Supersonic Travel Hair Dryer

Why it works as a gift

The Supersonic Travel solves one specific, familiar problem. Hotel dryers are often wall-mounted and underpowered, and most full-size dryers are too bulky to pack. Dyson says this model is 32% smaller and 25% lighter than the original Supersonic, and lists it at 0.7 lb and 8.7 inches long. That is a size she can fit in a carry-on without giving up a shoe.

The feature that makes it a genuinely useful travel tool is the voltage. Dyson lists it at 100 to 240 volts and says it adapts automatically to the destination, so there is no switch to remember. She may still need a plug adaptor abroad; Dyson recommends one rated to 1300 W. It has three heat and two speed settings, and comes with a styling concentrator.

It also fits into a wider Dyson routine. The brand says it works with existing Supersonic and Supersonic Nural attachments, so if she already owns a diffuser or smoothing nozzle at home, she can bring it along. Dyson notes it is not compatible with Supersonic r attachments.

Compared with a cheaper travel dryer, this is the considered choice for someone who travels for work or often enough that a bad blow-dry is a real annoyance. Dyson lists it at 1000 to 1220 W and pitches it for travel, so treat it as a companion for trips, not a replacement for the dryer at home.

Who it’s for

• A woman who travels for work several times a year and needs to look polished for meetings or events
• A wife or partner planning an international trip, as a pre-departure gift that is useful in every country she visits
• A daughter heading to study abroad, where a single-voltage dryer from home would not work
• Someone who already owns a full-size Supersonic and its attachments and wants a compact second dryer for trips

Skip it if

• She rarely travels; at home, a full-size dryer is the better daily tool
• She already owns a dual-voltage travel dryer she is happy with; this would be a nicer version of something she has
• She has very thick or long hair and wants the fastest possible dry; this is a compact 1000 to 1220 W travel dryer, not a full-size one
• Her current attachments are for the Supersonic r; Dyson says they are not compatible

Giving it

• Dyson's product page does not mention a travel case for this model, so consider adding a pouch or packing it with a travel item she will use on the same trip
• If she travels abroad, include a plug adaptor rated to at least 1300 W, as Dyson recommends
• Dyson offers a 30-day return policy and a two-year limited warranty on orders from its own site; an Amazon order follows the return terms shown at checkout
• Pair it with the Leatherology Small Travel Jewelry Case for a gift built around her next trip

The facts

Size and weight

8.7 in long, 2.8 in wide, 2.6 in high; 0.7 lb

Compared with the original Supersonic

32% smaller and 25% lighter, per Dyson

Voltage and power

100-240 V, adapts automatically; 1000-1220 W; plug adaptor may be needed, rated to 1300 W

Settings

3 heat, 2 speed

In the box

Styling concentrator

Attachments

Compatible with Supersonic and Supersonic Nural attachments; not with Supersonic r attachments

Cord

6.5 ft

Warranty

2-year limited warranty (Dyson)

Consider instead

• Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-Styler — For daily styling at home rather than travel, if she spends real time on her hair each morning
• Leatherology Small Travel Jewelry Case — A smaller travel gift for someone who already has a dryer she likes
• White + Warren Cashmere Travel Wrap — A travel gift at a similar budget that she can wear on the plane and at dinner