17 Perfect Gifts for the Globetrotter

The globetrotter is a master of efficient travel. From the time he leaves the house to the time he lays down on the king bed at the Mandarin Oriental, everything on his person has to be simple, stylish and, most importantly, functional. Think more George Clooney in Up in the Air, less Home Alone‘s McCallister clan. When shopping for your globetrotting friend, don’t get anything that’ll slow him down: no oversized luggage, ostentatious cameras or countertop appliances. To ensure that your gift makes it through airport security and onto the plane, get one of the gadgets, packs, jackets or travel necessities here.

BeoPlay H3 ANC Headphones

Over-ear headphones are great at canceling out outside noise, but they’re also great at crushing the wearer’s ears. BeoPlay’s H3 ANC (Active Noise Canceling) headphones provide the prime-time audio he’ll want, with the comfort of in-ear buds. When the ANC is turned on, these rechargeable headphones have a 20-hour battery life. And unlike other battery-powered headphones, when the battery in the H3 ANC dies, the music doesn’t die with it — they’re still able to play, just without the ANC function.

Tumi Pax Packable Puffer Jacket

The constant traveler inevitably spends a few nights a year sleeping in airport terminals, cross-country buses and office chairs. For him, this puffer jacket is able to convert into a makeshift pillow via a hidden pouch in its collar. Add on that it’s water-resistant, down-insulated and lightweight, and it’s pretty much the ultimate travel companion.

Tanner Goods Stowaway Boot Bag

A boot bag is a must for men living out of their suitcase. Nobody wants dirt and other crud rubbing off their boots and onto their other clothes. This bag by Tanner Goods, made with a combination of waxed canvas and English leather, is affordable and demure. Plus, it’s small enough in any suitcase or backpack they’re traveling with.

The Gear Patrol Magazine

The best gift is something that the recipient wants but wouldn’t buy for himself. A basket of pears? No thanks. A trip around the world? Now you’re on to something. While we won’t be bankrolling a trip, we can get you close with Issue #1 of the Gear Patrol magazine, a journey from Wyoming to Chile to Norway (and more), plus product guides and an interview with mountaineer Conrad Anker. Seriously, put down that fruit basket.

Victorinox SwissCard

This multitool-card comes with 10 gadgets, including scissors, nail file, ballpoint pen and tweezers. Plus it’s the size of a thick business card. So if he needs a tool on the road, he can simply take out his wallet rather than spending time ruffling through his backpack or dopp kit.

Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Traveller

The Aeros Pillow Traveller is travel-friendly for two main reasons. One, its surface is covered with an abrasion-resistant 20-denier polyester laminate, so coping with the wear and tear of life on the road is no problem. And two, it’s inflatable. Once he’s done snoozing on the plane, the pillow deflates into a tiny sack the size of a bean bag.

A Map of the World: The World According to Illustrators and Storytellers

This book isn’t filled with ordinary maps. It’s filled with “illustrated cartography,” which means that the maps in this book are designed to not only help navigate, but to also tell stories that enlighten readers about the history, culture and geography of specific regions.

Belkin Travel Rockstar

The Travel Rockstar is a three-in-one: portable battery pack, charging station and surge protector. Its 3,000 mAh battery is enough to fully charge an iPhone 6s once over; its two outlets and single 2-amp USB socket ensures that he’ll be able to charge his laptop, tablet and smartphone; and its 615 joules of surge protection means charging them all at the same time is no problem.

Dell XPS 13 Non-Touch Laptop

The Dell XPS 13 is the ideal laptop for frequent flyers. It’s designed with an extremely thin bezel, so the HD screen (which Dell says is the first 13.3-inch infinity display) feels huge. At 13 inches, the laptop is small enough to slot into most any commuter backpack, briefcase or modern carry-on. And because the display, at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, isn’t as high quality as Dell’s original XPS 13 (with touchscreen), it’ll allow your globetrotter several more hours of prep time for that big presentation.

GP Watch Roll

Whether you prefer traveling with one watch or a selection of timepieces, great watches deserve to be carried in proper style. Our watch roll features deep navy Horween leather and a steel suede interior. A springbar tool is included with each watch roll purchase.

Alchemy Equipment Carry On

This all-black New Zealand-made bag has everything your globetrotter will need. It’s tough and water-resistant, comprised of a ATY nylon (or waxed Kodra) upper and 900-denier Kodra base that’s triple PU coated. It’s also versatile; it can be carried as a backpack, duffel or messenger bag. Inside there’s a laptop sleeve, organizer pocket and watertight compartment for wet clothes. And, of course, it meets all airline carry-on standards.

Aether Oceanic Swim Trunks

Whether it’s Miami Beach or the pool at the Holiday Inn, who knows when he’ll be compelled to take a dip? So a bathing suit is a must. These Oceanic swim trunks come in five solid colors, are quick drying, and made with a no-stitch design to minimize chafing. Basically, it’s a dapper suit that’s also comfortable when worn on long walks or mid-afternoon lounging sessions.

Ministry of Supply Aviator 2 Pants

A traveler’s pants have to be comfortable, stylish and not restrictive — and these meet the criteria. They’re made with a four-way-stretch fabric so they won’t tighten up on him when he’s seated on a five-hour flight. And they were designed (based on anatomy and biomechanics research) not to tighten in the thigh, knee or cuff when he walks. They’re available in both slim and straight fits.

DSPTCH × Gear Patrol Gym/Work Bag

We collaborated with DSPTCH to create a special edition of their gym/work bag that features a blaze-orange interior. The bag is designed to help streamline your exercise/work routine with features like a ventilated shoe compartment, a wet/dry pouch and a compartment that fits a 15-inch laptop.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV

Ask any knowledgable photographer and they’ll probably tell you this is one of the best point-and-shoot cameras ever made. For starters, it’s pretty affordable for a very good camera. Specifically, its Zeiss lens has an aperture range of F1.8-F2.8 and its Exmor RS CMOS sensor provides excellent, intelligent and fast autofocus. The RX100 IV, which can also shoot 4K movies, is truly a powerful camera that can fit in a pant pocket.

Zegna 10-Pocket Jacket

If good ole Inspector Gadget got some swagger, he might consider supplanting his shoddy trench coat with this versatile piece.

The Splurge

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It’s always worth asking, right?

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Panerai Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Automatic Acciaio 44mm: Instead of a four-wheel drive vehicle or vacation for two to Florence, gift him this watch. Made with 25 jewels, Panerai’s highest-quality stainless steel and a see-through sapphire crystal back, the watch is simple yet beautiful. It’s automatic, with a 10-day power reserve, and extremely reliable. It’ll help your globetrotter make a meeting, catch a flight and, most importantly, it’ll remind him to come home.

Further Reading

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More guides and gear to fill out your list

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The 15 Best Carry-Ons for Efficient Travel

These carry-ons have ample storage space and can be wheeled from terminal to terminal.

25 Best Travel Apps

Whether you’re going abroad or visiting a neighboring state, you should take time to make sure your smartphone is ready to make your trip easier. These 17 travel apps are a good start.

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