Gifts Globetrotters Really Want From Santa

How many times have you read a travel gift guide only to find the same old neck pillows, luggage tags and noise-canceling headphones? Yes, those are solid choices, but if you want to gift the frequent travelers in your life something more unique that they'll really appreciate, you have to think outside the suitcase.

Here are gifts I'd love really love to get in my stocking or under the tree. You might not immediately tie them to travel, but they sure do come in handy.

3-in-1 Cordless Inflator, Slime: This compact portable tire-inflator is also an untethered power pack. With an extra-long air hose, it can inflate anything, including your tires if you find yourself with a flat enroute to your destination.

Cooling Bucket Hat, Mission: Easy to pack flat in a backpack or suitcase, this hat brings instant relief in hot climates when soaked in water, cooling up to 30 degrees below average body temperature. Also great as gifts: Wallaroo Hat Co.'s sun-protecting UPF hats, such as the Scrunchie adjustable brim with UPF 50+ protection; Coolibar's Cyd Packable Beach Hat with a shapeable 5-inch brim and removable toggle chin strap; and Shady Lady's vibrant trucker-girl caps.

Zero Tube Waterproof Monocular, Nocs: Any outdoor adventurer will welcome this light, small, rugged mono binocular -- just one optics tube for literal sightseeing. It comes in bright colors, is fogproof and waterproof, and makes a perfect pocket gift.

Afternoon Zip Hoodie, Line in the Sand: This absurdly soft and cozy eco-friendly hoodie wraps you in a cozy hug for a light layer against the elements when the sun goes down or a light wind is whipping.

Organic Cotton Pillow Case and Duvet Cover, Aizome: Convince the travelers in your life to ditch sleeping on hotel and vacation rental bedding and pack their own pillowcase and lightweight comforter cover. This certified-organic brand uses only plant dye for antibacterial, chemical-free comfort for travelers to enjoy toxin-free soothing sleep.

Leather Artisan Collection Journal and Sketchbook, Leatherpress: Leatherpress' line of notebooks are luxurious and durable for wanderers to sketch and write on the road, capturing their memorable travel moments.

Ridgeline Faux Fur Throw Blanket, Evergrace Home: Road-trippers can never have enough blankets for cozying up in a camper or in the car on long trips. This indulgently soft throw blanket keeps you luxuriously warm with its deep-sculpted faux fur. In white, it's like sleeping under a fluffy snow cloud.

Lava Ministyler, Chi: Women who travel worldwide will love being gifted this lightweight, compact hair straightener with a dual-voltage feature, making it ideal for international travel.

Mini Fly Me to the Moon Travel Jewelry Zip Case, L'Heritage: These delightfully playful yet sophisticated and chic compact designer jewelry cases are a whimsical luxury treat for travelers who seriously like to accessorize and keep their jewels secure away from home.

Silent Beacon Panic Button, Silent Beacon: Gift the gift of safety to solo travelers who might adventure to places their phone won't work. This wristband device has several modes, including requesting 911 help, sending a silent alert so people around you are not aware or simply sending a check-in message to let loved ones know you've arrived safely at your destination.

Hukai Travel Rain Jacket, Cor Surf: This lightweight unisex rain jacket is functional and stylish, keeping you dry and warm from the mountains to sightseeing or exploring the nightlife. My favorite feature? Secret pockets for securing your valuables. Rainwraps' Raintrench is a chic favorite. It's super lightweight, reversible with patterns including camel and plaid or black and snakeskin, fast-drying and comes with a matching mini travel pouch for minimalist packing and portability.

This Notebook Has No Idea Where It's Going: A journal for daydreamers, detour-lovers and memory-makers, Sanne Wesselman: Perfect for nomads to capture their adventures, this journal includes inspirational travel quotes to get the creative juices flowing.

"Read Around the World: A Country-by-Country Reading Challenge for Wanderlusters" by Page Traveller: This is another great gift book to inspire worldwide wandering from the comfort of home, with country-specific book recommendations and space to write your own musings or book review.

Inland Ocean Coalition Water Bottle, Epic Water Filters: Each bottle comes with an EveryTap Filter for tap water and an Everywhere Filter for travel and outdoor water sources, keeping urban or outdoor adventurers safe from giardia, chlorine, lead and more.

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WHEN YOU GO

3-in-1 Cordless Inflator, $59.99: Slime.com

Cooling Bucket Hat, $29.99: Mission.com

Scrunchie Hat, $34: Wallaroohats.com

Cyd Packable Beach Hat, $49: Coolibar.com

Women's Trucker Hats, $36: ShopShadyLady.com

Zero Tube Waterproof Monocular, $179.95: Nocs

Afternoon Zip Hoodie, $98: Lineinthesand.com

Organic Pillow Case, $69.99, Duvet Cover, $199.99: Aizome-textiles.com

Leatherpress Traveler's Journal and Sketchbook, $59.99 each: Amazon.com

Ridgeline Faux Fur Throw Blanket, Evergrace Home, $69.99 to $89.99: EvergraceHome.com

Lava Ministyler, $109.99: Chi.com

Mini Fly Me to the Moon Travel Jewelry Zip Case, $95: Lheritagejewelry.com

Wearable Panic Button, $59.99: SilentBeacon.com

Hukai Travel Rain Jacket, $119.99: CorSurf.com

Raintrench, $128: Rainraps.com

This Notebook Has No Idea Where It's Going, $8.99: Amazon.com

"Read Around the World," $12.99: Amazon.com

Inland Ocean Coalition Water Bottle, $60: Epicwaterfilters.com

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Nicola Bridges is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.