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As we close up another year and start daydreaming more about our future travels, gear up with the most popular travel products with the TFG community from 2023!
If you want to see what TFGs adored in 2022, check out last year’s reader must haves here!
2023 Travel Must Haves
Table Of Contents
TFG readers spent 2023 focusing on staples for travel, such as versatile travel pants, convertible bags, athletic, comfy sneakers, plus some new travel brands that emerged as must-gets. Here are some of the bestselling products that have been trending this past year:
Shop Eddie Bauer Departure Pants: Amazon | Eddie Bauer
Sizes: Regular XS-XXL | Petite S-L | Tall M-XXL | Plus 2X-3X
Travel Pants – Top Favorite of the Year!
All year round, readers endlessly talk about the best travel pants, and a few winners sprouted up for 2023. One such find is the Eddie Bauer Departure pants, which literally have everything a traveler needs—moisture-wicking, UPF protection, and lightweight to wear or pack.
Don’t discount leggings though; TFGs still wear them for travel days or as an easy item to slip on for sightseeing. Some of the most popular ones are the Baleaf fleece lined leggings for winter, the Woolx piper merino wool insulated leggings, which can be worn any time of year, and the classic Zella Live In leggings that sell year after year.
Shop Spanx AirEssentials Pants: Spanx | Nordstrom
Sizes XS-3X
For wide leg options that work in warmer climates, readers adored the Spanx AirEssentials pants as the ultimate spring and summer pants. They’re made of light-as-air fabric that’s highly breathable, not to mention they’re airy (and chic!), as their stylish silhouette and flattering fit give them an elevated look.
Readers also love a slim profile in pants too, so the J.Jill Wearever slim-leg pants and the Quince ponte pants were top winners for comfort, style, and versatility!
For a complete range of bottoms on the website, take a look at our travel pants category.
Shop Calpak Kaya Backpack: Nordstrom | Calpak
Convertible Bags as a Carry-On Item
A personal carry-on item seems like a no-brainer, but if you choose the wrong one, you’re stuck with carrying ar21ound something impractical and burdensome. For help on choosing a personal item, see this article.
In 2023, readers were all about convertible bags, and that’s for a good reason! Convertible bags or packs can be worn in multiple ways, such as a backpack, tote, or even crossbody. And such bags typically have great functionality and have several compartments, which traveling women love.
One of the biggest sellers this year is Calpak’s Kaya backpack. It’s perfect for business travel or just keeping your laptop and other essentials organized. This beauty features a back compartment with a padded laptop sleeve and a front compartment with a large sleeve pocket. The quality faux leather exterior has a cute, whipstitched trim, adjustable straps, and a handy trolley sleeve!
Shop Cole Haan Grand Ambition Convertible Backpack: Cole Haan | Nordstrom
Full disclosure: this Cole Haan convertible backpack is in the higher price range, but I wanted to mention it because I SOO wanted it during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and missed the boat on ordering it on time! However, I was delightfully surprised that readers agreed with me that this leather backpack is awesome for travel. It fits a 15” laptop, has great compartments for daily essentials, and can flip into a stylish tote or crossbody bag.
Other highly popular convertible bags are the Lo& Sons Pearl crossbody, the Sherpani Soleil, and the Sak Ventura convertible backpacks—all reader-approved favorites!
Visit our page of backpack articles for more styles and types that might suit your trip!
Shop New Balance 574 Sneakers: Nordstrom | New Balance
Sporty Sneakers for Walking and Sightseeing
The trend in 2023 was for a new take on sneakers—sportier styles that were all comfort and look awesome with jeans, shorts, or skirts!
A long standing brand suddenly became new again, as New Balance sneakers exploded with popularity during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The 574 sneakers were one of them and have an EVA cushioning with amazing support. However, you could also remove the insoles to add your own support.
Shop On The Roger Advantage Sneaker: Nordstrom | Zappos | Bloomingdale’s
TFG readers still love the classic white sneaker trend, and their recent fave has been On The Roger Advantage sneaker. This tennis shoe boasts incredible comfort, with ample cushioning and a supportive, flexible feel to keep your feet energized throughout a long day of exploring.
Another type of sneaker that soared in 2023, are waterproof or water-resistant sneakers. They’re excellent for travel to be able to still wear runners but have extra protection in wet climates. The waterproof Allbirds Wool Runner Mizzles are top of the list, which are made of breathable merino wool, and a new contender emerged too; the Vessi Weekend sneakers have traction in the rain and can even handle puddles, plus they’re made of vegan materials!
Check out more waterproof sneakers here or view our entire category of sneakers to suit any vacation!
Shop Rowena Swing Dress: Wool&
Sizes XS-2X:
New Travel Brands – Unbound Merino and Wool&
Wool& makes so many wrinkle free dresses women in the TFG community adore, and the lovely Rowena swing dress happens to be the brand’s most popular style! The Willow dress is a similar version with a flirty v-neck. And check out the Sierra tank dress — a light and breezy option that’s perfect for summer!
For a totally cozy choice, this relaxed merino sweater by Wool& is soft that gives coverage without the bulk. The slightly boxy fit will go with regular leggings or merino wool leggings.
If you’re looking for more leggings, durable and full of function, these Wool& high rise wool leggings are a stellar pick for all kinds of activities and climates! This legging is midweight, so it’ll keep you feeling held in and cozy during sporty excursions or extra chilly sightseeing days, but it’s also ultra-breathable and stretchy.
Shop V-Neck Tee: Unbound Merino
Sizes XS-XL
Another new must-have brand is Unbound Merino. They make travel-friendly clothing for both men and get rave reviews, including from our readers! They have a cute merino travel dress that’s so breathable and soft, you’ll never want to take it off.
Dubbed the “best merino wool t-shirt for hiking”, the Unbound Merino v-neck tee can definitely handle the trails but also head to dinner with a nice midi skirt or slacks. Wearers say its lightweight and fits well, not too baggy nor too small. With something this packable, it’s hard to not pick it up! If you’re looking for a long-sleeve style, their merino crew and slim v-neck shirt are popular!
Take a look at all our articles on the miracle fabric that is merino wool!
Shop The Cooling Shorts: Thigh Society
Sizes XS-6X
Versatile Undershorts for Dresses in Hot Weather
Thigh chafing has been a hot topic of conversation for years amongst the TFG community, so much so that we’ve even written an article about it.
Readers say the solution to this annoying problem is to wear undershorts beneath skirts or dresses in balmy weather, but they also serve other functions besides that. Undershorts can also offer extra coverage underneath more transparent dresses or even give a little warmth during early spring or fall days.
The most popular seller this year is ThighSociety’s anti-chafe undergarment shorts. TFGs say they are silky smooth and feel cool. And they don’t roll up or constrict the legs.
Shop Booty Boost Active Bike Shorts: Spanx
Sizes XS-XL
Besides undershorts which are classified as underwear, another method of preventing thigh chafing is to wear bike shorts beneath your clothing too.
The Spanx bike shorts is a particular favorite that not only prevents any uncomfortable rubbing but shapes and flatters the body, too. Designed with their chic sculpting performance fabric and contoured waistband, it’s a great option for tighter skirts and dresses, plus you can wear them on their own as a cute, sporty bottom!
To find some comfy, stylish dresses to wear with your undershorts, check out our entire category of dresses.
Shop Cole Haan Hampshire Boots: Nordstrom | Cole Haan
Chunky Heel Waterproof Boots
Boots are a hit every year for TFGs, and a few new beauties stood out in 2023. The Cole Haan Hampshire is a high-quality boot for the price. And it’s waterproof, super comfortable, and classic-looking.
The key to finding good boots for travel is to make sure they have support, are comfy for long bouts of walking, and they’re waterproof for those wet days.
Shop Camper Wanda Booties: Nordstrom | Amazon
A surprise winner this year was the pretty leather ankle boots from Camper. They have a clean silhouette paired with a chunky lug sole and will add the perfect amount of edge to your look—check them out in brown, too!
Other honorable mentions this year include the Blondo Dyme waterproof boots, Vionic Lani combat boots, and Sorel Emelie waterproof laceup boots.
To find more waterproof boots for any season, scan our boots category on the site!
Shop Bose Noise Cancelling Earbuds: Target | Walmart
Travel Gadgets
TFG readers looked to make their travels more comfortable and easy in 2023 by stocking up on useful travel gadgets.
For example, the Bose noise cancelling earbuds were a huge hit over Black Friday! They have three different sizes of ear tips to choose from so that you can ensure a proper fit. And the lithium-ion battery lets you enjoy up to 6 hours of wireless listening per charge.
Ever since I had the baby, I haven’t been able to sacrifice the space for my Bose QuietComfort 35 II, so these earbuds look like the perfect new travel companion! They’re much more compact and travel-friendly, so they quickly found their way into my basket!
Shop European Small Power Strip: Amazon
It seemed the summer of revenge travel extended to 2 years, and Europe is one of the hottest continents to travel to, till this day.
That’s way this European small power strip flew off the shelves. It’s small size can easily fit into luggage or personal item, and it has no surge protection and can also be used on a European river cruise.
And for a second year in a row, TFGs bought up the Apple AirTags for tracking luggage and to keep their phones charged, the Anker portable charger was voted #1.
Take a look at our travel gadgets category for more information!
Shop Monos Carry-On Pro: Monos | Nordstrom
Fresh Luggage Brands
I just tried the Monos Carry-On Pro because a friend bought it recently, and inspired me to give it a go instead. This is one of the few suitcases that has a laptop compartment built into the front, and if you watch my unveiling video, you’ll see it also has organizational pockets where your laptop goes. The extra pocket does compromise packing space, but this carry-on makes a great short-term travel option and fits into an overhead bin with no problem. Check out their entire site to see what other suitcases they offer.
Shop The Carry-On” 21: Away
While not completely new, readers do love Away and say they make some of the best hard carry-on luggage, and the “The Carry-On” 21” is a particular favorite. It has a sturdy polycarbonate hard shell that’s reported to rarely show any signs of use, even after lots of rigorous travel. It’ll fit in the overhead bins of most major airlines, and you can fit SO much inside. Read our Away review to find out more!
For more lightweight luggage, check out our luggage category, where you’ll find hardside, softside, and suitable suitcases for European travel, too!
Product Comparison Chart
[wpsm_comparison_table id=”535″ class=”center-table-align”]
What travel products did you discover in 2023? Share your picks in the comments!
If you enjoy reading about the latest and greatest travel products beloved by the TFG community, look back at the archive of Reader Must Have Posts that are published monthly!
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The Thigh Society slip shorts have been a game changer for me. I now wear skirts and dresses with total comfort and confidence. They truly don’t creep up or constrict. Thanks for introducing me to this new “must have” wardrobe staple!
Thank you so much for sharing your review Susan!