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Must-Have Travel Safety Items: 17 Essentials for Your Travel Safety Kit

Last Updated: June 27, 2023 //  by  Ashley Smith Leave a Comment

Take a look at any of my pre-trip packing checklists and you’ll see half the things on there are travel safety items. I may be an adventurer, a thrill-seeker, and even a daredevil at times, but that doesn’t mean I’m not also a hyper-paranoid hypochondriac.

Was I like this before I got robbed while traveling solo ? It’s hard to say. The “safety” side of my travel plan is so deeply engrained it’s just part of my DNA at this point.

Whether or not something unsavory has ever happened to you on the road, it’s important to know that the possibility is always there. I’m not here to scare you out of seeing the world, I’m just here to keep it real. Danger lurks, y’all. Danger lurks.

Table of Contents

Travel safety kit

To avoid ever having to cry my way through an Italian train station again (et al), I now travel with a full-on travel safety kit—an arsenal of products (and mindsets) I utilize to keep myself healthy, safe, and in total control.

I recommend putting together a travel safety kit of your own because traveling the world is so much better when you can do it stress-free and with absolute peace of mind. Start here with the 18 travel safety items I take on every single trip.

Travel safety items for hotels & hostels

I always follow my gut, read reviews religiously, and make an extra effort to always and exclusively stay in hotels and neighborhoods that I deem safe. However, since I am often a solo female traveler staying in hotels by myself in foreign countries, the more security I can get, the better. 

1. Door stop alarm

One big must on my list of travel safety items is a door stop alarm . These act as both warning alarms and door stops to keep someone from entering your hotel room while you sleep, shower, whatever.

Simply slip it under your hotel room door then flip the switch to ON. If someone tries to sneak in, the alarm will activate and it is loud as Hell . You’ll wake up and the perp, hopefully, will run for their life.

Also, because of its wedge shape there’s a good chance they won’t be able to make it into the room anyway. Sure, a normal door stop would solve this problem, but if someone is trying to sneak into my room, I want the whole entire city block to know it. I definitely sleep a lot better knowing my room is alarmed and barricaded. 

Pro tip: Remove the battery from the alarm when packing it just in case it gets activated. We don’t want to reroute any flights, mmkay?

Get your door stop alarm here

2. Portable safe

Brought to us by the Pacsafe brand (which you’ll see a lot more of in this post) is this portable travel safe . This is a totally secure, theft-proof bag with a combination lock. You can fit a good amount of your valuables in it, then lock it around your hotel sink, the pipes, the bed, anything.

Many hotel rooms do come with safes but rarely anything bigger than your wallet can fit in there. What about your iPad? Or camera equipment? Plus, I literally have experienced an electronic hotel safe dying after I put my camera, phone, wallet, and passport inside at a beach cabana in Belize after hours. Do you know what that kind of panic attack feels like?

This Pacsafe portable safe means you get to lock up all your goods while still being in total control.

Get your portable safe here

Travel safety items for public safety

In a highly official polling of my Instagram followers, 38% of them say they have been a victim of a crime while traveling. Many of the stories involve what has been unfairly designated “petty theft” (though there’s nothing petty about getting your passport or laptop or wallet stolen while in a foreign country).

I know firsthand what a literal gut-wrenching nightmare this is and have vowed to never let it happen again. Everything I carry on my trips locks, zips, snaps, clips, and/or is, as we’ve seen is this post, booby-trapped.

3. Anti-theft bags

Have I ever been pick-pocketed in the literal sense? Thankfully, no. But that’s not for thieves’ lack of trying. I can guarantee there is no one else on earth more hyper-aware of her belongings when she travels, more purse-paranoid or suitcase suspicious. You will never, ever see me with an open-top bag or a purse that doesn’t latch shut.

Thankfully, there are companies like Pacsafe and Travelon who totally feel me! I’m obsessed with all their products and I outright refuse to travel with anything else. They have purses and bags of all sizes, shapes, and designs. (Even camera bags!)

Their bags have securable zippers that would be difficult to open for someone trying to rob you, and they’re made of cut-resistant materials . (People cutting bags and cameras off you with machetes or hedge clippers is something I’ve been warned about, specifically in Barcelona, pick-pocketing capital of Europe apparently.)

They have RFID pockets for the safety of your passport and credit cards, and padded laptop sleeves inside. These bags also have arm straps that can be clipped (and locked) around a chair leg or pole or anything immovable to prevent theft of the whole bag.

I feel so much safer using these bags when I’m in crowded train stations or on a busy street or standing in a line. This way, I can worry about other things like getting on the wrong train or what life is going to be like having never tried Turkish delight. Here are the particular ones I use…

4. Anti-theft carry-on backpack

For a carry-on backpack I use the Pacsafe Venturesafe 15L GII Anti-Theft Daypack . It’s on the smaller size but they have bigger sizes depending on your needs. (I’m also a small girl so I wanted one that would also be comfortable to wear. I tried four other versions before I found this one. It even says in the description, “Great gift for her!”)

This bag holds everything I need for a trip and has a bunch of pockets and pouches. I also love the solid black design—some other ones have the brand name on them and visible locks which just screams, “I have valuable stuff inside and I’m totally paranoid by the way, come get me!”

Get your Pacsafe backpack here

5. Theft-proof backpack purse

I’m usually not one to wear a backpack when I’m out exploring because I’m super paranoid about pick-pocketing as we’ve discussed, but I feel so much better about it with my Travelon Anti-Theft Signature Slim Backpack .

Like the name says, it’s slim and simple. It’s great for holding exactly what you need—phone, wallet, keys, a jacket, sunglasses, whatever—without being super bulky. Also, it’s made with securable zippers, water-resistant and slash-resistant material, slash-proof straps, RFID blocking organizer, and a lock-down strap. It’s basically Fort Knox in a cute “feminine style with incredible inner strength.”

It has a key clip inside so you never have to dig for your keys and a little LED flashlight. Also, there’s a quick-access pocket on the front that’s perfect for the bottle of hand sanitizer you need every ten minutes.

Get your anti-theft backpack purse here

6. Anti-theft purse

For the times I don’t want to use a backpack, I always wear a cross-body bag with various safety features. Cute, but conscious. This always includes securable zippers, flaps that latch, straps I can lock-down to my chair, etc. Honestly, you’re sacrificing nothing by using a theft-proof purse–there’s no good reason to not use one.

Travelon has so many cute theft-proof purses that don’t go overboard looking all “safe.” These purses also have RFID-blocking pockets and slash-proof material and are available in a ton of styles.

Personally, I’m a fan of the Anti-Theft Courier Saddle Bag and the Anti-Theft Heritage Crossbody bag and I won’t travel with a “normal” purse ever again.

Shop all anti-theft purses here

Travel safety items for luggage

While it would be nice to simply trust the people who handle our bags, we all know that’s not the case. But we can do a few things to tip the odds in our favor.

7. Luggage that locks

Everything in my life locks, can you tell? Including my luggage. Especially my luggage.

I don’t always check a bag, but I quite often do. And I always travel with hard shell luggage that locks. The best part is that most luggage locks are now TSA compliant—so, the TSA can still get in your bag if they need to, but deadbeat thieves cannot.

(That’s not to say an airline employee won’t swipe your stuff, so always keep the really valuable stuff with you.)

I personally travel with Away luggage and, though a bit pricey, I have no regrets. Their suitcases have an excellent locking system, are lightweight but sturdy, and help me keep my stuff organized.

Shop all Away luggage here

8. Bag locks

If you have a great piece of old luggage you love and aren’t ready to replace, I highly recommend a small set of locks for the zippers.

These, too, are now TSA compliant and are super affordable. I use these whenever I have to check a bag that doesn’t lock (like a hiking backpack or other) and for locking my carry-on bag in my hotel room. These can also be used for a ton of other scenarios!

Pick up some bag locks here

Travel safety items for personal safety

It’s one thing to secure your items… but it’s another to secure yourself. I care a lot about the things I bring on my trips, but in the end they are just THINGS. The most important thing you need to protect is yourself.

9. Birdie personal safety alarm

Just about any time I’ve ever out by myself (whether it be traveling around Europe or getting groceries in my town), I always have my Birdie personal alarm .

The idea of the Birdie is that should someone try to attack you (or whatever) you can activate the incredibly loud alarm (with flashing lights) to draw attention to yourself and what’s happening and hopefully scare the perp away.

I shopped a bunch of different kinds of personal alarms before I bought the Birdie and I really liked this one the best. The design and activation method made more sense than the others and I like the oval-shaped hook it comes on.

I like the Birdie over, say, pepper spray because it’s something you can safely and legally travel with. Pepper spray carries with it a lot of potential issues and even the possibility of spraying yourself. Let’s not help out the criminals, ok?

Get your Birdie personal safety alarm here

10. Safety whistle

While the Birdie alarm works best for everyday scenarios, there are certain times when you’ll need a safety whistle . For instance, while hiking.

If you find yourself lost or in a bind while hiking, a safety whistle is a must – but you have to know how to use it. While an alarm like the Birdie will certainly help people locate you, blowing on a safety whistle in three sharp blasts is the universal sign for I NEED HELP!

Don’t ever enter the wilderness without a safety whistle – just go ahead and keep it clipped to your backpack.

Get yourself a safety whistle here

Travel safety items for health and wellness

Now more than ever we are all concerned with our personal health while traveling. As someone who routinely gets sick on just about every international trip I take, I fully understand the importance here.

Now that the stakes are higher than ever, make sure to have these essential health-related travel safety items in your travel safety kit:

11. Disposable face masks

As a world traveler, it’s never been uncommon to see people on planes and in airports wearing face masks, I was just never among them. Now, I don’t foresee a trip anytime in the future where I won’t be masked up on an airplane. People are gross.

Our “recent situation” or not, I can think of at least a handful of occasions when wearing a mask while traveling would have saved me a ton of stress. I get sick while traveling a great deal so wearing a face mask on planes, on buses, on trains, and just about everywhere else I’m in contact with other humans is officially my new normal.

Many European countries (and others) still require you to wear KN95 masks or the equivalent in many places including on public transportation. Be sure to pack as many of these as you think you’ll need. I prefer the ones in pretty colors, naturally.

Get your face masks for travel here

PSA: The mask goes over your nose.

12. Thermometer

And I’m not even referring to the Covid-impulse to take our temperature every time someone coughs in our direction.

I have a small, simple thermometer I bring with me on all trips… now. It’s nothing fancy, but hella useful. I somehow have gotten myself into a handle of foreign illnesses where I did not have, yet desperately needed, a thermometer.

I even had to be visited by an emergency doctor in the middle of the night, in the middle of the jungle in Costa Rica, who did not have a thermometer (of all things) in his black medical bag. This isn’t totally shocking once I tell you he also didn’t know how to take my blood pressure but sure as heck tried anyway.

I’ve since started packing a thermometer for all my trips—it’s such a simple, small, lightweight thing to bring that can be seriously helpful.

Get your travel thermometer here

13. First aid kit

Regardless of what your planned activities are, there’s a good chance you’ll need a first aid kit amongst your travel safety items.

As prone to being taken down by foreign germs as I am, I’ve seen the inside of my fair share of foreign pharmacies. (Shout out to my favorites: Germany and Taiwan!) However, that doesn’t mean I always want to make the extra trip.

You should always consider bringing: band-aids and antibiotic ointment, tweezers, gauze, alcohol wipes, moleskin for blisters, disposable gloves, safety pins, and more.

I personally have put together my own first aid kit that I just toss in my bag every time, but if your house isn’t already stocked with this stuff (seriously, what it is like to not embody Steve Urkel?) you can pick up totally stocked travel-sized first aid kits .

Keep in mind that if you’re headed out on adventure of the mountainous sort or otherwise, what you need in your first aid kit will be a little bit more. In that case, you’ll need something more along the lines of this 299-piece first aid kit , complete with an aluminized rescue blanket, cold packs, and more (but still travel-sized).

14. Medications and prescriptions

Obviously if you’re taking prescription medication you should bring that, but you should also carry a copy of your prescription as well. Not only is it mandatory in many places for many different drugs, it can also help get a replacement in case you run out or your luggage gets lost, etc.

And I’m not just referring to pills and the like. Let me tell you about the time I got my backpack, which contained my eyeglasses, stolen. I was legally blind at the time and living in Italy—fun times!

I had to get a replacement pair of glasses ASAP and trying to get my prescription from my doctor in the U.S. to an optometrist in Italy was such a pain in the ass. It wasn’t impossible, but man was that a hassle. I softened the blow with some new Dolce & Gabbanas.

Luckily, I didn’t have any medically necessary prescription drugs in my bag or that “petty theft” could’ve been potentially fatal.

A note on Epipens

If you suffer from allergies, be it food or otherwise, consider bringing an Epipen on your trip. Even if they’re mild, chances are what you encounter in a new country will be new to your body. You may breathe in plants you’ve never been exposed to or eat foods containing any number of mystery ingredients. Be sure to discuss your upcoming travels with your allergist.

15. Over the counter drugs

In addition to your prescription drugs, don’t forget to bring the OTC drugs necessary for your destination. Things like:

• Anti-diarrheal meds for places like Mexico and India where, we’ll call it gastrointestinal distress, is common
• Ibuprofen for high-altitude destinations like Peru and Mexico City (read about my experience with altitude sickness here)
• OTC allergy medications for places like Tuscany in the summer where hay rules all
• Anti-nausea drugs and/or patches if you’re prone to motion sickness. I used to be, critically, but I’m not anymore. Read about how I cured my motion sickness permanently here!
• Whatever else keeps you going

16. List of allergies

Speaking of allergies, if you suffer from food allergies (guilty!), medicinal allergies, or really anything, definitely carry a list of what you’re allergic to… in the language of your destination.

If you suffer from food allergies and don’t speak [insert language here], you can show your list to a restaurant server, a street vendor, anyone really, to make sure they don’t sell you something that can kill you.

I showed my list to the woman working at the Turkish delight shop in Istanbul who basically shoved me out of the store after reading I was allergic to almonds.

Not only does this help in those instances, but it also shows you what words you need to avoid. For instance, “almonds” looks very different in: Germany ( mandeln ), Italy ( mandorle ), Mexico ( almendras ), Turksih ( bodem ), etc.

17. Travel insurance

You’ve probably heard me talk about travel insurance a million times, but it’s for good reason. Travel insurance, for me, has proven to be inexpensive yet absolutely priceless!

Though travel insurance can potentially save you tons of money on lost or stolen luggage, flight delays, canceled trips, and more, it can also play a vital role in case of a medical emergency.

• Check out this post on how much I got reimbursed after getting robbed in Italy.
• Then check out this post on my medical emergency in Costa Rica
• and this one for how travel insurance saved my friend’s life when her appendix burst in a remote village in Thailand

I’ve also used it for canceled flights and canceled trips. Hopefully you’ll never have to use it, but I find the peace of mind of just having it is worth whatever it costs.

Are there any travel safety items you always use? Let me know below!

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. She has traveled to 39 countries and specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas that prioritize hiking adventures, museums of all kinds, cultural experiences, and jam-packed itineraries. She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline sidekicks.

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The 6 Best Travel Safety Products

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline .

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

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The Handy Item I Always Pack : "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

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Safety is probably the last thing on your mind when you’re packing for a trip, but it should factor into your packing list, especially if you’re traveling solo. Adding a few small gadgets to your bag, like a portable door lock or a carbon monoxide detector, could save your life on your next trip.

Don’t leave home without these six essential travel safety products. 

Sabre Portable Door Lock

Ensure no one can access your hotel room (even if they have a key) with the Sabre Portable Door Lock . This small but mighty gadget works on most doors and prevents intruders from getting in from the outside.

No tools are required to use the door lock, which can be set up within minutes. 

Travel Carbon Monoxide Detector

Cases of carbon monoxide poisoning at hotels have been in the news recently. Hotels may not always have working carbon monoxide detectors in every guest room—so protect yourself by bringing your own. 

Kidde’s Carbon Monoxide detector is small and can be set up anywhere, plus the battery lasts for 10 years (so no need to worry about making sure it’s charged). 

What is the Safest Hotel Floor to Stay On?

Personal Safety Alarm

Solo travelers should pack a personal safety alarm that they can use in a threatening situation. This alarm by Birdie can be worn on a keychain for easy access. Pull the top pin to activate a loud siren and flashing strobe to draw attention to you and scare off attackers. 

Hidden Camera Detector

Worried about being watched in your vacation rental? Pack a hidden camera detector to find any audio or video devices in a room, no matter how small. 

Read our guide on checking for hidden cameras for further tips on how to find secret recording devices. 

AAA Road Trip Kit

If you’re headed out on a road trip, especially to isolated locations, you should always pack an emergency kit in your car. This kit, created by AAA , has everything you might need if you get break down or get into an accident.

The compact carrying case houses 76 preparedness items, including a booster cable, air compressor, poncho, and bandages. 

10 Travel Safety Mishaps and How to Avoid Them

Power Bank and Emergency Light

Having a dead cell phone can certainly be a safety risk—you won’t be able to call for help in an emergency or navigate yourself out of a bad situation. Pack the NRG Emergency Light and Power Bank , which can fully charge your phone or other electronics.

It also doubles as a flashlight, another essential item for your emergency toolkit, so you can utilize it during a fire, earthquake, or power outage to light your escape path out of a hotel room.

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The Best Travel Safety Products Every Solo Traveler Should Have

Posted by Lara | Jul 24, 2020 | Solo Female Travel , Travel Tips , Uncategorized | 0

Hi there, I'm Lara! Your classic Dutchie, who just as any other girl-next-door loves traveling, meeting people, and food. I am best described as an extremely clumsy, sarcastic solo female traveler with zero photography skills. Yet I decided to use these "skills" to give practical, budget, and sustainable travel tips for other solo (female) travelers.

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Home | Travel Safety | 16 safety and security products every traveller needs

16 safety and security products every traveller needs

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review . 

When you're travelling it's a good idea to take extra precautions for your personal safety. You're in an unfamiliar environment and many of the usual protections that we put in place in our daily lives are absent. While you generally can't bring bulky or fixed security items with you on vacation, there are quite a few things that can come along for the trip that will greatly increase your safety and security while travelling .

The top priority when it comes to safety while travelling abroad is obviously yourself. Although you don't want to end up in a situation where you have to, most things can be replaced, so focusing on personal safety first is wise.

Travel insurance

The most important thing you can have on any trip is travel insurance . It may not seem like a big deal when things are going well, but if anything goes wrong you'll be incredibly thankful that you took out a policy before leaving home. Especially since many countries don't offer subsidised healthcare like Australia does, so you could find yourself stranded and stuck with a nasty bill if you need assistance and don't have cover.

Personal safety alarm

A personal safety alarm is a good item to carry even when you're simply out and about in your own neighbourhood, but it becomes essential if you're travelling overseas. In unfamiliar places it can be easy to wind up lost and find yourself in an area that isn't the best, so being able to call for help easily is vital.

If you'd like to pair your alarm with an application, check out our list of the best personal safety apps .

Hand sanitiser

Depending on where you're headed, public places and restrooms aren't guaranteed to be clean, and you may even find you don't have access to running water. For this reason, carrying hand sanitiser with you is highly recommended.

To prevent yourself from getting sick , you should also use sanitiser any time you touch objects that may not be the cleanest. Even if a location seems clean enough, we suggest ensuring you have plenty. 

First aid kit

A first aid kit may seem a little over the top to carry with you everywhere, but as mentioned above, not all countries will have accessible healthcare. Carrying a first aid kit could also save your life if you're somewhere you cannot get proper medical care, and comes in handy for everyday scrapes and scratches as well.

Price is accurate as of post date.  Read full disclaimer .

Phones are essential for navigation, safety and more these days, so having a flat phone in a foreign country is never a good thing. Even if you think your battery is going to last all day, it's a good idea to keep a fully charged power bank on you at all times.

Finally, if you'll be accessing any sensitive data such as hotel bookings, online banking or anything else that has significant personal data tied to it, we suggest the use of a VPN . Short for Virtual Private Network, these types of services greatly enhance both privacy and security so they're a useful resource no matter where you are in the world.

For your belongings

In addition to taking extra steps to protect yourself while travelling, it is also a smart idea to add some extra security to your belongings.

RFID passport wallets

RFID passport wallets help prevent the theft of your personal information by blocking any RFID attacks launched against you. We suggest storing your passport, cards and any other belongings with RFID or NFC technology within this type of wallet while travelling.

Anti-theft bags

Anti-theft bags are made from stronger material than your standard options. This makes them harder to slice open or break the handle of, therefore offering better protection for your belongings. They also tend to have either shorter straps or a cross body strap in order to make them harder to snatch, and some options offer a locking mechanism. This helps keep your items secure and in your possession for the duration of your holiday, something that can be a bit of a struggle in certain destinations.

Luggage locks

As the name suggests, luggage locks help ensure that nobody is able to open your luggage. This small addition can provide greatly enhanced security with very little investment or effort, and we strongly recommend making use of luggage locks on all suitable bags and suitcases.

If you're prone to losing things, or heading to a destination where theft is common, attaching an AirTag to your valuables is a wise move. Not only will this help you find anything that goes missing, but it can also help you prove that you actually own the item in question.

Cash is still king in many places, and you're not always guaranteed to have your card on you, so it certainly pays to have a suitable amount of emergency money on you at all times. Having said that, cash is one of the most commonly stolen items when people are away on holiday, so it's a good idea to keep your stash in a money belt.

Portable safe

While hotel safes certainly offer better protection than simply leaving your valuables around your room, they're not always going to be available. If you're staying in a hostel , for example, secure storage for valuables often isn't provided, and if it is, it may not be to the standard you desire. By the same token, hotel safe codes are generally known both by staff and previous guests of the room making them less secure than a personal one. The good news is that portable safes are readily available for those who would like some extra protection, so we suggest getting one before leaving home if you'll be travelling with anything particularly expensive or sentimental.

For your environment

Finally, it is also a good idea to do your best to secure the environment that you're staying in. While this is never going to be completely doable, some extra protection is better than none, and it's relatively easy to achieve.

Travel door locks

Sometimes referred to as portable door locks, travel locks are a must no matter where you're staying. Hotel key cards are notorious for working on multiple rooms and you don't want someone stumbling into your space at 2am because they had a bit too much fun and forgot which room was theirs. These locks work by preventing the door from being opened from the outside - even if whoever is trying to enter has unlocked the door - and are an incredibly helpful addition to your travel kit.

Door stop alarm

A door stop alarm serves two purposes—letting you know that someone is trying to enter your room, and buying you a little extra time to react. While a door stop alone won't stop a determined intruder, this alarm will at least notify you that something is wrong and may even scare the intruder away.

You never know when you're going to need to secure an item to or within something, so it's a good idea to carry a padlock or two with you at all times. This is more relevant for those staying in hostels or other shared accommodation but it's worth carrying one no matter where you're staying.

Sanitiser wipes

While most accommodation is cleaned regularly, those who want extra peace of mind will benefit from taking sanitiser wipes with them on their travels and giving their room a quick once over upon arrival. Focus on high touch areas if your supply is limited, but if possible, we do recommend going over the entire room.

If you're catching public transport , its worth giving your seat a quick once over for that extra layer of protection, especially if you're travelling in an unfamiliar country. 

Travelling is a greatly enriching experience, but it can also be a dangerous one. These products are designed to help reduce the risk and each offers its own unique benefits, so we suggest adding all sixteen to your packing list next time you're getting ready to fly out.

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Home » Gear » What Is The Best Portable Travel Safe? Find a Safe for Beaches, Hotels & Busses

What Is The Best Portable Travel Safe? Find a Safe for Beaches, Hotels & Busses

Good luck getting home without your passport. Your typical bank safes will qualify for more than a few oversized bag surcharges at check-in, but that doesn’t mean you should travel without protection.

Whatever is important enough for you to pack and bring with you on a trip is valuable enough to someone out there, and opportunistic criminals have learned to look for large backpacks and foreign accents as easy targets.

Hopefully, you’ve learned the basics. Never take your eyes off your luggage and don’t fall asleep on night busses. Bringing along a portable travel safe will help take your safety a step further.

Whether you’re looking for something that keeps your valuables more secure while on your person or while packed away in your hotel room, portable travel safes are a great way to go the extra mile and make sure that everything that starts your trip makes it home with you at the end.

Don’t entrust your passport and wallet to any old lock and key. We’ll show you some of the best portable safe technology on the market so you can get a better idea of what these handy tools can do.

There are safes out there for all sorts of environments, so it’s up to you to find the best way to secure your valuables. These soft and packable containers are easy to pack but hard to access and will help you out whether you’re heading to the neighborhood zoo or Zambia.

In A Hurry? These are the best portable travel safes.

#1 – best portable travel safe –  pacsafe 12 liter, #2 – best small portable travel box –  trova go, #3 – best beach lockbox –  safego  , #4 – best steel mesh travel safe –  pacsafe 55l backpack protector, #5 – best laptop travel safe –  pacsafe x15, #6 – best fireproof travel safe –  bluepower file folder, #7 – best camping safe box –  keep safe lock box, #8 – best disguised travel safe –  demeras mini book, #9 – best travel jewelry box – amazon basics portable security case lock box safe, #10 – best safe backpack –  venturesafe x12 anti-theft pack.

Pacsafe 12 Liter

• > Packs flat
• > Knife-proof

• > Fits in a pocket
• > Seals odor

• > Affordable and durable
• > Allows earphone access

Pacsafe 55L Backpack Protector

• > Highly adjustable
• > Locks up your entire backpack

Pacsafe X15

• > Can be used as a carry-on bag
• > Fits two laptops

BluePower File Folder

• > Expands to hold electronics
• > Five layers of lightweight protection

Keep Safe Lock Box

• > Simple locking mechanism
• > Lightweight

Demeras Mini Book

• > Fits phones and travel documents
• > Comes with two keys

Amazon Safe Box

• > Steel tethering cable
• > Easy to use combination lock

Venturesafe X12 Anti-Theft Pack

• > Reinforced zippers
• > Honeycomb mesh is cut-proof

What Is a Portable Travel Safe?

Why use a portable travel safe, where to use a portable travel safe, what are the different kinds of portable travel safes, what size of portable travel safe is best, what is the best portable travel safe, final thoughts.

A travel safe is exactly what it sounds like. Through different techniques and methods, these portable safes allow you to securely lock and store your valuables wherever the journey takes you.

All styles of locking mechanisms, sizes, and security levels will come with a portable travel safe, so you can be sure to find the protection that works best for your adventures.

Just because these tools are called safes doesn’t mean you have to carry a bulky, heavy lockbox with you on your next trip. The latest portable travel safe iterations have flexible steel, mesh, and plenty of packable features.

Whether you want something to stow away in a hotel room, something you can keep with you at all times, or an entire bag that doubles as a lockbox, a portable travel safe that can fit in your luggage is an easy way to feel peace of mind and protect your valuables. Many travellers simply don’t think to be invest in a portable travel safe making them a great idea for a gift for backpackers.

It’s in the name! The only way to be 100% sure none of your valuables are going to be stolen is to stay at home, but a portable travel safe is a close second. Some hotels and hostels will offer a lockbox or valuables storage, but we can’t always count on that. 

Even if your destination comes with a Döttling Narcissus luxury safe,  portable travel safes will help make sure your valuables survive your travel days. These safes go beyond theft protection to offer water, wind, and fireproof places to store your goods.

Solo travelers can use portable safes to lock their gear down when it’s time for a bathroom break or finally feel comfortable falling asleep on the bus.

The list goes on and on.

If you’re lucky enough to ask this question, you may have never experienced a worst-case scenario of theft while traveling. At home or abroad, robbery can leave you stranded on the side of the road with nothing but an overwhelming sense of dread.

It may be tough to wrap your head around the necessity of keeping your valuables safe, but we highly recommend not waiting around until you’ve felt this hopelessness to invest in protection. There is no product out there that can prevent criminals from being criminals, but there is simply no situation where a portable travel safe won’t help make your valuables more secure. 

Whether your portable safe accompanies you through a bus ride, beach trip, or extended stay, you’ll hopefully never come across a situation where it’s necessary. If the worst happens, a good lockbox will make all the difference in the world.

You can use a portable travel safe wherever the road takes you. Lightweight and portable safes come small enough to stow your car keys before a day at the beach, and super tough aluminum shells let you keep your passport and credit cards locked away in your hotel room for days at a time.

Every safe on this list is suitable for use at beaches, hostel dorms, hotels, camping, and when boarding busses, trains or Tuk-Tuks. Depending on your needs, you’ll find a travel safe that locks down your larger backpack or a smaller device that holds a few essential documents.

Often made out of stainless steel or aluminum alloy, wire mesh technology is what made portable travel safes accessible to modern travelers. This lightweight mesh can wrap around your already existing bag and connect it to any fixture in your hotel room or any solid picnic table/beach chair while out and about.

Wire Mesh is used in all sorts of portable travel safes to connect the lockbox to any immovable object. Some safes take things a step further by offering a wire mesh exterior to wrap around your valuables, thus making any bag a travel safe.

Most famously created by Pacsafe, Travel Safe Bags feature anti-theft zippers, RFID blocking pockets, and numerous security features scattered throughout the packs. Some smaller bags come with one handle and use a mix of wire mesh and nylon wrapping to create a knife-proof shell that is light enough to carry in one hand. 

Other larger bags provide enough space to be used as carry-on or day bags with extra locking features. Any portable travel safe bag will include steel wire that allows you to easily attach the bag to any immovable object and lock down your valuables. 

These are a more traditional kind of portable travel safe. They are basically larger safes cut down and crafted out of lightweight materials that allow you to carry the boxes in your bag or pocket. Lockboxes typically don’t have enough space for you to protect every single item you travel with but are reserved for important documents, like your passport, wallet, keys, and cell phone. 

These boxes can be attached to larger fixtures with a lock to make sure they don’t go anywhere and also include a combination or key lock to open up. There are loads of varieties in lockboxes. You can find lockboxes with GPS tracking, carrying handles, and disguises. 

Different styles of travel safes are being invented every day. Modern travelers can find lockboxes explicitly designed for laptops, known as laptop cases, and document holders that can withstand wildfires and hurricanes.

Decide what it is you need to protect, and allow that to guide your search. You’ll be surprised at the variety in today’s travel safe market. 

First, ask yourself what you’ll be saving. 

Some barebones backpackers won’t be traveling with much more than the clothes on their backs, and those get funky fast. If you’re not too worried about someone running off with your dirty laundry, a small lockbox may be all you need to secure important documents in your hostel or hotel room. 

Other travelers, especially digital nomads, could be traveling with thousands of dollars of electronic equipment, most of which won’t fit in a typical lockbox. In this case, you’ll need a significantly more extensive travel safe.

If you want to protect your camera, laptop, and various gear, make sure you get a portable travel safe larger than your backpack, such as a wire mesh protector that will allow you to lock everything down with one key.

For those just looking to keep their keys and wallet secure while they head off on a surf or into the woods for a few days, a small lockbox will keep everything exactly where it needs to be without adding on extra pounds. 

The larger your lockbox, the more difficult it will be to transport, so think about what’s best for your particular nomadic lifestyle. 

The best portable travel safe is whatever best protects your valuables. 

What we’re saying is, the best travel safe for a hiker won’t be the best travel safe for a traveling photographer.  

That doesn’t mean there is no such thing as a lousy travel safe. Avoiding the pretenders and investing in a proper travel safe will save you money in the long run. 

An easily crackable travel safe is basically a box that says, “hey robbers, all the good stuff is right here.”

Best-in-class travel safes that have separated themselves from the pack by making sure no casual criminal can access your belongings as well as standing out as the best options for particular niches. 

Below, you’ll find industry-leading travel safes that have redefined peace of mind for traveling.

TBB amassed this list over thousands of hours of travel time and hundreds of close calls. Broke backpackers worldwide have entrusted their precious items to these portable travel safes and credit the technology packed into these protectors for getting home with everything in one piece. 

Here are the best travel safes for quick trips, long jaunts, and everything in between,  so you can find the perfect piece for peace of mind on your next trip.

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#1 – Best Portable Travel Safe – Pacsafe 12 Liter

Pacsafe 12 Liter is our top pick for best portable travel safe

• Dimensions: 1 x 13 x 20
• Lock Type: Combination
• Weight (lbs): 1.2
• Material: Polyurethane
• Price: $228

Reinforced in all the right places yet still flexible, you can safely pack 12 liters of valuables in this badass travel safe. We love how easily you can carry this protective shell without sacrificing safety. 

The lightweight exterior isn’t easy to crack, thanks to cut-resistant canvas fabric with a stainless steel wire webbing. Polyurethane works with this steel wire to create a completely malleable bag that will dispel any would-be thieves. 

They won’t be able to slice through the steel mesh wiring, and you can easily lock the bag across furniture and lamp posts to ensure your bag isn’t going anywhere. When not in use, the safe can lay flat and fit easily into your larger luggage. 

This Pacsafe lock comes in various sizes, everything from small locks capable of protecting your passport and essential documents to larger containers that can hold a laptop and camera equipment. 

• TSA-approved
• Knife-proof
• Largest size is only 12 L
• Lock is not bolt-cutter proof

#2 – Best Small Portable Travel Box – Trova GO

Our pick for best small portable travel box is Trova GO

• Dimensions: 6 x 3 x 1
• Lock Type: Bluetooth
• Weight (lbs): 1
• Material: Aluminum

We love that this travel safe can slide right into your pocket, and there is no way anyone is getting in here without permission. Hardly larger than a typical sunglasses case, the Trova GO is a perfect place to store your ID, credit cards, and valuable accouterments secure and close. 

Where this travel box really stands out is in its technical specs. 

The box communicates with a cellphone app that utilizes biometric authentication, powered by a battery. This authentication system means the only way inside the Trova go is through your cell phone, and more importantly, it enables GPS tracking. 

If someone takes off with your Trova Go, you’ll be able to track the device’s whereabouts for up to 73 days, and they’ll have little chance of busting open the aluminum alloy without your cell phone. 

The fact that there is no way to open up the Trova without a cell phone makes us a bit wary, as your cellphone has a higher risk of being stolen than anything else in your arsenal. Never store this lockbox and your cell phone in the same place. If both devices are stolen, all the GPS tracking in the world won’t make much of a difference. We recommend hooking up the Trova GO to an iPad or any device that doesn’t often see the front lines. 

While it’s not foolproof, this technologically advanced lockbox is really difficult to break through and provides excellent safety to small items. 

• Fits in a pocket
• Great mobility
• Difficult to open but easy to steal
• Too small to store a passport

#3 – Best Beach Lockbox – SafeGo  

Meet the best beach lockbox: SafeGo

• Dimensions: 7 x 4 x 7.5
• Lock Type: Combination, key
• Material: Alloy Steel

A crowded beach is a petty thief’s wet dream. Throngs of people throw their cell phones and wallets underneath their beach towels and wander off into the sea, leaving their valuables totally unprotected.

Depending on where you’re headed, you may be able to get away with taking a carefree splash, but if you risk it enough times, someone will eventually snatch up your day bag or flip-flops. 

Unless, of course, you bring the SafeGo with you.

This lightweight lockbox isn’t much bigger than a purse and comes with a built-in three-digit combination lock. You can store the big three (phone, keys, and wallet) as well as any other small electronic devices inside and easily hook up the steel cable to any immovable object. 

Lock up your keys to your car’s exterior before a surf or keep your passport locked to your hotel room’s desk and enjoy your day, knowing you’ll come back to everything in its right place. 

• Affordable and durable
• Can be connected to anything
• Allows earphone access
• Easy to carry off if not secured
• May be easy to crack with a screwdriver

#4 – Best Steel Mesh Travel Safe – Pacsafe 55L Backpack Protector

Pacsafe 55L Backpack Protector is one of the best steel mesh travel safe

• Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 2
• Lock Type: Snap
• Material: Stainless Steel

This handy wiring can turn any backpack into a travel safe. With capabilities up to 120 Weight (lbs), any backpacker can fit their entire contents inside this backpack protector, which then locks up to any sturdy furniture nearby. 

What’s so ingenious about this travel safe is its simplicity. You’re sure to have room in your luggage for this lightweight steel mesh, and you won’t have to change up any of your packing habits to make the piece work. The protector ships with a padlock and carrying case to keep things organized when not in use, and the wiring folds down to less than 6 inches when not in use. 

The utterly adjustable wiring can fit bags of all shapes and sizes. Simply slip your backpack inside the mesh wiring, tighten the straps, and loop the steel mesh around an immovable object. 

We recommend using your backpack’s rain cover or wrapping a blanket around your bag before you cover it in mesh, as the space between the stainless steel bands could allow thieves to access pockets if not correctly secured. 

It’s a simple and effective lockbox for securing your entire backpack, perfect before long bus rides or any transport where you won’t be close to your pack. 

• Highly adjustable
• Locks up your entire backpack
• Lightweight addition to your luggage
• Gaps in steel mesh
• Not ideal for smaller bags

#5 – Best Laptop Travel Safe – Pacsafe X15

Pacsafe X15 is our top pick for best laptop travel safe

• Dimensions: 7 x 13 x 15
• Weight (lbs): 1.7

Laptop bags come in all shapes and sized but few are theft proof. As you can see, Pacsafe is the number one name in travel security. The company has dreamed up travel safe’s big and small, all effective means of protecting the important things. The X15 is one of the largest travel safes the company offers and works surprisingly well as a portable safe capable of protecting all your valuables in the same location. 

The bag is protected by Pacsafe’s signature stainless steel wire mesh woven into a polyurethane canvas bag with an easy carrying handle and shoulder strap. An external wire mesh piece allows you to secure this bag to exteriors big and small, perfect for locking the bag to a chair while you run to the bathroom or your hotel room’s desk before a day of sightseeing.

The large size does open up some holes in security, as the bag can be knifed through easier than Packsafe’s smaller models. Treat this bag more like an incredibly secure carrying case than a safety deposit box.  

Inside the safe, there’s room for two laptops, cameras, cell phones, passports, jewelry, and anything else worth protecting. The bag can be used as a stand-alone laptop case with a shoulder strap and will fold flat when not in use. 

• Can be used as a carry-on bag
• Fits two laptops
• 5-year warranty
• Difficult to find
• Susceptible to wire cutters

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#6 – Best Fireproof Travel Safe – BluePower File Folder

Meet the best fireproof travel safe: BluePower File Folder

• Dimensions: 14 x 10 x 2
• Lock Type: None
• Weight (lbs): .4
• Material: Fiberglass

If Princess Leia didn’t have R2D2, she probably would have looked towards this file folder to keep the death star plans safe. Once it’s zipped up, your documents can handle flooding, explosions, and more. All of this protection is inside a casing that weighs less than a pound and can easily be tucked under flowing white robes.

This bag can handle some serious heat, capable of protecting important documents in temperatures up to 1000 degrees celsius. It’s not just for paperwork. The lightweight folder can hold jewelry, cash, tablets, and passports through floods, fire, and brimstone. 

This bag is best for those searching for protection from the elements more than criminals. It doesn’t ship with any locking mechanisms, but the carrying handle can easily be attached to a pair of handcuffs to lock around your wrists. It does ship with complete protection from fire, water, dust, and anything mother nature may throw at you. 

• Protected from the elements
• Expands to hold electronics
• Five layers of lightweight protection
• Does not ship with a lock
• Not the most reputable brand

#7 – Best Camping Safe Box – Keep Safe Lock Box

Our top pick for best camping safe box is Keep Safe Lock Box

• Dimensions: 7.87″x 6.30″x 3.54″
• Weight (lbs): ?1.88
• Material: Zinc Alloy
• Price: $19.99

This great, affordable option fits easily into your trunk or tent to keep everything safe at the campsite. Once you reach the campgrounds, you shouldn’t be using your cellphone, wallet, and keys anytime soon, and this convenient safe will allow you to store your valuables in a secure space and forget about them for a little while. 

A simple combination lock ensures there are no tiny keys to lose on the hike in. Do keep in mind that the thin metal won’t stand up against a bear attack. The good news is, as long as you don’t put any food in there, bears won’t spend much time trying to get at your wallet, and any human assailant will be quickly turned back by the reinforced lock and strong protections provided.  Get it added to your camping packing list.

• Works in the woods, beach, or gym
• Simple locking mechanism
• Lightweight
• Not Bear-proof
• Won’t fit an Ipad

#8 – Best Disguised Travel Safe – Demeras Mini Book

Demeras Mini Book is our pick for best disguised travel safe

• Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 2
• Lock Type: Key

The days of traveling with pocket guidebooks and dictionaries may be over, but still, most would-be thieve’s won’t think much about snatching up a new English dictionary. This clever safe takes the shape of a pocketbook and features a secret latch that reveals a small carrying space perfect for emergency cash, important documents, or passports. 

The light outer shell looks and feels like a regular book, but opening up the front cover reveals a stainless steel safe that criminals can’t access without a key. It even weighs less than an actual book, making sure you can fit it into all sorts of luggage. 

You can store your valuables in this dictionary and confidently leave the book in your hostel, knowing that no one has opened up a paper dictionary in years, and even if a suspicious customer does see through the ruse, the key is in your pocket. 

• Looks just like a book
• Fits phones and travel documents
• Comes with two keys
• If someone opens the cover, the jig is up
• Not large enough for a camera

#9 – Best Travel Jewelry Box – Amazon Basics Portable Security Case Lock Box Safe

Amazon Basics Portable Security Case Lock Box Safe is one of the best travel jewelry box

• Dimensions: 9.5″D x 6.5″W x 1.8″H
• Weight (lbs): 2.86
• Price: $21.47

The Amazon Basics Portable Security Case Lock Box Safe is the closest thing on our list to a traditional safe, serving up a lightweight lockbox that allows you to bring security with you on the road. A three-number combination protects jewelry, cash, or important documents and works great in your car or hotel room. 

Unlike a traditional safe, the box is lightweight and easy to move, but to combat that, Amazon added a steel tethering cable that quickly locks to any immovable object for a secure place for gold, silver, or passports. 

Some of the portable travel safes on our list are looking to redefine what a safe looks like, but this simple safe box just wants to make sure your valuables are secure. 

• Steel tethering cable
• Easy to use combination lock
• Fits a cell phone
• Not the most high-tech travel safe on the market

#10 – Best Safe Backpack – Venturesafe X12 Anti-Theft Pack

Venturesafe X12 Anti-Theft Pack is our top pick for best safe backpack

• Dimensions: 16 x 10 x 6
• Lock Type: N/A
• Weight (lbs): 1.5
• Price: $134

Why slip a safe into your backpack when you can have your entire backpack work as a portable travel safe? This Pacsafe bag allows you to travel with 12 liters of anti-theft design, all the way down to the interlocking zippers. 

The bag is made of lightweight steel mesh and polyurethane that promises to be relatively cut-proof without weighing half a ton. A detachable buckle runs along the mid-section and lets you lock your bag to any fixture. Whether you’re leaving for a few hours or a few minutes, you can secure this bag with ease. 

Inside the anti-theft backpack, you’ll find a laptop sleeve and mesh pocket. Exterior pockets are RFID blocking but still provide quick access to make security checkpoints a fast process. You’ll also find many features you can expect from a typical backpack, like water bottle pockets and padded shoulder straps. 

All of this is wrapped up in a water-repellent exterior shell to create a complete protection piece that lets you quickly lock up the entire contents of your bag. 

• Entire bag doubles as a safe
• Reinforced zippers
• Honeycomb mesh is cut-proof
• No lock included
• No external steel wiring

Now, you  could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card!  REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

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That about wraps it up. 

Whether you’re looking for a safe space for your passport or want to lock down your entire arsenal , you’ll find the protection you’re looking for in one of these travel safes. 

Don’t forget that no matter which travel safe you choose, they will only go as far as you take them. Your travel safe doesn’t do you any good tucked into the bottom of your backpack, and all it takes is one day of feeling like locking everything up is not worth the trouble for all your hard work to go to waste. 

There is no substitute for vigilance while on the road, but these travel safes, like the SafeGo , will help you keep your belongings secure and keep your head on the path ahead instead of stressing about what you left behind. 

If you’re one of the lucky few who have wandered the ends of the earth without wandering down the wrong alley or one of the lucky hostel-goers who hasn’t yet put too much faith in their roommates, don’t wait until you’ve been had to secure your valuables. Something as simple as the Trova GO will keep everything you need to get home safely within reach of your GPS.  

If you have felt the dread of coming back from a day out to find your bag turned inside out, don’t let that experience keep you from wandering. With the protection offered by the Pacsafe 12 Liter , you can head out for your day knowing that potential criminals will walk away only with a few pairs of dirty underwear. 

Aiden Freeborn

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17 Travel Safety Gear Essentials You Need To Pack

By Jessie Festa. This article on travel safety accessories is sponsored by Jase Medical and contains affiliate links to trusted partners.

Not sure what travel safety gear to pack?

Then you’re in the right place! Let’s be honest; we’ve all pulled our hair out (and maybe cried a little) when trying to decide what to pack.

Though no matter what you put in your carry-on, travel safety items should be high on the packing list.

You’ve heard it before but I’ll say it again: nothing should come before your health and safety.

While there are myriad beautiful places to explore filled with good people, the truth is we live in an unpredictable world where anything can happen at any minute.

My intention isn’t to scare you from traveling, but to make sure you’re prepared for the worst, even if it’s unlikely to happen. This is why I’m sharing this list of my personal top picks for travel safety items.

You’ll also hear about one of the most important items for traveling you can pack, the Jase Case , which can help with emergency antibiotic preparedness.

Table of Contents

How To Stay Safe While Traveling: Preparation

The best way to stay safe while traveling is to prepare for unfortunate situations on the road before you leave home.

This should include looking up local scams and issues to be aware of, familiarizing yourself with local customs and beliefs so you don’t offend locals, and researching where is and isn’t safe to explore.

Along with considering personal protection for travel, you should also think about travel health. Ask yourself: how medically prepared are you?

According to the CDC , about 130 million Americans visit the emergency room each year – many of which could be prevented through education and having the right supplies and medications on hand.

It’s important to empower yourself to be your own caregiver – especially when visiting a remote destination or a place where the standard of care may not be the same as you’re used to.

Plus, as the last few challenging years have taught us, you never know when a natural disaster may occur or when the global supply chain will be interrupted.

Actually, this is why online telemedicine service Jase Medical created the Jase Case , a travel pouch containing five life-saving medications – with a manual on how to use them to properly treat a wide variety of ailments, from pneumonia to animal bites to traveler’s diarrhea and beyond.

I’ll share more about the Jase Case, one of your most important healthy travel essentials, below.

Your Travel Safety Kit: Quick List

Before we discuss the travel safety products you’ll want to pack in-depth, here is a quick summary of the items:

• Jase Case (snag $10 off with code JESSIEONAJOURNEY10)
• Hand Sanitizer
• First Aid Kit
• Clever Travel Companion Pickpocket-Proof Garments
• Speakeasy Travel Supply Pickpocket-Proof Scarf ​​
• Pacsafe Anti-Theft Bag
• Neck Wallet
• She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm
• Fox Sonic Safety Whistle
• Glow Bracelets
• Garmin inReach Mini 2
• Emergency App
• SafetyWing Travel Insurance

On that note, let’s go over this list of safety items for travelers so that you truly understand why each is so important to have in your carry-on.

These are truly some of the best things for traveling and staying healthy and safe, and I highly recommend adding them to your packing list!

Best Travel Safety Items For Health

1. jase case.

The Jase Case was created by Jase Medical, a company founded by board certified physician Shawn Rowland, M.D.

Jase Medical is on a mission to help empower patients with the tools necessary to take action and care for themselves and their loved ones.

This is why they created the Jase Case, an Emergency Antibiotic Pack made and prescribed by doctors that contains:

• Amoxicillin-Clavulanate
• Azithromycin
• Ciprofloxacin
• Doxycycline
• Metronidazole

Plus, you can score $10 off with code JESSIEONAJOURNEY10.

Each customer goes through a consultation and antibiotics are prescribed directly to them by board certified physicians.

From there, you’ll receive a handy travel pouch containing your medications as well as an Emergency Antibiotic Guide sharing how to use the included medications to treat a wide variety of conditions.

I think most of us have experienced nausea, vomiting, sinusitis, and traveler’s diarrhea on the road, though the medications can also help with ailments related to bioterror, illness, sexually transmitted infections, and illness related to drinking contaminated water (just to name a few).

You can see a full list of treated conditions on their FAQ page .

And while the Jase Case is an important piece of travel safety gear, keep in mind it’s also helpful to have on hand at home, too. You truly never know when an issue will arise.

Honestly, there are so many personal stories I could share where a kit like this would have come in handy — like when I hiked Nepal’s Mohare Danda Trail .

I spent a week in Kathmandu and felt absolutely fine. It wasn’t until I was making my vertical ascent into the Annapurna Himalayas — hours away from any pharmacy or doctor — that I started to become majorly ill.

Vomiting my way through the woods and getting sick in squat toilets was not exactly fun, but the only “medications” I had were Tylenol, tiger balm, and tea. Let’s just say that after that experience, I’ll never be so unprepared again.

You can find full information on the Jase Case here . Use code JESSIEONAJOURNEY10 for $10 off your first Jase Case!

2. Face Mask

Due to the global situation of the past few years, face masks have become a regular part of our lives both at home and on the road to help keep us healthy and avoid catching viruses.

It can also help you maximize your itinerary.

Personally, before wearing a mask on planes, I would always get a sinus infection – which would leave me feeling sluggish on the first few days of a trip. Since wearing a mask, I haven’t had this issue.

Note that for a mask to be effective it should cover your nose and mouth.

Additionally, the CDC recommends both disposable and cloth masks as well as respirators. Specific recommendations vary by individual and location, and you can click here to read their full guide .

You can also click here to read the CDC’s recommendations for travel specifically.

3. Hand Sanitizer

While hand sanitizer is no substitution for washing your hands with soap and water, the CDC notes that when this option is not available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs.

As a traveler, I can think of countless times on the road where I haven’t had access to a working sink – even in places where you’d think there should be one, like a roadside restaurant or restroom.

This makes hand sanitizer one of the smartest travel abroad accessories you can pack.

To use effectively, apply the recommended amount of sanitizer (check the label) to the palm of one hand and then rub it all over your skin until your hands are dry.

4. First Aid Kit

When it comes to essential travel safety items and accessories, a First Aid Kit is a smart addition to the list.

A few essentials to include in your kit:

• Antibacterial wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Pain reliever
• Thermometer
• Medical tape
• Medications ( which your Jase Case can supply !)

For a full list of First Aid Kit essentials, check out this list from the Cleveland Clinic .

Best Travel Safety Accessories To Avoid Pickpockets & Thieves

5. neck wallet.

Raise your hand if you love carrying a heavy purse when you explore a new city?

Hands fly down.

Me neither. Which is why I love this helpful travel safety gear item! A neck wallet stores my keys, cards, and cash in a lightweight travel wallet that is worn like a necklace that gets tucked into my shirt.

Think of it as a money belt, but with less sweat stains in hot destinations.

Bonus: If you like to work out or go jogging, you won’t need to carry your keys in your hands or awkwardly tie them to your shoelaces.

6. Pacsafe Anti-Theft Bags

When it comes to personal safety gear, one brand to get on your radar is Pacsafe – a leader in the world of travel safety products, particularly when it comes to anti-theft backpacks and bags.

They utilize a number of technologies in their gear, like cut resistant fabric, lockable zippers, RFIDsafeTM blocking materials (that keep your personal documents and credit cards from being scanned), and the ability to fasten your bag to a secure object.

Depending on what type of trip you’re going on, you can peruse their travel backpacks, day packs, camera bags, carry-on bags, handbags, wallets, wheeled luggage, and more.

The company also keeps sustainability in mind. Along with pledging to remove all virgin plastic from their supply chain by 2025, they donate 1% of every sale to turtle conservation projects.

If you’re looking for the safest travel backpack, definitely check out Pacsafe!

7. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

You really should never use the internet without a VPN, which hides your online activity. This is especially true when traveling and regularly using public WiFi.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where people are constantly trying to steal your identity and personal information, and a VPN helps to protect you from hackers and online prowlers by hiding your IP address, browsing activity, and personal data when using WiFi.

One highly-rated VPN is NordVPN , which has a number of powerful features – like their ​​Threat Protection, which makes your browsing experience safer and faster without tracking your actions online.

Even if you accidentally install malware or click a malicious link, the feature neutralizes cyber threats before they can do any real damage to your device or data.

8 . Clever Travel Companion Pickpocket-Proof Garments

I’ve written about these apparel pieces a lot over the years, and for good reason: they’re genius!

These pickpocket-proof garments are my favorite travel safety gear essentials, as they feature hidden interior pockets so crooks never know you have credit cards and cash. This keeps your valuables safe, while alleviating the need to carry a purse.

A few of my favorite Clever Travel Companion Garments include:

• The leggings featuring two secret pockets
• The boyshort underwear with two secret pockets (so comfortable!)
• The unisex tank top with hidden front pocket (I often wear this as an undershirt)
• The unisex striped long johns with two secret pockets (love these if I’m traveling somewhere cold)
• Striped t-shirt dress with zipper pockets (so stylish I’d wear it even if it wasn’t an essential piece of travel safety gear)

All of the above-mentioned garments take up almost no space, making it easy to have a travel safety plan while flying with only carry-on luggage.

Combine them with the Jase Case from Jase Medical for maximum health and safety protection on the road.

9. Speakeasy Travel Supply Hidden-Pocket Scarves

Can you tell I love safety travel gear with hidden pockets?

Speakeasy Travel Supply Co was started by fellow travel bloggers from Beers & Beans, based on their own travel safety needs.

These hand-made scarves come in a wide-variety of patterns, with styles made for all seasons (so yes, you can totally find a hidden pocket scarf to wear in Thailand !).

But the beauty isn’t just in the style, as the hidden pouches on these scarves offer a place to secretly store you valuables.

Best Personal Travel Safety Gear

10. door stop.

There are many important things to carry while traveling abroad, and a door stop is one of them.

The scary truth:

Like your apartment, your hotel room can be robbed. Or worse.

A rubber door stop is a good travel safety item to bring that can add an extra layer of protection to your guestroom.

Along with a simple rubber door stop, you might consider purchasing one with a security alarm – like this door stop that includes a 120db alarm .

This way, if someone tries to break into your hotel room, you’ll be awoken before they have a chance to get in.

11. She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm

A personal safety alarm should be at the top of any list of safety items for travelers, as it includes a loud siren that you can set off when needed.

Attackers — both humans as well as animals like bears — will get scared and run off. This means you should also wear the alarm whether you’re wandering a city or hiking in the woods.

While there are many brands to choose from, She’s Birdie alarms are made for women by women (though they are also great for male travelers).

They offer two powerful travel security products, both of which can be worn as a keychain:

The Original Birdie, which features a 130db alarm and flashing strobe light designed to deter an attack, and the Birdie+, which also includes 24/7 live support.

Feel good knowing that a percentage of your purchase gets donated to organizations supporting women’s safety, shelter, and health.

This is truly a piece of travel security gear you shouldn’t leave home without, whether you’re exploring another country or your own neighborhood.

12. Safety Whistle

This is another powerful piece of travel safety gear that scares using loud sound.

I’ve been wearing my Fox Sonic Safety Whistle for years. It especially makes me feel safer when hiking solo , as I’ve had issues with angry dogs chasing me on trails in the past.

As with the personal alarm, this safety whistle can scare away both humans and animals.

13. Glow Bracelets

If you’re like me and enjoy cycling while traveling , it’s important that when riding at night you’re visible to cars.

While a helmet, bike lights, and bright clothing are also important pieces of bike safety gear, I like glow bracelets and glow vests to make sure I’m definitely seen.

And hey, if you’ve got a rave to go to they can act as a funky accessory, as well!

14. Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

One of my top solo hiking tips – which is also smart advice for anyone going on a remote adventure in general – is to carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite messenger, like the popular Garmin inReach Mini 2 .

Having one of these is key if you’ll be in a remote area, as both of these tools can help you send SOS messages when it danger.

Just make sure to check the coverage map for the device(s) you’re considering to make sure your specific trail is covered.

You can check this guide for additional help with choosing a PLB or satellite messenger.

Best Travel Safety Essentials To Be Ready For Anything

15.  emergency app (free; ios & android).

Developed by the American Red Cross, this all-inclusive app serves as a go-to resource for what travelers can do in the case of 14 different types of emergencies and disasters within the U.S.

Users can customize more than 35 emergency alerts based on their location and where their contacts live.

The Emergency App also contains a kit of emergency first aid info advising on everything from heart attacks to heat stroke. It’s truly one of the top travel safety apps you can download!

16. Airalo eSIM

No list of travel safety equipment would be complete without discussing gear for staying connected – which Airalo can help you do.

Airalo is a global eSIM company that lets you access the internet from almost anywhere, at any time. I’ve used it on multiple trips, including in remote Mongolia , and it’s exceeded my expectations.

Sure, you can usually buy a local SIM Card, which may or may not work. And there is public WiFi, which may or may not be available. But, Airalo offers a better solution.

Airalo helps ensure you’re never without a connection, which is vital when traveling in a place you’re unfamiliar with.

Not only does having a connection mean you can always look up directions and things to do, but it also allows you to keep loved ones up-to-date on your whereabouts or call for help if needed.

Plus, being connected is important for getting out of sticky situations. For instance, as a solo female traveler who goes on numerous road trips each year, it’s imperative I have a working phone in the car at all times.

Airalo provides service in over 200+ countries and regions. They offer an array of data plans based on your destination, the length of your trip, and how much data you’ll want to use. You’ll receive notifications if you begin running low on data, and you can quickly and easily top up your eSIM online.

17. SafetyWing Travel Insurance

Of course, no safety packing guide would be complete without mentioning travel insurance – an absolute travel essential!

While you hope everything runs smoothly, sometimes travel just doesn’t go according to plan. This is why I recommend always purchasing travel medical insurance .

The scary truth is it only takes one bad accident to lose everything — or be thankful you were covered.

Personally, I use SafetyWing , as they’ve got a large network, offer both short-term and long-term coverage (including limited coverage in your home country), are budget-friendly, and offer $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.

Travel Safety Gear For Every Situation

I hope you found this list of travel safety items valuable.

Remember, it’s important to consider all aspects of travel safety when choosing what to pack.

Of course, personal safety is important, but you shouldn’t forget things like online security and travel health, too.

And when it comes to travel health, remember that the Jase Case can help protect you from a wide variety of ailments and illnesses that can ruin your trip – and even put your life in danger – if you’re not prepared.

Again, this isn’t meant to scare you, but to empower you to have a plan for anything that might threaten your health and safety on the road.

Bonus: Score $10 off your first Jase Case with code JESSIEONAJOURNEY10 .

What travel safety gear items would you add to this list?

Enjoyed this post on travel safety essentials ? Don’t forget to pin it for later!

Related posts:

About jessie festa.

Jessie Festa is an New York-based travel content creator who is passionate about empowering her audience to experience new places and live a life of adventure. She is the founder of the solo female travel blog, Jessie on a Journey, and is editor-in-chief of Epicure & Culture , an online conscious tourism magazine. Along with writing, Jessie is a professional photographer and is the owner of NYC Photo Journeys , which offers New York photo tours, photo shoots, and wedding photography. Her work has appeared in publications like USA Today, CNN, Business Insider, Thrillist, and WestJet Magazine.

Hi, I’m Jessie on a journey!

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15 Comments

What do you do with your passport and money when you go swimming?

@April: I rarely take my passport out of the hotel room. I carry copies of it in case. You can use a waterproof money holder though if you are concerned.

Thanks for sharing! I never even thought of some of these things. A door stop….brilliant!!! Happy Journeys and keep sharing your tips!

@Wendy: Thank you! 🙂

I usually carry a flashlight, especially when traveling overseas. Many of the streets/trails/routes going to/from places are not well lit (if at all) at night.

Very nice blog.

@Dave: Thank you for the kind words. And great suggestion!

I always carry a compass, which can be VERY helpful in cities,

I carry a DoorJammer with me when I travel. It’s like a secondary door lock and bit more durable and secure than a rubber doorstop. Love the Clever Travel clothes, such a good idea! Will definitely have to get some.

What a world we live in, when you can stick a sticker on your SIM card and not have to pay roaming charges! It’s kind of hilarious that it has a huge warning on Amazon though – CHOKING HAZARD!

Been traveling with one of Northface backpacks for a while but it was only till recently when I discovered there was actually a built in whistle in it! I honestly didn’t know what it was. There was a dusty hole because I’ve been using it for traveling. And then I wanted to clean it up so I blew through the hole, and viola! It was an actual safety whistle!!! Made me the happiest!! I love secret gears! 🙂

Aah I love the neck wallet! That is actually really cute lol

I like to carry a small and slim fanny pack that is also great for putting my phone in while going for runs. I’ll be getting one of those door jammer things when I’m in mexico for a month!

i need that belt for my everyday life

Great thanks for sharing!

The content of this blog good and very much ligit the view culture of these places are so amazing after reading this blog i would really like to go there some day and feel it my self and explore it and have fun

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22 Travel Products That’ll Make You Feel Safer If You’re Traveling Solo

These safety items are *always* a good idea, but especially if you're venturing out on your own.

BuzzFeed Staff

1. A portable no-install door lock to give yourself a little extra peace of mind that no one will be able to break through your locked hotel door when you're staying by yourself. The durable steel body is inserted into the jamb of the door to add an extra layer of security so *no one* can just barge into your room during the day or night.

Check out how it's used in this TikTok from @betterhalfliving .

Promising review: "I purchased two of these, one for my apartment door and one for travel. Home: This fits perfectly on my front door. It was tested when the maintenance man at my building showed up earlier than expected. He knocked, and before I could get to the door, he was already trying to open the door AND COULD NOT. This held, and he was really pushing. I know someone can get in if they really are determined, but the level of noise they'd cause would alert neighbors and give me time to react. Exactly what I bought it for. Hotel: I've stayed in one hotel and this did fit. It was loose in the door jamb, but once the door was closed, it didn't budge when I tested it. Nothing is 100% secure. But this device definitely makes my door more secure then the lock and chain do! I highly recommend for anyone in an apartment and travelers. I practiced taking the lock off to be sure I could do it in a fire. It takes less than three seconds to set up and remove. Very happy with purchase." — nancy w.

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 .

2. Or a  travel door alarm  designed to let out the loudest wail if your door is opened in the middle of the night, sure to scare off your intruder and alert anyone nearby.

Promising review: "I have two of these and they are amazing. The loop goes around the door handle and two thin metal prongs go in the crack of the door. If the door opens even a little, the prongs are separated and it lets out the loudest, most obnoxious wailing sound in the history of the world. Great for a single girl traveling on her own!" — Kelly

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in nine colors).

3. OR a wedge doorstop alarm  that works in a similar way, triggering a loud alarm when outside pressure to the door is applied and helping hold the door closed with its nonskid pad. 

No wiring is required, either; just pick up a 9V battery . 

Promising review: " Travel must-have. I use this traveling, and it provides extra peace of mind in motel rooms considering I'm a cheapskate and stay in dives and my dog is getting so old he is likely to refer any criminal who breaks and enters to me for further processing. Works well, as a startled maid in a West Virginia motel can attest when she thought I had checked out and unlocked the door to clean. I gave the second one to my sister, who uses it at home." — QuintessentiallyYours

Get it from Amazon for $13.25 .

4. A waterproof anti-theft backpack made to thwart pickpockets with a zipper that faces your back while you wear it, giving them no access to the pocket holding your valuables — an especially helpful design when you don't have a travel companion watching your back. It's still super cute, so it won't stand out in your travel photos, and its adjustable straps let you wear it as a backpack or sling style over one shoulder. 

Promising review: "I bought this backpack to use as a purse while on vacation, and it worked perfectly. The main pouch is protected when you’re walking around because the zipper is protected by your back . There are also two side zippered pockets, one of which kept my phone and the other perfect for sunglasses and a few other items that I wanted to access more easily. I loved that I could wear it as a purse to dinner but use it as a backpack during the day so that my shoulder didn’t get tired. I highly recommend this item! " — Allison

Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in two sizes and 12 colors).

5. A universal travel adapter  so you never get stranded somewhere alone with a dead battery and a phone charger that's not compatible with the outlets. This can charge up to five devices at once so your laptop, phone, power banks, and more can get all juiced up before you head out on your next excursion.

This adapter covers over 160 countries. Keep in mind this is not a voltage converter !

Promising review: "I am a digital nomad so I travel full-time around the world. I have a lot of devices to charge (laptop, Kindle, phone, backup battery, portable wi-fi device, camera, the list goes on). A lot of times hostel bunks or hotel rooms only have one outlet and with the previous adapter I was using, I had to charge one device at a time. I used to literally set my alarm to wake up in the middle of the night and switch devices so that I could get more than one device fully charged overnight. I did my research finally and settled on this one because it is universal and has four USB ports. What a GAME-CHANGER. On my latest trip I was able to charge all my devices at once and it made traveling so much smoother. It seems well made and good quality, too. Definitely recommend for my digital nomad and traveling peers. Happy travels! :)" — Maggie A.

Get it from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in two colors).

6. A personal alarm you can clip to your travel bag (or something else easily accessible) in case you get into a situation where you need to call for help. Press the little black button on the front, and it'll activate a loud alarm that'll alert anyone nearby and likely scare off any potential attackers. 

This is one of those devices that's a good idea *in general* especially if you are walking home alone at night. It also has a manual back-up whistle you can use in case of battery failure.

Promising review : "As soon as I received the alarm I tested it. It sounded almost as loud as our car alarm. The noise should fend off an attacker or at a minimum alert others about the danger. It's lightweight and easy to use. The black button on the front activates the alarm and a similar one on the back deactivates the alarm. I clipped it to my everyday purse and will definitely take it with me on my travels." — Brescia

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 

7. A personal GPS tracker so your family or friends can see exactly where you are at all times while you're on your solo excursion. They'll be able to follow along in real time using Google Maps or the SilverCloud app so that if they ever stop hearing from you, they'll know right where to send help.

This mini tracker is 100% waterproof and magnetic and can send text and email alerts. Its rechargeable battery lasts up to two weeks, and the LED lights on it can be turned off so it's discreet. Note that you do need a subscription to use it, but you can just activate it while you're on your travels and cancel afterward — you can check out their rates here .

Promising reviews : "This unit is a GEM. I travel a fair amount throughout the state of Oregon, from Central Oregon over snow-packed mountain passes through the rain drenched byways of the Valley. This GPS has been ideal, from the ease of activating to using it for work and play. It's indestructible, accurate, and a tremendous value." — Eric Nitzschke

"I really like the ease of using this product. The price was very affordable and it was easy to set up the monthly payment plan. I looked at several types of trackers and not many of them are waterproof. They are often more expensive. Some of them don’t require a monthly subscription, but that takes away from many of the features of this unit. You can do just a monthly subscription if you only plan to use the tracker for a short time and they don’t penalize you for canceling ." — penny seidenkranz

Get it from Amazon for $29.95 . 

8. And a  Tile Bluetooth locator  to put on your suitcase or purse so you can quickly locate them in your nearby vicinity in the event they become separated from you, whether you're at an airport, rail station, or hostel. It's basically a built-in travel buddy that'll eliminate the process of retracing your steps and show you right where your lost item is.

Promising review: “I tucked this into my luggage when I traveled last month, and I'll never go without it again! It gives me peace of mind to be able to see that my suitcase is on the plane with me, and it makes figuring out which generic red suitcase is mine that much easier!" — Mary D.

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 .

9. Or an Apple AirTag , well worth it if you're already integrated in the Apple ecosystem. It has a simple one-tap setup with your iPhone or iPad, and thanks to its integration with Apple's Find My network, you can find lost items from very far away. Stick this in your luggage or on your backpack while traveling for extra peace of mind!

Plus, this is helpful just for everyday life if you're regularly losing things, which makes it worth the purchase. Note: One thing the Tile Mate has over AirTags is that it has the hole built in for attaching a keyring — for AirTags, multiple reviewers said they picked up these AirTag holders .

Promising review : "I purchased the AirTags because I was traveling internationally and changing airlines halfway through the trip. I was reassured of the location of my luggage with the AirTags. The tags even kept me informed as I left my luggage in my room for a daily excursion. They are better than any airline tracking." — Flappy Butterfly

Get it from Amazon for $29 .

10. A high-speed  Anker power bank  small enough to keep in your bag and powerful enough to keep your phone from dying when you're not near an outlet and can't borrow your friend's. It's capable of recharging your phone and other devices *multiple* times on a single charge, and two at the same time thanks to dual USB ports.

For a frame of reference: On a single charge, it can recharge an iPhone 8 almost seven times, a Samsung Galaxy S8 five times, or an iPad Mini 4 twice. (BTW, if you travel with a Nintendo Switch, this can charge that too!) Four LED lights on the power bank show how much juice it has left!

Promising review: "I travel for a living and have always needed a portable charger. This thing literally never dies. The longest-lasting charger I have ever had. I was out in London all day, phone nearly dead, and had to go straight to the airport for a nine-hour flight back to the USA. This charger charged my phone the ENTIRE flight, and then on my service car, my coworker needed to charge his phone. I had meetings all day and then a dead phone and I charged my phone to a full 100% again! This is a MUST-HAVE PRODUCT." — Kyle G.

Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in two colors).

11. A portable lock box so you can go swim in the ocean without worrying about about your valuables when no one else is around to watch them. This has a heavy-duty steel cable and a code needed to open it up, so your phone, wallet, and other essentials will be safely tucked away while you have your face down snorkeling.

You can also use this in your room to keep valuables protected.

Promising review: "I use this on cruises, pool days, and any beach trip I go on. I solo travel a lot and I would always be nervous to go swimming and leaving my stuff. I finally have peace of mind knowing my valuables are locked up. I have had zero issues with the lock. It does add some weight to your luggage. I have traveled with this to multiple different countries and the quality has stayed the same. Make sure your valuables will fit before purchasing 😁" — Jennifer

Get it from Amazon for $49.95 (available in three colors).

12. A pack of luggage locks to guard your suitcase against being unzipped and rummaged through, especially if you're staying on your own in a public place like a hostel. 

These are opened with a key, ideal if you're worried about forgetting a combination. If you're staying in a hostel where you'll have access to a locker, consider picking up these heavier duty combination locks with long steel shackles to keep your belongings safe. I used something similar (both locks on my suitcase and lockers) when I was traveling in Asia and staying in hostels, and it definitely brought peace of mind.

Promising review : "I needed some small, keyed, TSA-approved locks on the cheap, and these fit the bill. I have trouble remembering my name, let alone a combination, so the keys worked for me. I also stored the keys separately (one with me, one with my travel mate) so I wouldn't accidentally lose them and be stuck. The TSA didn't cut them open, so apparently they fit those specifications. I also used them while we stayed in hostels... I am not a trusting soul. It did make me feel more secure, though. I thought they were a good deal." — Just Jill

Get it from Amazon for $10.97 .

13. Or, if you're willing to spend a bit more, a  BenjiLock fingerprint travel lock  (as seen on Shark Tank ) so you don't have to worry about keys *or* a combination code while traveling — this bad boy will open to you and you alone.

BenjiLock by Hampton is a small biz that uses biometric technology to use your fingerprint as the key to the lock. The lock is pick- and water-resistant, rechargeable, and TSA-approved. You can also program it to accept up to five unique fingerprints on trips when you're traveling with others.

Promising review: "I consider myself a bit of a 'nomad' and needed a lock for my latest travels. I have to say that after a month of going all over Europe, the BenjiLock is amazing! What a neat little lock! Yes, it took a beating, but it worked all around. The fingerprint was very easy to set, and I only charged it once before I left. It still works!" — Cadyn

Get it from Amazon for $40.99 , Hampton for $39.99 , or The Grommet for $49.95 . 

14. A travel wallet that has an RFID-blocking shield material to protect your personal information from being scanned unawares. Plus, it'll keep your travel documents (passport, ID, boarding pass, etc.) all organized and in one place so you're not fumbling to remember which pocket you hurriedly shoved it in last (so you can stay focused and alert to the situation around you).

The wallet has a passport pocket, boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a slim card pouch, slim pocket, a ticket slot, a cellphone pouch, a coin zippered pocket, key holder, and pen holder. 

Promising review: "I absolutely love this wallet. I needed a new travel wallet, and this holds everything I need all in one place, and it still closes nicely and stays flat! I can fit my boarding pass, passport, ID, credit cards, money, checked baggage tickets, receipts, and more in it, yet it doesn’t bulk up or look like an overstuffed mess. It's just amazing. The description says it only holds US money, but I just used the boarding pass flap to hold all my Japanese Yen (¥), which are larger. I didn’t use the zippered pocket for coins as I much prefer a separate coin purse for that sort of thing. I definitely recommend to anyone who travels a lot!" — Anthony Luu

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 37 colors).

15. Or an RFID-blocking neck wallet if you want to keep it close to your chest at all times and not have to open your backpack any time you want to pay for something. 

Promising review : "I loooooved it. I flew with it to Germany alone. It had space for my passport, boarding cards, credit cards, money, and my cell phone. Granted, with so much stuff stuffed into it, it of course got a little bulky under my shirt. But I knew that and wore a loose shirt so no one could see it. I loved just taking it off during the security checks instead of the usual looking for my cell while holding the passport and boarding ticket and keeping an eye in my wallet, taking off necklaces, rings and whatnot . I just temporarily put my jewelry in it too so after the security check i just picked up this and my backpack and was ready to go, while others where still busy trying to find a space to gather all their belongings and put their stuff back on. I will not travel without it anymore. Such a small thing can make such a big difference." — SR09

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in seven colors).

16. A travel pouch  that attaches to the side or front of your bra so there's *zero* chance of a expert-level pickpocket snatching your purse and leaving you empty-handed without money or identification, especially when you don't have a travel companion around to help. It can hold your smallest essentials: credit cards/cash, a hotel key, a photo copy of your passport, etc.

Promising review: "This was a LIFESAVER while traveling. I kept my cards and cash in it and had no stress about thieves lifting my essentials while traveling heavily pickpocketed cities. I loved it so much, I actually continued to use it when I got home instead of carrying a purse! The top flap did start to unravel after about six months — but this was also after six months of everyday use." — Krista Hinz

Get it from Amazon for $16.95+ (available in pink and black).

17. An inconspicuous set of  scrunchies  to keep small travel items (like cash and lip balm) *literally* close at hand while still out of sight — and yes, they work as actual scrunchies too when you need to pull your hair out of your face. 

This eliminates the need to carry a wallet or small purse when all you need is some cash and your key, for instance!

Promising reviews: "I bought this because of someone on TikTok who had purchased this. Extremely convenient and cute! They’re very soft, and I’ve been using mine to hold cash and lip balm. I wish there were more colors!" — Michaela

"I bought these since I was going on a long vacation by myself. I rolled my money and was able to fit it inside the scrunchie. It’s soft, very stretchy and fits my wrist! I didn’t have any issues with the zipper. I wore it on my wrist all the time and put money/lip balm inside it. It worked great during my vacation. This would be perfect to stash some things inside!" — Jessica Sandoval

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $11.99 (available in two colors).

18. A fashionable travel scarf that may look like any ordinary accessory at a glance — but it has a secret pocket large enough to fit an iPhone, passport, keys, and some cash so you can explore with confidence on your own. Bonus: It'll keep you warm on those freezing cold flights and can be unfolded to use as a blanket too. 

Waypoint Goods is a small business focused on creating travel and lifestyle accessories for women to empower them to explore the world safely. Their Travel Scarf was debuted in 2015 on a Scandinavian urban cycling trip where the founder, Caitlin, realized a purse was not an option. Each color and style has a unique story behind it that inspired the design.

Promising review : "Fabulous scarf for traveling. Hidden pocket is very discreet and large enough for cash, passport, credit cards, etc. Sturdy zipper and beautiful design. Just got back from three weeks in China. I was able to easily carry all of the above, leaving my hands free. Superior product, practical and discreet. I've since purchased two more!" — Florida Girl

Get it from Waypoint Goods for $26.25+ (available in 16 styles).

19. A compact first aid kit so you can take care of any minor injuries yourself when you don't have anyone else around to help. From alcohol prep pads and gauze to eye wash, a tourniquet, and even an emergency blanket, you'll be prepared for those unforeseen situations that can be way more stressful when you're on your own.

Promising review : "I love that there is not too much stuff to make it overly complicated to look through but there is plenty to help in case of emergency. Its compact enough to fit in my car or in my backpack when I go solo hiking." — Samuel

Get the 100-piece set from Amazon for $14.95+ (also available in 200- and 250-piece sets).

20. A fanny pack that can be worn as a crossbody bag or around your waist, doubling as a ~fashion statement~ while also providing hands-free storage for your valuables that's always in front of you, because no one's watching your back. An inner pocket lets you stash your passport and money away from reach, including a hook to actually attach your keys to. 

Promising review : "The fabric is extremely durable and the size is perfect for hiking, cycling, traveling, etc. The feature that impressed me most are the pockets and positions of them. It's easy to hide passports, phones, etc. out of pickpocket range as two of them are hidden . The over-the-shoulder option is another win as the adjustable belt provides so many options and the zippers will last forever. It's a superb deal for only $13 USD, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!" — Andrew J. Krantz

Get it from Amazon for $6.97+ (available in two sizes and 28 colors).

21. A roadside emergency kit if you're traveling alone by car, *especially* if you won't be on busy highways the whole time — throw this in the empty passenger seat so it's at easy reach. It has all the essentials for auto-related emergencies, like jumper cables, a belt cutter, a window breaker, a hand-driven flashlight, and more. 

Promising reviews : "This is the second roadside assistance set I have purchased. I just recently drove from West Coast to East Coast and these emergency car safety kits are invaluable, especially when traveling long distances off a main highway and if you are traveling alone . The old Amex commercial saying —"Don’t leave home without it" — definitely applies to these emergency car kits 😀" — J Hines

"Amazing kit! I'm a 17-year old female and I figured it would be good to have an emergency kit. It makes me feel super safe when driving knowing that I'll be prepared if anything happens. I keep the window breaker/seat belt cutter in my door that way I can easily grab it, and the rest of the kit in the back of my car. Super easy to retrieve all the items from the pack. Anyone with a car needs this." — Isabella

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 .

22. A pocket belt to keep some emergency cash safely tucked away, so that in the off chance something *does* happen to your wallet, you won't be left empty-handed. PLUS, it makes going through the TSA security line slightly less of a headache, as you won't have to remove this before passing through.

Each belt also comes with two recovery tags from ReturnMe, which you can stick on your phone, passport, and other valuables. In the event you become separated from them, their call center will help you locate and recover your items — and this is a free service for life.

Promising review: "I LOVED using this while I traveled. As a young woman traveling alone, I was so nervous about getting robbed, and this was the perfect way to keep my belongings safe. I love that it's secure, but still sleek and not super touristy-looking like a fanny pack. It fit so well and comfortably and looked like part of my outfit rather than making me stick out as a tourist and a target. I will never travel without this again! So much better than carrying around a bulky bag!" — Francesca Karam

Get it from Amazon for  $17.99 .

Have a trip coming up soon? After stocking up on some of these safety items, check out these tips for keeping yourself safe while traveling alone .

Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion check out all of buzzfeed’s gift guides .

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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Medea Giordano

The Best Personal Safety Devices, Apps, and Wearables

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From a young age, women learn to be on defense. We repeat mantras to ourselves and each other: Try not to go places alone. Don't leave drinks unattended. Check your car's back seats and lock your doors after getting in. We're told that doing such normal activities as living alone, jogging, going on dates, and leaving the house could put us in harm's way.

To protect ourselves, WIRED staffers and friends I spoke to mentioned the same few methods, like walking with keys held between their fingers, carrying pepper spray on their keychains, or talking on the phone with a friend until they felt safe. It's not always a stranger lurking in the dark who poses the biggest threat; it's often the ones we love and live with who perpetrate the most harm . We can't make people be better, but as technology writers, the Gear team wondered whether there was something better, a way for all this tech we already carry with us—our phones, our smartwatches—to provide an assist. We don't want to live our lives in fear, but we do want to be safe and prepared.

This guide is long, with options for a lot of different scenarios and budgets. The most important advice is this: download the free Noonlight app , see what safety features your phone and watch already offer , and learn to use whatever method you go with before you're in an emergency . From there, we urge you to browse the rest of this guide for other options you might not have thought of.

Updated April 2024: We've included info about Apple's new Check In feature and added the Silvertree Reach bracelet. We've also updated prices and links throughout.

Medea Giordano is the lead reviewer for this guide. Louryn Strampe and Adrienne So also tested some devices and shared advice on products they already use.

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Table of Contents

Before you buy anything …, safety features your phone already has, our favorite safety apps.

• Our Favorite Safety Devices and Wearables

Safety Features Already in Your Smartwatch

• More Safety Accessories We Like

The built-in safety features of the Apple Watch vary from model to model. Always get to know these features before you potentially need them.

Before you take the plunge and invest in one of these personal safety products or become entirely reliant on a piece of software, here are a few general guidelines to follow:

By Adrienne So

By Christopher Solomon

By Eric Ravenscraft

• Test it first. A complicated new device won’t do you any good if the first time you use it is during a tense or panicked situation. As soon as you unbox the product or install the app, you should go through test runs of setting off alarms, sending your location to a friend, or activating any kind of SOS feature in the product. If the product you’re using promises to connect you to emergency services, give this a dry run. (Most companies account for test runs. Just be sure to complete the call and communicate to the service that you're OK.)
• Make a plan. If you list certain friends or family members as emergency contacts within an app, give your friends a heads-up and make sure they also know what to do when they're alerted—go through a dry run with them too.
• Have it ready. Whatever type of product you're using, it will only work if it's quickly accessible. If you find yourself on a solo jog, walking home alone at night, or navigating a dark parking lot, have your device in hand. You won't always have time to dig through your bag. If it's a phone-connected device that requires Bluetooth, make sure it's on. Just to note, the promise of technology should not lull you into letting your guard down. Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Have options. For some communities, the police might not offer the best, fastest or most reliable protection. We’ve included suggestions below for apps and devices that will contact only your predetermined friends in an emergency, as well as an app that records interactions with police.
• And remember … Even the best product isn't foolproof. Your phone’s battery can die, or the phone could be stolen. Devices that rely on data or Wi-Fi signals are useless if you’re out of range. Location-tracking services can be used against you by abusive partners. Apps might store your location and contacts on their servers, which means you might be exchanging a bit of privacy to use some of them. Only share your location with people you absolutely trust not to use it against you, or who know you and your patterns well enough that they won't overreact and send police to your location when you're simply stuck in a meeting or taking a nap.

The apps that come preinstalled on your phone can be used to keep you safe.

Your smartphone has at least two built-in safety features that work without requiring you to download or buy anything extra: location sharing and emergency calling.

The obvious downside to relying on your smartphone is that if it dies or is shut off, you can’t make any phone calls or share your location with a trusted contact. So if you notice your battery is low, and you sense you might be in danger, you should quickly send your current location so your trusted contact has a starting point. If you’d rather not use continuous tracking, you could text a trusted friend a photo of the map you’re using, like if you’re going out for a solo hike; if you don’t arrive at your destination, friends or authorities can at least try to trace your steps.

To use these built-in safety features on your phone, follow these instructions:

• If you have an iPhone, you can share your location with other iPhone users by going to their contact card and selecting Send My Current Location or Share My Location. With the latter, you can choose a time frame: indefinitely, until the end of the day, or for one hour.
• iPhones also have an emergency call feature activated by holding down the power button and one of the volume buttons. You can slide the SOS slider for an instant call to 911 or keep holding down the buttons to start that call automatically after a five-second countdown.
• Apple introduced a Check In feature on iOS 17. You choose your ending location and/or time you plan to be there, and your selected contact is notified right in your text thread. Both users need to have the latest OS for it to work. We have a post on exactly how to use it , but the basics are this: Select the contact you want to share your trip with in your messages. Hit the “+” sign to the left of the text box, select More and then Check In. Then you'll choose between When I Arrive—which will share your destination and automatically update your estimated arrival time based on driving conditions or traffic—or After a Timer—which specifies a time period to check in rather than a location.
• It's easier to lay out exactly which features iPhones offer. Androids may have slightly different features depending on the type of phone you get. But if you have an Android phone from the past few years it should have some form of an emergency call system.
• Pretty much all smartphones now offer an emergency call feature from the lock screen, so you can call 911 without having to unlock your phone. Calls to 911 should also work on most smartphones if you don't have service or a SIM card, as long as you're close enough to a cellular signal, be it your own wireless carrier or another. It’s similar to how you can use a payphone to call 911 without feeding it any quarters.
• You can use Google Maps to share your location with friends by choosing Location Sharing under your account icon in the top right (on the iPhone app, you’ll find this in the menu in the top left).
• If you have a Pixel 4 or newer, a personal safety app is built-in to your phone. There, you'll find Safety Check . You specify what you're doing and how long it should take. After that time frame is up, you'll get an alert to check in and say you're OK within 60 seconds. If you don't, your assigned contacts are notified. You can also immediately alert 911 or your contacts instead of waiting for the timer if you're able to. There is also car crash detection and emergency SOS. For the latter, you don't need to use the app, but instead, press the power button five times to trigger a call. If your phone is older, or you have another type of Android, you can download this app , but mileage may vary.
• If you have a Samsung Galaxy , use the safety page within settings to set up emergency contacts to get SOS messages as well as optional video and audio recording that starts once you've triggered the alarm. It doesn't contact local authorities , however, so you'll need to set up a contact for your local emergency services if you want your SOS to signal help immediately.

You likely always have your phone on you. If you want something more than the built-in features, an app is the most convenient way to access help without fumbling over a separate device. Most of our favorites are also free.

Noonlight is dead simple to use and has free, $5, and $10 per month options.

The best safety apps are simple to use in a panicked situation, and Noonlight is as simple as it gets. All you have to do is press your finger on the onscreen button if you feel unsafe—I often use it while walking home but you can use it for any situation, like if someone knocks on your door. Once you're safe, release your finger and enter your PIN within 10 seconds. If you don’t enter your PIN, Noonlight first attempts to contact you over the phone, and if you don’t answer the call, the company then contacts local authorities, directing them to your location. Help is on the way in the critical moments when you may not be able to dial 911 and talk to an operator. Every person should have this app downloaded; the free version is more than enough for most users.

Noonlight is available for both iOS and Android . The iOS version has two additional free features that I like: Timeline and Safety Network. Your Timeline can be filled out with details about your activities, like who you're going on a date with and where; you can even add a photo of their dating profile. You can also indicate whether you’re doing anything differrent from your usual schedule, like house-sitting, working late, or traveling to a new location. If you activate the Noonlight button, your Timeline is sent to authorities along with your location.

When you add contacts to the app’s Safety Network, these people can check in on you and send local help to your last known location. Your contacts don't have to download the Noonlight app; they can access all of the relevant information on the company’s website.

If you subscribe for $5 or $10 a month, you can connect Noonlight to apps like Uber, Lyft, and Tinder (you'd be able to automatically add your date's profile to the Timeline mentioned above), or connect a voice assistant. The $5 tier also gets you access to the Apple Watch app, though I personally think that should be a free feature. Noonlight partners with some of the other options on this list, too, and works with Wyze, one of our favorite smart-home brands .

Strava is mostly used for logging cycling and running workouts, but it has some useful safety features.

Strava is a social network for workouts, used mostly to record long bike rides or runs, and it may be an app you already use. Strava has a helpful feature called Beacon that shares your real-time location with anyone you choose, along with what time you started your activity, how long you've been active, and your phone's battery percentage. If you set up a check-in time with your chosen friend, they'll know when it's time to get worried. They can then share your GPS map with the police. Beacon is now free on the mobile app (it used to be part of the premium version of Strava ), but you'll have to pay for a subscription if you want to use it on other connected devices, like your smartwatch.

Remember that if you have a public profile, other Strava users might able to see where you live. Strava has instructions on how to tweak your privacy settings , or you can start tracking your runs a few blocks away from your house.

Rescu lets you choose exactly the type of help you need, and it saves addresses so you can get help to your house even if you aren't there.

In addition to contacting police, Rescu includes options to get the fire department or an ambulance dispatched quickly so you don't have to worry about talking through an incident with an operator before the right team is alerted. It has another nice feature: You can send help to up to four saved addresses even if you aren't there—so if you're out of town and your security camera spots someone lurking around or there's an emergency at an elderly parent's house outside your area, you don't have to figure out exactly which department to call when you're already panicked.

There's no free tier here, but the brand has condensed its options into one $8.25 per month subscription. It includes your saves addresses plus the ability to send help to wherever you are, using GPS, and an unlimited amount of emergency contacts. And you can use calling, texting, or in-app chatting to talk to help if it's needed.

The app is automatically put in test mode for the first day after you download it, so you can get used to using all the features without actually calling anyone. If you want to refresh yourself or show someone else how to use it, you can put it back into test mode at any time from the main menu.

Sabre is best known for its paper spray and other safety devices. But the brand teaches safety , too, with certified instructors and programs available. It also has an app to get you help quickly if you need it.

The app is free if you want to only alert trusted contacts, or $5 a month to add police access (Sabre works in partnership with Noonlight for this). In the app, add your contact's name and number and all they have to do is verify it via a link they're texted; they don't have to download the app. On the homepage, you should see your location on a map and a red exclamation point at the bottom. Clicking that exclamation point takes you to your panic button. Once you press it, your trusted contact gets a link to your location. If you've paid for the subscription, it also alerts authorities to that location. From there, you can mark yourself safe or state it was a false alarm—both need a pin number to confirm, and your contact will be alerted of that status as well (though they can still view your location).

Sabre's Personal Safety app can be used alone or paired with its smart pepper spray , alerting your contacts or local authorities when it's been deployed. But as we said earlier, laws are complicated, and pepper spray isn't the best choice for everyone or every situation. Pepper gel is also typically a better choice, because there's less chance of it blowing back into your eyes. (If you do get it, please utilize the practice canister.)

Mobile Justice can be used to record your interactions with law enforcement or to record any police interactions you're witness to.

Defaulting to apps that promise to “contact the authorities” when you’re in danger assumes a certain amount of privilege: It means your experience is such that you believe the authorities will protect you, not hurt you. But as we know, that is not everyone’s experience. For many Americans—particularly Black Americans—there’s a very real risk of being harmed by police, even if they're the ones who call and need help.

That’s where an app like Mobile Justice may be helpful. The app records your interaction with police, streaming the video to your chosen contacts and your local ACLU chapter. If you feel your rights have been violated during the interaction, you can then fill out an incident report for the ACLU with the location information, name of the police agency involved, and a detailed explanation of what happened. You’ll need cell service or Wi-Fi for the app to work, but you can record on your phone and send an incident report later if needed. The Mobile Justice app isn’t just for people who are being pulled over or treated with unnecessary force; others can use the app to record incidents they witness.

We know this isn't a perfect solution and that even capturing concrete video evidence doesn’t mean a citizen is protected or that justice will be served if harm is done. But you are well within your rights to record interactions with law enforcement. As is outlined in the rights section of the app, officers cannot view or delete footage or confiscate your phone without a warrant; and demanding that you stop recording violates your First Amendment rights. Third parties can legally record interactions with police and someone else, as long as they are not interfering with what’s happening or obstructing officers’ movements.

There's more helpful information within the app about your rights in different situations, whether you’re being stopped by the police or participating in a protest, as well as alerts from your local ACLU.

The InvisaWear wearables below work with ADT, but the home security company has a standalone app too. The free tier gets you an SOS button, where you can activate an alert—if ADT can't reach you by phone, it’ll send help and alert your chosen contacts. There's also an SOS chat option available. Both of these get you to help without anyone near you knowing, so if you're in a weird situation, no one would think you're doing anything but texting. Or, if you have to hide for any reason, you can tell someone what's going on silently—just remember to turn your phone volume down. Also part of the free version is location tracking with trusted contacts, like some of our other recommendations offer.

If you subscribe to the Plus plan at $4.17 per month, you'll also get SOS video (this could be used as evidence, if it comes to that), a timed tracking feature for ADT and your contacts to track your location during a situation you feel could be dicey, and the option to trigger a silent alarm with a secret code phrase. A premium plan for $8.33 a month includes roadside assistance and crash detection.

There are tons of safety apps, including two additional ones we've looked into. We recommend trying a few to see what works best for you, and like everything else on this list, play around with the app so you know exactly how it works when you need it.

• Just N' Case (available on the App Store ) uses a panic button or selected phrase to alert your chosen contacts of your location. It does not contact police. Those main features are free, or you can add an automated call to your contacts for 99 cents a month. You can open it when you need it, like I do with Noonlight, or keep it running in the background so you can yell your phrase at a moment's notice. If you enable sound, setting it off also starts an alarm. That could be good if something is happening to you in public and you want people around you to pay attention, but if you're trying to be discreet, you'll want to turn this off. It is not available for Android phones.
• We tried SafeUP which is now Soli (available on App Store or Google Play ). It was an app for connecting you to local women, called guardians, when you're in need. It has now expanded on that and has become more of a sisterhood app than just a safety one. We'll test this new app soon.

Our Favorite Safety Devices

There are times when you simply can't, or don't want to, have your phone open in your hands, and that's where a panic button comes in handy. We've tried keychains and buttons hidden in jewelry.

Arlo's Safe Buttons are small and mostly unassuming, adding little weight to your keys. You'll need to connect it to the Arlo Safe app (available on the App Store or Google Play ) but once set up you can use it without taking out your phone. If you're in an uncomfortable situation and this is already in your hand, you can press the button without anyone knowing.

It works similarly to Noonlight. Hold down the button—or the onscreen button in the app—if you feel uneasy, releasing it when you're either safe or need help. Enter your PIN within 10 seconds to deactivate or don't to prompt a text and call within a few seconds of each other. Without a subscription, your chosen contacts will be alerted of your location via GPS tracking, but with a subscription you can contact police and unlock other services too, like tracking and check-ins. You can get two buttons bundles with one year of a family plan. After that, subscriptions cost $5 per month for an individual plan, $10 for a family plan, and $25 per month for the total Safe and Secure Plan which includes camera monitoring if you also use its security cams .

There's a clip to attach it to your clothes, and it seems pretty secure for walking, but runners may want more dependability. I recommend using the key ring to attach the button to a hair tie around your wrist, then use the clip to secure it so it doesn't bounce around—I used to do this with my dorm key in college to avoid losing it or needing a bag. You'll need to have Bluetooth turned on, and the device must be close to your phone for it to work, like the other devices here.

Photograph: Plegium

Plegium's buttons are affordable and small little keychains, at just about an inch in diameter. The button part is actually two teeny blue buttons, one on each side of the circle. Hold them down for a few seconds, and once the green light flashes, a text and automated phone call are sent to your chosen contacts. If you don't pay for a subscription, they'll get the location where the button was activated. That gives them at least a place to start if something terrible happens. For live tracking and connection to authorities, you'll need to pay for the $7.45-a-month subscription.

The brand also has two sizes of pepper spray that, when sprayed, alert your contacts the same way the button does. Like I mention in the Sabre section, I prefer the option to use pepper gel, because there's less blowback on you.

I’ve tested around half a dozen or so safety-specific wearables over the past few years, and the Flare bracelet stood out. For one, it actually looks like a bracelet, not a tracking device. Flares come in beaded, leather, or cuffed designs, with a few options for metal finishes. Its design hides an SOS button that you'd really have to be searching for to find—whoever you're trying to get away from won't know you've set anything off. Press the button once if you’d like to receive a fake phone call, the type of which you determine in the app (available on the App Store ), like a roommate who needs you or a partner checking in. It comes from a real number that the app prompts you to save in your contacts, adding a fake name that gets displayed when the phone rings.

That aforementioned feature is helpful if someone is simply being a nuisance, but when you’re in a dangerous situation where a fake call isn’t enough, hold down the button to send a message and your location to your selected contacts and/or police. Flare has also established a partnership with Noonlight, so you can set up the Flare device (through the app) to call 911 when you hold the button down. You'll get a text and call immediately, and if you can't answer, your location is shared with first responders in your area. If you set it off accidentally and want to cancel, the operator will ask for personal identifiers, like the spelling of your last name and phone number, so they know it's really you.

The pricing and subscription models have changed a few times, but as of this writing the $149 fee includes a membership. The battery should last one year and it isn't rechargeable, which the company says was an intentional design choice to avoid any frustration with having to constantly recharge the thing. But the bracelet is guaranteed to last one year and depending on usage could last as long as two years. You'll be notified when it's dying. After that, you'll have to purchase an entirely new bracelet for another $98. Flare is currently only available for iPhone users. Like any other tracking device, it has to be connected to a phone, so you couldn't put this on a child and send them to school, for example.

Note: The company picks five people each month who are in need to receive a free bracelet. You can nominate yourself or someone you know here .

If you like the idea of Flare but have an Android phone, or simply don’t wear bracelets, then you might want to consider InvisaWear products, which are backed by the home security company ADT. The InvisaWear lineup includes a wide range of products like keychains , bracelets , and necklaces . Like Flare, these products are mostly designed to blend in with the rest of your wardrobe. As with Flare, it uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone via its app (available on the App Store or Google Play ).

I tried the InvisaWear keychain, bracelet, and necklace, all of which are designed around a pretty circular charm. On the back of the charm is a button that sends an alert and your location to local authorities and/or preselected contacts, depending on the settings you choose.

When we first tried this, getting in touch with 911 was free, but now everything requires a $20 per month subscription. That also includes features that could be useful, like in-app chats when you can't be on the phone, access to 24/7 calls with an ADT agent for any reason if you just want to be on the phone until you're safe inside, a voice-activation phrase to set it off if you can't get to the button, and even virtual self-defense classes. As with the Flare, the battery isn't rechargeable, so after a year or two you'll need to replace the button at a discounted $99 fee—the app will alert you when it's time to replace it. Once a month, the company sends out an email reminding you to place a test call to make sure it's working properly. (To do this, open the app's menu then select “Place Test Alert.”)

★ Something to consider: A friend of mine has an InvisaWear and she's experienced problems with it not sending alerts when it needed to, and sending alerts when it didn't need to, like when she put it on. We didn't experience this in our limited testing, but it's a problem to keep in mind. Test it often, replace it when it needs to be replaced, and if you experience this issue, contact the company right away.

Note: There's a 5 percent discount for students .

Photograph: Silvertree

The Silvertree Reach is a bracelet with an easy-to-use button to activate an SOS, as well as fall detection. It's a similar idea to Life Alert, probably best reserved for an elderly family member or anyone without a smartphone. Someone needs to use the app (available on the App Store and Google Play ) to set it up, but once that is done it works without being near a phone. You have to pay a subscription of either $25 a month or $240 annually.

Pressing the button notifies your “Care Team” who have the chance to intervene before emergency services are called. Your Care Team must have a phone in order to get alerts. One press activates an SOS and another press is supposed to cancel it, but I had a few test runs that I couldn't cancel without using the app. If you're giving it to someone without a smartphone, test it out a few times with them to make sure it's working properly.

If you already own a wrist wearable like an Apple Watch or Garmin fitness tracker, you might not want to spend your money on yet another gadget. Or maybe you'd prefer something that's more multi-use than a wearable SOS button. The good news is that some popular smartwatch models have safety features built in.

• Apple Watch SOS: As on an iPhone, you can make an SOS call to local emergency services via your Apple Watch by pressing the side button until the SOS slider appears on the screen. From there, you can manually drag the slider or keep holding the button until it counts down for five seconds and then automatically activates the call. Your designated emergency contacts are also notified via text message with your location.
• Garmin Watch Assistance: Most Garmin models—sell all our favorites here —have an assistance feature that will send your location to your predetermined contacts if activated, similar to the Flare and InvisaWear jewelry. There is also “incident detection,” which automatically sends your location to those contacts when the device detects a fall or other serious accident, like a bike crash.

WIRED senior associate editor Adrienne So tried testing the incident detection feature with her Garmin Venu 2S and couldn't get it to activate after a fake fall, so we can't say for sure how well this would work during an actual incident. Still, So says she feels generally much safer on runs, thanks to her Garmin’s location tracking. Like most of these wearables (except for Apple Watch, which you can set up a separate cellular plan for), your phone will have to be with you for this to work. And of course, you'll have to make sure you activate these safety features first.

More Safety Accessories

If you’re a frequent camper or hiker, or are otherwise away from cell service often, most of the products here aren’t going to help you in an emergency. That’s where a satellite messenger comes in.

We have a guide with a few picks for different situations . The Spot X is old-school and doesn't work if you're crossing the ocean. But its two-way texting, mapping, and tracking work independently, so if your phone is dead, broken, or MIA, this thing will work. We really love the Garmin inReach Mini , but it's now discontinued and only available used.

I've talked to several self-defense teachers over the years who always recommend flashlights as personal safety devices—yes, more than mace or a pocket knife. A flashlight obviously lights your way while you walk in the dark, which might help you see someone otherwise cloaked by darkness, but there are two other reasons why these work. Putting a flashlight up to someone's eyes will disorient them, hopefully long enough to let you get away. I'm nearly blinded by an iPhone's camera flash, so imagine thousands of lumens directly to your eyeballs. If it was truly a kind stranger asking for directions and not a threat, you didn't actually harm them, and you'll be far away before you know any different. (Sorry, stranger.)

If that fails, you can use it to, frankly, hit them. A hunk of metal to the face will hurt worse than your fist, and won't hurt you in the process. Get a good swing and run. Of course, though, like any weapon, it can be taken from you and used against you, so keep that in mind.

Infinity X1 flashlights are bright. I tried the 4,000-lumen one that lit up the room brighter than my actual lights do. That one is out of stock as of this writing, but an even brighter 5,000-lumen light is also available. Both have two cores, one that holds the batteries and one that's rechargeable. It can also charge your phone, so it's not bad to keep on hand for emergencies anyway. It's heavy and long, which is good if you need to swing it, but it won't be easy to stow in your purse.

★ Cheaper options: Any flashlight with some heft will do, and there are a few others we really like. WIRED writer Matt Jancer recommends the 350-lumen Fenix E20 V2 ($45) in his Guide to Creating a Home Emergency Kit . It's compact, so it shouldn't be too annoying to throw in your bag, but it's still constructed of tough metal. For even less, writer Louryn Strampe recommends the 900-lumen Anker Rechargeable Bolder ($34) , which even has a strobe function. It's a lot smaller, but it will still pack a harder punch than a lone fist.

How We Tested

We tested built-in smartphone functions, third-party apps, internet-connected jewelry, and other personal safety devices designed to get you in contact with help when you need it. We set off panic buttons where applicable and talked to responders, or went through training exercises provided by the companies. Most of the products are capable of signaling your need for help without requiring you to speak to anyone, so you don't have to dial a number or voice your concern aloud when it would be unsafe for you to do so.

None of these products provides a comprehensive solution for every scenario, but they each offer some form of protection. In some localities, it's illegal to carry a concealed weapon like a knife or even pepper spray, and using those things can put you in further danger. So the methods we highlight here are an alternative to brandishing a weapon.

We approached our testing with inclusivity in mind, acknowledging that different groups may have different personal safety needs or feel vulnerable in situations where others don’t. While we think women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community would benefit from some of these products the most, cisgender straight men are also at risk of violence, even if they don’t hear the same warnings we do. Most of this advice focuses on one-on-one violence, but mass shootings are also a fear that Americans are constantly battling. These things might help get you in contact with help quicker, but they haven't been tested for that sort of chaos.

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The Camping Safety Items You Should Have On Hand, According To Experts

Shopping Writer for HuffPost

Safety and emergency preparedness are typically two notions that most folks already take into consideration when it comes to camping and outdoor adventures. That still doesn’t mean it’s not important to take stock of what’s in your current stash of gear, or, if you’re a wilderness newbie, to learn what essentials to take.

Cody Lundin is an Arizona-based survival instructor who teaches primitive living skills and urban preparedness. He said that the specific essential gear that a person takes outdoors is really based upon “their bioregion, the intention of the trip, personal skill level and experience.”

“In other words, if I head into the mountains with spruce and fir trees, or if I go into one of our four North American deserts, the gear that I carry may change to adapt to that specific landscape,” he said, adding that winter survival and desert survival are opposite outdoor temperature extremes that can kill the unprepared hiker or camper.

Regardless, Lundin said that there are items that have been carried in the wilderness for thousands of years by native peoples that are just as valid today in a modern outdoor survival kit.

So now that you’ve already got your tent, your sleeping bag is packed and the s’mores provisions are locked and loaded, consider the following list of items that Ludin and other wilderness experts say they always bring out into field — — plus guidance on how to make your next camping trip safe and fun.

HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

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Best Travel Gadgets for Your Next Adventure

T raveling has become an essential part of our lives. Whether it’s for leisure, business , or adventure, travel can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. As travelers, we want to make sure we have everything we need. Luckily, technology has gifted us with countless travel gadgets that are here to make our trips more comfortable and convenient. Here are some of the best travel gadgets that you should consider taking with you on your next adventure.

Must-Have Travel Gadgets for Your Next Adventure

The best travel gadgets can enhance your travel experience by making it more convenient, comfortable, and enjoyable. Here are some popular travel gadgets that you might find useful for your next trip:

There is nothing more frustrating than running out of battery while you are traveling. A power bank can come in handy, especially if you are going on long flights or bus rides. It’s small, portable, and can charge multiple devices at once. A 10,000mAh power bank should be enough to keep your devices charged for a day or two.

• Anker PowerCore 26800mAh : Anker is a well-known brand for power banks. The PowerCore 26800mAh offers a high capacity and multiple USB ports to charge multiple devices simultaneously. It’s compact and provides fast charging.
• Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC Portable Power Bank : If you need a high-capacity power bank with versatile charging options, the Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC is a premium choice. It not only charges smartphones and tablets but also laptops and other larger devices.

Noise-Canceling Headphones

Whether you’re on a flight, train, or bus, noise-canceling headphones can make a massive difference in your travel experience. They will muffle the sounds of crying babies, snoring passengers, and chatty neighbors. You can immerse yourself in your favorite music, audiobooks , or movies and forget about the world around you.

• Sony WH-1000XM4 : Sony’s WH-1000XM4 is highly regarded for its excellent noise-canceling capabilities, superb sound quality, and comfort. It also has a long battery life, touch controls, and features like Adaptive Sound Control.
• Bose QuietComfort 45 : Bose has a long history of producing top-notch noise-canceling headphones, and the QuietComfort 45 is no exception. They offer impressive noise cancellation, comfort, and clear sound quality.
• Apple AirPods Pro : If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Pro provides seamless integration with iOS devices. They offer excellent sound quality, active noise cancellation, and a premium build.
• Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless : Sennheiser’s Momentum 3 Wireless headphones combine premium materials with impressive sound quality and noise-cancellation technology. They are stylish and comfortable for long flights.
• Bowers & Wilkins PX7 : The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 headphones are known for their premium build quality and high-quality sound. They also offer strong noise cancellation, making them a great choice for travelers who value audio performance. They have a newer version but it’s over $500!

Portable Wi-Fi

Staying connected while traveling is essential. A portable Wi-Fi device can give you uninterrupted internet access wherever you go. You can use it to stay in touch with your loved ones, upload photos and videos, research your next destination, and navigate using Google Maps.

• Skyroam Solis X : The Skyroam Solis X is a versatile global hotspot with built-in power bank, remote camera, and VPN support. It provides convenient access to mobile data in more than 130 countries.
• Huawei : The Huawei is a high-speed mobile hotspot offering fast 4G LTE connectivity. It has a long-lasting battery and supports multiple device connections.
• Netgear Nighthawk M1 : The Netgear Nighthawk M1 is a robust mobile hotspot with high-speed capabilities, advanced security features, and the ability to connect up to 20 devices. It also has an Ethernet port for wired connections.
• GlocalMe G4 Pro: The GlocalMe G4 Pro is a global Wi-Fi hotspot that doesn’t require a local SIM card. It offers competitive global data packages and dual-SIM support, allowing you to use local SIM cards for even more cost-effective data.
• Alcatel LINKZONE : The Alcatel LINKZONE is a budget-friendly portable hotspot with a simple interface. It provides good connectivity and is an affordable option for travelers on a budget.

When considering the security of your mobile hotspot connection during travel, evaluating options like Surfshark vs NordVPN vs ExpressVPN becomes crucial for ensuring robust online privacy. These VPNs present varying features, demanding careful consideration to align with the capabilities of portable Wi-Fi devices.

Global Adapter

When you’re traveling internationally, you may find that your charger or electronic devices don’t fit into the sockets. A global adapter can solve this problem by providing you with various plug options to fit the outlets of most countries. It’s a small investment that can save you a lot of hassle.

• Newvanga Universal All in One Worldwide Travel Adapter : This adapter is compatible with outlets in more than 150 countries and includes four USB ports for charging your devices. It’s compact and easy to carry.
• EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter : The EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter is compatible with outlets in over 160 countries and includes four USB ports and a USB-C port for charging. It also has a built-in safety fuse to protect your devices.
• Skross PRO World Travel Adapter MUV USB : The Skross PRO World Travel Adapter is a high-quality, compact adapter that works in over 200 countries. It also includes dual USB ports for charging your devices.

RFID-Blocking Wallet or Passport Holder

Protect your personal information from digital theft with RFID-blocking accessories.

• Bellroy RFID Hide & Seek Wallet : Bellroy is known for its stylish and functional wallets. The RFID Hide & Seek Wallet combines traditional aesthetics with modern security features, offering excellent RFID protection and ample card and cash storage.
• Travelambo RFID Front Pocket Wallet : This minimalist wallet is designed for those who prefer a compact and front-pocket carry. It’s both slim and RFID-secure, making it an excellent choice for travel.
• Lewis N. Clark Ballistic RFID Bifold Wallet : The Lewis N. Clark Bifold Wallet is durable and affordable. It comes with RFID-blocking technology to protect your credit cards, IDs, and passport.
• Zero Grid RFID Travel Wallet : The Zero Grid RFID Travel Wallet is a versatile and compact option that can hold passports, multiple cards, boarding passes, and more. It offers RFID protection and is designed to keep your travel essentials organized.

Travel-Friendly Laptop or Tablet

A lightweight and compact laptop or tablet can help you stay connected, work on the go, or keep up with travel planning.

• Apple MacBook Air (M2) : The MacBook Air with Apple’s M2 chip is exceptionally lightweight and offers impressive performance, long battery life, and a slim design. It’s a popular choice for travelers, especially if you’re in the Apple ecosystem. This is the exact laptop I carry.
• Microsoft Surface Pro 7 : The Surface Pro 7 is a versatile 2-in-1 laptop/tablet with a detachable keyboard. It’s compact and lightweight, making it great for productivity on the go. The stylus support is handy for note-taking and drawing.
• Dell XPS 13 : The Dell XPS 13 is known for its thin and lightweight design, along with a nearly bezel-less display. It’s powerful, portable, and a great choice for both work and entertainment.
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon : The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a lightweight and durable laptop with a comfortable keyboard. It’s an excellent choice for business travelers who need reliability and performance.
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch) : If you prefer a tablet, the iPad Pro is a powerful option with a large screen and excellent performance. When paired with a keyboard case and Apple Pencil, it can serve as a versatile travel companion for work and creativity.

Best Laptops for Travelers

GPS Tracker

Keep track of your belongings or even your children with a GPS tracker device.

• Apple AirTag : The Apple AirTag is a small and affordable Bluetooth tracker that can be used to keep track of items like keys, luggage, and more. It integrates seamlessly with the Apple Find My app.
• Tile Pro Series : Tile offers a range of Bluetooth trackers, including the Tile Pro, which has a longer range and a loud ring. It’s useful for keeping track of your belongings, especially when you’re in close proximity.
• Tracki 2021 Model Mini GPS Tracker : The Tracki GPS tracker is a compact device that offers real-time tracking, geofencing, and a variety of alert features. It’s suitable for tracking luggage, vehicles, and even people.

Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Enjoy your favorite music or podcasts in your hotel room or at the beach with a portable Bluetooth speaker.

• Bose SoundLink Revolve+ : The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ is known for its impressive 360-degree sound, water-resistant design, and convenient handle for carrying. It offers a long battery life and great audio quality.
• JBL Flip 5 : The JBL Flip 5 is a compact and affordable Bluetooth speaker with a rugged design. It’s known for its powerful sound and is great for outdoor activities.
• UE Megaboom 3 : The Ultimate Ears (UE) Megaboom 3 offers 360-degree sound, excellent build quality, and is IP67 rated for water and dust resistance. It’s highly portable and delivers robust audio.
• Anker SoundCore 2 : Anker’s SoundCore 2 is a budget-friendly option with excellent battery life, good sound quality, and a durable build. It’s compact and lightweight, making it suitable for travel.
• Sony SRSXB33 : The Sony SRSXB33 is a portable speaker known for its extra bass and party lights. It’s water-resistant and durable, making it a good choice for travelers who enjoy outdoor gatherings.

Compact Travel Camera

If you’re serious about photography, a compact travel camera can offer high-quality photos without the bulk of a DSLR.

• Sony RX100 VII : The Sony RX100 VII is known for its excellent image quality, fast autofocus, and a versatile zoom lens. It’s a premium compact camera with 4K video capabilities and advanced features.
• Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 : The Panasonic Lumix ZS200 (known as TZ200 outside the U.S.) is a compact camera with a 1-inch sensor and a powerful 15x zoom lens. It’s a great choice for travelers who want a balance between size and zoom capabilities.
• Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III : The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III offers a 1-inch sensor and is known for its excellent video recording capabilities, making it a popular choice for vloggers and content creators.
• Fujifilm X100V : The Fujifilm X100V combines a stylish design with exceptional image quality. It features an APS-C sensor and a fixed 23mm f/2 lens, making it an excellent choice for street and travel photography.
• Sony Cyber-shot HX99 / HX95 : The Sony Cyber-shot HX99 (HX95 outside the U.S.) is a compact camera with a 30x zoom lens, making it ideal for travelers who need versatility in a small package.

Luggage Scale

Avoid overweight baggage fees by weighing your luggage before heading to the airport.

• Etekcity Digital Luggage Scale : The Etekcity Digital Luggage Scale is a compact and affordable option that offers accurate weight measurements. It has a clear display and is easy to use.
• Camry Digital Luggage Scale : The Camry Digital Luggage Scale is a compact and lightweight option that provides accurate weight measurements for your bags. It has a built-in tape measure as well.

GoPro or Action Camera

Capture your adventures with a small, rugged camera that can record high-quality video and photos in various conditions.

• GoPro HERO10 Black : GoPro is a well-known brand in the action camera market, and the HERO10 Black is their flagship model. It offers excellent video quality, impressive stabilization, and a wide range of features for capturing action-packed moments.
• DJI Osmo Action : DJI is known for its drones, and the Osmo Action camera provides competitive features such as excellent image stabilization, 4K video, and a front-facing screen for vlogging and selfies.
• Insta360 ONE R : The Insta360 ONE R is a modular action camera that allows you to switch between different camera modules, including a 360-degree camera and a 4K wide-angle camera. It offers creative shooting options and excellent stabilization.
• Akaso V50 Elite : The Akaso V50 Elite is a budget-friendly action camera that offers 4K video recording, image stabilization, and a range of accessories. It provides good value for travelers looking to capture their adventures without breaking the bank.

E-Readeripad

Instead of carrying multiple books, consider an e-reader like a Kindle , which can store a vast library of reading material in a lightweight and compact device.

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite : The Kindle Paperwhite offers a high-resolution display with a built-in front light for reading in various lighting conditions. It’s lightweight, waterproof, and has a long battery life, making it an ideal travel companion for avid readers.
• Kobo Libra H2O : The Kobo Libra H2O features a large and sharp display with adjustable color temperature and a natural reading experience. It’s waterproof and has a comfortable design for extended reading sessions.
• Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight Plus : The Nook GlowLight Plus is known for its high-resolution display, water resistance, and long battery life. It’s a great choice for travelers who prefer Nook’s ecosystem.
• PocketBook Touch HD 3 : The PocketBook Touch HD 3 offers a high-resolution display with adjustable color temperature and supports a wide range of e-book formats. It’s lightweight and features a long-lasting battery.

Conclusion:

Investing in the right travel gadgets can make your trip more comfortable and hassle-free. Remember to choose gadgets that are essential and suit your travel style. With the above gadgets, you can enjoy your travels with your favorite music, stay connected with loved ones, stay charged, and catch some quality sleep. So, pack up and prepare for your next adventure with these travel gadgets that will make your life easier on the go. Happy travels!

10 Awesome Travel Gadgets At CES

Tech Products I Always Travel With

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CBP issues Withhold Release Order on Shanghai Select Safety Products and its subsidiaries

Agency will detain imports of work gloves manufactured using convict labor.

WASHINGTON – Effective today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel at all U.S. ports of entry will detain work gloves manufactured by Shanghai Select Safety Products Company, Limited and its two subsidiaries from China, Select (Nantong) Safety Products Co. Limited and Select Protective Technology (HK) Limited.

CBP issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against Shanghai Select Safety Products Company, Limited and its two subsidiaries Nantong and HK, based on information that reasonably indicates the use of convict labor in violation of 19 U.S.C. § 1307 in the production of that merchandise. The International Labour Organization estimates that nearly 28 million workers suffer under conditions of forced labor worldwide, and WROs are a way to send a message to foreign companies exploiting workers that this will not be tolerated in U.S. supply chains. Forced labor exposes vulnerable populations to inhumane working conditions, and also hurts American workers and law-abiding businesses who cannot compete with forced labor goods that are sold below market value.

“The U.S. government sets the standard across the globe for ethical and responsible commercial transactions as we prioritize our efforts in combatting forced labor,” said CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy A. Miller. “We continue to see the impacts of our actions as companies implement plans of action to remediate indicators of forced labor, resulting in improved living and working conditions for laborers, and so it is essential to continue this work until we’ve eliminated forced labor from our supply chains.”

The use of convict labor to produce goods imported into the United States in order to sell goods below market value is a violation of Section 1307, and hurts law-abiding businesses, threatens American jobs, and exposes consumers to the risk of making unethical purchases.

The WRO against Shanghai Select Safety Products Company, Limited is the latest action the United States has taken to address forced labor and other human rights abuses around the world. With this WRO issuance, CBP currently oversees and enforces 52 WROs and eight Findings under 19 U.S.C. § 1307. This law prohibits the importation of “[a]ll goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in any foreign country by convict labor or/and forced labor, or/and indentured labor under penal sanctions . . . ,” which includes forced or indentured child labor. When CBP has information reasonably indicating that imported goods are made by forced labor in violation of Section 1307, the agency will order personnel at U.S. ports of entry to detain shipments of those goods. Such shipments will be excluded or subjected to seizure and forfeiture if the importer fails to demonstrate proof of admissibility in accordance with applicable regulations.

“We have been clear that we will not tolerate any form of forced labor in U.S. supply chains,” said CBP Executive Assistant Commissioner AnnMarie R. Highsmith. “We encourage like-minded partners to join us in supporting fair competition in the global marketplace.”

“We continue to send a strong message to the importing community that the United States will not tolerate forced labor and human rights abuses in our supply chains,” said Robert Silvers, DHS Under Secretary for Policy and Chair of the federal Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force. “CBP’s actions today demonstrate that we will enforce all of our forced labor laws vigorously.”

Any person or organization that has reason to believe merchandise produced with the use of forced labor is being, or is likely to be, imported into the United States, can report detailed allegations by contacting CBP through the e-Allegations Online Trade Violation Reporting System or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT.

Follow CBP Office of Trade on X @CBPTradeGov.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We facilitate safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.

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I’m a Journalist Who Travels Solo — Here Are 17 Safety Devices Everyone Should Have on Hand, From $7

It’s time to add a personal safety alarm and portable door lock to your packing list.

Travel + Leisure / Daisy Rodriguez

There’s a freedom that can only be experienced while traveling solo — when every discovery you happen upon and every accidental adventure is absolutely your own. But exploring the world independently can also come with its share of worries.

As a travel journalist and editor who mostly travels on my own, I’ve had my share of shady situations — from being put into a car with destination unknown in Morocco to being followed by a stranger in Cape Town. Luckily, in every case, I’ve found the kindness of strangers watching over me to prevail, but the little hiccups on the road have also led me to collect a wide collection of “just in case” solo travel essentials so that I’m overly prepared for any situation. 

While safety and security are priceless, I’m happy to report that my go-to personal safety device must-haves are all on sale for Cyber Monday at Amazon. Read on for the 17 solo travel safety product I’m most excited about, from personal safety alarms to portable door locks . 

She's Birdie: The Original Personal Safety Alarm

Whether I'm walking alone at night or exploring a new city by day, an ever-present item in my purse is the simple but powerful personal safety alarm. There are several great brands out there (I use this personal alarm from Sabre that can be heard up to 1,000 feet away) but Travel + Leisure editors also trust the best-selling She's Birdie: The Original Personal Safety Alarm. All it takes is a quick sturdy pull of the top pin in an emergency, and the sound is triggered. In addition to the siren, there's also a flashing strobe light to drive away would-be attackers. At nearly half price now, it’s a no-brainer for every solo traveler — and makes a useful stocking stuffer.

Rerishom Portable Door Lock

Sleeping easy while you’re traveling solo can be a challenge, but one easy way to relieve the anxiety is with this best-selling portable door lock . This travel-friendly version can slide right into the hinged door crevice of any hotel room or vacation rental in mere seconds for an extra layer of security. One shopper attested that it “works well” and “truly does make me feel a lot safer.” Sabre also makes a handy TSA-approved portable door lock, too.

Apple AirTag

After my checked bag didn’t arrive when I went to London for the Platinum Jubilee last year — despite the airline’s tracking system saying it had — I knew it was time to take measures into my own hands. Now I pop a tracking device into every one of my bags, so I can assure I know where they are at all times. On the safety front, parents or loved ones back home are also increasingly using them to track their kids. Right now, the Apple AirTag is just $27, though this Nutale version costs less and is also compatible with the iOS’ FindMy app. 

Sabre Pepper Spray with Quick Release Key Ring

Ever since the spike of anti-Asian hate in recent years , I have started walking around New York City with a Sabre Pepper Spray in my bag — or even pocket when I’m in more tenuous situations. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use it yet, but I have watched virtual training and tested it out so that I’m prepared. Now while I’m out on my own, there’s a reassurance that if things do go sour, I have the power to slow down a perpetrator while I seek safety. Note that pepper spray laws are different in every state, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the regulation where you are — and to keep in mind TSA says it can only be packed in checked bags when traveling by air.

Lewis N. Clark Safebox Portable Safe

A challenge of traveling solo is finding a safe spot to leave your things, whether you’re on the beach, poolside, or camping. This brilliant portable nylon safe solves the problem by using a three-digit combination lock to secure itself to any stationary object, like a park bench, fence, golf cart, and the like. The 5-inch by 5-inch by 0.7-inch waterproof device is also slash-resistant so you can enjoy those moments with ultimate freedom.

Boxiki Travel Hidden Money Belt

If you’re traveling out of the country, the one thing to keep close to your chest (or waist in this case!) is your passport and some extra cash. While hotel safes are convenient when you’re stationed around one location, when I’m on the go, I like to keep mine in a discreet money belt . Boxiki’s version is flat with an adjustment strap to customize the fit on your hips where it’s comfortable and comes with two zip pockets and RFID-blocking material.

INIU Portable Charger 10000mAh 5V/3A Power Bank

One thing I’m most paranoid about while traveling alone is running out of power on my phone — after all, it’s pretty much my entire lifeline, with maps, Google translate, Apple Pay, and so much more. While some power banks can weigh you down, this 6.9-ounce portable charger can charge an iPhone 14 Pro about 1.5 times in a single charge and comes with a three-year warranty. As one recent user said it “ worked wonders ” on their recent trip and was “small and thin enough to fit in my jeans pocket.”

Pascacoo RFID-Blocking Passport Holder

There are enough things to worry about when you’re traveling on your own, and having your personal info stolen shouldn’t be one of them. Wallets with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) blockers protect your info from being digitally stolen, as seen in this faux leather passport holder . With 31 shades, ranging from rose red to coffee gray — and now for less than $10 — it’s an essential worth investing in.

Energizer LED Headlamp

A small but mighty device I’ve long carried with me on my solo travelers is a mini headlamp . It’s surprisingly come in handy, like when there was a blackout while I was in Cuba and when I couldn’t find my way to the restroom in the middle of the night while on a Moroccan camel-riding camping trip in the Sahara Desert. Energizer’s reliable design comes with 35 hours of light, and seven different modes to choose from for any situation, so you’ll never be left out in the dark.

Lewis N. Clark RFID-blocking Hidden Clip Travel Pouch

I’ve long been a fan of Lewis N. Clark for their mindfully made quality travel products — all with a reasonable price tag. One of the most versatile is this 3-inch by 4-inch travel pouch, which fits credit cards, IDs, and cash. The heavy-duty clip affixes it tightly to your waistband or pocket, so there’s no chance of losing them while you’re on your global adventures. The accessory comes in four hues — black, tan, charcoal, and rust — and also has RFID protection. 

Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Memento Crossbody Bag

I’m constantly on the hunt for a travel bag that can fit everything I need for a day out but is also discrete enough that it doesn’t attract thieves. At a roomy 9.75 inches by 7 inches by 1.5 inches, but only 8 ounces, this simple Baggallini crossbody bag checks off all the requirements, and as a bonus is chock full of thoughtful anti-theft features. Not only do the zippers lock, but there’s also RFID protection in its passport and wallet pockets, and the adjustable straps are cut-resistant. Plus, interior panels protect it from getting slashed.

Chtoocy Portable Carbon Monoxide Monitor

After hearing news stories of travelers unknowingly staying in places with high levels of invisible carbon dioxide, my sister convinced me to start traveling with a travel-sized carbon dioxide monitor . Lightweight with a standby time of 72 hours, this Chtoocy one shows the measured parts per minute for CO2 — and will ring an alarm when it reaches dangerous levels. As a bonus, it also measures temperature and humidity.

Lewis N. Clark Cable Luggage Lock

While many suitcases these days have built-in locks, this versatile cable lock can be used on backpacks, duffles, and other bags that may not have that security. But it can also be stretched with its 30-inch retractable steel cable to be used on bikes. I even saw a clever area in the Taipei airport where rolling suitcases could be padlocked while you use the restroom. 

Nathan SaferRun Ripcord Siren Personal Alarm + Strobe Light

While I initially got this Nathan Personal Alarm to clip into the custom pocket of my Nathan Reflective Running Gloves for winter runs after dark, the compact design is so easy to slip onto a pocket or waistband, turning it into one of my travel staples. For peace of mind while roaming around after dark or in nerve-wracking situations, the 115-decibel alarm can be heard as far away as 600 feet away and is quickly accessed by the pull of a cord. This version also comes with a vibrant LED strobe light to ensure you always feel seen.

Jaolex Hair Scrunchies with Zipper Pockets

While I haven’t worn scrunchies regularly since the ’80s, I’m digging the concept of this four-pack of velvety material ones in classic colors of black, cream, pink, and blue, since they each have a hidden zipper pocket. That means you can go retro and stash cash and keys in a totally inconspicuous spot. One Amazon shopper said they are “super soft” and “can hold quite a bit for [its] size and a great value.”

Vitamin Sea Infinity Scarves with Hidden Zipper

I’m all about stealthy safety devices that no thief would suspect. Similar to the hairbands, this clever infinity scarf not only keeps you warm but also has a 7-inch wide zipper pocket to store items as large as your phone, passport, and wallet. Available in four colors — including leopard print and red gingham —  the rayon, polyester, and spandex mix accessory can also flip inside out into a little pouch, making it extremely portable and packable.

Lyjee Motion Sickness Bands

Being extremely prone to motion sickness, I’ve gotten sick on trains in Peru, boats in Bermuda, and buses in Taiwan, so keeping myself from feeling ill is a major priority. One item that often helps is a motion sickness wristband with a built-in stud that applies weight to an acupressure point to naturally relieve some of that stress. I use this one but the Lyjee Motion Sickness Band at Amazon is also highly rated — and a small price to pay for comfort on the road.

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