So incredibly easy to create this quality tag. Just one heads up: Your photo prints on both sides, so if you want it to work as a luggage identifier for anyone other than yourself, you’ll need to do some doctoring.

The Dalai Lama reportedly wears the one above while gardening. Hunter S. Thompson was cremated in his signature T3. True, Tilley’s offerings aren’t exactly fashion forward, but the brand’s many devotees swear it’s the ultimate trusty travel hat for reasons beyond super sun and rain protection. They float, for example, and are guaranteed for life. I love the secret stash pocket. Hmmm. Wonder what Hunter S. kept in his?

Help her take advantage of the brief window in life when it’s almost always acceptable to fudge the line between clothes and costumes.

Undergarments, for men and women, with a tagline: “17 countries. 6 weeks. And one pair of underwear.” They’re odor-resistant, wicking and comfortable; and they dry in a couple of hours. (ExO advocates regular nightly washouts.) I test drove these and do recommend. Though personally? I’ll roll with two pair.

Holy super pen. Without hesitation, this baby writes post-flight, upside-down, in temps down to -30 F and up to 250 F (think black dashboard in summer), and on wet paper (making it a great pairing with this water-resistant notepad). And, yes. It also writes in space. This travel-friendly trekker version is compact, yet packs three miles of ink. Comes with a carabiner to prevent disappearance into the depths of your pack or purse.

I believe that in luggage, you generally get what you pay for. That said, check out the Heys xcase, coming in at 80 bucks. It’s billed as the World’s Lightest Carry-On—just 5.1 pounds—and the Exotic line features crazy animal and bowling ball-inspired prints. I like the gutsy look of it and the unique details, such as how it unzips to open the long way and has a curved single-stem handle (so you don’t accidentally kick the case while walking). Note that it comes with a “limited” warranty and is recommended solely for carry-on use.

* Heys makes a less flashy (and even more inexpensive) version.

One step closer to making the dream a reality.

This awesome point-and-shoot unit delivers a custom-guided tour of your night sky. Camping trips will never be the same.

I know I’m not the only one who habitually drinks ginger ale when flying. It’s a logical compulsion, as ginger has been proven to prevent motion sickness. Reed’s new ginger chews add peanut butter to the mix, a tactic that’s been proven to improve candy. Slip some into your travel pack for your next flight or road trip. They’re so good they’ll have you “preventing motion sickness” often.

NOTE: Right now, you can only purchase large quantities online. I’ll update the link as availability broadens.

Images hand-painted onto maps turn vintage suitcases into road-worthy (and inexpensive) works of art. Great as a day bag or essentials case.

(via shelterrific)