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best humidifier for travel

5 Best Portable Humidifiers For Travel – We Purchased And Tested Them!

Many people are sensitive to climate change. When the humidity level drops, their skin, throat, or sinuses will start to malfunction. If you are one of those and will travel somewhere with a dry climate, why not put a portable humidifier in your luggage?

In this post, I will show you five portable humidifiers that are great for travel. We bought these humidifiers with our own money and tested each of them for 2 weeks. Hope these products can assist you in having a pleasant vacation.

Best Portable Humidifier For Travel – Our Top Picks 

MOVTIP Portable Small Snow Mountain Humidifier
JISULIFE DONUT Mini Portable Humidifier
JISULIFE Mini Portable Humidifier
GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier
Pure Enrichment MistAire Studio Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
ImageSnow Mountain Humidifier reviewJISULIFE DONUT Mini Portable Humidifier reviewJISULIFE Mini Portable Humidifier reviewGENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier reviewPure Enrichment MistAire Studio Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier review
Overall Rating8.3/10
8.1/10
8.0/10
8.1/10
8.3/10
HighlightsBeautiful Mountain-like NightlightTight on space? You can place it in your pocket.It's battery-operated, so you can use it wherever you need!It doubles as a nightlight and can be used without activating the humidifying function.It's a standard humidifier with a compact size, making it ideal for travel.
Tank Size0.50.250.7
Output73 ml30 ml21 ml28 ml77 ml
Price Range$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
More DetailsRead MoreRead MoreRead MoreRead MoreRead More
Where to BuyView on AmazonView on AmazonView on AmazonView on AmazonView on AmazonView on Pure Enrichment

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Best Overall

MOVTIP Portable Small Snow Mountain Humidifier

Snow Mountain Humidifier
Snow Mountain Humidifier
Snow Mountain Humidifier night light

Highlights:

Beautiful Mountain-like Nightlight

Air Smartly Rating

8.3

/10

Output

73

ml

View on Amazon

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7.5/10
Humidification Performance
10/10
Ease of Cleaning
10/10
Noise Level
10/10
Usability
9.5/10
Build Quality
10/10
Warranty
water tank size

Tank Size

0.5

warranty

Warranty

Not Clear-Year

type

Type

Ultrasonic/Filtered

type

Max Runtime

9-Hour

type

Wattage

2w

type

Size

3.74"D x 3.74"W x 5.08"H

type

Price

$$$$$

type

Coverage

Very small spaces

Pros

  • Easy to use and clean.

  • The output is high, compared to other mini models.

  • The operation is quiet, even for light sleepers.

Cons

  • You should use it with mineral or tap water.

  • Larger in size compared to some tankless mini humidifiers.

  • It may get things around it wet.

Dry Skin
Dry Skin

It is great to put on your table while wokring to relieve your dry skin.

Travel
Travel

People on Budget
People on Budget

We really like the snow mountain-like shape on the top of this humidifier, especially when the nightlight is on. In addition to being a humidifier to relieve your dry skin or throat, it can also be used as a beautiful add-on to your desk or hotel room.

This humidifier comes with a 500 ml water tank which is large when compared to most mini humidifier models on the market.

Meanwhile, we also like its high output, which is 73ml/h in continuous mode and 50ml/h in intermittent mode. We have tested that it can continue to work for 9 hours when the continuous mode is on. Don’t worry, it will stop automatically when the water level is low.

It is quiet regardless of which mode you use, which is a great choice for light sleepers. To get better sleep in a new place, you can fill it with clean water before going to bed, allowing the mist to increase the humidity level around your bed at night.

Besides, you can use the nightlight function separately. The light can also work in an intermittent mode. Sometimes, I like to turn it on at night.

With so many perks, its price is still low, making us decide to put it on top of our list of best portable travel humidifiers.

Note that its design is a bit different from normal ultrasonic humidifiers. Because the atomizer is located on the top, the spray is easy to be affected by the water droplets that accumulate around it. Therefore, the manufacturer advises us to use it with mineral or tap water.

While using a humidifier with tap water is not recommended, it will not wreak havoc in a short time in most cases.

On top of it, it only comes with a USB cord, which you need to prepare an extra adaptor for it.

The Most Compact

JISULIFE DONUT Mini Portable Humidifier

JISULIFE DONUT Mini Portable Humidifier
JISULIFE DONUT Mini Portable Humidifier components
JISULIFE DONUT Mini Portable Humidifier mist

Highlights:

Tight on space? You can place it in your pocket.

Air Smartly Rating

8.1

/10

Output

30

ml

View on Amazon

# We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

7/10
Humidification Performance
10/10
Ease of Cleaning
10/10
Noise Level
9.85/10
Usability
9.5/10
Build Quality
8.5/10
Warranty
water tank size

Tank Size

warranty

Warranty

1-Year

type

Type

Ultrasonic/Filtered

type

Max Runtime

8-Hour

type

Wattage

2w

type

Size

2.1 x 2.1 x 6.7 in

type

Price

$$$$$

type

Coverage

Very small spaces

Pros

  • The compact design makes it the best choice for backpackers.

  • It is quiet during operation.

  • Easy to use and clean.

Cons

  • Only has one mode.

  • You should soak the cotton stick in the water for 5 minutes before use.

Travel
Travel

It's incredibly compact; you can even disassemble it and fit it in your pocket.

People on Budget
People on Budget

Budget-friendly and offers a touch of moisture in the air when you're nearby.

For backpackers or people with a small suitcase, size is everything. If this is the case for you, this Dounut-shape humidifier from Jisulife could be a suitable option.

Because it doesn’t have a water tank, therefore, you can put it easily in any bag, even your pocket.

The same as the snow mountain humidifier, it works better with mineral or tap water. However, you should soak the cotton stick inside in the water for about 5 minutes if the stick is dry. 

I have tried to run this humidifier without doing it and found that there is no mist coming out from the top. So, you should follow the instruction. 

Even if it is small in size, its output is relatively high, which really surprised us. It has a water level sensor underneath so that it can stop working automatically. Again, it is recommended to use it with tap or mineral water.

It doesn’t have a nightlight built-in, but it is not a big issue for most travelers, though.

Convenient For Travel

JISULIFE Mini Portable Humidifier

JISULIFE Mini Portable Humidifier
JISULIFE Mini Portable Humidifier components
JISULIFE Mini Portable Humidifier mist

Highlights:

It's battery-operated, so you can use it wherever you need!

Air Smartly Rating

8.0

/10

Output

21

ml

View on Amazon

# We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

7/10
Humidification Performance
9.5/10
Ease of Cleaning
10/10
Noise Level
9.7/10
Usability
9.5/10
Build Quality
8.5/10
Warranty
water tank size

Tank Size

warranty

Warranty

1-Year

type

Type

Ultrasonic/Filtered

type

Max Runtime

10-Hour

type

Wattage

3w

type

Size

1.9"D x 1.9"W x 8"H

type

Price

$$$$$

type

Coverage

Very small spaces

Pros

  • You can run it without connecting it to an outlet.

  • Quiet operation.

  • Lightweight and compact design.

Cons

  • The output is low.

  • No nightlight option.

Travel
Travel

Being battery-operated and compact, this humidifier offers almost limitless portability.

People on Budget
People on Budget

It's affordable yet capable of producing mist to offer some relief.

This is another portable humidifier from Jisulife and we think it is also a good choice for travel. 

Featuring a lollipop-shaped design, it has a battery on the top. That is to say, you can use it anywhere you want, without worrying about the power source. According to our test, it can continue to work for almost 10 hours in continuous mode, meaning that you can use it for the whole night. 

If you plan to sleep in a tent, this humidifier will come in handy.

Different from the one mentioned above, it has two modes: continuous mode and intermittent mode. 

The downside is that the output is relatively low. It is not going to humidify the whole space. If you want to use it to combat dryness, you should place it closer to you. 

Good For Light Sleepers

GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier

GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier
GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier components
GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier mist

Highlights:

It doubles as a nightlight and can be used without activating the humidifying function.

Air Smartly Rating

8.1

/10

Output

28

ml

View on AmazonRead Full Review

# We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

7/10
Humidification Performance
10/10
Ease of Cleaning
10/10
Noise Level
9.3/10
Usability
9.5/10
Build Quality
9/10
Warranty
water tank size

Tank Size

0.25

warranty

Warranty

2-Year

type

Type

Ultrasonic/Filtered

type

Max Runtime

8-Hour

type

Wattage

2w

type

Size

3.4 x 3.4 x 6 in

type

Price

$$$$$

type

Coverage

very small spaces

Pros

  • It is very quiet when activated.

  • It is very easy to use and clean.

  • It is lightweight and small in size.

Cons

  • The output is extremely low.

  • It can’t turn off when the water level is low.

Travel
Travel

This lightweight gadget will not take much space in your luggage.

While most portable humidifiers are quiet, this Erie humidifier from Geniani is one of the best. When it is running, you can hardly notice any noise even at night no matter in continuous mode or intermittent mode.

Aside from that, we really like its simple and sleek design. It has 3 colors available: white, black. These colors are unlikely to clash with any decorating style.

The atomizer is also on the top and it is also suggested to fill it with tap or mineral water. 

It can work continuously for 8 hours and stop automatically. However, it seems like it doesn’t have a water level sensor. Therefore, I think refilling water after 8 hours of operation is a safer solution.

The 28ml/h low output (based on our data) of this travel humidifier is another drawback, as it won’t make much of a difference in terms of humidity. For best results, you’ll want to keep it near you to get the most out of the cool mist.

If your destination is arid, maybe you should consider another choice.

Powerful Portable Humidifier For Travel

Pure Enrichment MistAire Studio Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

Pure Enrichment MistAire Studio Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Pure Enrichment MistAire Studio Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier components
Pure Enrichment MistAire Studio Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier mist

Highlights:

It's a standard humidifier with a compact size, making it ideal for travel.

Air Smartly Rating

8.3

/10

Output

77

ml

View on AmazonView on Pure Enrichment

# We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

7.5/10
Humidification Performance
8.5/10
Ease of Cleaning
10/10
Noise Level
10/10
Usability
9.5/10
Build Quality
10/10
Warranty
water tank size

Tank Size

0.7

warranty

Warranty

5-Year

type

Type

Ultrasonic/Filterless

type

Max Runtime

12-Hour

type

Wattage

12w

type

Size

5.1 x 5.1 x 11.25 in

type

Price

$$$$$

type

Coverage

Small spaces

Pros

  • Good humidification performance.

  • 5-year warranty.

  • Nightlight and two modes included.

Cons

  • It is hard to clean.

  • A bit larger than other mini humidifiers.

  • It can make a gurgling sound.

Travel
Travel

If there's extra space in your luggage, this humidifier can significantly enhance your travel comfort.

Plant
Plant

You can position it near your small plants to help keep them healthy.

Perhaps you’ve noticed that all of the travel humidifiers I previously recommended have an ultrasonic disk positioned on top. But this Pure Enrichment humidifier is different. 

Actually, its design is the same as normal-size ultrasonic humidifiers. You should turn the water tank upside down to fill the water and the atomizer is in the water reservoir on the bottom. Yes, this is the only one in our review that is recommended to use with distilled water.

The best part of this model is that it has a high output, meaning that it has larger coverage. The size is a bit larger but still will not take up much space in your bag. 

However, during the test, it produced some gurgling sound. It is not problematic for me since it is a kind of white noise. But it could be an issue for some people.

In addition, the lid of the water tank is small, making it difficult to clean.

What to consider when buying a portable travel humidifier?

Since you are buying a humidifier for travel, there are different factors that need to be considered. After all, you may need to change places every so often or it is not so easy to find a power source.

Portability 

How much space you can leave for your humidifier? I have seen one of my friends traveling with a regular-sized humidifier because she can’t sleep well in low humidity environment. 

However, most people will not do that because the space in the bag or luggage is valuable. 

Therefore, when choosing a portable humidifier for travel, you should check its size. For example, if you have a suitcase, then models like the Pure Enrichment Mistaire studio humidifier could be suitable. But tankless humidifiers like the Jisulife doughnut model could be a better one if you plan to travel with a backpack.

The humidity level of your travel destinations

To be honest, those mini humidifiers will not be as powerful as those humidifiers for rooms. They usually have a small coverage and you should keep it close to you so as to get enough moisture you desire. 

If you are going to travel to a place with a really low humidity level, then you should look for one with higher output. Usually, you can find this information on the website but reading reviews from others is also a good idea.

Accommodation 

Where will you stay? Do you have any plans to sleep outdoors? You should consider if it is hard for you to connect your machine to an outlet. USB portable humidifiers can work with portable chargers, whereas battery-operated models can work independently for a long time. 

These two types of portable humidifiers are better choices if you are not sure if the power source is available in your destination.

Your health condition

As you know, white dust coming out of the humidifier may cause conditions in the lungs. People who have respiratory issues should pay more attention to it. 

Since most travel humidifiers are recommended to be filled with tap or mineral water, it is more prone to producing white dust. 

You can solve this problem by either using a model that works well with distilled water or placing your humidifier a bit away from you.

Maintenance 

Most portable humidifiers are easy to clean because what you need to do is clean the water tank and replace the cotton stick. The opening of the water tank is large and you can access it easily.

Nevertheless, some models like Pure Enrichment one in our list have a small lid, making the cleaning task become difficult to accomplish. 

Budget 

Portable humidifiers are light on the pocket in most cases. You can get one easily even if you are tight on a budget. 

What should you keep in mind when using a portable humidifier for travel?

Usually, portable mini humidifiers are easy to use and maintain. For models with a cotton stick inside, you should replace the stick every month and clean the water tank every week. 

You can take out the cotton stick when not in use to extend its lifespan.

For those has an ultrasonic disk in the water reservoir, you’d better fill it with distilled water and empty the tank every day. 

In conclusion 

The best portable humidifier for travel should be compact, lightweight, and quiet, but still have relatively good humidification performance. 

We have tested a few popular models on the market and found that MOVTIP Portable Small Snow Mountain Humidifier  is the best. But if you are really tight on space, you can choose the Jisulife Dounut Mini Portable Humidifier .

Hope this guide can help you out.

Last update on 2024-12-07 at 11:08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Avatar photo

Liz Yang is the founder of Airsmartly. She has been working at home for a few years and realizes that the performance of the HVAC system plays such an important role in our life. She has tested more than 150 products in person, including humidifiers, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and ACs, and wants to share tips about using or troubleshooting these products with you. Her uncle is an HVAC expert with over 30 years of experience in the field, and often offers assistance when she is unsure how to handle a situation. He is also in charge of reviewing the articles on this site.

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