The 6 Best Travel Ukuleles: Lightweight, Compact, & Weather-Resistant

Generally the perfect journey companion is an instrument, one that’s small, nice, and completely transportable – just like the ukulele! Whereas it is sensible {that a} ukulele is an ideal journey buddy primarily based on measurement, ukuleles particularly designed for journey are very a lot a factor. Journey ukeleles are designed to be both lightweight, compact, weather-resistant, or all three!

When Sensible Wanderlust’s Editor-in-Chief, Richie, requested if he may write an article on journey ukuleles, I truly didn’t understand that journey ukuleles existed. Every little thing I knew about them got here from journeys to Hawai’i and family and friends members who had picked up the instrument in some unspecified time in the future or one other (my mother, sister, and husband all play the ukulele, so I’m really surrounded by a refrain of tiny ukes always).

So, within the spirit of attempting and testing journey gear, our intrepid Editor spent months touring with varied ukuleles and making detailed notes on their sound and efficiency. In case you’re out there for a light-weight, travel-friendly instrument companion, on this submit you’ll discover completely every part it’s good to decide! Take it away, Richie.

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How I Evaluated My Journey Ukuleles

Taking part in an instrument is one thing that I at all times wished to do, however by no means thought I may realistically be taught. I went to a performing arts highschool (as a theatre main) and was surrounded by insanely gifted musical individuals, so I believed, “why even strive?”. 

Minimize to 10 years later once I purchased my first ukulele. I realized some chords, slowly realized the right way to strum and play some Lana Del Rey songs, annnnd finally put the uke down and forgot about it. 

Minimize as soon as once more to March 2020, the world shuts down and I’m caught at residence. I picked up the ukulele once more, this time actually diving in, and began enjoying music obsessively from The Daily Ukulele: 365 Songs for Better Living (which I consider is a must have for starting gamers). Since then I’ve been enjoying the ukulele day by day and writing my very own songs, and I can’t think about not taking my ukulele in all places I’m going.

Fortunately, I’ve field-tested many ukuleles from 4 manufacturers that make particular journey ukuleles. Whereas the little Hawai’ian instrument (by way of Portugal) is usually compact sufficient for journey, I’ve field-tested a number of ukuleles which might be designed to be your good journey buddy. 

I field-tested my ukuleles by touring with them to new cities, taken them climbing, kayaking, and to the seashore, enjoying them within the automobile, and simply usually taking them out and about (out and about could embody my bathtub, however who’s judging?). One tiny ukulele even took an enormous journey with me overseas to Switzerland!

In my seek for the perfect journey ukuleles, I used to be in search of to search out ones that match sure standards:

✔ I would like them to face up to a traditional quantity of damage and tear. I ought to specify that I didn’t throw any of those ukuleles off a cliff, put them within the dryer, or take them 20,000 leagues beneath the ocean. I adopted common maintenance tips and tried to not drop them. Principally.

✔ I would like them to be properly made and sound good. There’s no actual advantage of getting a journey ukulele if you happen to don’t benefit from the sound you get from it!

✔ I would like them to be light-weight and simple to move, in order that I can carry them or take them in a automobile or airplane with out taking on a ton of house or including a ton of weight.

✔ I would like my ukulele to look cool, as a result of even when your brother tells you {that a} ukulele is a dorky instrument, there ARE cool trying ukuleles (and I imply, enjoying ukulele is cool).

• A word about ukulele sizes: Ukuleles are available in three main sizes – soprano, live performance and tenor (smallest to largest). Sopranos are the commonest, and what we consider once we consider the widespread Hawaiian ukulele. Selecting a measurement actually comes down to non-public desire, although for touring functions, sopranos by nature are most transportable. The live performance and tenor fashions included on this submit are slimline fashions, that means their our bodies aren’t as thick to accommodate journey.

The Finest Journey Ukuleles

Beneath are the perfect journey ukuleles you will discover in the marketplace at the moment! These fashions all sound good, look good, and might be your finest buddy whether or not you will the mountains or the seashore. They’re designed for portability and to be your finest buddy on day journeys, holidays, or world travels. Let’s examine them out!

Finest Finances-Pleasant Journey Ukulele

Flight Ukuleles are among the hottest ukuleles and for good motive: they’re tremendous sturdy, transportable, AND are cute and sound nice! The Travel Series Soprano Ukulele with a Mandala Wood design is a ukulele that I’ve thrown in my automobile, taken throughout city, and never have to fret about getting dinged up or going simply out of tune.

Right here’s why I like it:

✔ It’s principally product of plastic, but it surely nonetheless sounds nice.

Whereas the physique of and fretboard is made out of plastic, the soundboard is made with laminate linden wooden which provides it a punchy and shiny sound that you simply couldn’t get from a very plastic ukulele.

Whereas different plastic ukuleles have a hole sound, this positively has extra of a depth that makes it sound extra like a “actual” ukulele.

✔ The setup is surprisingly good.

The fret motion can be low, that means the strings are straightforward to push down on and the intonation is nice up the fretboard. The tuners additionally work very properly, protecting it in tune persistently. Merely put, it’s straightforward to play!

✔ This ukulele is cheap, making it an amazing “beater” or starter ukulele.

At solely round $55, this ukulele received’t break the financial institution. And if you happen to do occur to interrupt it (which might take some work- it’s sturdy!) you’re not going to kick your self over it.

Additionally, because the soundboard appears to be coated with a plastic decal for the artwork design, it ought to maintain up if it will get a little bit moist too.

✔ This ukulele is available in sooooooo many cute designs!

Whereas mine is the attractive mandala wooden design, you’ll discover loads of designs like ocean waves, graffiti, galaxies, cherry blossoms, or perhaps a extra traditional wooden grain design. Actually you will discover one thing that matches your vibe! It additionally comes with a little bit (albeit skinny) gig bag to place your ukulele in.

Finest Lengthy-Haul Journey Ukulele

This little Ohana O’Nina Willow Sopranissimo Ukulele went for the experience of its life once I introduced it on a visit to Switzerland.

It lived in my day pack, so I may whip it out at opportune moments and have a Maria Von Trapp second enjoying music within the Swiss Alps. Speak concerning the hills being alive with the sound of music!

Right here’s why I’m a fan:

✔ This little gem is severely TINY.

At solely 17” lengthy in complete, not solely does it match simply in most baggage however is severely so effing cute.

It’s truly thought-about two sizes smaller than a daily Soprano and it simply slot in my daypack to take aboard my aircraft, and I wasn’t too apprehensive about placing it in a elaborate case – although I’d positively suggest placing it in a fabric bag so it doesn’t get scratched up.

When I’m not touring with it, I hold it on my desk to stare at its cute little self.

✔ Its tiny little physique offers it an cute, traditional ukulele sound.

Although it’s so small, it does give an adorably punchy sound! That is partially as a result of with ukuleles this small it’s important to tune it up from C to D, so the strain is tight sufficient for the ukulele to remain in tune (extra about tuning here). This provides it the next and much more jangly sound, for a 20s Tiny Pan Alley ukulele vibe.

This works nice for me because it places most songs in a extra pure singing vary for me, and the chord shapes stay the identical (it simply performs the music in the next key).

Additionally, this tuner is nice for any ukulele, but it surely’s the right measurement for this uke. (I’ve acquired extra options for travel-friendly ukulele equipment on the finish of this submit!)

✔ It is available in a bunch of tremendous cute colours.

Whereas my tiny ukulele is in blue, you may as well select purple, inexperienced, crimson, or yellow for the perfect match in your character. Hell, you’ll be able to even plan outfits round this little cutie and pull it out of your bag for shock concert events! Who am I kidding: I AM that additional.

✔ The wooden is laminate, so it’s sturdy.

The physique can be made out of willow laminate, which has an attractive grain including to its gorgeousness you’ll be able to’t see solely in images. The laminate additionally means that it’s going to maintain as much as the weather higher. Cute and useful!

Finest Sounding Journey Ukulele

The Kala Model Solid Spruce Travel Concert ukulele is the right, excellent-sounding journey companion. Kala Model is considered one of, if not essentially the most, well-liked ukulele producers, so you’ll be able to count on a top-quality ukulele that’s not solely useful however nice sounding!

Right here’s why I like this ukulele:

✔ This ukulele sounds stellar.

Spruce is normally what guitars are made out of, so you’ll be able to count on this ukulele to present you a loud, resonant tone. It holds maintain like a dream, and actually feels leaps and bounds above most journey ukuleles.

What makes it particularly a journey ukulele is that it has a “thinbody” design for simpler journey, which is nice because the ukulele is already a bit larger at its live performance measurement of slightly below 24″ lengthy (it additionally is available in a 25.75″ tenor mannequin).

However though the physique is slim, it completely delivers the traditional sound that’s related to ukuleles.

✔ This ukulele appears to be like nice.

I do know appears to be like aren’t every part, however this ukulele offers off the aura of “I’m an actual instrument who deserves to be beloved and worshipped.” Somewhat cocky, isn’t he?

However severely, the development on this ukulele is improbable: the spruce high and glossy mahogany again and sides give it an air of regality. You’ll positively look trendy on the seashore or at a campfire with this gem.

✔ It’s product of actual wooden.

A strong spruce high means simply that: the soundboard is made out of a strong piece of wooden. This implies higher sound and projection.

However since it’s actual wooden, you’ll must take additional care of it, particularly when taking it to completely different climates. Wooden expands and contracts with humidity, so make sure you hold it humidified with a little bit humidifier like this one within the padded gig bag the ukulele comes with (higher but, get a hard case). Water is the essence of magnificence, keep in mind?

Finest Weatherproof Journey Ukulele

This super-stylish Enya Nova U Concert Ukulele is sort of just like the Jetson’s model of a ukulele. With its daring colours and heat sound, this ukulele is the perfect of all worlds.

Right here’s why I like it:

✔ You possibly can take this uke ANYWHERE, and to any local weather.

It’s constructed with a carbon fiber composite polycarbonate which signifies that not solely is it waterproof, but it surely received’t develop and contract in numerous climates like a wood instrument (which may injury the wooden).

Which means is a superb ukulele to take even simply to the pool, understanding that water and humidity received’t injury it (although be sure that to dry the tuners if you happen to get them moist; they’re nonetheless made out of metallic!).

It should additionally stand up to the weather in case you are the sort of traveler who’s more likely to hop on a aircraft from the tropics to the arctic, with completely different temperatures and humidities. Journey free, you little world nomad!

✔ It has a heat, dreamy sound.

One other big bonus is the ukulele truly sounds fantastic – it will not be as punchy as spruce, but it surely offers a heat, mellow, dreamy tone with an extended maintain – uncommon in a non-wooden instrument. In case you’re plucking a melody with the strings it sounds particularly good.

It’s sort of the right sound to stroll by means of a backyard and sing to the bees, or simply to play and never fear about being too loud (like in your lodge room).

✔ It has a cool, futuristic look!

The design is chef’s kiss, the place do I begin? Firstly, the colours are so daring and fantastic. Whereas I’ve child blue, there’s additionally blush pink, crimson, orange, and black.

I additionally love the soundhole, which appears to be like just like the cut-out of a flame. There may be even a soundhole on the aspect of the physique dealing with up which lets you hear the music higher.

The cutout within the neck can be a wonderful design characteristic if you happen to like enjoying notes increased up the fretboard. Total it appears to be like futuristic and neat!

While mine is the 23″ concert size, they also have a 21-inch “mini” size (soprano), or an possibility with a built-in amplifier (although that’s a lot pricier and received’t be as weatherproof!).

Finest Sustainable Journey Ukulele

In case you are in search of a ukulele made out of a sustainable materials that may stand up to put on and tear, Kala’s Bamboo Soprano Ukulele has acquired your again.

Right here’s why I like this ukulele:

✔ Bamboo is a extremely sustainable materials – and DURABLE.

We worth sustainability, accountability, and ethical tourism right here at Sensible Wanderlust, and ukuleles aren’t any exception! Bamboo is a splendidly sustainable materials, because it’s the fastest growing plant on earth and grows to a mature measurement in simply 3-4 months.

Moreover its quick development time, it’s an especially strong, lightweight, and durable material that may stand up to the weather and is named “inexperienced steal”.

It is a ukulele I by no means actually fear about once I carry it round. I’ve taken it to the seashore, performed it within the sand, acquired it sticky with saltwater… and it was tremendous. Bamboo is simply so sturdy, I imply how lengthy have you ever been utilizing the identical takeout chopsticks you’ve had for years in your drawer?

✔ It sounds extra mellow than my different ukuleles.

Not solely is it tremendous cute trying and small (coming in slightly below 21″) with some very fascinating slotted tuners, but it surely additionally has a extremely beautiful mellow, quiet tone, good for enjoying in your lodge room or on the seashore.

I’ve to confess: at first I didn’t love the low quantity. It appeared too understated. However then it slowly grew on me, and I preferred enjoying the quieter instrument as a result of it appeared to whisper its notes simply to me, like a quiet summer season breeze off the ocean waves (whoops, am I getting too poetic? Higher go write a music…).

I wouldn’t describe this ukulele as punchy or loud, however as comforting and mellow, and that’s generally precisely what you want!

Finest Journey Ukulele with a Pickup

Ohana not solely makes one of many tiniest journey ukuleles (see the O’Nina above), additionally they make the Ohana OH-TKS-22-E Slimline Tenor Ukulele Solid Spruce Top Pickup (fairly the title), maybe the one thin-body journey ukulele that features a passive pickup. And with a strong spruce high, it sounds nice too!

A passive pickup signifies that there aren’t any electronics concerned within the ukulele, however it might probably nonetheless be performed over an amp. You merely plug an instrument cable, like this one, out of your ukulele into an amp and you’ll play your music over audio system!

Right here is why we love this ukulele:

✔ It has a passive pickup, that means you’ll be able to plug and play!

It’s onerous to discover a ukulele that’s meant for journey with a passive pickup built-in, so Ohana’s E Slimline Tenor Ukulele is an especially nice shock.

Its passive pickup characteristic is nice if you wish to journey and play gigs, however even if you happen to aren’t skilled, it’s tremendous enjoyable to play amplified – particularly over a tiny amp like this one you’ll be able to hook onto your belt.

This little amp even has an “overdrive” setting” which makes this ukulele sound extra like an electrical guitar. Technique to amp up your campfire singalongs!

✔ It has a strong high, a slim physique, and an amazing sound.

The strong spruce high offers this ukulele an attractive, full tone you can’t get from a non-wooden ukulele. The maintain is particularly wonderful on this uke, and once you strum or pluck a word rings out good and lengthy.

Although it’s a tenor mannequin coming in at24-5/8″ lengthy, its “slimline” design makes it about half the depth of a traditional ukulele, making it much less cumbersome and simpler to journey with with out sacrificing sound high quality.

✔ The tuning pegs it comes with are prime quality.

It will not be one thing that majorly impacts the way you understand a ukulele, however this Ohana ukulele comes with very good tuning pegs. Ohana has put in Grover open geared tuners, which flip very easily and hold your ukulele in tune very properly.

For the reason that pegs themselves are additionally metallic and have an fascinating form, they give the impression of being actually trendy and are way more enticing than a budget plastic ones that nearly each journey ukulele comes with. Generally the little issues actually make an instrument look that a lot better!

Bonus: The Finest Journey Guitar

Generally once you’re touring it’s good to have a little bit versatility, and having a guitar can actually change the tone up. Kala’s Solid Spruce Top Travel Guitar is an ideal companion to a journey ukulele!

Why I like this journey guitar:

✔ It’s small and light-weight.

This guitar is tremendous transportable at solely 33.25″ lengthy, and at a feather-light weight of two.5 kilos! Whereas it’s 10″ longer than the longest journey ukulele on this listing, that’s nonetheless an especially transportable measurement for a guitar.

It truly is a breeze to hold it round, which I did on the seashore. It additionally comes with a customized gig bag so you recognize you’ll have the ability to hold it protected!

✔ It has an excellent guitar sound and is top quality.

This guitar has a strong spruce high, giving it that traditional guitar sound. Whereas it doesn’t have as many low tones as a full-size guitar, what it lacks in depth it makes up in playability and luxury.

The guitar can be made in Portugal, and you’ll actually see and really feel the standard of the finishings. It feels sturdy, properly constructed, and simple to play, with no sharp frets or apparent flaws.

✔ The playability is nice regardless of its small bundle.

The guitar maintains the usual guitar fret and string spacing making it straightforward for skilled gamers to choose up, and is equally nearly as good for brand new gamers. So though the physique is smaller for portability, you’ll have the identical fretboard you’re used to; no want to regulate!

Finest Journey Ukuleles: Honorable Mentions

Beneath are another journey ukuleles I’ve examined. In case you are in search of one thing completely different from the ukuleles above, try these nice choices:

• Kala Brand Glow-in-the-Dark Aqua Matte Soprano Waterman: Kala’s Waterman ukuleles are meant for simply what it sounds like- to be performed in and close to the water. Whereas this one is 100% waterproof (sans the metallic tuners- be sure you dry them), it doesn’t ship nearly as good of a sound because the Flight or Enya ukuleles above, however the sound remains to be nice. That being mentioned, it’s $45 and nice for a seashore journey!
• Kala Brand Exotic Mahogany Travel Ukulele: This thinbody unique mahogany journey ukulele has a mellow sound, and an attractive easy end and a pleasure to play. If you need one thing much less punchy than the Spruce Prime Kala ukulele, this ukulele is a pleasant various.

Finest Journey Ukulele Equipment

Although ukuleles are an amazing instrument to seize and go, there are nonetheless some equipment it is best to have, or need to have, in your arsenal and you are taking the world by storm along with your musical prowess. Beneath are a few of my favourite uke equipment I’ve truly used myself:

• A ukelele case: Whereas most journey ukuleles include a case (examine the descriptions above), some don’t and that may be a downside! You’ll need to deal with your ukuleles with care to maintain them protected, so grabbing them a tender ukulele case like this one will hold them clear and stop them from getting broken. In case you’re springing for a nicer ukulele, say a strong wooden one, a tough case like this one could also be a fair higher possibility to assist hold it protected and humidified (and seize some littler humidifiers like this one).
• An incredible ukulele songbook: In case you’re simply beginning ukulele, I excessive suggest choosing up The Daily Ukulele: 365 Songs for Better Living. It accommodates a ton of songs (365), with a primary introduction to enjoying ukulele at the start. The one option to get higher is to play, and this ebook has chord charts and a large assortments or jazz requirements and pop hits. Even if you happen to’re an intermediate participant it’s an amazing ebook to have with you bodily for some campfire music enjoyable!
• An additional set of strings: What occurs if you find yourself shipwrecked on an island with out an additional set of uke strings? Hey, it may occur! I like these Martin & Co. Flurocarbon Strings, and I feel they’re an enormous improve from the usual strings most ukuleles include. They’re shiny sounding and, in your plastic ukuleles, waterproof – they’re basically made out of the identical factor as fishing wire.
• A ukulele tuner: When you can simply tune with a cellphone app, it could choose up on different sounds making it tougher to tune. With a clip on tuner, it tunes by the ukulele’s vibrations as an alternative. I like this D’Addario Micro Headstock Tuners, as a result of they’re tiny and nearly not noticeable. Plus there’s much less of an opportunity it’s possible you’ll knock them off accidentally.
• A ukulele capo: Having a capo is rarely a foul factor if you happen to simply need to change the important thing of a music. I like this Kyser Quick-Change Capo.

Concerning the Creator: Richie Goff is a Louisville, Kentucky native with an amazing love of the outside. When he’s not rising flowers for enjoyable (and generally revenue), he’s the Editor-in-Chief of Sensible Wanderlust and Let’s Go Louisville. He has been a buddy of Lia’s since highschool, and so they have taken loads of their very own disaster-prone adventures collectively!

Do you play ukulele already? Have a favourite journey ukulele of your personal? Remark under and inform us about it!

Psst: On the lookout for extra journey suggestions? Take a look at a few of our different posts that will help you plan your subsequent journey!

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Disclaimer: The ukuleles above had been despatched to me without charge to check for this submit. That being mentioned, all my opinions (and foolish asides) are my very own!

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