No matter what kind of trip you are going on, there are some essentials you just can't go without. Ben Groundwater of Stuff NZ says, "Here's the thing about travel gear: the best stuff, the stuff you use most often and wouldn't even dream of leaving home without, is often not travel gear at all." Besides the usual suggestions such as a light, but functional laptop like the Apple Macbook Air, all-purpose sandals by Havaianas, and even the very useful, but very unflattering cargo shorts, many start-ups and businesses have gone out of the box to think of new products travelers can use.

Here are the top five travel must-haves invented for the modern-day nomad.

1. Cardsharp2 Folding Utility Knife

This 13-gram credit-card sized ultralight polypropylene item seems unassuming at first, but it packs a lof of function, folding out into a 65mm cutting edge, perfect for hiking and camping, or for an easy way to open packets of chips. The Utility knife's design allows it to fold down and fit into anyone's wallet.

2. Ostrich Pillow

A necessity for people who get sleepy on the go, this polystyrene-filled pillow features a neck hole and two hand holes which any traveler can put themselves into, and take a quick nap without being distracted by noise, sound, and other people. Travel Away says, "envisioned by Kawamura-Ganjavian architecture and design studio, this groundbreaking product prevents jet lag - a common problem for long distance travelers - by providing you with a micro sleeping environment."

3. CamelBak All Clear Water Purifier Bottle

750ml of the cleanest water you can drink while travelling, preventing the usual stomach problems experienced by many who go abroad, caused by drinking unsafe tap water. Using UV light, viruses bacteria are neutralized in just 1 minute inside the bottle. The bottle is powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

4. LuminAID Solar-Powered Inflatable Lamp

The lamp, encased in sturdy, inflated plastic promises 16 hours of LED light on just 6 hours of charging under the sun. Besides being portable and waterproof, the lamp is also environmentally-friendly.

5. Micro 3in1 Luggage Scooter

Despite looking more like a fancy accessory than essential gear, this innovative trolley was designed in collaboration with Steve Aoki and features Bluetooth Sound3Go speakers. This way, any traveler can glide with their kickboard scooter-luggage while listening to some sick beats.