When I first started “You Choose My Adventure,” I did a post of some of my must-have products when packing for your next big trip. Well, this week, I got some fellow travel bloggers to share some of their favorite things to pack away when they head out on the road. I never knew about or thought about some of these when packing, and I will be adding them to my packing list in the future.
1: Anne Of Packing Light Travel-Tablet Towels
“A must-have travel essential is a packet of tablet towels, compressed fibre towels about the size of a couple of Lifesaver candies. Introduce them to a little water, and they explode into a durable cloth. Tablet towels are one of those multipurpose items that weigh next to nothing and earn their keep by mopping up spills, wiping away perspiration and trail dust, or cleaning dirty hands. When packing for a long flight, prepare one in advance and store the moistened towel in a reusable zip-top silicone bag. Breathing through a moistened towel for several minutes helps moisten dry nasal passages. They’re quite durable and, depending on their use, can be used time and time again. Another plus for the planet is that depending on the manufacturer, they’re biodegradable.
A handy complement to tablet towels is a pack of biodegradable soap leaves. Like tablet towels, soap leaves take up hardly any space, weigh very little, and are indispensable when confronted with dirty hands or a washroom without soap. They’re typically sold as a pack of 50 in a small plastic dispenser that easily slips into a pocket, purse, or day bag.”
2: Must-Have For Kimberly Anne Of An Unknown Adventure – Suitcase/Backpack Organizer
“It all started with a backpack I wanted on Kickstarter that had one of these organizers included in the pack. I already own two amazing backpacks (one for backpacking/camping and one for train/plane travel) and I just wanted the organizer. Luckily I found one on Amazon! The first one I bought, I packed the bottom compartment with too much weight and a seam split. They sent me a new one.
There are two ways I use this organizer. I pack the bottom three compartments with clothes and the top compartment with toiletries (in a waterproof bag) or shoes and place it inside either backpack I use or my rolling suitcase. It fits perfectly in all three. Then when I arrive at my destination I simply pull it out and hang it up to use.
When backpacking I can prop it against the inside of my tent. The hangars are removable.
Or, I fold it flat and bring it with me inside my backpack or suitcase and then use it when I arrive at my destination for easy access to clothing. I can either roll all my clothes in my backpack or suitcase and fit more without packing them in this organizer and then use it to easily find my clothes for the week once I arrive at my destination. Usually, I will switch out clean clothes (placing them in the organizer) with dirty ones (placed in a bag) as needed. I always pack lightly and only travel with enough clothes for 1-2 weeks at the most, even when I take extended trips. Happy Travels!”
3: Erica From Tripscholars – Mini Clothesline
“Seasoned travelers know the value of packing light, but this requires more frequent clothes washing. This mini clothesline helps to solve the problem by making it easier to dry laundry from your lodgings, saving you a trip to the laundromat. We have strung it up in bathrooms, hotel rooms, home rentals, and balconies. It has saved us lots of time doing laundry and has kept us in clean, dry clothes. At only 4 ounces it is easy to keep stashed in your travel bag so you can make quick work of laundry and get back to your travel adventures.”
4: Must-Have For Pam From One Journal Travel – Scrubba
“It’s called a Scrubba and I like it because I can use it in so many ways. Technically it is a small wash bag for doing your laundry when you don’t have access to a machine while traveling. It’s been with me camping, hiking, and on my travels to Europe. It folds up so it doesn’t take up too much room in my backpack or luggage.
Not only is it great for washing clothes on the go, but I’ve used it as a dry bag, a compression bag to squeeze water out of towels and bathing suits at the beach (or after getting heavily rained on in Paris and needing to hang my clothes to dry back at the flat). It has saved my camera in bad weather by keeping it dry in my non-waterproof day bag. It’s not advertised for any of these functions other than washing your clothes, but when I travel, I need things that can perform more than one duty…I pack light.”
5: Jen Of Dabbling In Jet Lag – Sea To Summit Dry Bag
“Sea to Summit Dry Bags accompany me on nearly every trip and they are my must-have travel product. These bags are great for keeping my gear dry and organized. It’s like a packing cube, but waterproof. I’ve been using them for the past 7 years, and I can attest that these bags are, indeed, durable. They are capable of withstanding any type of adventure, from exploring a city to trekking in the jungle. I’ve used them to store a variety of items, including clothing, food, and electronics, and I’m yet to be disappointed. These ultra-lightweight bags are available in a variety of sizes and colors making them easy to use and transport. It’s no surprise that Sea to Summit Dry Bags have been rated the most functional, durable, and versatile dry bag for your money.”
Dabbling in Jet Lag is an adventure travel and photography blog by Jen Ciesielski.
6: Must-Have For Jacob of Neverending Field Trip – Anker PowerCore
“While there are plenty of “must-have” items that use when we travel, the one that sticks out the most to me is probably one of the more boring items that I own. It’s a battery.
Specifically, it’s a power bank made by one of my favorite electronics companies, Anker. The Anker PowerCore III Elite 25600 87W, apart from having one of the worst product names I’ve ever seen, is one of the most useful items for me in my travels.
Working as a digital nomad means that I need to be connected pretty much all the time, whether for writing on my laptop, or checking emails on my phone. I use electronics for work, for entertainment, and even for my kids’ education. I’m almost always using a device, and that means that I almost always have low batteries.
The Powercore III Elite is the best option that I’ve found for charging anything I throw at it, and it’s saved me from disaster more than once. I’ve used it as a way to charge my laptop while on a camping trip, to keep my phone’s batteries going while using the GPS, and to charge the kids’ tablets on a cross-country bus ride.
I also love that it’s small enough to keep with me in my day pack and still maxes out the capacity for a power bank allowed to fly.
There’s a lot of more interesting or fun items that you can travel with, but as far as a must-have for getting around and staying connected? This is it.”
7: Rax of Nomads Unveiled – Protective Transport Cover
“I have had my backpack damaged as check-in baggage before; so when I stumbled upon this, I thought it would be a good solution to protect my backpack during the flights. I’m not a big fan of plastic wrapping my backpacks because they are expensive to do repeatedly and bad for the environment. This protective cover keeps everything compact and can easily be stored in when not in use. I also use it as an extra storage bag whenever I need to go on long hikes and have to store non-essential stuff in hostels for days. Just remember to have some markings or tag on it to make it identifiable when picking it up from the luggage belt, as I have seen it quite commonly used by other travelers.”
8: Must-Have For Kim Of Trip Reporter – Foot Hammock
“Like many of you, I have spent countless hours sitting on an airplane anticipating adventures in a new destination. And I have walked off many flights with stiff legs, an achy back, and swollen feet.
But then I discovered the foot hammock, and now I fly in comfort!
A foot hammock is small and light and perfectly packable. It makes it easy to adjust your leg positions to avoid many of the typical aches and pains that come with sitting for long periods of time. Just sling it over the seatback tray in front of you, adjust the height as needed, put your feet up, and relax.
I’m always surprised that I don’t see more people using one when I fly. It’s the one thing that I recommend to everyone I know who is planning to get on an airplane, and it will always be in my carry-on bag when I board any flight.”
9: Paula and Scott of A Couple Days Travel – Hydration Backpacks
“We absolutely love hydration backpacks (a.k.a. Camelbaks). If you get a pack with larger storage pockets, they are all you need for a day hiking, a road trip, a flight, or a really intense day of shopping. Hydration backpacks are perfect because they carry water in a bladder that is tucked into the backpack. The bladder is refillable so no single use plastic gets wasted. If you buy a bigger backpack, you can carry a ton. We have a pack that carries 3L of water, a camera, 3 lenses, binoculars, a change of clothes, and a notebook. “
10: Must-Have For Meggie of Mindful Meggie – Massimo Hanging Toiletry Bag
“The Mossio Hanging Toiletry Bag conveniently stores all your toiletries into organized compartments. You won’t have to worry about losing your toothbrush anymore! It even comes with a hook, so you can hang it up on a bathroom rack.”
Do You Have Any Must-Have Travel Products You Bring On Every Adventure?
Sound off in the comments below and let us know some of your favorite products. And don’t forget to head to the homepage and vote for my next adventure.
Kim
I love seeing what other travelers use most! Great post. I will be checking out the Scrubba bag and clothesline and may add them to my foot hammock!
Johnny
Me too! These were all really great and need to add a couple to my packing list.
Dorian Chalmers
Cool stuff that I didn’t know about. Thanks for sharing! Now I just need to go somewhere.😀
Johnny
You can come with me if you want. I just require one song a day from you.