Essential Travel Items to Carry on Your Next Adventure

Nothing makes a trip even more enjoyable than having must-have travel equipment and supplies that enhance the experience. From versatile gadgets to comfortable gear, we’ll take a look at some of my most often-used items when I travel that ensure I’m well-prepared for an enjoyable journey.

Safety Essentials for Peace of Mind

Travel Insurance: Protect yourself against unforeseen circumstances with comprehensive travel insurance. It covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and more, ensuring you can enjoy your adventure worry-free. I use WORLD NOMADS or SAFETY WING as my go-to travel insurance providers. Most travel insurance policies will cover you for trip cancelations or interruptions, medical emergencies, lost/stolen/damaged luggage, accidental death or injury and much more

2. Portable TSA-Approved Travel Locks: Keep your belongings secure with portable travel locks. These small, lightweight locks are perfect for securing your luggage, backpack, or even hostel lockers. A good TSA-approved lock like the Pack All luggage lock should be durable, easy to use, and have a combination code that you can easily remember

3. First Aid Kit: Accidents can happen anywhere, so having a compact first aid kit on hand is essential. Include basic supplies like bandages, pain relievers, antiseptic wipes, and any necessary prescription medication. I personally prefer to use the Mini First-Aid Kit, as its compact enough to fit comfortably in an carry on or suitcase and it comes equipped with all the key essentials.

Essential Gear for an Enjoyable Adventure

Traveling can sometimes be physically demanding, so it's essential to equip yourself with comfortable gear. Consider these items to make your journey more pleasant:

Travel Pillow: Catching some sleep during long flights or train rides can be challenging, but a quality travel pillow can make all the difference. Opt for a versatile design that offers support for your neck and head in various positions. One of my favourite options is the MLVOC Travel Pillow Kit because they not only provide an ergonomic memory foam neck pillow, but they also include ear plugs and a quality eye mask as well. Totally worth the investment for a comfortable flight.
Travel Adapter: Probably one of my most used travel items is a universal travel adapter. Because different countries rely on different electrical power outlets, it’s essential to have a travel adapter that is compatible with the country you're visiting. Some also come with pre-installed USB ports which is an added bonus. I’d recommend using the EPICKA Universal Adapter as it has multiple port including USB plugs too.

3. Portable Charger: If there’s another item I can’t live without, it’s a portable charger. When choosing a portable charger, I like to look for one that has a high-capacity battery, multiple ports, and is lightweight and compact. My personal go-to is the Anker 337 portable charger. It’s fast charging & has 3 USB ports and 2 USB-C ports. If you’re looking a more affordable alternative, I’d recommend checking out the Anker 325. It has fewer ports but is a great & affordable alternative

4. Noise-cancelling headphones: Noise-canceling headphones are a travel-must. I remember being on a long-haul flight from San Fransisco to London and had a crying baby behind me. My headphones made that flight much more peaceful than it could’ve been! If you’re after affordable headphones I’d suggest the Audio Technica ATH-CKS50TW at $149. My next recommendation at a mid-range price point would be the Apple AirPods Pro. They’re a quality staple headphones with incredible noise cancelling abilities. If you’re after something more premium, then I’d suggest the Bose QuietComforts or the AirPods Max.

5. A bluetooth airplane adapter: This is one item that has been a true game changer for me. You’ve probably noticed that you can’t connect your cabled or bluetooth headphones to the airplane entertainment system. You’ve also probably noticed that the headset the airline gives you are usually trash. This adapter by Airfly allows you to connect the entertainment system to your regular 3.5mm headphone jack or your Bluetooth headphones, allowing you to watch movies using your own headphones comfortably.

5. A Durable Suitcase & Backpack: As someone who has tried and tested a bunch of different suitcases, I’ll be the first to tell you that investing in a quality suitcase is critical. You want to look for one that is made of high-quality materials, has sturdy wheels and handles, and has enough space to fit all of your essentials. I personally love July Luggage. Their build quality is incredible and they offer a lifetime warranty on defective wheels, zips, handles and more.