Travel is arguably the greatest activity to do if you’re itching for a sense of fulfillment and wonder. As a time to build new relationships and to immerse yourself into new cultures and adventures with friends and your family, there’s no better time to let loose, relax, and sport your wanderlust.
However, packing is one thing that shines as one of the not-so-glamorous parts of jet setting and seeing the world. No matter how many times you’ve examined and assessed your suitcase, and no matter how many times you run through the list of must-have things, it’s almost a given that you wind up forgetting something absolutely essential.
Professional travelers recognize that packing your case is an art that requires plenty of experience-based knowledge. If you’re planning a holiday to Aspen for two weeks or a weekend getaway to Honolulu, you’ll need a perfectly-packed bag to ensure you’re well prepared for whatever your trip has in store.
Beyond your passport, outlet adapters, toiletries, and smart devices, there are a lot of important must-haves easy to forget amidst the confusion of packing up. But apart from the obvious things, there may be a number of other essentials you never knew you needed!
1. Portable White Noise Machine
Control your quality of sleep by stocking up your luggage with a portable white noise machine. Whether you’re staying in a busy cityside Airbnb in Rome or sharing a hostel room with four total strangers, you can customize your perfect environment by masking external noise that could disturb your sleep.
2. Handheld Luggage Scale
There are few things more frustrating than being told that your pack is too heavy to qualify as a carry-on. Especially when you had no intention of dishing out any extra dough for oversized luggage. Avoid this untimely travesty altogether by purchasing a handheld luggage scale. These genius devices allow you to weigh and even measure your bag to ensure you’re within your airline’s sizing limits.
3. First-Aid Kit
You never know when an accidental injury may happen, so it’s always best to be prepared for the worst. Whether you’re on a tropical vacation and caught your heel on a jagged rock, you’ll want to have the immediate care you need to ensure you’re safe from any possible infection or excessive bleeding. Having a first aid kit handy allows you to easily handle the situation so long as it’s not an outright emergency.
4. Comfortable Sneakers
Whether you’re walking the entire city of Washington D.C. or hitting every yummy taco spot in the heart of Mexico City, a pair of comfortable shoes is absolutely essential. If you’re subjecting your soles to hundreds of miles of walking, it’s well worth your while to make sure they’re protected in a pair of high-quality sneakers.
Oftentimes, the best women’s running shoes and men also make for the best travel shoes as they’re uniquely designed for extended use time. Skip the flip-flops and trendy mules and opt for a pair of trainers that will serve your toes far better.
5. Compact Travel Umbrella
They say that when it rains, it pours, and when you’re traveling, rain can have a hugely negative effect on your travel spirit and daily agenda. To combat the rain ruining your day, pack along a compact travel umbrella that allows you to stay as dry as possible with a single click.
6. Reusable water bottle
Climate change has proven to have an immensely adverse effect on our environment and poses a serious threat to our future as human inhabitants. It is our job to do all we can to become more mindful in our consumption to slow the rate at which the Earth is succumbing to global warming. One of the easiest ways to do this is by reducing the volume of plastic you use. By traveling with a reusable water bottle, you can greatly reduce your single-use plastic consumption.
Check out these amazing insulated options:
Wrapping up
To ensure that you have all of your key ingredients for the perfectly packed bag, make sure you run through this list before heading off to your next destination. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below!