I don’t know about you but I find packing lists super useful. When I’m heading to a new country, I like to research exactly what travel gear I need to bring to make the most out my trips. I even enjoy sharing my own packing lists with readers, so that they leave anything important behind!
However, there are certain things that I don’t include in these posts because they’re universal – I take them on every single trip no matter what. So, I’ve put together a resource of those items that I couldn’t live without when traveling.
I’ve had to learn the hard way that, when it comes to travel, quality is king. Whilst I love saving money in other areas of my life, I try to pick items for travel that I know will last a long time and work perfectly. Trust me, the last thing you need is your backpack breaking on you halfway through an around the world trip. Or your walking boots giving you blisters and hour into your hike!
These are my very favourite travel items that I couldn’t imagine living without.
I’ve also included a list of my favourite travel books towards the end of the page. When you’re unable to travel, it’s nice to find inspiration and escapism between the pages of a book. The ones listed are my 5 star reads.
Tech Gear
I love blogging about my travels, so electronics are an essential. I think nowadays most people enjoy taking a bit of tech with them, be that their smartphone, laptop, or camera gear.
If you like taking photos whilst on your trip, I’d highly recommend investing in a hard drive. Losing those once in a lifetime snapshots is devastating and completely avoidable if you back everything up to a hard drive. The WD My Passport Hard Drives are my personal favourites.
I’m also a big believer of carrying a portable charger with me, particularly if I’m traveling solo. I like to know that my phone will always be available to use, should I need it in an emergency! I switched to a long charging cable a couple of years ago and will never go back – so perfect for when the hotel plug socket is halfway across the room but you want to scroll from your bed!
Travel Essentials
These are the things that I consider to be travel gear essentials. I take them with me on every single trip and I’d be lost without them. In terms of backpacks, this one is my absolute favourite and I can’t imagine ever swapping it out. I’ve written a full review of it here, if you’re interested to find out more.
Packing cubes will change you life. However, I’d highly recommend getting some good quality ones. There are plenty of cheaper options on the market but they fall apart so easily and don’t do a good job compressing the clothes (believe me, I’ve tried them!)
In terms of beauty items, I always have this lip balm with me. It’s super nourishing for that dry plane air and is the only lip balm I’ve used for the past 4 years. I also like to to take a reusable makeup eraser cloth with me. This allows me to remove my makeup whilst reducing the impact that makeup wipes have on the environment.
Hiking Gear
I’m currently in the process of preparing to walk the length of the UK in the summer of 2021 (it’s for MND Association and you can read about my mum’s story here), so I’ve had to invest in quite a bit of hiking gear for my practice trips. These are the things that have made a massive difference so far.
I’m a big fan of these walking shoes. They’re super comfortable and also really lightweight. I also like to use hiking poles. These dramatically reduce the amount of pressure I put on my knees and allow me to walk for much longer. They might not feel like the coolest thing in the world but they work!
Generally I wouldn’t be too bothered about having a solar panel charger, however, this trip will be 2-3 months long. That’s a lot of camping! So this charger is an absolute necessity!
Travel Books
As an English graduate, I love reading almost as much as I love travel. These books are ones that whisk me away on adventures and inspire lots of my planning. Especially in a post-covid world, these incredible travel journeys are a great sources of escapism and inspiration.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed was the first travel memoir I ever read and the beautiful writing made me fall head over heels for the genre. Levison Wood has a number of great travel adventure books, Eastern Horizons being his first. If you’re looking for inspiration to embark on your first big trip, then this is the book for you!
I re-listen to The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country every single year without fail. It’s an absolute treat!
