The Top 4 Solid-State Drives (SSDs) for the Traveling Creative

When you think about the gear you need to get started in photography or videography, your mind immediately jumps to a camera, lenses, and maybe memory cards. However, if you’re a creative who is constantly on the road or traveling, having reliable, fast, Solid State Drives (SSD) is crucial for your creative workflow, as well as backing up, organizing, and protecting your content. The best part? They don’t require a charge, and work plugged in to any compatible device, so you don’t have to worry about another device to keep powered.

Now yes, there are other drives out there that are not SSD. While they are cheaper, they also have moving mechanical and magnetic parts that could be challenged by constant travel and wear, and are not as fast when it comes to reading speeds. SSDs, while more expensive, add a level of reliability, performance, and protection that is important, especially when it comes to protecting and backing up the valuable content you create.

So now that I’ve piqued your interest, which SSD drives are the best for travel? Typically, you are looking for drives that are both ultra portable, and reliably rugged, to handle any environment or destination you find yourself in. You want a drive that can perform fast, yet not weigh you down. So here are top solid state drives for traveling creatives. They offer all of these features, and truly are necessary to invest in when rounding out your travel kit. 

And this World Backup Day (it’s March 31st, by the way), there’s no better time to make sure your valuable content is stored and safe. 

Start with these drives that’ll give you the security of backed-up files and make it easy to travel, all in one package. 

SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE ArmorATD USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB-C Portable Hard Drive

• USB-C (5Gbps) drive for quick file backup and storage
• USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Thunderbolt 3 compatible
• Transfer rates of up to 130MB/s read
• Premium, anodized aluminum enclosure for strength you can feel
• Built tough with an easy-grip bumper for pro-grade durability you can trust
• Triple-layer shock resistance for added protection
• Rain-and dust-resistant (IP54) enclosure with a 1000 lbs crush resistance
• Up to 6TB of reliable storage and backup of critical photos, videos and files

SanDisk Extreme Portable USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD V2

• Tough Enough to Take with You
• Travel Worry-Free
• It Goes Where You Go
• Put a Lock on Your Files
• Professional-Grade Storage
• 1050MB/s Maximum Read Speed
• 1000MB/s Maximum Write Speed

LaCie Rugged Mini USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD

• USB 20Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2 x2) interface means read speeds up to 2000MB/s
• Forward compatible with USB 40Gbps and Thunderbolt 4, compatible with USB 20Gbps and Thunderbolt 3
• USB-C connectivity with Mac, Windows, iPad, and iPhone out-of-the-box
• Small enough to toss in your bag, big enough to take all your memories on the road
• This product contains a minimum of 30% recycled materials for eco-minded backup (recycled plastic and aluminum measured by weight)
• 3-year Rescue Data Recovery Services

Samsung T7 Shield 1TB USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Portable External SSD

• High-speed portable SSD with USB 3.2 Gen 2 and PCIe NVMe technology for rapid data transfer
• Rugged design with an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, perfect for various environments
• High-tech rubber exterior with Dynamic Thermal Guard for heat control and steady performance
• Compatible with a wide range of devices including PC, Mac, Android devices, and gaming consoles
• Advanced outer elastomer adds extra durability, can endure a drop of up to 9.8 feet

Now, there are other great SSDs on the market, but if you’re looking for a portable, durable, and reliable option for your adventures and traveling needs, these four are truly the best in this category.

A travel SSD is an essential part to any creative’s travel kit, and with it, comes the peace of mind, organization, and power to edit on the go, while freeing up space on your devices. Check them out at Adorama.com today.

Updated by Daniel Norton January 2025