17 Travel Safety Gear Essentials You Need To Pack

By Jessie Festa. This article on travel safety accessories is sponsored by Jase Medical and contains affiliate links to trusted partners.

Not sure what travel safety gear to pack?

Then you’re in the right place! Let’s be honest; we’ve all pulled our hair out (and maybe cried a little) when trying to decide what to pack.

Though no matter what you put in your carry-on, travel safety items should be high on the packing list.

You’ve heard it before but I’ll say it again: nothing should come before your health and safety.

While there are myriad beautiful places to explore filled with good people, the truth is we live in an unpredictable world where anything can happen at any minute.

My intention isn’t to scare you from traveling, but to make sure you’re prepared for the worst, even if it’s unlikely to happen. This is why I’m sharing this list of my personal top picks for travel safety items.

Your Travel Safety Kit: Quick List

Before we discuss the travel safety products you’ll want to pack in-depth, here is a quick summary of the items:

• Jase Case ($10 off with code ‘JESSIEONAJOURNEY10’)
• Hand Sanitizer
• First Aid Kit
• Clever Travel Companion Pickpocket-Proof Garments
• Speakeasy Travel Supply Pickpocket-Proof Scarf
• Pacsafe Anti-Theft Bag
• Neck Wallet
• NordVPN
• She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm
• Fox Sonic Safety Whistle
• Glow Bracelets
• Garmin inReach Mini 2
• Saily eSIM (5% off with code ‘jessie5’)
• Emergency App
• SafetyWing Travel Insurance
• Global Rescue
• Door Stop

On that note, let’s go over this list of safety items for travelers so that you truly understand why each is so important to have in your carry-on.

These are truly some of the best things for traveling and staying healthy and safe, and I highly recommend adding them to your packing list!

Best Travel Safety Items For Health

1. Jase Case

The Jase Case was created by Jase Medical, a company founded by board certified physician Shawn Rowland, M.D.

Jase Medical is on a mission to help empower patients with the tools necessary to take action and care for themselves and their loved ones.

This is why they created the Jase Case, an Emergency Antibiotic Pack made and prescribed by doctors that contains:

• Amoxicillin-Clavulanate
• Azithromycin
• Ciprofloxacin
• Doxycycline
• Metronidazole

Plus, you can score $10 off with code JESSIEONAJOURNEY10.

Each customer goes through a consultation and antibiotics are prescribed directly to them by board certified physicians.

From there, you’ll receive a handy travel pouch containing your medications as well as an Emergency Antibiotic Guide sharing how to use the included medications to treat a wide variety of conditions.

I think most of us have experienced nausea, vomiting, sinusitis, and traveler’s diarrhea on the road, though the medications can also help with ailments related to bioterror, illness, sexually transmitted infections, and illness related to drinking contaminated water (just to name a few).

You can see a full list of treated conditions on their FAQ page.

And while the Jase Case is an important piece of travel safety gear, keep in mind it’s also helpful to have on hand at home, too. You truly never know when an issue will arise.

Honestly, there are so many personal stories I could share where a kit like this would have come in handy — like when I hiked Nepal’s Mohare Danda Trail.

I spent a week in Kathmandu and felt absolutely fine. It wasn’t until I was making my vertical ascent into the Annapurna Himalayas — hours away from any pharmacy or doctor — that I started to become majorly ill.

Vomiting my way through the woods and getting sick in squat toilets was not exactly fun, but the only “medications” I had were Tylenol, tiger balm, and tea. Let’s just say that after that experience, I’ll never be so unprepared again.

➡️ Click here for full information on the Jase Case. Use code JESSIEONAJOURNEY10 for $10 off your first Jase Case!

2. Hand Sanitizer

While hand sanitizer is no substitution for washing your hands with soap and water, the CDC notes that when this option is not available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs.

As a traveler, I can think of countless times on the road where I haven’t had access to a working sink – even in places where you’d think there should be one, like a roadside restaurant or restroom.

This makes hand sanitizer one of the smartest travel abroad accessories you can pack.

To use effectively, apply the recommended amount of sanitizer (check the label) to the palm of one hand and then rub it all over your skin until your hands are dry.

3. First Aid Kit

When it comes to essential travel safety items and accessories, a First Aid Kit is a smart addition to the list.

A few essentials to include in your kit:

• Antibacterial wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Pain reliever
• Thermometer
• Tweezers
• Bandages
• Gauze
• Medical tape
• Medications

For a full list of First Aid Kit essentials, check out this list from the Cleveland Clinic.

Best Travel Safety Accessories To Avoid Pickpockets & Thieves

4. Neck Wallet

Raise your hand if you love carrying a heavy purse when you explore a new city?

Hands fly down.

Me neither. Which is why I love this helpful travel safety gear item! A neck wallet stores my keys, cards, and cash in a lightweight travel wallet that is worn like a necklace that gets tucked into my shirt.

Think of it as a money belt, but with less sweat stains in hot destinations.

Bonus: If you like to work out or go jogging, you won’t need to carry your keys in your hands or awkwardly tie them to your shoelaces.

5. Pacsafe Anti-Theft Bags

When it comes to personal safety gear, one brand to get on your radar is Pacsafe – a leader in the world of travel safety products, particularly when it comes to anti-theft backpacks and bags.

They utilize a number of technologies in their gear, like cut resistant fabric, lockable zippers, RFIDsafeTM blocking materials (that keep your personal documents and credit cards from being scanned), and the ability to fasten your bag to a secure object.

Depending on what type of trip you’re going on, you can peruse their travel backpacks, day packs, camera bags, carry-on bags, handbags, wallets, wheeled luggage, and more.

Bonus:

The company also keeps sustainability in mind. Along with pledging to remove all virgin plastic from their supply chain by 2025, they donate 1% of every sale to turtle conservation projects.

If you’re looking for the safest travel backpack, definitely check out Pacsafe!

6. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

You really should never use the internet without a VPN, which hides your online activity. This is especially true when traveling and regularly using public WiFi.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where people are constantly trying to steal your identity and personal information, and a VPN helps to protect you from hackers and online prowlers by hiding your IP address, browsing activity, and personal data when using WiFi.

One highly-rated VPN is NordVPN, which has a number of powerful features – like their ​​Threat Protection, which makes your browsing experience safer and faster without tracking your actions online.

Even if you accidentally install malware or click a malicious link, the feature neutralizes cyber threats before they can do any real damage to your device or data.

7. Clever Travel Companion Pickpocket-Proof Garments

I’ve written about these apparel pieces a lot over the years, and for good reason: they’re genius!

These pickpocket-proof garments are my favorite travel safety gear essentials, as they feature hidden interior pockets so crooks never know you have credit cards and cash. This keeps your valuables safe, while alleviating the need to carry a purse.

A few of my favorite Clever Travel Companion Garments include:

• The leggings featuring two secret pockets
• The boyshort underwear with two secret pockets (so comfortable!)
• The unisex tank top with hidden front pocket (I often wear this as an undershirt)
• The unisex striped long johns with two secret pockets (love these if I’m traveling somewhere cold)
• Striped t-shirt dress with zipper pockets (so stylish I’d wear it even if it wasn’t an essential piece of travel safety gear)

All of the above-mentioned garments take up almost no space, making it easy to have a travel safety plan while flying with only carry-on luggage.

8. Speakeasy Travel Supply Hidden-Pocket Scarves

Can you tell I love safety travel gear with hidden pockets?

Speakeasy Travel Supply Co was started by fellow travel bloggers from Beers & Beans, based on their own travel safety needs.

These hand-made scarves come in a wide-variety of patterns, with styles made for all seasons (so yes, you can totally find a hidden pocket scarf to wear for tropical travel!).

But the beauty isn’t just in the style, as the hidden pouches on these scarves offer a place to secretly store you valuables.

Best Personal Travel Safety Gear

9. Door Stop

There are many important things to carry while traveling abroad, and a door stop is one of them.

The scary truth:

Like your apartment, your hotel room can be robbed. Or worse.

A rubber door stop is a good travel safety item to bring that can add an extra layer of protection to your guest room.

Along with a simple rubber door stop, you might consider purchasing one with a security alarm – like this door stop that includes a 120db alarm.

This way, if someone tries to break into your hotel room, you’ll be awoken before they have a chance to get in.

10. She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm

A personal safety alarm should be at the top of any list of safety items for travelers, as it includes a loud siren that you can set off when needed.

The idea:

Attackers — both humans as well as animals like bears — will get scared and run off. This means you should also wear the alarm whether you’re wandering a city or hiking in the woods.

While there are many brands to choose from, She’s Birdie alarms are made for women by women (though they are also great for male travelers).

They offer two powerful travel security products, both of which can be worn as a keychain:

The Original Birdie, which features a 130db alarm and flashing strobe light designed to deter an attack, and the Birdie+, which also includes 24/7 live support.

Feel good knowing that a percentage of your purchase gets donated to organizations supporting women’s safety, shelter, and health.

This is truly a piece of travel security gear you shouldn’t leave home without, whether you’re exploring another country or your own neighborhood.

11. Safety Whistle

This is another powerful piece of travel safety gear that scares using loud sound.

I’ve been wearing my Fox Sonic Safety Whistle for years. It especially makes me feel safer when hiking solo, as I’ve had issues with angry dogs chasing me on trails in the past.

As with the personal alarm, this safety whistle can scare away both humans and animals.

12. Glow Bracelets

If you’re like me and enjoy cycling while traveling, it’s important that when riding at night you’re visible to cars.

While a helmet, bike lights, and bright clothing are also important pieces of bike safety gear, I like glow bracelets and glow vests to make sure I’m definitely seen.

And hey, if you’ve got a rave to go to they can act as a funky accessory, as well!

13. Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

One of my top solo hiking tips – which is also smart advice for anyone going on a remote adventure in general – is to carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite messenger, like the popular Garmin inReach Mini 2.

Having one of these is key if you’ll be in a remote area, as both of these tools can help you send SOS messages when it danger.

Just make sure to check the coverage map for the device(s) you’re considering to make sure your specific trail is covered.

Best Travel Safety Essentials To Be Ready For Anything

14. Emergency App (free; iOS & Android)

Developed by the American Red Cross, this all-inclusive app serves as a go-to resource for what travelers can do in the case of 14 different types of emergencies and disasters within the U.S.

Users can customize more than 35 emergency alerts based on their location and where their contacts live.

The Emergency App also contains a kit of emergency first aid info advising on everything from heart attacks to heat stroke. It’s truly one of the top travel safety apps you can download!

15. Saily eSIM

No list of travel safety equipment would be complete without discussing gear for staying connected – which Saily can help you do.

Saily is a global eSIM company that lets you access the internet from almost anywhere, at any time. I’ve used it on multiple trips, including in remote Kyrgyzstan, and it’s exceeded my expectations.

Saily helps ensure you’re never without a connection, which is vital when traveling in a place you’re unfamiliar with.

Not only does having a connection mean you can always look up directions and things to do, but it also allows you to keep loved ones up-to-date on your whereabouts or call for help if needed.

Plus, being connected is important for getting out of sticky situations. For instance, as a solo female traveler who goes on numerous road trips each year, it’s imperative I have a working phone in the car at all times.

Saily provides service in over 200+ countries and regions. They offer an array of data plans based on your destination, the length of your trip, and how much data you’ll want to use – as well as Saily Ultra, an unlimited international eSIM.

You’ll receive notifications if you begin running low on data, and you can quickly and easily top up your eSIM online.

16. SafetyWing Travel Insurance

Of course, no safety packing guide would be complete without mentioning travel insurance – an absolute travel essential!

If you’re looking for something straightforward, comprehensive, and budget-friendly, SafetyWing is an excellent choice. They offer two plan options:

🟡 Essential, for mid-to-short-term travelers

• Covers emergency medical care, trip delays, and evacuations
• Flexible 28-day subscription or fixed-date coverage for specific trips
• Add-ons available for adventure sports, electronics theft, and U.S. coverage

🔵 Complete, for long-term travelers and digital nomads

• Includes most Essential benefits, plus routine care, mental health support, and maternity coverage
• Covers you both abroad and in your home country
• Comes with adventure sports coverage, cancer screenings, outpatient services, and therapies like chiropractic care

➡️ Click here to compare plans and protect your trip.

17. Global Rescue

When your travels involve more remote or adventurous activities, traditional travel insurance may not be enough. That’s where Global Rescue comes in.

I personally sign up for Global Rescue when I know I’ll be heading into situations where a regular hospital or evacuation might not be accessible, like during the Peaks of the Balkans trek or high-altitude hiking in Kyrgyzstan.

Global Rescue is a membership-based rescue and evacuation service. If you’re injured or fall ill in a remote location, they’ll coordinate and cover the cost of evacuation to the nearest hospital (or even home, depending on your plan). That can easily save you tens of thousands of dollars.

They also offer 24/7 access to medical and security advisory teams, which can be invaluable when you need expert advice fast, especially in high-stakes or unpredictable environments.