best travel clock to buy

The 11 Best Travel Alarm Clocks of 2024

Wake up and enjoy your trip

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Being on vacation should be relaxing, but we all know that prepping for a trip can be stressful. A reliable travel alarm clock removes one of the biggest worries—missing your flight—and gives you the freedom to switch off your phone and still get up on time for tours and transfers throughout your trip. Travel alarm clocks vary considerably in features and looks, ranging from basic folding clocks to digital smart clocks and quirky analog clocks with a vintage aesthetic.

Standard features to look out for include lightness, reliability, and the option to run off a battery (making them ready for action wherever your adventures take you). We researched the best options currently available with an eye toward portability, price, and extra features such as Bluetooth and radio.

Final Verdict

• What to Look For

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Best overall, travelwey digital travel alarm clock.

Button-lock function

One-year free replacement guarantee

Limited features

Batteries not included

If you like simplicity, you’ll love Travelwey’s digital travel alarm clock. Revised to accommodate user requests for a no-frills product that prioritizes functionality and ease of use, the clock lacks many of the extra features of others on this list. It doesn’t have a temperature gauge, date function, or radio integration, but it does keep time beautifully, with a large display and an effective snooze alarm. 

It’s one of the most affordable and best-reviewed travel alarm clocks out there, with several clever design elements, including forward-facing buttons, an on-demand light that illuminates the screen for five seconds, and a folding cover that doubles as a handy stand. For many, one of the best features is the on/off button, which prevents other buttons from being pressed in transit but maintains time for when it’s switched back on. Choose yours in black or white. 

Dimensions: 2.7 x 3.1 x 0.8 inches | Weight: 3 ounces | Power Source: (2) AA batteries | Display Style: Digital

Best Budget

Sharp digital alarm clock.

Alarm gets progressively louder

Long-lasting backlight

Very basic features

No protective cover for display

Another travel alarm clock that functions as a simple, easy-to-use timekeeper and alarm (and not much more), this offering from Sharp is one of the most cost-effective options on the market. It receives excellent user reviews, with satisfied customers praising its compact size and large, clearly legible LCD display. The clock’s tactile soft rubber case is a unique selling point, providing durability and style in one attractive package. 

The alarm increases in volume as time passes, giving you the chance to wake up gently and switch it off before it becomes aggressively loud. You can do so using the large, easily accessible buttons on top of the clock. The snooze button doubles as an on-demand backlight, illuminating the display with blue light for five seconds whenever you wish to read the time in the middle of the night. The fact that the light is not on permanently helps to save battery life.

Dimensions: 4 x 1.7 x 2.3 inches | Weight: 3.2 ounces | Power Source: (2) AAA batteries | Display Style: Digital

Best for Heavy Sleepers

Screaming meanie 220 alarm clock and timer.

Tested for toughness

Adjustable volume

Easy-to-pack size

Requires setting the alarm every day

Your fellow travelers may hate you

The Screaming Meanie 220 alarm clock is the answer for those who have hearing deficiencies or routinely sleep hard. There are three loudness settings to choose from—70, 90, or 120 decibels. The highest is equivalent to a chainsaw at close range and is guaranteed to cut through even the loudest ambient noise. There’s no chance of turning it off in your sleep and rolling over again, either—you need two hands to disable it. 

You can set an alarm time or use the countdown timer to set a specific number of hours and minutes until you need to get up. There’s even a clip on the back of the clock for attaching it to your travel backpack while in transit. Designed to fit in a pocket and subjected to a 30-foot drop test, the Screaming Meanie provides ultimate compactness and durability. It comes with clear instructions in black, green, or blue.

Dimensions: 6 x 2.5 x 1 inches | Weight: 5.9 ounces | Power Source: (1) 9-volt battery | Display Style: Digital

Best with Temperature Gauge

Peakeep smart night light digital alarm clock.

Easy to operate

Customizable interface

Attractive shades

This travel alarm clock from Peakeep comes with an indoor temperature gauge—handy for knowing whether to open a window or adjust the AC before climbing into bed. It’s compatible with a temperature range of 15.8 to 122 degrees F and can display information in Celsius, too. Similarly, you can choose to read the time using the 12- or 24-hour clock—either way, the HD LCD display is easy to see from across the room. 

At night, a built-in ambient light sensor switches the backlight on automatically. You can adjust the brightness or turn it off entirely if you prefer to sleep in absolute darkness. When the alarm goes off, it emits a series of beeps that increase in frequency for 90 seconds. Hit the snooze button on top of the hard plastic frame for another eight minutes of sleep. The clock comes in five colors, including stylish shades of pastel blue, mint, and pink. 

Dimensions: 5.25 x 2 x 3 inches | Weight: 6.7 ounces | Power Source: (3) AAA batteries  | Display Style: Digital

Best Analog

Marathon mini non-ticking analog alarm clock.

Established brand

Quiet timekeeping

Smart backlight

Backlight can't be dimmed

Analog fans will love the tried-and-tested reliability of this miniature alarm from the respected clockmaker Marathon. It features a classic aesthetic, an accurate quartz movement, and a continuously sweeping second hand designed to be entirely silent—a godsend for those who hate being kept awake by the incessant ticking of many traditional clocks. The alarm is easy to set, with on/off and snooze buttons conveniently placed on top of the hard plastic frame.

This alarm clock features an ambient light sensor and automatically emits a soft glow when placed in a dark room, making the display easy to read at all hours; however, the brightness of the backlight cannot be adjusted, only switched off. Choose from various color options, including a blue case with a white dial, a white case with a white dial, or a black case with a black or white dial. Batteries come with all models.  

Dimensions: 2.7 x 2.7 x 1.9 inches | Weight: 9.1 ounces | Power Source: (2) AA batteries | Display Style: Analog

iLuv Smart Shaker 3

Lots of customizable options

Long lasting

Only offers silent alarm

Doesn't display the time

The disc-shaped iLuv Smart Shaker 3 represents the newest generation of travel alarm clocks. It pairs with your smartphone via an easy-to-use app to schedule multiple alarms for different times and days at the press of a button. LED indicators on the shaker notify you of its battery life and any incoming calls, messages, or social media events on your phone. And, since it stores all settings internally, it works even when your phone is off. 

Unlike the other alarms on this list, this is not an audio alarm. Instead, the disc wakes you by vibrating underneath your pillow. You can choose one of five vibration strengths, depending on how deeply you sleep, and wake up without disturbing your sleeping partner. The alarm clock comes with a USB charging cable that requires mains power; however, it claims to last 14 days on a single charge. 

Dimensions: 1.7 x 5.3 x 6.9 inches | Weight: 9.9 ounces | Power Source: Mains | Display Style: None

Best Radio Alarm

Bejamy fm radio alarm clock.

Large snooze button on top of clock

Adjustable brightness

Power cable is short

For some of us, beeping is the worst thing to wake up to in the morning. Enter radio alarm clocks. Start the day right with music or your favorite radio DJ. This model from Bejamy has a radio auto search to quickly scan through FM stations and a telescoping antenna for better signal and portability. It's compact and lightweight—great for travel or placing around the house wherever you need it.

A large LED face is easy to read and there's an option for red or blue numbers. Below the display are several buttons to set alarms and choose between a 12- or 24-hour reading. This radio is powered via batteries or a DC power adapter and has a USB input for charging other devices. And don't worry about waking up for an important flight or meeting; you can also choose a "wake up to buzzer" alarm.

Dimensions: 4.7 x 1.5 x 3.8 inches | Weight: 10 ounces | Power Source: (3) AAA battery | Display Style: Digital

Best Pocket-Sized

Peakeep battery travel alarm clock with snooze and light.

Progressive and effective alarm

Difficult to read from across the room

Can only be set 12 hours in advance

Probably the tiniest travel alarm clock on the market, this pocket-sized offering from Peakeep measures just 2.25 x 2.25 x 1.25 inches and weighs only 2 ounces—perfect for those who like to travel light. It features a quartz-movement analog display with a silent-sweeping second hand for a quiet night’s sleep. Need to read the time? Press the manual backlight button on the front of the clock to illuminate the dial. 

The ascending alarm features a series of beeps that get faster and louder in four stages until you hit the snooze button or tap the large on/off switch. The latter rests on top of the clock for easy access. This battery-powered and stylish little clock comes in three colors—black, white, and aquamarine. Easy to find wherever your travels take you, the battery should last for over six months.

Dimensions: 2.25 x 2.25 x 1.25 inches | Weight: 2 ounces | Power Source: (1) AA battery | Display Style: Analog

Best Atomic

Sharper image atomic travel alarm clock.

Options for customization

Optional auto nightlight

Easy-to-read acrylic face

Relatively expensive

Atomic clock only works domestically

This Sharper Image travel alarm clock uses common radio waves to sync with the U.S. Atomic Clock and is ideal for business travelers who frequently move about the country. Select one of four time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, or Pacific), and rest assured that the time will always be 100 percent updated and accurate. The clock even switches automatically to daylight saving time. The clock can be set manually when you travel outside these four time zones. 

Its clear display shows the time (in 12- or 24-hour format), date, day of the week, indoor temperature (in Celsius or Fahrenheit), and alarm status. The backlight comes on automatically when it gets dark; you can disable this function and simply press the snooze button to activate the light on demand. The alarm beeps for 60 seconds, while the snooze function triggers a crescendo alarm that sounds five times at five-minute intervals. 

Dimensions: 3.25 x 3.75 x 1.5 inches | Weight: 3.2 ounces | Power Source: (2) AA batteries | Display Style: Digital

Pilife Mini Vintage Alarm Clock

Retro design

Manual backlight

Non-ticking

Challenging to set alarm for precise times

Can't be snoozed

Pilife’s stainless steel mini alarm clock adds a touch of retro glamor to your hotel room, hostel, or vacation rental. Inspired by vintage bedside clocks, it features a circular analog display with 3D numbers, little chrome feet, and a pair of top-mounted alarm bells. You can also choose from various on-trend colors, including pastel blue, pink, purple, and mint, or keep it classic with black or white. 

In addition to looking the part, the clock is ideally sized for travel at just 3 inches in diameter. It features an accurate quartz movement, a silent-sweeping second hand, and a backlight that can be activated at the press of a button. The alarm sound itself is extra-loud and therefore ideal for heavy sleepers. However, there’s no snooze button—which could be a pro or a con, depending on your perspective. 

Dimensions: 3.3 x 1.5 x 4.7 inches | Weight: 8.8 ounces | Power Source: (1) AA battery | Display Style: Analog

Best Folding

Westclox travelmate folding alarm clock.

Snooze function

Extremely compact and easy to store

Alarm could be louder

Dim backlight

Westclox has been making clocks in the U.S. since 1884, and yes, the Travelmate may look like a total throwback, but we all know classics are classic for a reason. This updated version features a clear LCD display showing the time, date, and day of the week. A blue backlight illuminates on demand, so you won't have to worry about changing the single, button-style battery for a good while. The defining feature of this travel alarm clock is the folding panel made out of hard plastic that protects the display and keeps the buttons from being pushed in transit when closed and doubles as a stand when opened.

Dimensions: 2.62 x 3.5 x 0.625 inches (folded), 2.62 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches (open) | Weight: 3.2 ounces | Power Source: (1) CR2032 (button) | Display Style: Digital

For a travel alarm clock with all the bells and whistles, we like the Sharper Image Atomic Travel Alarm Clock . But for those who want to keep it simple, the affordable and reliable Travelwey Digital Travel Alarm Clock is our top pick.

What to Look For in Travel Alarm Clocks

Portability.

By definition, portability is the top priority for a travel alarm clock. It should fit easily into your carry-on luggage , purse, or backpack pocket, and it should not add much weight. The most portable travel alarm clocks are usually those that fold flat; however, miniature versions of regular alarm clocks can be just as convenient.

Just how portable you need your alarm clock to be depends on the type of traveling you do. For example, a backpacker on an every-ounce-counts adventure will likely need something much lighter than a business traveler on an overnight road trip.

Travel alarm clocks come with a wide variety of features, from radios and temperature gauges to the ability to integrate with your smartphone for Bluetooth notifications. If you’re a heavy sleeper, an extra-loud alarm bell might be the game changer you need; if you have a partner who doesn’t like to wake up when you do, a vibrating alarm could be helpful. Those who travel primarily within the U.S. may appreciate the superior accuracy of an atomic clock, while others may prefer the pared-back simplicity of an alarm clock with a backlight, a snooze button, and not much more.

There is a travel alarm clock for every budget, with options on this list alone ranging in price from just over $10 to almost eight times that much. All of them fulfill the most basic function, i.e., to wake you up on time for your sightseeing tour, meeting, or flight departure. How much you choose to spend after that depends on the extra features you want and how vital particular aesthetics or brand names are to you. Often, checking past customer reviews is a more reliable way of guaranteeing a good product than simply paying for the most expensive version. A quality travel alarm clock can easily cost under $20.

Although there’s nothing to stop you from traveling with a regular alarm clock or using your travel alarm clock back home, the main difference between the two is size. Travel alarm clocks are typically designed with portability and lightness in mind and are either compact or foldable, or both.

The best travel alarm clocks are also extra-durable and battery-powered (circumventing any issues with different socket types or voltages at your destination).

Mains-powered alarm clocks are fine if you mainly travel domestically—but if you often go abroad, a battery-powered option is the better choice. That way, you don’t have to worry about packing an adapter or converter to enable compatibility with foreign plug sockets and voltages. If you find yourself without access to a plug point (in an airport terminal, for example, or on a camping adventure), your trusty alarm clock will still be able to wake you up on schedule.

You can, of course. But many seasoned travelers prefer the reliability of a battery-powered travel alarm clock that will work even when your phone has died (because you forgot to bring an adapter, perhaps, or because you simply don’t have access to electricity while in transit). Some like to use an alarm clock as a backup for their phone ahead of that all-important flight, while others use one so that they can switch off their phone and truly relax while on vacation.

Jessica Macdonald is a seasoned traveler, having visited more than 50 countries across six continents, often with the help of a travel alarm clock. For this article, she researched more than 20 of the best products currently on the market, comparing them for price, features, and user reviews. To be considered, alarm clocks had to be battery-powered (or at least have battery backup). Size and weight were carefully considered, and preference was given to those marketed explicitly as “travel” or “compact” versions.

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The 10 Best Travel Alarm Clocks [2023]

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

788 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63 U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

35 Published Articles 3211 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

Things to consider with travel alarm clocks, the 10 best travel alarm clocks, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

It can be easy to fall out of your routine when you’re away from home. However, whether you’re traveling for fun or for business, making sure you wake up in a timely fashion is essential.

Packing a travel alarm clock on your trips can help ensure you always know what time it is. That way, you can stay on schedule without worrying about a dead phone battery or incorrectly synced time.

A travel alarm clock should be easy to use and guarantee that you’ll be able to wake up at your desired time. However, there are some different factors you should consider if you plan to purchase a travel alarm clock.

Volume and Alarm

The type of alarm a clock has is the first thing you should consider before you purchase one.

A heavy sleeper will want an alarm clock with loud or adjustable volume. A light sleeper, instead, should ensure their clock doesn’t emit a ticking sound that could disturb their rest.

Some alarm clocks have different sound settings regarding the type of alarm you can choose. For example, if a loud beeping might startle you, you’ll likely want to look for an option that uses a different noise.

Size and Weight

The size and weight of an alarm clock can affect how easy it is to travel with. If you tend to pack light or try to reduce the weight in your bag or backpack, you’ll want to find a compact clock that won’t take up much room.

However, lighter and smaller clocks often have fewer features which is another thing to consider. Larger clocks may have a screen that’s easier to see, but they’ll add extra weight or may take up more room in your luggage.

The material a clock is made out of might also be something you should consider before you purchase one. Many travel clocks are made out of plastic, however, the thickness and feel can differ between them.

If you have tactile issues, you might also want to look at clock options to suit your specific needs. For example, a rubberized clock might be easier to grip.

Bottom Line: You should also look at the difference in materials between any buttons and the rest of the clock if that might affect how you use it.

Power Source

The power source an alarm clock needs to work is another important thing you should consider, particularly depending on the type of travel you usually do.

Most travel alarm clocks are battery-powered. This is a universal option for all types of travel, however, it does mean you have to purchase new batteries.

Alarm clocks that are rechargeable are another viable option, as are clocks that use electricity. These options, however, might not work for international travel or if access to a suitable power source isn’t guaranteed (for example, camping trips).

While an alarm clock that stays in one place typically doesn’t have to withstand much wear and tear, the same can’t be said for travel clocks.

You’ll want to make sure your travel clock is made in a way that it won’t crack or chip easily. If you plan to take your clock camping, you might also want to look at water-resistant and dust-resistant options.

You’ll want to make sure your travel clock can withstand being banged around in transit without risking short circuits or malfunctions when you use it.

Travel alarm clocks aren’t all made the same, and it can be hard to decide which one will best fit the type of traveler you are.

To help you figure out what you should look for, we’ve compiled this list of the best travel alarm clocks on the market, including the pros and cons you should consider.

1. A Simple Alarm Clock To Get the Job Done

Travelwey digital travel alarm clock.

If what you’re looking for in a travel alarm clock is simplicity, the Travelwey is for you. This clock was designed for people who never use the other features that more advanced models offer.

Though the clock comes with a user manual, it’s intuitive to use , so even if you lose the instructions, you shouldn’t have trouble setting the alarm.

Thanks to its small size and how lightweight it is, the clock can fit in most backpacks, carry-on bags, or checked luggage, so it’s suitable for any travel.

It also only needs 2 AAA batteries, so it’s also extremely low-maintenance. Due to its simple screen display, the batteries don’t have to be changed often.

What We Like:

• It’s easy to use

What We Don’t Like:

• The alarm volume isn’t adjustable

2. Gives You All the Info You Need

Marathon travel alarm clock.

If you’re someone who wants to make sure they’re prepared for the day from the moment they wake up, this Marathon model is a great travel clock for you.

This clock not only gives you the time but also displays the metric and imperial temperature , ensuring you know how to dress for the day.

The clock also comes with a calendar setting that shows the date, month, and day of the week, so you can keep on top of your schedule. This is particularly useful for people who travel a lot and can get confused or disoriented when they move between different time zones.

• It can display temperatures in both Celsius and Fahrenheit
• The small screen can be cluttered with information

3. A Clock That Fits Anywhere

Kwanwa alarm clock.

The KWANWA alarm clock is perfect for people who want an option that can fit anywhere. Unlike a lot of travel clocks, this model doesn’t look particularly different from a standard digital alarm you’d find on anyone’s side table.

The numbers are displayed with red LED lights, which aren’t too harsh on the eyes in dim lighting. However, you can also adjust the brightness to suit your personal preferences, so even people with light sensitivities won’t suffer any eye strain.

The clock is easy to figure out and fairly intuitive, allowing you to choose the snooze setting and whether you prefer a 12- or 24-hour clock display.

• It can be used at home or while traveling
• It can be difficult to hang if that’s preferred

4. An Analog Clock for Light Sleepers

Marathon cl030053bl classic silent sweep alarm clock.

Analog clocks are preferred by some, but they can make rest difficult for light sleepers. The Marathon Classic doesn’t have that problem.

This travel clock was designed to be as unobtrusive as possible. There’s no constant ticking sound as time goes by, so you don’t have to worry about any noise from your clock until it’s time for the alarm to go off.

This model also takes care of the analog problem of telling time in the dark. It has a built-in auto-glow that will allow you to easily read the time, even in the middle of the night.

The clock is also compact and fashionably vintage-looking, making it a fun decor piece you can take with you.

• Whisper quiet
• Less budget-friendly

5. A Stress-free Autoset Option

Sharp digital alarm with accuset.

Sharp’s AccuSet alarm is perfect for people who don’t want to constantly worry if they set their clock right.

Traveling can be stressful if it involves changing time zones. If your electronics don’t automatically adjust, it can be a hassle figuring out what time to set your clock to. Having an alarm clock that automatically sets itself to the correct time can be a huge convenience.

This alarm has the added bonus of being equipped with 2 power sources . It can run electrically, which is great if you’re traveling within an area that uses the same power outlets. However, it can also run on battery power, making it perfect for international travel.

• It adjusts automatically to the timezone
• Display can glitch

6. Sleek and Stylish Travel Clock

Betus digital travel alarm clock.

If a lack of style is a potential deal-breaker for you, then you don’t have to worry about the Betus travel clock.

It might be a compact alarm that has a stand that doubles as a travel cover, but it’s still been designed to be sleek and fashionable. It’s smooth and comes in silver or black, so it will fit any decor seamlessly.

Despite its size, the clock also has a surprisingly large display for the time, date, and temperature . With a quick glance, you can find out most things you need to know about your day. It comes with a battery already installed, so you can start using it right away.

• It has a 1-year warranty
• Runs on less-common batteries

7. Perfect Option for Night Owls

Marathon atomic travel alarm clock.

Marathon’s Atomic alarm clock model is made with night owls in mind. Its display automatically switches to a “night mode” setting during the night hours, so it won’t cause eye strain. However, if you prefer to decide when the light turns on or off, you can also set it manually.

The clock is also designed to automatically adjust if it’s within a 6-timezone span in North America.

Though European times would have to be manually set, you can adjust the clock’s language to 4 other options other than English , so it’s still a perfect choice for users around the world. The ideal travel perk of this clock, however, is that it weighs less than half a pound.

• Atomic setting
• Not as sturdy as other options

8. A Compact and Budget-friendly Clock

Marathon foldable compact travel alarm clock.

A lot of travel clocks can be costly, and sometimes you just want something that gives you the information you need at a budget-friendly price.

Marathon’s foldable clock is a sturdy option that should last years. It’s easy to use with clearly labeled buttons and switches that are intuitive to follow.

The clock is less than 3 by 8 inches in size, making it small and portable . However, the display is still large enough to clearly see the time.

Though the clock is battery-powered, it doesn’t take much power to use — many people have claimed they’ve gone years before the battery needs to be changed. When the batteries do have to be changed, only 2 AAAs are needed.

• It’s simple to operate
• Light is only button-operated

9. Durable and User-friendly Option

Sharp digital alarm clock.

The Sharp digital alarm is a good option for you if you want an alarm clock that should stand up to a little rough-housing.

Unlike many options on the market, this model has a rubberized finish which helps protect it from cracking or breaking if knocked over or bumped around in a suitcase.

The rubber feel also makes the alarm easy to grip and use, making it a good choice for people who have mobility issues or who worry about accidentally dropping it.

The alarm is also a “crescendo” sound that gradually gets louder, which should protect against you being startled upon waking up, making for a more pleasant experience.

• Easy to feel for the buttons in the dark
• Blue light can be irritating

10. An Alarm Clock That Won’t Startle You

Braun classic analog alarm clock.

If you hate the loud racket that comes with most alarm clocks, this Braun model might be the right choice for you.

Rather than a startling alarm, it wakes you up with a beeping sound that gets more frequent as more time passes without a reaction.

Though it’s an analog clock, you don’t have to worry about being kept awake or annoyed by ticking sounds. It’s been specifically designed to be quiet enough not to bother you or anyone else nearby.

When in low-lighting, you can also set the clock to have a back-lit glow, so you’ll always be able to tell the time.

• Perfect for any occasion and location
• Only has a 5-minute snooze interval

A travel alarm clock should help ensure you wake up at your desired time while on a trip. However, the specific characteristics that make your perfect alarm clock will vary depending on your needs.

You may want an alarm clock that also tells you the current temperature, or you might need a sturdy clock you can throw in your bag without worry.

Hopefully, our list has helped you narrow down your choices, so you can pick the right clock for your travels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a travel clock.

A travel clock isn’t fundamentally different from a traditional alarm clock. Typically, they’re compact enough to easily fit into a suitcase. They’re often simple in design and tend to be battery-powered. That way, they can be used internationally or on trips where you may not have access to electricity.

Are travel alarm clocks worth it?

Travel alarm clocks can be worth it, depending on your travel needs. If you intend to use your phone often, thus causing the battery to drain, having a separate clock can help ensure you don’t miss an alarm.

What makes a good travel clock?

A good travel clock should be small and lightweight enough to not be cumbersome to travel with. It should also be durable enough to withstand being moved around and jostled. A good travel clock should also be easy to use and have an alarm that will actually wake you up.

Should I use a travel alarm clock?

You should use a travel alarm clock if you have to or want to stick to a strict time schedule while you’re away from home. However, if you’re traveling in a group, it’s best to ensure that everyone with you agrees to having an alarm set to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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The 7 Very Best Alarm Clocks

In this article

• Best overall
• Best sunrise
• Best smart display
• Best smart speaker
• Best analog

As convenient as it might be to use your phone as an alarm clock, standalone alarm clocks come with all kinds of features that can make waking up — or even going to sleep — a little less painful. Some have lights that simulate a gentle sunrise, while others can play bedtime stories or relaxing nature sounds to help you drift off. There are models that charge your phone overnight without taking up an extra spot on your power strip and still others with accompanying apps that let you choose from dozens of alarm sounds (just like your phone!) or sync to smart lights. A few even double as Bluetooth speakers .

The best-known newer brands in the space are Hatch and Loftie, with their feature-packed models, but you’ll still find a wide range of options from legacy electronics-makers Sharp and Braun. To find the best alarm clocks, I tested eight models by setting each atop my nightstand and dresser for at least a couple nights, trying each feature and taking notes on how effective each was at waking me up. I also spoke with Strategist writers about their favorites.

What we’re looking for

Alarm clocks can be either digital or analog, meaning they’ll either display the digits of the actual time or they’ll have a clock face with hands indicating the time. Digital clocks may be easier for some people to read at a glance (especially first thing in the morning), but analog clocks may be less distracting for someone trying to fall asleep.

Adjustable brightness

Displays with adjustable brightness allow you to see the time during the day but prevent the light from keeping you up at night when it’s time for bed.

Multiple alarms

Whether you prefer to set several alarms as an insurance measure, or want to share a clock with someone who wakes up at a different time than you, a clock with the ability to set multiple alarms will make things significantly easier.

Extra features

Some clocks have adjustable lights that simulate sunrise to help you wake up, or speakers that can play soothing sounds or guided meditations to help you get ready for bed. Others, like Amazon’s Echo Dot and Google’s Nest Hub, plug into other services to expand their capabilities and let you control other devices and services with your voice.

Sound options

Some people prefer to be roused with gentle tones, while others need a piercing siren to get them out of bed. I made sure to include both types on this list, as well as models with multiple sound options.

Best alarm clock overall

Clock type: Digital | Adjustable brightness: Yes | Multiple alarms: Yes | Extra features: None | Sound options: None

For a basic alarm clock, Sharp’s AccuSet Jumbo impressed me with its thoughtful design, big display, and low price. You can adjust the brightness to three levels, and even the lowest setting can be seen in a well-lit room, but is still faint enough to not be disruptive at night. You can only set two alarms on this one, but it’s easy to do so, and changing them doesn’t take more than a minute or two.

You won’t be able to change the mildly sharp beeping of the alarm, but the sound works well without sounding too unpleasant first thing in the morning. On the back of this alarm, there’s a USB-A port you can use for charging your phone overnight. In 30 minutes, I was able to charge my iPhone 15 Pro Max from 54 percent up to 72 percent, which isn’t quite as much as you would get with fast charging, but that rate for overnight charging is fine.

You won’t get any of the features (like ambient noise, sunrise light, etc.) that come with smart clocks like the Loftie and Hatch Restore 2, but its simple setup and easy-to-see display make it an affordable and convenient option that had no trouble waking me up during my testing.

Best (less-expensive) alarm clock

Clock type: Digital | Adjustable brightness: Yes | Multiple alarms: No | Smart features: None | Sound options: One

DreamSky’s barebones model is quick to set up and shows the time in an easy-to-read, large display; it also shows the time of your next scheduled alarm.

Strategist editor Hilary Reid says she bought hers to reduce her overall screen time and that it’s been helpful in that pursuit. She likes that the clock’s numbers are big and easy to read — they’re significantly larger than the numbers on the Sharp AccuSet — but aren’t so vivid that they’ll keep you awake. “The numbers are orange, which I find to be less shockingly bright than red or blue numbers, and they are fully dimmable so I can keep them very low when I sleep and then turn them up to their brightest setting in the morning,” she says.

Unlike the other alarm clocks we recommend, this one uses two AAA batteries to store the time and settings on the clock in case of an outage, though you can’t power the clock on batteries alone. Like the Sharp, there’s a built-in USB-A port you can use to charge your phone overnight.  It only comes with one beeping alarm, while the other clocks we recommend have multiple, so you’ll have to be okay with the beeps it emits. Reid says it’s not horrible, but not particularly pleasant, either.

Best smart alarm clock

Clock type: Digital | Adjustable brightness: Yes | Multiple alarms: Yes | Smart features: App-controlled, ambient noise, sunrise light, guided meditations | Sound options: 14

I ended up using the Loftie far longer than the allotted testing time, thanks to how successful it was at waking me up. It combines a classic, understated LCD alarm clock lozenge-shaped design with a subtle light that can simulate a sunrise to ease you into the day. The light glows just enough to grab your attention as you wake up; it’s gentle, and adds a warm touch to the room, both in sunrise mode and when turned on manually from the buttons on the top. Using the app, you can have it light up and play a nice tune to let you know it’s time to wind down and get ready for bed, and another when it’s time to actually get in bed.

The Loftie’s display shows both the current time and, in much smaller, dimmer numerals, the time of the next alarm. It’ll also tell you when Bluetooth (which you can use to stream stuff from your phone or tablet) is enabled. The display is smaller than on other alarm clocks like the Sharp and Hatch, but I still didn’t have any trouble seeing it from across the room while in bed. The top of the Loftie has four buttons: snooze, two arrow buttons for navigating the menu, and the main button for selection or play/pause.

There are 14 alarm sounds to choose from, including jungle animals chirping alongside a flute and gentle, repetitive strikes of a gong. If you have a Loftie+ membership ($5/month, with a trial month for free), you can also play relaxing music to fall asleep to, listen to guided meditations, and get horoscope readings. They’re all nice add-ons, and I did find they helped my anxious mind wind down before dozing off, but the Loftie has plenty to offer without the subscription. You also don’t need to pay the subscription to use the Loftie like a Bluetooth speaker to stream podcasts or playlists from your phone. Unfortunately, the Bluetooth setting disables itself after a period of inactivity, so you’ll have to turn it back on from the device whenever you want to use it.

The accompanying app is surprisingly feature-packed for an alarm-clock app. You can add multiple alarms, each with different sounds from Loftie’s library, and adjust the brightness of the clock’s bottom light via an adjustable slider. You can also choose from 14 alarm sounds, all of which have pleasant tones, though if you need a sharper, more attention-grabbing sound to get you out of bed, these options probably won’t work. The app also supports multiple clocks, so you can control several devices from one phone.

The company also sells a Wi-Fi connected lamp , which is my new favorite lamp after a week of testing. It pairs with the clock to coordinate wakeup routines, like dimming your light before bed or using a soft light to help wake you up. Every time it lit up along with my alarm, I felt like I was waking up in a room pulled straight out of the brightly colored yet softly lit future of Spike Jonze’s Her . At $250, it’s rather expensive, and you can only control it from within Loftie’s app, but the light does look great. Rather than using a bulb, the entire base of the lamp lights up, and you can set it to one of over 30 color options, including solid colors and gradients. All of the color options are relaxing, never too intense, and can work for anything from providing some light for reading or just helping you wake up in the morning.

Best sunrise alarm clock

While I like the Loftie’s design, the Hatch Restore 2 is the one I wanted to keep on my nightstand after I tested it. I prefer its more subtle look and I like its sunrise light more — though the Loftie Lamp gives that model an edge if you’re willing to splurge on it. The Restore 2’s light has a softer glow thanks to the fabric surrounding it and compared to the effect created by Loftie’s transparent casing. Unlike the Loftie’s single-color light, the Hatch has 18 possible colors, and they can all be changed from within the app. My room doesn’t get much light in the mornings, and the Hatch’s vibrant but not overbearing light serves as a gentle nudge to help wake me up.

Like the Loftie, the Restore 2 has 14 built-in alarm sounds to choose from; I prefer the soothing chords of “Joyful Morning.” You can even play white noise to fall asleep to. Unlike with the Loftie, some of these ambient tracks are available for free, though others are available only with a subscription ($5/month). That subscription also unlocks guided meditations and fun things like the series “i’ll scroll 4 u,” where a host narrates what they’re doing on their phone in every episode; it’s sort of like a podcast version of someone’s hushed internal monologue. In one episode they comment on the question prompts their Hinge suggestions have on their profiles, and in another the narrator talks us through their hunt for a new couch on Facebook Marketplace. On its own, the Restore 2 offers more than enough to help make sleep a little easier, but I’ll admit, I’ve enjoyed trying out some of Hatch’s subscription content, so it’s worth checking out at least for the free trial.

Atop the Restore 2 are two buttons: one for activating your morning routine, and one for your evening routine. The morning button is convex, while the evening button is concave, making it easy to distinguish them by feel alone. The buttons are easier to differentiate this way than on the Sharp, but the Loftie’s different-size buttons are even easier to tell apart. The front of the clock also has four touch controls, though there are no icons to show where they are: Tapping on the top or bottom of the display toggles the light’s brightness, while tapping the left or right side adjusts the volume of the speaker.

Strategist writer Arielle Avila has been using the Restore 2 for about four months, and says it’s totally replaced her phone as an alarm. “It’s the only thing that can get me fully up when it’s still dark out because of the sunrise option,” she says. “I set mine to gradually brighten 30 minutes prior to my actual alarm, which is a morning bird sound — it’s calming but really effective.”

Avila also notes that only one person can control the Restore 2, so setting multiple alarms for multiple people isn’t convenient. You can also mute the alarm using a switch on the side, but it’s not easy to flip when you’re half-awake, which may disturb your bedmate if they wake up later than you.

Best smart display alarm clock

Clock type: Digital | Adjustable brightness: Yes | Multiple alarms: Yes | Smart features: App-controlled, ambient noise, third-party app integration, smart home controls | Sound options: 20

I used to watch TV before bed, but since removing mine from my room last year, I’ve started relying on a tablet version of Google’s Nest Hub as a mini-TV , and it works well as an alarm I can control completely hands free. The Nest Hub, which I’ve had in my home for over a year, has a large display — basically a tablet —that can show everything from the weather to whatever playlist you have on its built-in speaker. At night, the display will automatically dim when you’re going to bed. The Hub can run multiple timers, and even show two onscreen at the same time. It also makes a pretty great digital picture frame .

Google Assistant is built right into the Nest Hub, which means that in addition to controlling all your on-device timers, alarms, and Google queries, you can also sync it to third-party smart home gear and services like Spotify or Netflix (I have mine set up to control my home alarm system and robot vacuum ). All that’s done from Google’s Assistant app, but once you’ve done it for one Hub, it’ll be good to go with future devices as well.

Like nearly everything else you can do on the Nest Hub, you can set alarms with your voice, though you’ll have to use the touch screen to change the alarm wakeup sounds. There are 20 sounds to choose from, and they’re broken down into four categories (natural, light, medium, heavy), based on their tone and theme. They’re all nice to hear in the morning — I like the music-based ones — and I like that the options are broken down into their tones, rather than elements like the forest or ocean.

Since it’s meant to play music and videos too, the Nest Hub has a better speaker than the Loftie: It’s louder and clearer. You can sync it with your Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music account to stream your favorite playlists or albums directly from the display, or even have it play a YouTube or Netflix video before bed. It doesn’t work as a Bluetooth speaker like the Loftie, but since the streaming functionality is all built in and doesn’t shut down on its own, it’s far more convenient.

Best smart speaker alarm clock

Clock type: Digital | Adjustable brightness: No | Multiple alarms: Yes | Smart features: App-controlled, ambient noise, guided meditations, third-party app integration, smart home controls | Sound options: 24

Of Amazon’s Alexa-integrated speakers, Amazon’s Echo Dot is my favorite. It’s small enough to fit on a nightstand without taking up a ton of space, and its smart-speaker capabilities are just as good as those on the Google Nest Hub. It also has an LED ring at the bottom that lights up when an alarm is going off, but the light itself is not as pleasant as the Hatch or Loftie. To turn the alarm off, you can say, “Alexa, stop” or tap the top, which is far easier than having to reach for a specific button, as you would with the Hatch and Loftie.

Like the Nest Hub, there’s a smart assistant built into the Echo Dot, though of course it’s Alexa instead of Google’s Assistant. You can connect it to just as many smart home devices and third-party services. Its display will only show the time (no indicators to tell you whether an alarm is active or not), but the numbers are easy to read. The sound is quite good for the speaker’s size (it’s about the size of a softball), and works for playing music, podcasts, and audiobooks, all without having to use your phone. It doesn’t produce sound with the same clarity as the Nest Hub, but it’s also significantly smaller.

The Echo Dot’s most frustrating issue is found within its alarm settings: There are ads and cross-promotions involved. In addition to standard alarm tones with nature sounds or chimes, there are branded ones like “Sharknado: Tara Reid” and “Blake Shelton: Day’s Work.” If that’s your jam, fine, but I’d imagine a lot of people wouldn’t enjoy waking up to Tara Reid shouting, “Get up now! There’s a Sharknado coming! Stay away from the windows and stick with me if you want to live, this is not my first time.” That said, the alarms that aren’t associated with a brand or celebrity sound pretty good and were on par with the alarms found in my iPhone’s Sleep section (and better than the standard alarms in the Clock app).

Best analog alarm clock

Clock type: Analog | Adjustable brightness: No | Multiple alarms: No | Smart features: None | Sound options: 1

For those who prefer an analog clock, Braun’s can’t be beat. The BC22 is modeled on the brand’s discontinued AB 2, which was designed in 1984 by Dieter Rams. Rams’ clock designs are considered classics for a reason and have many fans.

Unlike every other clock we recommend, this one’s battery powered, though you’ll probably only have to replace it once per year at most. It only has one alarm and one alarm tone, which increases in volume until you shut it off. The quartz movement should be quiet enough that the ticking won’t keep you from dozing off.

You set the alarm manually on the back of the clock. On the right side of the Braun is a switch to disable the alarm. The clock’s face has a soft orange backlight that allows you to see it at night but won’t keep you awake, and the hands of the clock have illuminated tips for better visibility in the dark. Below the clock, there’s a green light that indicates when an alarm is active, which allows you to confirm at a glance whether you’ve set one or not.

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• Arielle Avila , Strategist writer
• Hilary Reid , Strategist editor

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Today’s Top Clicked

The 6 Best Travel Alarm Clocks to Give Your Vacation Peace of Mind!

Best Alarm Clocks for Travel

I know what you must be thinking – if smartphones have rendered the watch obsolete, why haven’t they done the same with alarm clocks?

I might agree with you on normal alarm clocks, but the best travel alarm clocks always add security and peace of mind to your vacation. I always travel with an alarm clock for two main reasons.

First, you never know how often you’ll be able to charge your phone on vacation. When you’re out and about all day, the life of your phone battery is less reliable, so I always like to have my alarm clock as a back-up option.

Likewise, if my smartphone alarm clock messes up on a normal day, I might be a little late to work or get a late start on my to-do list. The vacation equivalent of being late to work is missing a tour or, worse, missing a flight! For worry-warts like me, you can never play it too safe.

Keep reading for the 6 best travel alarm clocks to give your next vacation peace of mind!

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The Best Travel Alarm Clocks

1. Homtime Multi-Function Alarm Clock

It’s hard to imagine a travel alarm clock having that many bells and whistles, but the Homtime Multi-Function Alarm Clock seems to have all of them.

It possesses four levels of LCD dimming, has both snooze and gradual wake-up functions, and can be charged via either USB cord or, should there be a power failure, backup support battery (told you the best travel alarm clocks put a premium on peace of mind!).

To top it all off, the Homtime travel alarm clock doubles as a charging port for Apple and Android devices!

Best Multi-Functional Alarm Clock

Available on Amazon

Read more reviews here

2. HITO Bedside Travel Alarm Clock

Using radio-controlled time and date updates, the HITO Atomic Travel Alarm Clock will always make sure you’re keeping time regardless of where your vacation takes you.

Plus, its jumbo digit display , snooze functionality, appealing amber LED backlight and automatic dimming make it both one of the best digital alarm clocks period and one of the best travel alarm clocks!

Best Digital Alarm Clock

3. Marathon Travel Alarm Clock

The alphabet soup model name on this Marathon product might make you think it’s an Intel core processor or something.

Well, it’s just one of the best alarm clocks but, to be completely frank, it’s probably more technologically impressive than a core processor (sorry, Intel!).

The Marathon’s unique audio engineering makes it a loud alarm clock, perfect for jet lagged travelers!

Plus, the Marathon has a built-in folding stand , can display in 5 different languages and, unlike many travel alarm clocks, comes batteries included – just pack and go!

Marathon Travel Alarm Clock

4. Travelwey Analog Alarm Clock

Ever been just about to start counting your sheep only to realize your clock’s ticking second hand is slowly morphing into a ticking time bomb counting down to your eternal insomnia?

Fortunately, the Travelwey Analog Alarm Clock avoids this crisis with its silently sweeping second hand. Elsewhere, the Travelwey makes its name as among the best travel alarm clocks.

A true traveler’s alarm clock, the Travelwey is loud, made of durable plastic casing, and features a travel lock that prevents it from accidentally turning on and draining the battery!

Best Analog Alarm Clock

5. Peakeep Ultra Small Travel Alarm Clock

At 2 ounces and with no dimension larger than 2.25 inches, the Peakeep Ultra Small Alarm Clock is supremely convenient, being small enough to fit in your pocket!

Don’t be fooled, though: the Peakeep travel alarm clock packs a punch – its manual backlit illuminated dial is visible from anywhere in the room, and its classic ascending four-beep alarm has just the right volume level.

It’s loud enough that you’ll be jarred awake, but not so loud that you’ll be compelled to throw it straight out your hotel window!

Ultra Small Travel Alarm Clock

6. Casio Travel Alarm Clock

One of the several ingenious moves the Casio TQ140 Travel Alarm Clock makes is illuminating only the hands and markers, which both saves energy and makes the actual time stand out that much more.

Add in its quartz analog timekeeping system, beep alarm and snooze functionality, battery-included delivery, and unbeatable price, and the Casio is one of the best travel alarm clocks full-stop.

It’s certainly one of the best values!

Best Cheap Travel Alarm Clock

The Best Travel Alarm Clock – Summary Comparison Chart

To summarize, here’s a chart summarizing the best travel alarm clocks with a quick overview of their various features.

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Best Travel Alarm Clock Recommendations to Help You Wake-Up

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You’ve got big plans on your next trip and don’t want to sleep in and miss them. So, we asked TFG readers to share their picks for the best travel alarm clock and this is what they said.

Best Travel Alarm Clock

Written By: Tae Haahrr

Table Of Contents

You’ve got big plans that you don’t want to miss—an excursion, walking tour, sunset boat ride—whatever it is that you’re excited about, you definitely don’t want to sleep through. So, you’ll need a portable clock.

There are a ton of travelers that like to use their smartphone as an alarm clock while they travel but considering the negative implications of using that little blue light emitting device right by your bed, we’d like to offer a few alternative ideas.

There may even be the occasional time you return home so exhausted that you forget to charge your phone before bedtime. Trust us, you don’t want this to keep you from missing your flight. Guilty—it’s happened!

If you’re looking for a travel clock that you can cart along to London , Bangkok , and Sydney , then here are our readers top picks:

Best Digital Travel Alarm Clocks

Travelway Digital Travel Clock

Travelway Digital Travel Alarm Clock

This Travelwey is a no-nonsense device. It tells you the time and wakes you up when you tell it to.

No bells and whistles, this clock can fold into an easy-to-pack size. It’s powered by two AAA batteries and easily switches on and off to save battery life while it’s not in use.

One TFG reader shares that a must-have for her is a “very inexpensive fold-up clock.” She also recommends bringing a few extra batteries for it!

If you’re looking for a travel clock that’s simple and easy to use, then this might be the one for you.

Noise-cancelling headphones can work wonders when it comes to blocking out the noise caused by snoring!

Marathon NightOwl

Marathon Battery-Operated Alarm Clock

The Marathon NightOwl is a great choice because of its small size and ability to conveniently fold up into a flat, packable form.

This alarm clock has the ability to switch between six time zones and five different languages. It has an automatic backlight and is battery operated (no international plugs to deal with). Plus, not only does it display time but also the date and temperature.

One TFG reader who uses the Marathon travel alarm clock says, “It’s pretty good and even when I’m not traveling I use it. The screen is nice and dim, so if you wake up in the middle of the night you can see what time it is without being blinded! You do have to set it outside at like two or five so the atomic clock sets, but after that you’re good.”

If you’re looking for something small with some extra bells and whistles, then this travel clock is for you.

Travelon Clock

Travelon Travel Alarm Clock 

Travelon is one of our favorite travel brands, from bags and purses to gadgets, they make some pretty awesome stuff. So, it’s no surprise that they have the Travelon Travel  Clock .

If you’re looking for a travel alarm clocks with temperature, Travelon has you covered. Not only does this travel clock tell the time, but it also tracks the date and temperature. It also has a backlight and a fold-down leg to help it stand up.

The Travelon is one of the best battery alarm clock choices and a great grab-and-go pick. Just fold up the stand, pack it in your bag and jump on the plane.

Check out our Travelon anti-theft crossbody bag review here !

Best Analog Travel Alarm Clocks

Peakeep Ultra Small

Peakeep Analog Pocket Alarm Clock

This cute little Peakeep Ultra Small analog alarm clock really can fit in your pocket, making it a superb choice for travel.

It’s easy to see in the middle of the night with the manual backlight button, not difficult to set, and its battery operated (just needs one AA battery). Plus, it’s super compact—only 2 ¼ inches by 2 ¼ inches.

If you’re looking for something small and simple, then this could be the right alarm clock to pack.

PiLife Vintage Alarm Clock

PiLife Travel Alarm Clock Wind Up

While these classic-style models are typically used as decorative alarm clocks, this mini vintage clock by PiLife is perfect for travel.

Why is it perfect for traveling, you ask? Because it’s mini—only 3 inches tall! It’s pretty and colorful and there are six colors to choose from. Also, even though this is a wind up device, it has none of that annoying ticking!

If you want a truly old-school experience, this adorable clock might be the perfect travel companion for you!

A travel alarm clock is one of the hostel essentials mentioned in this backpacking checklist !

Best Watch Travel Alarm Clock

LETSCOM Fitness Tracker Watch

LETSCOM Fitness Watch and Alarm

At $30, this LETSCOM Fitness Tracker Watch is the (significantly) less expensive version of those fancy smart watches. And it works great!

The reason why it’s such a cool watch for travel is that instead of the loud, rude wake up from a traditional alarm, this uses soft increasing vibrations to gently wake you up. You can program the alarm from a phone app, but put away your phone at night and wake up without being tempted to add to your screen time.

This watch probably isn’t a great alarm clock option for heavy sleepers, however, if you’re a light to medium sleeper it’s the lovely, non-intrusive way to wake up.

Timex Ironman Classic 30 Mid-Size Watch

Timex Travel Alarm Clock Watch

Using a watch as an alarm while you’re traveling is a smart idea because it’s right there . Travel watches tend to be less obtrusive instead of a loud heartstopping alarm when it’s time to get up.

Fit for travel, the Timex clock watch is waterproof at less than 100 feet below water as long as you aren’t diving. And there are 14 different awesome colors to choose from that will fit your unique style.

Using a Smartphone

When it comes down to it, using your smartphone as an alarm clock isn’t the best idea. The glow of the screen can be a sure-fire way that you don’t get the best sleep, and having it at your bedside could encourage you to use it before bed!

That said, some of us are most comfortable using our phone as an alarm clock while we travel. It’s reliable, timely, and has the proper sound to rouse some of us heavier sleepers. If that sounds like you, TFG readers have a few tips to share about how to make the most out of your smartphone alarm clock.

MoKo Phone / Tablet Stand

MoKo Smartphone Stand

For those of you that would prefer to use your smartphone as your alarm clock while you travel, one TFG reader suggests using the MoKo Phone/Tablet Stand to rest your phone on at night.

This stand is really multi-purpose, useable for your tablet if you want to catch a flick or read a book during your downtime. Sometimes the most comfortable way to do that is propped up next to you with a stand!

iHandy Alarm Clock Pro App

The iHandy Alarm Clock Pro App essentially turns your Apple device into a full-screen alarm clock. One TFG reader uses this in combination with a long power cord and the smartphone stand because  it’s “less to keep track of.”

There are a number of customizable features such as picking your own theme, choosing music on your phone to wake up to, fall asleep listening to your favorite music, podcast or audiobook, and it even has a flashlight function.

Keep reading to find out the smartphone camera accessories that will help you take a pic like a pro!

Travel Alarm Clock Product Comparison Chart

What’s the best travel alarm clock to use.

The best travel alarm clock really depends on your personal preferences, especially if you’re a heavy sleeper.

If you’re looking for an alarm clock for travel, you’ll want one that’s small, light, battery operated, and packable. But mostly, you’ll want one that works best for you.

And if you’re a heavy sleeper that has trouble waking up, try an alarm clock that gets louder the longer it rings.

Are there any benefits to using a smartphone?

You’ve probably read an article somewhere on the internet about it, but smartphones do not make good alarm clocks.

The blue light they emit clutters your brain. Instead of winding down and getting ready for sleep, if you’re sitting in your bed tapping on your phone then your brain is actually waking up and scrambling.

This brain confusion can result in having a poor sleep by making you sleepless or interrupting your sleep more often.

Oh, and this blue light also comes from your tablet, laptop and desktop screen. The general rule of thumb is to stay off your electronic devices for 20 minutes prior to heading to bed. So consider a small alarm clocks battery operated device and sleep better!

Compass Rose Travel Adapter

Using a Travel Adapter

Charging your device in other countries can be a challenge if you don’t have the correct wall plug, but the Compass Rose Travel Adapter was made exactly for that.

This bright and memorable adapter is red, so you won’t forget it. In addition, if you’re sharing your room with other travelers, you may be limited to charging space.

Always travel with an adapter like this one, which allows you to charge up to three devices at once.

Watch the video above or read this post to learn about the differences between travel adapters, converters, and voltage!

What is your favorite travel alarm clock? Share your thoughts below!

For more ideas on travel gadgets, please read:

• What are the Best Noise Canceling Headphones for Tavel?
• Best Portable Power Bank Chargers for Travel
• Stop Tangled Electronic Cables with these Travel Cord Organizer Options
• Best Travel Kettle Will Help You Start Your Day Right

Hope you liked these travel alarm clock options. Please share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

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Our advice is expert-vetted and based on independent research, analysis and hands-on testing from our team of Certified Sleep Coaches. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

The 6 Best Alarm Clocks of 2024

Using your phone as your alarm clock may be messing up your sleep cycle. We've rounded up the best alarm clocks to consider for your nightly routine.

• Certified Sleep Science Coach, Certified Stress Management Coach

While many people use their phone as an alarm, you may want to consider getting a normal alarm clock if you're looking to get better sleep. Although they aren't as common, alarm clocks today have more alarm settings and styles that help them fit into modern times. The best alarm clocks will even have voice assistant abilities, interactive displays and some even function like a sunrise alarm clock .

Finding the right everyday alarm clock can be tough, especially with so many features, prices and brands. We did the testing for you, so you can rest easy knowing you have your ideal fit. Here are our picks for the top alarm clocks you can buy right now.

Best alarm clocks

Travelwey Home LED

Best overall alarm clock.

If you're looking for a simple, straightforward alarm clock, you'll like the Travelwey Home LED alarm clock. You'll like its reasonable price tag even more. There are only a few easy-to-use buttons and a prominent classic red time display. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles that some of the other best alarm clocks on the list have, but if you're looking for a simple alarm clock to get the job done, Travelwey Home LED is a solid pick.

You can adjust the Travelwey alarm clock's brightness, but during testing, we found that it doesn't cast a glow that would disrupt your sleep at the highest setting. It also has a night-light feature if you're into that. It has a standard 9-minute snooze time, and you can switch between a soft or loud sound setting. 

Pros: 

• Travelwey is the best overall alarm clock because it's basic but dependable. All the classic features are well implemented. 
• Travelwey Home's alarm clock also features a backup battery if you lose power at night. 
• You can't change the tone or sound of this alarm clock. It only features two volume options. 

Additional details: 

• Display color: Red
• Battery backup: 2x AAA
• Snooze length: 9 minutes
• Wake-up options: Two volume choices 
• Price:  $

Amazon Echo Show 5

Best smart alarm clock.

The digital alarm clock industry has changed a lot. No longer is your alarm clock just something that wakes you up. Many smart alarm clock options function as an interactive hub where you can access your alarms, weather and music. The Amazon Echo Show 5 is one of the best smart alarm clocks, thanks to its varied features and voice assistant connectivity. 

This smart alarm clock has unique alarm settings that allow you to use your music or a customizable tone as your alarm as well as a choice of a digital or analog clock. If that's not enough, it also has a sound ramp-up feature designed to gracefully bring you out of sleep instead of scaring you awake. The screen also gradually gets brighter like a sunrise alarm clock, starting fifteen minutes before your alarm sounds.  

You can use voice commands to access the Alexa voice assistant. This smart alarm clock's touchscreen allows you to check the weather, make video calls or control your smart home. It's more than an alarm clock and can set multiple alarms throughout the day. If you want to use your alarm clock for everything, consider the Amazon Echo Show 5 . 

• Amazon Echo Show 5 is a highly customizable smart alarm clock that allows you to use your music or sound. The ramp-up screen and sound feature are less jarring than traditional alarms. 
• The screen does cast a glow at night, even with the adaptive brightness feature. 
• You can't adjust the snooze time.
• Display color: Customizable 
• Battery backup: None
• Wake-up options: Sunrise light, a variety of tones, streaming music
• Price:  $$

Philips HF3500

Best sunrise alarm clock.

A sunrise alarm clock is designed to gradually wake sleepers up with light rather than a blaring alarm. We found that the Philips HF3500 is one of the best sunrise alarm clocks you can get thanks to its orange display, light function and price tag. 

Visually, it's unique -- it looks like a UFO with a kickstand. There are simple buttons at the center, under the time display. But the majority of the surface area of this alarm clock is devoted to the light feature. Thirty minutes before your alarm time, this Philips sunrise alarm clock will gradually increase its brightness level until it reaches the maximum you set. To ensure you wake up, it also starts beeping with increasing intensity. 

• This sunrise alarm clock has 10 brightness levels that you can choose from. 
• Philips HF3500 is a simple yet effective sunrise alarm clock worth the money. 
• Snoozing the Philips HF3500 sunrise alarm clock is a little weird initially. There's no button. Instead, you press the top half of the light. 
• Display color: Orange 
• Wake-up options: Sunrise light and buzzing

Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb

Best alarm clock for heavy sleepers.

Heavy sleepers can be almost impossible to get up. If you're someone who sleeps through their alarm and needs something more heavy-duty, we recommend the Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb alarm. It's one of the best alarm clocks for heavy sleepers. 

The Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb alarm comes with two parts -- the classic display and incredibly loud buzzer and the vibrating attachment that you can slip under your pillow . You can customize the alarm with controls our team thought were easy to figure out. 

• It's the best alarm clock for heavy sleepers thanks to its loud buzzer and shaker attachment. 
• The Sonic Alert alarm clock is customizable with easy controls. 
• It's a great alarm clock for heavy sleepers, but if you're not a heavy sleeper, it could be an unpleasant experience.
• Display color: Red 
• Battery backup: 9 volt
• Snooze length: Customizable between one and 30 minutes
• Wake-up options: Loud buzzing and vibrating accessory

Hatch Restore Sound Machine and Smart Light

Best alarm clock for kids.

Finding a kids' alarm clock that meets all your child's needs can be hard. The Hatch Restore alarm clock is a sound machine and smart light in one. This alarm clock for kids has many features that other options can't compete with. Not only do you get white noise sounds, but there's a digital alarm clock display and soft control buttons. 

The Hatch Restore Sound Machine and Smart Light can grow up with your child. It has an app you can access on your phone, which allows you to personalize the clock to suit your growing child. You can create sleep and wake routines with light dimming or brightening for your child like a sunrise alarm clock. 

• Hatch Restore Sound Machine is one of the best alarm clocks for kids because it's packed with helpful features and allows for personalization.
• There's an easy-to-use app you can access from anywhere. 
• This isn't the most budget-friendly option. It's on the more expensive side, but it's the type of alarm clock that will last. 
• Display color: Customizable  
• Wake-up options: Sunrise light or sound
• Price:  $$$

RCA RCD30 (Update: Currently Unavailable)

Best budget alarm clock.

Not everyone wants to spend a lot of money on their alarm clock, especially if you don't want all the added features. That's where the RCA RCD30 alarm clock comes in. Similar to the Travelwey, the RCA RCD30 is our pick for the best budget alarm clock because of its simple design. 

It features the classic red number display that offers two brightness levels. During testing, we found that neither level glows to the point where it would interrupt your sleep. It has an easy-to-find snooze button. It doesn't have any added features like a night light or lights. It is a straight-to-the-point classic alarm clock that will get the job done. 

• RCA RCD30 is one of the best budget alarm clocks you can get. It's great for people who don't want anything special. 
• It's cheap and small enough that most people would find this to be one of the best travel alarm clocks as well.
• Since it's so basic, resetting or adjusting alarms will take longer.
• Wake-up options: Simple buzzing

Best alarm clocks compared

Other alarm clocks we've tested.

We've tested a lot of alarm clocks, not all of which made this best alarm clock list. But they're still worth mentioning and might be the right fit for you.

Read more: Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks for 2024

Lenovo Smart Clock 2

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 has a 4-inch touchscreen which can show you the weather, your commute and even your calendar. It's connected to Google Assistant , so you can use voice commands to schedule your alarms. It's not the most robust smart display out there -- you won't be watching videos or playing your music -- but it's still pretty handy. 

The Lenovo Smart Clock also has a sunrise alarm clock feature, meaning the screen gets brighter 30 minutes before your scheduled wake-up time. One drawback of the Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is the display always glows, no matter which clock face you choose. At the moment, you can only find it available as part of a bundle with a Lenovo smart bulb. Read our Lenovo Smart Clock 2 review for more details on this clock. 

Amazon Echo Dot with Clock 

The Amazon Echo Dot with Clock displays the time, alarms and weather, with the display's brightness adapting to the room. It's still a smart speaker first, responding to voice commands through Alexa , but it works well as a basic smart alarm clock. Read our hands-on breakdown of Amazon's latest Echo Dot for everything you need to know. 

American Lifetime Day Clock

If you're someone with impaired vision, you'll like the large-print design of the American Lifetime Day Clock. You can program your alarms to include reminders that will be displayed on the screen, like "time to take your medications." That said, it isn't the best alarm clock we've tested. There is no snooze button. The display is bright, even in the dimmest setting. You must scroll through a menu to schedule alarms, which can get confusing.

iHome IBT29BC

If you're someone who values all the bells and whistles, consider the $50-ish iHome iBT29BC. It has a built-in radio and two alarms; it doubles as a Bluetooth speaker and even has an auxiliary cable. The iHome IBT29BC allows you to customize it by adjusting the colors and sounds it uses to wake you up. The light doesn't adjust, but it does come on when your alarm sounds. This alarm clock is a jack of all trades but doesn't shine in any category. 

HomeLabs Home Sunrise Alarm Clock

The HomeLabs Home Sunrise Alarm Clock has many features -- the light changes colors and fades up. There's a radio with various wake-up sounds, including classical music and nature sounds. With this Alarm, you get what you pay for, the buttons aren't the most responsive and it is more difficult to set alarms. The brightness ramp-up isn't as seamless as other options, but for less than $25, it's a good option. 

How we tested the best alarm clocks

There are a lot of features that go into alarm clocks, and we tested them all. When testing the best alarm clocks, we assessed each option on their display, sound and ease of use. We considered how long the snooze button was set for, how customizable the alarm is and additional light features you need to know about. 

Once we had the data of each alarm clock compiled, we made sure to compare each alarm clock to each other to ensure this best alarm clock list is the best reflection of the current market.

What to consider when buying an alarm clock

When shopping for the best alarm clock for your needs, it's easy to get overwhelmed with hundreds of options. It's understandable. A wide variety of alarm clocks are available that differ by features and price. Keep these things in mind when looking for ideal fit:

• Price: The alarm clock market is wide -- with both budget and luxury options. Defining your budget early will help you narrow down your options and keep you from getting wowed by features you may or may not need. 
• Features: First and foremost, you must decide if you want to stick to the basics or dive into the ocean of alarm clock features. Do you want your alarm clock to charge your phone? Play music? Or would you rather just have a basic alarm clock with a clearly labeled snooze button? The good news is that there are so many combinations of features that you're sure to get an alarm clock that fits your needs.
• Display: Deciding how elaborate the display of your alarm clock is also important. Some have super bright screens, while others have simple red or orange numbers that don't cast as much glow. 
• How it wakes you up: No longer are you limited to a loud blaring screech to wake you up. Alarm clocks have come a long way and now offer gentle wake-up with sound or light that progressively gets louder or brighter. But if you're a heavy sleeper, you may want something louder.
• How "smart" you want it to be: Many of the best alarm clocks are compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple's Siri, making scheduling alarms easy. 

Best alarm clock FAQ

What's the best alarm clock for heavy sleepers.

Alarm clocks for heavy sleepers tend to be much louder than the average alarm clock; some even vibrate your bed. Our testing found that the Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb is the best alarm clock for heavy sleepers. It's loud and it has a vibrating attachment that you can slip under your pillow. Not to mention, it's budget-friendly. 

What type of alarm clock is best for light sleepers?

Light sleepers have the flexibility to choose just about any alarm clock out there. The best alarm clock for light sleepers will come down to preference. If you want one that plays your music to wake you up, consider a smart alarm like the Amazon Echo Show 5. If you want a sunrise alarm that uses light to gently wake you up, try the Philips HF3500. 

Should I use my phone as my alarm clock?

You can use your phone as your alarm clock as long as you remember to keep it charged enough to last a night. Alarm clocks ultimately make for better options, though, because they're plugged in with backup batteries, so you never oversleep. Additionally, using your phone as your alarm keeps it close to the bed, which may tempt you to use it late at night. If you prioritize your sleep quality, go with an alarm clock.

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Best travel alarm clocks tried and tested

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Utter the words ‘alarm clock’ to anyone born in this century, and they may look at you in undisguised bewilderment. For the young, such things may as well be ancient relics unearthed by Indiana Jones. But alarm clocks still have their uses, especially when you’re on the road.

Sure you could rely on your phone’s alarm, but if you’re travelling somewhere without the right adaptors or sans plug, there’s the risk that you’ll be out of battery and stranded if you miss your wake-up time.

This might not be such a huge catastrophe if it’s the first day of your holiday and you’re on leisure mode.

But consider if you’re catching a connecting flight, need to board an early train, have to meet your tour guide, or just want to get a head-start on the crowds by seeing the sights before peak visiting hours. And that’s not to mention the disaster that could potentially ensue if you’re travelling for business and miss a crucial meeting that you’ve travelled across multiple time zones for.

So while a travel alarm clock may feel like an ancient artefact, there are still plenty of uses for them in the modern world.

To prove it, we’ve rounded up the nicest, most compact and smartest alarm clocks that should be packed as an order of priority, right after your passport and tickets.

See the best below

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Echo Show 8 (1st Gen, 2019 release)

Why buy a product that can only do one thing when Amazon’s Echo is so great at wearing multiple hats? This bedside companion has it all, from an 8-inch screen that can display time, date and temperature, to a stereo speaker that allows you to play music, the radio or talk to folks back at home. The smart assistant speaker can even set your alarm for you just by issuing a simple voice command. It doesn’t get higher spec than this.

USBERG Digital Alarm Clock with Wireless Charging

No need to choose between your phone or your travel clock if there’s only one socket to use for charging.

This device supports wireless charging while telling you the time at any point in the day too. Featuring a 12/24H clock, dual alarms and three levels of brightness so the screen doesn’t interefere with your shut-eye, it’s a thoroughly modern travel accessory.

Acctim Jowie Flip Digital Alarm Clock & Night Light, Pink

It can be disorientating waking up in an unfamiliar bed, no matter how comfy your hotel room. Make finding the loo or getting a glass of water easier thanks to this tiny alarm clock which also functions as an adjustable night light. Shown here in pink (white and grey are also available), it has two alarm settings which can easily be snoozed with a simple shake. Runs on rechargeable batteries or USB.

AYADA Small Cube Digital Loud Alarm Clock

Not only does this clock tell the time in two formats (12hour and 24hour), but it can also let you know the outside temperature and offers two alarms so you can set separate times. It will work with 3 x AAA batteries - but eco-conscious travellers will like the fact that it can be powered through USB too. It comes with a hidden stand to sit on tabletops and a magnet on the back to hang on metal frames and doors, so you can always keep it close by.

LEFF amsterdam Tube Analogue Alarm Clock, Brass

This clock may look simple but the industrial tube-like shape and gleaming brass hue take it to new heights of coolness. It’s a small thing measuring just H5 x W5 x D8cm so should fit into cabin bags as well as luggage with ease, and there’s a snooze button to silence the alarm should your plans change.

Lexon Flip+ Travel Size Digital Alarm Clock - Lilac

This fun travel clock is perfect for backpackers and uni students. Offered in a cute lilac colour, it will be easy to find in a packed bag and offers an electroluminescent display that is reversible to boot. Faces are easy to distiguish between the ON and OFF settings, and there’s a snooze option too for those who need a few minutes muster time before getting up.

Requires 2 AAA batteries, which are supplied with the alarm clock.

mooas Multi-Hexagon Clock Timer

Whether you’re cooking or cat-napping, this clock and timer is the perfect way to keep an eye on short bursts of time. There are three options, each with slightly different timing configurations and there’s a backlight so you can see what time it is, even in the dark. There are two alarms, one in sound mode and the other in mute, which allows you to use the device in quiet places, like red-eye flights. Start, pause and reset the clock easily by tilting it at various angles.

Braun Digital Travel Alarm Clock

From a brand name you can trust comes this digital alarm clock, small enough to go on adventures big and small. It may look unassuming but it’s packed to the eyeballs with features, from a crescendo beep alarm that gets more annoying unless you turn it off, a five-minute snooze button and a backlight function so you can see it when light is scarce. Just one battery is needed, which keeps luggage nice and light.

MeesMeek Projection Alarm Clock

No need to squint at the clock to make out the time. Whether you are bleary-eyed or just haven’t got your glasses to hand, this clock projects the time onto the wall in super large font so you can see it clearly. The projection can be angled through 180 degrees and as well as a 12/24H clock, alarm, weekend mode and snooze button, there’s also a calendar feature too. The compact clock charges via USB or batteries.

John Lewis ANYDAY Quartz Analogue Alarm Clock, White

Simple and fuss-free, this compact alarm clock is the perfect basic version to sling into your suitcase or weekend bag. The quartz movement offers precision timing and a clear beep sounds when the timer runs out.

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11 Best Travel Alarm Clocks That Are Lightweight & Compact, 2024

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Keeping track of your time is crucial when you’re traveling. With a busy schedule, you might lose track of time and miss important appointments. Thus, having an alarm clock is a great way to stick to one’s routine. The best travel alarm clocks are designed for this purpose. They are lightweight, compact, and easy to pack and carry, and you can choose from digital alarm clocks or mechanical ones.

The tried-and-tested travel alarm clocks we have listed in this post have reliable alarm features and are made of robust material that can withstand being packed tightly in a luggage bag. Moreover, we also tell you what you should look for when choosing a travel alarm clock. So, read on and pick the right one.

Best Pocket-Sized: Peakeep Small Travel Alarm Clock

Best foldable: marathon travel alarm clock, best energy-efficient: kwanwa digital travel alarm clock, best easy-to-use: westclox travel alarm clock, best user-friendly: famicozy compact digital travel alarm clock, best multi-functional: oria digital alarm clock, best ergonomically designed: noklead digital travel alarm clock, best easy-to-read: braun digital travel alarm clock, best sleek: bedee travel alarm clock, best convenient: travelwey digital alarm clock, 11 best travel alarm clocks, 1. best pocket-sized: peakeep small travel alarm clock.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

With over 6,481 reviews on Amazon, this product is a winner.

This travel alarm clock by Peakeep has a hard plastic shell and a compact pocket-sized design, making it convenient to carry while traveling. The face of the clock is quite minimalistic, and the back of the device houses most of the controls. This portable alarm clock features a pop-up on and off switch, an alarm knob, a time knob, and a snooze light, making it the ideal companion for travelers.

This user-friendly device’s four-stage alarm alert grows progressively louder and faster–it starts at 50-60dB and reaches a maximum of 80-90dB. The alarm beep can be silenced through the pop-up switch or by pressing the snooze button located on the front of the clock. This device is battery-operated and has an illuminated dial coupled with luminous hands for nighttime viewing.

• No hands-ticking sound
• Smooth edges
• Light-on-demand button
• Available in three different colors
• Does not support USB

2. Best Foldable: Marathon Travel Alarm Clock

The rectangular digital alarm clock by Marathon has a screen that displays the time, date, and room temperature. The device has a built-in backlight that is easy on the eyes and helps in viewing the time at night.  Its tactile control buttons placed on the front and the side are easy to access.

The battery-operated travel clock is equipped with many functions, including the ability to switch between 12 and 24-hour time formats, the ability to set the calendar , and even to switch between Celcius and Farenheit. Moreover, the clock is foldable and has a built-in stand capable of rotating the face of the clock up to a maximum of 180°. Check out this product testing video to learn more.

• Doubles as a stand for your phone
• Easy to install
• Includes a snooze function
• Large display screen
• Easy-to-understand instructions
• Some might find the alarm a bit too loud
• Clock may be a tad tiny

"Its swivel design and temperature display are its standout features. It is also easy to set up, and the ability to lock the device to prevent accidental changes is a big perk. The lack of automatic time adjustment was a letdown, but I still consider it a decent find for timekeeping needs."

3. Best Energy-Efficient: Kwanwa Digital Travel Alarm Clock

Kwanwa digital travel alarm clock features an energy-efficient LED that displays the time and room temperature. The red digital numbers are large and visible even in low-light scenarios. Its built-in flip mechanism allows users to alternate between viewing the time and room temperature.

Some other noteworthy features of this battery-operated alarm clock include a quick toggle between Celsius and Fahrenheit, low-battery indicator, auto-dim mode, loud alarm volume, and snooze mode. The entire body is made of quality plastic, and the controls are neatly placed on the top of the device. Watch this review video detailing a tester’s experience for more information about the product.

• Three brightness level
• Low-battery indicator
• Easy-to-access battery compartment
• Available in two different colors
• Background and digits are in the same color
• May be dim for daytime use

"This handy little clock has become a constant on my travels. It accurately displays the temperature and time, and although direct sunlight may slightly impact visibility, its screen is still easy to read. It has proven to be a stable, no-frills device for everyday use."

4. Best Easy-To-Use: Westclox Travel Alarm Clock

The Westclox mini alarm clock  has a minimalistic design and is easy to use. The device has a rectangular screen that displays the time, and the controls are on the front of the device below the LCD, which makes them quite easy to access. The alarm and time settings are controlled through two toggles that switch on and off.

It has a snooze button that doubles as the light button and brightens up the screen to make for easy viewing at night. The small form factor and foldable stand make it a suitable travel companion if you’re on the lookout for a portable clock option.

• Long-lasting battery power
• Easy-to-read font size
• Easy operable buttons
• Alarm sound may be slightly loud
• Light might be a bit dim

"Although on the smaller end, it has impressed me with its consistent performance. Its light is dim, but that's a boon for me as I am a light sleeper. It has also held up well to a few tumbles and airport security check-ins."

5. Best User-Friendly: Famicozy Compact Digital Travel Alarm Clock

This simple and well-designed digital clock has a foldable stand that can fold over the screen and protect it from damage. To ensure a user-friendly experience, the essential controls, including time, alarm, hour, and minute settings, are placed on the front of the digital clock.

You can set the alarm volumes through a quick switch toggle located at the side of the device. The alarm bell begins to beep slowly and progressively increases. The snooze backlight function enables a soft backlight that stays on for five seconds. This compact travel alarm is crafted from hard plastic and runs on two AAA batteries.

• Strong hinge
• Easy to set up
• Hard plastic construction
• Easy-to-read instructions
• Buttons may be slightly hard to press
• Batteries may drain out quickly

"Its simple yet rugged design was the first thing that appealed to me. Besides, its lid doubles as a cover and stand, which is very convenient when I travel. The backlight only turning on at the press of a button is a minor issue, but the adjustable volume and alarms are a big plus."

6. Best Multifunctional: ORIA Digital Alarm Clock

Lay your hands on this rectangular Oria digital alarm clock loaded with multiple functions. It comes with a six-inch LED mirror display for clear visibility of numbers, and you can enjoy additional sleep for five minutes with the top snooze button. The clock features four levels of brightness adjustment to not disturb your sleep at night.

Loved by users, the screen of this multifunctional alarm clock turns off automatically after every six seconds. However, you can wake up the screen by tapping it or saying hello. Furthermore, the LED display clock comes with an in-built battery that supports USB charging, and the user-friendly buttons of this USB charging clock ensure convenient time setting.

• Includes 1200mA rechargeable battery
• Adjustable alarm sound
• Multiple wake-up sounds
• Dual alarm settings
• May be brighter than expected

"Programming this clock had a slight learning curve, but it has been a cute addition to my travel essentials. Its various alarm modes and dimming features also allow me to customize it based on my needs. Plus, its vibrant colors bring a lot of liveliness to my room."

7. Best Ergonomically Designed: Noklead Digital Travel Alarm Clock

The foldable Noklead digital travel alarm clock is ergonomically designed with a wide LCD and simple one-touch operation buttons on the front. It also offers ten seconds of blue backlight display to let you see the time without turning on the lights . The LCD shows the time in a 12-hour or 24-hour format, the alarm time and room temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, and the calendar.

It has a nine-minute snooze button, and the alarm clock’s portable size can be carried in a backpack , handbag, and pocket. Moreover, it has a foldable, travel-friendly design and includes a mirror on one side to help fix your makeup during travel.

• Power saving mode
• Weekend mode
• Includes two button batteries
• Large 3.2-inch digital LCD display
• Decent alarm sound
• Buttons are a bit small and flat
• Display may flicker sometimes

"I've found this travel clock to strike a nice balance—it's compact, straightforward to set up, and easy to read. Its built-in mirror is excellent for quick makeup touch-ups, and the temperature reading ensures I am dressed appropriately for the weather. Overall, it's been a practical buy."

8. Best Backlight: Casio Illuminator Travel Alarm Clock

The tried-and-tested Casio illuminator alarm clock is touted for offering portability and ease of operation. The battery-operated clock is well-designed and features a compact rectangular LCD screen that displays the time in a large font, making it easy to view at all times. The display is equipped with a backlight for clear and strain-free viewing at night. This easy-to-set alarm clock includes a snooze button and a 12/24-hour time format selector.

• Easy-to-handle and functional buttons
• Convenient to read
• Hidden adjustment keys
• Includes a battery
• Sound may be a bit low

"Simple and elegant, this alarm clock is easy to read and set. It comes with controls that help prevent accidental setting changes, and it's small enough to fit in my pocket. Even though the buttons could be more visible, it serves its purpose well."

9. Best Easy-To-Read: Braun Digital Travel Alarm Clock

This palm-held digital alarm clock is suitable to be carried in the pocket or travel bag. The clock is primarily designed as a basic alarm clock that includes all main functionalities. The time and alarm settings are displayed in large fonts on the screen, which makes the display easy to view and read. The back of the device houses the main controls, including an on and off alarm switch, volume control, and toggle selector for quick swapping between the 12- and 24-hour format.

Neatly built into the top of the clock is the snooze button that doubles as a backlight button. When pressed, the screen lights up for ten seconds, and the alarm gets delayed for a five-minute snooze. The clock works with a single AAA battery and has a crescendo beep alarm.

• Crescendo beep alarm
• LCD display
• Elegant design
• Alarm may be faint
• May be smaller than you expect

"I came across this one while searching for a compact and stylish clock. The backlight is a cool blue, which doesn't disrupt my sleep, though having better visibility during the day would be nice. Nevertheless, its build quality is decent, and the gentle alarm wakes me without a startle."

10. Best Sleek: Bedee Travel Alarm Clock

The compact and sleek design makes this alarm clock one of the best travel alarm clocks. This foldable clock allows the built-in stand to protect the screen when placed in a travel bag, and the user-friendly controls placed on the reverse side of the device make it easy to use. The controls allow users to toggle between Celcius and Fahrenheit, set alarms, timers, and dates, and switch between time formats.

The face of the clock displays the necessary information, such as the time, day, month, date, and room temperature. This elegant travel alarm clock is powered by a battery and has an additional feature of eight different alarm ringtones.

• Ultra-thin design
• Includes battery
• Large font size
• Easy-to-operate buttons
• No backlight display
• Alarm may not be loud enough

"Setting up this clock is easy, and the large, clear display allows me to read the time from a distance. The stand doubling as a cover is a boon for keeping it dust-free. It's a bit noisy but features like different alarm tones, timer, and snooze have made it my favorite."

11. Best Convenient: Travelwey Digital Alarm Clock

The simplicity of operation coupled with a clear display makes this alarm clock by Travelwey a worthy addition to our list of the best travel alarm clocks. The tried-and-tested clock is equipped with time, alarm, snooze, day, date settings, and an on and off switch. Tactile button controls are located on the front to make it convenient for users to access these settings. The battery-operated foldable clock comes at an affordable price and is a convenient choice for traveling or when you need a quick reminder for appointments.

• No frills design
• Five-seconds on-demand display light
• Easy to disable the light button option
• Easy to use
• Compact and lightweight travel clock
• Sound may be a bit louder than expected

"The box-style design is very durable and looks very cute on my desk. The foldable feature also makes it easy to carry. The alarm, though pleasant, is loud enough to wake me up without being disruptive. Moreover, the on-demand light feature keeps the batteries from draining quickly."

How To Choose The Right Travel Alarm Clock?

Consider these factors to ensure you choose the right travel alarm clock.

• Type of clock: One of the most important considerations when purchasing a travel alarm clock is whether it has a digital or analog dial. While this usually boils down to personal preference, there are a few things to bear in mind. Digital clocks are usually favored since they are easier to read. They are also devoid of the ticking sound that usually is a characteristic feature of analog clocks. If you decide on purchasing a digital clock, you should invest in one that allows you to switch between the 12 and 24-hour formats.
• Type of alarm: While you might think this to be unimportant, it turns out to be one of the main determining factors. The alarm sound could be anything from a light buzz to a loud ringtone. This entirely depends on how heavy a sleeper you are. If you’re a heavy sleeper, you should buy a travel alarm clock with a loud ringtone as it increases your chances of waking up on time. If you can’t decide how loud you need your alarm bell to be, you should purchase an alarm clock with a wide selection of ringtones.
• Compactness and portability: The size and portability of a travel alarm clock matter more than you know. A clock that is sleek, slender, lightweight, and portable is essential while traveling. It is recommended to purchase an alarm clock with a built-in stand that allows the clock to fold in. Having a pocket-sized alarm clock will help you when traveling.
• Features: This will depend on your purpose. If the alarm clock is needed only for the alarm ringtone, one with basic functionality will serve the purpose. Most travel alarm clocks have other features baked in such as backlight, snooze mode, LED that displays time, date, and room temperature. Some more advanced features include numerous ringtones, touch-sensitive buttons, the ability to set more than 1 alarm, etc. However, do bear in mind that the more feature-packed the alarm clock, the more expensive it will be.
• Power: When it comes to power, there are only 2 sources of power for alarm clocks. You can get either outlet-powered alarm clocks or battery-operated ones. When considering a travel alarm clock, it is much more beneficial to purchase one with batteries. For convenience, you may even want one that has rechargeable batteries.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are travel alarm clocks worth it?

For someone who travels frequently and often has a busy schedule, it is worth having a travel alarm clock. It helps you stay on schedule without draining your phone battery.

2. What makes a good travel clock?

A good travel clock should be compact, lightweight, and easy to carry. It should also be easy to set up, have a good battery life, and offer functionality and durability.

3. Should I use a travel alarm clock?

You should use a travel alarm if you like to stay punctual even when traveling.

Why Trust MomJunction?

Wedetso Chirhah is a trusted product writer and reviewer who covers electronics and gadgets that make your life easy. Here, he has gone through various user reviews and product features to list some of the best travel alarm clocks you can consider buying for a seamless traveling experience. The durable travel clocks listed here are lightweight, compact, and portable and come with several features such as backlight, snooze mode, and LED screen.

The Bottom Line

Travel alarm clocks are an essential part of every traveler’s toolkit as they allow you to keep your schedule on track while changing the time zones, dates, and other details according to your needs, goals, and location. The best travel alarm clocks can be set up almost anywhere, whether you are relaxing in a hotel room or camping through the hills, and are simple to operate and convenient for everyday use. They will fit well in your luggage and look great on your nightstand while waking you up at the desired time. Our top choices include the Peakeep Small Travel Alarm Clock which stands out for its compact size and user-friendly features, and the Marathon Travel Alarm Clock for its foldable design and range of functions. The Kwanwa Digital Travel Alarm Clock is also an excellent energy-efficient option.

Infographic: What Are The Advantages Of Using A Travel Alarm Clock?

A travel alarm clock is a portable device designed to help travelers stay punctual while on the go. Features such as multiple time zone settings ensure reliable timekeeping during your journeys. Check out the infographic below to explore the benefits of carrying a travel alarm clock on your next trip.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

• Waking up is the hardest thing I do all day: Sleep inertia and sleep drunkenness https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5337178/

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The Best Gear for Travel

By Wirecutter Staff

Traveling well can be one of life’s great pleasures, whether you’re alone or with family and friends.

But what does it mean to travel well? We’d say that along with traveling safely (of course), traveling well involves avoiding hassle, carrying a single bag (if possible), and bringing only the necessities.

“Traveling well is a fine balance between finding inspiration in the unknown while being grounded in something,” said Wirecutter founder Brian Lam. “Sometimes that is a memory of home, a family, a significant other, friends, etc. Sometimes it’s just the familiar, reliable stuff in your bag.”

Over the past 10 years, we’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and testing dozens of products to find the most dependable items that will help you travel well. On top of that, we sought the advice and wisdom of Doug Dyment, author and creator of OneBag—a traveling businessman and public speaker, he has logged millions of miles over the past few decades—as well as travel-gear reviewer Eytan Levy, the Snarky Nomad.

And we relied heavily on the experiences of Wirecutter staff, an especially mobile group of individuals. Our staffers have worked remotely from every continent except Antarctica—the five most frequent flyers among us travel about half a million miles in any given (normal) year.

The research

Flying/riding, just in case, travel tips.

A well-packed bag is one that contains less than you think you need but everything you actually need. If possible, fitting everything into one carry-on and personal item will give you more freedom compared to checking a bag or two. You’ll be glad you did if (and when) things don’t go according to plan. While carry-on-only isn’t feasible (or advisable) for every trip—especially extended business trips or weddings where you need multiple outfits to maintain appearances—if in doubt, it’s better to cut.

Carry-on backpack (non-roller)

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

A versatile small pack for a week or a weekend.

The Allpa’s clamshell design makes organizing your things simple. The strap design lets you easily wear this durable bag on your back or carry it in your hand while you’re on the move.

Buying Options

(limited colors)

You save $50 (25%)

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

An easily customizable large bag for long trips and expensive gear.

This bag was built with photographers in mind, but most travelers will appreciate its easy accessibility and clever tuck-away straps, and the elegant way the bag expands and contracts depending on how much you’ve packed. The accessory cubes cost extra, though.

We spent six months testing 22 bags, and in the end we chose two as our top picks for travelers determined to never check luggage again: the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L (for most trips) and the larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L . Both bags are exemplary carry-on travel backpacks that are designed for comfort, durability, and organization.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L features an easy-to-pack clamshell design and highly adjustable straps that make it a great all-around bag for any traveler who’s dedicated to packing light, or for a smaller person who wants less to carry. Handles on all four sides of this bag make it easy to grab no matter where you’ve stowed it, and the Allpa’s straps are contoured to comfortably fit people who have large or small chests. It’s not a specifically gendered design, but our female tester noticed the improvement right away.

The bag is protected by a full lifetime warranty and has the build quality to back that up. Its front panel is made of a waterproof, TPU-coated 1,000-denier polyester (a strong fabric covered in a flexible plastic coating), which means you can lay it on its back in a wet field or in gravel without worrying about moisture soaking through or jagged edges ripping the fabric. The rest of the paneling is made with 1,680-denier ballistic nylon, which feels similar to a strong canvas but with a more prominent weave. After four years of testing, this single backpack (plus a personal item to store under the seat) has replaced nearly every travel bag or piece of luggage that Kit Dillon, Wirecutter’s senior staff writer who covers luggage, uses.

One caveat: The Allpa has a minimal amount of administrative organization—places to keep pens and papers, spaces to hold tickets, and so forth—which is where the personal item comes in handy. As the name suggests, “personal items” are very, well, personal, and no one bag will work for all travelers; we offer a range of recommendations in our full guide to them .

The larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is the Swiss Army knife of backpacks: adjustable, customizable, and (if you spring for the extra cubes and organizers) an almost perfect system for a photographer or gearhead on the move. Most bags’ expanding mechanisms aren’t worth the extra zipper they’re built on, and they look about as attractive as a boiled ham splitting out of its plastic packaging. Not so with the Peak Design: It looks just as good fully packed at 45 liters as it does compressed to a 30-liter daypack. You can access the bag through a back panel, which doubles as a computer and tablet pouch, as well as through a front one, if you unzip the pass-through divider. You can also get into the main compartment via two wing-like trapezoidal flaps that run along each side of the pack. In its natural shape, the Travel Backpack holds 35 liters, but an expansion zipper lets the bag swell to 45 liters.

If you want to use the bag as a daypack, you fold in the top corners and snap them down, reducing the bag’s volume to a slim 30 liters. It still feels larger than a normal daypack, but we think that’s a small compromise for the ability to use one backpack as both your travel bag and your daily explorer. The bag itself consists of 400D nylon and polyester fabrics—it feels tough, but not as tough as the Cotopaxi Allpa. As for flaws, it is expensive, especially if you commit to the entire system of packing cubes and camera cubes . The adjustable design and multiple zippers do add complexity, and complexity adds potential weaknesses, though Peak Design covers all of its bags with a lifetime warranty.

Finding the right bag is a personal choice, and no single bag will appeal to everyone. That’s why we have picks in our full review of carry-on travel bags that can double as traveling offices , bags that are easy to carry while you’re walking long distances , and budget options for travelers who want to give the one-bag strategy a try.

Carry-on bag (rolling)

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner

Great features, great value.

This spinner carry-on offers the best balance of size, value, reliability, and durability, with high-end details. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty.

Since 2015, we’ve researched several dozen suitcases and gone hands-on with the 67 most promising candidates in a variety of tests—including having active flight attendants test bags for us in a fake plane fuselage in their training facility. We determined that for most people the  Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Expandable Spinner  offers the best balance of features, durability, and price for most flyers who log less than 25,000 miles annually.

It features smooth-rolling, user-replaceable wheels; solid and comfortable, telescoping handles; and a hard-wearing nylon exterior propped up by a solid internal chassis. The Elite only improves on past iterations in the Platinum line by reducing the size of the stowed handle (which used to jut out about an inch) and adding a second zippered, exterior pocket for easy access on the go and a USB pass-through extension that lets you insert your own battery pack for charging your phone. And at 7.8 pounds when empty, this carry-on bag is about half a pound lighter than its predecessor. Compared with other bags in this price range, you also get surprisingly high-end components and a warranty that covers anything, even airline damage, for the life of the bag (as long as you register the suitcase within 120 days of purchase, which is easy to do on any smartphone).

Upgrade pick

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner

For frequent flyers.

If you fly more than 25,000 miles a year, invest in a bag with unique features, superior details, and plenty of expandable room. This manufacturer guarantees your satisfaction.

If you fly more than 25,000 miles annually and you’re willing to invest in a higher-quality product, we recommend the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22-Inch Carry-On Expandable Spinner. It can fit more clothing than any bag we tested, thanks to a cavernous interior and clever expansion and compression system that can adjust to variable levels beyond open and shut. Over a five-year period before the pandemic, Wirecutter’s founder, Brian Lam, put more than 150,000 miles on his. His only complaint was that longer pants will need an extra fold, or to be rolled. In taller bags, pants will only need to be folded over once.

Checked luggage

If you need to pack more stuff than a carry-on and a personal item can hold, our first piece of advice would be to reconsider whether you need that extra outfit “just in case.” But you’ll have times when you need to travel with several pairs of shoes, formalwear, a winter coat, special equipment (like diving or camping gear), or all of the above. In these cases, there’s no way to avoid checking a bag.

Osprey Farpoint 55 Men’s Travel Pack

The best travel backpack for those with taller torsos.

Comfortable, adjustable, and carry-on capable, the Farpoint has everything we needed for a week, or even months, of travel.

Osprey Fairview 55 Women’s Travel Pack

The best travel backpack for those with shorter torsos.

Comfortable, adjustable, and carry-on capable, the Fairview has everything we needed for a week, or even months, of travel.

If you’re going somewhere where you’ll need to walk a lot (particularly if there’s dirt or cobblestone roads), we recommend a travel backpack. We like the Farpoint 55 and the sized-for-smaller-torsos Fairview 55 because they’re comfortable and have plenty of room to store, and separate, our essentials. The front of the main pack unzips like a suitcase, so you can easily fit and access a week’s worth of clothes and toiletries. The daypack, which attaches to the front of the larger pack, has room for camera gear, daily essentials, and a small laptop (via a built-in sleeve). It’s also easy to stow. The main pack’s straps can tuck behind a zippered flap, so they won’t catch on anything if you check your luggage.

These bags are made of a heavy-duty recycled polyester that stands up even to long trips–one of our testers has traveled with a Farpoint 55 for years, across dozens of countries for months at a time, without damaging it. If something does happen, though, Osprey has a lifetime warranty.

Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner

The best checked bag for most travelers.

The bag provides a luxury feel at a reasonable price, with a capacity, warranty, and reliability that should suit most travelers. The 25-inch model should offer plenty of room for most people without going over airline weight limits.

If you don’t plan on walking around while carrying all your stuff, the  25-inch Travelpro Platinum Elite Expandable Spinner Suiter is our favorite piece of checked luggage for all of the same reasons we loved the carry-on size: It has excellent organizational features, it’s especially durable, and it has a better warranty than anything in its price range.

Luggage tags

Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag

Strong and easy to see.

Rugged silicone and a metal cable mean this tag (which comes two to a pack) may well outlive your luggage. The brightly colored case displays its owner’s name but keeps other personal information out of sight.

A good luggage tag should be durable, simple to use, and discreet. Ultimately, a tag should allow someone to get your luggage back to you quickly and easily, and it should withstand the wear and tear of being thrown onto conveyor belts time and again. After researching the top-rated and best-selling models, reading existing luggage-tag reviews, and comparing fourteen tags , we recommend the Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag for most travelers because it’s the only one we’d trust to survive being smashed by other bags, jammed into walls, and generally abused by baggage handlers. It’s the most durable tag we tested, and it comes in a wide selection of colors to help any bag stand out from the rest.

The Ovener tag’s silicone body seems nearly indestructible and is available in a rotating selection of colors (you get two tags per pack). Whereas other tags also feature metal cables, this tag has a metal grommet to keep the cable from eventually wearing through the silicone case.

Should you lose your bag, the Ovener makes it easy for a Good Samaritan to find your contact information. To fully access the info card, you have to unscrew and remove the metal strap; this lets the card slide out of the case. Most luggage tags we tested secure their info card in this way. It isn’t a difficult or time-consuming process, but it is an extra step compared with using a tag that displays all of your information openly. Still, for anyone who wants to keep their contact information out of view, the extra step is worth it.

Another approach to increasing privacy is to hide information in a QR code, as the Dynotag Smart Deluxe Steel Luggage Tag  does, or to provide a user ID number, as the Okoban UID Luggage Tags do. But these seem like overly complex solutions to a problem that doesn’t really exist.

Compression sacks

Originally designed for reducing the bulk of lofty sleeping bags, compression sacks are stuff sacks modified with additional nylon end caps that can be pulled together by strings or straps to remove air and create a smaller, denser package that’s easier to pack. Most travelers use compression sacks to condense socks, underwear, and other stuff you don’t mind getting wrinkled into a package with half as much overall volume. For example, an 8- to 12-liter sack can compress a fleece jacket and a long-weekend’s worth of socks and underwear into something that fits in one hand. They also make a decent pillow in a pinch.

Osprey StraightJacket (8L)

Easier access, less compression.

It has a full-length zipper on its side that allows access to the bag’s entire contents. However, it doesn’t compress as tightly as traditional designs.

Most compression sacks require you to empty out the stuff at the top to get to the stuff below it, but the side-zipper design on the Osprey StraightJacket allows access to the entire contents of the bag at once. The compression straps attach sideways, and are less likely to get tangled and twisted like on most compression sacks with lengthwise straps. It can also sit up on its own, and the handle design lets you break it out as a last minute carry-on to avoid an overweight-baggage fee. However, it doesn’t compress down as compactly as the traditional designs we tested so it’s not the best option if compression is your top priority.

GobiGear’s SegSac takes a different approach to solving the same access issue: It has four inner dividers that run the length of the sack in order to keep your socks separate from your underwear, winter accessories, towel, what have you. This means you don’t have to take out your T-shirts to get to your socks. Unlike the Osprey, it compresses just as much as a normal compression sack, but it loses points for versatility because the segmentation prevents it from handling large items like a down jacket or sleeping bag.

Packing cubes

Packing cubes could change your life. (Okay, maybe just your traveling life.) Packing cubes are basically bags to hold your clothes that you organize within your luggage. Though seemingly superfluous, they’re brilliant in action. If you imagine your suitcase as a dresser, you can think of these cubes as individual drawers: Put all your underwear and socks in one container, all your shirts in another, and your workout clothes in yet another. Then pull out only the cube you want. They make packing and repacking wonderfully simple.

Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set

Well built with easy access.

Simple and solidly constructed, these packing cubes keep your bag organized while you’re traveling.

The three-piece Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set keeps a week’s worth of clothes organized and moves easily from suitcase to hotel dresser. We’ve been recommending the previous version of these cubes for years, and after testing this updated set, we now recommend this version.

The full-size cube is great for shirts, shorts, and insulating layers. The half-cube and quarter-cube are perfect for underwear, socks, and other thin fabrics such as stockings or sleepwear. These cubes are made of 300-denier polyester (a strong fabric) and stay upright when empty, so they’re easy to pack. The Pack-It cubes’ windows are made of the tightest mesh link we tested—better for resisting snags—and the smooth zippers close easily around all corners, even when a cube is overstuffed.

The Eagle Creek cubes have the ability to unzip fully to allow full access to their contents while sitting in a dresser drawer. That means your clean clothes stay protected against some potentially dicey motel dressers. In 2022, Eagle Creek updated the design of these cubes, and now the company no longer uses YKK zippers, which are widely accepted as the best around . That said, we couldn’t tell any difference between Eagle Creek’s zippers and other brands’ YKK zippers, even with a magnifying glass, and their performance was indistinguishable. (For what it’s worth, an Eagle Creek product manager assured us that the proportion of zipper-related warranty claims hasn’t changed since the company made the switch from YKK.)

Most travelers are likely to be well served by the Reveal set. But if you value lightness above all, the more expensive Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Cube Set is about 50% lighter than similar-size competitors (just over 1 ounce for a medium cube, whereas the Eagle Creek classic style weighs about 4 ounces). Unlike the Reveal set, this set is water resistant. However, the Isolate design’s thin sides—which don’t allow the cubes to stand up on their own—make those cubes a bit more challenging to pack than the Reveal cubes.

Buying the right gear can help organize your existing travel kit, but it’s a red herring if your goal is better portability. “It’s mostly the clothing that allows you to reduce what you need to carry,” explains veteran traveller Eytan Levy, better known as the Snarky Nomad . That’s because clothing, which is very voluminous, makes up the bulk of what’s in your bag. He recommends traveling with basic-looking clothes because you can always buy or rent something nice in a pinch, whereas lugging around formalwear just in case will always be a pain. It also helps if you can avoid cotton and stick to merino and synthetic fabrics, which dry faster. This allows you to do laundry by hand in the sink as needed to reduce the amount of clothes you need to carry.

Travel underwear

Good travel underwear keeps you feeling fresh and clean, even when your destination is gritty.  To find the best , we researched an array of underwear designed for men and women to find 37 pairs meeting our criteria: moisture-wicking and breathable, quick-drying, odor-resistant, stretchy, stylish, and cut to fit a variety of body types.

We then conducted rigorous pretesting (wearing the underwear for two days at a time, machine-washing them repeatedly, and tracking their drying speed when hung on a clothesline) before taking them out into the real world. Our testers went backpacking 215 miles throughout Portland, Oregon; hiking in the Canadian Rockies, including walking from the lowest point in the Continental US to the highest; and road-tripping to the national parks of the West. Testers who flew to their destinations wore the underwear on the plane, too.

Afterward, we checked for signs of wear, such as seam breakage and pilling on the fabric. As we continued to test the finalists, we repeatedly checked for durability problems. In addition to comfort and fit, we noted whether each pair seemed lightweight and packable.

ExOfficio Men’s Give-N-Go 2.0 Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Brief

Best for most men.

Durable, quick-drying, and relatively inexpensive, this soft-fabric version of ExOfficio’s time-tested Give-N-Go undies will get the job done for years.

The ExOfficio Give-N-Go 2.0 Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Brief is the best men’s underwear for travel because it balances fit, comfort, odor-proofing, and value better than anything else we’ve tested. The Sport Mesh fabric excels at breathing and wicking and has better odor-resistance than other fabrics. It feels soft on the inside and smooth on the outside so it slides against your pants instead of creating friction, reducing potential for chafing. It also features a sculpted crotch area that gives wearers some much-appreciated support, without feeling stifling. These boxer briefs dry quickly, pack compactly, and weigh less than almost all the other boxer briefs we tried—basically they’re everything you’d want from a pair of excellent travel underwear.

Patagonia Women's Active Hipster

Best for most women.

These light, stylish, quick-drying hipsters stay in place whether you’re walking, flying, or hanging upside down.

The Patagonia Active Hipster doesn’t appear special upon first glance. Only after trying everything else and living through their failures to stay put did we remember what “special” really means in a pair of underwear: Feeling as if you’re wearing nothing at all. The Patagonias have the best fit, comfort, and style out of all the panties we tested. The nylon material is fast-wicking and better than most synthetics for odor-proofing, making it well suited for athletic activities. The Active Hipster is lightweight and packable, and is the fastest-drying underwear we tested—making them perfect for minimalist travelers who go weeks at a time with just one or two pairs. But these same characteristics make them great for any traveler looking for comfortable, packable panties, regardless of where you’re going or what you’re doing.

Budget pick

Uniqlo Men Airism Boxer Brief

Comfortable, compact, and fast-drying, these are a great value but don’t fit quite as nicely and aren’t as supportive in the crotch.

Uniqlo Women Airism Ultra Seamless HipHugger

Similar fabric to the Men’s Airism, with a no-ride cut for women, these underwear are the least expensive of any we tested and among the best performing.

May be out of stock

If you want to spend as little as possible without sacrificing performance, the Uniqlo Airism line has long been a great choice for men and women who can wear sizes small and medium. In recent years, both lines have expanded their size range somewhat (men to 3XL, and women to XL). If these fit, you can replace an entire underwear drawer on a tight budget, as long as you can deal with the slightly odd cut and less-effective odor-control treatment.

If you’ve never traveled with merino wool socks, you’re missing out. These aren’t the scratchy wool socks your grandpa wore in the army; they are soft and stretchy ones that have natural sweat-wicking and odor-resisting properties that keep your toes comfortable under all conditions—even when wet. This combination of odor, moisture, and temperature regulations makes them ideal for traveling. "Because of its natural anti-bacterial properties, washing merino wool on a daily basis isn’t absolutely necessary,” explains Snarky Nomad , "after letting it air dry overnight while you sleep, it’ll seem brand new.” The only major downside is that merino tends to be a bit pricier than synthetic counterparts. But it’s a worthy trade-off, since you can go for longer with fewer pairs.

Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Lightweight Hiking Sock (Women’s)

The best quality for women.

The best mix of comfort, durability, and cushioning in a versatile height.

Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Lightweight Hiking Sock (Men’s)

For the best quality.

The same great versatile sock as the women’s model, but in different color options and more sizes.

Darn Tough’s Light Hiker Micro Crew socks (both the men’s and women’s versions) have been our favorite hiking socks for years. Darn Tough made its name through its quality guarantee : “Our socks are guaranteed to be the most comfortable, durable, and best fitting socks you can buy. In a nutshell, if you wear a hole in them, we will replace them free of charge, for life.” Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers (hardcore backpackers who walk from Mexico to Canada in one continuous trip) praise them for their durability, comfort, and blister resistance. When you hold a pair of Darn Toughs next to a pair of Smartwools (which only have a two-year guarantee ), the difference is clear. The Darn Toughs are more tightly knit, the yarns are finer and feel sturdier, and the stitching is tighter.

Darn Tough Women's Coolmax Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock

The best non-wool women’s hiking sock.

This midlevel cushioned sock for women is the best synthetic option for most climates and terrains.

Darn Tough Men's Coolmax Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock

The best non-wool men’s hiking sock.

This synthetic men’s sock is perfect for day hiking in most weather.

If you are sensitive to wool, prefer a vegan product, or want a cooler option for the summer, we also like the Darn Tough Coolmax Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock, which comes in women's and men’s sizes.

We appreciated how breathable this sock felt. While wearing the Coolmax Micro Crew in hot summer weather, our testers’ feet stayed dry and sweat-free. The shorter micro-crew height makes the Coolmax Micro Crew suitable for both boots and shoes, too. And like all Darn Tough socks, this model comes with a lifetime warranty.

Indosole Flip Flops (women’s)

A quality flip flop in women’s sizes.

These stylish beach sandals come in a wide range of colors. Be careful, though: Indosole sizes tend to run a little small.

Indosole Flip Flops (men’s)

A quality flip flop in men’s sizes.

These beach sandals are the same as the women’s version but cut a bit wider; we still think they run a little smaller than regular shoe sizes.

A good pair of travel flip-flops should be lightweight, comfortable, and waterproof. The men’s and women’s Indosole Flip Flops offer the best combination of quality, comfort, and easy packability. Unlike many flip flops, which slap against the ground with every step, the subtle arch support of this flip flop kept it secure against our feet. Plus they’re made from waterproof, recycled materials. Keep in mind, though, that our testers found these shoes to run a bit small, so we suggest sizing up for the best fit.

Clothesline

While doing laundry at home can be a large weekly event, OneBag author Doug Dyment recommends approaching travel laundry as a part of your daily routine, especially if you’re trying to pack as little as possible: “The laundry should be more like cleaning your teeth—something you do everyday. It only takes about five minutes to do it. Every night, do your socks and underwear and you’ll have clean socks and underwear everyday.”

A secure, hassle-free option

The Flexo-Line attaches easily to a door handle or faucet and grips garments securely between its loops.

Check out OneBag’s laundry packing list if you want specific tips on how to do it and what you’ll need, but it’s a pretty simple setup: All you need is a toiletry bottle of powdered detergent, a towel to help expedite drying, and a travel clothesline to finish the drying process while you sleep at night.

Specifically, you want a braided—not twisted—surgical latex clothesline with looped ends, which means you want a Flexo-Line . The Flexo-Line can stretch up to 7 feet long, which is enough to span most hotel bathtubs, and it has loops that you can attach easily to a door handle, bath spigot, or faucet. The braided construction is superior to twisted designs made from other materials because the latex does a better job of gripping garments securely between the loops, which means you don’t need any additional clothespins.

Dyment has tried them all, but the Flexo-Line is the one he comes back to. As he explained to me in an interview, “There are others that are fine, but there are far more that are not fine.” More specifically, Dyment says to avoid anything that’s not made of latex , because clothes will inevitably slip out of them. He also says to never, ever trust a suction cup: “They don’t work, period.” If the Flexo-Line is unavailable, Dyment says that the Rick Steves collection from Kiva Designs also makes a nice braided line that is a bit more expensive. If you have a latex allergy, Dyment recommends going with a length of cord ( paracord is nice because it’s durable and you can use it for other things as well) and stainless steel safety pins meant for cloth diapers , because they take up far less space than a clothespin and won’t rust. In fact, it’s worthwhile to get these items even if you can use a latex line because they’re great for making luggage repairs and performing other MacGyver-ish tasks in a pinch. To hang up the clothesline, we recommend using a bowline knot on one end and a taut line hitch on the other. These knots work well together because the bowline creates a simple, slip-proof loop to anchor one end while the taut line hitch allows you to adjust for tension and locks tightly in place. If you could commit any two knots to memory forever, these are the ones to learn.

Laundry detergent

Minisoak Travel Packs

A travel size version of the best delicates detergent.

Perfect for traveling because you don’t even need to rinse it out.

When you’re washing your underwear in a hotel sink, you want a fast and easy experience. For this, we recommend the no-rinse detergent Soak . That’s right, we said no rinse . You just add a drop to the sink, fill with water, and leave your garments to soak. Then press out the water and hang. Done.

In our tests of delicates detergents , Soak cleaned almost as well as our top laundry detergent, Tide; plus, it comes in individual packets of powder  that are great for traveling, as well as in  travel-size bottles of the liquid version . In addition to unscented, it's available in a variety of scents, although Lacey and Celebration are not the most descriptive of scent names. They all smell nice, not overpowering. Soak also comes in an assorted travel pack with two single-use packets of each scent, if you want to test-drive one or two before you buy. In that mini size, you get eight packets for $11 currently, but you really need only a squeeze, not the the whole packet, to wash a couple of pairs of socks and underwear.

One downside to Soak is that you won’t find it in a grocery store or big-box store. But it is available online at Soak’s site . And if you really want to walk into a store and put your mitts on a bottle, you can find it at most local yarn stores.

Don’t feel like buying Soak or bringing along a bit of your own detergent? Shampoo also works pretty well for cleaning garments in a pinch, so make use of that free bottle from the hotel. But a caveat: Neither Soak nor shampoo contains enzymes , which are biological molecules in laundry detergent that break down certain stains. If you have especially stinky or stained clothes, you might need to break out the Tide .

When we first published this guide, this section addressed only toiletry kits and bottles, razors, and packable towels. The times, and traveling, became more complicated. One thing we've learned in the past few years is that face masks can be useful whenever you’re sick and don’t want to share your misery. Fortunately, compared with early 2020, medical-style N95s and KN95s (which many experts recommend as the best protection) are widely available. They’re easy to tuck into a bag, which we do now whenever we travel. 

Toiletry kit

We’ve researched dozens of travel toiletry bags and dopp kits over the past several years, and we tested 23 of the top-rated contenders in our most recent round of tests. After packing and unpacking a week’s worth of travel-size toiletries, conducting spill tests, and living out of the top performers on the road, we have a few different picks that stand out thanks to their style, packability, and quality of construction.

Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag (small)

A space-saving hanging bag.

This lightweight, well-organized bag fits a week’s worth of travel-size toiletries into a compact package. It’s meant to be hung, which makes it good for tight spaces, but it doesn’t have much in the way of internal structure.

The Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag (small) is compact and durable. It’s small enough to stash in a backpack or laptop bag, but it holds enough travel-size toiletries to keep us supplied for a week. You can open it and hang it from a shower curtain or towel rod to easily see and grab your items. It comes with a shatterproof mirror, two micro-mesh zip pockets and an open pocket for toothbrushes, lip balm, and tweezers, and a large compartment for bulky lotions and hair-care items.

L.L.Bean Personal Organizer Toiletry Bag

For more stuff and longer trips.

With a 6.4-liter capacity and over a dozen compartments, this toiletry bag has a place for everything—and everything will stay put during transit, too. It can also accommodate non-travel-size bottles.

The L.L.Bean Personal Organizer (medium) is a great option for longer trips and people who travel with full-size bottles. Its 6.4 liters of storage spread across a dozen compartments means there’s a dedicated place for pretty much everything you could want to bring on a trip—it even has a removable mesh shower caddy for shampoo and body wash. This level of organization is crucial for larger toiletry bags because, as we discovered after years of traveling with our picks, contents that aren’t securely fastened can shift around in transit, which increases the chance of spilling. The downside of all this organization is that the L.L.Bean weighs 14 ounces when empty, so it’s not ideal for carry-on travel.

If neither of these bags seems right for you, read our full review of the best toiletry bags and dopp kits to learn more about our picks and everything we tested.

Toiletry bottles

Sea to Summit TPU Clear Zip Pouch with Bottles

These six TSA-friendly bottles are sturdy and smartly designed, dispensing liquids more precisely than any of the other bottles we tested.

For traveling with liquids in your carry-on, the Sea to Summit set is your best bet. All six bottles conform to TSA size limitations; three of them can hold 3 ounces of liquid each, and three can hold 1.5 ounces each, for a total of 13.5 ounces. Despite the set’s name, the bottles themselves are made not of thermoplastic polyurethane—“TPU" refers to the zip pouch—but a high-density polyethylene material, much like what you’d see used in most plastic milk jugs. It has an almost-smooth, semi-transparent surface just textured enough that it’s not slippery when wet. The plastic is also flexible enough that you don’t have to squeeze very hard to get your shampoo or liquid soap or whatever going. An insert at the mouth of each bottle helps regulate the flow, and the screw tops prevent liquids from leaking in transit.

Razor (faces)

Gillette Mach3

The best manual razor for most faces.

This classic razor’s three widely spaced blades provide the best balance of speed, smoothness, and safety. Its handle is comfortable and well designed, and replacement blades can be had for a fair price.

We researched more than 100 and tested 11 manual razors for our full razor guide , concluding that the Gillette Mach3 is our top pick for manual razors. Although the three blades require a little extra time for a closer shave, it performs comparably to the latest and greatest offerings for as little as half the price.

The Gillette Mach3 provides the best balance of speed, smoothness, and safety. The Mach3’s simple, round handle is easy to grip and maneuver, and its three blades offer a close shave without over-irritating the skin or getting clogged with hair. And the price of Mach3 blades—$2 per cartridge or less, whether you buy them online or in a store—came close to, or even beat, the pricing of shave-club rivals, and the Mach3 shaved better than those competitors.

Razor (legs/body)

Gillette Venus Smooth

The best body razor.

This classic Venus is one of the easiest razors to grip and maneuver and its three-blade design keeps the blades remarkably free of hair.

Disposable razors (both the completely disposable and replaceable-cartridge variety) are fine to take through airport security , and among them we like the Gillette Venus Original best for traveling. Although it’s now the runner-up pick in our guide to body razors —it was formerly the top pick—we believe that its simple aloe lubricating strips, which don’t become tacky when wet, make the Venus more travel friendly than our new top pick . Plus, as with any Venus, the Original’s body is compatible with any other Venus head and many heads from Gillette’s facial razors, making replacement heads easier to find when you’re on the road.

The Original’s head has three blades separated by considerable slats of space, making it far easier to clean the head between strokes. The Original is intuitive to hold and secure to maneuver, thanks to a contoured handle with corrugated chevrons of rubber. Though our testers have a wide range of hand sizes, no one found the Original difficult to grasp. Despite the significant ribbing, it doesn’t feel too bulky. Gillette claims its razors have lasted for five weeks; we think one razor for a weeklong trip should be fine.

(Know that, confusingly, the Venus appears for sale on some retail sites under the name Venus Close and Clean or Venus Smooth. It’s the same razor. If you’re unsure which Venus model you’re looking at, check for the Original’s three blades and trademark sea-foam blue color.)

Towel (packable)

PackTowl Personal

The best all-around packable towel.

The PackTowl Personal Towel is lightweight, soft, absorbent, quick to dry, and odor-resistant.

With store pickup or REI membership (limited patterns)

We put 20 top-rated towels through a battery of tests including regular shower use, a trip to the beach, camping, and a 48-hour stay in a ziplock bag under the hot Hawaiian sun. After all was said and done, the Packtowl Personal Towel is still the best all-around travel towel for most people. In addition to being the softest lightweight towel we tested, it was more absorbent than competitors made of similar materials. It had the best odor-resisting abilities and comes with a convenient mesh carrying pouch. We also have alternate picks for ultralight and all-natural towels below.

The Personal Towel’s suede-like material was the softest of the thinner towels. The Personal Towel also had superior absorption when compared with other similarly constructed towels such as the Sea to Summit DryLite —in our tests, it absorbed 2.8 times its weight in water, while the others absorbed between 2.3 times and 2.7 times.

One of just two we tested that featured an added antimicrobial treatment, the Personal Towel was only a little musty smelling after 24 hours in a sealed ziplock bag, and remained unchanged at 48 hours.

If you’re looking for a budget option, consider the Rainleaf Microfiber Towel , which is a tad smaller than our other picks and is made from a seemingly lighter-feeling fabric. Unlike most budget options, it has an antibacterial coating and still managed to carry a pleasant smell after being testing in different environments.

Regardless of how you get to your final destination, it’s likely you’ll be stuck in a seat that’s less than ideal. Travel gadgets that claim to reduce this misery, such as compression socks, are popular. But when they take up precious luggage space for the duration of your trip—not just the flight or train ride–they need to be worth every cubic inch of space. The less you can make do with, the better off you’ll be.

Neck pillow

Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow

More support for most necks.

Its tall memory-foam walls let it offer more support than any other pillow we tested. It’s also shaped to sit flush against a headrest, and it compresses to a manageable size.

The uniquely angled back on the Travelrest Ultimate sets it apart from other travel pillows we tested because it can lay flat against the seat back. Most other pillows have a rounded back, which pushes your head away from the headrest. The Travelrest also has rubber grip dots to prevent slipping while sleeping. This pillow’s spongy memory foam cushions the entire circumference of your neck, preventing your head from leaning far in any direction, and its adjustable Velcro strap ensures it can fit most necks. The pillow’s cozy velour exterior is removable and machine-washable. Although it doesn’t pack flat, the Travelrest weighs less than a pound and compresses to a quarter of its size when rolled into its Velcro-strapped carrying case. Our only complaint is that the Travelrest’s high walls, though supportive, can push over-ear headphones off of the ears of people with shorter necks.

Noise-cancelling headphones

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

The best over-ear noise-cancelling headphones.

The Bose 700 headphones deliver excellent noise cancellation in a comfortable, lightweight design that’s traveler friendly—but they carry a high price.

The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 over-ear set has the most versatile active noise cancellation we’ve ever tested. With 10 levels of noise reduction to choose from, everyone should be able to find a setting that meets their needs. We also enjoyed the lightweight and comfortable design and the easy-to-use controls. What distinguishes the Bose 700’s ANC is the amount of adjustability it gives you: Most noise-cancelling headphones offer controls for only on/off or maybe high/low/off, but with the Bose 700 pair you can set the ANC level from 0 to 10, so you have more flexibility to dial in the ideal setting for your comfort. The 20-hour battery life, while not the best we’ve seen, is more than sufficient to get you to most destinations. We have additional options—including earbuds and surprisingly good budget options for  over-ear headphones and earbuds —in our full guide to noise-cancelling headphones .

Mack’s Slim Fit Soft Foam Earplugs

For blocking out the most noise.

These blocked the most noise in our controlled testing and got the most votes from our subjective sleep panel.

When you’re traveling, it can be difficult to fall asleep to unfamiliar noises. That’s why we spent several hours researching new contenders and tested four top-rated models while sleeping in a house that was next to an airport in order to determine that Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam earplugs are the best earplugs  for sleeping.

The Mack’s 37.1 dB noise reduction rating was the highest among the models we tested. According to Cooper Safety , that’s enough to reduce the volume of a gas lawnmower to that of a normal conversation. What made the Mack’s earplugs so effective is the fact that we could insert them and rest assured that they would stay in the whole night. Meanwhile, the Howard Leight MAX1 might be a favorite from crowdsourced sleep-aid review site Sleep Like the Dead , but the earplugs would inevitably fall out in the middle of the night. Thus, they failed to block out the noise of planes landing and taking off throughout the night, despite the MAX1’s 33 dB noise reduction rating. The Howard Leights also made our ears ache on occasion, whereas the Mack’s has a tapered shape that was consistently comfortable night after night.

The Mack’s Slim Fit Soft Foam Earplugs cost about 20¢-35¢ per pair when purchased in a 50-pair pack. They come in a plastic case is about the size of a large coffee mug, which is small enough to toss in a large bag or suitcase. Many other ear plugs like our runner-up, the 3M’s E-A-Rsoft OCS1135 , can only be ordered in industrial-size lots that, while perhaps appealing to those who travel constantly (or run a hostel), are annoying to store and often lack a reusable container of any sort.

Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask

For air travelers and back-sleepers.

The lightweight and contoured Nidra mask is a light-blocking win for most face shapes, with deep eye cups that allow the wearer to blink freely and arrive feeling refreshed.

When bright lights hamper peaceful shut-eye, we recommend the light-blocking, contoured Nidra Deep Rest sleep mask. Of the 14 masks we tested , the Nidra blocked the most light on the most faces. It’s contoured to rest on your face like a pair of soft goggles, with fabric lenses that sit around your eyes (instead of directly over them). This design provides more space for your eyes to flutter during REM sleep, ensuring that you come through red-eye flights with less redness in your eyes. Makeup wearers will also appreciate that, with the Nidra’s elevated eye cups, there’s a smaller chance of smudging.

Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask

A flat, silk mask.

A silken exterior material, a flat design, and an adjustable strap make this mask a fit for almost any face, but it puts pressure on the eyes.

Mzoo Sleep Mask

A smooth, contoured eye mask.

Soft, structured, and contoured, this mask stays on all night and prevents any light from seeping through

If the Nidra Deep Rest doesn’t fit your face quite right, we also recommend the Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask and the Mzoo Sleep Mask . The Alaska Bear mask lacks contoured eyecups and thus applies some pressure to the eyes overnight like any regular eye mask does. But its flat design easily conforms to fit your face, and its silk exterior feels smooth and soft against skin (the padding is made of cotton). Its relative lack of structure makes it more difficult to knock off when you’re tossing and turning.

The Mzoo mask’s eyecups have a convex gap so your eyes can open and close. That gap is surrounded by a memory foam padding that rests on the perimeter of your eye sockets. The effect is such that you don’t feel like your eyes are being forced closed, but there is a bit of compression near your temples, eyebrows, and cheekbones. Most—though not all—of our testers found this sensation soothing. One liked how the contour of the eyecup kept the mask from brushing against their eyelashes, which makes it a good choice for people who wear eyelash extensions.

Few things are better than landing at an airport, turning on your phone, and having it just work. No hassles, no stress, no worries about brutal roaming fees. You can check in with loved ones, scope out the route to your lodgings, and maybe post an Instagram story or two—because your phone works just like it does at home. This is especially freeing, and it makes travel so much easier. (Of course, phones aren’t the only useful tech to bring: Check out our accessories reviews for guides to the best cables ( USB-C , Lightning , and Micro-USB ), Wi-Fi hotspots , Bluetooth speakers , and more.)

Unlocked mobile phone

One of the most useful gadgets for international travel is an unlocked smartphone that’s compatible with cheap, prepaid phone plans you can sign up for at your destination. Unless your carrier offers plans including high-speed data that you can access internationally (i.e., you’re with T-Mobile or Google Fi), traveling with a phone under contract with a major carrier means paying an arm and a leg for data. Being able to access data-guzzling apps like Google Maps or Google Translate on the fly is worth the hassle to unlock a phone. Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp are free, easy ways to communicate with people you meet on your trip and people from home. Plus there’s checking email, TripAdvisor, banking, social media, and so on.

An “unlocked” phone means you can buy prepaid SIM cards in the country you’re visiting, letting you access their local network for significantly less money than the roaming fees incurred by your home carrier. With a prepaid SIM, your phone effectively becomes a new phone with a new (now local) phone number. Instead of seeing “Verizon,” “AT&T,” or “Sprint” at the top of your phone, you might see “Vodafone,” “Yes Optus,” “M1,” or whatever provider you choose in the country you’re visiting. The first thing to check is if your phone will work where you’re going. If you’re unsure if your phone will work where you’re going, check the Wikipedia page for your phone or contact your provider.

Your phone will also require a removable SIM. (If your phone has an eSIM, as all new iPhones do, check out our blog post about those.) Most countries require a passport or other ID to buy a prepaid SIM without a contract, but switching the SIMs is easy. Most stores will do it for you while you’re there. Depending on the country/provider, this could take as long as 10 minutes but is often faster. The next question is easily the most complicated: Can you unlock your phone? Each carrier has different rules and criteria. Generally, if you have a brand new, expensive phone, they may not let you unlock it (there’s usually a waiting period after the purchase date). But if it’s a little older, or if you’ve paid it off, they probably will. The thing to remember is that a provider can deny an unlock request without giving a reason. You might be lucky, though; certain phones on certain providers are unlocked by default. Here are Verizon and AT&T’s pages on unlocking. Alternately, you can buy a pre-unlocked phone just for travel. Amazon and Best Buy, for example, sell unlocked phones. This is also a good option if you think you might lose your expensive phone and a cheaper one will suffice while you travel.

Plug adapter

Epicka Universal Travel Adapter

Best universal travel adapter.

With four plugs that will work in most countries, plus faster-charging USB ports (and more of them) than its competitors, this adapter is the best all-around choice.

In a sea of almost-identical travel adapters, the Epicka Universal Travel Adapter stands out, combining the best of the features we look for. It contains the three most common international plugs and a US-style plug, which should cover you in the majority of countries around the world. It has the most USB ports—four of the standard USB-A and one USB-C—of any universal adapter we tested, and it charged more of our devices faster. A replaceable fuse and an included spare should take the brunt of any accidental, unfortunate, or shockingly bad connections. The Epicka is fairly compact and well built, and it even comes with an extra USB cable and a nylon case.

However, no universal travel adapter is truly universal, and they’re all a lot bulkier and more expensive than simple plug adapters. If you want the smallest adapter possible, or if you’re going someplace where a universal adapter won’t work (more on that in a minute), a plug adapter could be what you need.

Ceptics International Worldwide Travel Plug Adapter 5 Piece Set

The best plug adapter.

Individually, these tiny plug adapters are smaller, lighter, and cheaper than any universal travel adapter. To juice up multiple devices, though, you’d need a separate multiport charger too.

The tiny plug adapters from Ceptics are barely larger than the prongs they convert. Small, simple, and cheap, they’re perfect for someone who wants to carry only the adapter they’ll need and who already has a multiport USB wall charger they like. Like our universal adapter picks, this set contains the three most common international plugs and the US plug. However, it also includes a somewhat rarer plug used in some European countries that has two thick, cylindrical prongs. This means that the Ceptics set will likely cover you in even more places—as long as you pack the appropriate plug adapter. These charts should help you find the shape you need before you order.

However, getting your gear to work in different countries isn’t quite as simple as it should be, and there’s no single solution that’s guaranteed to work for everyone. Our picks should work for you, but you may have some random piece of equipment, or be traveling to some country, for which our “good for most” picks just won’t work. (Case in point: One Wirecutter editor visited Iceland a few years back. The house she stayed in had outlets unlike anything on those charts, and the plug adapters she had used elsewhere in Reykjavik didn’t fit at all. It turns out the mystery sockets belonged to an obscure Italian system from the 1960s that was popular in Iceland for a time. Luckily, the hosts had power strips in the house that her adapters fit into.) The world is a big place, and when it comes to electricity and wall outlets, there’s a lot of variation. That’s important to keep in mind.

Whether two-prong or three-prong, an adapter just changes the shape of your plug, not anything about the electricity coming through the wires. However, this usually isn’t a problem because almost every power brick that comes with modern electronic gear is capable of accepting both the 110-volt standard used in the US and the 240-volt commonly used abroad. If your device has a power block on the cord, it likely says something like  “100-240 V ~ 50/60 Hz”—that’s the all-clear to use it without a voltage converter so long as the range covers the voltage of the country you’re visiting . This includes the vast majority of modern laptop and USB chargers.

Products without some sort of power block at the end or with a non-detachable cord—in particular, things with heating elements like hair dryers and curling irons—are more likely to need a voltage converter. Putting 220 V through a US 110 V device would be like attaching a firehose to a drinking fountain—you’re likely to blow your face off. But voltage converters are tricky devices, and most of the inexpensive ones have awful (or dishonest) reviews. Since hotels and hostels will often have hair dryers and most newer gear can do the full range of voltages, we strongly recommend that, whenever possible, you only bring items that work with a much simpler (and more reliable) adapter.

Wire/gadget organization system

Now that every device has a battery, every battery has a charger, and every charger has a cable—never mind power-plug adapters if you’re traveling abroad—the sheer quantity of accessories needed just to keep your gadgets running can take up more space than the devices themselves. And unless you organize them, you can bet on having to blindly fish them out of the least convenient spot at the bottom of your bag. Recently, our pick for carrying tech necessities, the Incase Nylon Accessory Organizer, which had been out of stock for a few years, returned to the Incase website and appears to be in stock. If you prefer mesh to easily see your contents, , we also like the Container Store Micro Mesh Pouches .

The Incase cable organizer is a poly-nylon blend, so it’s durable. It is a soft-shell bag, however, so its contents can distort the bag’s shape when it’s full. But the bag’s edges remain rigid—so the seams don’t pucker—its contents don’t fall out, and zipping and unzipping the bag is still easy. We have other picks in our full guide to bag and cable organizers , including a roll-up bag and a stylish duo of cosmetics travel pouches ; we’ll also start testing other options to replace this one.

USB battery packs

A USB battery pack (also called a power bank) can keep your small electronics—from phones and cameras to tablets and more—going while you’re on the road. Although the length of your trip will determine exactly how much extra juice you’ll need to have on hand, whatever your requirements, we have a great USB battery recommendation for you. The Belkin Boost Charge Plus 10K weighs about half a pound, and its rounded edges make it easy to hold or slip into a pocket. Its USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port can charge most handheld devices and recharge itself at top speed (with the right USB-C cable and wall charger), and it can pass power to another device while being recharged from a wall outlet. It only comes in one color, but it has enough capacity to fully charge most smartphones up to three times, as well as built-in USB-C and Lightning cables that are easy to slide in and out of their holsters.

If you’re traveling for leisure, try not to get too wrapped up in technology because you might miss what you’re actually there to do: experience a new place. OneBag’s Doug Dyment said in an interview, “Wearing headphones and staring at a screen is like putting a digital wall around yourself when you’re traveling. It makes you seem unapproachable and uninterested in what’s around you.” That may be a good thing if you do truly want to be left alone, but Dyment went on to say that some of his most memorable traveling experiences were the result of just looking lost and getting help from the locals. “One minute, you’re a lost foreigner in an unfamiliar village, then someone asks if you need directions. Before you know it, you’re eating dinner with his family.”

Travel binoculars

Athlon Optics Midas ED

The overall best binoculars.

Amazingly affordable with great optics, these binoculars have performance comparable with that of many models that cost thousands more.

Our top pick for binoculars is durable and great for near-home hikes. In hot or dusty environments that may call for a clearer optical boost, the Athlon Optics Midas ED 8×42 binoculars deliver top quality. Its focus dial offers a wide range of depths that makes it easier to see whatever it is you desire—birds, grass or darkened areas of the forest. Our recommendation comes with the assistance of a professional ornithologist who spent over 100 hours putting 17 pairs of binoculars to the test in the mountains of Southern California and the rain forests of southern Mexico.

Although the Celestron TrailSeeker ED binoculars don’t offer a clear edge-to-edge view to the same degree of the Athlon Optics Midas EDs , they’re a comparable runner-up model that’ll be lighter on your wallet if having binoculars while traveling is a must. The TrailSeekers are equipped with great light-gathering qualities, close focus, and impressive optical resolution. Or, if you’re concerned about saving space, we liked the Pentax AD 8x25 WP binoculars. While not quite as powerful as our other picks, this compact pair of binoculars is well made and easy to fit into a carry-on while traveling via plane.

Ebook reader

Amazon Kindle (2022)

The best e-reader for most people.

Amazon’s most affordable Kindle is also its most portable, and it’s finally been upgraded with sharper text on its 6-inch screen and support for USB-C charging. Those features bring it in line with much-pricier e-readers.

The entry-level Amazon Kindle finally got an upgrade and is now our favorite e-reader , with the same crisp display and USB-C charging as the pricier Kindle Paperwhite has (and with double the storage space of the previous entry-level model). Amazon’s well-stocked ebooks store remains its biggest selling point, along with the ease of checking out library books via Libby and sending them directly to a Kindle.

Even if you don’t have time for pleasure reading on your trip, it’s worth investing in a Kindle because many major travel guides are available in fully searchable ebook formats now. Furthermore, e-texts will also work on your phone, tablet, and computer, thanks to the Kindle ecosystem.

Packable daypack

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack

A pack that fits in your palm.

Toss this lightweight, phone-sized packable bag into your luggage or coat pocket, and you’ll never get caught without a spare bag again. If you need something to carry every day, though, we think you’ll prefer one of our more-structured picks.

Packing a stowable daypack, one that stuffs down to fit in your luggage when not in use, is a relatively small investment of space in exchange for a high return of function and flexibility. After researching dozens of packable daypacks across a spectrum of portability, features, and prices, and then packing, unpacking, loading, wearing, and drenching the top-rated finalists during multiple rounds of testing, the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack is the smallest and lightest packable backpack we recommend. Packed up, it is very discreet: nearly the size of a keychain accessory.

The bag itself is a no-frills sack made from a paper-thin siliconized Cordura nylon, which means it’s very light and water-resistant. It has reinforced stitching at stress points, allowing the Ultra-Sil to carry more weight than you would expect. That said, since this pack is made of such thin, light material, carrying large or awkwardly shaped loads is somewhat uncomfortable, especially when compared with our more structured picks.

If comfort or waterproofing is important to you, check out the alternative picks in our review of packable daypacks for travel .

Field Notes 3-Pack Original Kraft Memo Books

For ultimate portability.

Field Notes are cheap but contain high-quality paper that earns praise from pen and stationery geeks across the web.

For writing your adventures as you travel, you can’t beat the portability, practicality, and romanticism of a pocket notebook. There’s nothing better in that category than Field Notes (three-packs available in a variety of styles and types ). These pocket-sized notebooks are widely praised for their excellent paper quality, and the Pen Addict’s Brad Dowdy tells me “Field Notes is pretty much the runaway pocket notebook champ.” Dowdy has praised it for the lack of feathering or bleedthrough with almost any pen, as well as for the light brown ruled lines, which are easier to write over than solid black. Austin Smith of Art Supply Critic told us in an email that his recommendation is “Field Notes has it, no question.” The Well-Appointed Desk has reviewed a slew of different Field Notes variants for those looking for something a bit more interesting.

Field Notes Expedition

A weather-resistant option.

Weather-resistant Expedition Field Notes are great if you’re writing in wet conditions, but don’t get them if you don’t need them. The synthetic paper feels weird and can cause some inks to smear.

If you think you’re going to be writing in foul weather, Field Notes also has the waterproof Expedition version with pages made from a synthetic water-and-tear resistant paper. You should only get these if you really need them, because otherwise, they just feel unnaturally slick and are more prone to smearing ink. At least one user has said that the paper shows less soaking through when wet than the similar Rite in the Rain books . The one caveat is that the synthetic paper will only work with pencils and certain inks ; thankfully, the Uni-ball Jetstream RT , our pick for best pen , definitely makes the grade.

Things can go wrong while you’re traveling, both where you are and where you’re not. Though you can’t prepare for every worst-case scenario, the peace of mind that a little bit of preparation grants will allow you to focus on what’s in front of you, instead of having to worry about what could go wrong. But preparation doesn’t simply mean buying more stuff just in case; it also means making efficient use of what you already have.

Merchant & Mills for Purl Soho Rapid Repair Kit

For the best combination of sewing tools.

The Merchant & Mills Rapid Repair Kit is the only travel kit we found that had objectively high-quality thread and scissors.

There’s nothing quite like a wardrobe malfunction to put a damper on vacation, especially when traveling with limited clothing. A good travel-size sewing kit allows you to mend a popped button or ripped seam on the fly—or even tackle more pressing issues like fixing a tent, sleeping bag, or backpack. After 15 hours of research, interviews with sewing teachers and avid home sewers, and tests of six travel and full-size kits, we found the Merchant & Mills for Purl Soho Rapid Repair Kit had by far the best tools and was the easiest to keep organized. Standard travel sewing kits usually contain mediocre thread and plastic-handled scissors that break easily. They can also be hard to keep organized (a truth we confirmed when testing six top-rated travel and full-sized kits). The Merchant & Mills set was the only one that had high-quality thread, all-metal mini scissors (don’t worry, the TSA shouldn’t stop you ), and a durable tin case (about the size of a deck of cards) to keep everything well organized.

Because the sewing pins are neatly stuck into paper inside a slim envelope and the three needles are housed in a mini glass vial, this kit also limits the risk of losing a sharp object in your bags. We found the Merchant & Mills needles easier to thread than others (no need for a fussy needle threader!) and we also like the vintage-looking safety pins that come clipped together along with two small white buttons. Although this kit only comes with black and white thread, the thread is strong and there’s more of it than you’d get in a flimsier set with shorter strands of multiple colors. We do think it would be nice if the kit included a more durable measuring tape than the paper one included, but overall everything about this kit is leagues ahead of anything else we considered. We didn’t find editorial reviews for any of the kits we tested, but the Merchant & Mills rapid repair kit was recommended by several sewing bloggers and is sold in many reputable indie fabric shops.

Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella

The best umbrella for most people.

This is a solidly built, easy-to-find umbrella that holds up in high winds. It also comes in a variety of colors.

price may vary by color or style

An umbrella you take traveling should be small, light, sturdy, and affordable. After putting in 66 hours of research and evaluating a total of 48 umbrellas across five rounds of testing (including one thunder-snowstorm), we found that the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella is the best umbrella for most people. Its durable, nine-rib construction held up admirably against gale-force winds, and it’s as sturdy as umbrellas that sell for more than twice as much.

The Repel folds up to an 11½-inch long, 14-ounce package that fits easily into most bags and glove boxes. And it forcefully expands at a touch of a button to reveal an ample 37-inch-diameter canopy that protects your head and torso from precipitation in all but the windiest of conditions. Its lengthy, textured handle is easy to grip for hands of all sizes. We also appreciate that the Repel comes in a wide variety of colors, so it’s easier to pick yours out of a crowded umbrella bucket. Finally, despite its affordable price, it’s backed by a lifetime replacement guarantee, but only if you purchase directly from Repel and register the item under the company’s warranty.

Packing method for clothes

While packing cubes and other organization tools are helpful for maximizing your bag’s usable space, efficient packing is also achievable without the aid of tools and compartments. One Bag’s Doug Dyment tried all manners of folding aids and compression products but was unsatisfied with their claims of compression and wrinkle prevention. Frustrated, he developed his own method of packing clothes compactly called the Bundle Method, which he’s used and perfected over several decades of traveling.

The Bundle Method involves layering your shirts and pants at opposing angles on a flat surface, then wrapping them around a small “core” parcel (e.g. a packing cube full of underwear and socks). We won’t get into details, but Dyment does on his website ; you can watch this easy-to-follow video from NBC . The resulting bundle is compact and has no sharp creases that will require ironing out later on. Additionally, Dyment explains that “the slight tension created in the fabric by the wrapping process, along with the anchoring of the resulting bundle, greatly reduces the chances of wrinkling.” You then put it in your bag and use the tie-down straps to provide just enough pressure to keep it together.

While simple to perform, this packing method isn’t something you can master in one go. It takes a bit of practice, but once you get it, it’s like riding a bike. The downside is that you can’t just leave your clothing packed and expect to be able to access your underwear without fully unpacking your clothes first. But unpacking is a good habit to get into anyway, as it allows your clothes to breathe and avoid wrinkles or mildew. Wirecutter founder and frequent traveler Brian Lam says that unpacking the moment he enters a room has a grounding effect that allows him to feel a bit more at home in a new environment.

If this sounds like too much of a hassle for you, you can do what we did before we found out about bundling: roll up your socks and underwear tightly and place them in packing cubes, then put your wrinkle-prone items (shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, jackets) in a garment folder—we used the Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Garment Folder . This is also travel guru Rob King’s preferred method of packing. Though the garment folder is not quite as space-efficient as the bundle method due to the added bulk of the folder and folding board, the plastic backboard does go a long way towards preventing wrinkles. Just be aware that if you leave your clothes in there for longer than a day, they’ll begin to develop unsightly creases that require an iron to get rid of.

A big thank-you to the Hotel Lucia in downtown Portland, Oregon, for lending us a suite to use for the photos in this guide.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Meet your guide

Wirecutter Staff

Mentioned above

• There’s more to a great in-flight personal item than being small enough to stuff under a plane seat. Here’s how to choose the right one for your travel needs. The Best Underseat Luggage and Personal-Item Bags  
• The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is our backpack pick for most travelers. We also have picks for other travelers, including those who want to carry a bit more. The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks  
• After 10 years of airport dashes and overhead-compartment stashes, the Travelpro Platinum Elite is still the suitcase we want to carry. The Best Carry-On Luggage  
• After researching 30 models, we found that Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner is the best suitcase for most travelers who check bags. The Best Suitcases for Checking  
• We chose five luggage tags that will help you identify your belongings in a sea of similar suitcases. The Best Luggage Tags  
• After researching and traveling with packing cubes for more than five years, the Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set is what we keep in our luggage. The Best Packing Cubes  

Further reading

How to Sleep Well (or at Least Better) While Traveling

by Christine Ryan

Our sleep and travel editors recommend gear for coping with travel-induced insomnia, vetted through hours of testing and years of personal experience.

The Gadgets We Bring on Every Trip

by Haley Perry

You don't have to be a digital nomad to travel like one. Here are a few gadgets and accessories to make travel as painless as possible.

Road-Trip Essentials

by Eve O'Neill

We spend a lot of time driving each year, and this is our list of essential road-trip gear to include in your packing list.

Air Travel Is Chaos. This Gear Will Help Get You Through the Exasperating Delays.

by Elissa Sanci

These things don’t make your flight take off any faster, but they can make the wait a little more tolerable.

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Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) with clock | Compact smart speaker with Alexa and enhanced LED display for at-a-glance clock, timers, weather, and more | Cloud Blue

Sustainability features.

This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.

Carbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were reduced compared to similar products or previous models.

The Reducing CO2 label applies to products certified by the Carbon Trust, that are lowering their carbon emissions year after year for the full lifecycle of the product. The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001 and introduced the world’s first carbon label in 2007. It produces its certifications to global leading and independently verified standards. The Carbon Trust has a mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.

Learn more about this certification

• OUR BEST SOUNDING ECHO DOT YET – Enjoy an improved audio experience compared to any previous Echo Dot with Alexa for clearer vocals, deeper bass, and vibrant sound in any room.
• ENHANCED LED DISPLAY – Stay on track with an improved LED display that shows the time, weather, alarms, and song titles at a glance.
• ALEXA IS YOUR PERSONAL ASSISTANT – Ask Alexa for news, weather, timers, smart home controls, and more to make your day easier and more productive.
• ALL YOUR MUSIC AND CONTENT – Stream all your favorites from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and others or via Bluetooth for throughout your home.
• VOICE-CONTROLLED SMART HOME – Control compatible lights, locks, fans, and more with just your voice or create routines triggered by motion sensors.
• DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY – Amazon is not in the business of selling your personal information to others. Built with multiple layers of privacy controls, including a mic off button.
• DO MORE WITH DEVICE PAIRING – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, create a home theater system with Fire TV, and extend wifi coverage with a compatible eero network so you can say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering.
• CLIMATE PLEDGE FRIENDLY – We considered sustainability in the design of this device with 100% recyclable packaging, 100% post-consumer recycled polyester yarn, and 55% post-consumer recycled plastics.
• Your device

Smart home devices for you

• Smart Lighting
• Security Cameras
• Plugs and outlets
• Smart locks
• Wifi and Networking

"Alexa, turn on the lights."

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Reducing CO2 products reduce their carbon footprint year after year. Certified by the Carbon Trust.

Small size, big possibilities

Our most popular smart speaker features a sleek design and an improved LED display that shows the time, weather, song titles, and more. Enjoy enhanced audio for vibrant sound anywhere in your home, stay on track with help from Alexa, and control compatible smart home devices with your motion.

Vibrant Sound

Motion Detection

Information

Privacy Controls

Climate Pledge Friendly

Our best-sounding Echo Dot yet

Alexa is happy to help

Make your life easier at home. Alexa is ready to help throughout the day with weather and news updates, hands-free timers and reminders, answers to your questions, and can even tell you jokes.

Help keep your home comfortable

“alexa, turn on living room light.”.

Start Routines with your motion

Paired with compatible light bulbs, thermostats, and more, Echo Dot, with built-in motion and temperature sensors , lets you control your smart home when you’re at home or away. Create routines to automatically turn on/off lights or play music at a scheduled time or when you walk into a room. Learn more about the different ways you can connect your smart home device.

Tap to pause music or snooze alarms

With a simple tap you can pause a song, end a call, or stop a timer. Need a few extra minutes of sleep? Just tap to snooze.

Alexa and Echo devices are built with multiple layers of privacy protection .

Do more with device pairing

Echo Dot + another Echo

Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms. Learn more about Multi-Room Audio .

Echo Dot + Fire TV

Watch TV with immersive sound when you set up Alexa Home Theater with compatible devices. Learn more about Alexa Home Theater .

Echo Dot + eero wifi router

Extend your wifi coverage and say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering with eero Built-in on a compatible eero network. Learn more about eero Built-in .

Simple to set up and use

Plug in Echo Dot.

Connect to the internet with the Alexa app.

Ask Alexa for music, weather, news, and more.

Every day is an earth day

You don't have to be an environmental scientist to make sustainable choices. We considered sustainability in the design of this device. Here's how:

50% post-consumer recycled plastics 95% post-consumer recycled fabric Device, cable, and adapter included

Clean Energy

Amazon is building new wind and solar farms to produce clean energy equivalent to the electricity used by this device.

Low Power Mode

To reduce its energy consumption, this device will enter Low Power Mode when it is idle. Low Power Mode is not available for certain user configurations. To learn more, see Low Power Mode Restrictions.

Device Packaging

This device’s packaging is 100% recyclable. Fulfillment center packaging not included.

Part With Purpose

There may come a time when you want to trade in or recycle your device. Explore options with Amazon Second Chance .

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Customer reviews.

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the appearance, performance, and voice recognition of the digital device. For example, they mention it's a useful device, Alexa is good at hearing, and the sound quality is excellent. They also like the ease of use, and time settings. That said, opinions are mixed on connectivity and brightness.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the performance of the digital device. They say it's a really useful gadget, works well at home, and has many different functions. Some are happy with all the features.

"...With its stylish design, versatile features, and seamless functionality , it's sure to become your new favorite tech companion...." Read more

"...The Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022) with clock is a great example of smart technology that has been simplified to perform a single, specific task in a time..." Read more

"...The sound is great considering how small this unit is. Worth every penny ! Don't hesitate, I wish I had purchased it sooner." Read more

"...And the value of the product for how much money it was, definitely a good amount to price it!!" Read more

Customers like the sound quality of the digital device. They say the sound is great considering the small size.

"...Despite its small size, this little speaker delivers surprisingly robust audio that fills the room with rich, immersive sound...." Read more

"...or a constantly evolving playlist, the Echo Dot always delivers excellent sound quality ...." Read more

"...It also replaced an old radio and a clock. The sound is great considering how small this unit is. Worth every penny!..." Read more

" Audio is amazing , the clock is splendid, nice quality, connects greatly, music sounds nice, durable cord, lighting is great!..." Read more

Customers like the ease of use of the digital device. For example, they say it's easy to set up routines in the settings on the Alexa App, and can make simple tasks simpler. They also say it makes their life easy by being able to manage appliances and just. They say the setup is seemless and it saves hours of time and frustration.

"...clock is a great example of smart technology that has been simplified to perform a single , specific task in a time when smart technology may..." Read more

"I love this! Makes my life so much easier and is fun to use. Set up could not be easier or faster. Learning to use it was very easy and quick...." Read more

"...It looks good, set up is a breeze , and it works well!Loved it so much I bought 2 others of the variant without a clock for my living room" Read more

"...Alexa has become my ultimate personal assistant, effortlessly handling everything from news updates to controlling my smart home devices...." Read more

Customers like the time settings of the digital device. They say that the clock feature is a great addition to the dot. They also like the way the time shows, and that it's convenient. Some mention that the display not only does time, but weather and music as well.

"...Just ask Alexa, and she's got your back. Plus, with the clock display , you can easily see the time at a glance without having to reach for your..." Read more

"...device, allowing me to effortlessly access information, schedule updates , and entertainment...." Read more

"...Easy to pair and connect, compact, clock is convenient and it can be turned off." Read more

"...The LED display is a game-changer, providing me with quick updates on the time , weather, and upcoming alarms with just a glance...." Read more

Customers like the appearance of the digital device. They say it's a witty companion that adds ta touch of charm and retro. They also mention that the display is really cool and the light clock is also super cool. Overall, customers find the product to be a great addition to the house and a retro product.

"...This is a must have addition to any home. With its stylish design , versatile features, and seamless functionality, it's sure to become your new..." Read more

"...merited its five-star rating for its top-notch functionality, sleek design , and helpful contribution to today's simplified lifestyle." Read more

"Audio is amazing, the clock is splendid , nice quality, connects greatly, music sounds nice, durable cord, lighting is great!..." Read more

"... It looks good , set up is a breeze, and it works well!Loved it so much I bought 2 others of the variant without a clock for my living room" Read more

Customers like the voice recognition of the digital device. They mention that it works with their voice, is shockingly good at hearing what they're saying, and comes through crisp and clear. The voice control is surprisingly reliable due to the system's several microphones.

"... Voice control is surprisingly reliable because to the system's several microphones, which allow Alexa to hear my commands even in noisy environments...." Read more

"...Not only is the clock exactly what I wanted, but I also got a great speaker and Alexa (faaaar better than Siri, I must say)...." Read more

"...The audio quality is unparalleled, with crystal-clear vocals , deep bass, and immersive sound that effortlessly fills the entire room...." Read more

"...but it can also be inconvenient. -Echo does not call 911 ...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the connectivity of the digital device. Some mention that it pairs easily to their phone and seamlessly integrates with various smart home devices. However, others say that it's harder for them to connect and that the internet connection is intermittent at times.

"...The light can light up several times as it powers back up, then attempts to reconnect , and attempts to reconnect, and attempts to reconnect......" Read more

"Audio is amazing, the clock is splendid, nice quality, connects greatly , music sounds nice, durable cord, lighting is great!..." Read more

"this one was harder for me to connect . I have done 8 others with no problems. Once connected it works as designed" Read more

"...I removed a star for this reason. Easy to pair and connect, compact, clock is convenient and it can be turned off." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the brightness of the digital device. Some find the front display very bright and adapts to the ambient perfectly, while others say that the clock is not bright enough. Some customers also mention that the LED clock display could be brighter and easier to see.

"...to those of its predecessors, filling the room with music that is both crisp and balanced...." Read more

"...Oh and it glowed yellow and i was panicking - that was too bright for sleeping - but all good, it was just telling me my amazon packages were..." Read more

"...nice quality, connects greatly, music sounds nice, durable cord, lighting is great !..." Read more

"...The most annoying is when the power goes out. The light can light up several times as it powers back up, then attempts to reconnect, and attempts to..." Read more

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Best travel pillows under 1500 in india for comfortable travels (2024).

Are you looking for travel pillows for yourself? If so, then continue reading this article where we have curated a list of the best travel pillows under 1500 in India. These pillows are soft and squishy while also falling within your budget. Explore the options and place your order using the buying links shared in the article below.

List of the Best Travel Pillows under 1500 in India

1. jet set co travel pillow.

Jet Set Co Travel Pillow for Airplane/Car/Work, Matching Eye Mask & Carry Bag/Soft Memory Foam Neck Pillow for Travel/Airplane Travel kit/100% Light Weight and Ultimately Comfortable (Blue)

• Available in 5 colours: Black; Blue; Grey; Purple; Red
• Lightweight
• Ultimate Sleeping Comfort
• Tailored for All
• Flight-Tested Design
• Premium Neck Support

2. MY ARMOR Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow

MY ARMOR Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow for Flights, Car, Train, Variable Height Adjustment to Suit All Sleeping Positions, Breathable & Washable Cover, Blue

• Compressible
• Removable Cover

3. SnoozEasy™ Travel Pillow for Adults

SnoozEasy™ Travel Pillow for Adults | Memory Foam 360 Degree Neck Support with Removable Pillow Case | Includes Travel Bag, Eye Mask and Ear Plugs | Dark Grey | UK Brand

• Complete Relaxation Kit
• Premium Memory Foam
• 360 Degree Neck Support
• Versatile Design
• Designed for Ultimate Convenience

4. MOTOAUTO Memory Foam Travel Pillow

• Revolutionary Compact Design
• Velvet Fabric Finish
• Easy Buckle and Lock
• Breathable Fabric
• High-Density Memory Foam
• Promotes Comfortable Dozing
• Premium Quality

5. SELLASTIC Travel Neck Pillow

• Rechargeable
• Speed Control
• Water Resistant
• 3 Massage Modes
• 3 strength levels
• Memory Foam Neck Pillow
• U-shape Ergonomic Design

6. Elegant Fur Beige Memory Foam Multi Purpose Neck Travel Pillow

Elegant Fur Beige Memory Foam Multi Purpose Neck Travel Pillow

• Soft Plush Fur Fabric Cover
• High Density Foam - Memory Foam
• Slow Bounce Back For Extra Comfort
• Unique Embroidered Design
• Comfortable Travel Companion
• Soft Firmness Description

7. MOKOBARA The Travel Pillow

MOKOBARA The Travel Pillow Pure Memory Foam Neck Pillow, Comfortable and Breathable Cover, Machine Washable, Airplane Travel Kit (Seize The Gray)

• Lightweight and Adjustable
• Soft, Breathable, and Stretchy Fabric Blend
• Head Stabilising BASF Memory Foam Filling
• Ergonomic Arc Design
• Washable Sleeve
• Packed and Ready to Be Gifted
• Crafted for Superior Comfort
• Attaches to Your Travel Gear
• Packs Like a Snack

8. Gear-R - Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow

• Neck Support
• Washable Cover with Zip
• Dust-Free Storage String Bag
• Slow Rebound Memory Foam
• Non-Slip Buttons
• Pocket for Music Players

9. SHOPPOFOBIX The Travel Pillow

• High-Quality Memory Foam
• Skin-Friendly and Soft
• Compact and Portable
• Optimal Neck Support
• Comfortable and Breathable
• Easy Maintenance

10. Ledge TravelVista Premium Travel Pillow

Ledge TravelVista Premium Travel Pillow | Travel Neck Pillow for Flights | Neck Support | Travelling Pillow

• Extra Comfortable for Neck
• Memory Foam Support
• Ergonomic Design
• Adjustable and Secure
• Comfortable and Pain-Free Travel
• Complete Neck Support

Similar Products for You:

Similar articles for you:, frequently asked questions: best travel pillows under 1500 in india, q1. are memory foam travel pillows comfortable, q2. can travel pillows be washed, q3. how do i choose the right travel pillow, related products.

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Early Memorial Day sales are here: Shop the best deals on mattresses, furniture, apparel and more

Memorial Day weekend is quickly approaching. And before the “unofficial” kickoff to summer begins, many of our favorite brands and retailers are rolling out deals on bestselling products we know and love. The holiday is typically a good time to stock up on appliances, mattresses, bedding, and gardening supplies, according to experts in our Memorial Day shopping guide . 

You can already find deals across many of these categories in addition to beauty and tech sales, including great discounts on iPads and Airpods, which we include in our list below. We’ll continue updating this list with new deals leading up to the holiday; keep in mind that stock and prices may change.

SKIP AHEAD Best Memorial Day 2024 deals | Retailer deals | Home deals | Mattress and bedding deals | Kitchen deals | Tech deals | Apparel and shoe deals | Beauty and wellness deals

select Memorial Day is the worst time to buy summer essentials — what to shop instead

The best memorial day 2024 deals to shop now.

All of our recommendations are based on our previous coverage and reporting. We also included a handful of products we tried ourselves, including expert-recommended streaming devices and facial essences . 

Apple iPad Air (5th Gen)

4.7-star average rating from 631 reviews on Walmart

Lowest price ever

Earlier this month, Apple released new iPads , which might be why 2022’s 5th Gen. model is at its lowest price ever right now. While it isn’t the newest model, it is still an excellent tablet , with fast performance, a bright screen, 10 hours of battery life, and stereo speakers on each side. It is also one of the easiest gadgets to travel with — it only weighs about a pound.

Bear Pro Hybrid Mattress

4.4-star average rating from 47 reviews on Bear

NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown was initially skeptical of this mattress but now, after years of using it, she says it’s immensely helpful for relieving body pressure. “When I go to bed after an afternoon or night workout, I feel way more refreshed the next morning than I have on other mattresses,” she says. It’s made with cooling gel memory foam that draws away body heat and makes the mattress more breathable, according to the brand.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

4.7-star average rating from 74,807 reviews on Amazon

This Select-staff favorite streaming device is easy to use and compatible with all kinds of smart home devices . NBC Select editorial operations manager Shari Uyehara uses it to watch her favorite shows on apps like Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, Max, Apple TV+ and Youtube. I have also used this at home, and find Roku to have the easiest installation and interface to navigate of all the streaming devices I’ve tried.  

Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

4.5-star average rating from 87,148 reviews on Amazon

This dermatologist-recommended essence has snail mucin that adds moisture and a plumping effect to skin, according to our experts. It’s made with 96% snail secretion that’s free of sulfates or parabens, and is lightweight on the skin, according to the brand. “When I first started using this many years ago, I wanted it to clear my acne,” says NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson. “Now, I still use it but for hydration and fine lines. It’s goopy, but helps you get glass skin overnight.”

Blueair Blue 311i Max Air Purifier

Blueair Pure 311i Max Air Purifier

4.5-star average rating from 9,697 reviews on Amazon

This quiet air purifier is one of the best for medium to large spaces — I have the 311i+ version , and it catches all sorts of dust and dander in my living room without so much as a peep of noise. It has a removable, machine washable outer fabric cover that catches larger clumps of dust and lint, too. You can control the purifier with your phone and the Blueair app, which also shows stats like indoor air quality and when you need to replace your filter. 

Hydro Flask All Around Travel Tumbler

4.7-star average rating from 5,001 reviews on Amazon

NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin uses this water bottle daily at her desk and at workout classes. “It holds so much water and keeps it cool all day,” she says. “I love the squishy straw and how easily the top pops off when I need to refill it.” The tumbler is dishwasher safe and temperature-controlled for hot and cold drinks.

The Citizenry Stonewashed Linen Sheet Set

4.5-star average rating from 538 reviews on The Citizenry

This NBC Select Bed & Bath Award winner is our favorite linen bed sheet set because it’s soft, lightweight and cooling. “I’m a hot sleeper and these feel so light — I didn’t feel hot or sweaty once throughout the night,” says NBC Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez . The sheets come with a matching linen bag for easy storage when you’re not using them.

Apple Airpods (2nd Gen)

Apple AirPods (2nd Gen)

4.7-star average rating from 614,990 reviews on Amazon

These AirPods are some of the most convenient earbuds for iPhone owners. They pair seamlessly with Apple devices and support voice controls using Siri. They are especially good for people who don’t like the feeling of earbuds stuffed in their ear canal — they have a semi-open fit with no rubber eartips attached. The buds and charging case together have over 24 hours of battery life, according to the brand. 

select Apple AirPods 2 are on sale for just $80 on Amazon

More memorial day 2024 sales to shop now.

Below are the best Memorial Day sales across categories and brands you can shop now.

Best retailer sales

• Amazon : Up to 50% off Amazon devices like Fire tablets and Blink cameras
• Macy’s : Up to 50% home goods and apparel off with code MEMDAY
• Best Buy : Up to 45% off major appliances
• REI : Up to 40% off camping gear, apparel and more. Members get 20% off one eligible full-price item and one outlet store item with code ANNI24.
• Lowe’s : Up to 40% off select major appliances

Best furniture and home sales

• Burrow : Up to 60% off sitewide
• Outer : Up to 20% off seating, dining and fire pits
• Article : Up to 30% off indoor and outdoor furniture
• Design Within Reach : Up to 30% off select outdoor furniture
• Floyd : Up to 30% off sections and other furniture
• Apt2B : 15% off sitewide, with further discounts on larger purchases

Best mattress and bedding sales

• The Company Store : Up to 35% off with code SUMMER24
• Casper : 30% off all mattresses and 10% off sitewide
• Tuft & Needle : Up to 27% off mattresses, bedding and more
• Brooklyn Bedding : 25% off sitewide with code SPRING25
• Helix Sleep : 25% off sitewide, 30% off Luxe and Elite products using code MEMDAY30
• Birch Living : 25% off sitewide with code MEMDAY25
• Essentia : 25% off select mattresses and bedding
• The Citizenry : 20% off sitewide

Best kitchen and appliance sales

• LG : Up to 55% off select appliances
• Purple Carrot : 50% off first week of meal deliveries with code MEMDAY50 (new customers only)
• Our Place : Up to 40% off sitewide
• Solo Stove : Up to 30% off sitewide

Best tech sales

• Anker : Up to 33% off bestselling chargers
• Soundcore : Up to 33% off bestselling headphones and earbuds
• Belkin : Up to 20% off sitewide with code MEM24

Best apparel and shoe sales

• Allbirds : Up to 20% off sneakers and running shoes
• Free People : Up to 30% off sitewide
• Blundstone : Up to 25% off clearance boots
• Feetures : 20% off sitewide
• Cotopaxi : Up to 50% off past season gear and more

Best beauty and wellness sales

• Dermstore : 20% off EltaMD products with code SUN
• Violet Grey : Up to 50% off brands like La Mer, 111Skin, Act + Acre, La Bouche Rouge and more
• Shopbob : 15% off beauty aisle with code BEAUTY15

Why trust NBC Select?

Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter for NBC Select who has covered deals and sales for over two years. To round up the best Memorial Day deals, he found discounted products and brand sales across categories, including recommendations from previous coverage.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter for Select on NBC News.