The Travel Gear I Never Leave Home Without
I’ve been traveling for almost a decade straight now. Along the way, I’ve discovered a few items that have become quintessential, no matter the trip.
Full Transparency: I am not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned in this post. These really are items I use and love when I travel. I do, however, make a small commission at no additional cost to you when you click the links in this post and make a purchase.
Packing takes some strategy. This is something I’ve been learning and finessing since my travel start 10 years ago, usually by way of taking hints from other travelers I meet along the way. What follows are the items that I just can’t travel without. They have, each in their own way, quite literally changed the game of travel for me, as both a budget-conscious backpacker and as a solo traveler. While this list has something for every type of traveler, my guess is this will be most enlightening to those who like to save money, take longer trips, and sleep in hostels.
If you, like me, have found little success with earplugs keeping the snores and street noise out, consider getting yourself this eye mask with built-in Bluetooth headphones. My sister got me this Musicozy Eye Mask with Built-in Headphones for Christmas years ago and I have since brought it on every trip. I actually don’t know what I’d do without it anymore, especially when I’m sleeping in hostel dorms with so many noise and light variables. This product solves two of my personal dorm dilemmas: 1) headphones that drown out the noise and still allow me to comfortably sleep on my side and 2) no longer needing to be the brave voice asking my dormmates if it’s alright if I turn the lights off at what should be an assuredly reasonable hour to ask such a question (always hate being that person haha).
Another item that’s probably more interesting for the backpacking, and also long-term travel, crowd is the Scrubba Portable Wash Bag. I was first pointed to it before my walk on the Camino de Santiago. If you’ve done that pilgrimage, you’re probably already seeing the value of this item. It’s basically a wash bag with a built-in washboard that allows you to very easily and effectively handwash your own clothes in small batches. You just need to get your hands on some liquid laundry detergent. I’ve always found it sort of gross to do my laundry in a filthy sink at a hostel and usually just drop my laundry off at a local laundromat instead, but having the Scrubba Wash Bag with me has opened up my options. Like I said, this list is for the travel game changers and this item is certainly one of them for me.
There are so many places in this world where having a filter water bottle with you is the most trip-enhancing object you could possibly pack, not to mention very freeing. Not only does it help you cut costs and cut waste by not having to purchase plastic water bottles everywhere you go, but it means you can literally drink from rivers and fill up at any tap, no matter how many pathogens may be swimming in the water. I’ve been using a LifeStraw Filter Water Bottle for nearly three years now and it has been quintessential on my trips through Latin America especially, where the tap water is typically not drinkable. And yes, you can trust its filtration capabilities. I have never gotten sick from any water consumed through it, even from the most questionable water sources.
I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve carefully waded into bodies of water with my exposed phone and cash in hand because it didn’t feel safe enough to leave them onshore with no one to keep an eye on them. To my fellow solo travelers: can you relate?? Having a waterproof pouch like this one to slip my phone, cash, cards, and keys inside of has literally taken a burden off my shoulders, or so it feels. It’s also allowed me to get photos I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to, as I can safely take out and then put back my phone for the shot. Yep, another game-changing item.
As a backpacker, it’s embarrassing how long it took me to discover the miracle of a quick dry towel. Not only does it take up drastically less space in your pack than even a typical hand towel, it’s quick to dry! No more wet and eventually stinky towels to lug around and ruin the rest of your clothes. As many hostels will charge guests to borrow a towel, it just makes sense to pack your own and there’s no better option for a traveler than quick dry microfiber towel, like any of the ones here.
While I’d probably group this item in the luxury category and not the necessity category, having an easy-to-pack yoga mat with me on my travels has made it even easier to find my center amidst the chaos and movement of travel. Because I always have a mat, I can take it with me to a quiet place, or even just a quiet corner, and do a quick flow and meditation. I’ve taken it to beaches for morning sunrise flows and have laid it out on hostel patios and hotel room floors for quick workouts. The beauty of this particular mat is that it’s lightweight and easy to pack inside of a backpack or suitcase, as this one is foldable.
What travel items have been game-changing for you? Let me know in the comments below.
