Travel Essentials

Hi every one, it’s been a hot minute since my last post but as I prepare for my next travel adventure, I just wanted to touch base and talk about some must have essentials. These are a few products that have served me well in past travel so I thought I should share them with you. 

 As mentioned, I am preparing for more travel. I am heading to Morocco in less than three weeks. Its another bucket list country so I am very much looking forward to taking to the skies and heading back to Africa once again. 

As any traveller knows, a big part of the experience lies within the products and gear you use. The wrong luggage or missed items can make things difficult or take away from the adventure. Here are a few things I have and use on my travels. They will be pictured below for reference.

The first thing I will start with is luggage and backpacks. If your adventure is one of continuous travel on planes, trains, vans etc, I highly recommend a good quality backpack. It makes for easier transport on train platforms, walking through airports and public transportation (Subways, busses) in foreign countries. I call to memory one year ago when I was waiting on an overnight train platform in Delhi India, elbow to elbow with thousands of people. All of my belongings were safely strapped to my back and a small backpack on my front. It made for a much easier access on and off every train.

My main backpack is one I purchased a few years back at Mountain Equipment in Ontario. It is made by a company called Gregory. It was pricey but  very well made and durable. I assure you it is an investment and one you will be thankful for. It has great lumbar support with many little pockets and a lot of cargo space. I have had this backpack all over the world and it has yet to let me down. As for day packs for easy access to essentials, I have a great little backpack made by deuter. Again, this little backpack is very well made and comes with a rain cover and even access ports for any wired gadgets of hydration packs. It is also designed to keep airflow between it and your back if using in hot areas. It is a great product for use as a day pack or carry on. These two backpacks will be used in my upcoming travel around Morocco. 

 If you are using a suitcase or bags for your travels, I highly recommend investing in one with good wheels (rubber is best) and handles. I call to memory a few years ago when I was walking down a cobblestone street in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic and busted a wheel on my suitcase. It wasn’t the end of the world but it made it that much more difficult to carry. After that trip, I invested in a great piece from Ogio. It is similar to a hockey bag and has great tires on it. I have used this countless times back and forth to the east coast and other trips in between.

To keep on the packing topic, one item that served me well on last years travels were compression bags. These are different sized bags that you can fit quite a few items in and then compress it down to a much smaller and manageable size. I packed a lot of clothes, divided into multiple categories and compressed them all to fit in my Gregory backpack. 

Other than backpacks, a good travel pouch is a must have when in foreign countries. It can be a safe way to carry essentials such as passport, currencies, important documents and any items you may need during the day. I have one made by Swiss Gear. Its been a valuable asset in my travels. It has a lot compartments for anything and everything. It is also light weight and fits very comfortably across my body. 

Outside of luggage, there is a many products that make for a enjoyable travel experience. This day and age, we are slaves to our electronic devices, therefore organization of our changers and necessary wires are a must. I carry a wire organization pouch with all my chargers etc. It is a great way to keep everything in one place so you’re not digging through your packs at any given time. I found mine on Amazon and are very affordable.

Of course with all those chargers, one must have a proper wall plug for them to even work. I carry a power converter with a bunch of attachments for outlets dependant on the countries in which I will be traveling. Research the outlet(s) in the areas you be traveling in before you go. Keeping on the same topic, you may find yourself on a train, in a van or some place with out outlets. For this purpose, I carry two battery charging packs with my, one of which I keep in my day pouch. These can charge a phone, camera or earbuds in a pinch. I bought a two pack of charging blocks made by INIU on Amazon. 

Personal products are also a must have when in foreign counties as well. Especially in hot and humid areas. One product I bought last year for my travels across balmy Ethiopia, India, Nepal and UAE was disposable face towels made by a company called Biode Ruo. They are tiny individual packaged towels that you tear open, add a few drops of water and they expand into a towel. They are quite neat and were a lifesaver in India. I did a lot of walking in plus 40 temps and was very impressed and grateful for these. They are tiny when dry so you can have a few in your pocket or day pack. I can’t recommend these enough and have another bunch ready to go for Morocco in a couple weeks. 

Keeping on the topic of hot areas, I highly recommend carrying a portable fan on your person. This is one item I did not have on my travels last fall and regretted it. I spent two days floating on boat, and I use that term loosely, down the Ganges River in India in the crazy Indian heat. One of the people I was with had such a fan and was kind enough to pass it around so every one could have a turn. It was such an important tool for that environment. Needless to say I bought one after that. Its from a company called Jisulife and can be found on Amazon. Its rechargeable and has a light on it as well. I look forward to using it soon. 

In keeping with organization, I also carry a couple clear plastic travel bags. These are great for carrying wet wipes, hand sanitizers, sunscreens, tide pens, detergents and any such item. I also have a few extra of the above mentioned towel packs in there. You can use ziplock bags as well for this purpose but I like the ones I bought as they are quite durable yet cheap. 

Above are just a few of the must have items recommended by the Traveling Newf. The more you travel, the more you learn on how to properly pack. Its a process that can only be learned by experience. I remember the first time I went to Singapore. I had several massive suitcases with everything AND the kitchen sink inside. Flash forward many years and many countries later and I’m making it work with just properly packed backpacks. 

That is all for now but I will write again soon with more tips and information  on my upcoming adventure. Cheers for now!