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We Spent All Year Testing Travel Gear — and Our Favorite Products Are Up to 60% Off for Black Friday

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We Spent All Year Testing Travel Gear — and Our Favorite Products Are Up to 60% Off for Black Friday

Here at Travel + Leisure, we’re no strangers to testing travel gear and accessories, whether it’s durable luggage sets, handy tech, comfy apparel, rugged camping gear, or anything else in between. Whether our editors are testing them out on their travels across the world or in T+L’s New York City testing lab, our team is constantly working to ensure that you can trust our recommendations. That includes beating suitcases with baseball bats to see if they can withstand the wear and tear of travel, testing out comfy shoes to see if they offer enough support and traction for hiking or sightseeing, and listening to see if noise-canceling headphones can really drone out the rumble of jet engines and ambient noise.

There are hundreds of markdowns on some of our favorite T+L-approved gear this Black Friday, and we’ve sifted through them to find you the 40 best deals on true editor’s picks from big-name brands including Samsonite, Merrell, Apple, and more. Just remember: sales prices are subject to change, and supplies are limited, so don’t forget to snag what you like while you still can. 

Best Overall Editor-tested Black Friday Deals

AWAY


There are literally thousands of Black Friday markdowns out there, and the sheer number of deals is naturally overwhelming, but there’s no need to worry — we’ve done all the major bargain hunting for you. We’ve rounded up some of the best editor-tested deals from across the internet, because, after all, who could pass up saving $95 on the Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 or $82 on the Away The Carry-on Flex? Even smaller accessories like the HiLife Portable Steamer, which will keep your clothes fresh and pressed wherever you are, are on sale (the steamer is currently available for a budget-friendly $25).

Best Editor-tested Black Friday Luggage Deals

Amazon


Right now, shoppers can score up to 50 percent off on hundreds of spinner suitcases and luggage sets from brands and retailers including Travelpro, Away, and Amazon. Save 50 percent on the Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 Hardside 2-piece Luggage Set to get it for $375. If you’re in the market for hardside luggage, consider one of our editor-loved luggage brands to get Away’s The Carry-on Flex, now 25 percent off at $243 — you can personalize it with your initials for an extra $50.

Osprey Fairview 40-liter Travel Backpack

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson


After testing 89 carry-on backpacks, we found this one to be the absolute best for traveling on foot. The shoulder, chest, and waist straps distribute the bag’s weight evenly, making it feel lighter and easier to carry. Plus, this spacious pack boasts plenty of pockets and special straps to attach a second bag to it. 

Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 Hardside 2-piece Luggage Set

Amazon


We ranked this Delsey Paris two-piece luggage as having the best maneuverability in our best luggage sets tests after we tested more than 450 pieces of luggage in our New York City lab. We love that the suitcase has plenty of storage options; security locks; and easy-to-maneuver, 360-degree wheels.

Away The Carry-on Flex

Away


Away is one of our all-time favorite luggage brands, so it should come as no surprise that we found this Carry-on Flex suitcase to be the best expandable carry-on during our tests. It manages to somehow be compact while still offering a sneaky amount of space thanks to its two large interior compartments and a compression system. But, if you need just a little more wiggle room, you can expand it for an extra 2.25 inches of space.

Travelpro Maxlite Air Medium Check-in Hardside Spinner

Travel Pro


This hardside spinner was crowned as the best medium checked suitcase for international travel thanks to its built-in compression panels, 2-inch expander, easy-to-maneuver wheels, and lightweight yet durable shell.

More Of Our Favorite Editor-tested Black Friday Luggage Deals

Best Black Friday Travel Accessories Deals

Amazon


Having the right travel accessories can make or break your trip. There’s almost nothing more annoying than when your jewelry gets tangled up into an impenetrable knot, but that headache can be avoided by investing in the Bagsmart Jewelry Travel Organizer, one of our favorites, that’s now on sale for $14. Want to avoid clothing wrinkles during your travels? Consider the HiLife Portable Steamer, now on sale for $25.

Bagsmart Jewelry Travel Organizer 

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson


We tested 25 travel jewelry cases, and this was one of our favorites. It functions similarly to a toiletry bag in that it zips up and has a handle for easy transporting. Our editors loved how it kept all our jewelry neatly organized, and throughout our testing period of six months, we never had issues with jewelry tangling.

HiLife Portable Steamer

Travel + Leisure / Kaylene Konigsmark


Looking to add a travel steamer to your collection of travel supplies? Opt for this one from Hilife. We tested it ourselves, dubbing it the best one for thick fabrics and noting that the spacious water tank allows for 20 to 25 minutes of continuous use. We also loved its long cord length, quick start-up time, easy-to-fill water tank, and reliability.

Ostrichpillow Memory Foam Travel Pillow

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim


We’ve tested more than 40 travel pillows, and this one currently tops our list for its cozy, soft memory foam and asymmetrical design that’s adjustable to suit whatever position is most comfortable for the head and neck. It also compresses and rolls down into the included travel bag, making it portable enough to travel with. 

More Of Our Favorite Editor-tested Travel Accessory Black Friday Deals:

Best Black Friday Apparel Deals

REI


With cold weather upon us, it’s the perfect time to invest in a cozy pair of fleece-lined leggings or a warm down jacket. Right now, save up to 50 percent on some of our favorite editor-tested apparel to prepare you for any and all winter-related activities. The Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Women’s Down Jacket, for example, is currently a whopping $149 off, while the toasty Ororo Women’s Slim Heated Jacket can now be yours for a discounted price of $112.

Baleaf Women’s Fleece-lined Thermal Leggings

Amazon


A drop in temperature means it’s time to break out the layers. These tested fleece-lined leggings by Baleaf should definitely be in your Amazon cart this season, especially for outdoor pursuits like skiing and snowboarding. 

Merrell Women’s Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot

Travel + Leisure / Lydia Price


These editor-loved hiking boots handle trails and tough terrain with ease, providing optimal traction for your outdoor adventures. They’re also waterproof and breathable thanks to their flexible mesh upper.

Ororo Women’s Slim Heated Jacket

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson


This toasty pick from Ororo is our favorite heated jacket for women. It heats up quickly in cold temperatures, and the fact that it’s also waterproof is the cherry on top.

More Of Our Favorite Editor-tested Black Friday Apparel Deals

Best Black Friday Comfy Shoes Deals

REI


The T+L team is no stranger to testing the best shoes for travel, whether you plan to use them for running, hiking, or walking activities. Right now, you can save up to $80 on some of our favorite sneakers, hiking boots, and running shoes from top-rated brands like Cole Haan, Allbirds, and Sorel. Think: $40 off the Allbirds Tree Dasher 2 Men’s Sneakers, $70 off the Hunter Women’s Original Short Rain Boot, and $75 off the Sorel Men’s 1964 Pac Nylon Snow Boot.

Cole Haan Women’s Hampshire Buckle Bootie

Amazon


These sleek, versatile booties, available in two leather shades and one suede hue, are supportive and easy to walk in, with a high-quality look and feel that can withstand a good deal of wear and tear. It should come as no surprise that these shoes are one of our favorite comfortable boots for women.

Hunter Women’s Original Short Rain Boot

Amazon


If you’ve ever had the urge to splash into rainy puddles without getting your feet wet, look no further than these classic Hunter rain boots. They’re our all-time favorite rain boot for women. We love how durable they feel (they’re made entirely out of thick rubber) and that the top of the boot shaft has an adjustable buckle to tighten or loosen the boots — perfect for staying dry when walking around on particularly rainy days.

Sorel Men’s 1964 Pac Nylon Snow Boot

Amazon


Designed for heavy snow with a waterproof nylon upper, sealed seams, and a vulcanized rubber shell, these men’s snow boots aced our tests, which it’s why they’re one of our favorite men’s snow boots of all that we tried. We crowned them as the best duck boots (after testing more than 23 pairs of men’s snow boots) for how lightweight yet completely waterproof and insulating they are.

More Of Our Favorite Editor-tested Comfy Black Friday Shoe Deals:

Best Black Friday Tech Deals

Amazon


Tech is essential to traveling these days, which is why T+L editors test hundreds of noise-canceling earphones, travel adapters, and smart Bluetooth tracking devices. The best Black Friday tech deals can save you $96 on the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) and $51 on the Beats Fit Pro Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds.

Apple AirTag 4-pack

Travel + Leisure / Taylor Fox


These small, disk-shaped devices make it easy to keep track of your belongings including luggage, backpacks, keys, and wallets. A must-have for travel and everyday use, they also make a great gift for kids, grandparents, and just about everyone. In fact, we ourselves have been using them for travel and beyond over the past few years. 

Apple AirPods Pro 2 

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim


Airpods are a go-to travel accessory for the T+L team. “I have never used an earbud that cancels noise so well,” says T+L editor Taylor Fox. “Even when it’s not playing music, you have the option to cancel noise, so they really double as ear plugs, which has been great for blocking out noisy neighbors on trains and planes.”

Epicka Universal Travel Adapter 

Travel + Leisure /Asia London Palomba


During a week-long trip to the Azores Islands, I was able to charge six devices simultaneously with this universal travel adapter, which was easy to pack inside a shoe for efficiency. The adapter is extremely lightweight yet durable, which is perfect for traveling light.

Beats Fit Pro Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds

Travel + Leisure / Tamara Staples


Get a head start on holiday shopping with these noise-canceling headphones that we’ve personally tested and consider the best earbuds for exercise. They have a knack for staying in your ear even through movement, all while remaining comfy due to to soft rubber wings. Connect them to your phone’s Bluetooth instantly, and enjoy fantastic sound quality while listening to music, podcasts, phone calls, and more.

More Of Our Favorite Black Friday Tech Deals

Best Black Friday Outdoor Gear Deals

Amazon


Although winter is almost upon us, there are still plenty of outdoor adventures to be had by snowboarding, hiking, and skiing, just to name a few. T+L editors have tested a ton of gear for these activities, from insulated ski gloves and ski bags to backpacking tents and insulated snow pants. Right now, outdoor enthusiasts can save up to 48 percent on some of our favorite outdoor gear.

SereneLife Stand Up Inflatable Paddleboard 

Travel + Leisure / Anna Popp


This inflatable paddle board impressed us with its lightweight design, making it a breeze to carry back and forth from the shore. It also has superb stability and portability for beginners, intermediate, or advanced paddlers alike.

Thule RoundTrip Ski Bag

Travel + Leisure / Bill and Lydia Price


This ski bag easily became one of our favorites during our tests for its sturdy construction, durability, portability, and generous capacity that was more than enough to fit two pairs of skis, gear, and clothing for a weekend getaway in the snow.

Nemo Equipment Dagger Osmo 2-person Backpacking Tent

Amazon


Ranked as one of the best camping tests we’ve ever tested, this durable two- or three-person tent boasts a packed trail weight below 4 pounds — that’s light enough to throw in a backpack.

More Of Our Favorite Editor-tested Black Friday Outdoor Gear Deals:

If any of the above deals caught your eye, make sure to snag what you like while you still can. Time is of the essence here, and supplies and sales are limited to their respective holiday events, so don’t hesitate to press that “buy now” button!

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