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These travel accessories are everything a beginner or even seasoned traveler needs! We’ve been traveling since 2011, and have been molding this list of essential travel gear since then. We started traveling with way more than we needed, and have since slimmed down our packs with these travel accessories here.
From what bags to use, to what toiletries to bring, and even our top recommended electronics for traveling, these are the travel accessories every traveler needs.
Travel Bags
Gone are the days of lugging around massive luggage, and in are the days of traveling with only a pack on your back. We 100% believe you can always travel carry-on only. Traveling to cold climates, backpacking around the world with your tent in tow, or doing a city escape.. you only need a carry-on!
We’ve been traveling since 2014 with carry-on only, and can tell you time and time again it’s the only way to go! But that’s another post.. read why we recommend traveling with only hand luggage here.
The Best Travel Backpack | Peak Design Everyday Pack
Both of us have this backpack and love everything about it. With the water resistant material and extra padding, you can count on your gear being safe. The separate compartment for the laptop makes it super easy to access your computer for security in airports and daily use. The adjustable “shelves” inside make it easy to separate all your gear/clothes, and the top compartment makes it grow in size with no problem. Oh.. and the zippers on both sides for easy access to the inside.. it’s seriously great! Can’t recommend this backpack enough!
Travel Safe Purse | PacSafe CitySafe Handbag
I have this purse love it. It’s not some ugly bulky purse, and fits so much more than you think! I even put our camera in it sometimes! With the added RFID blocking protection, and the slash safe strap and mesh, it’s so nice walking around big cities and not having to worry about someone swiping your purse or stealing your credit card information while walking by!
Slash Proof Fanny Pack | PacSafe Anti-Theft Hip Pack
We’ve had this fanny pack since the very beginning of our travels. Now, fanny packs are the new trend, so you won’t have to own it as much as we did! 😉 But a fanny pack is great for keeping passports, money, phones, and small cameras right in front of you. It has multiple slots for credit cards too. This one, in particular, is slash proof. Meaning, someone can’t just come by and cut it off of you. It also has a lockable zipper, ensuring your belongings won’t get stolen, and is equipped with RFID blocking capabilities.
Packable Day Bag | Mini Shopper Reusable Bag
We don’t actually have this exact bag, but just including this so you can see a simple tote bag we typically travel with. You may be able to find one in the store for cheaper… But a bag like this is nice for throwing stuff in for the beach or to use as a shopping bag when getting groceries.
Space Saver Compression Bags | Rollup Compression Socks
Jason and I don’t use packing cubes, but since a lot of people like them, we wanted to look into them for you. These ones seemed to be the best deal and the best reviews!! Over 600 reviews and 4.5 stars!! We just roll our clothes and find that works perfectly for us, but if you want to try using these bags you could. Although we recommend if you really think you need these, you should check out this post about downsizing your luggage!
Toiletry Bag | Sea to Summit Bag
This toiletry bag is just the right size. It’s big enough to fit my razor, toothbrush, makeup, brush, shower supplies, and more. The really nice thing about it is that if you don’t fill it to the brim, it smooshes down really easily because the material is super thin, so it really doesn’t take up extra room in your pack. I always pack in it in the bottom of my backpack with my towel! Fits perfect! Sea to Summit makes both a large and small version of this bag. Jay uses the small one, while I use the large one, and we each really like them both.
We’ve had them for over five years, using them every day, and they are still holding up great!
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Travel Accessories For The Bathroom
Pack Towel | Raqpac Personal Travel Towel
There are loads of different pack towels out there.. And we’ve had a couple of other ones, but this has been our favorite. We’ve found it absorbs the best and doesn’t smell bad even after a couple of weeks using it! I have the XL one, but you could get away with a smaller one. You can use this as a towel on the beaches and if any of your accommodation doesn’t have towels to use.
Liquid Containers | 3 oz Liquid containers
These you could purchase via Amazon or you could buy at a local store. We actually don’t have these exact ones, we bought ours at a local store similar to these though. You just want to make sure they’re good quality so your liquids don’t leak! Be sure if you shop for something in your local store, you get containers that are 3 oz or less ensuring it’s TSA approved.
Best Electronics For Travel
Travel Adapter | World Adapter
This universal travel adapter is perfect because it has two USB ports so you can charge your phone and battery pack without having to bring multiple plugs. With the multiple different travel adaptors in one, it’s great to use when visiting multiple different countries. It’s compact, lightweight, and has lasted us a really long time! Be sure to only use this to charge electronics like computers, cameras, phones, and power banks. It’s not meant to run blow driers or larger electronics.
Camera | Canon EOS R6
We use this camera to shoot basically everything you see on this website from 2015 onward, though will soon be upgrading to this camera. However, if you’re not into photography, or aren’t going to feel comfortable lugging a large camera around phone cameras work really great these days, or the new GoPro9 is a great camera too!
Power Bank | Anker Battery Pack
Nothing is worse than your phone or kindle dying mid-flight. With phones being so much more than just a well, a phone, these days, it’s important to land with your phone fully charged. This battery pack (power bank) is the one we use and love. It has two ports, and can charge a phone up to eight times! We also use it to charge our camera batteries too! Nothing better than having portable power!
Earphones | TOZO Wireless Earbuds
Are they even called headphones anymore? Airpods, earphones, headphones — whatever you want to call them, bring them! Download your favorite music, podcast, or audiobook and have something to listen to on long flights and bus or train rides!
Clean and Comfort Travel Accessories
Handy Tool | Carabiner
This is literally the best travel hack we have. Packing a carabiner or two is the number one thing we recommend to travelers. On your flight, use the carabiner to hook your water bottle to the seatback in front of you. This way, your water bottle doesn’t roll all over the ground, and you can easily access it whenever you’re thirsty! While walking around secure your water bottle, extra shoes, or really anything to your pack with one too! Easily the best travel accessory to bring with you!
Bed Liner | The Friendly Swede
While you won’t really need something like this for most places in Western Europe, it’s super nice to have when traveling to places in South America, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the like. These bed liners are literally silky smooth and add that extra peace of mind for keeping you clean while staying in hostels.
Freshen Up Goods | Flushable Wet Wipes
Wet wipes are a must-have for any and all travel. I don’t care where you’re going, you should always have a small bag of baby wipes in your pack. They work great for freshening up your armpits after a long flight. Are awesome for wiping down accidental spills on clothes you won’t wash too often, and if you add a dab of alcohol to them, they’re great for sanitizing too!
Keeping Yourself Clean on The Go | Hand Sanitizer
Even pre-COVID19, hand sanitizer was something we always carried around. You never know when a bathroom doesn’t have soap, or when you have a nice picnic in a park and need to wash your hands before eating. There’s also always those times where you feel like you just touched something real dirty and need to sanitize too.
Please be mindful when using sanitizer in public though. You don’t want to give off the impression that locals and their belongings are “dirty” or “gross” in any way.
Staying Hydrated | Water Bottle
Staying hydrated while traveling is really important. It’s easy to forget water and be stuck spending loads of money on small bottles that are bad for the environment and the wallet. We always travel with our Hydroflasks, as they keep drinks both hot and cold. But we’ve read great things about the Nomader collapsible water bottle (saving you space when not in use) — though it should really always be full anyway, and also always travel with our Nalgene when camping or backpacking.
Travel-Friendly Clothing and Shoes
Teva Sandals | Fashionable but also Hikeable Sandals
You’re going to want a nice pair of sandals to wear out at night/to dinner at nicer places, that can double as a shoe to wear in shared showers, in the water, or hiking. I flipping LOVE my Tevas.. they’re super practical, I can hike in them all day long, but also just wear them to dinner or whatever without looking like a backpacker. Most Tevas are lightweight and compact so great to slip into your backpack.
Buff/Headband
We never travel without a buff (or well knock off buff). It’s one of the most diverse travel accessories to bring. Buffs work to keep your ears warm on chilly nights. Can be used to cover up hair you haven’t washed in multiple days. And, our favorite, they work great as eye masks on long flights, train rides, or drives!
Like we said above, we’ve been perfecting this travel accessory list for many years, but we know there’s always something to learn. If you have special accessories you can’t travel without, let us know! We’d love to hear your ideas! If you’re new to the traveling world, what travel accessory on this list surprised you the most?
One item that didn’t make the list, but is something that is super useful when traveling with a checked bag is a digital luggage scale. If you plan to pack suitcases or check-in your luggage, luggage scales are lifesavers. When we moved to Scotland, we used our luggage scale on both the move there and back to make our bags the perfect weight, before getting to the airport and having to rearrange our luggage at check-in!
More Travel Tips
What Toiletries To Pack For Your Carry-on Luggage
Don’t Travel Abroad Without These Items
11 Mistakes To Avoid on Your Next Adventure
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