The Best EDC Travel Sling Essentials For Your Next Trip

Life is short, and the world is a big place. As such, when traveling, we’re constantly looking for ways to optimize, streamline, and capture and document our journeys abroad. One of the most under-utilized means of making the most of your globetrotting experience is using a sling bag. In a bid to demonstrate crossbody bags’ conduciveness to jet-setting and overseas exploration, we’ve pieced together this curated selection of EDC travel sling essentials. So, whether you’re heading out of town for the weekend or are embarking on a multi-month world tour, this handpicked array of must-have travel staples has got you covered. 

Selection & Testing

So you’ve already determined that carrying a sling on your next trip is non-negotiable, and we wholeheartedly agree. It’s a markedly more compact and totable alternative to traditional backpacks, and it can be worn across the front of your chest while also holstering your carry-on backpack, making it both convenient and secure. But what exactly should you be carrying your travel sling? That’s the question we set out to answer in this in-depth video guide.

We’ve been relentlessly covering the gear space and reviewing products for well over a decade, and we leveraged that experience to build an EDC loadout/packing list that covers all of the essentials (and not-so essentials). The sole goal here was to make sure that everything fit into our chosen sling pack (the Bellroy Venture Travel Cossbody in this case). From gadgets and gear to watches and wallets, we got hands-on with all of these everyday carry products in a recent overseas trip, and detailed our thoughts below.

Bellroy Venture Travel Crossbody

Measuring 6.70” x 8.26” x 1.96”, the Bellroy Venture Travel Crossbody is a spacious travel-specific 3-liter sling bag that’s been engineered from the ground up for the modern-day globetrotter. Backed by a multi-year warranty, the Venture Travel Crossbody is cut from a rugged yet lightweight Element coated nylon fabric — a water-resistant, eco-friendly construction that’s derived from recycled materials. Weighing just 8.64oz, this crossbody bag boasts a full-length weatherproof zipper that opens to reveal an accordion-style layout that allows the bag to expand when open. 

Paired with a removable cut-resistant shoulder strap, the sling also features multiple interior organizers, dual internal slip stretch pockets, dual pen slips, a tethered key leash, and a divided back pocket made to accommodate tickets, documents, and other vital paperwork. Additionally, Bellroy’s new Venture Travel Crossbody bag also comes loaded with an RFID-protected passport slip pocket and a hidden pocket for an Apple AirTag, allowing you to keep tabs on the whereabouts of the sling from practically anywhere on the planet. 

Noshinku Refillable Natural Hand Sanitizer

Assuming you haven’t been living under a rock since late 2019, we probably don’t have to explain why it’s imperative to be armed with a bottle of hand sanitizer, whether at home or abroad. And the Noshinku Refillable Natural Hand Sanitizer pocket sprayer manages to put a nursing, upscale twist on regular hand sanitizer with its hydrating, vegan-friendly, cruelty-free formula. 

Boasting a 0.67-ounce capacity, each bottle contains 300 sprays, each of which is delivered via a fine mist. Devoid of any synthetic fragrances, the actual spray uses a 70% ethyl alcohol base that’s distilled from organic sugarcane before being infused with jojoba, rosehip, argan and aloe. Noshinku also sells refills for this spray bottle. We’re particularly fond of the Bergamot featured in the photo above, but there are also several other fragrances available including Lavendula and Eucalyptus – which come in the 3-pack starter kit we’ve linked to below.

Elevation LabTagVault: Fabric

Anyone that’s spent their fair share of time traveling, is no doubt privy to just how wildly essential it is to keep  track of your bags, clothing, and kit — something that’s sometimes easier said-than-done. The Elevation LabTagVault: Fabric makes keeping tabs on your garments and gear a breeze, as this secure soft-shelled item allows you to discreetly install an Apple AirTag into a travel backpack, sling, piece of luggage, jacket, or any other soft goods. 

Using a heavy-duty adhesive — that requires a full 24 hours to fully bond and cure — the Elevation LabTagVault: Fabric can be stuck to a wide variety of fabrics, textiles, and proprietary constructions from nylon to polyester to vinyl to rubberized fabrics to even GORE-TEX. Considering that it costs less than $15 and has the ability to prevent you from loosing a markedly more expensive jacket or bag, it’s particularly easy to justify the investment here. 

Rolling Square inCharge 6 Keyring Cable

Our mobile devices have obviously become integral parts of our lives, though smartphones are even more essential when traveling — from confirming reservations to displaying digital tickets to hailing a ride sharing service. As such, the last place you want to have a dead battery is overseas. The Rolling Square inCharge 6 Keyring Cable remedies this potential pitfall, as it allows you to bring a charger with you, anywhere you go. 

Despite being small enough to easily fit on a keychain, Rolling Square’s inCharge 6 Keyring Cable boasts a whopping six different charging cables, from Micro-USB to USB-C to Lightning. In addition to utilizing a folding magnetic closure design, this item is also more than capable of standing up to the rigors and abuses that come with globetrotting and international travel, thanks to an internal nylon-reinforced coppper wiring setup, a TPU cable guard, and a rugged zync-aluminium alloy housing. 

Victorinox Jetsetter Swiss Army Knife

The vast majority of multi-tools on the market have to be left at home when catching a flight, though this can’t be said for Victorinox’s Jetsetter Swiss Army Knife. Literally engineered from the ground up for jet-setting (as its monicker suggests), the Jetsetter is similar to the iconic Classic SD Swiss Army Knife, though it ditches its blade and file in favor of a TSA-approved bit-driver and bottle-opener combo — while still retaining its spring-loaded scissors, toothpick, and tweezers. 

Spanning 2.3” in length and standing at 0.4” tall, this tiny multi-tool comes armed with a total of seven tools and function — all of which come sandwiched between a set of the Swiss brand’s signature red Cellidor scales. The entire thing also tips the scales at less than an ounce, meaning it adds a negligible amount of weight to your globetrotting loadout. 

HydraPak Flux 750ml Water Bottle

The HydraPak Flux 750ml Water Bottle is a collapsible vessel that features a 25.3oz capacity and the ability to break down into a form no larger than your fist. Small enough to easily fit in your back pocket, the Flux 750ml Water Bottle is composed of ultra-rugged TPU and comes capped off with a dust cover and a removable twist-drink high-flow nozzle. 

Protected by a lifetime guarantee, this collapsible water bottle also features a flexible bail handle for easy carrying or lashing to the outside of a backpack or sling. And, despite its 750ml/25.3oz capacity, the entire thing tips the scales at just 3.2oz — making it that much more ideal for travel and globetrotting. Offered in a trio of color options, HydraPak’s Flux Water Bottle is also sold in larger 1-liter and 1.5-liter versions as well. This item is also compatible with HydraPak’s 42mm Filter Cap. With its ability to offer the utility of a hard-shelled water bottle in a super-packable package, the HydraPak Flux 750ml Water Bottle is a bonafide must have for any traveler. 

Bellroy Key Cover Plus 3rd Edition

Whether at home or abroad, an everyday carry key organizer is a worthwhile addition to any EDC loadout. And Bellroy’s Key Cover Plus 3rd Edition has long been one of our favorite picks, as it not only manages to put an upscale spin on the segment, but it also sees its design brought to life with Bellroy’s signature use of eco-friendly materials — in this case; a premium, eco-tanned leather that’s offered in half-a-dozen different color options. Not only does it put an end to loud jingling keyrings and getting poked in the leg through your pant pocket, but it also makes it markedly easier and more convenient to organize, access, and deploy your keys. 

Able to securely accommodate up to eight standard house keys, the third-generation Key Cover Plus features a snappy magnetic closure and a D-ring attachment for coupling the thing with a car key fob. Its slim, low-profile shape was also designed to easily slip in and out of pockets. What’s more, just like with the Aussie outfit’s bags and other carry solutions, this leather-bound EDC key organizer also comes protected by a multi-year warranty. 

The James Brand The Stilwell

With a compact and thoroughly pocketable closed length of just 3.5” and the ability to expand to a full-grip 5.4” length with its cap reversed, The James Brand’s The Stilwell is a rugged everyday carry pen that was quite literally designed for travelers. Using a twist-off cap setup, the entire pen is precision-machined from a solid block of stainless steel. 

Equipped with a lanyard loop that also allows it to be added to a keychain, this EDC and travel pen also weighs in at just 0.71oz. In addition to being engineered for travel, this pen was also designed to offer a lifetime of use, and as such not only features a rugged all-alloy body, but it can also accept refills — more specifically, D1-style cartridges. 

Fulton & Roark HWY 190 Solid Fragrance

Between the size restrictions put on flying with bottles or containers of liquid and the possibility of liquid cologne accidentally opening and spilling all over your bag’s contents, traveling with even a small bottle of liquid cologne can be a bit sketchy. Consequently, we’ve long been proponents of carrying solid fragrances when globetrotting and jet-setting. And though there’s admittedly no shortage of options on the market, it legitimately is hard to beat Fulton & Roark’s massive collection of ultra-compact solid colognes. 

Because it comes in a solid form, it’s also much easier to more precisely control the amount of fragrance that you’re applying. Though the company offers its solid fragrance in over a dozen scents, we’re particularly partial to the HWY 190 scent, with its combination of white freesia, pink pepper, and fresh orange supplemented with hints of vanilla bean, cedar wood, and myrrh. Best of all, each solid fragrance sent comes housed in a travel-ready, TSA-approved, crushproof alloy housing. Additionally, on top of 15 scents, Fulton & Roark also sells solid fragrance refills for all 15 varieties. 

Anker MagGo Power Bank 10K

The Anker MagGo Power Bank 10K is something of the ultimate mobile cell for travelers. Armed with a massive 10,000-mAh cell, this compact mobile gadget can fully replenish the battery of an iPhone 15 Pro more than three-times-over. Additionally, thanks to an AI-backed algorithm, the thing can also wirelessly charge an iPhone 15 Pro to 25% in around 20 minutes. Alternatively, wen plugged in, it can charge phones at even greater speeds of up to 27W, ultimately allowing it to juice up an iPhone 15 Pro from 0% to 60% in just half an hour. 

It doesn’t end there, however, as this potent mobile power bank also benefits from the use of bi-directional USB-C charging, a built-in display showing remaining battery level, and Anker’s proprietary ActiveShield safety system which automatically monitors the power bank’s own temperature more than 2,000 times per minute (or over 3,000,000 times a day). It’s also able to deliver a wireless charge through magnetic/MagSafe phone cases. Obviously, Anker’s MagGo Power Bank 10K also makes for an exceptional mobile battery for regular at-home EDC use as well. 

Pioneer Carry Passport Travel Wallet

You don’t have to be a seasoned jet-setter to know just how wildly important your passport is when traveling — as anyone that’s misplaced theirs overseas is painfully aware of what a monumental nightmare it can be to replace when abroad. And it’s for this reason that we always recommend fortifying your passport with a protective travel wallet — one of the best of which is undoubtedly Pioneer Carry’s Passport Travel Wallet. Measuring 8.4” x 5.3” x 0.15”, the Pioneer Passport Travel Wallet is cut from 10XD — a proprietary DWR-coated ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene that’s some ten-times stronger than steel. 

Able to securely accommodate both standard 36-page passports and the extended 52-page versions, this wallet also boasts room for up to eight cards, a handful of paper bills, and multiple tickets or boarding passes. Additionally, this travel wallet is also equipped with RFID protection, plus uses inward facing card and cash slots in order to more securely house these items. Pioneer also sells this wallet in six different color options, and it’s also available in the brand’s 3XD and Baby Ballistic constructions, as well. 

Nothing Ear

Typically speaking, if you want the latest and greatest tech, you’ve got to pay a fairly steep price. This, however, isn’t the case with the travel-ready Nothing Ear true wireless earbuds. Taking aim squarely at Apple’s latest flagship earbuds — while coming at a much more affordable price point — the Nothing Ear features a set of custom-tuned 11mm ceramic drivers that benefit from the use of an advanced eight-band equalizer, personal sound profiles, and a cutting-edge smart active noise cancelation setup. 

Also equipped with 24-bit Hi-Res Audio with both LDAC and LHDC codecs, these earbuds offer up to 40.5 hours of collective listening time between the earbuds and the wireless charging case — plus can gain an extra 10 hours of music playback after just 10 minutes of charging. Additionally, not only do these earbuds sport a unique design with a semi-transparent construction, but they’re also incredibly compact. Couple this detail with their extended battery life and it’s not hard to see why the Nothing Ear wireless earbuds are so conducive to travel. 

Garret Leight Hampton Sun

When looking to get away from the daily grind and enjoy some much-needed R&R, we tend to gravitate towards warm, tropical locales. Consequently, a quality pair of shades are no doubt a bonafide, must-have travel essential. With their premium material selection and handsome retro-inspired design, we’ve long been singing the praises of the Garret Leight Hampton Sun. Just as popular now as when they were first released roughly a-decade-ago, Garret Leight’s Hampton Sun shades are pieced together around a cured cellulose acetate frame with stainless steel core wire. 

Sporting 145mm temples and a 22mm bridge, these glasses house a set of UV-protected and AR-coated mineral glass lenses plus features a durable five-barrel hinge setup with real alloy rivets. For a small added fee, these globetrot-ready glasses can also be upgraded with a custom monogrammed case —though a standard, non-monogrammed case does ship with each pair. What’s more, Garret Leight offers these premium men’s sunglasses in eight different frame and lens color options. 

Seiko 5 Sports SSK001 GMT

Quite literally designed for international travel, the Seiko 5 Sports SSK001 GMT is a globetrotting-focused four-hand watch that boasts the ability to track to different time zones at the same time. Constructed around a 42.55mm stainlesses steel case, this Japanese-made GMT watch features a diver-inspired Lumibrite-adorned dial that sits beneath a Hardlex crystal. Paired with the stainless steel case is a matching staggered multi-link stainless steel bracelet that mounts to a 22mm lug set and is secured via a three-fold clasp and lock. 

Keeping the thing ticking is a Caliber 4R34 movement — an in-house automatic Seiko motor that sports 24 jewels and a 41-hour power reserve. Water resistant down to 100 meters, the 5 Sports SSK001 GMT also comes loaded with a rotating 24-hour bezel and a transparent exhibition case back that puts the watch’s movement on full display. With an MSRP of less than $500, this four-hander also offers some pretty incredible bang-for-your-buck.

Leica M11-P

The Leica M11-P is a state-of-the-art compact digital view and rangefinder system camera that’s been engineered with travel in mind. The M11-P represents the world’s first-ever camera with the ability to store metadata in line with the Content Authenticity Initiative — thereby better ensuring copyright protections for photographers and content creators. 

Constructed around a magnesium and aluminum housing adorned in a leatherette cover, the M11-P comes loaded with a full-frame BSI CMOS sensor with Triple Resolution Technology and a cutting-edge Maestro III processor. Equipped with 256 GB of internal memory, this recent Leica release also sports an eectronically-controlled focal plane shutter, an electronic shutter function, and a 2.95” Active Matrix TFT display. While it admittedly doesn’t come cheap, Leica’s M11-P is unequivocally one of the best travel camera options that money can currently buy. 

Cabin Carry: The Must-Have EDC Travel Essentials

Happen to possess a proclivity for overseas travel? Then be sure to head over to our guide to the best EDC travel essentials for a look at our favorite everyday carry items for use overseas.