Travel Essentials: What’s Always in Your Bag?

Posted on August 4th, 2009 by JoAnna

080409 - BackpackI can get by with one pair of socks for nearly a week. A bandana is nice but not necessary.

As travelers become more seasoned and seek out reasons to hit the road, two things usually happen. First, they learn to pack lighter for longer durations of time. Second, they discover their travel essentials.

These travel essentials range from the mundane (a baseball cap for my dad) to the sentimental (a necklace my mom gave me before I joined the Peace Corps) to the fundamental (a pair of sturdy, breathable, multi-use shoes for my husband) to the technological (an iPod touch filled with road music and an e-book, again for my husband).

It doesn’t matter where we go or what we do, there are some things that we can’t travel without. In addition to my necklace, there are seven other things I always carry with me. They are:

  1. Baby wipes – For quick clean ups and full-body baths when a shower isn’t available.
  2. Sugar-free, mint-flavored gum – Besides being a gum addict, it works in a pinch if I can’t find my toothbrush or I need to soothe my stomach.
  3. A reusable water bottle – I refill as I go so I’m always hydrated and the earth is always happy.
  4. Zip-lock bags – Where to begin with Zip-lock bags? I use them for packing, separating wet from dry, keeping small stuff in its place and more.
  5. SPF chapstick – As soon as I don’t have it, my lips are dry. It must be a psychological thing.
  6. A roll of toilet paper – I can dig my own hole, squat, hover and tolerate the world’s worst bathroom, but I afford myself the luxury of cleaning up afterward.
  7. A journal – I’m a word girl. ‘nuff said.

Dissect my travel bag and you’ll always find those items, but we’re all different. So now I’d like to know … what are your travel essentials?

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Filed under: General Travel

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24 Responses to “Travel Essentials: What’s Always in Your Bag?”

  1. Donna Hull, on August 4th, 2009 at 4:07 pm Said:

    Give me ziplock bags, breath mints and my laptop and I’m a happy traveler.

  2. Jill, on August 4th, 2009 at 4:33 pm Said:

    My blood pressure pills and a travel-size container of dental floss!

  3. The Skipper, on August 4th, 2009 at 5:06 pm Said:

    Hand sanitizer, JUMBO ziplock bags to keep things dry, DSLR camera and bare necessity camera equipment.

  4. Audrey, on August 5th, 2009 at 9:01 am Said:

    Got all of these in my pack. Gum also helps when you’re starving and in a place without food (e.g.., long-distance bus) – the little bit of sugar keeps me from having a low blood sugar meltdown.

    I’d add ear plugs to the list. I never used them before traveling, but now I’m almost addicted. There is nothing better than a good night’s sleep!

  5. Mark, on August 5th, 2009 at 6:50 pm Said:

    My doggy with her own pack!

    Powerbars and a water filter.

  6. Wista, on August 6th, 2009 at 6:45 am Said:

    My essentials include 81 mg aspirin for heart health, inhaler, and gel (for my unruly hair!).

  7. Cory Haugen, on August 6th, 2009 at 11:25 am Said:

    If it’s going to be a long trip I like to take a paperback that I can leave somewhere once I am done.

  8. Shelley B, on August 7th, 2009 at 7:32 pm Said:

    Some of the same stuff in your list…plus hand sanitizer and hair ties. And a hard glasses case.

  9. TravMonkey, on August 9th, 2009 at 5:30 am Said:

    Nice list, gotta agree with the baby wipes!

    I tend to travel pretty light, so just some havaianas, shorts and a t-shirt! :D

    Thanks,

    Paul @
    TravMonkey.com

  10. Megan, on August 10th, 2009 at 8:49 am Said:

    good list! when backpacking, i always keep some extra straps, a bandana and band-aids.

    i also never travel now without my laptop and camera!

  11. Sarah, on August 18th, 2009 at 6:33 pm Said:

    The spf chapstick is a must for me wherever I go and I am almost exactly the same, the second I realise I dont have my lips are tingling and sore, I cant go anywhere without it. :)

    Cheers Sarah

  12. Gray, on September 14th, 2009 at 9:10 am Said:

    I agree with Audrey on the earplugs. Absolutely essential. I’ve also become fond of my eye mask. And when I fly–a neck pillow. It’s the only way I can sleep on the plane. Also journal, camera, antibacterial wipes, lip balm, spare pair of glasses (in case mine break–I’m practically blind without them), sunblock if I’ll be out in the sun a lot. Lots of snacks. And what would we do without the Ziploc bag? So many uses….the downside of having so many “essentials” is I can never seem to travel light!

  13. leland, on September 14th, 2009 at 3:26 pm Said:

    i agree the baseball cap is a must….if not the head ache from a sunburn will keep you up all night…thanks

  14. Cristina, on September 22nd, 2009 at 8:51 am Said:

    – cell (which is always in my purse actually)
    – step counter (which is always somewhere on my waist LOL)
    – birth control pill! (i travel wt my husband)
    – granola bars or nuts
    – camera (wt charger) + spare cards
    – laptop (wt charger)
    – ibuprofen
    – lip balm
    – baby wipes
    – tic tacs (or sugar free gum)
    – toilet paper / tissues

  15. Kelley Kassa, on September 24th, 2009 at 1:06 pm Said:

    After years of catching a cold anytime I flew more than 2 hours, I’ve developed my list of essentials for carryon:

    – Airborne (yes, I know some people think it doesn’t work)
    – hand sanitizer
    – hand moisturizer (to counteract dryness from sanitizer)
    – travel blanket
    – lip balm
    – EmergenC
    – water

    With the exception of the water, I keep this bag packed and just need to toss it in.

    And, after learning some lessons, here’s what lives in my suitcase all the time

    – spare phone/USB charger
    – spare travel hairdryer
    – power converters
    – corkscrew

  16. Sarah, on October 1st, 2009 at 8:05 am Said:

    I definitely bring the same things every time:

    - CamelBak water bottle
    - Emory board (nail snags are the bane of my existence!)
    - Chapstick
    - Laptop

  17. neha, on October 1st, 2009 at 8:17 am Said:

    mints, paperback, lip balm, hand sanitizer, notebook and pen.

  18. Doug, on October 1st, 2009 at 10:02 am Said:

    * Sony PSP (with at least 3 games and 2 movies loaded up)
    * iPod
    * Headphones
    * Kindle

  19. lynn, on October 1st, 2009 at 10:07 am Said:

    - headlamp
    - silk cocoon travel sheet
    - ear plugs
    - AlphaSmart neo (because it’s light and inexpensive so if it goes missing, it’s not a tragedy)

  20. Abbie, on November 19th, 2009 at 8:14 pm Said:

    camera
    cell
    book/book reader
    my folder with my travel stuff
    lip balm
    notebook of sort

  21. Peter West Carey, on November 19th, 2009 at 8:42 pm Said:

    A comb. Hair this beautiful doesn’t just start like this, Baby!!

  22. 24 Creative Uses for Sarongs When Traveling | Kaleidoscopic Wandering, on December 10th, 2009 at 12:18 pm Said:

    [...] I didn’t list it as one of my travel essentials, one thing I don’t spend time debating about is whether or not to pack a sarong. I got my [...]

  23. 7 Tips for Your First Cruise | Cruising Tips | Kaleidoscopic Wandering, on February 1st, 2010 at 1:14 pm Said:

    [...] Travel Essentials: What’s Always in Your Bag [...]

  24. Catia, on March 1st, 2010 at 6:06 pm Said:

    My bare essentials would be a camera, macbook, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, hat, light summer scarf, gum, lip balm, passport ;) , snack bars, water and of another vote for ziplock bags… those are incredibly handy!

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