Tactical Flashlight

Whether you’re camping or going back to your hostel late at night, a flashlight comes in very handy. The EcoGear FX Tactical Flashlight features multiple light modes that illuminate with wide spread, and if you need to focus a narrow but intense light beam on a specific area in the distance, it comes with a zoom lens to do this. One of the light modes is the Strobe Light, which comes in handy for self defense to shock an attacker’s vision. An SOS mode is there if you ever need help. There is a memory function if you want the flashlight to remember the last used light mode.

This flashlight features military grade aluminum alloy construction with a high quality LED chip. On a fully charged battery the output is between 900 lumens at its highest setting and 1200 lumens when using the zoom feature.

 

Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink

Washing your utensils and maybe even your clothes while camping just got easier with the Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink. It is a portable kitchen sink that, depending on the size, can be filled with water from any source like a river and then used to wash your dinner pots and cutlery up. You can use a bigger capacity sink to wash your clothes if you’re going to be out that long and even for personal bath water. The smallest sink makes a great water bowl for your dog. Once you’re done, instead of dumping the dirty soapy water into the river, you can empty the sink out into the ground, perhaps under a tree. This helps by not polluting the natural fresh water sources that are in danger of becoming unusable.

The nylon sink has a rigid steel ring that keeps the sides from collapsing when it’s full and the broad base ensures that it won’t tip over. The seams are waterproof so it won’t leak and it can withstand the use of detergent and a temperature of up to up to 140 F. Two carry handles on the rim make it easy to move even when full. After emptying the water out, just push down on the rim to collapse the sink into a flat package that is secured by the snap buckle strap.

There are three sizes available – a 5 Liter size for holding 1.3 gallons, a 10 Liter or 2.6 gallon size, and a 20 Liter size for holding 5.2 gallons.

 

Anker 6700mAh Astro E1 Candy-Bar Sized Ultra Compact Portable Charger

Don’t get caught out with a dying a phone when you need it the most. The very light and compact Anker 6700mAh Astro E1 Portable Charger will fit in your pocket or purse and can be used anywhere to fully recharge an iPhone 7 or 6s twice, or a 7 plus, Nexus 5 or Galaxy S8 one in about 5.5 hours or less. You get a Micro USB cable along with it or you can use your phone’s original cable, but it is also compatible with a 1A adapter or lightning cable if you have it.

It works well for most Apple and Android smartphones and tablets and even a 12 inch Macbook, but won’t work for some GPS and Bluetooth devices or devices like HP TouchPad, Asus tablets or iPods.

 

Anker 21W Dual USB Solar Charger

When you need to recharge more than one device over a few days because there will be no electricity where you’re going, there’s no better solution than getting a solar charger like the Anker 21W Dual USB Solar Charger. This is especially good for backpackers, because it’s designed to work under direct sunlight.

You can charge two devices simultaneously with a charging speed of up to 2.4 amps per port, or 3 amps overall for just one device at a time. This durable charger uses a 21 watt SunPower solar array from PET polymer faced solar panels that are sewn into a polyester canvas for outdoor weather resistance. Again, this is a very lightweight and compact device tat can be folded into a thin package to be stored in your backpack, or can be hung off the back of your pack via the inbuilt stainless steel hooks to get recharged while you hike, or off a tree branch or your tent while you camp. You also get a 3 foot long Micro USB cable.

 

 

MiniPresso GR Espresso Maker

Freshly brewed espresso even if there’s no power outlet to be seen? Sign me up! The MiniPresso GR Espresso Maker is a handheld portable espresso machine that’s really light and compact. It has an inbuilt storage cup for your own espresso coffee grounds and its own scoop to measure out and fill the filter basket. Just tamp down with a little pressure, close the compartment, fill hot water in the water tank, and release the piston that was locked into position when not in use. Positioning the machine above your cup, just pump a few times to get the piston to force the hot water through the tightly packed coffee grounds under pressure. Your brew will squirt out until there’s no more left to extract and you’ll get a nice concentrated shot of espresso even with a nice crema!

You’ll get up to 50 ml per operation of this travel espresso maker and you don’t need a power outlet or batteries to work it.

 

GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier + Filter Bottle

If you’re going anyplace that might have a clean drinking water issue, don’t add to the planet’s woes by buying and drinking bottles water. Use whichever fresh water source you have and purify the water with the GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier. Whether it’s from a stream in the woods or the kitchen sink tap at the hostel, simply fill the outer refill of this bottle, press the filter back in, and you’ll have clean drinking water in 15 seconds.

The purifier gets rid of particulate matter from silt and sediments, many chemicals (ever encountered heavily chlorinated drinking water?), heavy metals like lead and arsenic, and all viruses and bacteria that cause illness. The different layers of the purifier use different purification methods targeted at each kind of impurity so you won’t have to worry about getting sick everytime you need a drink of water.

 

Sea to Summit DryLite Towel

If you don’t want to use hotel provided towels or need to pack your own towel for camping, a regular towel is most likely going to be damp when it’s time to pack it up. That’s going to cause a stink in your backpack even if there’s a separate space for damp items. Instead take the Sea to Summit DryLite Towel, which is made of microfiber with a soft suede finish that’s very absorbent and quick to dry. It’s also perfect for backpacking, as it’s very light and compact.

You can choose from a few different colors and the sizes range from X-small that’s a hand towel size, to X-large – a beach towel size. Since these towels are so light and compact, you could easily get a two in different sizes.

 

BRAVE ERA 100% Mulberry Silk Hypoallergenic Luxury Travel Sheet

Whether you’re camping out in the open or staying at hostels, encountering less than hygienic places to sleep on is common. That’s why your own travel sheet like the BRAVE ERA Silk Hypoallergenic Luxury Travel Sheet is a good thing to carry with you.

Weighing less than 6 ounces, this sheet can accommodate anyone up to 6’6″ tall. It has an inbuilt pillow case pocket too. The hypoallergenic silk is a natural fiber, so it regulates temperature and doesn’t trap heat or cold inside. Those with sensitive skin will love it too as it protects against dust mites, allergens and the effects of strong detergents left unwashed from hotel sheets. It can even form another barrier to mosquitoes and bed bugs. After waking up, you can either fold it up into a small bundle and pack it back into the included drawstring bag or give it a quick wash first. It dries super fast so it’ll be ready to pack in no time.

 

JOBY GorillaPod SLR Zoom & Ballhead

If you love travel in general you should be preserving your memories of all those wonderful destinations. But not all pictures will come out well if you just hold your camera in your hand, especially night shots. Time lapse shots are just easier to take if you have a tripod. Since a regular tripod is too big and awkward to backpack around with, the JOBY GorillaPod SLR Zoom & Ballhead is a better option all around. This durable, lightweight tripod can wrap its legs around any object like a tree branch or street lamp pole, so you don’t need a level and stable surface to set it up. If you do set it on some uneven terrain, its rubberized feet will keep it stable. It can hold SLR and mirrorless cameras up to 6.6 lbs in weight using an adapter and mount that stay on the tripod at all times. You get 360 degree panning so you can take as many panorama shots as you want.

 

 

Sandisk CZ48 128GB USB 3.0 Flash memory Drive

If you take your work with you when you travel or take a lot of pictures, you really should back everything up in case something happens to your laptop or you run out of memory space on your camera. The
Sandisk CZ48 128GB USB 3.0 Flash memory Drive provides enough storage for the most avid photographer and is USB 3.0 enabled but also USB 2.0 backward compatible. Transfer speed is fast and up to 100MB/sec. You also get a 1 year subscription to the Rescue PRO Deluxe file recovery software.