If you have some extra cash this year to splash out on an indulgent gift for a loved one, you’ll find some inspiration in this luxury gift guide. There are practical gifts like sturdy backpacks and waterproof rain jackets for the friend that’s always planning their next outdoor adventure and then there are little luxuries such as travel-inspired perfume and wireless headphones for your jet-setting buddy. Maybe there’s even a special treat in here for you.
Peak travel backpack is ready for any kind of adventure
1. Peak Design 45L travel backpack
Recommended by Sebastian Modak, Lonely Planet editor-at-large
$300
Built like a tank but with a sleek aesthetic, Peak Design’s travel backpack is a total gamechanger. I’ve taken this thing through six continents. It’s been dragged through dirt, rained and snowed on, shoved into countless overhead bins, and opened and closed a thousand times. It’s been packed to the brim with camera gear, clothes and electronics, regularly shooting way past the carry-on weight limit. And even though I’m still learning about all of its features, it looks exactly the same as it did the day I got it.
It also fits seamlessly into Peak Design’s bigger ecosystem of products, including the packing cubes (designed to fit perfectly in the backpack), the tech and wash pouches (ditto) and the Capture clip system for easy access to your camera.
Evoke summer nights with Radio Bombay
2. D.S & Durga, Radio Bombay unisex perfume 50ml
$190
Recommended by Sasha Brady, Lonely Planet digital editor
I always travel with perfume in my carry-on because there’s nothing like a quick spritz in the arrivals hall bathroom to make you feel less bedraggled after a long flight. This unisex perfume from Brooklyn-based D.S & Durga is particularly potent enough (but not overpowering) to counteract those stale and metallic airplane odors that tend to stick to your body after a flight. It instantly makes me feel more put-together when I spray it.
I love scents that are tied to a destination so even if you’re not traveling, you can feel like you are. This one smells like a Mumbai summer night with spicy notes of cedar and sandalwood sweetened with coconut mist and ambergris.
Sorel Women’s Out ‘N About boot is comfortable and lightweight
3. Sorel Women’s Out ‘N About III classic duck boot
Recommended by Mandi Cummings, Lonely Planet visual designer, gear and tech
$130
I finally found a waterproof cold-weather boot perfect for the lighter winters we get in Tennessee. They’re stylish, comfortable and lightweight enough to wear all day, making them a great option for traveling – I recently wore them on a trip to the rainy Pacific Northwest, and they didn’t disappoint. (Pro tip: order a half-size up to wear them with thick socks.)
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North Face waterproof parka will protect you from the elements
4. NorthFace Women’s City Breeze Rain Parka II
$180
We love NorthFace for their awesome gear and forward-thinking approach to ethical consumerism, and this parka only proves our point. Wind-proof, waterproof and sustainably made from recycled materials, it has a stylish A-line cut for city breaks, and it’s rugged enough to stand up to rainy hikes in the wilderness as well.
Wrap up in style with the Emilia 3-Piece Cashmere Travel Set
5. Sofia 3-piece cashmere travel set
Recommended by Fionnuala McCarthy, editorial director
$395
I love a cozy blanket, no matter where I am, it’s comforting and helps me relax. If I am on an airplane, train or in the back seat of the car, being cocooned by a soft pillow, blanket and eye mask helps alleviate any travel stresses. This Emilia set from Sofia brand is made of the softest of cashmere, that you might find yourself snuggling up with it in when you are back home.
Tune out airplane hums with Sony wireless headphones
6. Sony WF-1000XM4
Recommended by Alex Howard, Lonely Planet senior editor
$250
I grew sick of lugging around my over-ear headphones on planes, where storage space keeps getting smaller and smaller, so I picked up this pair of Truly Wireless earbuds from Sony. The noise cancelation isn’t quite as good as their over-ear counterparts, but the foam tips secure snugly into the ear canal and block out a good bit of sound. And Sony’s active noise cancelation is industry-leading.
ROAM luggage is stylish and practical
7. ROAM luggage
Recommended by Jenn Chan, beauty, fashion and travel writer and on-air host
From $575
ROAM offers fully customizable high-end luggage, which means you can create a stunning suitcase that’s sure to turn heads and never get lost in the overhead compartment. Choose from an endless array of colors for the front and back shells, water-resistant zippers, hubcaps, handles and more for a jetsetter style statement uniquely your own.
Get away from everything and everyone with the Alpacka Packraft
8. Alpacka Packrafts
Recommended by adventure photographer Gabriel Rovick, founder and director of F4D studios
From $990
These lightweight rafts are just so much fun. They pack up small(ish), so you can backpack to a launch site and find spots of river or high mountain lakes to float where there isn’t another person for miles. And they blow up using man-power, so you don’t even have to lug in a pump. My wife and I have taken them on all sorts of adventures this year, and they’ve been the perfect thing to truly get away from everything and everyone.
Able Abera convertible backpack is a sustainable carry-on option
9. Able Abera convertible backpack
Recommended by Sarah Stocking, Lonely Planet digital editor
$225
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Able is a forward-thinking fashion brand with the most beautiful products. I was able to tour the facility recently and meet with the founder, and let me say, they walk their walk. From the supply chain to the materials used to the policy of empowering women to use their skills to earn a fair wage, everything is as sustainable as it comes – not to mention gorgeous. I’m a sucker for anything in camel leather, and a convertible backpack is the perfect travel accessory.
Patagonia duffel bag is super comfortable
10. Patagonia Black Hole 55L duffel bag
Recommended by Sarah Stocking, digital editor
From $169
I love these Patagonia bags. They’re lightweight, easy to pack, hold a ton and they’re super comfortable to wear as backpacks, no matter the size. (We have them in multiple sizes,) In the airport, I can handle myself, a toddler, a child and two of these duffels and barely break a sweat.
America the Beautiful annual pass will keep you in year-round adventures
11. America the Beautiful annual pass
$140
With this pass, your loved one can see all the national parks they want for an entire year. Gift them the joy of getting outside and exploring these special places in the US.
More gift guides for every type of traveler
