2023 Gift Guide for Families Who Love to Travel

2023 Gift Guide for Families Who Love to Travel

Whether or not you celebrate the holidays, now is the perfect time to take advantage of discounted travel gear. 

If you’re looking for a gift for a family (or yourself!) to help get outdoors or on the road easier, here is a list of our favorite family travel gear. We’ve personally purchased all of these items new or used, and stand by these recs! We are constantly updating this list as our kids continue to grow. 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission if you book travel or make purchases using these links.

Best Travel Gear for Babies and Young Children

Best Travel Car Seat: WayB Pico

$285 Black Friday sale price; regularly $380

The WayB Pico portable car seat for forward-facing kids (age 2+) will blow your mind–we get asked about it almost every time we bring it out with us. 

For any parent who has traveled with a kid age 0-5, hauling the awkward and cumbersome car seat alongside your luggage, all while keeping tabs on your kids, is probably one of the worst parts of family travel. The WayB Pico fills the gap by being lightweight (8 pounds as compared to our Cleck Foonf which weighs 33 pounds), foldable, and compact, and so easy to set up. It is expensive—$475 with a carrying case—but totally worth it and has a great resale value. Plus you’ll be supporting a BIPOC-run company; WayB’s CEO and co-founder Tio Jung is of Korean descent.

Some may wonder why you would purchase this car seat for travel in addition to the car seat you already have at home. Just think about what you are going to do when you take an Uber somewhere, need a car seat, and then you’re in a new place lugging your car seat around with you while trying to explore; this car seat will make all of that much easier! It’s also handy as a carseat for a second car, or to leave with another caregiver on babysitting duties.

Jelly's little one rode in the Pico during their family's two-month stint on Oahu and folding the carseat into its carrying case definitely turned heads!

We got the Summer Infant 3D Mini used for $20 and it’s not too shabby. It’s very light and compact and can be slightly reclined in case a nap is in order. It’s not the most ergonomic stroller, but it does the trick while traveling and has accompanied us on paved hikes from Oʻahu to Versailles!

 

If you’re looking for (and willing to pay for) a travel stroller with more storage capacity and one-handed foldability, the BBA hive mind suggests the Babyzen YOYO2 ($500), the Zoe Traveler ($249), and the Nuna Pipa trvl ($450) strollers.

Strolling along the Oʻahu coast line in our 3D Mini

Never again will you stay at an Airbnb or go to a restaurant and be without a high chair. The compact and washable Inglesina Fast Table Chair easily clips onto most tables and folds into a suitcase or backpack with ease.

I’ve tried a few different brands and the Inglesina Fast Table Chair was by far the easiest to use, felt the most secure, and the simplest to clean. It also allows your baby/toddler to sit at the table with you like a big kid so you can enjoy your meals together (without a baby on your lap).

We’ve brought the Mac Sports Collapsible Outdoor Utility Wagon with us on the plane instead of a stroller. Throw all of your luggage, gear, and car seats in the wagon while you check-in for your flight, then check in the wagon for free as your stroller.

Once you arrive at your destination, you can use the wagon as a stroller to carry your kids and gear.

Just in case you need a place to stash wet or puked-on clothes, these cute dry bags will do just the trick. We’ve been using these dry bags ever since our cloth-diapering days.

Keep a large one one handy for dirty laundry while traveling or at home, and a smaller one in your diaper bag.

Ditch the Hot Hands and opt for a natural hand warmer made of beaver fur. Handmade by Indigenous artisans in Fort Smith, Canada (Thebacha, Denendeh), these sustainably sourced hand warmers from Indigenous-run Aurora Heat kept us cozy during our run-in with the snow in Nara

They are a great way to support native traditions, and also make great stocking stuffers!

Image source: Aurora Heat

I was looking for a way to make our long-haul plane and car rides more comfortable when I came across a category of inflatable pillows that seemed to fit what I was looking for! In its most basic form, the pillow acts as a footrest while traveling. It can also be tall enough to “extend” your plane seat to be a makeshift bed for the little ones in your life.

We opted for a basic inflatable cube pillow, which seems to be one of the cheaper options available. We brought it with us on a 4-hour red-eye flight to Mexico City and inflated it after take-off, without any qualms from our flight attendants. 

My daughter looked enviable (and quite privileged, tbh) rocking her headphones, an eye mask, and her footrest/bed. She was asleep within a few minutes, whereas on our last red-eye it took her half the flight to fall asleep. And, with the footrest weighing in at only a few ounces it will be a mainstay of our travel gear!

Comfy kid on a plane - check!

Bonus: You Are On Native Land Hats

~$27 Black Friday sale price; regularly $35

Who wants to match?!

We love wearing this comfy dad cap—who says dads get all the cute hats?—by Indigenous-owned and -led Urban Native Era. It packs a simple yet powerful message that we love to share both at home and on our travels: you are on Native land.

In case folks need reminding: you are on native land.

Best Baby Carriers

Best Soft Carrier: Ergobaby

$121 sale price; regularly $140

The Ergobaby is my favorite baby carrier. You can snuggle your baby close, rock them to sleep, walk down the aisle of the plane, all while saving your back and keeping your arms free. You can even adjust the straps so you can nurse baby inside the carrier.

I usually skip the stroller and bring baby in this soft carrier to reduce the amount of baby stuff I’m bringing on a trip, unless I really need the stroller. 

The Ergobaby folds down to the size of a blanket and can useful on the plane, on a walk, or on a hike. The Ergobaby 360 is a lovely way to hold your babe forward-facing at six-months and older, and is also versatile enough that you can wear your toddler on your back.

Best Hip Carrier: TushBaby

$85 sale price; regularly $110

A fanny pack with a hip seat! This highly-rated carrying pack allows you to carry baby on your hip without straining your back.

The Tushbaby was a lifesaver for me as our toddler became a walker and wanted to be held, then put down, then held, then put down, over and over and over. With this hip seat you can pick up and carry your baby instantly without having to fiddle with straps.

Conveniently, there are three pockets to stash your keys, phone, and other items so you could also skip a backpack or diaper bag.

Some may think a child-carrying fanny pack is not the “coolest” thing, but honestly, who cares about that anymore! I even got quite a few compliments while carrying our toddler on this seat in New Zealand.

Wearing our Tushbaby at the beach

Best Backpack Carrier: Osprey Poco

$284 sale price; regularly $350

We love hiking. The Osprey Poco pack allows us to carry our kid across miles and miles of cities and mountains and airports! 

Sadly, it doesn’t pack down well, but it makes up for its bulkiness by having a ton of extra features. For example, it has a sunshade for hot sunny days; a zippered pouch at the base to hold any extra baby items like a change of clothes, changing pad, and diapers; a zip-off backpack at the top; water bottle holders; and stirrups for the kiddo. 

The recommended maximum weight limit is 48 pounds.

The Osprey Poco LT ($215) is great for short hikes or walking around town. The Osprey Poco ($284) is more compact and lightweight, while the Osprey Poco Plus ($344) offers extra space below your child to carry all of the diaper bag essentials.

Best Backpacking Carrier: Trail Magik

$80 sale price; regularly $95

If adding a child carrier backpack to your closet is not in the cards, consider Trail Magik‘s backpack attachment! It is a one-of-a-kind kid carrier that attaches directly to your existing backpack’s straps to support the weight of your child, and folds up to fit in your pocket when not in use.

Also, it was designed by a mixed-race backpacking mom of two kids.

In my personal experience on our backpacking trip in the North Bay Area, the carrier attaches in five minutes, is comfortable enough to carry a child that weighs 0-35 pounds.

The Trail Magik works best when attached to backpacking backpacks that have thick straps and waist belts. It is a great gift for backpacking parents!

Best Activities to Keep Kids Happy While Traveling

Boogie Board

$16 sale price; regularly $30

The Boogie Board is an all-in-one tablet and coloring book with markers—but better because it involves zero screen time and no marker mess! 

Our kids drew on their boogie boards for hours and we even got into the fun too by playing games with them like tick-tac-toe. Our oldest was so proud of the portraits she drew of us. 

At their wit’s end on their flight to Paris, Jelly and her partner started drawing pictures on the Boogie Board and had their little one guess, keeping her occupied for a good half an hour.

Melissa & Doug Water Wow

$16 sale price; regularly $30

Let your little one pass the time with mess-free Water Wow: a small magical book with a paintbrush included.

Just add water to the paintbrush, then paint have your little one “paint” to their heart’s content to see the images magically appear on the page. There are also games on the back (“how many crabs can you find?”).  

Coloring Books & Blank Notebooks

free+

Sometimes all you need to keep a kid occupied are a few pieces of paper and some coloring pens, pencils, or crayons. These gifts are inexpensive, allow for free play and give you space to mix up the activities. 

We like to trace hands, play “restaurant,” draw mazes, play tic-tac-toe, and much more. The options are endless with a blank notebook. 

Nursing Accessories for Travel

My favorite nursing covers are those that look like you’re wearing something you might normally wear, i.e., the scarf kind of nursing covers!

These allow you to wear the cover around your neck if you need, pull them down when you need them, and pack away small if you don’t. The colors are simple and beautiful, and the fabric soft and stretchy. I’ve also put this cover on to keep baby and me warm when I forgot a jacket!

Check out the Cocoon from Amma, a sweet company who used the innovative 1980’s nursing cover design from the owners’ Italian mother/mother-in-law to create a breathable and stylish nursing cover. 

Nursing Pads

$8 sale price; regularly $18

Nursing pads are a must when your milk comes in and continue to be necessary as long as you have a heavy flow.

Amma organic nursing pads protect your bra if you have a letdown before you actually nurse, or if you’re nursing on one side and your other breast is leaking. They also catch milk dribble under your nursing baby’s chin so it doesn’t drip all over your bra/shirt/stomach.

Even after a full year of nursing, I still find myself wearing them during the day at least to catch milk when baby decides she is done nursing but my breast is not done feeding her!

For travel, make sure you bring at least one breast pad set per day and a couple of extras if you are extra milky. 

I would also recommend buying disposable ones if you are going to be somewhere you won’t have access to laundry.

Boob Design is a Swedish all-organic and sustainable maternity and postpartum fashion company that I love.

For outerwear, I would recommend their Be Warmer Hoodie ($119). It is not thick but serves as a comfortable and stylish mid-layer. I’ve worn this both to workout with some yoga pants and also casually with jeans and a vest on colder days.

Best Long Sleeves ($35+)

The Wazzie Wool Jacquard Half Zip from Oiselle is my new favorite long sleeve shirt for hiking, camping, traveling, or just hanging out in the winter. The wool is warm and comfy, and the zipper goes low enough for me to nurse easily. Oiselle is an awesome brand designed for women by women athletes.

Patagonia Mid-Weight Capilene is great for chilly hikes, for wearing at night in your sleeping bag, or for your day-to-day athleisure wear. This is not a “nursing” specific shirt however the zipper goes so deep that it is perfect for accessing your chest. I think it is designed for a climbing helmet, but helmets/breasts are of the same molds! The shirt is made of 50-100% recycled content, is fair trade-sewn, lasts forever, and has a great resale value.

Another not-nursing-specific shirt I recommend is the REI Co-Op Farlands Henley which offers a row of buttons for chest access and is made of organic cotton. It is soft and durable, and a shirt I often wear around the campsite with a pair of yoga pants or with jeans.

Gift Guide Roundup Featuring BIPOC Makers

We’ve bookmarked these gift guides—some travel-oriented, some not—from other sources that feature black, indigenous, and people of color makers. Check ’em out, and invest in BIPOC-owned businesses this holiday season and always!

We acknowledge that some of these recommended items can be quite expensive, and that we’re personally trying harder to live minimally. That said, many of these items can be found on Facebook, Craigslist, or your local consignment shops (e.g., Mommy’s Trading Post in Alameda for my Bay Area readers). Make sure to check for used items before you buy new–it’s better for the environment and your wallet. 

If you have another favorite travel gear recommendation, please share in the comments so we can check it out.

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Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.

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Angelica (she/her) is of Cebuano(Pilipinx)-descent and was born and raised in Huchiun Ohlone territory (the East Bay Area--pay your Shuumi Land Tax!), where she also now resides with her partner and their toddler. She loves to spend her time sipping on boba and dirty chai lattes (sometimes together), and eating pescetarian goodies at BIPOC-owned cafes and restaurants.