When you take off this next travel season, don’t just be a tourist, be a traveler. Prepare yourself for the ups and downs of stepping outside your comfort zone by bringing a little comfort from home. Bringing along your own coffee or tea gear is a great way to save money, guarantee yourself a good, warm cup of comfort each day, and give you the chance to purchase and try new products you find on your journey.
Just imagine the convenience that adding this gear to your luggage can bring. It is especially convenient when you vacation off the grid or in a slightly more remote area with few coffee or tea house selections. It is still quite convenient if you are unable to find a coffee or tea house that serves the drink you prefer.
Now, I’m all about trying something new when I travel to different places, but it is certainly nice to know you have a backup plan in case you don’t find what you are looking for.
The Whole Package
So, if you’re getting prepped for another great trip overseas or across the country, you need to know what to look for before you strap just any tea kettle into your suitcase. Let’s take some time to talk about travel kettles in their entirety.
We want to look at the whole package, if you will, in this section so that you know what you need and why you need it. Once we have broken down the aspects you should look for in a travel kettle, we can begin to look at some of the best products on the market.
Here are the five aspects that make up the whole package of a travel kettle. We must consider each of these in turn and you must decide what you personally need from each aspect.
Capacity
This aspect refers to the size of the travel kettle. You may need a large kettle because it will be used for several people at once and you don’t want to refill it multiple times so that everybody gets a cup of tea. Or, you may be in the market for a smaller kettle since it will be used by you alone or just one other person. Before you purchase a new travel kettle, consider how many people will be using it along the way. This will help to make your decision easier.
Material
Travel kettles typically come in two different materials, stainless steel and plastic. There is also a third option, glass, which is not as common but is still something you might want to consider. They all have their good attributes and their negative attributes. You will need to decide which outweighs which in order to select the best kettle for your travel lifestyle. Let’s look at each of these materials now so that you can compare and contrast them side by side.
Glass Travel Kettles
Pros
- Does not produce a bad taste in the water
- Aesthetically pleasing
Cons
- Breakable
- Weighs more
- More expensive
Plastic Travel Kettles
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Lighter
- The outside doesn’t get as hot as the other materials
Cons
- Affects the taste of the water
Stainless Steel Travel Kettle
Pros
- Durable
- Attractive
Cons
- More expensive
- Weighs more
Safety
When you look for a travel kettle, this is an aspect that you should not overlook. You don’t want to bring a kettle that is known for shorting out, shooting out sparks, or starting electrical fires. You also don’t want a kettle that continues to burn all day until you unplug or turn it off so look for kettles that offer safety switches to shut off the kettle after it has boiled for a few minutes.
Transportability
This particular aspect will be different for every traveler. If you are RVing across the country, you may not care how transportable or how large your kettle is, but if you are backpacking across a mountain range in South America, you may want something that fits neatly into your baggage. This is where collapsible options may be your best friend. Think it through before deciding though.
Voltage
Here is something that you might want to take into account if you plan to take your kettle out of your home country. Electric outlets and voltage levels are different in other countries which makes it possible that your particular travel kettle is completely unusable there.
And this is why engineers are busy designing travel equipment that is versatile and convenient for all types of travel, just so we can bring our tea gear to any part of the world and it will still be functional.
The Best Products
With all the features or aspects of what makes a travel kettle the best simmering in your mind, let’s look at some of the best products on the market.
The Best Car Battery Powered Travel Kettle: Zerodis Store Travel Kettle
Who Should Purchase This Kettle?
- Group Travelers: This kettle holds 1 liter of water which will provide several travelers with a cup of water for their coffee or tea.
- Road Trip Travelers: A kettle like this is perfect for those who take their holidays in their vehicle. No matter where they stop, they will be able to prepare a warm cup of tea or coffee by plugging this kettle into the cigarette lighter socket in their vehicle.
Pros
- The plastic body keeps the kettle from getting too hot on the outside
- The interior is made from stainless steel so no plastic touches the water
- 1 liter capacity
Cons
- Takes 30 minutes to reach a boil
Some customers have stated that it takes a lot of power to get the kettle hot and sometime it will blow a fuse because of this
The Best Collapsible Travel Kettle: Loutytuo Store Travel Electric Kettle
Who Should Purchase This Kettle?
- Minimalist Travelers: This is a travel kettle that is perfect for those who want to minimize the amount of luggage they bring on their travels since it is designed to fold up on itself, detach from its handle and its cord, and fit snuggly into a compact carrying case.
- International Travelers: It is also a great item for those who are traveling internationally since it offers both 110 and 220 voltage options.
Pros
- Compact size
- Easy to transport
- BPA free
- Food safe materials
- Available in five different colors
- Dual voltage
- Automatic switch offer feature
- Boils in three minutes
- Heat preservation feature
Cons
- Only holds half a liter of water
- Removable handle can slip off when in use
The Best Compact Travel Kettle: Aigostar Store Juliet Mini Electric Tea Kettle
Who Should Purchase This Kettle?
- Minimalist Travelers: Those who are strict about conserving suitcase space will appreciate the compact size and lightweight (1lb.) design of this kettle.
- Budget Conscious Travelers: For all its great qualities, this is a very reasonably priced item that is meant to last for a long time.
- Safety Conscious Travelers: This little kettle is designed to be easy to clean so there’s no need to worry about bacteria or lime scale growing inside it. It is also made from BPA-free plastics, it is designed to turn off after a certain amount of time, and it is designed with a handle that is placed safely and securely against the body so that burns are rare.
Pros
- Compact size
- Lightweight
- BPA-free
- Quick boil
- Automatic shut-off feature
- Easy to clean design
Cons
- Does not have dual voltage
The Best Glass Travel Kettle: Mueller Ultra Kettle
Who Should Purchase This Kettle?
- Safety Conscious Travelers: This is a kettle designed to keep everything safe. It has a heat-resistant and anti-slip handle; it has an auto shut off feature; and a boil-dry safety feature within its design. It is also completely cordless when taken from its base so that no tangles or tripping can happen while it is being carried.
- Taste Conscious Travelers: For those who want the best flavor in an optimal amount of time, this kettle is the best thing offered. The Borosilicate glass does not contaminate any liquids put in it and it boils very quickly.
Pros
- Holds 1.8 liters of liquid
- Designed for safe usage
- Made from Borosilicate glass which is very durable
- Designed with safety shut-off features
- LED lights indicate when the water is heating
Cons
- Some customers have stated that the product they received was defective
- Difficult to clean the inside
The Best Plastic Travel Kettle: Proctor Silex Store Electric Tea Kettle
Who Should Purchase This Kettle?
- Budget Conscious Travelers: This is an inexpensive kettle that is ideal for those who don’t want to spend a lot on this gadget.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Easy to use and clean
- Includes an automatic shut-off feature
- Holds up to 1 liter of liquid
- Boils quickly
- Can be detached from its cord
Cons
- Does not include dual voltage
- It is not compact so it will take up a lot of room in a suitcase
The Best Stainless Steel Travel Kettle: IronRen Portable Electric Travel Kettle
Who should purchase this kettle?
- Minimalist Travelers: For those travelers whose luggage space is at a premium, this kettle will fit right in.
- Safety Conscious Travelers: Travelers who want good flavor in their drinks and don’t want to worry about unsafe kitchen tools or tools that can cause harm to a person, this is the perfect kettle. It is designed to be easy to clean and it has an automatic shut-off feature.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Compact size
- Boils in 5 minutes
- Automatic shut-off feature
- Lightweight (less than 2 lbs.)
Cons
- It does not have dual voltage
The Best Travel Kettle for Camping: King Camp Store Stainless Steel Camping Kettle
Who Should Purchase This Kettle?
- Off the Grid Travelers: This kettle is designed for use over a campfire or stovetop, not an electric outlet. If you are a traveler who lights a fire to fix your meals on vacation then you need this kettle.
Pros
- Lightweight (less than 1lb.)
- Easy to clean
- Comes with a carrying case
- Designed with an easy to hold handle
- Holds over 1 liter of liquid
- Boils in 3 to 5 minutes
- Since it doesn’t use electricity, it can be used internationally
Cons
- Requires an open fire or a stove top to use
In Conclusion
No matter where you go in the world, you will probably want a warm cup of tea or coffee to get you going in the morning or to help you relax in the evening. With a travel kettle by your side, you don’t need to panic or frantically search for a coffee shop every day on your trip. Thanks to your travel kettle, you can relax, enjoy your adventure, and sip a cup of something warm and comforting wherever you are.