The more you travel, the more you realize there are certain items you just can’t have a successful trip without. Obviously travel essentials can vary based on the particulars of a trip, like sunscreen and a bathing suit for the beach or snow pants and goggles for a ski trip. Below are some of the things I’ve collected over the last decade that have become integral to my trip packing list!
I don’t receive a commission if you purchase any of these products.
They’re just the ones that I recommend and use myself when I travel!
Travel Bags
Suitcases
I’m partial to Samsonite suitcases myself, and currently own the Winfield 2 Fashion Spinner Set. Sure there are other newer brands like Away and BEIS that have become pretty popular, but Samsonite has been around for a while and is known for their reliability for a reason. We bought this set right before our honeymoon and they’re still going strong almost 10 years later. They show a little wear & tear, but nothing major. I really like suitcases with a zippered lid compartment, so I can separate my dirty clothes from everything else! It looks like they don’t make this particular collection anymore, but you’ll find other great sets here.
Bookbags and Carry-ons
I’m a Herschel Supply Co. girl, through and through. My husband and I have a number of their bags: the Novel Duffle in 2 sizes (old standard 45L size & new 43L standard), Heritage 24L Backpack, and 29L Strand Duffle (unfortunately it looks like they only sell the ‘diaper bag’ version of it now).
The 45L Standard is unfortunately a little too large for many international airlines, but I have used it without issue with Delta and Lufthansa, and surprisingly even on a tiny SkyExpress flight in Greece. But it makes for a great road trip (or train trip!) bag. Both it and its 43L counterpart easily fit a week’s worth of clothes, even longer if you’re not an overpacker like me. The separate shoe compartment underneath is the best part!
My newest bag is the Strand Duffle. It’s the perfect smaller weekender bag. Between it and my backpack, I was able to pack enough for a 5 day trip to Boston, Massachusetts and Portland, Maine! My only real complaint? It’s missing the separate shoe compartment from the larger bags.
Anti-Theft Purses
While I’ve thankfully never had an issue with pickpockets in my travels, as I like to think living in big cities has led me to be hyperaware of my surroundings, it never hurts to take extra precautions. I have two different Travelon anti-theft purses that I love: the Courier Crossbody (blue) and Metro Convertible Small Crossbody (green). They have some great safety features including slash resistant straps, locking zipper compartments, and RFID pockets.
Electronics
Portable Chargers
In my opinion, keeping your phone charged is one of the most important things you can do when traveling to an unfamiliar place. This is especially true in areas where you don’t speak the language, and they don’t speak yours! I love my Anker Power Banks, I’ve bought a number of them over the years. Currently I own both the older ones that use a cord, as well as the new smaller versions with a magnetic wireless charging option. The largest one is able to charge my phone 2-3 times!
Outlet Adapter
Don’t ask me why, but for some reason outlets and voltages aren’t consistent across the globe. (When I asked my electrical engineer husband, he just shrugged and said ‘History? I don’t know. They picked a voltage and it just stuck.’) So if you’re headed to another country, you’ll likely need an outlet adapter in order to charge your electronics. The EPICKA Universal Travel adapter is a great option because you can use it while traveling in the EU, UK, US, and AUS, plus it has 4 USB-A and 1 USB-C slots. The only downside is that it isn’t a voltage converter, so it won’t work with most hairdryers or other high powered hair tools.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Whether you prefer over-ear or earbuds, I’ve got recommendations for both! My husband is an over-ear guy, and swears by his Sony WH-1000XM4 for their comfort and active noise cancelling. They work so well he even uses them while vacuuming! As for me, my hair and over-ear headphones don’t like each other so I gravitate toward earbuds instead. I unfortunately haven’t found a pair that I’m 100% happy with yet, but for now I use the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro. When they fit properly, they’re amazing. The problem is they don’t always like to stay in my ears (which I’ve learned is a common complaint). They’ve since come out with a newer version that look more like Airpods, but I can’t speak to their quality. I’ve been considering trying the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds, but because of the price point (nearly $300) I haven’t yet made the switch.
Luggage Scale
Before buying a luggage hand scale, I was never confident the weight on my home scale would match the airport baggage one. This Longang digital hanging scale alleviates my worries, and as a plus it fits in my bag so I can weigh everything again before I head home with my souvenirs! The scale can weigh up to 110lbs. Just loop the strap through whatever you need to weigh, attach the hook back onto the metal triangle, and you’re ready to go. It’s super simple and the digital display is easy to read.
Miscellaneous Accessories
Compression Socks
After my first international flight my feet/ankles swelled a bit, and I realized compression socks were a must going forward. I’m partial to the FuelMeFoot 3-Pack Copper Compression Socks, which I have in multiple colors and compression rating levels. Moderate (15−20 mmHg) is recommended for travel days. For those of you that aren’t as into bright colors as I am, they have some more muted options as well!
Anti-Chafe/Blister Balm
I don’t know about you, but I’ll try anything to keep myself as comfortable as possible while traveling. No one wants to deal with blisters, irritation, or your thighs rubbing together! And that’s where Body Glide comes in. We use a few different versions of their products: Body, forHer (additional vitamins and moisturizers for my sensitive eczema-prone skin), and Foot Glide. They’re a lifesaver when you’re doing a lot more walking than usual!
Travel Jewelry Organizer
I got this as a Christmas present one year and it’s been a game changer. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone on a trip with my jewelry stored in a random pocket, just to spend 15+ min untangling necklaces or tracking down earrings. There are dividers for rings, hooks with a pocket for necklaces, and cups for earrings. You can easily find an organizer similar to this on Etsy!
Not Worth It
Loop Earplugs
I am easily overstimulated and often use headphones to drown everything out with music. But unfortunately I also suffer from chronic migraines, which means some days loud noises (like music) are out of the question. So when I saw ads for the Loop Earplugs, I thought I’d finally found the answer to my problems! The Loop Switch 2 earplugs are said to have ‘adjustable noise relief’ for different situations, but their claims were just too good to be true. Some people swear by these, but in my opinion none of the 3 noise cancelling settings on these earplugs helped enough to be useful or justify the $60 price tag. They also just aren’t very comfortable!
I’m still in the market for a new neck pillow and hanging toiletry bag, so if you have any suggestions for those or other travel essentials I’ve missed then let me know in the comments!
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