I brought these 16 travel gadgets on my 2-week Italy trip – and most are under $100

There’s a lot of debate over these anti-theft bags for international travel. Here’s the deal: After spending time in multiple Italian cities, I don’t think anyone necessarily needs these types of bags. However, they can be beneficial in creating more of an obstacle for potential pickpockets and thieves, and may provide a better sense of security. Ultimately, staying alert while using public transit or while in crowded areas is my best advice, but here’s why I chose this bag from Pacsafe. 

For starters, I didn’t already have a black crossbody bag that would be big enough for my daytime essentials while traveling and touring. My colleague Adrian Kingsley-Hughes said he was impressed with Pacsafe bags for his own travels, and I figured if I had to purchase a black crossbody, why not try a Pacsafe? The Lunar crossbody has a 2.5L capacity, which worked great for my needs. It wasn’t too big or small, and fit my essentials like my passport, wallet, sunglasses, keys, water bottle, and lip balm. I mostly wore this as a shoulder bag, and I really liked the streamlined look and feel. It was comfortable on my shoulder and easy to adjust. The inside RFID-blocking pocket was also great for tucking my wallet into. Pacsafe bags have a high degree of cut-and-slash protection, as well as features like locking zippers. 

I personally never used the zipper locks, but I really enjoyed my time abroad with this bag. It came on several popular day tours in Rome, as well as on nights out in cities like Naples. While I don’t think an anti-theft bag is an absolute need (I alternated with carrying around a regular crossbody bag with no issues at all), I do think it’s a great choice for someone looking for extra security, first-time travelers, and more. I saw more than a dozen other people carrying around different Pacsafe bags on my trip, so they’re clearly pretty popular. I particularly like the Lunar model because it looks more like a traditional everyday bag and doesn’t scream “tourist” as much as other models, and I will definitely use it again. It’s a good basic black bag. 

Also: I didn’t think it would work, but this anti-theft tech bag actually stopped a pickpocket

This Bluetooth passport cover was another recommendation from Adrian Kinglsey-Hughes, and something I had been eyeing for a while before my trip. Ultimately, this isn’t a necessity either, but as someone prone to losing things and in need of a passport cover, I caved. This ended up being one of my favorite purchases for the trip.

While at the airports, it made it easy to keep my passport and a few key debit cards all in one spot and accessible, and made it much more difficult for my passport to accidentally fall out of any bag I was using because of the cover’s bulk. It still fit great inside my crossbody bags (including the Pacsafe Lunar), and I loved being able to use my iPhone to track its location. Since the cover is enabled with FindMy, you can track it like you would an AirTag, and it was an awesome sense of relief when I could quickly double-check where my passport was anytime I wanted. I thought this was especially useful while I transferred trains and planes, so I could ensure it was following me wherever I went, because sometimes, we all need that extra sense of security. 

I was the envy of every tour group I was a part of, thanks to this fan. Despite being familiar with the Southeast US’s humidity and heat, I don’t fare well in it, and I knew I wanted a portable fan for my Italian adventures. It was the best gadget I packed. I used this fan countless times during tours and day outings, as well as while on public transit. This portable fan option also doubles as a flashlight and a portable charger, though I only used it as a fan. It’s a compact design, though a bit heavier, but it still worked great for my needs. It has two fan-speed settings, and the battery lasted all day and then some. I just charged it overnight, knowing I’d likely be using it the following day. It’s a great travel purchase.

I’ve been using this tech organizer from Orbitkey for almost two years now, and it’s the best way to keep your gear organized while you travel. It holds more than you think, and it keeps everything neatly organized thanks to intentional pockets and straps for things like cords and cables. It also comes in plenty of colors and has a durable exterior that’s easy to clean. The dual system includes a detachable inner storage to serve as a separate desk pouch and an integrated fold-down panel to ease access to smaller items. The pouch also stands on its own and has features like an external zip pocket with a cable pass-through, to keep your gear together if you’re charging on the go. I own two of these pouches, and my partner actually prefers to use his as a toiletry case. 

This is the one item that I think is totally worth your money if you travel frequently. It fits in carry-on bags, work totes, suitcases, backpacks, and more, and has such great optimized storage. 

Also: This organizer pouch is the life-simplifying tech accessory I didn’t know I needed

This is the only universal travel adapter I packed. Keep in mind that, depending on how many devices you’d like to charge or use at a time, a second adapter may be necessary, but for most people, this sole option from Baseus is perfect. I also scooped this up on the recommendation of expert Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, and I love it. The prongs easily slide in and out for whatever outlet type you need, it comes with a built in USB-C cable, and has several ports. I do wish it had more USB-C port options, but it ultimately wasn’t a big deal for me. At 70W, it’s more than enough for most phones, tablets, gadgets, and even laptops. I had no issues securing it in outlets. It is a bit heavy, so it isn’t something I would plan to carry around, but it’s great for stationary charging at your accommodations. 

Also: Traveling soon? Why this one charger is the only one you’ll ever need to pack

If you travel internationally frequently, it may be worth investing in dual-voltage personal care items. Hair tools made for the standard US plug notoriously do not work in EU outlets, even with travel adapters. Often, it’s because the voltage is still wrong. Adapters can only convert the physical plug; they won’t change the voltage, and using converters to attempt this can be a risky business. While you always have the option to buy cheap hair tools where you are traveling, I chose to go out on a limb and try this travel-size dual-voltage blowout brush.

I used it all across Italy with no issues (thought I was sure not to run it at full heat), and it works great at home in the US, too. The size is perfect for even the most compact traveler, and as someone who takes road trips often, having this tiny brush saves on packing my full-size tools back and forth everywhere. Keep in mind that this hot brush doesn’t have the power of a Dyson, but it got the job done without any hiccups. It also comes with its own carrying case and a few accessories for udner $50. 

I am a longtime supporter of Ridge wallets. I gifted one to my dad a few years ago, and most of my male friends and family now use them. They’re one of my picks for the best AirTag wallet, and also highly praised by gadgeteer Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. I purchased one ahead of my trip to Italy knowing it would get lots of use over the next several years as I plan to travel more. Since I didn’t bring my everyday purse, I left my bulky wallet at home and opted for the Ridge.

It worked great for holding my essential cards, and with features like a cash strap and RFID-blocking technology, I felt it was an awesome choice for travel. It’s also very sleek and lightweight, especially if you only pack the cards you need most. It was easy to maneuver and use, and didn’t take up much space in either of my two crossbody bags. While it’s an expensive upfront purchase, several colors are on sale now for under $70, and I know this will get great use in the future as it’s the perfect wallet option for concerts, sporting events, festivals, and more. 

Also: Are Ridge Wallets worth the hype? My buying advice after weeks of testing one

This Qi2 25W multi-charger from ESR was my choice for travel. It folds down into a sleek profile, it’s slimmer than Anker’s 3-in-1 charger, it supports fast charging, and it includes ESR’s Cyroboost cooling technology. The MagSafe connection is strong, and I love the upright profile and stand configuration. This allowed me to wirelessly charge my iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. It fits great inside the Orbitkey tech organizer and can also be used at home as a concrete setup, too.  

This phone lanyard was great for keeping my phone easily accessible when I wanted to take photos. While on tours of the Colosseum and other attractions, this allowed me to keep my hands free when needed and quickly grab my phone for pics without having to take my device in and out of a bag tons of times. A lot of people had these on their person from what I observed, and they seem popular for anti-theft purposes, but I really just enjoyed having this for the tours. 

KeySmart’s SmartCard Bluetooth tracker is also another tried-and-true ZDNET gadget. Another favorite of expert Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, this card simply pops into any wallet like a credit card and adds Bluetooth FindMy technology. I slipped this card into my Ridge wallet and was able to locate it wherever and whenever I wanted, and was always able to check if it was on my person without even opening my bag. KeySmart has since released several different models of this card, but I opted for the Gen 2 rechargeable tracker since I didn’t need any of the newer features. 

Also: My favorite AirTag wallet alternative is lightweight, super thin, and surprisingly cheap

Swell bottles were all the rage a few years ago, and I still own my first bottle. While searching for a portable bottle option to keep with me during my day outings and long tours, I kept returning to this 9 oz option from Swell for its sleek and streamlined design and metal construction. Rome and other Italian cities are full of accessible fountains that make filling your bottle on the go easy. This bottle offered the slimmest profile that was perfect for both of my crossbody bags and was easy to open and securely close back up. It came with me on tours of the Vatican, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pompeii, Naples Underground, and more. I had no issues filling it up anywhere and liked that it was easy to clean.

This 2-in-1 cable from Smartish is the only cord I packed. It features a USB-C end that extends into a dual-option USB-C or Lightning end, which was exactly what I needed as an iPhone 14 Pro user who still needed a USB-C cable for every other gadget I packed. I’ve praised this cord before, but for $20, it has a durable construction and a true function for those of us still in between Lightning and USB-C charging. It’s reliable, worked great, and is 6ft long for some added slack. 

Also: We never travel without these useful gadgets – here’s why

Anker’s Nano MagGo 5K Slim battery pack is my pick for the best MagSafe battery pack right now, and it’s also the pack that came with me on my trip. I kept this MagSafe battery pack in my crossbody bag while I was on the go, and found it worked best while charging in a cooler environment. I often popped this onto my phone while grabbing lunch at a restaurant or while eating gelato. It didn’t work as well as it usually does in the extreme heat or while zipped up in my bag, but that’s pretty expected. MagSafe battery packs always run the risk of getting a bit warm, but I liked using this while catching breaks to top off my device. I relied on a traditional power bank for longer tours or events, but used this almost daily. 

Also: This Qi2 battery pack from Anker just made wireless charging essential for me

For longer tours or outings, and for charging during flights to and from Italy, I relied on this larger 10K Anker power bank. This one features a built-in USB-C cable and several ports, including a USB-C and a USB-A. It’s TSA- and flight-approved, though remember to follow your airline’s specific policies about portable batteries in the cabin. While bulkier than a MagSafe pack, this larger option still has a compact and portable design that makes it easy to pop into my day bag or backpack. I also appreciated the digital screen that lets you know what the battery capacity is. It also enables pass-through charging, which is a must for travel, and works great on devices like phones, tablets, earbuds, e-readers, and more. 

I checked one suitcase, this 24-inch roller bag from Bagsmart. Unique to this bag design is a built-in luggage scale that lets you know when your bag is over 50 pounds, and a side-opening design. The benefit of the side opening is that the case itself is ultra-deep, making it easy to pack bulkier items. I used packing cubes in combo with this suitcase and was easily able to stack them thanks to the deeper design. The wheels glided well across train station floors and most streets, and I found the 24-inch size to be perfect for having some extra space for souvenirs on the way home. It also easily fit on the train luggage racks with no problems and wasn’t too cumbersome to handle. This is a great option for a smaller profile checked bag, and is a good contender to add to your repertoire thanks to its unique arrangement. 

I saw this backpack so many times at the Naples and Milan airports that I was starting to lose count. It’s a popular option thanks to it’s duffle-bag like opening, which allows you to easily pack clothes or shoes into a backpack. There’s also a laptop sleeve, a top compartment, and extra front pockets for your most-reached-for items. The nylon construction is comfortable and lightweight, and the bag can be expanded from 28L up to 38L with the flip of a zipper. My only complaint about this bag is that the water bottle pocket wasn’t secure enough for my 9 oz Swell bottle, but overall, it’s an awesome bag for those trying to backpack travel or make do with just a carry-on. Equally, it’s a good option just as a carry-on bag if you’re packing any clothes in your bag while you travel abroad.