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

Typically one of the best journey companion is an instrument, one that’s small, nice, and completely transportable – just like the ukulele! Whereas it is smart {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 might write an article on journey ukuleles, I really didn’t notice that journey ukuleles existed. The whole lot I knew about them got here from journeys to Hawai’i and family and friends members who had picked up the instrument sooner or later 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 making an attempt and testing journey gear, our intrepid Editor spent months touring with numerous ukuleles and making detailed notes on their sound and efficiency. For those who’re available in the market for a light-weight, travel-friendly instrument companion, on this put up you’ll discover completely all the pieces you should 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 needed to do, however by no means thought I might realistically be taught. I went to a performing arts highschool (as a theatre main) and was surrounded by insanely proficient musical individuals, so I assumed, “why even strive?”. 

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

Lower 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 each 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 can be designed to be your excellent journey buddy. 

I field-tested my ukuleles by touring with them to new cities, taken them mountaineering, kayaking, and to the seaside, 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 one of the best journey ukuleles, I used to be searching for to search out ones that match sure standards:

✔ I would like them to face up to a standard quantity of wear and tear 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 below the ocean. I adopted normal maintenance tips and tried to not drop them. Largely.

✔ I would like them to be effectively made and sound good. There’s no actual good thing about getting a journey ukulele should you don’t benefit from the sound you get from it!

✔ I would like them to be light-weight and straightforward to move, in order that I can carry them or take them in a automobile or airplane with out taking over a ton of area 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 notice about ukulele sizes: Ukuleles are available three main sizes – soprano, live performance and tenor (smallest to largest). Sopranos are the commonest, and what we consider once we consider the frequent Hawaiian ukulele. Selecting a measurement actually comes down to non-public choice, although for touring functions, sopranos by nature are most transportable. The live performance and tenor fashions included on this put up are slimline fashions, that means their our bodies aren’t as thick to accommodate journey.

The Finest Journey Ukuleles

Under are one of the best journey ukuleles yow will discover available on the market in the present day! These fashions all sound good, look good, and might be your greatest buddy whether or not you’ll the mountains or the seaside. They’re designed for portability and to be your greatest buddy on day journeys, holidays, or world travels. Let’s test them out!

Finest Finances-Pleasant Journey Ukulele

Flight Ukuleles are among the hottest ukuleles and for good purpose: 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 adore it:

✔ It’s principally fabricated from plastic, however it nonetheless sounds nice.

Whereas the physique of and fretboard is made out of plastic, the soundboard is made with laminate linden wooden which supplies it a punchy and vivid sound that you just couldn’t get from a totally 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 simple to push down on and the intonation is sweet up the fretboard. The tuners additionally work very effectively, holding it in tune constantly. Merely put, it’s simple to play!

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

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

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

✔ This ukulele is available in sooooooo many cute designs!

Whereas mine is the gorgeous mandala wooden design, you’ll find loads of designs like ocean waves, graffiti, galaxies, cherry blossoms, or perhaps a extra basic wooden grain design. Actually yow will discover one thing that matches your vibe! It additionally comes with a 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 trip of its life once I introduced it on a visit to Switzerland.

It lived in my day pack, so I might whip it out at opportune moments and have a Maria Von Trapp second enjoying music within the Swiss Alps. Speak in regards to 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 whole, not solely does it match simply in most baggage however is severely so effing cute.

It’s really thought-about two sizes smaller than an everyday Soprano and it simply slot in my daypack to take aboard my aircraft, and I wasn’t too frightened about placing it in a elaborate case – although I might positively advocate placing it in a material bag so it doesn’t get scratched up.

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

✔ Its tiny little physique provides it an lovable, basic 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 you must tune it up from C to D, so the stress is tight sufficient for the ukulele to remain in tune (extra about tuning here). This offers 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 tune in the next key).

Additionally, this tuner is nice for any ukulele, however it’s the proper measurement for this uke. (I’ve received extra recommendations for travel-friendly ukulele equipment on the finish of this put up!)

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

Whereas my tiny ukulele is in blue, it’s also possible to select purple, inexperienced, pink, or yellow for one of the best match in your persona. Hell, you may even plan outfits round this little cutie and pull it out of your bag for shock live shows! Who am I kidding: I AM that further.

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

The physique can be made out of willow laminate, which has a stupendous grain including to its gorgeousness you may’t see solely in photographs. The laminate additionally means that it’ll maintain as much as the weather higher. Cute and useful!

Finest Sounding Journey Ukulele

The Kala Model Solid Spruce Travel Concert ukulele is the proper, excellent-sounding journey companion. Kala Model is one in every of, if not probably the most, fashionable ukulele producers, so you may anticipate 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 created from, so you may anticipate this ukulele to offer 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 for the reason that ukulele is already a bit greater 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 basic sound that’s related to ukuleles.

✔ This ukulele appears to be like nice.

I do know appears to be like aren’t all the pieces, however this ukulele provides off the aura of “I’m an actual instrument who deserves to be liked and worshipped.” Slightly cocky, isn’t he?

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

✔ It’s fabricated from actual wooden.

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

However since it’s actual wooden, you’ll must take further care of it, particularly when taking it to totally different climates. Wooden expands and contracts with humidity, so make sure you preserve it humidified with a 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, bear 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 one of the best of all worlds.

Right here’s why I adore it:

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

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

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

It is going to 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 totally different temperatures and humidities. Journey free, you little world nomad!

✔ It has a heat, dreamy sound.

One other large bonus is the ukulele really sounds fantastic – it will not be as punchy as spruce, however it provides a heat, mellow, dreamy tone with an extended maintain – uncommon in a non-wooden instrument. For those who’re plucking a melody with the strings it sounds particularly good.

It’s sort of the proper sound to stroll by 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 may be additionally blush pink, pink, orange, and black.

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

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

✔ It comes with everything to get you started on the ukulele.

What’s awesome about this ukulele too is that it comes with a matching case, should strap, capo, and an extra set of strings. Come on! For a low price, this is all you need to hit the road and to get your ukulele playing going.

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

If you’re 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 received 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.

Apart from 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 seaside, performed it within the sand, received it sticky with saltwater… and it was nice. 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, however it additionally has a very pretty mellow, quiet tone, excellent for taking part in in your lodge room or on the seaside.

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 favored 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 tune…).

I wouldn’t describe this ukulele as punchy or loud, however as comforting and mellow, and that’s typically 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 stable spruce high, it sounds nice too!

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

Right here is why we love this ukulele:

✔ It has a passive pickup, that means you may plug and play!

It’s arduous 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 should you aren’t skilled, it’s tremendous enjoyable to play amplified – particularly over a tiny amp like this one you may hook onto your belt.

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

✔ It has a stable high, a slim physique, and an important sound.

The stable spruce high provides this ukulele a stupendous, full tone that you may’t get from a non-wooden ukulele. The maintain is particularly wonderful on this uke, and once you strum or pluck a notice 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 standard ukulele, making it much less cumbersome and simpler to journey with with out sacrificing sound high quality.

✔ The tuning pegs it comes with are top 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 preserve your ukulele in tune very effectively.

For the reason that pegs themselves are additionally steel and have an attention-grabbing form, they give the impression of being actually trendy and are way more enticing than a budget plastic ones that just about each journey ukulele comes with. Typically the little issues actually make an instrument look that significantly better!

Bonus: The Finest Journey Guitar

Typically once you’re touring it’s good to have a 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 seaside. It additionally comes with a customized gig bag so you realize you’ll be capable of preserve it secure!

✔ It has guitar sound and is top quality.

This guitar has a stable spruce high, giving it that basic 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 may actually see and really feel the standard of the finishings. It feels sturdy, effectively constructed, and straightforward 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 simple for skilled gamers to select up, and is equally pretty much as good for brand new gamers. So regardless that 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

Under are another journey ukuleles I’ve examined. If you’re in search of one thing totally 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 steel tuners- ensure you dry them), it doesn’t ship pretty much as good of a sound because the Flight or Enya ukuleles above, however the sound remains to be nice. That being stated, it’s $45 and nice for a seaside journey!
• Kala Brand Exotic Mahogany Travel Ukulele: This thinbody unique mahogany journey ukulele has a mellow sound, and a stupendous clean end and a pleasure to play. If you would like one thing much less punchy than the Spruce Prime Kala ukulele, this ukulele is a pleasant different.

Finest Journey Ukulele Equipment

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

• A ukelele case: Whereas most journey ukuleles include a case (test the descriptions above), some don’t and that could be a drawback! You’ll need to deal with your ukuleles with care to maintain them secure, so grabbing them a mushy ukulele case like this one will preserve them clear and stop them from getting broken. For those who’re springing for a nicer ukulele, say a stable wooden one, a tough case like this one could also be a fair higher possibility to assist preserve it secure and humidified (and seize some littler humidifiers like this one).
• An incredible ukulele songbook: For those who’re simply beginning ukulele, I excessive advocate selecting up The Daily Ukulele: 365 Songs for Better Living. It accommodates a ton of songs (365), with a primary introduction to enjoying ukulele at first. The one strategy to get higher is to play, and this e-book has chord charts and a large assortments or jazz requirements and pop hits. Even should you’re an intermediate participant it’s an important e-book to have with you bodily for some campfire tune 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 might 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 vivid sounding and, in your plastic ukuleles, waterproof – they’re basically created from the identical factor as fishing wire.
• A ukulele tuner: Whilst you can simply tune with a cellphone app, it could choose up on different sounds making it more durable to tune. With a clip on tuner, it tunes by the ukulele’s vibrations as a substitute. I like this D’Addario Micro Headstock Tuners, as a result of they’re tiny and nearly not noticeable. Plus there may be much less of an opportunity it’s possible you’ll knock them off accidentally.
• A ukulele capo: Having a capo isn’t a nasty factor should you simply need to change the important thing of a tune. I like this Kyser Quick-Change Capo.

In regards to the Writer: Richie Goff is a Louisville, Kentucky native with an important love of the outside. When he’s not rising flowers for enjoyable (and typically 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: Searching for extra journey ideas? 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 put up. That being stated, all my opinions (and foolish asides) are my very own!

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