Travel Gear Reviews: Gear We’ve Tested on the Road
After travelling to 52 countries, we’ve written these travel gear reviews based on what we’ve actually packed and used on the road. Good gear rarely makes a trip, but the wrong gear can easily spoil one. A bag that’s too heavy for the cabin allowance, a tent that floods on the second night or a sleepless long-haul flight can take the shine off even the best-planned holiday.
This page brings together our reviews and buying guides, from the luggage we fly with to the Black Wolf tent we lived in on and off for six months on the road in Australia. We’ve grouped everything by category so you can go straight to what you need.
Some products we bought ourselves and some were supplied by the brand for review. Where a brand has supplied a product, we say so at the top of the article, and our opinions are always based on our own use.
How We Review Travel Gear
We use every product we review on real trips, whether that’s long-haul flights, road trips or weeks in a campground. We write for Australian travellers, so we focus on products you can buy here and retailers that ship to Australia. When a product is discontinued or replaced by a newer model, we update the review or retire it, so you’re not reading advice about gear you can no longer buy.
Luggage and Bags
Choosing luggage comes down to how you travel. Carry-on only travellers need to work within airline size and weight limits, while longer trips and family holidays usually call for checked bags. These guides cover both.
JULY Luggage Review
Our review of the JULY luggage range, including the Carry On, Carry On Pro, Carry On Light and Carry All Weekender Duffle, to help you work out which one suits the way you travel.
Best Carry-On Luggage
What to look for in a carry-on bag, from size and weight to wheels and durability, plus the options we’d consider for flying with cabin bags only.
Best Luggage Sets
A buying guide for travellers who want matching checked and cabin luggage, with the features worth paying for and the ones you can skip.
Best Zipperless Luggage
Why zipperless cases with frame closures appeal to security-conscious travellers, and what to weigh up before buying one.
Best Travel Backpacks
Our guide to choosing a travel backpack, whether you’re heading off for a carry-on only weekend or a longer trip where a backpack makes more sense than a suitcase.
Sleep and Health While Travelling
Ros travels with a CPAP machine and is a light sleeper at the best of times, so sleep gear gets a thorough workout on our trips. Long-haul flights, changing time zones and unfamiliar hotel rooms all make a good night’s sleep harder to come by.
How to Travel with Sleep Apnoea
Ros’s experience travelling with the ResMed AirMini travel CPAP machine and what to consider before you pack one for your next trip.
ResMed CPAP Travel Bags Review
We compare ResMed’s CPAP travel bags and share how each one has held up on the road.
ResMed myNight Mask Review
A contoured sleep mask that blocks out all light and sits comfortably over a CPAP nasal mask. It’s ideal for long-haul flights and hotel rooms with thin curtains.
Embr Wave 2 Review
A cooling and warming wristband Ros trialled for hot flushes and night sweats, covering the app, temperature settings, battery life and comfort.
Camping Gear
We like to mix hotel stays with camping, and our time living in a tent on the road taught us what makes a camping trip comfortable rather than an endurance test. These are the reviews and guides we’d point any Australian camper to.
Black Wolf Turbo 300 Plus Review
Our hands-on review of the tent we lived in on and off for six months, covering setup, living space, how it handled rain and wind, and which accessories are worth buying.
Best Camping Fridge Australia
Our guide to choosing a camping fridge or fridge/freezer, including what to consider around capacity, power and budget.
Camping Essentials Australia
A practical rundown of the camping gear worth packing, so you arrive at your campsite with everything you need.
Best Sleeping Bags
How to choose a sleeping bag based on temperature rating, shape and fill, so you stay warm without overpaying.
Best Family Tents Australia
Reviews of family tents for Australian conditions, with the features that matter most when you’re camping with kids.
Travel Accessories
The smaller items in your bag often make the biggest difference day to day, from keeping your documents organised to staying connected overseas.
Best Passport Wallets
Options for keeping your passport, cards and boarding passes together and secure while you travel.
International eSIM for Travel
How international eSIMs work and how they compare with buying a local SIM card or paying for global roaming.
Cruise Wear
If you are looking for the latest in plus size cruise wear, look no further than our guide below. Ros has personally selected some of her favourite styles that will take you from the Captain’s cocktail party to relaxing by the pool.
Best Plus Size Cruise Wear for Women
Ros’s guide to plus size cruise wear, with outfit ideas for formal nights, shore days and time on deck.
Last Words on Our Travel Gear Reviews
The main lesson we’ve learnt about travel products over the years is that you often don’t need the latest or most expensive option. However, luggage is one area where we’re happy to spend a little more. We learnt that lesson the hard way many years ago, when our cheap bag split open unexpectedly on the baggage carousel at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Given how much handling luggage goes through, buying good quality bags has been one of the best travel decisions we’ve made.
Want Us to Review Your Product?
If you have travel gear or a product you would like us to evaluate and review, contact us and we will be happy to discuss evaluating the item and providing feedback. We only review products we can genuinely use on our travels, and we always share our honest experience with our readers.