By Liam Isola It can be confusing to know what you actually need to buy for travel, especially when it comes to long-term trips. So, today, I’ll share 20 essential travel products that I actually use while I travel.
I must admit, before my first backpacking trip in 2018, I bought way too much stuff. I got neurotic about all the stuff I may or may not have needed. There were things I got that, in retrospect, I definitely did not need to get.
I somehow thought that it might be hard to find adequate soap and body wash in European countries. So, I stocked up on Dr. Bronner’s, thinking I would use it as body wash, hand soap, shampoo/conditioner, and laundry detergent if I really needed to.
Nothing against Dr. Bronner’s, it’s a great product, but it was unnecessary for my needs. So, essential travel products are obviously going to vary based on your specific needs. Regardless, here are 20 things that I don’t travel internationally without.
Essential Travel Products: 1. iPhone/Smartphone
Smartphones are the most useful travel tools, in my opinion. Between getting local data with an eSIM, booking transportation/accommodations on the go, getting directions, taking photographs, keeping in touch with friends/family, and translating foreign languages, the iPhone is a jack of all trades.
It certainly tops the list of essential travel products, and I would quite literally be lost without it. I do romanticize traveling in the era before smartphones, where physical maps were standard. However, the convenience that an iPhone gives is irreplaceable, even if it signifies a new, digitized era of travel.
Essential Travel Products: 2. Packing Cubes
Before I started using packing cubes, my bags used to be an unorganized mess. To find something I needed, I would rummage through my bag and need to immediately repack. With these Amazon Essentials packing cubes, that problem gets solved.
I tend to use the smallest ones possible. That way, I can separate and have easy access to my workout shirts, casual shirts, pants, and workout shorts/swim trunks.
Essential Travel Products: 3. Travel Backpack
You’re going to be able to spend the least money on flights when you can travel with just a personal item. The best way to do that is to bring a backpack that complies with the budget airlines’ limits.
I recently shared the best cities in the US for snowbirds, along with some of the best winter flight deals to those cities. Most are on budget airlines, so you’ll want to travel light with a travel backpack to take full advantage of these deals.
I particularly like the Fjallraven 28L backpack. It’s spacious enough to fit everything you need for a long-term trip and has a laptop compartment.
When I can take both a carry-on and a personal item, I also bring the Osprey Farpoint 40, which is one of the best all-around travel bags. I’ve gotten away with bringing it on budget airlines as a personal item before, but your mileage may vary. I have lived out of a Farpoint 40 for six months at a time before.
4. Packable Daybag
You’re simply not going to want to unpack your travel bag on a trip and bring it with you during the day. It’s a waste of time and can be impractical, especially if you are staying in a hostel without lockers.
The solution to that is packing a smaller day pack in your bigger bag to bring with you during the day. There are plenty of options on Amazon, and some of them fold into themselves, making them even more compact when you’re not using them.
I use a daybag almost all the time when I travel. If I need water, snacks, sunscreen, a book, etc. it all just fits in the bag.
5. Universal Travel Plug Adapter
This is easy to forget about. Different countries have different types of plugs, which means you’ll need to bring an adapter to charge your devices. Get a universal adapter instead of a region-specific one so you can charge your devices anywhere you go.
6. Travel-sized Umbrella
Umbrellas are an underrated item in the course of daily life. While traveling, it’s worth it to travel with a small one that you can put in your daybag if you’re in a rainy locale. This one, from Tumella, comes with a lifetime replacement guarantee.
7. Earplugs
I’m a sensitive sleeper, and some places are exceptionally noisy. Hostel snorers, neighborhood dogs barking, and noisy upstairs neighbors are only a few of the many reasons why you may be woken up earlier than intended.
Getting some earplugs can improve your sleep quality while traveling, which is crucial given jetlag.
8. Flip Flops/Shower Shoes
Whether I’m using them for public showers, lounging around your hotel room, or heading to the beach, flip flops/shower shoes are one of the essential travel products I use.
Sanuk flip flops are incredibly comfortable, even for daily use, and the pair I have has lasted six years.
9. Power Bank/Portable Charger
This is one of the most essential travel products on the list. There have been plenty of times when I go for a hike and use Maps.me on my phone for trail directions. That uses a lot of battery, and if I didn’t have a power bank, I’d be out of luck and lost.
I like the Anker brand, as I’ve had the same power bank for over seven years with no issues.
10. TSA Precheck/Global Entry
Global Entry, which I get a credit for with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, has been a game-changer. It comes with TSA Precheck, which means quicker security lines. When I re-enter the US, I get to skip the long customs lines and go directly to the Global Entry Kiosks.
I’m not kidding when I say Global Entry has saved hours of my time.
11. Eye Mask
I’m a sensitive sleeper, and that also extends to light. Once the sun comes up and there’s no blackout curtains, I’m awake for good. Thankfully, I can get better shut-eye with an eye mask.
You never really know how well the curtains at the place you’re staying will block out light until you are there.
12. Portable Lamp/Headlamp
If you like to camp, you may need a portable lamp or headlamp. Using a smartphone’s flashlight drains its battery fast, and when you’re out in the wilderness, you’ll want to conserve it in case of any emergencies.
Even when I’m not camping, I use the Black Diamond Moji rechargeable lamp as a reading light and bedside lamp. If you’re doing early-morning hikes and/or camping, you may want a headlamp.
13. Passport Wallet
Passports are fragile and, frankly, easy to lose. With a passport wallet, you can hold a couple of passports if you’re a dual-national and some travel-specific cards like Priority Pass.
14. Kindle
I don’t tend to watch movies on planes. Instead, I typically get work done and read. I can carry a book with me on a short trip, but I may end up reading a few books on a long-term trip. So, having a Kindle is incredibly beneficial and cuts weight in my bag.
15. Microfiber/Quick Drying Towel
Another one of the more essential travel products is a microfiber/quick-drying towel. I’ve used mine as a shower towel, beach towel, and picnic blanket. Not every hostel gives guests towels for free, so it can be very useful to have. It’s lightweight and folds up small, making it easy to travel with.
16. Bluetooth Earbuds
I’m a huge music fan and never travel without earbuds. I tend to have a pair for working out that is IPX7 waterproof and another noise-cancelling pair for airplanes and daily use.
I use the EarFun Free Pro as noise-cancelling earbuds, and they have terrific sound quality for the price.
The Anker Life A1 are also reasonably-priced and great for working out with. I’ve broken a couple of pairs of earbuds by sweating into them, but the A1s are seriously sweatproof.
17. Toiletry Bag
In tandem with packing cubes, I use a toiletry bag to be organized and keep my travel backpack clean. This is an item I absolutely never travel without.
Essential Travel Products: 18. Small Journal
Outside of my professional projects, writing is also an everyday personal exercise for me. While I use the notes app on my iPhone for my to-do list, having a small travel-sized journal is one of the essential travel products for me.
Essential Travel Products: 19. Travel Spork
This is something I have to travel with more. I have a camping utensil set, along with a spork. There have been plenty of times when I’m traveling, and I end up going to the grocery store to get yogurt or lunch.
I’ve bought a box of plastic spoons and used less than half of the box more times than I’d care to admit. It can be a time and money-saver to travel with a spoon/spork.
Essential Travel Products: 20. Apple Watch
An Apple Watch certainly isn’t going to be an essential travel product for everyone, but I continue to go for runs while I travel, and it’s invaluable for tracking my running distance. It can also do currency conversions with Siri, along with directions.