16 Best Travel Gifts for Men That Are Under $100
Does gift-giving secretly stress you out? No, not because you don’t want to give gifts (we know you’re generous), but because sometimes it can feel next to impossible to find that just-right gift for the important people in your life. Fathers, brothers, partners, besties … What’s a gal to get all the men in her life–particularly the ones who also love to travel?
As always, we got you. Here are our best ideas for travel gifts for men under $100.
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16 best travel gifts for men that are under $100
1. Travel towel: Nomadix
A towel may not sound like a fun gift, but if you’ve ever stayed in a hostel with crappy towels or struggled to squish yours into a carry-on, then you know how important a good travel towel is. So do the fellow nomad in your life a favor, and give them the Nomadix Original Towel. Dubbed The Only Towel You Need®, this travel towel was designed for high performance for days at the beach, hiking trips, travel expeditions, and even yoga sessions. What makes it so special? It’s super absorbent (It can hold 4X its weight in water!); it dries super fast; and it folds up super small to fit in almost any travel bag.
Price: starting at $40
Read our full review of the Original Towel from Nomadix here.
2. Dopp kit: Topo Designs
A travel must-have for all men on the go, you can’t go wrong with gifting a dopp kit to your partner, brother, dad, or friend. Particularly, we like this Dopp Kit from Topo Designs because it’s water-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and easy to clean. It features a triangular shape, which gives full visibility when unzipped to easily see what’s inside. The unique design also prevents the bag from toppling over on bathroom counters. Best of all, Topo Design guarantees Fair Wear-certified production, meeting fair labor standards for the safety, health, and wellness of employees. Consider this one a gift for all.
Price: starting at $34
3. Tech case: Away
Everyone knows to pack a toiletry bag when they’re getting ready for a trip, but most people forget about the all-important tech case. For the man in your life who loves to travel but just can’t seem to check out of a hotel without leaving his phone charger behind, do him a favor and give him The Tech Case from Away. This little nylon, water-resistant pouch will be the perfect home away from home for all his cords, cables, converters, and chargers. Elastic loops help keep everything securely stored and tangle-free, while bottom mesh compartments keep tiny trinkets and adaptors close at hand so they’ll never be forgotten again.
Price: starting at $55
4. Portable charger: Casely
Who says portable chargers can’t be sleek? Without a doubt, Casely's Power Pods dominate in this realm. Designed for style and functionality, this charger easily slips into your pocket, offering a sleek and lightweight solution without compromising on performance. When it's time to recharge, just position your iPhone on the Power Pod, and the magnetic connection handles the rest, delivering a smooth charging experience. Moreover, these Power Pods come in an array of unique colors and designs, ensuring you find the perfect design for your giftee.
Price: starting at $60
5. Compression socks: Bombas
There’s no doubt that some compression socks can look a little silly—but don’t knock it until you try it1 In fact, for all travelers, compression socks should be a key component of Packing 101: They keep your feet cool; they keep ‘em dry; and they help relieve soreness on long-haul flights. And now, they’re fashionable. Well, at least the Men’s Performance Compression Socks from Bombas are fashionable. Available in Olive, Marine, and Meteor, these compression socks are the perfect way to show the men in your life that you’re there to support them on their travels.
Price: starting at $36
6. Packing cubes: Quince
Whether he’s a total neat freak who’s always looking for a new hack to organize his suitcase or he’s in desperate need of help when it comes to staying tidy, you can’t go wrong gifting these Eco Compression Packing Cubes from Quince. Like traditional packing cubes, these little pouches will help him divide and conquer all the essentials on his packing list. Unlike traditional packing cubes, these little guys can be compressed by up to 60% to maximize every square inch of a tiny carry-on. Bonus: They’re water-resistant and made out of 61 recycled water bottles. Sounds like a win.
Price: starting at $50
7. Key organizer: Carl Friedrik
If you know a guy who jingles and jangles like a janitor when he walks around, then it’s time you be a pal and introduce him to a key organizer. We like this one from Carl Friedrik, because if you thought keys couldn’t be made sexy … Well, think again. Available in rich Chocolate, Black, or Cognac, The Key Organizer holds two to six average-sized keys in a slim, sleek leather pouch that sure beats that janky bottle-opener keychain he’s been sporting for 5+ years. (Don’t we all know someone who does this?) Best of all, the leather pouch keeps his collection of keys from scraping up the e-reader or pulling on the sweater also packed in his carry-on.
Price: starting at $75
8. Self-cleaning water bottle: LARQ
Let’s be honest: How often are we really cleaning our bottles? While we can’t be sure of the exact answer, we can be sure of one thing: not enough. Help a guy out and make it easy for him to keep things clean (even on the road) with this self-cleaning water bottle from LARQ. Here’s how it works: The LARQ Bottle PureVis™ uses PureVis technology to eliminate up to 99% of bio-contaminants, like E. coli (yuck). Available in an insulated version to keep things as hot/cold as he wants and a non-insulated version to keep things light in his bag, this is the perfect gift for all travelers wary of foreign tap water.
Price: starting at $89
9. Polaroid camera: Fujifilm
Whether the guy in your life is a total Instagram junkie or prefers to keep things off the grid, he’ll love bringing a Polaroid camera with him on his next travel jaunt. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 prints out high-quality 2” X 3” photos in just five seconds. While he won’t be able to share these snaps with his followers, he’ll be able to save those truly special travel moments just for himself. With a built-in mirror for easy selfies and a hand strap for easy carrying, this Polaroid camera is the perfect companion for solo travel trips. It even comes with a one-year limited warranty and two AA batteries—hooray! One less device that needs charging.
Price: starting at $80
10. Personalized playing cards: Exqline
Playing cards are a little-known must-have for the travel packing list. Stranded at the airport and sick of scrolling? Time for a game of Solitaire. Game night at the pub downtown? Show off your Poker skills. Even if your guy doesn’t have the Poker skills to flaunt, he can still use playing cards to highlight the best of his around-the-world travels—at least with this Personalized Playing Card Deck from Exqline. Custom-made with 46 of his favorite pictures, these personalized playing cards are a unique and thoughtful way for you to help your guy remember his favorite travel memories.
Price: starting at $22
11. Portable espresso maker: WACACO
Do you know a guy who’s addicted to his morning cup of Joe? Are you also sick of him complaining about drinking subpar coffee while he’s on the road? Then introduce him to the WACACO Minipresso GR. This portable espresso machine will let him enjoy a perfectly-brewed cup of espresso, no matter where he is. It’s simple: He adds coffee grounds to the cup; he adds hot water to the tank; he presses the button; he enjoys great coffee. We also love that this portable coffee maker is manual operation only, which means no need to charge it and no need to buy batteries on the go.
Price: starting at $60
12. Travel pillow: trtl
Bringing a travel pillow on a long-haul flight does make things more comfy on the plane—but it’s annoying for the rest of the trip. I mean, have you ever tried to squish a big-neck pillow into a carry-on suitcase? Or if you opt to just tie it to the handle of your backpack, does it not gross you out that the pillow your face is now moshed against was also moshed against the seat of the public bus to the airport? You deserve an upgrade, and your friend does, too. Get him the trtl Travel Pillow. Its patented design not only delivers top-level comfort and neck support but is also compact enough to fit in your suitcase. He can even remove the internal support and put the wrap in the washing machine before his next trip. Germophobes, rejoice.
Price: starting at $60
13. Reusable notebook: Rocketbook
No matter how many useful note-taking apps are just a download away, some people simply prefer putting traditional pen to paper. Help your analog friend cut down on his use of paper with the Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook. Mimicking the feel of pen on paper, this reusable notebook translates handwriting to digital text via the Rocketbook App. When he’s filled up a page, all he has to do is use a little water and the included cloth to wipe it clean and then start again. Whether he’s a doodling daydreamer or a no-nonsense list-maker, this is a sure-to-please gift for creative men who travel.
Price: starting at $34
14. Locking document bag: ZOOPIP
For long-term travelers who might need to travel with important documents, this gift may not seem too exciting—but it is important. The Fireproof Document Bag from ZOOPIP is made of anti-static, double-layered, silicone-coated fiberglass that can withstand temperatures up to 2000°F. It’s also waterproof and features a three-digit code lock for ultimate security. Sure, the fireproof thing may not be totally necessary (we sure hope so!), but a waterproof, locked bag? Now that’s a must for digital nomads who need to keep documents secure and safe as they travel the globe.
Price: starting at $19
15. Mini portable projector: KODAK
For digital nomads always living in a new place, sometimes the things we miss most are the simple pleasures: Like binge-watching your favorite show on a real TV screen instead of a tiny laptop. Enter the KODAK FLIK X7 Home Projector with Tripod. This mini portable projector is the perfect gift for men who love to travel but still want to enjoy their favorite films on the go. It’s small enough to tuck into any carry-on and easily connects to laptops via an HDMI or USB cable. All he needs is a plain, white wall, and he can watch, game, or stream in cinematic quality, even in an AirBnB.
Price: starting at $90
16. Merino wool sweater: State Fusio
No matter where you are and no matter what year it is, you really can’t go wrong wearing a classic turtleneck sweater. So if you know a guy who’s always complaining that he doesn’t know what to wear, this is the gift for him. The State Fusio Turtleneck Merino Wool Sweater is made out of 100% Merino wool sourced from Inner Mongolia. Soft, luxurious, and timeless, this sweater will look great with jeans or trousers, day in and day out. In other words, there will be no fashion cringe when he looks back on his old travel pictures. Better yet, this staple turtleneck is available in four colors, so tell him to stock up!
Price: starting at $85
