Things We Love: The Matador Team's 10 Favorite Pieces of Travel Gear and More This Month

Osprey Metron 18 Messenger

I commute to work and errands primarily by e-bike, and I rarely leave home without my laptop, gym clothes, bike lock, and lunch, among other daily necessities. Among the biggest perks of the Osprey Metron 18 Messenger bag is that it allows me ample space to carry all of this stuff without building up a pool of sweat on my lower back, as backpacks tend to do. The bag has a dedicated laptop sleeve and space for its charger and other work gear in the padded internal drop-in pockets. It’s built specifically for bike commuting, and rides comfortably on my side without bouncing or sliding while in motion.

On the outside, the Metron 18 is lined with reflective material that help keep me visible when riding, and also has a hook-and-loop closure system that allows me to quickly grab a water bottle from its pocket and anything else inside without having to step off my bike. The Hi-Vis raincover adds peace of mind since afternoon showers are common where I live in Colorado. –Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor

Buy: $120

Exped Splash 15 dry bag backpack

Speaking of commuting to the gym, I recently acquired the Exped Splash 15 pack. The bag offers dual functionality – it rolls up real thin and can operate as a backpack when necessary. If I don’t need all the extras I just take this to the gym and it works perfectly. It’s also great for its intended purpose of kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, or other on-water activities where it’s bound to get wet but you don’t want to sacrifice having a lightweight backpack that can tie onto your boat or board. I’ve used the Splash 15 almost every day since I got it. –Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor

Buy: $39.95

Caudalie Stick sunscreen SPF 50

Until recently, my go-to sun protection was Neutrogena’s Ultrasheer Dry Touch sunscreen. I used it on my face daily and on any exposed skin when the sun was out. I am very fair-skinned and cannot afford to be stingy when it comes to sun block, but Neutrogena’s Ultrasheer Dry Touch sunscreen has the advantage of being matte and invisible once applied, which suited me perfectly. In June, I opted to try the fragrance-free and water-resistant Caudalie Stick sunscreen for the sake of practicality. Because it comes in a small stick, much like a tiny deodorant or a very big lip balm, I can pull it out of my bag and apply just the right amount, hands-free, on my face and lips when I need it. Caudalie Stick sunscreen is an invisible sunscreen that leaves a slight, healthy-looking sheen on the skin, so no one can ever tell that I’m wearing anything even though every square inch of my face is covered in it. Because it comes in stick form, this sunscreen isn’t counted as a liquid by the TSA. — Morgane Croissant, Deputy Editor

Buy: $39

Birkenstock Arizona Big Buckle

Few sandals are more comfortable than a good ol’ pair of Birkenstocks. I’ve owned a pair of the Gizeh model in the Tobacco Brown color for the past five years and while they look a little beat, they still take me to the beach, around the garden, and on casual short walks in great comfort. This year, because I needed a pair of dressier sandals but refused to torture my feet in heels and crazy straps, I opted for a podiatrist-approved fancy pair of Birkenstock Arizona Big Buckle with gold accents in the Cognac color. It’s still as cushy as any other model from the brand, but you can go to a nice restaurant in your summer outfit without feeling inadequately dressed. — Morgane Croissant, Deputy Editor

Buy: $170+

Kurt Geiger sandals

I have a couple of pairs of Kurt Geiger sandals because they are unapologetically fun. I bought my first pair – patent bubble gum pink – for a Caribbean cruise and recently got these floral slip-ons for wearing with jeans or shorts. The watercolor print is beautiful. I have these in bright floral, but they also come in green shades if you’d rather something a little more subtle. They feature Geiger’s iconic gold signature eagle head, which adds a touch of glam. They effortlessly dress up any outfit, are oh-so comfortable, and always get a compliment. — Katie Scott Aiton, Editor

Buy: $126

BLUETTI Solar Panel

Although I scoffed at the price of this solar panel and battery when my husband suggested we invest, it’s been a lifesaver and one of the best things we’ve recently purchased. We mainly use it on the road in the RV, but we also have it in the greenhouse for plugging in lights if we’re working late in the garden. It’s a compact, portable power station ideal for powering your essential devices during a weekend of camping or outdoor adventure. With a capacity of 268Wh, it provides enough juice to keep your phone, camera, laptop, or other small electronics running for extended periods. While its 600W maximum output won’t be enough for high-powered appliances, it’s perfect for keeping your essential gear charged and ready to go. — Katie Scott Aiton, Editor

Buy: $299+

LifeStraw Sip

This summer has been hotter than ever, but staying hydrated is tough in areas where the water is questionable — from backcountry streams to remote eco-hotels. Most travelers and outdoorsy types know about LifeStraw filters, but the company just introduced a travel straw that has the exact same filter in a tiny, super-packable size.

The straw removes microplastics, parasites, and bacteria, and allows you to drink out of any container without carrying a bulky filter. It looks like a regular straw so you can use it at restaurants and hotels, but technically, you could drink right out most rivers if you wanted. It comes with a carrying case to keep it clean, and at $35, is a great price for gifting if you know someone gearing up for a big travel adventure. With the Sip, you can safely drink the tap water anywhere in the world.

It’s also idiot-proof: The filter stops working when it’s dirty, which means water won’t come through. So if water is coming through, it’s safe to drink. LifeStraw estimates that it’s good for about 1,000 liters of water before it needs replaced. — Suzie Dundas, Editor

Buy: $35

Thermacell EX90 Rechargeable Mosquito Repellant

Despite living in the Sierra Nevada mountain range – one of the driest places in California in the summer – the mosquitos have been crazy this year. But outdoor living isn’t a thing here in the winter, so I’ve been determined not to let the bugs scare me away from using my deck. I generally prefer not to put chemicals on my skin when I can avoid it, so I gave the Thermacell rechargeable and weather-resistant EX90 mosquito repeller a try (all of the tabletop devices from the brand create a mosquito-repelling zone of about 20 feet in diameter).

It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to heat up, and each refill cartridge is good for about 12 hours of protection. It creates a fixed zone so you need to leave it one spot, and isn’t as effective in heavy wind. But I’ve definitely noticed that I have to slap fewer mosquitos when I have it on my patio table, and it’s allowed me to actually enjoy spending evenings outside, instead of just retreating back into my living room when the bugs come out. — Suzie Dundas, Editor

Buy: $49

Fuse Lenses replacements

I have a few pairs of sunglasses from high-end outdoorsy brands, including my beloved Smith Wildcats (for mountain biking) and ever-popular Costa shades for on-the-water protection. And while both offer great warranties on the frames, that’s not the case with the lenses. I just recently learned about Fuse Lenses, which can replace the lenses on just about any pair of sunglasses to help keep them out of the landfill — and spare your wallet from the costs of replacing the entire pair. Fuse can replace lenses in more than 4,000 frames from 50 different brands (per the website), but it can also do custom replacements if you have a less-popular pair.

Replacement lenses start around $19 and Fuse has custom videos on how to DIY your replacement, even on “non-replaceable” models, like my beloved Smith Lowdowns. But if you’d rather not deal with it, for rates starting around $49, Fuse will ship you a box and label to mail in your glasses. They’ll replace them, spruce them up, and send them back to you, complete with a one-year guarantee. — Suzie Dundas, Editor

Buy: $19+

SlumberPod Toddler Sleeping Tent

My wife and I have traveled to five countries and even more states with our toddler. Much of those trips are filled with pure joy while we watch her explore new environments, try new foods, and get excited about new types of rocks and trees and bugs she spots. Sleeping in her pack and play in a new environment, however, can be tough — especially when our little one is in the same room as us. We finally gave up on trying to reduce how much we have to pack on a recent week-long trip to Alaska and Washington and bought a SlumberPod. It was an immediate game changer.

The SlumberPod is as quick to put together as a basic one-person tent and easily turns her pack and play or crib into her own mini room, blocking out most of the light and providing plenty of air holes to keep things circulating. Even on hot nights with no AC, it stayed cool enough inside with a fan pointed at it. She slept her normal nightly amount (admittedly not a whole lot) through the whole trip even while sleeping in four new places. A more than fair trade-off for adding in one extra small bag. — Nickolaus Hines, Managing Editor

Buy: $179.99