As we travel more and more we find ourselves adding and at times taking away from our travel resources and necessities. Here are some of our current favorites and must-have items!
PACKING ESSENTIALS
Over the years I’ve been through a number of suitcases, backpacks, and other travel items looking for my favorite ones. Here are some of our favorite packing essentials that are great for any kind of travel whether it be a weekend vacation or an international trip.
PacSafe Citysafe Backpack: This has been my favorite travel backpack since 2018! It has many safety features and comes in a variety of colors.
RFID Passport Cover: Keep your information safe with a passport cover with RFID.
Toiletry Bag: I prefer one that has different compartments to keep my toiletries organized.
Silicone Travel Bottles: I prefer these so I can add my favorite products to them instead of buying multiple travel-size items.
Carry-On Suitcase: I try my best to pack in a carry-on for most trips. In fact, I can pack in a carry-on for two weeks worth of travel!
Packing Cubes: These make it easier to pack for longer trips and keep items organized!
Luggage Locks: Even if you don’t check a bag I recommend having luggage locks for locking up backpacks or carry-on suitcases when in transport or in case you have to leave luggage at your hotel when checking in.
FLIGHT ESSENTIALS
Economy flights can be really uncomfortable on long-haul trips but here are some of our favorite flight essentials that make the journey a little easier and are great for long flights.
Trtl Travel Pillow: I’ve tried a lot of travel pillows over the years and this one is my favorite. It gently holds your neck in place so you don’t have to worry about your head bobbing as you try to sleep and helps from having neck cramps.
Foot Hammock: This foot hammock goes over the tray table and allows you to slightly put your feet up.
Ear Plugs: Helpful for sleeping better on planes and also help keep the pressure down in your ears.
Apple Airpods Pro: I love my Airpods for travel because they are compact and are great for noise canceling considering they’re earbuds.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones: Another option for noise-canceling headphones. We love how comfortable these are.
Eye Mask: Perfect for blocking out light when trying to sleep on long flights! I prefer a silk one because it is cooling and soft.
ELECTRONICS
I tend to pick electronic items that serve a number of purposes for my trips. The ones you’ll find here are my absolute favorites!
Anker Portable Charging Pack: I use this ALL the time when traveling so I can charge my phone or laptop on the go.
Apple Airpods Pro: I love my Airpods for travel because they are compact and are great for noise canceling considering they’re earbuds.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones: Another option for noise-canceling headphones. We love how comfortable these are.
Anker 5-Port Charger: I always bring one of these charging ports on our trips because it allows me to charge multiple devices at once.
International Travel Adaptor: This is necessary for traveling to many international destinations. I like this one because it also has two USB ports.
HEALTH + SAFETY
Keeping yourself safe and healthy when traveling is very important. These items can be helpful when traveling abroad or on a weekend trip.
Pill Organizer: Bring your own medications with this organizer. I use this for ibuprofen, allergy medicine, acetaminophen, vitamins, and other medications at times. Tip: Keep in mind that some international destinations require all medications to be labeled so be sure to check prior to travel.
Alcohol Prep Pads: I bring a few of these individually wrapped alcohol swabs to disinfect small cuts, scraps, or anything else that I might need to use them on.
Menstrual Cup: I started using a menstrual cup in 2016 and I haven’t turned back since! They can take some time to get used to but it’s been much easier to use while traveling.
Body Glide Anti-Chafe Balm: Getting chafed while traveling isn’t just uncomfortable it can ruin your travel plans.
Bandages: It’s always a good idea to have a few bandages while on the go in case you get a cut or blister. I usually bring the Band-Aid Tough Strips because I think they stick the best.
SKINCARE, MAKE-UP, AND HAIR PRODUCTS
I have searched far and wide to find my favorite skincare, make-up, and hair products that keep my skin clear while traveling and also work in my everyday life. There is a range of options here from affordable to splurge items.
My Favorite Make-up Products
My Favorite Skincare Products
My Favorite Haircare Products
CLOTHING + ACCESSORIES
Over the last few years, I’ve been working on creating a wardrobe of items that are great for a variety of destinations. Here are a few of my “capsule” wardrobe items that can be used year-round or seasonally.
CLOTHING
My Favorites:
Logan’s Favorites:
SHOES
My Favorites:
Logan’s Favorites:
ACCESSORIES
ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS
Being prepared for a road trip is absolutely essential and while the majority of what I pack is drinks and snacks (I mean, you gotta have snacks!) there are a few other items that I bring on every road trip we take other than just a spare tire.
Portable Air Compressor: This is something we’ve had to use a number of times on our road trips and now I wouldn’t go anywhere without it.
Dash Camera: Dashcams are something else we bring on every road trip for safety and to keep an eye on our vehicle.
Car Charger: I prefer a car charger that has two USB ports so we can both charge our phones and Anker is a brand I buy from a lot.
Duct Tape: Duct tape is helpful for so many things! I always bring a roll on our road trips.
First Aid Kit: Another item that you never want to have to use but is necessary for road trips!
Jumper Cables: Just in case your vehicle has trouble starting it’s always good to have jumper cables on long car rides.
Headlamp: If you are taking a long journey a headlamp is necessary for safety in case you have car trouble and need to be hands-free
Phone Holder: This is great for using your phone as a GPS so you can see it easily. This one sticks on your dash and can easily be moved again and again.
Cooler: On long road trips we always bring our Yeti cooler or backpack cooler because they keep drinks and food cold for a long time.
Umbrella: You never know when it might rain!
BEACH ESSENTIALS
Now that we live in Florida I have been spending a lot of time at the beach! Here are some of my favorite items to have a relaxing day at the beach.
Backpack Cooler: We recently got a backpack cooler for the beach and we prefer it to our regular cooler now. It’s easier to carry and keeps our drinks cold all day.
Beach Chair: While laying on a beach towel is great for some trips, having a beach chair is a lot more comfortable for long days.
Beach Towel: Great for laying out in the sun and drying off.
Sunscreen: Having good SPF is important for any beach trip. Always make sure you have something that is at least 30 SPF and reef-friendly.
Chapstick: Make sure you protect your lips from the sun too! Get a chapstick that has SPF 30 or higher.
Waterproof Speaker: This one is my favorite because it gives 10 hours of playtime and it can clip easily to a beach chair.
Beach Umbrella: While I like to spend some time in the sun I spend a lot of time under a beach umbrella to protect my skin and sit in the shade.
Beach Blanket: This is great for laying on, having a beach lunch, and placing your items on it so they don’t get sandy.
Snorkel Set: If you happen to be visiting a place where you can enjoy snorkeling I always recommend bringing your own or renting one!
Face Sunscreen: While you could use body sunscreen on your face, face sunscreen is usually a gentler formula that doesn’t clog pores.
Amazon Kindle: Perfect for enjoying a leisurely beach read.
CAMPING GEAR
I’ll admit, we don’t do a lot of walk-in camping sites because we prefer to have some amenities. But these are a few of my favorite camping items to take to state and national parks on our camping trips.
Tent: Even though it’s just the two of us and Bentley, Logan and I have a 6-person tent because it allows us to have more room.
Air Mattress: If you aren’t visiting a walk-in campsite I recommend taking an air mattress to make your stay in a tent more comfortable.
Luci Solar Light: Leave this out in the sun during the day and use it as a lantern at night. I always take a flashlight when camping but this is nice for using inside your tent.
Sleeping Bag: Even when sleeping on an air mattress I still use a sleeping bag when camping because air mattresses don’t provide much heat. My Coleman sleeping bag is older so this one is a newer model but I also like that mine can zip with another to make it bigger.
Camping Stove: This is great for cooking when camping.
PHOTOGRAPHY ESSENTIALS
Taking lots and lots of pictures on any trip is absolutely necessary! While nowadays cell phones take great pictures, here are just a few items that we use that can take your pictures to the next level.
Sony A6000: We’ve had our A6000 since 2015 and it’s been perfect for travel. It’s easy to use, takes great quality photos, and because it is a mirrorless camera it is lightweight.
Tripod: A sturdy tripod is an absolute must if you plan on using a camera.
DJI Osmo: We don’t bring this on every trip but it’s been great for steadying our phones while taking video and can be used as a small tripod for photos.
Extra Lenses: I have a variety of lenses to pair with my A6000. My go-to travel lens is the Sony 16-55mm because it takes crisp photos, and has good range for most settings.
SD Card: I typically buy SD cards with faster writing speeds and have at least 128GB of memory.
TRAVEL INSPIRATION
I am a big fan of board games, books, and movies! Here are just a few favorites that are sure to aid in your wanderlust and help to learn information in order to be a better traveler.
GAMES
BOOKS
