Even amidst the thrill of adventure, travel exposes you to certain risks, from minor inconveniences like a flight delay to more serious threats, like a stranger breaking into your hotel room. Fortunately, the best travel safety devices, ranging from personal safety alarms to door stoppers and anti-theft bags, are built to keep you out of harm’s way.
The best travel safety devices are built to keep you out of harm’s way, helping you avoid both minor … [+] inconveniences and serious threats.
Illustration: Forbes / Images: Retailer
Over the last decade, I’ve visited roughly 100 countries—many of them solo. My experiences traveling alone helped me learn the importance of being mindful of one’s safety while on the go. After testing many gadgets and tools all over the world, I’ve narrowed down 15 of the best travel safety devices that all travelers should know about.
Weight: 2.08 ounces | Dimensions: 3 x 1.5 x 1 inches | Special features: TSA-friendly, fits on your keychain or luggage
Roughly the size of a key fob, She’s Birdie is a discreet yet powerful wearable panic button that offers peace of mind whether you’re out for a run or strolling through a new city. Pulling the pin activates a piercing alarm and flashing strobe, instantly alerting those nearby. Reinsert the pin to deactivate the alarm when you feel safe. It’s a swift and effective means of summoning help and drawing attention to any situation.
Weight: 3.68 ounces | Dimensions: 5.45 x 1.8 x 1.52 inches | Special features: Made of stainless steel but lightweight and easy to pack
This simple but effective door stopper prevents unauthorized visitors from entering your room by reinforcing the door. If someone attempts to tamper with your hotel room door (even by putting pressure on it), the stopper emits a 120-decibel alarm (for context, that’s about as loud as a jet plane taking off). Set-up is easy—just shove it in the gap between the ground and the bottom of your door, like you would any other door stopper—and it’s powered by a 9-volt battery.
Weight: 4.2 ounces | Dimensions: 6 x 1.65 x 0.3 inches | Special features: Easy to install or remove, without any tools
Not all door locks in hotel or Airbnbs are break-in-proof. As a portable and lightweight solution, this handy door lock reinforces a door’s existing locking mechanisms on the handle so the door can’t be opened from the outside, whether with a key card or a traditional key. It’s easily installed in seconds and doesn’t require any tools—just slide the metal piece into the slot of the door lock, close the door and clip the red portion into one of the holes (there are two, ensuring it’ll fit any size door). Keep in mind that this gadget only works on inward-opening doors—so it’s not the best fit for double doors or doors that slide or swing outward.
Weight: 0.39 ounces | Dimensions: 1.26 x 1.26 x 0.31 inches | Special features: Built-in speaker plays a sound to help you locate lost items
A tiny bit larger than a quarter, Apple’s AirTag devices use Bluetooth tracking to help you quickly locate your baggage, no matter where it is, or keep tabs on anything that’s valuable or important to you, from your purse or wallet to your camera bag or even a pet (put it on the collar). The AirTag uses Apple’s Find My network to share its location securely and has a speaker function to set out a signal, making it easier to find. For Samsung loyalists, I recommend the SmartTag2, and for even more options, check out our guide to the Best Luggage Trackers.
Amazon
Zoppen Multi-Purpose RFID Blocking Passport Holder Travel Wallet
Weight: 6 ounces | Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.7 x 1 inches | Special features:
Thieves don’t need your physical credit card to make charges on it—they can nab your personal information by scanning devices that emit Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) signals, essentially pickpocketing you electronically. Similarly, they can skim the data from your passport (because, like credit cards, they have microchips in them), which they could use to steal your identity. A RFID-blocking wallet is made from a material that blocks the signals, effectively creating a shield from digital theft around your cards and IDs. This pick from Zoppen comes in more than 30 colors and features pockets for your passport, boarding pass, eight credit cards, one SIM card, cash, coins and a pen.
Weight: 0.99 pound | Dimensions: 13.4 x 10.2 x 4.7 inches | Special features: RFID-blocking, converts from a backpack to a purse
From hidden compartments and lockable zippers to slash-proof materials and RFID-blocking pockets, Pacsafe’s anti-theft backpacks is one of my favorites to travel with. To thwart determined thieves, this bag is reinforced with lightweight steel mesh you can’t cut through and the shoulder straps are reinforced with wire, which means it can be secured to tables or chairs if needed. Its ability to fold down into a handbag makes it particularly versatile—you can wear it as a backpack during the day and a purse at night. Bonus: the bag is water resistant, easy to clean and has a five-year warranty.
Weight: 0.21 ounces | Dimensions: 0.55 x 1.57 x 4.16 inches | Special features: Can be set with 1-word combination or numbers depending on the style
I reviewed multiple locks for our Best TSA-Approved Luggage Locks guide, and the best option overall is this one from Master Lock. Made with heavy-duty steel, it’s simple to operate but hard to break into, and because it features a two-inch shackle, it fits everything from suitcases to equipment boxes. It comes in two styles for travelers—one with a word combination and another with a numeric combination.
Weight: 1 pound | Dimensions: 7 x 4 x 7.5 inches | Special features: Water-resistant, suitable for indoor-outdoor use
Most hostels and Airbnbs do not have a lock-box or safe in the room. Similarly, there are scenarios where you might want a bit more protection for your belongings, such as when you’re at the beach by yourself and want to keep your items secure while you take a swim. SafeGo’s portable lock box is a small, secure repository for storing passports, jewelry, cash and electronics. It has a flexible steel cable that allows you to secure it around most fixed objects and a lock that opens with a three-digit code of your choosing or a key. It’s rust, water and impact-resistant, making it more tamper-proof. As an added bonus, it offers earphone or charger access, so you can listen to music or charge your phone while it’s locked away.
Amazon
Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker Medical Kit
Weight: 7.2 ounces | Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.5 x 3 inches | Special features: Compact, easily fits into a fanny pack
Accidents can happen anywhere, and having essential medical supplies on hand can provide immediate relief or assistance until professional help is available. This compact option from Adventure Medical Kits is small enough to toss in your bag while still covering most minor injuries and ailments. It includes trauma pads, butterfly bandages, antiseptic wipes and medical tape for bleeding; elastic bandages for sprained ankles; common medications for allergic reactions, itching, pain, fever, inflammation and diarrhea; and a first-aid guide to help you administer care. It also includes moleskin, which is great for blisters. The nylon bag is organized with injury-specific pockets, so you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for easily and quickly.
Weight: 0.635 ounces | Dimensions: 2.75 x 1.5 x 4.5 inches | Special features: Battery back-up, plugs into wall outlet, emits a 85-decibel alarm
In many places around the world, it’s not a requirement for hotel rooms or short-term rentals to have a carbon monoxide detector. Having one of your own could help save your life. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless poisonous gas, which, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is produced any time you burn fuel in stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges or furnaces. This option from Kidde simply plugs into a standard outlet (if you’re traveling internationally, don’t forget an adapter) but also has a battery backup. When it senses carbon monoxide, it emits a 85-decibel alarm.
Weight: Varies | Dimensions: Varies | Special features:
While this isn’t a product you’ll pack in your suitcase, Ring’s video doorbell and floodlight camera help you monitor your home from anywhere in the world. With the smartphone app, you can check in on your property in real-time and if Ring’s motion sensors and cameras detect any suspicious movements or unexpected visitors, you’ll be immediately notified. Additionally, the visible presence of security cameras and alarms can act as a powerful deterrent to potential burglars.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted travel team has researched, written and published dozens of articles about the very best products for travel, from the best luggage for your next trip to the best carry-on backpacks that fit into an airplane’s overhead bin. When it came time to identify the best travel safety devices, we applied the same unyielding commitment to ensure that our readers feel safe no matter where their travels take them.
We examined each contender on this list, closely examining use cases and testing them out on multiple trips. To make the cut for our travel safety device list, products were required to be versatile and compact, allowing them to be used in a variety of situations while also being lightweight enough to toss into your backpack, carry-on or personal item.
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