The 11 Best Travel Gifts For Pain-Free Journeys

Travel is great but can also take its toll on your body, so here are some pain-relieving travel gift ideas for your adventurous loved ones.

Now I'm sure we all love going away on vacation, right?

Because you just can't beat relaxing on white sandy beaches and bathing in crystal clear water before enjoying the glorious sunset with a cocktail in hand.

Or maybe exploring a new and unfamiliar city in an exotic and far away place while immersing yourself in the culture, delicious food and meeting the local people is more your thing.

Or backpacking across continents and seeing so many amazing things.

But whatever flavour you prefer, this is what makes travel so wonderful.

Because it lifts you out of the humdrum of your daily life and allows you to see the world and broaden your horizons.

However, the big downside to shooting off to far and distant places around the globe is the journey needed to get there.

Because long hours spent on planes, trains and coaches can really put your mind and body through the ringer.

As you are crammed into uncomfortable seats and surrounded by other passengers after lugging a heavy suitcase around all day.

And then have to pass through time zones which leaves your body clock all over the place and you feeling physically and mentally shattered.

So, if you have an enthusiastic globe trotter among your friends and family how about getting them a little travel gift that can help them stay healthy and pain-free on their next trip?

What Are The Best Travel Gifts For Avoiding Aches & Pains While You Travel?

There are a few different types of travel gifts you can buy that would be useful for them on their next trip to avoid pain.

For instance, a bag or suitcase that is easy to carry and minimises the strain put on them.

Or travel pillows that help them to sit and sleep with a healthier posture that reduces the pressure on their body.

Then there are specific pain relieving gifts that can deliver instant relief when the aches hit you.

And gifts that help them to release their tight muscles and relax once they've reached their destination.

So, you have plenty of choice.

But whichever type of gift you choose, it will be greatly appreciated by anyone that travels often.

And it'll help them to keep enjoying their adventures rather than dreading the upcoming journey.

So, to give you an idea of what you could get, I've come up with the following list of the best travel gifts for avoiding aches and pains.

Read on to find out why each of these are helpful.

1. A Backpack That Keeps Your Body Nicely Balanced

One thing that could be leaving you in pain both during and after your trip is the bag or suitcase you use.

Because if you're carrying heavy luggage through train stations and airports it's bound to put your body under pressure.

And this pressure is even greater when your body is unbalanced.

As this forces you to compensate, which puts certain areas such as your lower back, neck, and shoulders under massive strain.

So, any type of bag or suitcase that puts all the weight on one side of your body as you carry them is bad news.

And even using a roller bag with wheels to take the strain away from carrying it doesn't completely solve the problem.

Because you still need to either push or pull these bags along with you and it's hard to do that while maintaining a healthy and balanced posture.

So, studies have found that the best option for a traveler to avoid developing pain when carrying their luggage is to use a two shoulder backpack.

As these backpacks keep the weight of the bag centralised, which means you can stay balanced and the pressure is spread evenly across your body.

So, your muscles stay relaxed and happy rather than becoming tense and painful.

Which makes a two shoulder backpack a great gift idea for a frequent traveler and one I'd recommend is the Kelty Redwing 44 Backpack.

As it has thick padded shoulder straps and a back panel that are comfortable and ideal for spreading pressure evenly.

And having a 44 litres capacity means it holds a lot of stuff but is still small enough to be taken onto planes as carry on luggage.

While there are tons of pockets and compartments to keep you organised as you travel, including a protective pocket for your laptop.

So, treat your favourite explorer to a new backpack that can help them arrive at their destination fit and raring to go.

2. An Inflatable Lumbar Pillow To Relieve Pressure

Economy seats on planes, trains, and coaches usually leave a hell of a lot to be desired.

As they are designed in such a way that you rarely have enough space to get comfortable, making it really hard to maintain a healthy posture while sitting in them.

And this places your body under all sorts of extra pressure and strain as you sit, with your lower back, neck, and shoulders feeling the worst of it.

Then add in the constant vibrations from the plane or vehicle which are absorbed by your body, and the problem just gets worse.

So, it's no surprise that you can end up feeling stiff and sore after sitting down for so long on a trip.

But there are ways you can minimise this potential pain, such as getting up out of your seat regularly and stretching yourself out to release the tension.

And another way is by using a lumbar support cushion to help you sit with a better posture.

As placing one of these pillows between your lower back and the seat encourages you to sit with a healthy S-shaped curve in your spine rather than hunching in a C-shaped curve.

This will help to spread the pressure and strain evenly as you sit, rather than placing the full burden on certain areas.

And a great choice of cushion for travelers is the Mckenzie Self-Inflatable Lumbar Pillow.

As this one is inflatable, so it's easy to carry around with you in your travel bag then inflate once you're ready to use it.

And you can put as much or as little air into it as you like, so it's easy to adjust how hard or soft it feels.

Plus it self-inflates, so don't worry if you struggle with your lung power!

But there's no doubt that one of these lumbar pillows can really help you to sit more comfortably and without as much pain, no matter how crappy the seats are.

3. A Travel Pillow To Avoid Neck & Shoulder Pain

Another way that people injure themselves on long journeys is by falling asleep while sitting upright on plane and coach seats.

Because your neck has a tendency to roll forward or off to the side when you do this, which throws it out of alignment with your spine.

And when you consider your head weighs about the same as a bowling ball you can see how this can cause problems!

As you end up with lots of pain and stiffness in your upper back, neck and shoulders when you wake up.

So, how about getting your loved one a neck travel pillow that can support the weight of their head as they snooze?

As by wrapping one of these around their necks they can stop their head from lolling into a position that puts them under strain.

And a great one to give as a gift is the Manta travel pillow.

As this neck pillow inflates with just two breaths, and can support their head and neck in 4 different positions.

4. A Pack Of Heat Wraps To Soothe Aching Muscles 

Applying heat to your muscles as you travel can be a great way to keep them warm, loose and free from pain.

As this heat keeps them relaxed and helps you to avoid the stiffness that can happen so easily on long journeys.

It'll also increase blood flow to the area which will deliver the oxygen and nutrients your muscles and tissues need to stay healthy.

And if you're already in pain then heat is a great way to relieve it.

As the warm sensation irritates your skins nerve receptors to the point that it overrides pain signals being sent to the brain.

So, a good item to have in your bag as you travel is a pack of heat wraps.

As you can attach one of these to the area that needs the heat such as you lower back or shoulders.

And this will help to keep your muscles relaxed and prevent any stiffness or pain from developing.

So, a pack of the Thermacare Heat Wraps makes a lovely little gift for frequent travelers.

As you can wear them on the move as they are thin enough to be comfortable to wear under your clothing.

Which means they are ideal for instant pain relief on planes, trains, and coaches.

5. A Pack Of Ice Bags To Numb The Pain

Sometimes the pain you feel during or after traveling can be caused by swelling and inflammation.

And when that's the case heat won't do you any good.

Instead you'll need to ice your sore muscles to help the swelling and inflammation go down and alleviate the pain.

And while this is tough to do while on the move, there's nothing stopping you doing it once you've reached your destination.

As relaxing at your hotel and icing your sore body can really help you to recover after a long flight.

So, a useful gift to get for a loved one who travels often is a pack of reusable ice bags.

As these are bags of varying sizes that you can fill with ice and use as ice packs to soothe your aches and pains.

And they're a great item for any traveler to have in their suitcase.

As it gives them the option of ice cold pain relief whenever they need it.

6. Cooling Pain Relieving Gel 

Another way to get instant pain relief on the road is with a topical pain relief gel.

As applying these gels directly to any areas of sore and aching muscles will give you targeted pain relief.

And the one I'd recommend as being great for travelers is the Biofreeze Roll On Pain Relieving Gel.

As this one contains a cooling menthol which is ideal for soothing and relaxing you.

And the cold sensation it creates stimulates your skins nerve receptors and blocks pain signals from reaching the brain.

So, just like the ice bags you'll feel less pain when using these gels.

And the cooling feeling is very comforting too, which also helps you to switch off from the pain.

Just be aware that you probably won't be able to take these in your carry on bag for the plane due to liquid restrictions.

But they're great for coach and train journeys as well as helping you relieve pain after your flight.

7. A Sleeping Mask For Some Restorative Shuteye

I've always been jealous of people that can drift off into a deep sleep on coaches and planes.

As not only does it make a boring journey go much faster.

You also reach your destination feeling refreshed and full of beans rather than sore and tired.

And getting some sleep on the way is great for keeping you free from pain too.

As it's during sleep that your body can rest, heal, and repair itself.

So, it's a great way to keep your muscles and tissues feeling fit, healthy, and able to withstand the rigours of travel.

Which makes a gift that can help a loved one to sleep on the plane or coach a really nice idea.

And one thing that can really help is a sleeping mask.

As using one of these masks can block out any light and distractions such as people moving around.

Which will stop you from being woken up and allow your mind to relax rather than staying alert.

And a good choice to go for is the Manta Sleep Mask Pro.

As this one has contoured eye sockets that sit back from your eyelids which allows you to get into a deeper REM state of sleep.

This is more restorative and will maximise the health benefits you gain from your sleep.

Plus it comes with a free set of foam earplugs so you can also muffle any noise distractions too.

Giving you the best chance of getting some shuteye on your journey.

8. Noise Cancelling Headphones To Drown Out The Noise

Another cause of pain on your trips can be the fellow passengers you are surrounded by.

Because if you're unlucky you can easily get stuck next to loud and obnoxious people, which can be a massive problem as you can't move away from them.

Or maybe there's a young family sitting behind you with a baby that screams for hours on end.

Even worse, you could be in amongst a stag or hen party that have already made a head start at the airport bar and are currently working their way through their duty free purchases!

Any one of these scenarios can leave you feeling stressed out, frustrated and with a massive headache when you arrive at your destination.

Which is not the ideal start to any vacation!

So, for this reason I never travel without a pair of noise cancelling headphones.

Because while they're great for listening to music or watching films on board.

They are also fantastic for blocking out surrounding noise, even when you're not using them to actually listen to anything.

And they will also discourage people from talking to you, which is good if you value your peace and quiet!

So, if you want to get your loved one a gift to help them avoid passenger headaches while also enjoying their music, how about a pair of Bose QC35 Noise Cancelling Headphones?

As these have a fantastic sound quality, block out sound brilliantly, and are super comfortable to wear.

Which means they'll only have to listen to the things they want to while traveling to their next destination.

9. A Water Bottle To Help Them Stay Hydrated

To keep your muscles and tissues healthy and pain-free you need to make sure you stay well hydrated.

As our bodies are made up of between 60-70% water.

So we need to be continually topping up the tank to keep everything functioning well and working as it should.

And this becomes even more important when traveling on planes.

As the cabin pressure and cool air mean it's far easier to become dehydrated when you're flying.

So, why not get your loved one a gift that encourages them to drink more water such as the Hydro Flask Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle?

As this bottle keeps water and drinks cold for up to 24 hours, so they'll always have a cold drink on hand for even the longest of journeys.

And you can use it for hot drinks too if you want to take some tea or coffee for a coach or train trip.

So, this is a thoughtful gift that can keep them healthy, hydrated, and pain-free on the road and at home too.

10. Self Massage Balls For Relieving Tight Muscles

Sometimes after a long and grueling journey your body can feel like you've been run over by the bus rather than just having sat on it for a few hours.

As your muscles feel tight and stiff and are full of nagging aches and pains.

So, this is the time you need to be proactive and do things that will help your body to recover.

Such as having a good stretch, going for a walk to get yourself moving again, or having a nice long soak in a hot bath.

And another thing you can do is to give your tight muscles a little massage.

As this can help them to release and relax again, which will relieve the pain and tension you're feeling.

And it'll increase blood flow to the area, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to help you heal while also flushing away any trapped waste and toxins that may be causing you pain.

So, a good way to do this is by using self-massage balls such as these ones by Kieba.

As these are small, firm balls that can get right into your sore and aching muscles when you relax your body weight down over them.

Because this pressure stimulates your trigger points and causes the muscle to spasm and release, which will eliminate any blockages that were causing pain.

So, if you want a gift that will give them the ability to massage themselves back to health and get rid of any lingering pain from their journey, these massage balls are a good option.

11. A Travel Yoga Mat To Work Out The Kinks

Prevention is always better than a cure.

And you can give yourself a much better chance of staying pain-free on your travels by keeping your body fit, strong, and healthy by exercising.

Because by stretching yourself out regularly you can stay flexible, which is great for relieving pressure and improving your posture.

While strengthening your core muscles will give your back more support and allow you to stay well balanced and better able to withstand the rigours of travel.

And some activities that are great for both of these things are yoga, swimming, and Pilates.

So, it's a good idea to give these a go in between trips so you are well prepared once the time comes.

And a gift idea that can encourage a loved one to stay active and practice yoga or Pilates is by getting them a travel yoga mat.

As not only will this give them a mat to practice on while at home.

They'll also have something they can take on their trips with them so they can have a good stretch and workout once they arrive at their hotel.

And the ideal choice for this is the Manduka Superlite Yoga Travel Mat.

Because as the name suggests it's really light and thin and folds up easily, so you can carry it around in your travel bag.

Which means they'll have no excuse for letting their yoga practice slip even while on vacation.

And this will help them to maintain a healthier body and experience less pain on the journey home.

Rounding Up

For people that love to travel there's no better feeling than an eagerly anticipated trip getting closer and closer.

However, the expectation of experiencing pain and discomfort on the journey can ruin this excitement somewhat.

So, getting your loved one a pain-relieving travel gift that can help them stay healthy on their next trip is a lovely idea.

As this will allow them to enjoy all the wonders that world travel has to offer but without the pain.