The Best American-Made Travel Gear

Mitscoots Socks

Your feet will feel good (and so will your heart) after you try Mitscoots Socks. Not only does this awesome company give away one pair of socks to someone in need every time one pair is purchased, it also employs homeless people to help package the socks at its headquarters in Austin, Texas. The socks themselves are great for travel, especially the performance socks which have high-tech features like arch support, moisture-wicking properties, and a padded heel and toe.

Urban Undercover

After a few days on the road, have you ever forgotten which clothes are dirty and which are clean? Or are you tired of packing a tangle of hard-to-fold underwear? Kind of grossed out by having your unmentionables touch the inside of your dirty backpack? Or maybe you just need a really secret spot to stash cash or a hotel key? Then you need underwear from Urban Undercover. This unique underwear neatly folds up into its own compact pouch for easy packing—and can be folded different ways to show a label letting you know if it's clean or dirty. The built-in back pocket that the underwear folds into sits flat when worn and can be used as a secret spot to store your hotel key, backup cash, or any other small item. The quick-dry nylon spandex fabric is awesome for travel (and made in California). Watch this video to see how it works.

Sea Bags

Take a little bit of the nautical life with you wherever you go with Sea Bags, a line of products that are handmade from recycled sails. Their roomy toiletries bags are perfect for travel (especially because they're machine washable)! The recycled materials mean that every bag is one-of-a kind, and we love that they're proudly made right on the waterfront in Portland, Maine.

Pelican ProGear Elite Luggage

Pelican is famous for its durable phone cases, and now you can offer your luggage the same protection with the Elite Luggage line. These suitcases are crushproof, watertight (check out this video of the Elite Luggage taking on Class 5 rapids), and surprisingly light—the carry-on weighs less than 10 pounds. The Pelican bags all have cool features, like a recessed handle that maximizes interior space, a built-in TSA-approved combination lock, and a limited lifetime guarantee.

Vapur Bottle

Whether you're heading out camping or to the airport, the Vapur Bottle and MicroFilter is your perfect solution for portable, potable water. The bottle can be used on its own and folded down small for easy packing when it's not in use. Add in the filter and you can drink water safely from streams and lakes—the Microfilter eliminates 99.9999 percent of waterborne bacteria (like Salmonella and E. coli) and 99.9 percent of Protozoa (like Giardia).

Shhh Bar

Reduce bulk in your toiletries bag and never worry about spillage or the 3-1-1 limit again by replacing your shampoo, body wash, and shaving cream with the shhh bar. This solid bar contains healthy skin and hair ingredients like olive, coconut, almond, and palm oils. The soap itself is made in Minnesota, and the eco-friendly packaging is made in Michigan at a family-owned, 100 percent hydro-powered paper mill.

Bluff Works Performance Pants

We think that Bluff Works makes the perfect men's travel pant, and they're designed and manufactured right in the heart of Manhattan. Whether you're exploring the streets of New York on your way to a business meeting or riding your bike around a foreign city, you can be assured that these pants will never wrinkle or be uncomfortable. Plus, they have thoughtful design touches like a hidden zippered security pocket (that can hold your passport), side pocket phone storage, and a hidden loop for keys—plus, they're machine-washable. Stay tuned for their new Travel Chinos, currently being funded on Kickstarter.

Red Oxx

Red Oxx handcrafts its products to military specifications in Montana. The founders, a father/son duo, were both in the military, and use their knowledge to make products that can withstand just about anything. We like their compact carry-on bag, which has plenty of pockets to keep everything organized.

Polar Bottle

If it's good enough for Olympians, isn't it good enough for you? (The Polar Bottle company is an official water bottle licensee of the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams.) These bottles, which are made in Colorado, have a patented design with an insulating layer between two walls of plastic—meaning that your liquids stay cool twice as long as with a regular water bottle. Display your American pride with this flag-themed design or go portable with a 12 ounce bottle.

All American Clothing Co.

The aptly named All American Clothing Co. produces reasonably priced clothing right here in the USA using American-made materials. The jeans are great for travel, and they've also got well-made outerwear and footwear.

More From Smartertravel:

• 10 Incredibly Useful Travel Products for Summer Trips
• 10 Things You Need on Your Road Trip
• The Best Travel Bags for Guys

Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product.