Packing for a a trip can be a daunting task for even the most seasoned travelers. But investing in a few staple items for your travel arsenal can help take the guess work out of the process and give you a piece of mind that you’ll have exactly what you need without *the dreaded* overpacking.
Take a look at the items we always pack with us, no matter where we’re headed. (*Please note that this post contains affiliate links).
- 1) QUIP TRAVEL TOOTHBRUSH – $40
Not all toothbrushes are created equal! Especially when it comes to the electric kind which is why we never leave home without our Quip electric toothbrushes. They are compact, have replaceable batteries & brush heads, and come with their own sticky holder that doubles as a protective cover when you travel.
- 2) SILICON BUDDY SCRUBBER – $10
This is a must-have for Katie. She hates traveling without a body scrubber & can’t stand trying to dry-out a standard shower puff to pack it away after using it! So when we found these Boie Body Scrubbers we were stoked. They are made from antimicrobial silicon, have a smooth back which sticks to the shower wall, dry quickly, and are super flexible which makes them ideal for packing.
- 3) BOSE NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES – $269
We know the price tag might make people shy away from them, but the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones are a true essential for all air travel & really any public transportation travel as well. We can’t count the number of times we’ve been on a flight with noisy neighbors or screaming kids (we know it’s not their fault, but do you want to be forced to listen to that for 4+ hours?) and slipped on those silky headphones into a world of silent bliss. The new version are bluetooth enabled and rechargeable so no worrying about replacing dead batteries on the go.
- 4) AMAZON KINDLE – $90
Ah, the glorious Amazon Kindle.We used to be those people who traveled with several books each, lugging them in and out of our bags and leaving the already-read books at hotels, airports, etc. to free-up space in our luggage. We thought we couldn’t acclimate to reading on a Kindle since there were no pages (mind-blowing), that is…until we tried it. After a year of using our Kindles, we could never go back to traveling with real books ever again! They are the ultimate convenience and Amazon just released a new version that is waterproof, genius.
- 5) BLUETOOTH WATERPROOF SPEAKER – $40
Life is better with music, wouldn’t you agree? That’s why we always remember to pack a portable bluetooth speaker like the JBL Clip 3. We actually don’t have this exact speaker, ours is a NIXON brand but sadly they aren’t making speakers anymore. But regardless, packing a speaker like this will ensure you’re never without some groovy tunes. Whichever brand you purchase, make sure it’s waterproof as they somehow always find their way to water 😉
- 6) PACKING CUBES – $24 / set of 3
Up until a few years ago, we had never heard of ‘packing cubes’. The concept seemed foreign and we could never understand the need to pack bags inside of another bag (??). Well, we are now believers. If you want to stay organized and not completely loose your mind while traveling, invest in some packing cubes like these from Eagle Creek. Whether you’re planning to be stationary for a few days or constantly on the move, packing cubes are a God-send and it’s one of those things you can’t understand until you try them.
- 7) PORTABLE BATTERY PACK – $25
It’s inevitable – in a world full of technology, it’s guaranteed that at the most inopportune time, you will run out of battery. Don’t be caught in this perilous situation, pack a Portable Power Bank. We travel with the power bank from our Away Suitcase (removable from the suitcase, charges items FAST, and holds a ton of power) but the company doesn’t sell those battery packs by themselves which is why we’ve linked a similar style here sold on Amazon.
- 8) MICROFIBER TRAVEL TOWELS – $13
Whether you’re backpacking Southeast Asia or living the life of luxury in the Maldives, it’s always a good idea to bring along your own towel. But traditional beach towels are bulky and heavy and a pain in the ass to lug around – which is why we opt to pack these Microfiber Travel Towels from Amazon instead. Lightweight, extremely thin, & super quick-dry, we won’t go anywhere without them (and they come in tons of fun colors!).
- 9) INSULATED WATER BOTTLE –
$34$26
Single-use plastic is a huge problem so let’s not contribute to the growing number of them polluting our waters & adding to our landfills every day. Instead, invest in a sustainable option like these insulated water bottles from Hydroflask. They keep your liquids cold (or hot), they are extremely durable (we’ve put them to the test for sure), and they come in tons of sizes & colors.
- 10) CAMERA GEAR:
SONY ALPHA 6400 MIRRORLESS CAMERA – starting at $899
Katie has always been into photography and before we set off for our big trip last year, she decided to upgrade from a chunky DSLR to the new Sony Alpha 6400 Mirrorless camera and it’s been a game changer. We purchased it with the intent of using it solely for photos but quickly realized what excellent video quality this little guy is capable of capturing. There are lots of packages available when buying a camera and which one you choose is completely up to you.
DJI MAVIC AIR DRONE – starting at $799
Last year we were given the opportunity to travel with a DJI Mavic Air 2 and we were absolutely terrified to use it. We had nightmares of crashing it into the ocean, flying it into a mountain, or causing serious damage to someone else’s personal property with it. But after seeing the footage from the first few flights, we quickly learned how easy the drone is to fly and it has really elevated our photography & videography edits. This specific drone is also extremely compact and lightweight making it the perfect travel companion.
GOPRO HERO7 BLACK & ADDITIONAL WATERPROOF HOUSING – starting at $250
We’ve had a few GoPro cameras over the years and each one definitely is an upgrade. For any traveler looking for a ultra-lightweight, small camera with insane picture & video quality, the GoPro Hero7 Black (and newer versions) is where it’s at. And although the camera with existing housing is already waterproof up to 33ft, we recommend using the additional waterproof housing for extended underwater adventures to ensure you don’t accidentally leak water in through the battery latch & break the whole camera… (we had to learn the hard way).
- **ADDITIONAL COVID-19 TRAVEL ITEMS:
With the current state of affairs and the Covid-19 Pandemic making a sweep across the globe for ’round 2′, it would be ignorant not to make some additional travel suggestions directly related to staying safe & healthy while traveling during these strange times.
-2-3 DOUBLE-LAYER REUSABLE FACE MASK – $5-$10
If you’ve been on social media as of late, then you’ve seen the awful images of plastic gloves & single-use face masks littering the streets & our oceans. So instead of purchasing 100’s of those wasteful masks, invest in 2-3 double-layer washable cloth masks and rotate them out after each use.
–TRAVEL ANTIBACTERIAL WIPES – $15
It seems unnecessary to explain, but we’ll humor you. Use these Antibacterial Wipes on all surfaces, period. They will kill germs. Enough said.
TRAVEL-SIZED HAND SANITIZER – $7 / pack of 4
Another self-explanatory item but hey, you’re still reading this so we will indulge you. Buy a few small hand sanitizers and keep them literally everywhere. Then to help the environment, buy a larger bottle to refill the small ones when they’re empty.
TRAVEL KLEENEX – $5 / pack of 8
These Travel Kleenex Packs are actually great to have when traveling even if it’s not related to germs. A lot of countries don’t offer toilet paper in their public restrooms or simply don’t refill them often enough. Do yourself a favor and pack a few of these with you on your travels and you won’t be sorry.
Vitamin Sea See Sí 