10 Practical Gifts for People Who Work On The Road

Remote work is here to stay and for many, that means the freedom to blend travel with productivity. Whether you call it being a digital nomad, working from the road, or just taking Zoom calls between adventures, the right gear can make all the difference!

Since 2019, we’ve worked part-time from the road: weeks-long trips across North Carolina, five months exploring the Northeast, 3.5 months through Colorado and Utah, and most recently, a five-week Southeast road trip paired with a month working from Yellowstone’s North Entrance. Over the last 5+ years, we’ve tested what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to staying productive, comfortable, and connected on the move.

This list is filled with the most useful and thoughtful gifts for people who work while traveling, whether you’re shopping for a digital nomad, a road tripper, or someone who just loves the freedom of remote work.

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1. Noise-Canceling Headphones

Noise-canceling headphones are a digital nomad’s best friend. They make airports quieter, road trips calmer, and even double as a way to zone out with a podcast after a long workday. After five years of working full-time on the road, we can tell you these are one of the most-used items in our backpacks.

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• Beats Solo Headphones - My top pick and the pair I won’t travel without!

• Sony WH-1000XM5 - Top-notch noise cancellation and all-day comfort.

• Bose QuietComfort - Lightweight and known for crystal-clear sound.

• Soundcore Anker Life Q20: Budget-friendly with surprisingly good noise reduction.

2. Computer Travel Backpack

Nothing slows down your road office setup like digging through a backpack for tangled cords. A good travel backpack keeps everything padded, safe, and easy to grab. We’ve hauled ours through airports, tossed it in rental cars, and shoved it under countless airplane seats—it’s one of those gifts that actually gets used every single day.

And unlike regular backpacks, these are designed with specific compartments for laptops, chargers, tablets, and other accessories, ensuring everything has a place. They also protect electronics from bumps during transit, and many models are weather-resistant to handle unexpected rain.

Although my favorite travel computer backpack (and the one I currently use) is out of stock at the moment, here are some other options great for digital nomads:

• MATEIN Travel Laptop Backpack - Budget-friendly, super organized, and water-resistant. Great for anyone who wants a solid, everyday option without breaking the bank.

• Targus Legend IQ Laptop Backpack- A sleek, padded laptop bag that protects devices up to 16". With a dedicated laptop compartment, media pocket with headphone jack, tablet sleeve, and plenty of storage for accessories, it’s designed for work and travel alike.

• YOREPEK Travel Backpack - The “big capacity” option. Fits laptops up to 17", with TSA-friendly features, an external USB port, and breathable padding. Perfect for long commutes, extended trips, or anyone carrying extra gear.

• Nomatic Travel Backpack - This one’s an investment, but it’s super sleek, durable, and built for frequent work travelers. Water-resistant, minimalist design, and tons of thoughtful compartments.

3. Portable Laptop Screen Extender

If you’ve ever tried writing an article while referencing 10 tabs of research (guilty 🙋‍♀️) or working with numbers upon numbers inside of an Excel spreadsheet (that’s Jon!), you know how life-changing an extra monitor can be.

A portable laptop screen extender folds neatly into a backpack but instantly turns a cramped Airbnb desk into a mini office. They’re lightweight, plug-and-play, and perfect for remote workers who thrive with more screen space.

Here are some portable laptop screen extenders that would make a great gift for those working on the go.

• 14" FHD 1080P IPS Laptop Monitor Extender - Crisp, clear display with multiple viewing modes and broad compatibility across devices. Easy plug-and-play setup makes it perfect for road warriors who want a no-fuss productivity boost.

• KYY Portable Monitor - Slim, lightweight, and travel-ready. With USB-C and Mini-HDMI connections, eye-care features, and a sturdy smart cover that doubles as a stand, this is an excellent all-around option for digital nomads.

• Laptop Extended Monitor Fits 13-17 Inch Laptops - Designed for serious multitaskers, this foldable extender rotates 0–180 degrees, packs easily, and offers customizable display settings. It’s compact, ergonomic, and built for anyone who works from multiple setups.

4. Portable Laptop Stand

A portable laptop stand is one of the simplest ways to make remote work more comfortable. By elevating your laptop to eye level, it helps reduce neck and back strain and encourages better posture during long work sessions.

These stands are lightweight, foldable, and compact, so they fit easily into a backpack and can be set up anywhere, from a kitchen counter to a hotel desk. Many also double as a standing desk option when you don’t have a proper workspace.

Our pick:

• Foldable Laptop Stand Desk – Fully adjustable legs that rotate 360° and lock in place, so you can set it at the perfect angle. It even has quiet USB-powered cooling fans to keep your laptop from overheating. Versatile enough to use as a laptop tray, standing desk, or tablet holder, it’s been one of our most reliable road work tools.

👉 RTL Tip: Pair it with an ergonomic mouse, ergonomic keyboard (I use this one but it’s currently out of stock), and docking station for the ultimate travel-friendly setup. We’ve carried this exact setup everywhere—from our cabins in Yellowstone to long-term rentals in New England.

Here’s my most common work-from-anywhere setup. I’m using the portable laptop stand, ergonomic keyboard and mouse, while also having my noise-canceling headphones and bluelight computer glasses.

5. Durable Slippers

Durable slippers that feel like shoes are a perfect gift for anyone working from the road because they combine comfort with practicality.

When you’re spending long hours in a camper van, Airbnb, or hotel room, having something cozy yet sturdy to slip on makes all the difference. They’re great for indoor work sessions, but they’re also durable enough for quick errands or coffee trips to the hotel lobby.

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• Orthofeet Women’s Orthopedic Stretch Knit Louise Slippers – Confession time. Jon will be truly disappointed I’m sharing these because he thinks they’re the ugliest slippers ever. 😅 But these are hands-down my go-to slippers, and they go EV-ER-Y-WHERE I go. Plane travel? Packed in a shoe cube. Road trip? Absolutely. Hard floors leave my feet aching, and these completely solve the problem. They’re not glamorous, but they’re lifesavers if you want comfort and support.

• UGG Ascot Slippers – I got these for my dad years ago, and he wore them so much he asked for another pair! Sturdy soles, cozy lining, total win.

• Crocs Classic Clogs are lightweight, waterproof, and surprisingly versatile. They work just as well for campgrounds and beaches as they do for quick gas station stops. (We live in a condo building and I also put these on just to run trash down the hall. Quick and easy!)

• Snoozies Foldable Slippers pack down small and are perfect for overnight flights or when you want something lightweight in a hotel room.

6. Compact Power Bank

Few things are more stressful than watching your phone die mid-Zoom call. A compact power bank keeps phones, tablets, and hotspots running when outlets aren’t available.

Our pick:

• Power Bank – Slim and reliable.

7. Universal Travel Adapter

A universal travel adapter is a must-have for digital nomads traveling internationally. It ensures that they can plug in their devices anywhere in the world, eliminating the hassle of finding region-specific adapters. Modern versions often include USB ports, allowing multiple devices to charge simultaneously.

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• EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter - This compact adapter covers over 150 countries and includes USB ports for charging multiple devices at once.

• BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter - Offers not only plug adaptability but also voltage conversion, which is essential for safely using electronics abroad.

8. Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot

Reliable internet can be hard to find in remote areas. A portable Wi-Fi hotspot ensures digital nomads have access to the internet no matter where they are, making it easier to work from the road without connectivity worries.

Great picks:

• Skyroam Solis Lite - This portable hotspot works in over 130 countries, providing a reliable connection wherever you go, and you can pay as you go for data.

• GlocalMe G4 Pro - This device offers global connectivity and comes with a touchscreen interface, making it easy to set up and use while traveling.

• SIMO Solis Lite 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot - This hotspot is perfect for remote workers and digital nomads, providing secure and reliable mobile internet in over 135 countries without the need for a SIM card.

9. Car Inverter Charger

This is one of those “you don’t think you need it until you desperately do” gifts. Picture this: you’re on a 6-hour drive, your laptop’s dying, and you still have two hours before check-in. A car inverter plugs into the cigarette lighter and keeps laptops, phones, and even camera batteries charged while you roll.

This is the car power inverter we love and use while working and traveling. This keeps our laptops, phones, and cameras powered up no matter where we go.

10. Travel Cable Organizer

Keeping cables, chargers, and other small gadgets organized can be a challenge while traveling, which makes a travel cable organizer a thoughtful and practical gift. It helps digital nomads avoid the frustration of tangled cords and makes it easier to find what they need quickly.

Great picks:

• BAGSMART Electronic Organizer - This travel electronics organizer has plenty of compartments for cables, chargers, power banks, and even small gadgets.

• ProCase Travel Gear Organizer - Compact and easy to pack, this organizer has a variety of slots and pockets to keep all tech accessories neatly stored and within reach.

• BUBM Double Layer Electronic Accessories Organizer - This compact, durable organizer is ideal for digital nomads, offering a spacious, well-padded design to securely store cables, gadgets, and accessories.

Happy gifting!

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