Get summer-travel ready now by scoring some of Amazon's Big Spring Sale deals. (Amazon)(Amazon)
As a longtime travel writer (and traveler), I'm always on the hunt for the best travel gear sales. From finding pricey luggage for over 40% off to watching the price of a pair of high-end headphones take a nosedive, it never gets old. So, I took advantage of Amazon's Big Spring Sale to get some of my favorite travel gear for less. The event has officially ended, but many of the deals are still going strong. I have a feeling that won't be the case for much longer!
The following picks are deal-worthy (steals start at $12) and they're backed by frequent flyers and travel experts. From a pair of ultra-comfortable non-slip ballet flats that offer arch support for long days spent sightseeing to a universal travel adapter that can charge up to six devices at once, these picks come highly recommended by those who have logged plenty of miles in the air.
Somehow, you never think you really need a portable charger until you actually need one. Between loading your digital boarding pass to having enough juice to call a rideshare, a fully charged phone is essential when traveling.
This portable charger by Anker is rugged enough to withstand serious drops (just in case you're a little clumsy) and charges your phone up to 2.3 times, depending on the model. And, with over 77,000 five-star reviews, it's no surprise that it's a shopper favorite.
"I can sit in the airport or on a plane and recharge my phone battery," one reviewer wrote. "Great for keeping online at all times."
Keep your devices juiced up on the go using this solar-powered charging bank. You won't need to plug this baby in as long as the sun's out, making it ideal for camping trips and outdoor adventures. It can keep your phone charged for days, and it even has an LED flashlight built right in. Plus, it's waterproof.
Travel expert Samantha Brown told us that this is one of the comfiest travel shoes she's ever worn, noting that the rounded toe box is a standout feature and the half-inch heel adds some arch support, which most ballet flats tend to lack.
"I can just slip [it] on and not worry about the insole coming apart," another fan on Amazon wrote, further proving that this is worth the investment.
It can be challenging to fall asleep on planes, so investing in a solid neck pillow can help you achieve that in-flight nap. Emily's a firm believer: "I obviously don't use them when I'm working, but get one that you love for traveling. You never know when you'll need it on and off the plane."
This one is made of comfy and plush memory foam that provides a supporting surface for your head and neck, and it compresses to half its size for easy packing and stowing. And if there's a crying baby nearby or the plane engine's a bit too loud, it even comes with earplugs.
Don't want to lose your black adapter in the deep, dark depths of your carry-on bag? Get it in white!
Deals writer Chris McGraw, who's traveled to six continents, always brings a pair of over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones on long flights. He even said that, one time, on a 13-hour journey from Detroit to Japan, he fell asleep before takeoff, woke up to eat then fell right back to sleep again — all thanks to a pair of active noise-cancelling headphones like these from Beats, which also happen to be an Oprah fave and are still over 40% off.
"It was the first time I'd used active noise-cancelling headphones, and while I can't say that they were the sole reason I was able to relax and fall asleep, I haven't taken a flight without them since," McGraw said.
Tons of Amazon shoppers agree with him, with one writing that Beat's headphones "blow the other models out of the water. First of all, they are super comfortable over my ears and don’t cause any pain. The quality is incredible, and they are truly noise-cancelling."
When it comes to travel recommendations, who better to talk to than flight attendants, right? Senior deals writer Brit Ross tapped her flight crew member buddy Emily, who shared a few of her top picks and she listed this Hanes hoodie as one of her all-time faves. And now that it's down to just $16, it's low enough to buy multiple!
"You don't need a travel blanket, but bring layers," she said. "A cozy sweater or packable hoodie, anything. Just don't show up empty-handed in shorts and a T-shirt. Even if you're going to Hawaii, you're not in Hawaii yet."
I travel internationally twice a year to visit family and as one of those folks who likes to have everything he needs (just in case), I pack more tech than I need. So, my laptop, tablet and phone come with me at all times. To lessen the load in my tech case, I grabbed this three-port charger a couple of years ago and it's remained one of my favorite travel finds to date. In fact, last year, I left it plugged into an outlet in my living room before a flight, and felt like I was missing an arm when I got to my destination and realized I'd left it behind.
"I take it everywhere with me when traveling, and the travel-ability never disappoints," a fellow fan on Amazon wrote. "It charges all my devices pretty fast compared to my other chargers, and it replaced a lot of them. Before, I had three bricks. Now, I only have this one."
The hype surrounding packing cubes is real — just ask travel pro, Emily. "It's nice to keep organized when you're constantly packing and unpacking, and you can keep your dirty items separated from your clean items," she explained.
This pack of four from trusted travel accessories brand Bagail has a little extra something — compression zippers! They create a vacuum-sealed effect that flattens each cube even further to allow you to free up space in your luggage.
You can never be too safe when traveling. Take it from Emily: "Safety first, always!" This popular portable travel lock she recommends locks any inward-opening door in seconds. All you have to do is place the metal part into the door strike, close the door, and then attach the red piece to it. Once it's installed, no one can enter from outside.
"I'm a flight attendant and am in hotels four to five nights a week," another crew member wrote on Amazon. "Sometimes, the 'locks' just don't feel sturdy enough. This device gives me an extra layer of security and allows me to sleep at night. I keep it in my flight bag."
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Shop Spring's best sales: Brighten up your wardrobe, get your backyard back into gear, and nab tech deals you've been waiting for since Black Friday with our comprehensive coverage of Spring sales from Amazon and more major retailers. Shop the best expert-picked Spring deals from Amazon on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Spring Sale tech deals. And shop curated deals handpicked just for you from the experts at AOL.