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Packing effectively is an art every young traveler should master. With some thoughtful planning and a little parental supervision, young adults can be freer on their travels — with family, friends, or solo — if they focus on what’s important, eliminate clutter, and hone their organizational skills.
Of course, packing can be challenging even for veteran globetrotters, so establishing good habits early on will help toddlers feel confident and savvy as they spread their wings and travel independently.
Of course, clothing (and the choice of luggage) depends on the destination, the type of travel, the climate and the mode of transportation. But, whether it’s that first school trip to Europe, a summer sleepaway camp or a family beach vacation, there are some products that can help ease unnecessary stress and temptation for young travelers.
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Here are 10 essentials to equip your traveling child for a life of exploration.
Cotopaxi Allpa 42L travel pack
If you choose well, a bag should streamline the airport process, have plenty of pockets to stay organized, be extremely durable, and be easy to carry on planes, buses, and trains. It should also be comfortable for passing through cities and equipped for more rugged and off-road adventures.
Cotopaxi’s Allpa 42-liter backpack is the kind of backpack a toddler can have on their back. It has all the key features needed for both city breaks and outdoor adventures: comfort, durability, and plenty of interior mesh compartments to help messy young travelers quickly organize and access their stuff.
The fun, colorful design will stand out on the luggage rack or in the hotel lobby and with four reinforced carrying handles, it can be carried in many ways if you don’t want to strap it to your back. It also has a sturdy, padded laptop sleeve (ideal for toddlers who are better off worrying about just one bag in general). The 42-liter capacity comfortably holds everything a child needs for a two-week trip.
Beats Solo3 wireless headphones
Teenagers lose things, especially when they’re out of their element, so expensive headphones can be a gamble. For under $200, the Beats Solo3 headphones are high-quality, with more than 40 hours of battery life and “quick fuel” charging, which provides three hours of playback after five minutes. With cool designs and different colors, they are also a good fashion accessory for young people. The ergonomic fit works well on smaller heads and folds nicely into a large pocket or the included soft case with a carabiner to attach to a carrying case if space is tight.
The Beats Solo3 doesn’t have active noise cancellation, but if that’s your priority, you can upgrade to the Beats Studio3 version—you’ll sacrifice 18 hours of battery life (which is key for kids and toddlers on the go) and pay around $150. More.
International entrance
Airports can be a stressful experience for everyone, especially unaccompanied minors who worry about missing their flight due to long lines at immigration and security. If your child travels internationally at least once a year, Global Entry is a worthy investment. It offers all the benefits of TSA PreCheck – zipping through airport security without having to worry about removing shoes, jackets, laptops and liquids – along with fast entry into the US at automated kiosks on international flights.
To enroll your teen (or yourself) in Global Entry, you’ll need to create a Trusted Traveler account, complete an online application, and submit a $100 membership fee, which provides five years of membership if you’re approved. If your application is conditionally accepted, you can schedule an interview at the International Admissions Center. Membership is for five years and if your child’s passport expires within that time, Global Entry status can easily transfer to their renewed passport.
Many credit cards will pay your International Admissions application fee; Normally once every four years.
TPG’s top picks include low annual fee cards that offer credit for international applications:
Here are some of the best premium cards that offer this benefit:
Children of all ages can apply for international admission and only one parent is required to attend the interview, which includes a background check, interview and fingerprinting. For a teenager, you can expect that interview to take less than 10 minutes.
Related: 13 things you need to know about Global Entry
Bagsmart cable organizer
When packing for a trip, teenagers prioritize their gadgets and tech gadgets above all else. The idea of stacking cubes may not excite (or even work) toddlers, but they’ll appreciate the system to help organize their cables and electronics. A compact cable organizer bag eliminates the frustration of trying to match seven cables to one device in a tent, on a plane, or jet-lagged in a new hotel room far from home.
The market is full of choice products at reasonable price points (around $20). The main appeal of the compact Bagsmart cable organizer is that it is lightweight, durable, and has multiple pockets of various sizes to fit cables, plugs, chargers, and hard drives.
Petzl Tikkina Headlamp
Whether your child is camping or staying at a fancy resort, a headlamp is a simple but essential item. It extends outdoor exploration time, can be used as a reading light, and helps them navigate odd hotel rooms in the middle of the night when they can’t figure out the light switches.
It’s also a great safety net if there’s unexpected lighting or if you need to travel at night on unlit streets. Petzl Tikkina is a versatile option especially for youngsters. It has an easy on/off button, a 60m beam and a very comfortable headband (which is key for the youngsters). Additional accessories such as a bicycle helmet holder and core rechargeable battery are also available.
ThermoFlask
It’s strange, but toddlers can forget to drink water … until they really need to drink water.
A reusable hot and cold water bottle provides essential hydration and is one of the small but meaningful ways teenagers can play their part in eliminating single-use plastics. There are many options on the market that vary in price, weight, size and material. Of the many we’ve tested, the most durable and practical is the ThermoFlask. It comes in different sizes and colors and has two interchangeable lids and a carrying handle. Made of stainless steel, the double-walled vacuum insulation keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for around 12 hours.
4-in-1 multi-port charger
If you’ve ever traveled with teenagers, you know that fighting in shopping malls and arguing over whose cell phone is more important is one battle you don’t need. This 4-in-1 multi-port charger consolidates all your charging needs into one convenient and durable cable and lets you (fast) charge multiple devices at the same time.
There’s a Lightning port, USB-C, Micro, and a magnetic Apple Watch charger. It’s universally compatible, so you can charge iOS, Android and Bluetooth devices simultaneously. It’s much more durable than your average cell phone cord and has a 4-foot cable reach, especially useful on road trips.
Carhartt Travel Kit
With a simple, durable design, the Carhartt Toiletry Kit is the perfect size for storing and organizing your teen’s grooming essentials — especially when you’re traveling alone. Made from polyester, it’s affordable, waterproof and designed to survive fire, impact and rugged conditions. It’s especially useful for camping trips, sleep-outs and sports camps, and is a priority when packing light.
Easily fits four Transportation Security Administration-approved 3.4-ounce travel-size bottles, as well as a comb, toothpaste, and toothbrush. It’s compact enough for teenagers to carry around and the waterproof cover makes it easy to clean up any spills.
Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth speakers are the perfect travel accessory for teens who want to stream their music and audiobooks from their tablets, phones, and laptops wherever they go—at the beach, camping, or in the shower of their hotel room. Durability, portability and sound quality are key for on-the-go teenagers, and Bose’s latest SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker has it all.
It has a generous base that adjusts, 12 hours of battery life and is dustproof and waterproof, it even floats in water and keeps playing. It has a very good connection, and can be paired with a second device in “party mode”.
Apple AirTags
We’ve written extensively on TPG about how Apple Airtags (a digital tracking device) are an essential travel accessory, especially when it comes to missing luggage and airport accidents. For youth, AirTags can provide peace of mind when traveling solo with valuable personal items or items that require certain checked baggage, such as snowboards or scuba gear.
In addition to tracking luggage, AirTags can be attached to anything on their own—keys, purses, headphones—and their device will track the location of a nearby Apple device as it moves around.
Plus, if they’ve lost an item and know it’s nearby (at home or in a hotel room), there’s a “Find Nearby” feature that directs them to the AirTag. Teens and parents should be aware of the safety concerns raised by AirTags in recent months.
at last
For toddlers who pack, carry and take responsibility for their backyards, some items can be a game changer. First-time trips, both domestic and international, can be challenging enough for well-traveled adults, especially amid the chaos of travel that is this year’s new normal.
These tried and tested travel products help teens become more efficient travelers and enjoy a more positive airport experience. They can also provide them with much-needed organizational tools, freeing them up to focus on the joy of the trip.
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