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The Kit · Issue Nº 04 · April 2026
The three essentials every traveller needs.
After years of testing, three items consistently transform travel quality. This is the only kit list we trust.
Travel writing is full of advice. Most of it is wrong. After fifteen years of stays, hundreds of test flights and a stupid amount of money spent on luggage that fell apart in transit, we have narrowed the list of things that genuinely change how it feels to travel down to three. An eSIM. A lounge card. A suitcase. That is it. Get those three right and everything else is decoration.
What follows is the only essentials list we recommend. Each product has been tested in the field, paid for personally, and ranked against alternatives we'd rather not name.
Chapter 01Mobile Data
The case for an eSIM.
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your smartphone that connects you to mobile data networks abroad without swapping physical SIM cards. Airalo is the world's first and largest eSIM marketplace, offering prepaid data plans in over 200 countries starting from $4.50. You install a plan before your flight through the Airalo app, and it activates the moment you land.
No roaming fees from your home carrier, no queuing at airport SIM counters, no language barriers with local vendors, and no passport registration. Your primary phone number stays active through your existing SIM while the eSIM handles all your data needs abroad, so you effectively run two connections at once.
Local plans cover a single country from $4.50. Regional plans cover multiple countries (Europe covers 42 nations from $5). Global plans work in 200+ countries from $9. Most travellers on a one to two week trip spend between $11 and $26.
Chapter 02Lounge Access
A lounge card that actually works.
Priority Pass is the world's largest independent airport lounge network, providing access to over 1,400 lounges across 148 countries through a single membership card. It works regardless of which airline you fly, what class of ticket you hold, or which alliance your carrier belongs to. Most lounges offer complimentary food and drinks, free Wi-Fi, comfortable seating away from terminal noise, and power outlets for charging.
Many premium credit cards (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) include Priority Pass Select membership for free. If you already hold one of these cards, you may have unlimited lounge access without realising it. For everyone else, the Standard Plus tier at $329 per year is the sweet spot for 6 to 15 trips a year.
"The economy traveller's most underrated upgrade. Singapore Changi T3 alone is worth the membership fee three times over."
We tested over 25 suitcase brands across 100,000+ real miles through Heathrow, Changi, JFK, and dozens of intercontinental connections. The right case is not just about aesthetics. It is an investment in protection, convenience, and the kind of durability that means you buy once and travel for decades.
Four cases genuinely deliver. Rimowa Original for lifetime aluminium investment. Samsonite Lite-Shock for ultralight Curv at 1.7kg. Away Bigger Carry-On for the best entry point. Briggs & Riley Baseline for the only repair-for-life warranty on the market.
Three items consistently separate a great trip from a frustrating one. First, an eSIM for instant mobile data abroad. Airalo is the largest eSIM marketplace, offering plans in 200+ countries from $4.50 with instant activation. Second, a Priority Pass membership for airport lounge access. One card grants entry to 1,400+ lounges in 148 countries from $99 per year, regardless of airline or ticket class. Third, a quality hard-shell suitcase. Rimowa (aluminium, from £770) and Samsonite Lite-Shock (Curv material, 1.7kg, from £250) lead the market for different reasons.
eSIM data costs $4.50 to $26 per trip depending on destination and usage. Priority Pass membership ranges from $99 to $469 per year depending on tier, or is free through premium credit cards like the Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Capital One Venture X. A quality suitcase is a one-time investment from £245 (Away) to £770 (Rimowa) that lasts 10 to 20+ years. Total recurring annual cost for a moderate traveller: roughly $150 to $500.
Start with an eSIM. It costs as little as $4.50, takes under 5 minutes to set up, and immediately improves every trip by giving you data the moment you land. Priority Pass is the second priority if you fly more than 3 to 4 times per year. A suitcase is the biggest single investment but also the longest lasting purchase, with premium brands offering 10-year to lifetime warranties.
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM built into modern smartphones including iPhone XR and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, and Google Pixel 3 and later. Instead of buying a physical SIM card at the airport, you download a data plan through an app like Airalo before your flight. It activates automatically when you land, giving you maps, messaging, ride-hailing, and translation apps within seconds. Your home phone number stays active through your primary SIM, so you run two connections at once.
Yes, particularly for travellers who fly 5+ times per year. Priority Pass is airline-independent, meaning it works regardless of which carrier you fly or what ticket class you hold. The Standard Plus tier at $329 per year includes 10 free visits, making each visit cost $32.90. At premium lounges like Singapore Changi or Dubai Terminal 3, the food, drinks, shower facilities, and Wi-Fi alone are worth $25 to $40 per visit. Many premium credit cards include Priority Pass Select membership for free, effectively reducing the cost to zero.
Rimowa remains the top recommendation for frequent travellers who want a lifetime investment. Their Original aluminium cabin suitcase (£770) features aerospace-grade aluminium, a lifetime warranty, and same-day repairs at boutiques in every major city. For travellers prioritising weight, the Samsonite Lite-Shock (£250, 1.7kg) uses proprietary Curv material and is the lightest hard-shell available. For the best warranty, Briggs and Riley repairs or replaces any suitcase for life regardless of cause, including airline damage. Away (from £245) offers the best value with aluminium construction and a lifetime warranty at a fraction of Rimowa's price.
