Wirecutter’s Travel Guide Highlights Must-Have Gear

Plus: Qantas partners with July to launch trackable luggage

Author

Avinash Duggempudi
August 27, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Travel Unpacked

Here's what's happening this week in the world of travel eCommerce and accessories:
- Wirecutter’s travel guide highlights must-have gear
- Kesha x Solgaard drops solar-charging bag and boombox.
- Qantas partners with July to launch trackable luggage
- Donna Karan mini goes recyclable for travel retail.

⏱️How Nécessaire Outpaced Competitors With 47% More Revenue



Nécessaire went into Prime Day with proof that Meta and TikTok were quietly fueling Amazon sales, even when they showed up as “organic.”

Armed with that evidence, they increased spend and beat their peer group with 47% higher revenue. Most teams would’ve cut back and left millions on the table.

👉 Follow Fospha on LinkedIn for data-backed playbooks and real-world learnings from leading retail brands, so you can see exactly how the best are scaling profitably.

📌WEEKLY MUST-KNOWS

The New York Times’ Wirecutter has released a curated travel guide reviewing top luggage, accessories, and on-the-go essentials. For travel and retail marketers, it underlines the power of trusted editorial curation to drive purchase decisions, with consumers leaning on expert lists to simplify buying and ensure quality.

Qantas partnered with July to embed Apple Find My and Google Find Hub tracking into new suitcases, with CaseSafe hardware integrated in the TSA lock and live status in the July app. This moves smart luggage from add-on to airline-aligned infrastructure, cutting lost-bag anxiety and raising CX expectations. Airlines, luggage brands, and retail partners will feel pressure to integrate network tracking across product lines.

Solgaard and Kesha unveiled a limited Joyride drop anchored by a vegan leather mini tote engineered to solar-charge a matching Solarbank Boombox via a dedicated pocket. The collab blends celebrity equity with sustainability and utility, using Solgaard’s model of removing six pounds of ocean plastic per item to turn content into commerce and justify premium pricing. Led by Kesha and Solgaard; relevant to DTC drops, influencer partnerships, and tech-enabled travel accessories.

🗣️ LEADING VOICES

Signal From Noise: How To Nail TikTok in Five Pillars of Success.

The link below is an interactive guide on how to nail TikTok based on Jay Hunter & Catalina at Mary Ruth's, fantastic session at eTail™ Boston, where they discussed going from $1 to $40M in one year!

Interact with the guide here: https://lnkd.in/eUUwPWVi A write up of their session is also available via ClickZ.com: https://lnkd.in/e9qAiYBn

⚡QUICK READS

Airport Launches Innovative 'Floatie' Exchange Program For Vacation Travelers: London Luton’s Lilo Exchange let departing travelers donate inflatables for arrivals to reuse, trading items for fast-track passes and creating a circular CX blueprint with earned-media upside.(More)

The North Face Launches Refined Takes On Some Of Its Best Streetwear Staples: Aimé Leon Dore reimagines TNF icons (Nuptse in Casentino wool, Denali in nylon) plus Borealis backpack and Verto Alpine Shoe, landing Sept 19, signaling luxury pricing and likely scarcity-driven demand for outerwear and bags.(More)

Cecilie Bahnsen Readies First Collaborative Capsule With PORTER: Three bonded-nylon bags with floral detailing dropped Aug 22 via Bahnsen’s site, signaling runway-to-utility collabs that drive high-intent traffic for premium functional accessories.(More)

ClickZ is a ClickZ Media publication in the DTC eCommerce division