10 Black-owned travel products you need in your life

FYI, I either own all of these products or I will soon. Quality assurance!

Hey friends. How has this holiday season been treating you? It’s been kicking my ass all the way down the street. I had no expectations around the first holiday season without my father and I guess that’s a blessing because it has been incredibly hard, but mainly around his birthday rather than any of the holidays, which was December 6. That said, my anxiety and sadness around his upcoming birthday led to blackout levels of Black Friday shopping for the quick dopamine hits, and now that my packages are arriving I’m like, who ordered all this stuff?? Oh well! Grief shows up in all kinds of ways and I’m just here for the ride.

That said, you won’t have any buyers remorse with the following ten items. As I saw all the gift guides publishing on Substack last week, I spent some time thinking about what I could offer that would provide value to you all, and still relate to what this newsletter is all about: helping Black folks feel comfortable wherever they choose to travel. Feeling comfortable to me means of course feeling welcome, but it can also mean having the right items with you that you know as a Black person you aren’t going to find where you’re going (I can honestly say I have NEVER used a bottle of hotel shampoo, we know that stuff’s not meant for Black hair). SO! Here are ten Black-owned travel products I’ve either picked up on a trip, or plan to try on future trips. BTW, this is not sponsored, I just love these things.

The Road We Trod's fearless leader (aka: me), my Cxffee Black tumbler, Sunday II Sunday kit

The Road We Trod Subscription
*Practicing being my own biggest hypewoman* Obviously one of the best gifts for the traveler in your life, especially if they happen to be Black, is a paid subscription to The Road We Trod, where they will find loads of travel advice and inspiration written through the Black gaze, plus other random musings on current Black culture. Check out my travel recommendations in Memphis, the favorite travel spots of our historic Black icons, and my most viewed post to date — my reflections on the 2024 election.

Cxffeeblack Travel Mug - currently part of a bundle here
I will never give up coffee, get somebody else to do it. I love everything about it — the smell, the taste, the ritual of making it. I prefer to have it by my side every day before noon, so my house is full of travel thermoses, yet this is the one I use again and again because of the message on it. Nothing gives me more joy than sipping my coffee as I watch someone read what it says. Usually I wink at them when I see the light bulb go off. I picked it up in Memphis at the Anti-Gentrification Cxffee Club, a community hub-meets-coffee shop by Cxffeeblack coffee company. Read more about them here.

Sunday II Sunday On the Go Hair Kit
Full transparency, I can’t really tell if this company is still in business lol. They haven’t posted on social in a while and don’t have any products listed for sale on their website, but they are still selling at Target, Ulta and Sephora. So yay! Anyway, working out while traveling helps me feel sane and grounded, so I swear by this hair care travel kit specifically targeted to help refresh textured hair and a sweaty scalp post-workout. I especially love the root refresh micellar spray.

Noir Lux candles, Organic Bath body butter travel set, wearing my Grace Eleyae turban on a frigid day in Berlin

Noir Lux Candle Bar Discovery Set
I recently attended a candle making workshop at this Black-owned candle company in Seattle and it was vibes. Everything from the names of the scents to the candle containers was so thoughtful and US. I also like taking a small candle with me on the road to cozy up a hotel room (please use responsibly!) and this Discovery Set of 2 o.z. candles is the perfect travel companion. I’m partial to the “Smells like Seattle” Spring collection.

Organic Bath Body Butter Discovery Set
It’s rare that I find a hotel lotion worthy of being applied to my body, so I tend to bring my own because the watered down mess I usually come across is just not going to work. I’ve had my eye on these travel-friendly body butters made with organic shea butter, jojoba and almond oils from this Black-owned small biz to keep the ashiness at bay when I’m on the road. I’ll be snagging a set for 2025.

Grace Eleyae Satin-Lined Headwear
I’ve been a long-time supporter of this satin-lined headwear brand, back when the first version of slouchy hats were called “the slap”. The brand has evolved to include straw hats, baseball hats, turbans and more, all satin-lined to protect textured hair. I love traveling with the turbans and throwing one on when my hair needs a break, but I also still need to look chic. I also wear them on planes to prevent my hair from drying out.

Beach House Turkish towels, YGN Swim Turban, Garden24 Journal, WNDR LN packing cubes

Beach House Beach Towels
I am not a fan of terry cloth beach towels, especially when they get all soggy and feel like they weight 20lbs in my beach bag. I’ve got my eye on these thin Turkish towels for next summer, made by a very cute couple based in Brooklyn. I love that they’re functional, but also super chic with a straightforward, unbusy design that could potentially work as a swimsuit cover up. I’ve got my eye on the Rotterdam, Puerto Rico and Porto towels (once it’s back in stock).

You Go Natural Swim Turban
How many of us have been personally victimized by ocean or pool water because our hair wasn’t braided? *raises hand 😭* I am soooooo tired of limiting my activity around water based on how my hair is styled, so I plan to invest in one of these swim turbans specifically designed for natural hair. I can’t wait to dive into the ocean with a cute turban that matches my bikini.

Garden24 by Morgan Harper Nichols journal
I fell hard for the beautiful artwork and inspiring quotes of artist Morgan Harper Nichols on social media a few years ago, and as someone who has regularly kept a journal for the past 13 years, I was so happy when she released a collection of journals. It’s always fun to look back at what was on my mind while on my travels, and journaling is a great way to keep memories and experiences fresh.

WNDR LN packing cubes
How did I pack for a trip before packing cubes existed? Keeping my underwear separate from my gym clothes separate from my evening attire scratches an organizational itch in my brain. My favorite germaphobe aspect of packing cubes is also keeping my shoes separate from my clothes, and my dirty clothes away from other items in my suitcase when I’m headed home. I love the tribal print design of these cubes from WNDR LN, a Black-owned travel company founded by Tina Wells.

Happy gifting! Or gifting to yourself!