I Never Travel Without... (My Favorite Travel Gear & Gadgets)
After 34 countries and 23 states, there are some things now that I just will NOT travel without. This list is not like the buzzfeed “cute passport holder” or “$400 cashmere scarf you can use as a blanket” lists. These are practical things I consider necessities whether I’m road tripping just 2 hours away from home, or flying around the globe.
Even though this is really intended for overseas use where they have different shaped power outlets, I use this on my USA trips too because it has 4 USB ports and a USB-C port in addition to a regular 2 or 3 prong plug! It’s a game changer when I have to charge my phone, portable charger, camera batteries, and fitbit all at once. It’s nice to just bring this adapter instead of 15 plugs! (Still need 15 cords though.)
Most airlines have outfitted their plane with plugs these days, but somehow I always seem to get stuck in the seat where it doesn’t work. With all my travel info on my phone these days plus using my phone as my sole camera on some trips, I never want to get caught without enough juice! My Anker phone charger is reliable and powerful—I can get multiple phone charges out of it and trust me, it will come in handy!
I LOVE MY LOOPS! My best friend got these for me for my birthday and they’ve changed my life. They’re super comfortable, and just the right amount of noise reduction where I couldn’t hear the party outside my window in Spain, but I could still hear my alarm in the morning. They’ve come in handy to reduce overstimulation and my husband’s basketball tournaments to drowning out the hustle and bustle of Gatwick airport while I slept on a bench.
My inflatable TravelRest pillow.
I can’t sleep on planes or in a car. I’m a stomach sleeper to a fault, and I can’t get comfortable. This pillow is the closest thing I’ve found to simulating stomach or side sleeping in an upright position. It’s inflatable, so it folds up super small and hardly takes up any space, and you can adjust the firmness by how much air you put in it, unlike the popular TRTL pillows. It also has a flap to wrap around your seatbelt so it stays in place.
On the topic of sleep, I like these 3D eye masks because they don’t put pressure on your eyes. You can open and close your eyes and it’s still dark, without them being squished like other eye masks I’ve tried. I look like a bug, but let’s be honest, if you look GOOD on an 8+ hour flight, we are not on the same level.
This might seem like a joke, but I literally cannot go anywhere without Excedrin. #MigraineGang
My traveling pharmacy, featuring Geno.
For holding my Excedrin!! I actually fill this with Excedrin, Tums, Zzquil, Advil, Anti-Diarrheal and a Laxative. This link isn’t the exact one that I have, but it’s close. I’ve started carrying this around not only on trips but every day to work, too. You just never know what you’re going to need and when you’re going to need it, and it can be hard to translate the big medicinal words when you’re overseas and desperate.
This camera clip from Peak Design is awesome for hiking photographers. It’s like a quick release holster. I carried my camera 86 miles on the Camino de Santiago on my backpack strap so I could have both hands free for my trekking poles but still have easy access to my camera when needed. Total game changer!
Hands free to try some questionable Octopus.
*I get a small commission if you purchase from these links, but these opinions are 100% my own! I would not recommend a product I didn’t truly believe in or use myself.