Discover the travel accessories, drinkware, bags and tech products that frequent travelers rely on and why they make excellent employee and client gifts. 

I spent part of this week traveling for work and found myself dealing with an extended airport layover. Like most people, I grabbed a coffee, walked the terminal and looked for ways to pass the time. One thing I tend to do whenever I travel is pay attention to the products people are carrying.

Call it an occupational hazard from working in the promotional products industry.

I find myself noticing backpacks, different drinkware brands, tech accessories, travel gear, luggage tags and all the little items people rely on while moving through airports. It is always interesting because it gives me a real-world look at what travelers are choosing to carry and use every day.

After spending several hours walking through terminals and waiting at gates, I was reminded of some of my favorite recommendations for clients looking to build travel gift programs, employee appreciation kits, incentive trip gifts, conference giveaways and branded travel packages.

If you're looking for ideas, here are some of the top custom branded travel essentials I consistently recommend.

Packing Cubes Are One of the Best Travel Gifts Nobody Thinks About

Let's start with a product that most travelers won't see because it stays hidden inside luggage.

Packing cubes have completely changed how many people travel. Instead of digging through a suitcase to find clothing, chargers, or toiletries, everything stays organized and easy to access.

My partner introduced me to packing cubes several years ago and now she refuses to travel without them. After using them myself, I completely understand why.

One of my favorite options is this Compression Packing Cube Set. The ability to decorate the cubes with full-color sublimation creates a fun branding opportunity while giving recipients something they will continue to use for years.

For employee gifts, executive travel kits, sales incentive programs, and client appreciation gifts, packing cubes are one of those products that quickly become indispensable.

Owala Bottles Were Everywhere, But Don't Overlook Collapsible Water Bottles

One of the biggest observations from my recent trip was how many Owala bottles I saw throughout the airport. They were everywhere. At the gate, in boarding lines, at airport restaurants, and clipped to backpacks waiting to board.

A few years ago it felt like Stanley dominated airport travel. Today, Owala appears to be one of the hottest drinkware brands among travelers. The popularity makes sense. The bottles are durable, leak resistant and easy to carry through airports and onto planes.

If you're looking for a premium employee gift or client gift, custom branded Owala bottles are absolutely worth considering. They are a retail brand people are actively seeking out and excited to receive.

That said, one of my favorite recommendations for larger events, conferences, employee welcome kits, and trade show giveaways continues to be custom branded collapsible water bottles.

Unlike traditional drinkware, collapsible bottles are lightweight, affordable and take up very little room when empty. That's a huge advantage for travelers. Recipients can easily toss them into a backpack, carry-on, or suitcase without sacrificing valuable space. They also make excellent event giveaways because attendees can pack them for the flight home instead of leaving them behind due to size or weight concerns.

While Owala may have been the drinkware brand I noticed most often during my travels, collapsible water bottles remain one of the smartest and most versatile travel-themed promotional products for companies looking to maximize both budget and usability.

Travel Backpacks Continue to Dominate Airport Travel

If you spend enough time people watching in an airport, one thing becomes very clear.

Travel backpacks remain the preferred carry-on choice for most travelers.

I saw countless backpacks throughout my trip and many of them were recognizable brands such as High Sierra and OGIO.

There is a reason these bags remain so popular. They offer laptop protection, organization, comfort and hands-free convenience while navigating airports.

For employee gifts and client appreciation programs, a quality backpack provides a large decorating area while delivering tremendous utility to the recipient.

Weekender Bags Are Becoming More Common

While backpacks still dominate airport travel, I did notice more weekender bags than I expected.

These bags are becoming increasingly popular for shorter business trips, quick weekend getaways, and hybrid work travel.

A quality weekender bag feels more premium than a standard duffel while still being versatile enough for frequent use.

For companies looking to create higher-end travel gifts, our collection of custom branded weekender bags offers some excellent options.

Many recipients end up using them well beyond work travel for personal trips, road trips, and overnight stays.

Power Banks Are No Longer Optional

Every airport has one thing in common.

People searching for outlets.

Between phones, tablets, earbuds, smartwatches, and laptops, travelers burn through battery life quickly.

That is why power banks continue to be one of my favorite travel-related promotional products.

Personally, I prefer MagSafe charging products. I hate digging through tech pouches and cable organizers just to charge my phone. Being able to attach a charger directly to the back of a device is incredibly convenient.

I also noticed a growing number of travelers carrying larger capacity chargers designed to power laptops and other electronics.

If your audience consists of frequent business travelers, our collection of laptop power banks is worth exploring.

You can also browse all available custom branded power banks here.

Tech Organizer Bags Make Travel Easier

A product I personally use on every trip is a tech organizer bag.

My current favorite is the TechFarer Premium Tech Organizer.

It is spacious enough to hold charging cords, power banks, adapters, and other accessories. I even keep my Kindle inside it when traveling because there is plenty of room.

The biggest benefit is simple organization.

Instead of hunting through a backpack for cords and chargers, everything stays in one place.

Dopp Kits Are Always Appreciated

Another travel gift that rarely disappoints is a quality toiletry bag.

These are useful for virtually every traveler and have a long usable lifespan.

One of our favorites is the LVL Vegan Leather Dopp Kit.

What makes this option particularly interesting is the ability to create fun all-over designs instead of relying solely on a logo placement.

For brands looking to create memorable travel gifts, that extra creativity can make a big difference.

You can browse additional options on our custom Dopp Kits page.

Luggage Tags Still Have Their Place

Branded luggage tags might not be the flashiest travel product, but they continue to be a great option for employee gifts, conference giveaways, incentive trips, and travel programs.

What makes them interesting today is the variety of decoration methods available.

I particularly like these embroidered luggage tags because they feel unique and different from traditional options.

For companies looking for maximum branding flexibility, these custom molded PVC luggage tags offer endless design possibilities.

Honorable Mentions Worth Considering

Several other travel products deserve a quick mention.

Custom printed air trackers have become increasingly popular as travelers look for ways to monitor luggage and valuable belongings.

Custom branded passport holders continue to be a popular premium gift for international travel programs.

First aid kits are affordable, useful, and easy to include in travel packages.

And finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention travel neck pillows.

After spending hours in airports this week, I spent a lot of time wishing I had packed mine. They may not seem important when you're packing, but they become incredibly valuable the moment you're trying to get comfortable during a flight or layover.

The best custom branded travel products are not necessarily the most expensive or the most attention-grabbing.

They are the products travelers continue packing trip after trip because they genuinely make travel easier.

After spending a week watching fellow travelers move through airports, many of the same products consistently stood out. Organized luggage, quality backpacks, reusable drinkware, portable charging solutions, and travel accessories continue to be some of the most useful branded gifts available.

If you're planning employee gifts, client appreciation programs, conference giveaways, or incentive travel packages, start with products people will be excited to pack on their next trip.

You can browse our complete collection of custom branded travel essentials here.