Editorial transparency:This article contains some affiliate links, which means we make a bit of money if you click on them. But this post is neutral and we’re not getting paid for our opinions. Trust that this review comes from an honest place of wanting to help you find the best travel watercolor kit for you.
Art kits for traveling are becoming more popular, but they are not all made the same — and if you don’t get the right one it may end up collecting dust in a drawer. A few things really decide whether you’ll use it on your next trip. One is size. You want to make sure you don’t overpack and that nothing essential needs to get taken out. Another is that it’s actually easy to use, and not just another gimmick.
That’s why we did a field-tested roundup of the four best portable watercolor kits in 2026, with travel in mind. The comparison includes Tobios, Funto, Winsor & Newton Cotman and Grabie. We’ve also included a list of the things to think about before you buy, and a final note on building your own kit.
We picked these four because they are some of the most popular options for people who want to do travel watercolor painting. Not every pick will be great for every person, so we dive deep into the pros and cons. One of these will be right for you.
Things to Consider Before You Buy
Size and Weight
This might be the single most important thing to keep in mind when buying a portable traveling kit. You don’t want to lug around a whole set made for an art studio. If you’re going to walk around a city or bring it on your next hike, you need to know it will be comfortable to carry the whole day. Nothing spoils the mood like an aching back.
The flatter and lighter the kit, the higher the chances you’ll actually use it. A kit that you buy for traveling but that stays in the hotel room is frankly a bit of a waste. At first glance, more colors and a bigger mixing pan might seem useful, but if you get tired of bringing it, there’s no point to all those extra colors. In most cases you can blend colors, so you don’t even need that many to create beautiful pieces. This means 8–12 colors can be a great starting point.
Pans or Tubes?
Many travel kits have pans — dry paint, ready to go in tiny little boxes. The issue is that they easily get tossed around in the case. On the other hand, there’s nothing to measure and you can skip squeezing the paint out of the tube. It’s convenient.
Tubes give you fresher, richer pigment. The paint gets squeezed into the empty holders in the palette. The colors tend to be more intense, which makes wet-on-wet techniques more fun. One example is Tobios, which uses paint in tubes. You squeeze a bit into the wooden palette and let it dry. Then you wet the paint when you want to use it, just like any other pans. Since the paint dries in the palette, you don’t need to worry about leaks — the case is sealed shut with magnets. For beginners, tubes might actually be easier to use.
Number of Colors
More is not equal to better. The more colors, the heavier and larger the kit becomes, and it’s actually harder to learn from. With a 48-pan set you’ll probably spend more time looking at the colors than painting. Fewer colors also teaches you how to mix. Twelve colorsis a great place to start. You’ll have cool and warm tones of each primary color, plus some extra fun ones. Tobios, for example, includes Lemon Yellow, Green Gold, Glacier Blue and Electric Rose, plus many more.
Paper Quality
A lot of travel kits are cheap when it comes to paper, but the paper is one of the most important things in a kit. Lower-quality paper buckles and gets bubbly, especially with wet techniques. Cotton paper holds up far better than wood-pulp. Look for paper that is at least 140 lb (300 GSM). In our group of travel kits, only Funto and Tobios include paper — Funto uses thinner paper, whereas Tobios has 300 GSM cotton paper.
Portable Watercolor Kits: Ranked
We’ve ranked them by how well they perform out in the field. We tested them on balconies, on the train, during lunch breaks, and in the park with our kids.
Tobios Mini Watercolor Kit
Tobios is the most complete kit of them all — and the only one that includes genuinely good paper. The palette is made from walnut wood, which feels luxurious and makes a great gift. It’s divided into two parts: one for adding the paint and one with a mixing plate. The two halves hold together with magnets, so it stays in place and doesn’t leak.
Twelve paint tubes are included: Venetian Red, Poppy Bloom, Sunset Orange, Lemon Yellow, Green Gold, Forest Green, Twilight Indigo, Glacier Blue, Electric Rose, Royal Plum, Titanium White, and Ivory Black. They are highly pigmented and easy to blend.
The sketchbook is a massive advantage. The paper is thick, high-quality 300 GSM cotton, so paint blends beautifully and colors pop. The workbook contains 60 sheets, and the book is so small it fits into your pocket. The kit also includes both a printed manual and a beginner e-book with step-by-step instructions, plus a refillable water brush and a wristband. The package arrives as a nice-looking box, which makes it excellent as a gift.
There are some limitations. The paint is student-grade, not artist-grade, and the sketchbook is small, so for professional artists this might not serve the purpose. But it’s made for someone wanting to paint in a coffee shop, not someone building a portfolio.
“I’ve been using this kit for three months and I’ve painted more in those months than I did in the previous three years. The size is the whole point.”
“Everything is thoughtfully included. I didn’t have to buy a single thing separately.”
“The palette seals completely shut. I’ve been traveling with it for six weeks and nothing has leaked.”
Best for: Beginners, gifting, plein air sketching, travelers who want one compact thing that covers all the bases. You can check current price and availability on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Funto Watercolor Set
The Funto set is a fun, low-pressure way to get started. It’s perfect for kids, teenagers or somebody who doesn’t paint often. The paint comes pre-loaded in the palette, the setup is quick, and the price is accessible. But the magnets holding the case are weak and it kept opening in our bag. The kit comes with a collapsible metal water cup that tends to leak, and buyers complain about the brush quality.
The paint quality is decent but very much geared toward beginners. The colors run low fast, and Funto’s pigments behave more like gouache than true watercolor in certain conditions.
Best for: Kids, casual use, family trips, low-stakes creative sessions.
Skip if:You’re trying to learn proper watercolor technique or you need a kit that seals in a bag.
Winsor & Newton Cotman Travel Set
Winsor & Newton is a classic, trusted name, and their Cotman paint is a high-quality student-grade set that comes in pans. It’s a step up from craft-store kits. In the field the palette performs well, but we had difficulty getting the lid open, and it sometimes doesn’t latch shut (we used a rubber band). The pans tend to switch places in transit, and you have to unwrap them first. The kit doesn’t come with paper.
The paint itself is beautiful and mixes well, with warm and cool tones. If the case were better, the kit would rank higher.
Best for: Hobbyists who already paint and want a familiar brand in a compact format, and don’t mind the setup overhead.
Skip if:You’re a beginner who wants to open the kit and start painting the same day.
Grabie Watercolor Set
Grabie’s key selling point is variety, with many kits to choose from. The paint is vibrant and stays true to color when it dries, though it feels closer to gouache or acrylic in some conditions. The metallic case makes Grabie feel high quality but heavy and harder to hold — you often need a flat surface. The tin bends easily and doesn’t protect contents reliably in a bag. The sketchbook is included, but the paper is thin.
For studio use or desk painting, Grabie is a reasonable budget option. As a travel kit, it’s the weakest pick in this roundup.
Best for: Beginners who want a wide range of colors on a tight budget, painting at home or at a desk.
Skip if:You need something genuinely portable or you’re trying to develop proper watercolor technique.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Tobios | Funto | Winsor & Newton Cotman | Grabie | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paint type | 12 tubes | Pre-loaded pans | Half-pans | Pre-loaded pans |
| Palette / mixing | Walnut wood magnetic palette | Magnetic palette | Fold-out lid mixing tray | Tin lid |
| Sketchbook included | 300 GSM cotton, 60 pages | Thin paper | No | No paper |
| Water brush | Refillable, sealed | Refillable, sealed | Tiny travel brush | Regular brush |
| TSA / bag safe | Sealed magnetic palette, sealed brush | Magnets weak, can open in bag | Latch fails, rubber band needed | Tin bends, doesn't seal well |
| Best for | Beginners who want everything in one box | Kids, casual use | Hobbyists who want pans + brand name | Beginners on a tight budget |
| Paint quality | Student grade, richly pigmented | Lightly pigmented | Student grade (Cotman line) | Closer to acrylic in behavior |
Making Your Own Watercolor Set (A Note of Caution)
Building your own custom palette might sound appealing, but it can easily get overwhelming. If you’re an experienced painter, this is a beautiful process. But if you’re a beginner, we don’t recommend it yet — the research alone takes a lot of time, and buying a finished kit removes a lot of the friction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take an art kit on a plane?
Yes. Watercolor paints, brushes, and a sketchbook are all TSA-friendly in carry-on luggage. Tubes are fine — just keep them under 3.4 oz each in your carry-on.
What should be in a travel art kit?
At minimum: a compact palette or set of paints, a water brush that holds its own water, and paper rated for wet media. 300 GSM cotton paper holds up to multiple washes without buckling.
What's the best portable watercolor kit for beginners?
The Tobios kit is the clearest all-in-one answer for beginners. Funto is fine for kids. The Winsor & Newton Cotman is a step-up for someone who already paints.
Are travel watercolor kits worth it?
A ready-made kit removes every excuse and makes it easy to bring on your trips. It's an amazing way to collect your memories visually.
Tubes or pans for travel watercolor?
Pans are less mess and more convenient for grab-and-go. Tubes give you richer, fresher pigment and more flexibility.
Final Thoughts
These kits all have something special, so which one you choose depends on what you’re looking for. The best kit is the one you bring with you. For most beginners, Tobios will likely be the best choice — you can bring it everywhere, it fits in your bag or pocket, and it stays shut even when tumbling around. The quality is high across every piece, and the 12 paint colors feel like a sweet spot.
Funto works well for kids. Cotman is a respectable step-up for hobbyists. Grabie is a budget option for desk painting, not travel. Pick the one that fits where you actually are in your practice — not the one with the most pans or the most impressive name.
Our Top Travel Pick
The Tobios Mini Watercolor Kit packs 12 pigmented paints, a walnut palette, a refillable water brush and a 300 GSM cotton sketchbook into one pocket-sized box — tested by Maria Garcia, no sponsored placements.