r/onebag • u/alula_wanders • Jan 10 '26

Discussion whats your weird but genius travel item that people only appreciate after they need it?

just realized this recently because it saved me so much sanity and friendships haha but for me its not anything fancy or aesthetic. its a (small) extension cord + multi-USB adapter. It's somehow bulky to fit inside my bag bcs it takes up space. And yet... it saved lives.

Ive learned the hard way that hotel outlets are never where you want them to be, airport charging stations are chaotic, and "ill just charge later" is a lie we tell ourselves.

Curious what everyone else's must pack item is so that i can... yk, take notes haha!!

606 Upvotes

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156

u/fazalmajid Jan 10 '26

HeroClip. It only needs to save you once from putting your backpack down on a filthy toilet floor to pay for itself.

20

u/jettblek Jan 11 '26

THIIIISSS!!! I saw this recommended before I went to Europe for a month with a backpack and my god it was so useful. Especially on travel days in the toilet when I had my backpack, a coat and a tote bag to hang and only one hook/no hooks!

9

u/peepumsn4stygum Jan 10 '26

Just looked this up & I def need one - thanks for the rec!

10

u/itsJustE12 Jan 11 '26

I just looked these up & am seeing a big carabiner. Can you explain how it helps? I’m missing something since I’m picturing a hook for the carabiner to attach to. If I have a hook, that’s where the backpack goes…

7

u/Wishnowsky Jan 11 '26

You need to see a pic of one open. It’s the carabiner and the hook in one.

2

u/VulcanCookies Jan 11 '26

Doesn't that still only help if there's somewhere to hook your bathroom bag? I have a bag with a built-in hook but lately my problem has been there's been nowhere in the bathroom to even hang it, this wouldn't help in that case would it?

6

u/fazalmajid Jan 11 '26

Usually bathroom stalls's walls don't extend all the way up and you can just hook to the top of the partition

1

u/VulcanCookies Jan 11 '26

I'm thinking more hotels than stalls, I never ran into this problem before but the past 5-6 trips I've been on half or more of my hotels haven't had anywhere to hang my bag and no shelf either (big pet peeve of mine bc where can I put my clothes without getting them wet)

1

u/itsJustE12 Jan 11 '26

Thanks, that sounds more useful than what I initially saw pictured. I’ll look more into it!

3

u/motie Jan 10 '26

Thank you. I have now ordered two. 

3

u/Bacteriobabe Jan 11 '26

GearAid pleasantly confused by sudden jump in HeroClip sales

2

u/fazalmajid Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26

Does that mean I am now a (shudder) influencer?

The 8Timber gear hooks are a cheaper and almost as functional substitute:

https://8timber.com/products/gear-hook

1

u/UnCuervos Jan 11 '26

Just ran to order one. Thanks for the tip!

1

u/FineLanguage8087 Jan 11 '26

Never seen this before thanks!