As another busy semester drags on, I find myself
daydreaming about my upcoming travels. Even at 10 weeks away, I have small
piles of necessities lined up in my room and find myself searching the web for
the latest and greatest travel gear.
While these may seem a bit random, I will travel with the
following items for the rest of my life. These items have become integral to
the way I prepare for a trip, and I hope that they can help you too!
Packing Cubes:
I became interested in different packing strategies when I
first moved to Ireland. I saw many videos on Youtube of people maximizing their
space and packing cubes kept popping up in the conversation. Originally packing
in Ziploc bags, I thought the cubes were unnecessary, until my bags ripped and
I began to consider the sturdier alternative.
For Christmas, my parents bought me a set of Eagle Creek Pack-it Compression Cubes and I was instantly hooked. Not only do these cubes
color-coordinate your belongings, but they make your whole bag more organized
and can be compressed for increased storage. I have since added to my
collection of packing accessories and insist that cubes (of any brand, because
there are many) will change the way you pack and travel!
Electronic Travel Toothbrush:
I know I know I know, who needs an electronic toothbrush
when you are traveling? But let me explain. When I was at the Container store
last winter, I spotted an electronic travel toothbrush and decided to give it a
try.
For smaller trips, this is probably unnecessary. But
especially for long trips (multiple months) or trips where you may not keep up
the best hygiene, an effective toothbrush is a good way to reconnect with
humanity. And for a relatively inexpensive price, it just seems nice.
I have the Slim Sonic Toothbrush and I even use it when I am
at home I like it so much. It vibrates (no shifting bristle motions), but
really makes my teeth feel squeaky-clean.
Day Pack:
When you are traveling for an extended period of time,
there will be instances when you don't want to lug around all of your belongings. Regardless of how light you pack, dragging luggage or a large
backpack with you is unreasonable. This is where a good day pack comes in.
When I lived abroad, I used a Kavu Rope Backpack for day
trips and it worked great. A bag of this size allows for just enough stuff to
get you through the day, is sporty enough for a variety of occasions, and is
small enough to pack in larger luggage.
A more stylish alternative would be a bag similar to a Long Champ Le Pliage Tote, one that I also own. While not practical for
nature-related activities, more urban activities would benefit from this
addition. Not only are these bags of high-quality, durable, and very stylish, they also fold up to nothing and are great to throw in your suitcase.
Charging Brick:
When I travel, I like to spend as little time as possible in
my hostel. You are in a new place, and you need to be out seeing it! But you also
want to capture the exciting adventures, which is hard when your camera,
phone, or other miscellaneous technology is dead.
Cue the portable travel brick! I bought the Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation charger at Target and used it every single day. It is nice to have the comfort of extra power and I never had to limit the number of pictures I was taking.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones:
I get it; small ear buds are handy for carrying around and to save you from awkward situations. But for an avid traveller who spends
hours on trains, planes, and in hostels, noise-cancelling headphones are a
wonderful investment.
My favorite time to use
noise-cancelling headphones is on airplanes. They are great for
crying-baby situations, for tuning out your snoring neighbor, or even for just
cancelling out the white noise.
While many people spend hundreds of dollars of fancy
headphones like these, or these, I saved money by finding an older (but
quality) pair of Sonys on Ebay.
I hope these items prove helpful for you on your next adventure! Look for my backpack review and packing videos which will by uploaded soon.
Also, I have a new email! For questions or business contact, email opinionatedlassie@gmail.com.
Until Next Time,
The Opinionated Lassie
