Top 10 Student Travel and Backpacker Gift Ideas

Every student traveler or backpacker needs a backpack, and these laptop daypack backpacks are protective, comfy, stylish enough, and very sturdy. We love STM backpacks because they're ergonomic, air conditioned, well padded, well made, water resistant, and they’ve got laptop compartments, sound ports and practical pockets aplenty without featuring excess crapola. A waist strap which turns 'em into hiking workhorses can be completely removed. Good carry on size backpacks, too.

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With the proliferation and ease of use of online travel journals, keeping a paper journal sounds old fashioned, but "talking" to a journal connects a traveler with home while on a train or in a hostel bunk -- give one as a gift and glue a picture of the two of you or the backpacker's family onto the inside back cover, and travelers can take a piece of home on the road. The tools are a journal and a pen -- and within those parameters lies a lot of leeway. Find the journals, pen ideas and some add-ons for personalizing and special-ifying a travel journal gift.

• Get ideas and find the goods

The Shake Awake vibrating travel alarm clock is perfect for close sleeping situations where an audible alarm might disturb others: sleeping in hostels, dorms or with a bedmate, for instance - no shrieking alarm (although that is an option). It's also a great everyday alarm clock for the hearing impaired. Alligator clip keeps it secured to pillows... finish reading the Guide review.

Backpacking travel means more city street beating on foot than you may be imagining, and feeling footsore a few days into a trip can seriously dampen walking enthusiasm. It's easily avoided: key to happy travel feet and blister avoidance are the right shoes and socks. Follow the Dr. Feelgood prescription for tour-tired tootsies and worry not about feet. The right shoes and socks mean everything to travelers.

• General travel shoe info and links to reviews and buying
• Specifics:
  • Teva flipsoles
  • Smartwool socks (no shrink, no stink, no itch - the best travel socks)
  • Birkenstocks

Chances are good that someone in your area is planning a group trip with a student travel company this year -- your traveler can grab a few friends and join up, or you can set up a trip yourself; it's remarkably easy and inexpensive (often under $2K). Trips usually cover the highlights of a country and come with guides, food and beds. Send 'em on the trip of a lifetime with a company like EF Tours.

• Learn how to travel with EF Tours
• See photos from an Explorica Mexico trip

Money belts are a great way to hide cash travelers' checks and document copies on your body. Regular money belts (as opposed to pouches; listed here, too) look just like normal belts and come in all styles - casual, leather, canvas - even Western. What they all have in common is a hidden compartment within the belt. Turn the belt inside out and open a zippered compartment, stash cash, zip up, thread through your belt loops and stroll the streets in safety... finish reading Guide review.

When traveling in other countries, you usually need different plugs than the ones you've got in order to plug into the wall and get the juice. The All-in-One Adapter with surge protector is the best international adapter, hands down. At $20, it's a screaming deal, and one unit covers several countries -- easier than hauling a bunch of seperate plugs. Pop out the prongs according to country (printed on the adaptor), plug it into the wall and your cord into it, and you're set. Works in reverse, too (like plugging a UK unit into an American outlet).

Traveler between 12 and 26 years old are eligible for discounted European train travel passes with Rail Europe. Check out the passes available, or choose a single ticket.

• Learn about all available Rail Europe youth passes

Lots of Eurail passes exist -- reading about rail passes and getting information overload? The Eurail Global Youth Pass (Eurailpass Youth) covers all of Europe and gives the most travel time -- though it's the priciest pass, it's the best.

_{Get more ideas for premium (over $100) student travel and backpacker gifts, like trips:}

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If you're a student traveler, it probably goes without saying that you're on a budget. Check these out: the best guidebooks for students on a shoesring from Lonely Planet, Rough Guides and a great one called "Europe From a Backpack"... finish reading Guide reviews.