Traveling is one of life’s little joys. Not only does it open your eyes to new experiences you may never have imagined, but it also allows you to escape from the monotony of your everyday life (a little harsh but true!). However, after exploring for a while, you will get the travel bug and discover that you must fulfill your desire to see the world more often. With this new-found love of adventure comes the need to begin packing correctly, so you can enjoy each experience as much as possible. This post will cover six vital things that all well-traveled individuals need to have with them to make their lives easier and more comfortable, regardless of where they end up!
Luggage That Can Withstand The Rigors Of Regular Travel
If you thought checking your luggage into a plane was hazardous to its health, wait until you reach slightly less developed nations and see how they treat it! Consequently, when traveling far and wide, you need to look for a luggage set that’s lightweight but durable. Since it will be banged about pretty severely during your trip, it needs to be made of extremely tough stuff to endure years of use. However, it should also be lightweight, not only to reduce the chances of getting scalped at the airport for being overweight but also since you will be lugging it around everywhere you go. Some of the best materials to look out for when in purchasing mode include:
- Polycarbonate
- ABS
- Polypropylene
These will ensure everything remains as it should while being light enough not to cause backache and general discomfort. One other thing to check is that the zips are strong enough to withstand repeated openings and can hold together when you’ve filled it to the brim!
A Reliable Power Bank With Enough Juice To Last Several Days
Long gone are the days of the battered Lonely Planet travel guide, and almost everything runs on electricity these days. Moreover, regardless of where you travel, you will likely have a device that needs power. Therefore, it’s prudent to invest in a power bank with a high capacity to keep your electricals primed and ready for yet another photo of your food to upload to Instagram (or film for TikTok as seems to be the way nowadays). Just be aware that the maximum you can carry on a plane is usually up to 27.000mAh, but this is generally more than enough to recharge a phone several times and even a low-powered laptop.
A Noise-Canceling Headset (Non-Negotiable!)
You will thank the Gods that you remembered to pack your noise-canceling cans when you’re sitting in front of a screaming baby, locked inside a tin can for hours that run into the double digits! They also help if you have to take any form of overnight transportation as they keep the general din of the road down to a minimum. If you cannot afford these or want an analog option, just in case, you can always invest in quality earplugs (quality is key, so they are comfortable and effective).
Power Strips With Multiple Ports, Including USBs
If you are the type of person who regularly travels and blogs, creates videos, or otherwise works online, you might find that a high-quality power strip will be your best friend throughout your journey. These are lightweight and don’t take up much space, but they offer incredible utility if you need to charge up multiple things overnight but are staying somewhere without enough sockets. Make sure they are rated for the power of the country you visit (most of the world uses 230v) and contain a couple of slots to plug USB devices into.
A Basic First-Aid Kit
You might think that a first-aid kit is unnecessary to carry with you as you traverse the globe, but you’d be wrong…very wrong. While you don’t need to go overboard, having a few essentials like antiseptic cream, band-aids, painkillers et al. will go a long way if or when you require them. You can either buy an off-the-shelf kit or make one yourself. If you choose the latter, do some research on the location you’ll visit, so you can customize it to fit the climate.
Travel Day Bags For When You’re At Your Destination
Regardless of how amazing your luggage is, you will struggle to enjoy yourself if you don’t have a decent day pack. It might sound crazy, but if you don’t have a good bag to carry your various belongings and other things you purchase, any trip you make will become extremely tiring.
One solution to this problem is to invest in a dry bag. These waterproof bags are ideal for carrying your belongings during outdoor activities, water sports, or rainy days. They also keep essential items safe from dust, sand, and dirt.
If you want to travel, that’s great, but make sure you bring the right things. While this post has laid out a few items that will make your trip go smoothly, you should also do your own research and see if any location-specific things will make your travels more comfortable.
