Looking for the best travel gear for all your 2026 travel? Travis and Emily are joined by 10xTravel’s social media manager and resident packing expert, Lovan Edwards, to unpack the exact items they bring on every trip. The crew covers luggage picks, backpack setups, flight accessories, and more!
From heated vests to Bluetooth-enabled sleep masks to ultra-efficient backpacks, they're breaking down what actually works after hundreds of flights, international trips, and long travel days. Whether you're a carry-on loyalist or an occasional checker, you’ll walk away with practical, tried-and-tested ideas to upgrade your next trip.
What the episode covers:
Carry-on vs. checked bag strategies
Why the right luggage style changes everything
The backpack features that matter most when traveling
✈️ Essential in-flight comfort items
The travel tech we depend on (chargers, mounts, cables, organizers)
Our favorite wellness and sleep tools for long flights
Space-saving items we wish we had earlier
In this episode:
00:00 Introduction and Icebreaker
01:20 Travel Gear Fails
05:53 Debate: Checked Bags vs. Carry-On
11:04 Luggage Preferences: Clamshell vs. Top Load
18:48 Backpack Essentials
30:39 Travel Must-Haves: Headphones and Chapstick
35:04 Heated Vest Demonstration
37:20 Travel Gear Essentials
39:29 Packing Tips and Tricks
40:53 Travel Hygiene and Health
45:03 Travel Organization Debate
55:08 Tech and Gadgets for Travel
01:07:11 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Links and Resources from this Episode:
Take Our Free Points and Miles Course
New To Points and Miles? Listen to Episodes 1-6 of the podcast
Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)
My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place
Let us book your next award flight for you
Upgrade your next stay with our Luxury Hotel Program
Get free, personalized advice on choosing your next card
10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today
Join us at an upcoming Meetup
Stay Connected:
Join our Community: 10xTravel Insiders
Follow us on Instagram: @10xTravelblog
Watch this and every episode of Takeoff on YouTube: @10xTravel
Subscribe for more tips on travel, points, and miles! Don’t forget to hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode.
Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this website are from companies which 10xTravel will earn an affiliate commission. 10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.
