2012 Holiday Gear+Gift Guide

In prior centuries, a wagonload of hat boxes and wooden trunks were dispatched to follow each traveler. When he toured the known world, Lord Byron was reported to have traveled with a volume of equipment which today might only accompany an arena-touring rock band.

Travel isn’t about gear, or at least it shouldn’t be. Travel is about experiencing new places and cultures—unencumbered by preconceptions, unencumbered by piles of luggage. It is about finding the details that contribute to the soul of a place. It’s about following our noses, eyes and ears—down that quiet street, into the local bazaar, along an empty beach at sunset. Good travel, we believe, is about the ease of movement. And piles of gear become the antithesis of good travel.

WhereTraveler’s editors kept that concept in mind as we assembled this year’s Gear+Gift Guide. No, dear reader, we would not stuff your suitcase to the zipper breaking point. Rather, we wanted to find you compact, functional gear that effortlessly enables your experience…and if it offered a dual purpose (like a few of the items on our list), even better. Travel smartly and stay in the moment.

—WhereTraveler

The GorillaPod—To step up your travel photography and get shake-free, long-exposure shots, you need a tripod. We like the Gorillapod from Joby for its bold looks, compact size and flexible design. Tip: Bend the legs around on the GorillaPod SLR-Zoom and use them as handles for a camera rig when you’re shooting video. $50, www.joby.com

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ExOfficio’s Women’s Storm Logic Coat—This insulated (but not bulky) trench coat stuffs into itself to become a neck pillow. It’s perfect for riding the trains across Europe or jumping airplanes in the winter. Internal pockets makes it awesome for travel (there’s a hidden one on the wrist) and synthetic insulation dries quickly and still insulates if it gets soaked. $190, www.exofficio.com

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Russi’s X9 Stryker Large TSA Briefcase—This briefcase says business. Ballistic nylon. Leather finishes. Huge #10 zippers. Their patented X-lock buckle. And the design means you don’t have to remove your laptop from the bag when you’re rushing through the TSA checkpoint. $200, www.russi.us

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Fishpond Westwater Duffel—The intended user is the traveling fisherman, but we think this duffel is great for all adventurous souls. Tough and waterproof, with carrying options as a duffel or a backpack, it’s ready to get to your favorite flyfishing spot in Alaska, or for just any venture that doesn’t include perfect weather. $200, www.fishpondusa.com

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Olympus OM-D E-M5—It’s evil and we like it. The compact and stylish Olympus OM-D E-M5 is part of the wave of new EVIL cameras (electronic viewfinder, interchangeable lens) that compare well to the big bulky DSLRs we’ve been lugging around. The only lacking on the OM-D E-M5 is a built-in flash, but a mountable one is included in the purchase. $1,000, www.olympusomd.com

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Olloclip iPhone 3-in-1 lens—The iPhone has become the essential travel device, but up until recently, it was limited in terms of its imaging standards, because the only lens was the basic one with the phone itself. Enter the Olloclip, a snap-on lens for the iPhone 5, 4s and 4, that fits in your pocket and which gives you wide-angle, fish-eye and macro lens options. $70, www.olloclip.com

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Ultralight .3 kit from Adventure Medical Kits—We like the Ultralight/Watertight .3 medical kit because it’s compact and extremely light (less than 3 ounces), making it really easy to keep essential medical supplies close at hand when you travel, especially if you’re going off the beaten path and renting a mountain bike for the day. $9, www.adventuremedicalkits.com

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The Luna from Lilypond—A daypack for travel is a curious thing. It needs to be big enough to carry found treasures, small enough to not bog you down, casual enough to not make you look like you’re hiking in the museum. Sling-style bags like The Luna Atom fit the bill well, and this one is made from 100% recycled materials. $50, www.lilypondusa.com

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Lytro Light Field Camera—It looks like it might be a high-tech version of a kaleidoscope, but the Lytro is actually cutting-edge camera technology. This unique camera uses what is called “light field” technology, and it creates what the company calls “living pictures” which allow the user to change the focus after the fact. It’s been getting the thumbs up from techno-geek bloggers who are way more pocket-protector than us. $399/$499, www.lytro.com

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iPad 2 sleeve from Haiku—This TSA-friendly bag has a felt-lined Velcro-sealed pocket to keep your iPad in place, while a back slip pocket provides a spot for documents like your passport or boarding pass. Stash it another bag, or carry it comfortably with its top handle or the removable shoulder strap that’s long enough long enough for cross-body carry. $34, www.haikubags.com

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Tilley Carry On—Form and function come together expertly in this sturdy carry-on. The waxed-cotton-and-leather exterior is sophisticated but rugged, with nine brass feet to keep it off the ground. An exterior brass plate bears its owner’s name in case it doesn’t keep up with you. $325, www.tilley.com

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GoToobs from Humangear—The TSA doesn’t like more than three ounces, so put your favorite personal care and beauty products in these silcone squeeze tubes with no-drip caps. Available in three sizes (all are TSA-approved for carrying on), the GoToob products are also food-safe and free of BPAs and polycarbonates. $18 (3-pack), www.humangear.com

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Pack-It Specter Cube Set from Eagle Creek—Keep your trip (and your luggage) organized. Eagle Creek’s storage cubes are built of an extremely lightweight fabric and are translucent so you can see what you packed inside, making your suitcase or backpack less like a grab bag of mystery. $35, www.eaglecreek.com

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Victorinox Werks Traveler 4.0 Convertible luggage—A unique design allows the Werks Traveler 4.0 Convertible to switch from being a duffel to a garment bag. Use it as a full-featured duffel for casual weekend road trips, or turn it into a garment bag for mid-week business travel. $220, www.victorinox.com

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Zipka Plus2—A light is a traveler’s friend, whether you’re checking in late at an unfamiliar rental cabin or need more visibility while on a rental bicycle. This headlamp from Petzl fits the bill. A retractable cord system lets you wear it on your wrist or head, or anywhere you can strap it; in summary, the Zipka Plus2 goes anywhere you can. $45, www.petzl.com

(All images copyright of their respective manufacturers.)