Every year, new travel gadgets and equipment upgrades hit the market. A quick search for “travel” on Amazon will almost always lead to 10 or 15 purchases. But not all of these travel items are worth packing and even though some of them may look cool, you’ll never use them.
After traveling for more than 10 years With nothing more than a 40 liter backpack, we learned to really minimize our travel gear and only pack the best (and necessary) travel items.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a few luxury items in our bags. There are some things in our packs that you’ve probably never heard of, and others that are more common.
In this article, I will list 20 essential travel items that we have in our bags. These are items we couldn’t travel without and we don’t think you should either!
Note: The most important thing you travel with is your backpack itself. Don’t miss our buying guide for best travel backpacks of the year and make sure your pack does everything you want.
Disclaimer: GoatsOnTheRoad.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please see our Privacy page for more information.
1. Handpresso (for coffee fanatics!)
We absolutely love the Hand pressa compact espresso machine with a manual pump. As coffee lovers who aren’t crazy about brewed coffee (we only like espresso), this is one travel item we wouldn’t leave the house without.
Simply pump it 30 times, add hot water and a pod of your favorite coffee and voilà, you have the perfect cup of espresso. For budget travelers who order lattes from coffee shops every day, the Handpresso can be a huge money saver.
Think about it.
A large latte at Starbucks costs around $3.65. We buy a bag of ground espresso coffee at the grocery store for just $4.50 (or less) and that bag makes about 40 cups of coffee. Add a little milk and we calculate that we pay no more than 15 cents per latte.
Money savings aside, we love this little pump.
We source delicious ground beans from all over the world. Colombian Dark Roast ColombiaJava rich in Indonesia and a tasty espresso from Italy. We wake up every morning and instead of walking to a coffee shop or conglomerate, we make lattes right in our accommodation and drink them on our patio.
If you like espresso, you should travel with a Handpresso pump. The only real downside is that they are quite heavy, around 800 grams. Even though we only travel with 40 liters, we always find room for this essential travel item.
💡 Bonus tip: Pick up one boil the coil on Amazon Also. This handy little gadget can boil water in minutes and is super compact. If you don’t have a kettle, simply plug it in and add it to a cup of water and you’ll be enjoying boiling hot coffee in no time. The boiling coil is also great for tea, cooking a cup of noodles, or even making hard boiled eggs.
UPDATE: Many people now use the Aeropress coffee machine for traveling. While we’re still happy using the Handpresso, you may want to compare it to the Aeropress and see which one works best for you. It’s certainly lighter, but does it make better coffee? Having used both now, I still think Handpresso has the upper hand, but that’s up to you.
2. Zippered Cubes
We still swear by these things. They keep your bag organized and ensure everything is compressed so you can fit more in your bag than by simply rolling up clothes and putting them inside.
We bought Eagle Creek Zippered Cubes and they are incredibly durable. We’ve had them since 2010 and got them so tight we had to kneel on them and pull the zippers just to get them closed. To this day, the zippers have held up and still work like new.
There are many brands like this on the market, but the only ones we have ever used are Eagle Creek and we know they are incredibly durable. This is one of the best travel items to have, whatever your style: backpack or suitcase, these cubes keep everything organized.
3. A drone
When we first bought our DJI Phantom 3 in 2014, drones were mostly reserved for professional videographers, vloggers and bloggers who wanted aerial photos. Nowadays, drones have become smaller, more durable and easier to fly.
We moved on to the DJI Spark, which is so small it can fit in any backpack or luggage. It comes with a hard foam case to protect it and it takes great videos and photos. If you like to take unique photos while you travel, then this thing is perfect.
It sets up in minutes, can be controlled using just a smartphone, and has plenty of cool features like tracking, hand gestures, and point of interest. The drone can be flown by a child as young as 12, and DJI has made it very easy to get great cinematic shots.
If you are a blogger, I highly recommend picking one up. At just $399, you really can’t go wrong. But even if you’re not a blogger, these little drones are great for getting great video clips and beautiful photos of the sky while you travel.
DJI recently released the MavicMini drone which definitively replaces the Spark. With a 2.7K camera, improved Wi-Fi, and a 3-axis gimbal, all for the same price as the Spark, I will definitely upgrade to the Mavic Mini as soon as possible!
4. Portable charger (external battery)
Believe it or not, we didn’t travel with a power bank until mid-2017. I really don’t know how we did it. iPhones and other devices barely last a day, so we were always walking around with completely dead and useless electronics.
Today we travel with 3 different portable chargers, in 3 different sizes for different situations.
There’s no need to remove the heavy power bank if you’re only going out for the day, and the smallest one we have only charges the iPhone to 50%, so we only use it if we’re running out the door and realize our phones are dead.
This portable charger from Rav Power has 3 outputs, is compatible with new iPhones and charges most smartphones 6 times on a single charge! We personally use this TP-Link power bankbut the Power of the Rav is higher rated, more affordable, and offers more fees.
Of course, these portable chargers aren’t just for smartphones. You can charge tablets, cameras and anything that uses a USB drive to charge.
Finally, we pack the Travel map. This thing is about the size of two credit cards stacked on top of each other, but it doesn’t have much charge. If we’re lucky, iPhones will be charged to 50%, but we can usually only count on that to around 35%. Still, it’s great if we just need a quick battery boost and don’t want to carry anything heavy.
Note: Traveling with carry-on luggage makes flying much less stressful. To find out whether or not your baggage will meet the restrictions of the airline you are traveling with, consult this hand luggage size chart which shows the allocation of over 170 airlines.
5. Noise-cancelling headphones
I wasn’t sure what all the fuss about “noise canceling” was until I tried a pair of Bose QuietComfort 20 Noise Canceling Headphones. These things are very comfortable and actually cancel out most of the noise coming from the room or the plane.
The best part is that you don’t need to listen to music to cancel out the noise. You can simply put on the earphones and activate the noise canceling feature. The headphones will analyze the audio climate of the room and neutralize any noise by sending the opposite signal into your eardrum.
They work wonderfully and really need to be heard to be believed. Oh, and they’re Bose, so you know they sound amazing when playing music.
Another option if you’re looking for a Bluetooth option (and if you’re an Apple fan), are the Apple Airpods Pro. We have a pair each, and these noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones are perfect for working out, listening to podcasts, and chatting on the phone – without the annoying cord getting in the way.
6. Laser Lite Earplugs
Continuing the theme of blocking out unwanted sounds, I wouldn’t travel without a good set of earplugs. When I have the opportunity to order my favorites from Amazon, I always choose Laser Lite Foam Earplugs.
They are soft, comfortable and block out as much sound as possible without hurting your ears. You can buy a pack of 200 for just over $20 and they are worth every penny. To get the most out of them, you will need to pinch and insert them into your ear, then let them extend deep into the canal.
Earplugs are an essential travel item for everyone: dogs barking, music blaring, fireworks, loud traffic, people partying… all of this happens when you’re trying to sleep!
7. Good compact camera
Every traveler should pack a good pocket camera, although these days what iPhones can do is pretty amazing!
If you want to take better photos and great videos while you travel, without packing the size and weight of a full DSLR or mirrorless, then I recommend the Canon G7x Mark II.
This camera has incredible features, takes great photos (when not in auto mode), and produces some of the best videos of any camera in its class. Canon has now updated this camera to the G7X III but be careful. Many users complain of poor focus and overheating.
If you’re not a Canon fan, you might want to go for the Lumix LX10. This one outperforms the G7x II with 4K video and rack focus photography, meaning you can take the shot now and decide where to focus later. A great feature that is definitely worth it. Additionally, the LX-10 has a Leica lens that promises clearer and sharper photos.
Having used the G7x Mark II for over a year, I can say that it is an excellent camera and I highly recommend it, especially for videos.
Another option and camera we recently upgraded to is the Sony RX100 VIIwhich has excellent retinal focus, an external mic port and takes great photos.
💡 Bonus tip: The G7x II and LX10 do not have an external mic port. If you plan to shoot video with these cameras, the sound from the built-in mics is terrible in even the slightest wind. The solution is to take a small mic sleeve, cut a piece out, and glue it to the built-in mic at the top of the camera. The sound becomes less tinny and the mic works surprisingly well in windy weather.
8. Lems Shoes
I can’t talk enough about these amazing travel shoes. Nick’s Lems shoes have lasted him over four years and he wears them a lot.
They are extremely comfortable, can be used in place of dress shoes and running shoes in most cases and the best part is they roll up into a ball for easy storage.
These are without a doubt the best shoes Nick has ever owned and if they ever wear out he will buy another pair immediately. For men and women, these are simply the best travel shoes on the market.
9. Ziploc Bags
Not only do these plastic bags take up practically No place in your suitcase and weigh nothingbut they have a variety of uses, making them one of the best travel items.
If you listen to music at the beach, these bags are a great way to keep sand out of your speakers or phone. If you’re hiking in the rain, putting your electronics in Ziplocs is a great way to protect them.
Use a Ziploc to protect your electronics when you’re near water, to keep cords from getting tangled in your luggage, to keep small gels or lotions from spilling all over your bag, and, of course, to carry snacks.
We wouldn’t travel without them.
10. Bluetooth Speakers
Nowadays, everyone travels with Bluetooth speakers. When you’re getting ready to head out for the night or just relaxing on the deck of your beach shack watching the sunset, having some music playing in the background can really set the mood.
Not just any Bluetooth speaker will do the job either. You’ll want to have a good mix of durability and great sound. We currently have the JBL Flip 5 speakerswhich are completely waterproof. If you are looking for affordable Bluetooth speakers in 2020, these are my top pick.
JBL speakers are quite lightweight, durable and affordable.
We have taken them to the beach a few times and don’t worry about them getting wet or sandy. Additionally, we use them to listen to music and watch shows on TV.
If I was looking for pure sound quality and didn’t care about weight and size, I would go for the Soundlink Mini II Limited Edition.
They’re still small enough that you can travel with them, but at a pound and a half, they’re quite heavy and cost around $200. If you don’t mind the extra half-pound weight and don’t care about waterproofing, they’re probably your best choice for sound quality.
11. Portable Door Stop (or Door Stop Alarm)
Safety is probably one of your biggest concerns when traveling.
Something that takes up as little space as a doorstop can give you an extra layer of security, especially if you’re staying in a hostel or other location that doesn’t follow typical security practices.
While this standard doorstop prevents entry into a room, a door stop alarm like this one emits sounds of 120 decibels – quickly waking you from your sleep!
12. Locks
Since we’re talking about security, don’t forget to take a padlock (or two). These little devices will come in handy when it comes to hostel lockers, gym lockers, and even your check-in bags.
Make sure your locks are TSA approved so they don’t need to be cut if your luggage needs to be opened during travel. selection process. (TSA Approved Locks can be opened by security officers using a master key.)
Pro Tip: A keyed lock gives you one more thing to lose (or forget!). Instead, use a code lock.
13. Plug adapter (and maybe a converter)
Before you leave, save yourself a world of frustration by check to see whether you will need a plug adapter (if you are traveling to a country where electrical outlets are shaped differently) or a voltage converter (if your destination uses different electrical voltages and frequencies).
Chargers for devices such as smartphones and laptops are usually compatible with both North American and European frequencies – but don’t take this for granted. Be sure to check the fine print on each adapter before plugging it in, otherwise you run the risk of damaging your device.
For a tip: A universal adapter like this one lets you charge your electronic devices in hundreds of countries around the world and offers two USB ports.
14. Wet wipes
Wet wipes are great for disinfecting a dodgy room, wiping down your area on a plane, cleaning when you don’t have access to soap and water, and even cleaning your clothes. Plus, they have no trouble getting through airport security!
These disinfectant wipes also come in handy when you’re going hiking or trekking on a hot day, or if you are in the dusty desert and you want a quick “bath”.
It’s been an essential travel item in our bags for many years now. Once you travel with them, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them.
15. Diva Cup
This one is just for the ladies!
When you’re traveling around the world, getting your period can be more difficult than at home. If you can believe it, tampons are hard to find in many countries, there are often no trash cans in bathrooms, and in many places you can’t flush anything down the toilet.
This is where the Diva Cup This silicone menstrual cup can be worn for over 8 hours (great for long travel days), and it won’t take up a lot of space in your bag like bulky tampons do. It is easy to use and easy to clean.
But the best? This will save you money and be great for the environment. I highly recommend it.
☞ SEE ALSO: Pills, Paps and Periods – How to Manage Women’s Health on the Road
16. Reusable bottle and Steri-Pen
Since we’re talking about being a responsible traveler, unless you’re drinking glacier water or traveling to a developed country, you probably won’t be able to drink the tap water in the destination you’re visiting.
Buying bottled water is a necessity, but then what happens to all the empty bottles? Just think about the amount of waste you produce when you travel abroad, especially for an extended period of time.
Instead, bring a reusable bottle and a Steri-Pen.
When we are live somewhere for about a monthwe always buy one of those 18L water bottles and just fill our glasses/bottles as needed. If we’re just traveling, we try to always carry a reusable bottle and refill it wherever drinking water is available.
In Mexicoalmost every business and inn had a jug of drinking water for customers and guests. In other parts of the world, something like a Steri-Pen cleaning and sterilizing the water, or using water purification tablets is a good idea.
Wherever you are, try to find a way to avoid drinking water from disposable bottles.
17. Travel Clothing
When trying to minimize the weight and size of your luggage, you’ll want to pack clothes that are versatile and lightweight, yet comfortable.
I have owned Prana clothing for 6 years now. Initially, I was looking for new hiking pants that were stretchy, soft, and (most importantly) wouldn’t stick to my legs in the humidity of a tropical destination. THE Room pants is perfect for that.
Even if you’re not trekking or hiking, these pants are a good choice for travel days. While I always wear them for multi-day hikes, I also always wear them on flight days because they are very comfortable and stylish.
Prana offers a wide range of loose, relaxed pants that you can wear to explore cities, take the bus, do yoga or just hang out on the beach in the evening. They also have plenty of shirts and lightweight clothing for adventurers.
They have been around for 22 years now and have to be the most ethical clothing company I have ever found. They strive to give back to the earth rather than take, and are very conscious of the use of water, energy and chemicals during manufacturing.
Their clothing is made from organic cotton and recycled materials while avoiding the use of toxins and harmful chemicals. Many of their clothes are also fair trade certified! In my opinion, Prana clothing is a travel essential.
18. A pillowcase
It’s simple. We always each pack a pillowcase.
For what?
If a pillowcase is “pilly”, or there’s a question about its cleanliness, it’s nice to know you have your own that you can slip on!
Additionally, if you’re hiking or trying to sleep on a long bus ride, you can stuff the pillowcase with clothes and create a makeshift pillow.
19. First aid kit
When it comes to medications and first aid items, the further you are from the slopes, the more items you will need to carry. For a regular vacation, you should always have these essential travel medical items in your bag:
- Dressings (dressings)
- Antibiotic/antiseptic lotion for cuts and scrapes (e.g. Polysporin)
- Ibuprofen/Paracetamol or some kind of pain reliever and fever reducer (Tylenol, Advil, Panadol, etc.)
- Nausea/indigestion/diarrhea/stomach upset pills (i.e. something with bismuth: Pepto-Bismol)
- Cold and flu pills (i.e. Benylin, Benadryl, Tylenol, etc.)
- Sore throat lozenges
- Antihistamine (for allergic reactions to everything from hay fever to insect bites).
- Vaseline
- Immune boosters (we like oregano and ginger oil)
- Tweezers, nail clippers and safety pins (for splinters, ingrown toenails, blisters, etc.)
- Hydroalcoholic gel
20. Travel towel
We have been traveling with a travel towel since our very first trip in 2008. If you choose to sleep in hostels, guesthouses or shelters, towels will often not be provided or they will charge a security deposit to rent them.
Travel towels are thin, lightweight, super absorbent and microbial (meaning they don’t smell!).
They have more uses than just drying off after a shower: you can take them to the beach, waterfalls, use them as a blanket for a picnic, sit on them on a dirty seat, create shade at the beach, etc.
We have the MSR Pack Towelwhich has been going strong since 2011!
21. Cordless Hair Styling Tools
The biggest problem with traditional hair tools is that they’re bulky and you always seem to be reaching for an outlet that’s near a mirror. But recently I started packing either my TYMO CurlGo (a cordless automatic hair curler) or TYMO ClamGo (a cordless hair straightener).
Because they are both wireless, rechargeable and compact, they are very easy to throw in your luggage without taking up a lot of space, and you can use them almost anywhere without being connected to a power outlet.
So let us be roadtrip in Ireland in a motorhome or I just want to style my hair after a long flight or a humid day of sightseeing, it’s quick and easy to freshen up.
Sure, they’re not an essential travel item for everyone, but if you like to look your best while traveling, they’re one of those little luxuries that make life a little easier.
22. Bonus: Essential Travel Gear for Pets
Are you traveling with a pet? Make sure you take these essential items. Don’t forget to bring a vaccination record, a suitable crate and a blanket if your pet is allowed to sit on your lap. Always bring a few treats, a chew toy, and waste bags just in case!
If you have an emotional support animal and are traveling within the United States, you should be able to carry your ESA in flight in accordance with the Air Carrier Access Act.
Most airlines require these items: an ESA letter from your licensed mental health professional, a pet health form signed by your veterinarian, and a behavioral form. You can learn more about emotional support animals and the Air Carrier Access Act. here.
Now you know the best travel items
It’s amazing how much a well-packed bag can help mom make traveling more enjoyable. Packing the right gear can save you time and money, create a pleasant ambiance, and keep you comfortable on the road.
Be sure to check out our packing lists: The Ultimate Packing List for Full-Time Travelers, Men’s Travel Packing Listand our Travel Packing List for Women for other great packaging ideas.
What are your favorite travel items? You probably have things in your bags that you wouldn’t travel without. Share it with us in the comments below and if we really like it, we’ll add it to this article! Thanks to Shutterstock.com for providing many images in this article.