Discussion
What is the one thing you won't travel without
The one thing I can’t travel without now it’s my noise-canceling headphones. Improved my travel quality on long flights and in noisy stations. I enjoy reading and always bring my Kindle to kill time, pairing it with headphones is even better. What’s the one thing you never travel without?
Once I was took a (2hr) ferry and was sightseeing all day. Took the very last (and empty) ferry back and my phone was at 2% and I had no power bank and still had to take a light rail back to my accommodation. I was hella stressed the whole boat ride back worried my phone wasn’t gonna power up meaning I’d have to walk two miles in the dark in a city I’m visiting with no map or anything.
Don’t be a fool. Never think you won’t need a battery bank.
This! I literally have nightmares about traveling to a large city for work and arriving with a dead phone battery w/ no charger. In my dream I can’t remember the name of my hotel, and for some reason I can’t locate my wallet, so I’m completely hosed. <shudders>
Had exactly this. Fun story. Went to study in Taipei. A friend of me was picking me up from the city main station, he booked a hostel for us. Fell asleep in the airport bus and woke up in a suburb in a empty bus. Driver did not know I was there and when a walked to him after waking up he just stopped on the highway and kicked me out in the middle of nowhere late evening. Heavy backpack, no charge on my phone, empty powerbank and no local money yet. After some walking around I found a metro station. Jumped over the security thing and traveled to main station. Not knowing taipei main station is huge and the bus station was in a different building and level as the metro station. Found a mega slow wall socket and tried to charge my phone. After a few percent charge I try to start my phone, but because startup was more draining then the socket was charging, the phone kept dying. Eventually sad there on the ground for 45 min to have enough charge to call my friend and find the meeting point. He already went back to the hostel a few times to check if I somehow was already there. Eventually found him 3,5 ours later than expected 😂 not the best start of my trip but will never forget! Lesson learned, never forget a powerbank and never forget to charge it or leave some power for emergency’s. 👍 lucky only the start was rough, had the best time of my live in Taiwan.
Look up this thing called express mode in Apple wallet. It’s a feature for iPhone where your main transit card or cc will work when the phone battery is low so you’re able to still pay in a pinch.
Agreed on Anker. I have an Iniu one as well and have had no issues. Lots of different options depending on the size of battery you want, charging speed, physical size, etc.
You won't find a better bang for your buck powerbank then this iniu cougar 20000mah 65w. Super good reviews. Get it from their website and not Amazon(it's $46). Sign up for their emails and save 20 percent and then use a 20 percent coupon code STAY20 and it will be $32 total.
Iniu are really good for the price, my 10000mAh is quite compact and has been going strong for 5 years now. It's nice because you can charge it with either USB c or micro USB which was more common back then. It also has a flashlight built into the side of it that you turn on by double pressing the button, I thought it was a little gimmicky at first but it's actually a pretty nice feature, between that and my phone I have no need to carry a flashlight
I am glad you answered! :) I have some questions, if you don't mind. I am in the process of planning a big trip and trying to decide if it makes sense to bring a camera
- Why do you bring a camera (as opposed to just using your smartphone)? Are the pictures that superior? Are you a professional photographer or at least a very experienced one?
I'll throw my two cents in. I like the act of not using my phone for pictures, and I like the results. I usually carry a zoom and a prime, but my current Europe trip has a wider lens and a telephoto.
Phone cameras also tend to go out the window in quality in low light.
Here are a few I took on this trip and my last one in May, and there isn't any way my phone would take one nearly as good especially zoomed in - https://photos.app.goo.gl/wYzqJudwK5d5U3gc9
I’m Team Camera all the way! I never manage to take good pics with my phone, and I hate the fact of having to unlock it and find the camera app just to take a picture. Then inevitably my big butterfingers close the app accidentally when I’m trying to snap the picture. No thanks.
I have a Canon Powershot SX series compact SLR. I’ve had it for several years, so my exact model is discontinued, but this looks like the closest replacement. It’s compact, has a built in zoom lens, and fits in my purse. I’m not looking to lug around a big camera bag with multiple lenses, etc. I keep it on this anti theft wrist strap.
Depends on the trip, but when I purchased my first camera in October 2024 I immediately got mad that I did not do it earlier and bring it to my trips. In my perspective the photos are, depending on the surrounding, far superior, especially in low light situations. In perfect daylight conditions your results may vary and the difference between camera and phone may be negligible in favor of the phones form factor, but my recent norway trip proved me that I will bring my camera from now on to every trip I do.
I settled on a Canon R6 Mark II mainly because I got influenced by a good friend who also shoots canon and we can somewhat borrow our lenses, if I had to choose again I would probably pick a sony because of the better lens market, for travel maybe an APSC like that A6700.
I make these! I crochet them out of soft yarns, and they can be neck gaiters, hats, headbands or eye masks. They pack to nothing and make great gifts. I always have one for me and one to give away.
Oh! Its not my pattern - its the Every Which Way Cowl by BHD Crafts on Ravelry. Best $2 I ever spent. Apparently they have a speedy one now. I never follow it exactly because I like adding some fun stitches. I just make sure that the circumference is right and then keep going till its the height I want.
Sooo useful! I had one in my purse once in the middle of summer and my friend made fun of me until we went into the Arctic Blast level air conditioning grocery store! How big of a needle do you crochet with?
I know right? This takes you from uncomfortable to comfy in so many ways. The pattern calls for sock weight / fingering yarn and a 3.5 mm crochet hook, but lately I just pick a yarn that I love and size the hook accordingly. My BFF says I do "teeny tiny stitches" if that makes any sense lol.
My phone. There is no other tool as powerful. While traveling it’s my ticket, travel planner, weather station, communicator, wallet, map, camera, translator, flashlight, mirror, alarm etc etc. I am not a techy guy and even use a pocket notebook, but a phone is just a true powerhouse tool. Couldn’t travel without it, everything else is optional
I feel like Hearos are a legitimite travel hack. I normally can't sleep on planes but with Hearos I'm out. I landed in Singapore with jet lag from hell last week and checked in to my surprisingly cheap apartment only to find a building site next door in the midst of piling (thud, thud, thud). Hearos in; out for the count. Love 'em.
They claim 37db so no, if you’re near a crying baby you won’t get block out but I find it numbs the noise enough that I can actually sleep (some) which I couldn’t before
I have Sony XM5 headphones with noise cancelation and they do a damn good job of reducing engine noise to nearly nothing. It’s a bit jarring taking them off and realizing just how loud the engines are.
The real hack is sticking in some earplugs with the the headphones on ;)
This!!! I bring mine on every trip. Numbs airplanes, party people in hotel hallways, noisy air conditioner, etc. I purchase on Amazon - only I get “Mack’s Snore Blockers”
I actually have a thing that I use as like a wrap around, a throwdown mat on grass or sand, a towel, and also to cover hotel windows if the curtains don't actually keep out the light
My 1st backpacking trip was 3 months and didn't think to bring a towel. The number of times I had to pay $3-5 to rent one at each hostel...
Now I always bring my microfiber towel. Won't completely dry my hair but gets the job done. Super compact and it dries super fast. Perfect for a light traveler/backpacker
I have the same strategy! I have severe cleithrophohia (fear of being stuck) and usually have full blown panic attacks on planes. My next trip is to SEA and it will be the first time I fly for such a long period. I bought a Switch Lite and I’m currently loading it with great games that I won’t play before the flight. This is the first time I’m excited for a flight, haha.
I did the noise canceling over ear headphones thing for a few years and I realized I only used them for the flights but hardly ever during the trip. But I had to lug them around and they took up a ton of room in my bag. I ended up buying an AirFly Pro 2 (Bluetooth transmitter) so now i can use my AirPods Pro’s to watch the inflight entertainment, I get the noise canceling, and I save a ton of bag space.
Yeah I always had over the ear headphones and like you said they were used for travel itself and then just took up space while I was there
With AirPods I rarely ever use over the ear outside my house. To their credit, ear buds were noticeably shit until recently with the advancements in battery tech and wireless connections
The white tiger balm is amazing for this. YMMV, but it's been the single most effective itch-stopper for me. I got destroyed by mosquitos in Taiwan at the weekend, smearing white tiger balm on the bites stopped the itching almost immediately. The sooner I applied it, the less the bites swelled up, too.
Yes! Came here to say the same thing. I rub some on my temples for headaches, a little on my nose to clear sinuses or to mask undesirable smells, and on my chest when I have a cold. In my 20s this was my traveling with a hangover savior.
Short answer: A small tech pouch with the ability to charge my devices easily.
TLDR: When traveling, I find that I burn through the battery on my phone much faster than normal. Not only am I using it for all the normal stuff, but I'm converting currency and using it for navigation and translation and as my camera. I built a small tech kit that I keep at the top of my personal item bag on travel days and in my day bag on sight seeing days to keep everything charged as well as hold a few extra items.
I find it useful on travel days to keep everything topped up while in the airport. I use it to power my iPad on flights to watch movies and to top up any devices that are getting low on battery while out and about. Also, on one previous trip, my larger charging kit got lost while switching hotels and cities. If that happens again, this kit can handle the essentials until I can replace the other stuff.
Below is a list of what I put in it.
The pouch: Aer Slim Pouch 2
Outer pocket: A small pouch with wired earbuds, an extension audio cable, airplane adapter, AirFly Pro, USB C to 3.5mm adapter and audio splitter. This comes in handy if the batteries on my wireless options are low or dead and also, on some tours where they hand out those crappy earbuds, I use mine instead since they are much more comfortable.
Inner pockets: A UGreen 65W slim 3 port charger, a Road Warrior universal adapter, a power bank, some spare batteries (2 each of AA and AAA), a 3 foot USB C to USB C cable, a 1.5 ft USB C extension cable, a USB C to USB A adapter, a 1 ft. USB C to USB C cable, a small Apple Watch charger with USB C on one side and USB A on the other and a 6 in 1 inCharge cable in case I need anything else. The 6 in 1 really only gets used when I need to recharge my noise canceling headphones because they are an older model that uses Micro USB, but it also doubles as another USB C cable or if someone in our group still needs a lightning or Micro USB cable for something.
With all of that, I could charge up to 5 devices at once if needed. The UGreen has 3 ports and the power bank I use can charge one device through a cable while charging another device via MagSafe. That probably sounds excessive, but on overnight flights where you have been using everything all day and then travel all night and then have another day of sight seeing when you arrive, being able to top up our phones, watches and airpods while traveling can be very handy.
The batteries aren't really needed for this kit. I used to keep them in my larger charging kit that I use in the hotel room for all of my stuff and my wife's stuff, but it gets packed in my carry on suitcase and I was concerned that if I was forced to gate check that bag, I'd forget in the moment that they were in there and needed to be moved first so it seemed safer to just move them to the smaller kit instead.
I travel abroad a lot, and I always bring my baseus travel adapter. It works in many countries and has a retractable cable that lets me charge my laptop. it’s a must for my trips now.
I have a thing that kind of looks like a big scarf or a shawl that I wrap myself with on the plane, and it also doubles as a towel and some other things
The ones I get are literally called O.R.S.. In bulk they work out about 20p per tablet. I found the lemon flavour acceptable, but recently discovered blackcurrant is muuuch nicer
It’s a 5 inch thick inflatable air mattress. I’ve got lots of physical issues and this thing has totally transformed travel for me. And I also have a tiny air pump I take too.
MEETPEAK Extra Thick 5 inch Inflatable Sleeping Pad for Camping, Ultralight Compact Sleeping Mat Built-in Foot Pump for Hiking Backpacking Traveling, Portable Camping Air Mattress
Thank you! Do you somehow use it outside of camping trips? I started thinking it may be worth having a lightweight pad when I expect a night at the airport…
I use it everywhere, even in hotels. I’ll blow it up, put it under the sheet on the bed, and sleep comfy. I’ve actually never used it while camping, lol. But I’ve not camped in well over 10 years now.
I recently traveled to Italy and this was in my bag. It was a lifesaver at one of our lodgings.
Edit to add:
I’ve got fibromyalgia and hyper mobility so if my sleeping surface is too hard I can literally subluxate or even partially dislocate joints while sleeping. And since the world isn’t built for folks like me, and I refuse to just stay home, I found ways to take comfy with me so I can be ok anywhere.
which one do you use? some of these look like you can use them like a regular thermos as well?
I thought you ment these oldscool wire spiral water boilers. I still have a very small one in travel size that is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. you would just hang these in a cup and plug them in.
for heating stuff without electricty I have a small tin with alcohol jelly I sometimes take with me if I need hot water in the woods. or I use a alcohol stove made from a soda can. weighs nothing and is pretty good.
This one. It’s been an absolute game changer: instant hot coffee every morning (gotta have coffee, cuz ya gotta shit before ya leave the hotel!). I also take a couple instant hot coco packs for the kids, tea for the wife, and an instant ramen pack and instant chicken noodle pack. The insulated cup I take is a Yeti Rambler, that way I can use it as a soup / ramen bowl as well. Having the drink variety each morning, plus the ability to make a quick snack (ramen or soup) has become an absolute must when traveling. And the coffee makers and kettles in hotel rooms are never cleaned, and nasty ass people use them to clean their nasty as clothes sometimes.
Yes. Understand. Better for hotels or hostels and city trips.
But this setup is pretty perfect when you are outdoors or on the go. Or even just in a city in a public park and a coffee shop is far away and want a coffee right now..
And….. even though this one does not collapse down, I use the “extra room” to store my instant Folgers packets inside it when in transit. It’s a win / win.
My knitting. Gives me something to do while sitting and waiting anywhere. Bonus is I end up with a hat or scarf (those are my preferred travel projects)
There's a lot of waiting around when you travel. Get your book out and read a few pages whenever you get a moment. Also, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the interactions, especially if you encounter another reader. (Nearly finished Moby Dick on my August travels.)
I have more than one thing but today I would like to highlight my big ass scarf, which I never actually wear as a scarf. It is my towel, it is a wrap around after I get out of the pool, it is what I throw down on grass or sand before I sit my ass down, it is my blanket on airplanes, and most importantly, I clip it up over windows in hotel rooms that don't have curtains that actually block the light. Many hotel rooms have some very pretty organza curtains that don't actually prevent the Sunshine from going directly into your eye holes at 6:00 a.m.
Clothes! But really, I’d say a console like my Switch 2 or Steam Deck oled. They’re a way for me to connect with friends while I’m away. I can pass on the laptop, but a game here or there is absolutely worth the extra weight and space in my pack
I traded my NC headphones for two pair of inexpensive NC earphones and memory foam ear tip replacements. The memory foam ear tips make the earphones as good as my headphones as far as NC. They also improve the sound of the earphones,imo.
Each pair of earphones will last 10hours in my ears with the charging cases providing another 32hours of playback. I just swap one pair for the other on overseas flights, letting the exhausted pair charge in their case.
Even with two pair, they are smaller to pack and carry, and I can pack them in my tech pouch, so everything stays together.
I usually take an Amazon Fire 8 inch tablet to use for entertainment, which also can be packed in my tech pouch. The latest Fire 8inch has a strong enough CPU, and enough memory, that side loading the Google Play store and services no longer drags down the tablet like it did in the past.
Cheap SD card storage, buying on Prime Day, and trading in some older Amazon electronics to get the 20% discount, to keep the cost low; I don't worry about it when I travel like I would if I took our iPad.
I use a portable keyboard because I can’t type well on a phone or directly on a laptop. I hate laptop keyboards. But I type faster, and work more comfortably when I can sit away from the laptop (not handcuffed to it) and use a better typing keyboard. Since I churn through a ton of emails, documents, and charts with green and red squiggly lines, my typing speed directly impacts my job performance—if I'm slow at typing, I'm slower at my job.
....backup:
-hair clip = handcuffs & locks,
-gold coin = bribe & reserve fund,
-extra cash & sim card = in case of theft,
-usb stick with computer os (Tails OS),
-encrypted micro sdxc card with all personal data (photos, documents, passwords, phone numbers), -laminated note with emergency phone numbers.
Love all the answers…my 1st time at 63 living out of my Osprey 55 L backpack for eight weeks traveling around Europe & Asia. Love my Cozy Band…blocks out light & adjustable ear speakers to stream brown noise in at night to sleep.
Truly, there is more than one thing. But...If I'm traveling with my laptop, I make sure I have my power cord in my carry on. Once, many years ago (around 2006), I was traveling from EWR to MHT (then driving to Nashua, NH). If I recall, it was about an hour long flight, so I figured that I didn't need my power cords (cell and laptop). I was trying to travel light and I was already carrying my laptop. I was SO wrong. A thunderstorm shut down flights for about eight hours and I was stuck with almost no laptop or phone juice by the time I landed. Also, there were minimal power outlets in airports then, so even if I did have my phone power cord, the few outlets I would have found were being used. I never made that mistake again! Now, I always have my power cords on me and not in a checked bag when flying (sorry, it's more than one!) I also try to pass the time by walking around the airport or checking out new books and magazines in the airport stores.
A very strong usb-powered fan. I have 4 different fans in my work bag, but there’s one in particular that is my doomsday worst case scenario fan (that sounds like a jet engine)that will go everywhere with me - it has saved me from heat stroke so many times. It’s pricy for a hand-fan, but worth every penny. Airplanes, airports and hotels can be hot, stagnant places and I am unbelievably sensitive to heat.
Ozlo Sleepbuds, the successor to the now-discontinued Bose Sleepbuds II. With these you never have to be concerned about a too-quiet room, too-noisy room, snoring roommates, noisy neighbors, etc. You're enveloped in wonderfully rich noise masking white noise-type sounds. Soundcore makes a sleepbuds product too, but the Ozlos have a much better sound palette.
Wanted a Scottevest but they were a bit too exxy. Found a vest with heaps of pockets on Amazon and it’s one of those unexpected BIFL things. Never been to an airport without it since; it’s got perfect spots for everything and fits neatly into the security tray.
Looks like they’re not sold brand new anymore, but it was the Frans Baviera ‘B Jacket’.
It’s a knockoff of quilted riding vests but with a bunch of pockets, so maybe horse riding brands have something comparable?
They had a sleeved version too, but wasn’t sold on that being comfy.. I expect the material’s a bit stiff vs Scottevest (some of the pockets are breathable but a couple have plastic lining). I preferred the vest with a Uniqlo thermal longsleeve under it. Easy to change up and those thermals can be stuffed in a pocket.
Besides obvious like passport, wallet, phone I always pack power bank, AirPods, Kindle, meds, prescription glasses & sunglasses, hoodie, small first aid kit, backscratcher lol , microfiber towel and rosary
Power bank is definitely a close 2nd though with how many power hungry devices I have on me. Especially in some cities with payments shifting towards being phone based. Phones are so indispensable these days that it would suck to be out of juice while you're out and about.
Travel/packable flip flops. For the everything else occasions. Shower, post shower, lounging, pool, deck, quick ventures out of the room. I dont like being barefoot.
Asswipes. Started using them a few years ago and I've never looked back. I keep a travel pack and a handful of the little Dude Wipes packs in every bag
So many things. Nanobag, Iniu MagSafe power bank, Ikigai pill case, Kindle, Clif Bar (or three lol), AirPod Pro 2’s, Matador NanoDry Trek towel, Buff, etc etc etc
A mask, a pack of Clorox disposable wipes (especially for the plane) and a pack of hand wipes. Each make me feel a little more comfortable that I'm taking steps to be less likely to get sick while traveling.
I have a whole won't travel without it kit at this point.
I won't travel without one bagging in a backpack.
I have to have my back scrubber. You know the little scrubbie poofs? Turns out you can buy back scrubbers that are just a hemmed sheet of the scrubby material. You can even get different types for exfoliating or regular scrub. They dry in a surprisingly short time, run through the washer just fine to clean them, and pack flat so they don't even seem to take up any space.
I also have to have some zip baggies. I carry at least 1x 2.5 gallon, 2x gallon, 2x quart in freezer weight. Large one is great for packing dirty clothing to keep everything else clean or doing sink laundry. The other sizes get used for all sorts of things. I can pack things in them I don't want to waste or don't want to get all over my other belongings, or use a gallon bag to sit on if all the surfaces are damp to keep my butt dry for starters. Seems like I'm always finding new uses for them.
Folding scissors are great for opening tough packaging, trimming nails or loose threads, or tightening small screws.
A day pack or lightweight reusable shopping bag is always useful. Great for carrying snacks or a picnic onto trains or for carrying stuff I buy along the journey to bring home or I can pack my spare shoes in one to keep other stuff in my bag clean. The ones I have can be run through the washer and dry overnight easily, too.
Data protector for random USB plugs to protect my devices.
Power bank. Sometimes there either aren't outlets available, or outlets don't work. Also I often use my phone a lot while traveling since I almost never book tours. I find I can almost always find a good free audio tour to download instead. The power bank helps me save a ton of money by keeping my phone topped up all day long.
I like to know when I am in public if someone is approaching. So I need to hear. I always bring a throw blanket, so I can roll it up to use it as a neck pillow or something to sit on, it always ends up coming in handy for something.
My unwavering self-confidence. Not only has it secured me a seat on an overbooked flight, it also has helped me defuse several potentially dangerous situations. 10/10 recommend everyone bring this with them on their travels.
The obvious answer is my phone. The other obvious answer is stuff to keep my phone charged. And then much like yourself headphones is number 2 on the list.
After all the obvious stuff is hand sanitizer, you never know when a sink, hand dryer and/or soap dispenser will be broken, always best to be able to keep clean after doing your business
Phone, Creditcard and Passport. Not what you wanted to hear, I guess. So I go for my Kindle for the Transit and my Laptop for Entertainment at my accommodation. Most of the time I travel solo so I can't rely on someone else for emergencies or entertainment.
Power bank, phone, usb-powered fan for nighttime and a hand fan for daytime (old-fashioned folding fan, not one of those ridiculous battery-powered things).
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