India, Dec. 23 -- Variety may be the spice of life, but when it comes to travel, I like sticking to the same top essentials on each trip. If I'm going to be agonizing over a travel-related decision, it's not going to be packing-related. As a full-time travel writer and gear reviewer of more than a decade, I've tested hundreds of products in real-world settings and simulations to identify the top performers. Once a product makes the cut, it comes with me on every trip with me, whether I'm cruising the Mediterranean or trekking to Machu Picchu.

This past year was a relatively slow travel year for me since I had to plan my wedding. Still, I managed to touch down in 12 different countries, including Thailand, where we "Thai-ed" the knot. Be...