less is more.
Over the years, I have tested out countless pieces of must have travel gear. Some are a complete waste of time and money.
And some are clear winners.
Such as my all time favorite carry-on: The Kenneth Cole Reaction Women’s Chelsea Chevron Soft sided carry-on.
Equipped with 8 spinner wheels, expandable zippers, telescopic handle, three handles for easy lifting, black with gold accents and 20 inches.
This beautiful carry-on has been on hundreds of flights, boats, trains, cars, down dirt and gravel roads. There is not a rip, tear or broken zipper. Even loaded with all my photography equipment weighing in at 40 pounds. She glides through the airport smooth as ever.
A mophie power bank or any power bank [for me] is a must. Most airplanes have outlets, but some do not. I love mophie because it charges fast, it’s lightweight, and has both USBC + USBA ports for my charging needs.
When purchasing accessories I try to pick out a bright color so they are easy to find, I have the exact model pictured above, but in blue. I purchased it from Nordstrom for FREE with my AMEX rewards, but I have linked it for sale on Amazon for you.
A fee avoider, I mean a luggage scale.
If you are anything like me, packed to the max and ready for any adventure you want to spend the ten dollars for this luggage scale.
The luggage scale that I have linked for you is small, portable, and it comes with a battery. It may look tiny, but it is capable of holding 110 pounds | 50 kilograms. There is a button to zero the unit and a button to switch from lbs to kgs.
Airtags or Other GPS trackers
The first AirTag I purchased was for my puppy dog, Porter. When preparing for van life I thought it would be a great idea to have a tracking device on Porter in case he decided to take a walk in nature all on his own.
After the Heathrow, London airport basically closed with a sea of lost luggage, I went to Apple Store [on my phone] and purchased the four pack. AirTags are now on my backpack, carry-on, checked bag, and attached to my underwater housing.
When there are major events such as thousands losing luggage, knowing what country your luggage is in will help get your bags returned to you quicker.
Side note: Read the fine print for the airline. Typically, if your luggage is lost and you have to buy all new toiletries, clothing, shoes etc the airline has to reimburse you. Some reimburse up to $3,800 USD. Save your receipts !!
As a daily music and podcast listener, a portable speaker is a must.
When I am out in the world I do not use headphones or earbuds as it disables my hearing leaving me audibly unaware of my surroundings. It’s a safety concern.
JBL is the best quality speaker I have ever owned. It connects to my phone as soon as it is turned on, lightweight, playtime is ~10 hours or more depending on volume level, and it has a built-in carabiner. I went with this exact color to keep it bright and easy to find. Click here to check out the JBL Clip 4.
water bottle
I never leave home without a reusable water bottle. Ello has been my favorite brand since 2018 when I purchased the bottle I still use today. If I am honest, I love when you press the button to open the lid and it makes a popping sound. My mind says ello and I smile.
Pros: 20 ounce glass bottle with a push button so it is easy to open with one hand. Silicone carrying handle and protective sleeve. Dishwasher safe. Being made from odor and stain free glass it takes a looonng time before it starts to smell.
Cons: It is made of glass which may make it heavier to travel with.
Click here to view on Amazon.
Compression Packing Cubes
As a self proclaimed professional packer, I was against packing cubes for a while. After ignoring the ads, I took a trip with a friend who used them and decided to try them.
Traveling from one climate to the next and always with underwater gear these packing cubes are great! Last month, I ordered the clear set. Click here to check them out.
Coffee Sock
This one might not apply to all, but if coffee is a must in the morning you may want to spend the ten dollars for a set of coffee socks. For many years I have traveled with coffee socks.
Not only can you make coffee real quick, anywhere. But, they are reusable, eco-friendly, no grounds will go in your cup, and they take the bitterness out of the bean.
Click here to check them out.
Toothbrush
Another one that may not apply to all. For me, it is important to not leave my trash in another country. Since I will always brush my teeth, I will always need a toothbrush so I travel with these Biodegradable Bamboo Toothbrushes.
Mini Manicure Set
A must have! It is so much more than keeping your nails trim. This 8 piece set is a macgyver tool set! You never know what is going to come up when you are traveling and having some tools for about five dollars can save the day. Click here to check them out.
My dog and I are currently overlanding around the world in a 2023 Toyota Tacoma.
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Once you sign up, I will email you a free gift and from the road, I will send you monthly updates. Excited for you to explore the world with me, no matter where you are.