Reviewed Insider: It's vacation planning time!

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Much of the country may still be shaking off a very long winter, but March is when we turn our collective thoughts towards the warm beaches of summer travel. It's booking season! 

While you're busy finding the best deals on tickets to far-flung locations, you might want to start looking for the right gear, as well. Not only does it pay to prepare, but you can admire your gleaming new suitcase (or noise-cancelling headphones, etc.) months before you step on a plane.

Great, reliable luggage is the single most important item you need for travel. We've spent dozens of hours testing the best checked luggage, small bags for under the seat... we even made a purpose-built wooden box to make sure that the carry-on luggage we tested will actually fit in the overhead compartment. 

Apparently it's tough to beat a classic, because Samsonite made our favorite carry-on and Travelpro our favorite checked bag: the MightLight 2 21" Spinner and the Platinum Magna, respectively. But the Instagram-friendly brand Away carried home the trophy for best hard-sided bag. 

Efficient travelers know that packing cubes are a great way to save space, and you won't have to spend a lot of money to get our top-rated eBags Six-Piece Packing Cube Value Set. But if you just want to jam as much as humanly possible into your checked bag without paying an excess baggage fee, you'll need a good luggage scale. Our favorite is the Dr. Meter scale and can be had for under $10. 

If your vacation will have you on the road, safety is paramount (as well as plenty of good distractions for the kids). You'll want a trunk-full of roadside emergency tools and backseat full of great toys and tablets. 

Of course, you may not be fortunate enough to be planning a trip for yourself, but chances are you know someone who is. Or maybe you're just tagging along. There's no better way to say thank you or bon voyage than something from our Best Gifts for Travelers list. Happy travels!