Last Updated on December 14, 2024
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Packing is usually the very last step in preparing for a trip and it’s a task quite daunting for many. You don’t want to bring too much, but also want to make sure you have all you need, so you don’t waste time on your trip buying things you forgot. Over the years and after many trips taken, I now have a list of travel essentials, that I don’t leave without. Obviously, what I pack will depend on the place I travel to and time of the year, but there are certain items, that I bring on pretty much every single trip. The list of my must have travel items is a combination of photography gear, my go-to luggage and items, that keep things organized.
My must have travel essentials
Luggage
- Osprey Fairview 55 backpack – for many years I traveled with a big suitcase, but when I was heading to Culebra, where soft luggage was preferred, I purchased this Osprey Fairview 55 backpack. I became such a fan, that I now use it for every trip. There are many reasons why I prefer it to my suitcase. It’s lightweight, which is huge for someone like me, who’s a professional over packer. I no longer worry about going over the luggage weight limit, as this backpack itself adds almost no extra weight. It has padded shoulder straps and perfectly distributes the weight, so it’s comfortable, even when fully packed. And one of my absolute favorite features, it has a removable day pack, that is ideal for taking on excursions or day trips. Also, Osprey backpacks come with lifetime guarantee, and they will repair or replace your backpack, no matter how long ago you bought it.
- Osprey day pack – whether you are taking a day trip, a shorter excursion or go hiking, this backpack is perfect to fit all the essentials, without feeling bulky. I personally use the detachable backpack, that came with the mentioned above Osprey Fairview, but you can buy it separately as well. It’s light weight and very comfortable on your back. There is a padded sleeve for your laptop, which is perfect, when you want to use this backpack as a little carry on.
- Luggage tags – with all the bags looking pretty much the same these days, you want to use a tag, that is unique and will make your luggage stand out on the belt. And something that is more durable than the flimsy paper tags the airlines give you.
- Dry bag – this is an item, that is at the top of my packing list for every trip I take, that involves any time on the water. Whether it’s sailing, kayaking or taking a ferry, having a dry bag is essential to keep my camera and other electronics from getting wet. This particular bag also comes with a little satchel, that I always use for my phone when kayaking.
Packing
- Packing cubes – one thing I always struggled with was keeping my bag from becoming a total mess, until I discovered packing cubes. They keep my clothes nicely organized, which makes finding things so much easier. These particular ones have mesh netting, so you can see exactly what’s in there. If you like to stay organized, you need to start using packing cubes.
- Silicone Travel Bottles – if you like to bring your favorite products and don’t want to rely on the hotel toiletries, you need a set of these silicone travel bottles. They are TSA approved and safe to bring on the plane in your carry on, which is something you can’t do with full size products. Plus, you probably don’t need that extra weight in your suitcase anyway. So, whether you bring just a carry on or check in a bag, the travel bottles are the way to go. They come in different colors, so you can easily identify what’s in them, are easy to use and and most importantly leak-proof.
- Toiletry bag – yet another one of my travel essentials, that helps me stay organized. This hanging toiletry bag has a lot of compartments and enough room to hold all my stuff. But the most practical thing about it is, that you can hang it on the door, which keeps the hotel bathroom counter clutter free.
- Electronics Organizer – let’s face it, the amount of electronics we travel with these days is astonishing. Between the phone, tablet, camera, chargers, extra batteries it’s very hard to keep all these accessories organized. This Bagsmart Organizer is prefect for keeping all the cables, chargers and accessories safe and in one place. It has plenty of compartments to store your cables, SD cards, extra batteries and more. At the same time, it’s not bulky and slim enough to fit in your purse or backpack.
- Travel shoe bag – there are a couple of reasons why a shoe bag is one of my top travel essentials. First, just like a packing cube, it helps to keep your suitcase organized. But most importantly, it keeps your shoes ( and, let’s face it, their dirty soles ) away from your clean clothes. Depending on how many pairs of shoes you typically travel with, there are different choices. I usually keep my shoes to the minimum, so a couple of the single bags works for me. This YAMIU travel shoe set has bags in both standard and X- large size. But if you tend to bring more pairs, you might benefit from a couple of these 3 layer shoe bags.
Electronics /accessories
- Universal power adapter – when taking international trips, one of the things you need to bring is a power adapter. Instead of getting multiple ones for each destination, this small, universal adapter has you covered, no matter where you go. Also, it comes with 3 USB ports, so you can charge multiple devices at the same time.
- Power bank – we use our phones literally for everything these days, especially when traveling. From taking pictures, to using it for directions or translating apps to posting on social media. Even though phone’s battery life greatly improved, you really can’t rely on it lasting all day. That’s why having a fully charged power bank is one of my traveling must haves, as well as a safety thing. Last thing I want in a foreign country ( or even a local place, that’s new to me ) is to not have a working phone, whether it’s for directions or making an emergency phone call.
- Headphones – Whether you want to watch a movie, listen to music or not hear that crying baby, you need a pair of good noise canceling headphones. It’s one of my travel essentials, especially on a long haul flight.
- Portable speaker – nowadays, when most of us listen to the music on our phones, a little Bluetooth speaker is a great gadget to add to your packing list. This Anker Soundcore mini is small and lightweight, so you can easily throw it in your purse or carry on. It also has a surprisingly good battery life.
- External hard drive – if you take a lot of photos on your trips, a portable external hard drive should be one of your top travel essentials. I’ll never forget the moment I discovered, to my absolute horror, that over 1,000 pictures I took on my trip to Lisbon, disappeared from my memory card. Luckily I was able to get them back ( after paying a professional ), but ever since that mishap, I always travel with a portable external hard drive. I like this WD My Passport, as it’s compact and light, which is something you want when you’re on the go. Also, with 2 terabytes, it has ample storage, allowing you to store all the photos before sorting them out at home.
- Kindle – I’ll be completely honest, given a choice between a digital book or a printed version, I always go for the latter. But if I go on a plane, the last thing I need in my carry on or a purse is a bulky book. This Kindle Paperwhite solves that problem.
Photography gear
- Camera – If you are looking for a camera, that takes excellent pictures, but don’t want to drag around a heavy DSLR, Sony Alpha a 6000 Mirrorless camera is one of the best choices. It’s compact, light and paired with a good quality lens, it takes incredible pictures. Even though it’s been on the market for a few years, it remains to be one of the best ones out there. It’s also a great deal for the quality of camera you are getting. Since it’s debut in 2015, Sony released a few newer models in the Alpha line, which made the price of the a6000 drop.
- Camera bag – when you spend hundreds of dollars on a nice camera, it’s basically mandatory to invest in a good bag to keep it safe. This camera bag has ample room for my Sony a6000, as well as the extra lens.
- Travel camera charger and extra batteries – this dual camera charger comes with 2 extra batteries,
- Tripod – this is a must, if you take any solo trips and still want to have pictures of yourself from all the amazing destinations. Yes, asking a stranger to take a photo of you is an option, but let’s face it, that can be a hit or miss. Having a tripod solves the issue, but you don’t want to have to drag anything too big and heavy with you. This SIRUI Ultralight Travel Tripod is, as its name suggests light and expendable, which makes it very easy to carry around and set up.
- Gorillapod 5K tripod – my newest addition to the photography gear is this small and amazing tripod. It’s the only tripod I’ve taken on my last two trips and I am obsessed. It’s small, compact, light and very easy to carry around. You can just throw it in your purse and not even know it’s there. The legs are short, but bendable, so you can twist them any way you want and wrap around objects. It’s very well made and durable. It’s sturdy enough, that you can use it with your DSLR camera up to 5 kg ( 11 Ibs ). It also comes with a smart phone mount, so you can use it with your phone as well.
- Wireless Remote Control for Camera – having a remote control of your camera is very useful, if you travel solo, and want to get some good shots of yourself. This IR wireless remote control is compatible with the Sony a6000 camera I use, as well as many other Sony cameras ( including Alpha series ).
- Go Pro – this is a must travel item for me, whenever I go anywhere where I plan on snorkeling. The underwater world is amazing, and I love capturing it to relive the experience later. The GoPro cameras are obviously waterproof, rugged and come with a housing, I use my GoPro primarily for shooting underwater, but they are great for many other action activities like biking, snowboarding, surfing and much more.
- Extra GoPro batteries – GoPro is a great little gadget to have, but its battery life is very short. Turning off Wi-Fi helps, but if you plan on shooting lots of videos, you must have at least 2-3 extra batteries. This GoPro Dual Battery Charger comes with 2 Rechargeable Batteries, so you can charge both simultaneously and the charger also doubles as a storing case.
- Go Pro floating handle – if you are going to spend a good chunk of money on a GoPro, do yourself a favor and throw in this floating handle for a few extra bucks. It makes it so much easy to use the GoPro if you’re under water. It also makes it safe and afloat if you accidently let go off it, plus the orange accent makes it easy to spot.
Other travel essentials
- Reusable water bottle – Instead of going through plastic water bottles, which is not only bad for the environment, but also for your wallet, invest in a reusable water bottle. While you can’t bring any full water bottles through airport security, you can bring an empty one. You can then fill from the water refilling water stations, that many airport now have. Considering a small water bottle can cost you $ 6-8 at the airport, it will be a huge money saver.
- Quick dry towel – it might sound weird to travel with a towel, but you’d be surprised how often it will come in handy. Whether it’s kayaking, boating or any other time you need to dry off quickly, you will be glad you have it. It was especially useful on my trip to the Azores. The best part, unlike a huge, bulky beach towel, this quick dry towel is lightweight, doesn’t take much room in your suitcase nor your day pack and is super absorbing.
Travel insurance
In all the excitement, that comes with getting ready for a trip, the last thing you want to think is something going wrong. But unfortunately, it does happen. Make sure to always purchase travel insurance prior to your trip. World Nomads Travel Insurance is affordable and offers many options to choose from the right coverage for your trip.
READ MORE:
- What to pack for an Alaskan Cruise
- The Complete Galapagos Packing List – What to pack for a Galapagos trip
- The Ultimate Peru Packing Guide – What to pack for Peru in both seasons
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