Some live for this time of year, others prefer to head out to a tropical island and wait out the holiday chaos. I get it: I like a balance of both. During this season of gift giving, I focus on things for my loved ones that are personal, sustainable, and hopefully something they will use for a long time. 

As we do every year for our recommendations, we really work hard to choose gifts that amplify small businesses, marginalized groups, and that are friendly for our planet. Sometimes we hit all three!

Alongside our traditional gift guides, we have one this year just based on experiences to gift your loved ones, so make sure you check that one out too. Giveaways are happening to say THANK YOU to all our readers, so bookmark our giveaway page and follow us on Instagram for a chance at more than $500 worth of prizes!

Have a wonderful, magical holiday season and we’ll see you on the road.

Sustainable travel apparel and accessories for everyone

NoSo patches

Last time I sewed anything together was a whale-shaped pillow I made in 8th grade. I wish I knew how, because my outdoor gear and my kids jackets too sometimes will get damaged. A small hole or tear shouldn’t mean I throw the whole thing out though!

NoSo offers a solution that is beautiful and eco-conscious. Instead of getting rid of that favorite jacket, you can use these special patches you simply use like a sticker to make repairs and keep those clothes for years. My husband is thrilled he gets to keep his favorite hiking pants after a tear in the leg. He used one of the NoSo Smoky Bear patches to add a unique detail to his gear.

There’s tons of designs to choose from and some specialize in certain fabrics too, such as Merino wool. My favorite Merino tool tank has a small hole because I washed it too much, but now I’ll use one of these fun patches to breathe new life into my go-to travel shirt.

PS: We’re giving away a gift card from NoSo on the giveaway page and on Instagram soon, stay tuned!

Retail: $15/pack

• • Eileen

Foldable Tetra Bags

I bought a couple apples at a market in Romania once. They wrapped each apple in paper, then put them into a small plastic bag, which went into another bigger plastic bag. I told myself after that I would always try to travel with my own bag to avoid the single-use plastic waste.

But space is precious in my suitcase. So, I needed something super compact that could even fit easily in my carryon. The Tetra bags by Syzy fold up SO small in a little drawstring carrier and come in a variety of colors. I’ll bring my Tetra Bag to Mexico City in a couple weeks to avoid plastic bags and bring back tasty ingredients that’ll amp up my holiday cooking this year.

Retail: $25

• • Eileen

Royal Robbins unisex Merino wool hoodie

Anytime there’s a little chill in the air, I now reach for my merino wool. It holds up so well along normal everyday wear, leaves no odor, and needs minimal washing with proper care. Royal Robbins makes a trendy unisex hoodie from merino wool that will be perfect for our upcoming ski trips.

I did gift this hoodie to my husband to make him a merino wool convert. But I kept the Royal Robbins overalls for myself. They’re a throwback to the husband and wife climbing team that founded the company in the 60s; I love the stretchy canvas feel and look, so they’ll definitely be in my suitcase this winter.

Retail: Hoodie $140, overalls $150

• • Eileen

Voglia Swimwear

When I have two small children to cover in sunscreen, I rarely have time for myself. I stick to rashguard tops when at the pool or beach traveling, because it protects me from the sun and often still offers stylish patterns to choose from. Voglia Swimwear is made from ECONYL®, which is pre and post consumer waste nylon (like fishing nets) to make great swimsuits for men and women.

The Oh, Honey line has a unique rashguard suit and tops that work well anywhere, and there’s matching men’s trunks too in the same bold colors. This woman-owned brand has worked tirelessly to launch suimwear that uses no single use plastics in shipping or suit materials.

Retail: Varies, women’s rashguard top $90

• • Eileen

Quince Eco-Knit Milano Stitch Pullover Hoodie

Quince first caught my eye last year with their gorgeously soft cashmere sweaters. Not only is the material ethically sourced, but the apparel is offered at a fraction of the cost or normal elevated brands. I’ve slowly added pieces to my wardrobe as I work hard to eliminate fast fashion from my closet. The blazer has served well with business casual travel conferences and press trips. And my new eco-knit hoodie is ideal for a dinner out locally or feeling cozy at the airport. The basics are met by Quince so you can dress them up or down.

Retail: $49.90

• • Eileen

Pink Lemonade XOXO Travel Set

This travel blanket and eye mask duo from Pink Lemonade is the key to a perfect plane nap. Way more luxurious than a plane issued blanket, this 100% cotton, washable blanket is so soft and comfy. It’s the perfect size for travel, easily packable, and feels like the cozy throw your grandma keeps on her recliner! The soft, comfy eye mask helps block light to get to sleep faster while the blanket keeps the plane chills away. 

This travel set with blanket, eye mask, and travel case combo is a great gift for any traveler… everyone can use an elevated, cozy blanket for travel. Grab a few of these sets to stash in your gift closet when you’re in a pinch and need a great gift for someone at the last minute. Guys, gals, old or young: they’ll all be pumped to receive this cozy gift travel set that’s thoughtfully made by a woman-owned business.. 

Retail: $110

• • Jeannine

Footwear perfect for traveling and moving your body

Manitobah Woodland Waterproof Ankle Boot

As soon as I found out about Manitobah, I knew this brand was something special. Founded by a member of the Métis indigenous nation of Canada, the aim of Manitobah’s line of indigenous footwear, apparel, and more is to highlight traditional pattern and design of talented artisans with incredible craftsmanship.

The beautiful woodland waterproof boots caught my eye, designed by Janae Grass, a talented Sac & Fox artist. It was tough to choose because the traditional Mukluks are made so well too. But I aimed for waterproof low riders for everyday use during the long New England winter. There’s other winter wear that would work well for your next snowy trip, including gauntlet gloves and lined hats.

With an ethos of cultural appreciation over appropriation, this is an ideal way to celebrate indigenous culture, partake in social impact and support marginalized people with sustainable, practical, and handmade gifts.

To fully support the partnering indigenous communities, you can purchase directly from the Indigenous Market on the Manitobah site too, where 100% of the profits goes back to the artisans.

Retail: on sale for $139.99

• • Eileen

Your Sole Jasper Chukka Unisex Shoes

I had sneakers that were slip-ons forever, but my flat feet definitely need more support when I’m traveling and chasing after my little ones. Your Sole has the Jasper Chukka shoe that feels like a cozy slipper but also has a supportive cork midsole (and optional insoles).

I’m so impressed not only with the design and comfort, but Your Sole has collected more than 130 MILLION corks to recycle them into these shoes. Combined with upcycled bison fiber, merino wool and natural rubber, the Jasper Chukka has been perfected over the years to work well for both men and women. It’s a really cool story and I’m rooting for further success! My husband is jealous and is eyeing his own pair soon too.

Retail: On sale for $87

• • Eileen

Saucony Ride Running Shoes 

One of the hardest bits about travel is packing. On a recent three day business trip to New Hampshire, I had some walking/hiking shoes that I wear in the car, some nice leather shoes for my business meetings, but then I also wanted to bring some running shoes to make sure I kept up my routing. Three pairs of shoes for three days. That’s where the Saucony Ride 17 Shoes comes in. These weigh in just under 10 ounces for the men’s shoes. They’re exceptionally light weight, yet have impressively supportive foam.

I’ve been running in a version of this shoe since 2016. It’s only gotten better and more comfortable over time. The latest version has a nice knitted upper that packs down easily, and they avoid the huge soles that some other running shoes have. These factors combined with the low weight means these are a perfect travel compassion when you’re on the run – pun intended!

Retail: $140

• • Christian

Classic, sustainable, travel must-haves for trips worldwide

Dagne Dover Carry-On

For most of us checking bags at the airport is a thing of the past. No one wants to wait at a luggage carousel after arriving at their destination. There’s a whole world waiting to be explored. With the Seattle, Dagne Dover created the perfect carry-on that makes it easy to fit all our travel essentials. While looking stylish we don’t have to feel like we are at the gym as we wheel it through the long terminals of airports.  Side step weary travelers with 360° wheels that allow great maneuverability.  It’s easy to organize interior, complete with straps and zippable compartments combines all the elements we need into this mobile masterpiece. For easy access at the ticket counter it has an exterior phone and passport pocket. A laptop pocket also makes it convenient to retrieve a computer for firing off some work emails or streaming a movie on that layover. Dirty shoes will never sully clean clothes with the included shoe bag. 

We love that it’s vegan and eco-friendly with a 100% recycled shell and lining. Rugged and fashionable, its flexible exterior combined with a solid frame will hold up for years of travel. Dagne Dover thought of everything the modern traveler needs with this luggage. Carry-on my wayward son. There’ll be peace with this carry-on. Or something like that.

Retail $625.00

• • Jake

Cork yoga mat by Scoria

My yoga practice has been sporadic since having children and I miss it terribly. Soreness from running after babies and toddler is catching up, alongside the pain from long-haul flights and lots of travel. While at home, I’d been looking to replace my well-loved cork yoga mat with something a little thicker to ease my joints and pad my poses. 

Scoria has a wonderful line of cork yoga mats that have added thickness and floral designs. It’s a women-owned business and an all-women team. The core ethos is about celebrating child-like play at all stages of life.

Not only do I love these mats being sourced from natural tree rubber and cork, this has been my favorite material for years. It’s sweat/odor resistant and helps me stick naturally to its surface.

Retail: $97

• • Eileen 

JR Liggett’s Mini Traveler

When packing space is a concern – especially on long trips into the outdoors or backpacking – having a swiss army knife type product can save valuable space inside your backpack whilst making you more capable than ever. Enter JR Liggett’s Mini Traveler. On the surface, these mini shampoo bars are perfect for your hair, but they also double as body soap. Even more impressively, they can be used as detergent to wash your socks and undies! They’re also solid bars so there’s no worrying about liquids in your bag when going through security or having liquid leak all over your stuff.

My favorite part though is the ‘bar saver’. This little piece attaches to the shampoo bar and keeps it off dirty surfaces. That could be avoiding dirt and pine needles when outdoor showering at camp. That could be using a communal shower whilst backpacking through Europe or at an airport lounge. This really is a game-changer. 

Retail: $13.99

• • Christian

In2Green blankets

I might be one of the few people who travel with a full-sized blanket. If I have the space, I love to bring one alone that has a luxurious feel and is also made from sustainable materials. I often bring a blanket or two with me when staying in vacation homes too, ensuring it’s clean and comfortable while I work on the road or snuggle with my children.

In2Green is a women-owned business that makes a lovely line of throw blankets that are gorgeous and made from 100% recycled materials. Who knew you could take repurposed t-shirts and water bottles to create blankets that can be thoughtful, gorgeous gifts for loved ones!

Retail: $185

• • Eileen

Acrely Farms natural body care products

As an on-the-go-gal, I wash my hands A LOT! So much so that my hands are always dry and in need of TLC. Acrely Farms Renew CBD Sugar Scrub exfoliates, moisturizes, and heals. Hand crafted in small batches, this scrub with organic botanicals is the ultimate skin treatment. With 500mg of CBD, it helps hydrate and nourish your skin so you can look and feel your best at home or on the go.

I love how it  instantly smooths and moisturizes my hands, feet, and elbows. I keep a travel sized version in my travel go bag at all times. A quick application during travel feels like a refreshing spa experience. 

Retail: $49

• • Jeannine