All My Favorite Travel Gear

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A frequent topic of discussion among travelers is their favorite travel gear to use. Some will swear by one product while others will vow to only buy this other brand’s product. I’ve compiled this list of all my favorite travel gear including some information on how I chose these items and/or why I like them. While I touched on a few of these items in my packing tips post, I go more in-depth about them here. As time goes by this list will evolve with my current items that I use and love when traveling.

Contents

Luggage
Toiletries and Personal Items
Clothing
Footwear
Miscellaneous Gear

Luggage

One of the first things people think about when talking about travel gear is the luggage. It’s easily one of the most important items since it holds everything else you’re bringing with you! Luggage choice is especially important when considering carry-on only travel. My current luggage of choice is a travel backpack, but I’m hoping to acquire a nice set of traditional rolling luggage soon. If/when I do, I’ll be sure to include that as well.

Travel Backpacks:

In order to easily carry our luggage around with us, we decided we’d need some backpacks. After reading a lot of reviews for various backpacks, we selected Osprey’s Farpoint 55L for me and the Osprey Farpoint 70L for my husband since they fit what we were looking for. Each has a detachable 15L day pack that can be zipped onto the front of the bag or clipped to the straps to sit on your chest giving us the versatility we needed when moving from city to city.

The bags unzip all the way around making the accessibility to your possessions on level with a traditional suitcase. This has been much more functional for us than a top-loading backpack that would force us to take everything out when looking for an item at the bottom of the pack. For additional ease when traveling, the backpack straps can all be tucked in and a panel zipped over them to protect the straps from getting damaged if you choose to check the bag when flying.

Not only did the packs have options for S/M or M/L for the torso size, but straps are well padded and easily adjusted to get the fit just right on each person. This range in sizing was very important for us since I’m only 5’2” and my partner is 6’2” (about 1.57m and 1.88m for my friends on the metric system). “One size fits all” does not fit all in this household. 

Packing Cubes:

My partner was skeptical when I first told him about packing cubes, but I argued that we could buy a few just to test out. I bought a set of three of eBag’s Slim Packing Cubes for myself and a pair of Eagle Creek’s Specter Compression Cubes for him. During our trip to Ecuador, we both fell in love with the slim packing cubes. So much so that my husband added a set for himself to his Amazon wishlist as soon as we got home.

The compression cubes didn’t suit such a short trip as much as they might a longer trip. He liked how much space they saved by compressing his clothes, but found them to be difficult to use on a daily basis. These might be better suited to a longer trip when you need to have some clothes set aside for special occasions, unusual weather, or for the second half of a trip. We have since also acquired a set of the eBag’s Classic Packing Cubes that we use when we’re traveling with traditional wheeled suitcases instead of our backpacks.

Toiletry Bag:

With how much I love my packing cubes, does it come as any surprise that I also have an eBags Pack-it-Flat Toiletry Kit? I’d been using a bulky toiletry bag for years that took up significant space in my luggage, so after falling in love with my packing cubes I learned they also made flat toiletry bags. It lays flat, allowing it to lay atop my packing cubes within my bag and taking up much less space than my old toiletry bag. It’s easy to keep everything organized nicely with several separate sections. You can even fit full-size toiletries in here! This has been life changing, folks. It also features a hook to hang the bag up for easy access in hotels, etc. I love it so much that my partner asked for one for Christmas so he could replace his old (and falling apart) toiletry bag.

Toiletries and Personal Items

Now onto the things I put inside my luggage and favorite toiletry bag! Toiletries can be a real pain point when packing for travel since everyone has different needs and specific products they like. My partner and I have been working towards more sustainable products both at home and when we travel to reduce the amount of waste we produce and be kinder to the environment. I’ll update this section as some of the products we’ve been trying out become part of our favorite travel gear.

Toothpaste Tablets:

In an effort to carry less liquids and to go through less plastic tubes of toothpaste, my partner and I decided to try out toothpaste tablets. We picked these Weldental Chewtabs that came with a glass bottle to keep them in. When you run out you can just order refill tablets that arrive in a cardboard box and eco bags that are compostable. While they seemed a little odd at first, we’ve used them for domestic and international trips without having worry about adding to our liquids quota for going through security. It’s easy to toss a few into a section of a pill organizer or into a small container for a quick weekend trip or just bring the whole jar in your travel kit. 

Immunity Support:

Even before Coronavirus and pandemic became part of our daily vocabulary, I always packed some Airborne tablets in my toiletry bag. Travel can be stressful and rough on our bodies which can leave our immune systems fighting keep up, especially since travel can also expose us to germs we may not encounter everyday at home. It always gives me peace of mind to have some vitamins or immunity support with me to help my body keep up with my wild and packed itineraries.

It’s become such a staple in our bags, that now when my partner travels for work he’ll grab a bottle of the Airborne gummies to keep his immune system up while enjoying a treat. He prefers the gummies over the tablets, but I prefer the tablets when going on a trip since they take up less space.

Makeup Remover:

Gentlemen, this one likely isn’t for you (unless of course you like makeup, in which case, read on). I used to always use a liquid makeup remover that I put on cotton pads, balls, or swabs. However, it wasn’t very convenient for travel as the bottle was over the allowable size for carry on liquids and I needed to bring those cotton products to use it with. Then I tried makeup remover wipes which I liked, but they began to feel wasteful over time. 

Enter the MakeUp Eraser towel! With nothing more than warm water, it easily removes all of my makeup (even stubborn waterproof mascara)! One side is meant for removing makeup and the other side has a longer nap which is intended for gentle exfoliation for your skin after you’ve washed off your makeup. Plus it serves as a towel I’m always comfortable using on my face. 

Towels:

Towels are one of those things that come in so handy, but are so difficult to pack. Since we like to travel light, we found these Packtowls so we’d have the convenience of our own towels without the weight and bulk giant beach towels. These fold up quite small and take almost no space in our bags.

According to their website they can absorb 10x their weight in water. While we never measured the water absorbed to weight ratio, they certainly are capable of fully drying you off after a dive in the ocean or rafting down a river. They also claim to dry 40% faster than a cotton towel. Again we never timed them to compare with towels at home, but they do dry pretty quick. There were times we’d hang them in our humid rooms in Ecuador soaking wet, but they would be dry when we woke up so we could pack them for another day of adventures.

We often toss these in our bags even if we’re just going on a day hike since it’s always nice to be able to dip your toes in the water and then dry them off before continuing on your way. 

Clothing

When it comes to clothes it’s important that you bring the right items so you’re comfortable and ready for everything you do while you’re away. I have found that I prefer to have clothes that are both functional and versatile when traveling so they serve their purpose and can be worn for different occasions.

As we got more into outdoor sports and hiking (I was inspired to start hiking more by reading Hold for Hiker Trash), we realized how ill-equipped we were to partake in many outdoor activities. Of course anyone can go out on a hike in whatever they feel like wearing, but it can really help to have the right gear. I always enjoy activities more when I have the right gear for them rather than being uncomfortable in the wrong clothes or shoes.

I’ll start at the bottom and base layers then work my way out.

Socks:

Early in my research for functional/technical clothing for travel I learned about merino wool. It’s a natural material with many of the qualities that technical clothing companies have been trying to reproduce synthetically for years. It’s moisture wicking, quick drying, insulating, breathable, and best of all it’s odor resistant. There are many companies that sell merino wool clothing, but Smartwool has become my personal favorite. Their socks are all I wear when traveling and hiking.

My favorites are the PhD Outdoor Medium Crew socks or the PhD Outdoor Light Micro socks depending on whether I’m wearing long pants, or shorts/capris. Oh I almost forgot, they also help prevent blisters! There have been days when I definitely should have had blistered feet from walking miles in inappropriate shoes. What more could you ask for in a sock?

Is it wrong to have socks be my favorite travel gear item? (If it’s wrong, then I don’t want to be right!)

Base Layers:

More of the merino wool, and my love of Smartwool! I’ve purchased, packed, and worn several Smartwool base layer items over several trips ranging from sweltering Costa Rica to Iceland in January. The lighter weight Smartwool Merino 150 Base Layer top provides lightweight insulation while the heavier Smartwool Merino 250 Base Layer provides a solid base for those much colder days. The ones I’ve purchased have been the perfect pieces to layer on a hike or wear out to a casual dinner in town. My favorite might be the Smartwool NTS 250 Zip Top since the quarter-zip design allows for greater venting and temperature control.

The fact that they’re so versatile and can be worn a couple times between washing (thank you, naturally antimicrobial and odor-resistant merino wool) makes them perfect for your next trip! They’re not cheap, but we’ve found them to be worth the investment as we still use pieces we bought back in 2016.  

Hiking Pants:

Hiking pants can be a tough purchase, especially for ladies. To find a pair that is comfortable, durable, functional, and doesn’t make you look ridiculous is akin to searching for a unicorn. When preparing for our trip to Ecuador, I was looking for a pair of convertible pants as we were trying to pack carry-on only and I didn’t want to have to pack extra items.

After trying on several pairs from different brands I finally settled on Columbia’s Saturday Trail II convertible pants. The material has enough stretch to make maneuvering easy and the fit comfortable, the zipper on the thighs to convert to shorts didn’t dig into my leg as much as every other pair I’d tried (only a little when sitting), and best of all: they actually looked good on.

I’ve had them for about 7 years now and they’ve been on quite a number of adventures. While they haven’t torn, I had some stitching on the back pocket come loose and the material has some minor pilling in high friction areas. Overall I’m quite satisfied with them and would definitely consider buying another pair.

Raincoats:

Having a raincoat during your travels can be a real life-saver since the weather can be so unpredictable and you never know when you’ll need it. When choosing a raincoat to pack on nearly every trip and hike, I prioritized weight and packability. The winning jacket ended up being the Marmot Crystalline as it weighs just over 6oz and packs into its own pocket. The super lightweight material is really breathable (for a raincoat) and I loved that it was cut in a way that’s far more attractive for women than what is often found in outdoor gear. In order to keep the weight down there aren’t a lot of extra bells and whistles, but it still keeps out the rain with adjustable wrists, waist, and hood.

My partner also selected a Marmot jacket, but he chose Marmot’s PreCip model. He wanted something that had a few more features (like zippers at the armpits for venting and the option to roll the hood into the collar when it isn’t needed) and didn’t mind a little additional weight to get that. His jacket still weighs less than 12oz, but he likes the more heavy duty material and those additional features.

Down Jacket:

When I started to look at down jackets, I tried to prioritize weight and warmth. I finally settled on the Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer hooded jacket which is incredibly lightweight coming in under 8oz. Like our raincoats above, it also packs into its pocket for convenient storage when not being worn. Again, like my raincoat I sacrificed extra features to keep it lightweight, but I haven’t found the lack of extras to be detrimental to its functionality. Another thing I like about this jacket is the fit: it’s thin with small baffles and a cut that hugs closer to your torso. I didn’t want to look like a giant marshmallow, so the fit was something I considered when selecting my jacket.

I love that it allows free movement of your arms without affecting how the jackets sits elsewhere. This means doesn’t ride up when you throw your hands up in the air like you just don’t care. Just kidding, but it does allow for a wide range of activities without getting a draft around your torso from a lifted hem. Its materials are also designed to be very breathable adding to its qualifications as a jacket for outdoor activities. The fabric feels pretty delicate, but I haven’t had any issues with durability in the years since I bought it. This is the perfect jacket to toss into my bag if I’m concerned about cold nights or going out on hikes in the late fall or early spring. 

Winter Coats:

Having grown up in Western New York, I’m no stranger to cold weather. It took me a long time to decide to invest in a quality winter coat though. After doing a good amount of research and waiting for a great deal I bought a Canada Goose Kensington Parka. Even on the coldest days of Buffalo’s winter, I felt warm and cozy wearing this coat. There are so many well thought out features on this coat that really add to the overall warmth and comfort. The coat comes down to mid thighs which adds a lot of protection from the elements, but still allows freedom of movement as there’s a dual front zipper and the back has snaps that can be undone. If you’re not experiencing snowy and frigid weather though, this coat will be more than you need.

As for my partner, he chose the Triple F.A.T. Goose Eldridge Parka for his warm winter parka. He claims it’s due to their reputation for great quality and customer service, but I wonder if he’s just wanted one since he was a kid… Ordering clothing online can be difficult so he liked that if you ordered the wrong size it was easy to exchange it for free to get the right one. He’s been very happy with his choice as the coat has kept him warm and toasty on the chilliest days with a comfortable fit. While he purchased during a sale, he still feels that quality fabric and construction was worth it for a coat that will last him for years to come.

Footwear

Hiking Shoes:

Before purchasing hiking shoes, my partner and I did a lot of research into brands and models as well as a lot of testing in person trying on various pairs for fit and comfort. Instead of more traditional hiking boots, we chose to get hiking shoes for a couple of reasons. We wanted to be able to easily pack them for travel and since much of our hiking is limited to day hikes these were all we really needed.

As with much of my favorite travel gear, I tried to prioritize weight when considering which hiking shoes to get. The Salomon Ellipse GTX hiking shoes I finally settled on weigh in at only 1lb 10oz, but are still very functional and comfortable. With Gore-Tex lining and water-resistant materials on the upper portion of the shoe, I’ve never had my feet get wet even when splashing through puddles and hiking in the rain. Although I’ll note that they’re lower cut on the ankle so if I were to walk through a foot of water, the most water-resistant material in the world wouldn’t keep my feet dry.

As with my hiking pants they’ve been on many adventures, and will go on many more since they are still in great shape even 7+ years after purchase. Salomon however, has moved on and replaced this version with updated models.

The Keen Targhee II was the shoe of choice for my partner because he liked how comfortable the wider fit was for his feet. He always wears insoles in all his shoes to get the support he needs, and likes how supportive the Keens are. The solid tread and adjustable lacing on these have helped him maintain his balance and traction on the many miles we’ve hiked together. He loves the sturdy toe box that keeps his toes protected from getting stubbed on rocks if he’s busy checking out the views on the trail. They are significantly heavier than my Salomon hiking shoes, weighing in over two pounds, but he found the extra weight to be worth it for the comfortable fit. Whenever these eventually wear out, I’m pretty sure he’ll be looking at Keen again for a replacement pair.

Winter Boots:

For those who live in areas that experience a cold and snowy winter, this is something you probably already own and don’t think about very much. However, those who live in more temperate or downright tropical climates might know nothing about (and have no idea where to start looking for) cold weather footwear. I grew up near Buffalo, NY and we definitely get a lot of that cold white stuff every winter. Even so, other than some snow boots for playing outside building snowmen and having snowball fights as a kid, I never wore winter boots regularly until my mid-twenties. 

Finally though, I got tired of my feet getting cold and wet everyday trudging through the snow and slush. For my birthday a few years ago my partner got me the Sorel Joan of Arctic II boots I’d been eyeing up for months. My life was instantly changed. Waterproof and well-insulated, these boots are awesome. Now instead of icy cold feet that make walking around outside miserable all winter, my toes stay warm and toasty. The only downside for these boots for travel is that they’re big, bulky, and heavy. I have to wear them on travel days for packing purposes. If you’re traveling to cold weather destinations, I would highly recommend you look for boots that are both warm and waterproof. 

My partner went with the North Face’s Chilkat boots when he was hunting down winter boots. He was looking for a pair of boots that would be very warm while not breaking the bank or weighing him down. Thus far he has been very happy with their warmth for wintry weather.

Miscellaneous Gear

Reusable Water Bottle:

I hardly ever leave my house without my Camelbak eddy water bottle. I’ve had this same bottle for over 13 years now as I bought it on my Semester at Sea voyage in 2010. The durable design has kept me hydrated all over the world and helped me greatly reduce my single-use plastic bottle consumption. Camelbak also has the Got Your Bak™ Lifetime Guarantee which is easy to use and replaced the original top of my bottle when the nozzle component broke in the first couple years I had it. While I love mine, there are a number of other styles available in different materials and replacement parts are readily available if needed. The cleaning brush kit makes keeping your water bottle clean easy with a brush to fit the bottle and a brush for the straw and nozzle. I ended up buying my partner his own bottle a few years ago as he was continually stealing mine.

Outlet Adapter:

This is an item whose inclusion on your packing list depends on where you’re traveling to and from. Clearly if you’re traveling within your own country, carrying an outlet adapter might be a bit unnecessary. However, a lot of international travel will require an adapter for power outlets as many countries use different plug configurations.

I’m quite fond of this Loop Worldwide Adapter Plug as it has the outlet adaption options most commonly found in the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Australia making it the only adapter I’ve needed. It has two USB outlets in addition to a regular outlet for charging multiple electronic devices at once. When I purchased mine I strategically chose hot pink so my partner wouldn’t want to steal it from me. Since he never argues with me over whose it is, I think my strategy worked!

Gear Ties:

Yes, you can use twist ties to keep all your wires and electronics together, but hear me out on this one. We’ve found these Gear Ties are far more durable and long-lasting than the twist ties you get from your average loaf of bread. We use several for all our charging cables and bring a few spares for any miscellaneous needs as we go. Available in a variety of sizes, these are a versatile and affordable way to keep your electronics organized while traveling.

Luggage Scale:

A luggage scale is something that can really come in handy on your travels. Useful when you’re taking advantage of the deals provided by budget airlines (they very well may weigh even your carry-on luggage) or shopping your way around your destination. Such a simple tool that can save you the headache of overweight baggage fees or trying to re-arrange your bags at the airline check-in counter.

I have this Dunheger Digital Luggage Scale which I think has been discontinued. However, this is a small item that I’ve found to be very handy and there are many other luggage scales available that will do the same job. The handle is ergonomically designed to be comfortable in your hand, and the strap is easily wrapped around the handle of any suitcase to weigh it. This is definitely a stress-relieving item as I never worry about going over the ever-shrinking baggage limits allowed by airlines.

Luggage Locks:

Locks are a small item that can make a big difference in the security of your possessions. I always lock all my bags when traveling to reduce the risk of having my bags rifled through and having valuables stolen. Since we are based in the USA, we have a set of TSA approved locks so we can keep our bags secure even when we go through security at airports. They’re great for any kind of luggage including backpacks or duffel bags.

Some luggage now comes with built-in locks which is great to see, but I still like to have these for my other bags that might not have that feature. There are a number of options available including those that have three or four digit combination locks, those with keys, and those with longer, flexible cables for locking various types of bags. I have these Samsonite Brass Key Locks since I would likely either forget the combination or forget to spin the numbers on the lock to random numbers after locking.

First Aid Kit:

You never know what might happen while you’re exploring a new place. While I would definitely advise you to seek medical attention should you have an accident of some sort, if you’ve just acquired a few scrapes, a first aid kit can be great to have stashed in your bag.

My partner made fun of me for bringing one with us on our trip to Colorado. Guess whose knuckles had a painful run-in with some granite boulders during a hike? (Hint: Not mine.) He suddenly had a new appreciation for the antiseptic wipes and bandaids in my kit at the top of that mountain. Something small and simple that’s easily overlooked, yet can be extremely helpful to have on hand. I would highly recommend putting a first aid kit together at home or purchasing a pre-made kit like this one for your travels.

LifeStraw:

This is something we bought before a trip when we weren’t certain of the water situation, but have actually never used. I think a LifeStraw is something that might find more use on a camping trip than when running around a country visiting cities and tourist sites.

Since making this purchase, I’ve seen that they sell LifeStraw Water Bottles that incorporate filters into the bottle. This means you can fill the water bottle and just drink out of it normally rather than sticking a LifeStraw directly into a body of water or a water bottle you’ve filled from a questionable source. Sometimes you live and learn from purchasing travel gear. Learn from my mistakes so you don’t have to make the same ones!

My Favorite Travel Gear is Ever-Changing

I’ve been accumulating my travel gear over the years, keeping the things that work and ditching the things that didn’t. When it comes to favorite travel gear, every traveler you talk to will have their own picks, but these are the things that have consistently found their way into my bag. I hope this helps you weigh the benefits and features of the items you travel with!

Do you have any favorite travel gear you can’t leave home without?