Best Travel Humidifiers
You’ve packed your bags and looked at the weather forecast in preparation for your next trip, but did you note the humidity levels at your destination? Traveling to a different climate may affect your health and overall comfort. Dry air, for example, can cause dry skin, chapped lips, an itchy scalp, clogged sinuses, and even trigger allergic reactions. You wouldn’t want that on your itinerary, would you?
One of the easiest and cheapest solutions to this problem is to pack a travel humidifier. Though these humidifiers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, they all have two things in common: they work hard to boost the humidity in your personal space, and they’re small enough to take anywhere. If you’re about to head out of town, check out our list of the best travel humidifiers to find one that fits your needs perfectly.
- Cool mist, ultrasonic water bottle humidifier
- Best for small rooms
- Preset Timer
- Battery-operated
- USB compatible (with cable)
- 1.5-year warranty
- Cool mist, ultrasonic water bottle humidifier
- Covers up to 215 sq. ft.
- Automatic shut off
- Low water indicator
- Variable mist output
- 1-year warranty
- Cool mist, ultrasonic humidifier
- Best for small rooms and car-use
- 0.07-gallon cup capacity
- Automatic shut-off
- USB compatible (with cable)
- One-button control
- Cool mist, ultrasonic humidifier
- Best for small rooms and car-use
- Automatic shut-off
- USB compatible (with cable)
- Clean Control Antimicrobial Material is proven to help reduce mold and bacteria growth up to 99.96%
- 1-year warranty
- Cool mist, ultrasonic humidifier
- Best for small rooms
- Variable mist output
- Automatic shut off
- Low water indicator
- 1-year warranty
- Cool mist, ultrasonic water bottle humidifier
- Best for small rooms
- Variable mist output
- Adapter for conventional water bottles
- Night light
- 1-year warranty
- Cool mist, ultrasonic water bottle humidifier
- Best for small rooms
- 0.5 gallon daily humidity output
- Variable mist output
- Available in a variety of colors
- 1-year warranty
The Fancii Aquamist II is a water-bottle humidifier capable of handling standard-sized 0.15-gallon bottles. Out of all the humidifiers on this list, it’s definitely the lightest and smallest while also being incredibly effective. It is limited by a small room coverage, but the Aquamist II makes up for this limitation in design, portability, and versatility. It’s a sleek device that can easily fit in most bags and has a unique cordless design which means it doesn’t need to be plugged in to work. It works on regular AA batteries, but you also have the option of using it with the included USB cord.
Unfortunately, the Aquamist II burns through its batteries fairly quickly and uses filters that needs to be replaced regularly, both factors that increase its long-term costs. In addition, the Aquamist II functions on one touch which makes it easy to use, but it also means the mist output is fixed. Despite a few flaws, the Aquamist II remains an excellent travel humidifier to bring with you to your hotel room, your office, or even your seat on the airplane.
Pros
- Affordable
- Compact, lightweight, portable
- Sleek, fashionable design
- Preset timer
- Very quiet operation
- Compatible with both battery and USB
Cons
- Small room coverage
- Filters need to be replaced regularly
- Consumes batteries instantly
- Very bright LED lights
- Fixed mist output
If you’re a traveler who’s sensitive to changes in climate, then the Boneco U7146 will be your best friend. It’s one of the most popular water-bottle humidifiers out there and is compact enough to bring around with you wherever you go. Rated to cover up to only 215 sq. ft., the U7146 should only be used in small rooms. What makes the U7146 stand out from the rest is that it has a high daily humidity output along with both a low water indicator and automatic shut off feature. Users, though, have complained of the indicator lights on the U7146 to be glaringly bright. Fortunately, you can purchase an opaque nozzle from Boneco without the indicator lights.
Boneco products don’t come cheap, and the U7146 is more expensive than most other travel humidifiers. However, this model makes up for its higher price tag in quality and performance. As a result, this humidifier is definitely something worth bringing with you on your next trip.
Pros
- High daily humidity output
- Low water indicator and automatic shut off feature
- Compact, lightweight, portable
- Quiet and easy to use
- Comes with accessories
- Variable mist output
Cons
- Small room coverage
- Expensive for a water bottle humidifier
- Very bright LED lights
The USB Cool Mist Humidifier from Yesurprise is a cup-type humidifier that fits perfectly in a car’s cup holder, making it an ideal choice for people looking for a little humidity boost during a long drive. Like most cup-type humidifiers, the Yesurprise makes use of a cotton wick that absorbs the water from the cup, pulls it upwards into the diaphragm of the humidifier, and disperses it as fine, cool mist.
Unfortunately, Yesurprise is greatly limited by a small cup capacity and room coverage, making it only suitable for small areas like small vehicles and hotel rooms. You also have the option, however, of using it with larger cups if you’re looking for a longer runtime. As with the Aquamist II, the Yesurprise also has a fixed mist output and its filters need to be regularly replaced.These minor flaws, though, don’t change the fact that the Yesurprise humidifier gives you so much bang for your buck: retailing at less than $20, you get a reliable, portable, unobstructive, and versatile humidifier.
Pros
- Compact, lightweight, portable
- Fits perfectly in a car’s cup holder
- Affordable
- Quiet and easy to use
- No white dust
- USB compatible
- Compatible with other cups
Cons
- Wick needs to be replaced regularly
- Small cup capacity and room coverage
- Short runtime (5 hours only)
- No low water indicator
- Fixed mist output
The EE-5950 from Crane is one of the more popular cup-type humidifiers out there and is only a little more expensive than the Yesurprise. It also comes with its own cup that is compatible with standard-sized cup-holders in vehicles for humidification on-the-go. Unfortunately, the same flaws on the Yesurprise are present in the EE-5950 as well: it uses a wick that needs to be replaced regularly and is limited by its small room coverage and fixed mist output. Users have also complained of the bright blue LED light on the device that cannot be turned off.
As opposed to the Yesurprise, however, the EE-5950 is able to run for up to 10 hours. This means that you can use it overnight as you sleep without having to worry about it running out of water. Even if does run out, you can be rest assured that it’ll shut off automatically. In addition, one of the highlights with this model is that it comes with Crane’s signature Clean Control antimicrobial treatment that prevents growth of mold and bacteria.
Pros
- Compact, lightweight, portable
- Fits perfectly in a car’s cup holder
- Affordable
- Quiet and easy to use
- USB compatible
- Long runtime
- Clean Control treatment prevents bacterial growth
- Comes with accessories
Cons
- Wick needs to be replaced regularly
- Small room coverage
- Fixed mist output
- Bright LED light
A little less known than the other humidifiers on this list, the PerfectAire PAU1 is a water-bottle humidifier that boasts a high daily humidity output of almost 1 gallon at half the price of the Boneco U7147. As with most affordable products, there’s bound to be tradeoffs. With the PAU1, you can only get up to 6 hours of runtime per use so it might not be the best option to use overnight, especially considering it doesn’t have an automatic shut off feature. In addition to that, the PAU1 has its fair share of angry users complaining that it stops working after a few uses.
Hiccups aside, the PAU1 is still a great option for thrifty travelers: it has an impressive humidity output for a travel humidifier, it’s portable, there are no filters to replace, and – unlike cup-type humidifiers – the mist output is variable. Just make sure you take good care of it to prolong its lifespan.
Pros
- Compact, lightweight, portable
- Affordable
- Quiet and easy to use
- No filters to replace
- High daily humidity output
- Variable mist output
Cons
- Short runtime
- Small room coverage
- No automatic shut off feature
- Durability issues
The PureGuardian H500 is the first water-bottle humidifier in Guardian Technologies’ product line. Designed similarly to the U7147 but skipping the hefty price tag, the H500 comes with a hand carry bagand is perfect for use in offices and hotel rooms.
Unlike the U7147, the H500 lacks a few useful features like a low water indicator and automatic shut off feature. Another problem with the H500 is that many users have complained of leaking issues. While the cause for this remains to be seen, many speculate it’s a serious design flaw. Regardless, the H500 is still an affordable, high-quality humidifier made by a company that has had many years of experience in creating safer, more comfortable home environments. If you’re about to go on a trip and are cutting back on expenses, then definitely take the H500 into consideration.
Pros
- Compact, lightweight
- Quiet and easy to use
- Affordable
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Variable mist output
- No filters to replace
Cons
- Small room coverage
- Leaking problems
- No low water indicator and automatic shut off
The QLS03 from Hunter is a unique travel humidifier that comes in an array of different colors and designs. What makes it unique is that it’s shaped differently than the other water bottle humidifiers on this list. These dimensions, though, make it a little more difficult to fit snugly into smaller bags. Other drawbacks for the QLS03 include small room coverage and a capacity of only 0.15 gallons. In addition, it lacks useful features like a low water indicator and automatic shut off feature. Users have also complained that the QLS03 isn’t as durable as we would have liked.
In its defense, though, the QLS03 is still a pretty robust travel humidifier. With a daily humidity output of 0.5 gallons per day, it’s definitely one of the more powerful travel humidifiers out there. It’s quiet, very easy to use, comes with a dial knob to control mist output, and doesn’t require filter replacements.
Pros
- Good daily humidity output
- Comes in a variety of colors and designs
- Quiet and easy to use
- No filters to replace
- Variable mist output
Cons
- Small room coverage
- Somewhat bulky design
- Durability issues
- No low water indicator and automatic shut off
Travel Humidifiers Buyer’s Guide
Introducing the Travel Humidifier
Humidifiers come in an array of different sizes and shapes to suit different lifestyles. Travel humidifiers are some of the smallest humidifiers because they’re meant to be as portable as possible.
Key Characteristics of a Good Travel Humidifier
A good travel humidifier should be:
- As compact as possible without scrimping on performance or quality
- Lightweight, weighing only a few ounces
- Have at least a low water indicator or an automatic shut off feature
- Decent daily humidity output
- Easy to use and clean
- Not too expensive upfront and long-term
Travel Humidifiers are for you if…
- You’re constantly traveling for work
- You regularly take vacations
- You like going on long rides
- You only have a small space to humidify
- You’re prone to the different effects of dry air (i.e.: clogged nasal passages, dry skin, chapped lips, etc.)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Travel Humidifiers
Travel humidifiers have a lot of advantages over regular humidifiers:
- They’re a lot more affordable, usually retailing at less than $50
- They’re small, lightweight, and compact so you can take them wherever you want
- They’re relatively simple devices and work with a single touch or push of a button
- They’re easy to clean and often don’t make too much noise
- Despite being very affordable and small, they do a good job of humidifying small spaces
Of course, travel humidifiers also come with a lot of drawbacks:
- They usually have a small water-holding capacity and room coverage
- They have drastically lower humidity output compared to regular humidifiers
- They only come in ultrasonic, cool mist types
- Because of their small size, they usually have shorter runtimes between fillings
- They don’t have as many features as regular humidifiers
Water Bottle Humidifiers and Cup-Type Humidifiers
The most common types of travel humidifiers are water bottle humidifiers and cup-type humidifiers.
Water bottle humidifiers make use of a standard-sized water bottle that acts as water tank or reservoir. It works by turning a water bottle upside down and inserting it into the humidifier’s bottle base. By law of gravity, the water goes down into the humidifier and then is dispersed into a fine mist by a diaphragm vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency. One downside to this type of humidifier is that it is usually not USB-compatible.
Cup-type humidifiers, on the other hand, come with a cup which will act as a water tank. They have a separate device, shaped like a microphone, in which the humidifier’s system is housed. Within this system is the nozzle, diaphragm, and wick. The purpose of the wick is to absorb the water upwards into the humidifier and allow it to be dispersed into the room. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait at least 5 to 10 minutes for the wick to absorb the water, enough for the humidifier to let any mist out. The humidifier part is also compatible with other cups. Normally, these types of humidifiers are USB-compatible and will fit in any car’s cup-holder.
FAQ
What type of travel humidifier should I use when traveling with my kids?
Because children are more susceptible to illnesses than adults, you’re probably better off with a humidifier that can keep mold and bacteria growth to a minimum. In addition, if you or any of your children suffer from allergic rhinitis or asthma, then it would be best to use a travel humidifier with a wick as well. The wick can prevent the spread of white dust which can actually aggravate allergies. A good example of a travel humidifier with both an antimicrobial feature and a wick is the Crane USA Travel Cool Mist Humidifier.
Will a travel humidifier fit in my handbag?
Ideally, yes, however it depends on both the size of the humidifier and the size of your handbag. If you’re packing light and don’t plan on bringing a very large bag, then the Fancii Aquamist II would be a good travel humidifier for you since it’s lightweight and won’t take up too much space.
Is there a travel humidifier that produces warm mist?
Based on what we know, warm mist travel humidifiers aren’t in the market yet – at least none that are worth your money. Most of the travel humidifiers available are all cool mist ultrasonic types. Warm mist humidifiers use a heating element so there are more parts to take into consideration. If you really need a warm mist humidifier for your trip, we highly recommend the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier V745 since it’s neither too big nor too heavy.
Do travel humidifiers come with a wick?
Cup-type travel humidifiers use a cotton wick to draw water up from the cup and into the humidifier itself. Once the water has reached the top of the wick, your humidifier is ready to start misting. You’ll need to wait at least 5 to 10 minutes though for the wick to absorb the water.
How noisy can I expect my travel humidifier to be?
Most travel humidifiers are ultrasonic types. As we discussed in our Best Quiet Humidifiers article, ultrasonic humidifiers are among the quietest types so noise shouldn’t be an issue.
Final Thoughts
If you’re thinking of going on a trip to a far away land or just visiting your grandma in Arizona, then bringing along a travel humidifier might be a good idea. You’re never going to know when you’ll need relief from a suddenly dry environment. After much consideration, we felt that the best travel humidifier is none other than the Fancii Aquamist II.
While the Boneco U7147 was our best water bottle humidifier, the Aquamist II trumps it in portability and versatility. It is the lightest and most sleek in the bunch so you can easily pack it in your luggage. It also gives you the option of using it on batteries or plugged-in via USB cable. Overall, it is the most convenient and easy to use.
