The 2020 Legend Awards are meant to serve as inspiration for future travel—when it is safe to do so. Learn more about this year's awards on our methodology page.
Every year, our travel habits change. And those habits are impacted in large part by what we bring with us when traveling. Just think, how different were your travel habits in the days when you traveled without a smartphone? What did you cart with you when the only way to send emails while abroad was to head down to the hotel’s business center, or to the Internet cafe on the corner?
Obviously, we’re far removed from the days of traveling without a smartphone and relying only on a metro map and a semi-well-honed sense of direction. But we’re also far from hitting the innovation ceiling in terms of travel products. Indeed, travel accessories get “smarter” each year, finding new ways to harness technology to solve a problem we didn’t know we had, until it makes our lives infinitely better.
Our favorite products this year are the ones that allowed us to travel safer, smarter, and more efficiently. These accessories kept us organized, charged, well-rested, and ultimately, better equipped to travel successfully. Our travel product Legend Awards honorees are:
ROAM Luggage
ROAM Luggage offers four sizes of completely customizable hard-shell suitcases. Travelers choose their size, color, and monogram. One of the reasons we love ROAM’s hard-shell: it’s made of durable and impressively lightweight polycarbonate with a water-resistant zipper.
ZIIP GX
ZIIP GX is easily one of our favorite travel beauty products of the year. An all-in-one facial device with nine treatments, ZIIP GX can treat acne and dark spots, brighten the eye area, or encourage lymphatic drainage and contour (i.e., fight the puffiness that comes with air travel and jet lag). The device comes with a facial primer gel that’s under three ounces, too, so you can carry it onto the plane to treat your face in-flight.
The Wrap by Bleusalt
If The Wrap by Bleusalt could be summarized in six words, it would be: Plane blanket, but make it fashion. The Wrap is made from ultra-soft environmentally friendly fibers and can be worn as a wrap, shawl, scarf, or full-on blanket. It’s game-changing for the adventure traveler who always wishes they'd packed an extra layer.
Carry by COURANT
COURANT’s Carry is a wireless charging bank that trades the tangle of wires and USB ports for stackable, Italian leather-covered chargers. The Courant Carry is not only the simplest way we’ve found to charge on-the-go, its minimalist design and leather sourced directly from Tuscany makes it a luxe travel accessory. It’s compatible not only with iPhones but also with the most recent AirPods release.
Apple AirPods Pro
AirPods have changed the way we commute, the way we communicate, and the way we travel. The new noise-canceling AirPods Pro from Apple have let us take calls hands-free when running from the lounge to the plane, and silence the aircraft without the bulk of the average noise-reducing headphones.
LARQ
LARQ is a constantly self-cleaning, germ-killing “smart” water bottle powered by UV-C light. When in Adventure Mode, LARQ gets rid of 99.9999% of bacteria and viruses.
LYMA
Supplements and air travel have gone hand-and-hand since the inception of echinacea. But LYMA has changed the way we travel by potentially boosting immunities and jet lag simultaneously. LYMA combines eight essential vitamins into one pill to boost your immune system, improve muscle function, increase bone health, and more. While it’s benefits include stress reduction, improved skin, and an energy boost, we love it because it helps us feel more rested and healthier while traveling.
Scough
Scough is essentially a wearable filter that protects travelers from flu-causing germs, allergens, and pollution. Scough makes Shielding Bandanas and Filter Scarves that use activated charcoal and “industrial-grade woven carbon filters” to safeguard travelers from inhaling unwanted bacteria.
Hasselblad XID II 50C Digital Camera
The Hasselblad XID II 50C quickly became the must-have digital camera of the year—and for good reason. With a 50-megapixel sensor and their signature “mirrorless” format, we love traveling with this camera because it produces top-quality photos while still being light and easily portable.
AirFly Pro by Twelve South
How often have you gotten on an airplane in the last year and realized you only have wireless headphones that can’t connect to the in-flight TV screen? We travel constantly, and it’s still a problem we face more than we care to admit. Twelve South made a bluetooth adapter that lets you use your wireless headphones in a wire-only situation. Just plug the AirFly Pro transmitter into the headphone jack, and voilà, your wireless headphones are wired in.
