Camera gear gets most of the attention, but the things that save a travel day are often not camera products at all. These are the items I use or would recommend for staying comfortable, looking presentable, keeping devices alive, and getting through the annoying emergencies that happen when you are trying to reach a shoot.
Travel blanket
Personally used: I get cold very easily, so this comes on every flight. I attach it to the top handle of my Peak Design backpack and have never been asked to consolidate it. It also works as backup warmth on cold sets, early mornings, and late-night shoots.
Retractable travel lint roller
Personally used: this has been a lifesaver for formal jobs where I need to look polished while still running around with camera gear. It is especially useful for suit-and-tie events when you do not have the luxury of going back to a hotel room to clean yourself up.
WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24 Air jump starter + tire inflator
Personally used in an actual emergency: I once got a severe flat on the way to an event I absolutely needed to reach. I pulled over, inflated the tire, kept going, and then reinflated it each morning until the event was over. That experience alone earned this a permanent place in my car.
It also works as a large power bank, which makes it useful for remote shoots, off-road locations, or keeping devices alive in a pinch. Because lithium-battery airline rules depend on watt-hours and how the battery is carried, check the current airline and FAA rules before trying to fly with a jump starter rather than assuming it is allowed.
Digital luggage scale
Gear cases can get absurdly heavy, so a luggage scale is one of those boring travel tools that becomes extremely practical. I specifically like this strap-style attachment better than scales that use a metal hook. When I am weighing an overloaded suitcase or gear case, the hook makes me weirdly nervous that all that concentrated force could damage or snap the luggage handle; the strap feels much more reassuring.
Nuun Energy tablets
Personally used: a compact way to keep hydration and a little caffeine in the same kit. I use the linked flavor, but there are other options if Peach Raspberry is not your thing.
High-quality charging cords around home or studio
I also love keeping good charging cables stationed around the house for guests—dining table, couches, end tables, anywhere somebody is likely to need one. The coiled setup is too bulky for travel, but at home it keeps things neat while still giving guests a cable that charges fast enough not to be frustrating.
iPad Air for economy-class travel
A premium option, but a genuinely useful one. Large laptops are miserable in modern economy seats; once the person in front reclines, a full-size screen can end up almost in your face. A tablet is much easier to use in that space and can also become a compact second display when the rest of the setup allows it.
STXND Model X laptop stand
Coworker-approved: several coworkers use this constantly at the office and refuse to travel without it. I do not bring one because my dual-camera kit already consumes too much luggage space, but if you travel with one camera and have room, it is an excellent addition.