- Last Updated: May 18, 2025
In case you have outdoor work, then we recommend choosing one with a good IP rating. On the other hand, if you have large files, then go for a high-storage device and speed. Users who want to store sensitive data should select an external hard drive with encryption options.
Price is a major factor while shopping for anything. External hard drives are available at different price ranges. The price varies in terms of storage, speed, and additional features like encryption or backup services.
Our Top Picks for Best External Hard Drives
[This article may contain affiliate links. This means that if you decide to purchase some of these resources, I earn a small commission at no additional cost for you. I only recommend selected products that I’m convinced about and that I would buy (or already did buy) myself.]
How to choose the best external hard drives for travelers?
While choosing the best external hard drive, we should consider the following:
➤ Compact size and sturdiness: Portable hard drives that are small in size and very lightweight are easier to carry wherever you go. They will fit well into your backpack or purse. Some of them are suitable to carry by hand.
External hard drives that are as small as a flash drive are even better. Some of them may include a small carrying strap. Most of them are made of aluminum metal to avoid excess heating up.
➤ Adequate Storage: For external hard drives, there are several storage options. You can choose from 1 TB to 6 TB of space, which is more than enough for most use cases. Most gamers and users with high-quality files are covered with a 2TB external hard drive.
If you are someone who is into codes, machine learning, or working with large servers, then a 4 TB is a good choice.
➤ Good Speed: External SSD hard drives usually have high speed compared to hard disk drives. A hard drive with good speed will deliver smooth operation without any delay.
Users can easily transfer files and open apps and games. Generally, 500 Mb/s read and write speed is considered to be a good value.
➤ Power Type: In most cases, portable hard drives get their power from a PC or laptop. They can also be powered via a power bank. As a result, they are easy to take from one place to another.
➤ Durability: Since you will be using these hard drives on the go, a rugged design is more preferable. It should be able to protect itself from water and dust. Some of them have a rubberized body, shock mounts, or drop resistance.
5 Best External Hard Drives for Travelers
1. OWC Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5
The OWC Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 is one of the best external hard drives for travelers. It has an IP67 rating that makes it extremely durable to use outdoors. With a speed of up to 120 Gbps, the Thunderbolt 5 is capable of running a couple of 8k screens. In our testing, real-life scenarios showed a read/write speed exceeding 5000 Mb/s.
It has a solid aluminum body that eliminates heat. At a slightly high price range, this ultra-fast external hard drive is suitable for a wide range of users, including editors, photographers, and gamers. You can choose from 2 TB or 4 TB capacity with a slight increase in cost.
The device will work with previous models like Thunderbolt 3 and 4. If you are a Mac user, you need to have macOS 14.x Sonoma or macOS 15.x Sequoia to use this external SSD.
Specs:
- • Dimensions: 5.1 x 3 x 0.8 in
- • Total Capacity: 2048 GB
- • Cable: USB- C
- • Data Transfer Rate: 6000 Mb/s (read/write)
- • Power Source: Bus-powered
- • Warranty: 5 years
PROS
- ✔️ Crush-resistant and waterproof
- ✔️ Build-in cable
- ✔️ High speed
- ✔️ Good compatibility
- ✔️ Large storage capacity
CONS
- ❌ A bit costly
2. Adata SD810 External SSD
The Adata SD810 is one of the best external SSDs under $100. It is 20 times faster than any traditional hard drive. The read and write speed is also decent. With an IP68 rating, the SSD is resistant to water and dust. It is also drop-proof, which means it can withstand accidental falls when using it outside.
Along with this, it has a metal body that prevents it from getting heated up. To work smoothly with this drive, the devices should be compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2 and UASP drivers. The SSD works with Android, Windows, and macOS. It is great for gaming and supports PS5 and Xbox One.
A 4 TB or 2 TB external hard drive size option is also available. Overall, this external SSD has the best value for money. However, in case you seek around 20 Gbps speed, you might want to look elsewhere.
Specs:
- • Dimensions: 2.86 x 1.73 x 0.48 in
- • Total Capacity: 500GB / 1000GB / 2000GB / 4000GB
- • Cable: USB- C to C
- • Data Transfer Rate: 2000 Mb/s (read/write)
- • Power Source: USB-powered
- • Warranty: 5 years
PROS
- ✔️ Budget-friendly
- ✔️ Works with popular OS
- ✔️ Small size and lightweight
- ✔️ Solid performance
- ✔️ Good for overall use
CONS
-
❌ Need expansion card for incompatible PCs
3. Seagate Ultra Compact SSD
We love the sleek Seagate Ultra Compact SSD that looks like a flash drive. It is quite easy to carry anywhere you go; just put it in your pocket. It has an IP54 rating, which means it will give basic protection against dust and can withstand water sprays. It will also remain safe if you drop it from a 3-meter height.
While we are reviewing 1 TB, a 2 TB external hard drive of this model is also available. It has a sturdy aluminum body and is known to use 35% recycled material. A small strap is available so you can attach it to your bag, backpack, or any hook.
Although the read and write speed is average, it is still enough for general users. It can easily handle 4k data with ease. This stick-like external drive has Rescue Data Recovery Service to protect from any data loss. It offers Dropbox Backup for data backup and Mylio Photos+ services for photos and videos. You will receive a 6-month free trial, but after that an additional charge is needed.
Specs:
- • Dimensions: 2.756 x 0.803 x 0.492 in
- • Total Capacity: 1 or 2 TB
- • Cable: USB- C
- • Data Transfer Rate: 1000 Mb/s
- • Power Source: USB-powered
- • Warranty: 3 years
PROS
- ✔️ Extremely portable due to tiny-size
- ✔️ Service for data loss and backup files
- ✔️ Rugged built
- ✔️ Good speed
- ✔️ Reasonably priced
CONS
- ❌ Rain resistant but not waterproof
4. SanDisk Professional 6TB G-Drive ArmorATD
SanDisk Professional 6TB G-Drive ArmorATD has an aluminum body with shock mounts. It has an IP54 rating, so you can use it everywhere, indoors or outdoors. The USB port gives users a plug-and-play solution.
It comes with both USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables, allowing users to use them on any type of PC. It works with Mac, Windows, and Android devices. In terms of performance, it is average and not as fast as an SSD; we do not expect it to be either.
It is still good enough for regular users to want to store high-quality images, videos, etc. Although we wish the price to be a bit lower, it is still one of the best external hard drives for traveling.
Specs:
- • Dimensions: 5.1 x 3.45 x 1.15 in
- • Total Capacity: 6 TB
- • Cable: USB- C
- • Data Transfer Rate: 130 Mb/s
- • Power Source: USB-powered
- • Warranty: 3 years
PROS
- ✔️ Resistant to rain and dust
- ✔️ Last storage capacity
- ✔️ Smooth performance
- ✔️ Compatible with most devices
- ✔️ Easy power source
CONS
- ❌ Not as fast as SSD
Check out also: 6 Best Portable Power Banks for Digital Nomads in 2025
5. WD 6TB My Passport
If you want a high-storage portable hard drive, then the WD 6TB My Passport is a good choice. You can store a large amount of data in this. It is around the size of your fist, so you can carry it while traveling. It is made of plastic and has a stylish design. It offers multiple color options in case you find the traditional black quite ‘boring.’
It uses Acronis True Image to protect your files against any malware. It also has 256-bit AES encryption, which means the files will remain protected with a given password. In case you want to use this external hard drive for Mac, use an additional adapter with the USB Type-A. Windows users will be able to use it without any software installation procedure.
If you think the 6 TB is ‘too much’ for you, choose the 2TB external hard drive from 5 different size options. In terms of performance, the WD 6TB Passport hard drive might be a bit slow. However, overall it is one of the best hard drives for traveling.
Specs:
- • Dimensions: 4.22 x 2.95 x 0.81 in
- • Total Capacity: 6 TB
- • Cable: USB Type-C to Micro-B
- • Data Transfer Rate: 5 Gb/s
- • Power Source: USB-powered
- • Warranty: 3 years
PROS
- ✔️ Small size, easy to carry
- ✔️ Good secuirity for stored files
- ✔️ Large storage capacity
- ✔️ Good efficiency
- ✔️ Reasonable price
CONS
- ❌ Less speed when compared to SSD
Parting Words
Portable hard drives are the best if you have demanding working environments. Not only are they easy to use, but they are also a good choice for space-hungry files. For general storage of images, videos, and other files, a simple 1 TB external hard drive is suitable.
Most of the listed hard drives have the option to choose the storage size. As you increase the storage, the cost will also increase. You can choose a hard drive with good security measures, which will protect the files in case you accidentally lose it.
Since you will be going from one place to another, an easy powering system is also preferable. Most of the hard drives offer a USB power option.
So that wraps up our list of the best portable external hard drives for travel in 2025. Hope that you liked this article. We’d greatly appreciate it if you could share this article with your friends and family. Don’t forget to comment below which travel wifi hotspot you are using or want to buy.
Check this out: Digital Nomad Gear: 21 Must-Have Items (2024)
FAQs
HDDs, or hard disk drives, consist of moving parts as they operate and can work with a lower speed when compared to SSDs. Solid-state drives, or SSDs, are more popular and versatile. They are designed for modern PCs and can store huge amounts of files. They have a higher read/write speed but are also costlier.
External hard drives with 4 TB or higher storage capacity are suitable to store massive high-quality data. They are ideal for those who work with huge amounts of data. It include content creators, professional photographers, game developers, editors, etc.
Of course! Hard drives are designed to be used for Windows, Mac, or even Android systems. The popular method of using an exPAT file system is used for this.
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