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You all know I am not the lightest packer. As hard as I try to keep it lean, there are just some things I always pack for a trip, no matter how short or long. Individually, most of them don’t take up too much space, and I like to think they earn their keep.
So I thought I’d share with you some of the things that are always in my bag. There’s probably nothing earth-shattering here, but perhaps you’ll find something you hadn’t thought of that could be a game-changer for your future travels.
Read on for details on why I always have these in my bag!
Please note that for your convenience I have added links to most of these items on Amazon, where I am part of the Amazon Associates affiliate program. While I do get a teeny tiny commission if you purchase through my Amazon links, I always encourage you to shop local if you can instead!
Water bottle
It always seems to be hot and dry when we are walking miles and miles. So I always make sure to carry water with me. I have been lugging around my trusty Kleen Kanteen for years (even though it does leak a little sometimes). I love it because it is lightweight, classic-looking, and takes a beating. Just remember to give it a hot soapy wash every so often.
Honestly I would prefer an insulated version to keep my water chilly—but they are quite a bit bigger and heavier and it just isn’t worth the tradeoff for me.
Medical Basics
You should always carry a few of the basic medicines that YOU need on a regular basis, at home or on the road. For me, it’s these ones.
Tylenol. It’s my go-to pain-reliever and fever-reducer. I just always seem to need one at some point during a trip, so I like to have a stash on hand.
Benadryl. I have some weird allergies, so I always have a few pink pills on hand to fend off hives and death by anaphylaxis.
Neosporin. Minor cuts, dings, and blisters always happen on the road. Neosporin’s got you. I take an old tube with not too much left so it doesn’t take up too much space.
Band-Aids. Apply the Neosporin, and cover it up with a Band-Aid. I always have a few standard-sized Band-Aids on hand. If you need more you can buy more, but you have to have some handy in the moment.
Abreva. This one seems super random, but…I once got a cold sore in New Zealand and couldn’t shake it, even with local natural remedies such as eucalyptus oil. There are a few weeks of pictures of me holding things in front of my lip trying to hide the monstrosity. I learned from that experience. A tiny tube of Abreva doesn’t take up much space, and I can use it to nip a cold sore in the bud, anywhere in the world. (I have only needed it once in 15 years since the NZ incident, but was glad to have it!)
Carabiners
There’s always a carabiner or two dangling off my pack. You never know when you will need to clip something on, like shoes or a wet towel. I probably use my carabiner most often to clip my water bottle to my bag to keep it from falling out or falling over (and leaking).
Unless you are planning to attach something big or heavy, there is no need to get anything fancy. I recently picked up a carabiner for $1.50 at Lowe’s. Or you could get something similar at Amazon.
Safety Pins
I always travel with these little safety/diaper pins. They are powerhouses. You can use them as clothes pins, toothpicks—or as actual safety pins! I always have a small handful in my toiletry bag. They take up no space and weigh next to nothing.
The best part is you can take them in your carry-on bag. No guarantees, of course, as everything is apparently up to the discretion of airport security.
Power Pack
We are power-hungry monsters these days, so I am rarely without my power pack. I never have to worry about running out of juice (which my iPhone invariably does within hours).
Don’t cheap out on a power bank. Anker is my go-to for power banks; they haven’t let me down yet.
The size of your power pack will depend on your travel plans. 10,000mAh or 37 watt hours (Wh) would be big enough for everyday travel needs, unless you are going to a remote location (like Socotra) for a week without access to an outlet for recharging. For that kind of trip, I would recommend the largest size typically allowed to take on the plane: 27,000mAh or 100 watt hours (rules do vary by airlines, so please check).
And NEVER put your power pack in your check-in luggage (those things are known to catch on fire).
Adapter
There always seems to be a shortage of outlets for us power-hungry travelers.
So I recommend carrying an adapter that has multiple outlets and/or slots to expand the capability of any wall outlet. And sharing power is a great way to make new friends!
Of course your charger/adapter has to be able to fit into outlets all over the world.
We are in a bit of an awkward transition right now between USB-A and USB-C, and adapters currently on the market seem slow to catch up. I recommend choosing an adapter with both types of slots, but with more USB-Cs.
They no longer make the Syncwire adapter I have been using for the past umpteen years (and it only has USB-A slots), so I am looking around for the perfect upgrade that has more USB-C slots. Here are a few options I am looking at:
This 6 Port USB C Charging Hub from BREEKET. Pros: 3 USB-C and 3 USB-A ports, long cord. Cons: no plug adapter, and…who is BREEKET?
This 4-port UGreen charging station. Pros: It has 3 USB-C ports and one USB-A port, long cord. Cons: no plug adapter.
The long cord is bulkier, but lets you stray further from the outlet and is less likely to fall off the wall.
This Bestek adapter could be good once they add USB-C slots, especially if you need a regular outlet. Pros: has regular outlets. Cons: a bit bulky, comes with adapters for US, EU, UK, AU (that covers you almost anywhere)
Finally, if you are just going to Europe (or places that use the Europe plug), this little Anker adapter (2-pack!) looks great. Pros: 2 USB-C and 1 USB-A port, it’s Anker (great company), and it has the rare but essential full round plug (the other European plugs always fall out of the outlet). Cons: it’s only good for places using the Europe plug; you might still need a universal adapter.
Let me know in comments if you have the perfect adapter to recommend!
Turkish Towel
I used to have one of those microfiber towels, but I really didn’t like the way it felt when drying, and it was just too small. It wasn’t great to do double-duty as a beach towel or sarong either.
I also had a bad experience in a hostel room in New Zealand (but it could have been anywhere) where people were hanging their stinky, manky microfiber towels that clearly had not been washed in a long time, so now I also associate them with really bad odor!
So I’ve joined team Turkish towel! They are affordable, light, feel nice, look nice, dry quickly—and are big enough to use as a beach towel or sarong!
Money Belt
I like to keep my most valuable items close to my body, especially on travel days. There’s no better way than with a money belt that goes UNDER your clothes. Keep stuff in there that you want to keep safe, but won’t need to access immediately—think passport, backup credits cards, vaccination cards, etc.
Just note that the money belt can get sweaty (ew) when it’s up close and personal around your waist, so use protective covers for things like your passport.
Shawl
I am always cold, especially in air conditioning on trains, planes, and buses. So I never travel without a light shawl. I’ve used it as a scarf, or a blanket—and it’s also handy as a headscarf when visiting mosques.
I got my much-loved silk/wool scarf at the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok many moons ago, but any light shawl will do. Next time I am in the market for a new shawl, I’ve been eying the Zesst Organics shawl.
Packing Cubes
You are either on team packing cubes or not.
And I am squarely on team packing cubes!
I have a large stash of Eagle Creek ultra-light packing cubes, both the regular Pack-it Specter ones and the Pack-It Compression ones.
A few benefits of packing cubes include:
- Keeps your clothes organized (by type, dirty/clean, however you want to do it!)
- Easy to pop in your backpack/suitcase during packing
- Easy to take out of your backpack/suitcase and pop directly into the drawer at your hotel
- Compresses everything so it fits neatly into your bag
Come over to the packing cube side!
Ultralight Toiletry Bag
I’ll also sneak in a recommendation for the Eagle Creek toiletry bag. It’s just the right size for my minimal toiletries and is super lightweight.
I like to keep my medical essentials (listed above) in the little side pockets.
Compression Socks
You know how when you try to put your shoes on at the end of that overnight flight to Paris and you can barely squeeze your feet into them? Yeah, compression socks help with that! Your feet and legs will feel so much better after sitting or lying for hours on end.
More importantly (not to be a Debbie Downer), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots are real (they can kill you!), and compression socks are the best way to prevent them while traveling. Do yourself a favor and get a pair if you are going to do any kind of long-haul travel.
AirTags
I jumped on the AirTags bandwagon pretty early on. I pop one deep in my check-in luggage and one in my carryon so I can keep a virtual eye on all my stuff. The 4-pack is a better deal, so you might as well have a few on hand. You can name the different AirTags in the Find My app (I label the physical AirTags with a Sharpie to know which one is which).
AirTags rely on a Bluetooth connection to be located, so there need to be Apple devices around for it to register. You will also need internet to use your Find My app, so if you land in a new country and you don’t have cell service, it is not going to be much help. (I recommend the T-Mobile international plan or GoogleFi to give you access to internet in almost every country.)
Batteries (the flat CR2032 ones) are supposed to last about a year. I take the batteries out when I am not using them.
For all you Android users, you are out of luck if you want to use AirTags – but I hear Tile trackers are comparable (and compatible with Android and iOS).
Ear Plugs
These weren’t on my original list, but I am traveling right now and wish I had some.
Ear plugs are a must when you just want to get some sleep but there is too much noise out there, be it traffic, snoring roommates, barking dogs, or noisy neighbors. I actually hate wearing them (don’t like hearing myself breathe), but sometimes it’s the only way to get to sleep.
Besides, earplugs are tiny and light, so you don’t have to sacrifice anything to bring them along.
Different ear plugs work for different people. The ones that work best for me are these weird fuzzy wax Ohropax ear plugs.
Sleep Mask
Like the ear plugs, I wish I had my eye mask with me on my current trip, so I have added it to my general packing checklist.
You can always use the freebie eye mask that the airlines sometimes give you, but I have had a great experience with silk sleep mask like this one (the brand I have is no longer available).
If you want to get fancy, you can splurge on the Manta Sleep Mask. It’s a bit bulkier than a silk sleep mask. Let me know if you like it!
Reflections
So there you have it. That’s my list of items I always have in my bag when traveling. They have served me well. Tell me in the comments, what’s in your bag that you won’t travel without?
