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Summer is almost here and, if you are like me, you are probably already planning your next trip and trying to figure out what you need to pack. In my experience, most travelers like to pack light and we like to only take those things that are useful or will make our trip easier.
If you, or someone you care for, are getting ready to travel this summer, then you are probably thinking about what new items would be useful to have or what needs to be replaced. From my own experience I have put together a list of the essential travel items you will want for yourself, or that wanderlust traveler in your life, no matter what your budget.
Contents
Under $25
Travel Adapter
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There are few things worse than arriving in a new country just to find out that you cannot charge your electronics because the adapters are different. This travel adapter is great for anyone traveling for either work or leisure. It covers every country in the world, allows for US 3-prong plugs, and has USB plugs. It is also lightweight and durable, so it will be with you for a long time.
Tech Organizer
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If you are like me, you have a lot of electronics that you use while traveling. From computers to cameras, they all have peripherals, cords, and chargers that go along with them. A tech organizer is a great gift to help keep all your gadgets in one place. The organizer has pockets and slots for all of your cords, batteries, and mouse so you can find the accessories you need quickly and no longer have to chase cords in your pack.
Portable Luggage Scale
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One of the things I hate the most is the uncertainty of whether my luggage is going to be overweight when I get to the airport or not. With the Tarris Portable Luggage Scale, I no longer have to worry. You can easily weigh your bag before you go to the airport and it is lightweight and easy to back in your bag. Now you can know if you have the weight to pack that extra souvenir on your way home.
Toiletry Bottle
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Having reusable toiletry bottles is a great way to cut back on all the waist that comes from the travel sized toiletries and it allows you use your favorites that you already have at home. Oursunshine squeezable silicone bottles are great for travel. They are reusable, carry-on size, and, because they are made of silicone, they fold up small when you are finished.
Quick Dry Towel
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Even if you are staying at a hotel, a microfiber quick dry towel is a great addition for travel. Regular towels are heavy, bulky, and take forever to dry. Quickdry towels come in many different colors and sizes. They can be used after swimming, as a place to lay out on the beach, or even to wipe down gear after a rainstorm.
Moleskine Notebook
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Using a Moleskine Notebook is a great way to journal about your adventures while you travel. There is just something about pen and paper that is satisfying; plus, you have something to look back on after your travels. These notebooks are also great for jotting down quick notes, addresses, phone numbers, and ideas.
Passport Holder
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If you travel internationally a lot, your passport is going to get pretty beat-up. A passport holder is a great gift for any avid traveler to help protect that vital item. Not only does it help to protect your passport, many of them also have slots to store your credit cards, extra money, sim cards, and boarding passes. Many of them also have RFID blocking, giving you that extra layer of security when traveling through busy airports.
Under $100
Power Bank
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Today, we all use smartphones, and there is nothing more frustrating than when they die. While traveling, if our phones or cameras die, it can be a horrible experience. This is why every traveler needs a power bank. I personally use the Anker PowerCore 20,100 and, for me, it’s a must have. It allows me to charge up to two things at a time and I can easily get 7 phone charges out of a single battery charge. I never leave home without it and use it for my phone, camera batteries, and drone.
LifeStraw Water Bottle
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I always carry a reusable water bottle on my travels. It helps cut back on waste products and saves a ton of money on buying water while traveling. The LifeStraw Water Bottle is a great option because it has a built-in filter to help you stay healthy. The LifeStraw cleans up 99.9% of waterborne parasites, bacteria, and sediment from the water, so you won’t have to worry about drinking tap water while traveling.
Steripen
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The Steripen is a great option for minimizing plastic bottle waist and for saving money while traveling. Just fill your reusable bottle with water and let the pen do its work. The Steripen purifies 1-litre bottle of water in 90 seconds using UV light. I used a Steripen throughout my travels across Southeast Asia and it was great.
Gerber Tool
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The Gerber Tool is a travel essential for any type of adventure. A good set of tools is always handy when you are traveling, because you never know what might happen. Whether you need a knife to cut some rope, pliers to help fix a zipper, or a bottle opener to enjoy a cold craft beer at the end of the day, a multi-use tool is an indispensable piece of gear to have on your travels.
Headlamp
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A headlamp is an absolutely essential piece of travel gear for any traveler. For those staying in a hostel, a headlamp allows you to go through your stuff at night without disturbing others. They are also useful for hiking, setting up camp in the dark, and for emergencies. The Petzl Headlamp is durable, has multiple brightness settings, and has a red light for reading/stargazing.
Hammock
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Let’s be honest, a hammock is a great item to have, even if you only travel to your backyard. The Kootek Hammock is lightweight, durable, packs up small, and comes with hanging straps. It’s the perfect gift for all travelers! String up after a long hike or while relaxing on the beach and enjoy the views from the tranquility of a hammock.
Travel Pillow
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A good travel pillow is a perfect gift to help on those long-haul flights and airport naps. There are many travel neck pillows on the market, but I personally love the Eagle Creek Travel Pillow. This classic neck pillow can also fold in on itself to create a square camping pillow. This 2-1 travel pillow also has a strap to easily clip it to you carry-on.
Packing Cubes
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Packing Cubes are great for anyone; from the intrepid nomad to the weekend vacationer. These cubes help you stay organized while traveling. The Veken Travel Cubes come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to separate types of items; big and small. It also comes with a designated laundry bag to keep your dirty clothes separate.
Scratch Off Map
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Gone are the days of putting a pin in a map to mark where you’ve been. Now there’s something better. Scratch off maps are a fun way to track all of the places that you have been and plan for your future travels. These world maps allow you to show off where you have been by scratching off each country as you visit, revealing the colored map beneath. They come in a number of different sizes and colors to choose from.
Over $100
Backpack
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The traveling nomad on your shopping list has most likely ditched the suitcase for a backpack long ago. They are easy to transport, durable, and allow for easy access. Having a reliable, well-made backpack is essential for any traveler. There are many great options out there to choose from, but a great all-around option is the Gregory Paragon 58 Backpack. Having top, bottom, and side loading access, it makes finding things in your bag super easy. It also has a built-in rain-fly and is hydration compatible.
Camera
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Every traveler needs a camera to document their experience. There are a lot of options out there, from small point-and-shoot to big DSLRs (even phones are great for photography), so it can be hard to choose the right camera. I decided to split the difference with a "bridge" camera, the Panasonic Lumix. All of the perks of a DSLR with the ease of not having to carry so many lenses. It has been a great camera! Lightweight, durable, great zoom, and takes some great shots.
Amazon Kindle
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Reading is a great activity and it’s an amazing way to pass the time on long-haul flights or bus rides, but carrying all of those books around just isn’t an option for a traveler. The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a great way to take all of the books you love with very little space and weight. The Paperwhite doesn’t have the glare of a normal tablet and the page looks more like actual paper. It can also hold thousands of books and is splash-proof.
Noise Canceling Headphones
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Think screeching kid on a plane or insanely load music on a bus. We have all been there and wished we could make it stop. That’s where the Bose QuietComfort 35 noise-canceling headphones come in to play. Noise canceling headphones block out background noise so you can read, work, or sleep without being disturbed. Bose headphones are an undisputed heavyweight when it comes to making your listen experience the best it can be.
Drone
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Drones have become very popular these days, especially for documenting travel. Although not inexpensive, drones make a great gift for the traveler on your list. They can record and share their travels like never before. There are many drone companies out there, but the one that still stands at the top is DJI. The DJI Mini 2 is a great drone for travel. It is lightweight and folds down small for easy storage.
GoPro
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Cameras are a great way to document your travels and there is no camera more versatile than a GoPro. They are durable, compact, waterproof, and you can use them to photograph or videograph any of your adventures. Whether you are walking the streets of a new city or on an epic adventure, a GoPro is a perfect fit. If the newest GoPro 10 is too pricey, look into the GoPro 9, 8, or 7 (they are also great and a lot cheaper).
Do you have any suggestions for useful travel items that we should add for next year? Let us know by leaving them in the comments!
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Great tips for travelers! I especially would need the power bank and the quick dry towel!
ReplyDeleteThank you! The power bank is definitely a must. I use mine all of the time!
DeleteLove all these essentials you have here! I am not sure but I always need mosquito repellant and meds with me when we travel :) Thanks for this guide!
ReplyDeleteMosquito repellent would be a good idea for the update. Thank you.
DeleteThese are great ideas. We could have used the portable luggage scale recently. I didn’t know there was such a thing!
ReplyDeleteI spent years of traveling and worry every time I went to an airport that my bag was going to be over weight. I finally decided to get one and it has relieved so much stress.
DeleteThis is a fantastic list! We have the exact same travel adapter and I think also the same tech organizer and both have been invaluable!
ReplyDeleteThat water bottle sterilizer pen is now at the top of my must-have list! Thank you!! :)
Yes, they are both great to have on a trip.
DeleteThe Steripen has been invaluable for me. It has saved me so much money because I have not had to ever buy bottled water while traveling. It has easily paid for itself a few times.
great list! I love how expanding it is: from the absolute essential musts to the things that make your travel experience much better and easier. superb job!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteI am travelling today but I was not aware of many things from this list. It is really helpful though.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWow, these are great tools. I really like the drone because you can capture awesome views!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love my drone. I have gotten such great video and pictures with it while I travel. And it is small enough to carry in my pack while I walk around.
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