SUITCASES, PACKING & TRAVEL ACCESSORIES
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PACKING STRATEGY
Generally speaking, I try to travel as light as I possibly can when going on my adventures to make things easier. If you can do it, it is best to travel with only carry-on luggage so that you can avoid the hassles and fees associated with checking bags; not to mention you can minimize the risk of the airline possibly losing all of your stuff! It is also advantageous to pack smaller bags when you stay in shared hostel rooms, as it is easier to store and secure these bags in any lockers if they are provided. As a result, I try to travel with a carry-on sized suitcase and a duffel style backpack that fits beneath the airplane seat in front of me. I find that I am able to easily and securely pack all of my things in these bags with the help of some of the extra accessories below. I also pack a smaller day-pack in my wheeled suitcase so that I can bring some smaller things with me when I am out and about exploring.
BACKPACK
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NORTHFACE BASECAMP VOYAGER DUFFEL 32L
I am a huge fan of this duffel style backpack from NorthFace! It's got comfortable straps, a dedicated laptop pocket, and a large wide open main storage area that allows for a high level of flexibility when you are packing. It's also got a some other smaller compartments to help organize your gear and provide quick access to some of your most often used items:
- Separate shoe compartment - Located in the bottom of the bag it is nice to have to keep your dirty shoes separate from everything else.
- Separate laptop pocket - Allows me to fit in my laptop and iPad without any issues
- Small side pocket - A great spot for keys and smaller knick-knacks like pens and breath mints
- Small top pocket - A great place where I usually keep my passport and travel pillow for easy access
NORTHFACE LINK
SUITCASE
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NORTHFACE - ROLLING THUNDER 22"
After taking my first trip back to Europe in 2015, I realized the importance of having a suitcase with rugged wheels that could make it over the uneven cobblestone streets; I can still recall laughing as my friends struggled with their regular clamshell suitcases with four wheels. After the trip, I ordered a G-RO suitcase (pictured on the far left) which had massive wheels. In addition to providing greater durability and ease of use on uneven streets, the larger wheels also meant that the suitcase actually had more storage capacity; this is because the wheels were on only one side and you did not require the regular space you see beneath the wheels on a typical hard clamshell suitcase. The large open storage area on the suitcase allows you to fit nearly anything you might need, and the separate / dedicated storage compartments are also nice. I also find that because the bag is soft, you can really squeeze a lot in and allows it to expand a bit more; this also helps with durability in my opinion because it allows the bag to squish a little bit when transporting it (think like an airbag).
MAJOR ADVANTAGES
MAJOR ADVANTAGES
- Two Wheels - Durability, Ease of Use, Extra Storage Capacity
- Single Compartment - Can fit a large variety of items without space restrictions
- Soft Exterior - Extra Storage Capacity and Durability
- Extra Pockets - A small pocket on top allows for storage of smaller items and the separate compartment beneath the NorthFace logo on top is a great spot for my Tevas (or a pair of flip flops)
NORTHFACE LINK
DAY BACKPACK
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Fjallraven High Coast Rolltop 26 Backpack
In addition to my duffel backpack and my rolling suitcase, I also bring a smaller day pack with me on all of my travels. I use my daypack to carry some daily essentials that I may need with me while I am out and about exploring like a wireless charger, my tripod, extra camera batteries, a small rain jacket, snacks etc. I squish the bag down and pack it on top of all my other stuff inside my wheeled suitcase to provide easy access to it when I arrive at my destination.
The great thing about this bag from Fjallraven, which is one of my favorite brands, is that it is supposed to be fully waterproof due to its rolltop closure and special nylon like fabric; I have put this to the test in rainstorms and an underground cave filled with water in Costa Rica and the bag held up and did not let any water into the main compartment.
Some other things I like about this backpack are:
Although the bag has many advantages, I do wish that the bag had a bit more structure to it to help keep things more organized; however if you were to add more structure to the bag's main area then it would not be so lightweight. As seems to always be the case with backpacks, you win some and you lose some. All in all this bag ticks many of the boxes I require for a day bag and has been really great!
The great thing about this bag from Fjallraven, which is one of my favorite brands, is that it is supposed to be fully waterproof due to its rolltop closure and special nylon like fabric; I have put this to the test in rainstorms and an underground cave filled with water in Costa Rica and the bag held up and did not let any water into the main compartment.
Some other things I like about this backpack are:
- Compact & Lightweight - I appreciate that the bag is very thin and easy to pack in my my suitcase, it does not take up much room
- Padded Shoulder Straps &Chest Strap - When you've got heavy camera gear in your bag you will more than appreciate having the padded straps to keep you comfortable throughout the day while you are exploring. The chest strap also helps keep you comfortable and provides extra support.
- Side Pockets - The bag has two larger side pockets which are great for water bottles / other items that you might want to be able to have quick access to.
Although the bag has many advantages, I do wish that the bag had a bit more structure to it to help keep things more organized; however if you were to add more structure to the bag's main area then it would not be so lightweight. As seems to always be the case with backpacks, you win some and you lose some. All in all this bag ticks many of the boxes I require for a day bag and has been really great!
AMAZON LINK
PACKING ORGANIZERS
PACKING CUBES
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MESH ORGANIZERS
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MESH BAGS
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SEA TO SUMMIT EVAC DRY BAG
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VELCRO STRAPS
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When you've got large duffel style bags like I do, I think it is key to have a variety of different organizers to help you keep your gear, for lack of a better word, organized. These are my go to organizers!
- PACKING CUBES - I use my suitcase to pack all of my clothes and toiletries, just in case I do end up needing to check the bag. If I were to just put all of my clothes into the giant compartment, things would get pretty messy pretty fast. So to keep things organized and easily accessible I use 4-5 packing cubes similar to the ones shown above; 2 smaller size and 2-3 larger size. In the smaller packing cubes I put socks and underwear. In the larger packing cubes I use one for pants, one for shirts, and one for shorts / bathing suits. What is nice about these organizers is that they actually compress down a bit using a zipper, so they can help you squish your clothes down and fit in your suitcase more easily. These are also great because they make staying organized a breeze; you can pull out your shirt cube, clearly look through all your shirts outside of the suitcase, grab the one you need, and then put the whole organizer back in the bag; this keeps things neat and tidy and prevents you from having to dig through your suitcase for what you need. Last but not least you are going to end up with a bunch of dirty clothes on vacation, especially if you travel for a month or longer. While I put my dirty laundry in a vacuum sealed plastic bag at the bottom of my suitcase, these packing cubes also act as an extra barrier to prevent your smelly old clothes from stinking up your fresh ones.
- MESH ORGANIZERS - I have a set of mesh organizers from Travelon for years and have served me well! I usually bring a couple of different sized organizers with me to store wires, chargers, camera cleaning gear, and other miscellaneous items. The bags are conveniently sized in that they are not too big and not too small; they are just the right size to fit everything you need and they have some structure to keep their shape. They fit perfectly in my backpack and provide easy access and storage of all my smaller items.
- MESH BAGS - In addition to the more structured mesh organizers, I also bring along some mesh bags with me, which also come in a verity of sizes. While the mesh organizers have structure, these do not, so they are especially easy to compact down small and pack. Usually, I will use the mesh bags to bring any cables or other gear with me while I am out and about in my smaller day bag and I'll leave the mesh organizers in the backpack with all of the things I do not need. This allows me to keep the mesh organizers mostly packed (saves time later) and in the backpack and helps me more easily bring and organize whatever smaller items I need with me during the day.
- SEA TO SUMMIT EVAC DRY BAG - When you have any gear that you want to keep dry (electronics, clothes, paperwork, etc.) you'll need a way to protect it. This bag from Sea to Summit is fully waterproof and has a special membrane at the bottom which allows you to squeeze out all of the air to make it really compact; this makes it really great at storing puffy jackets and other clothes while you travel. This bag is great at protecting your gear from rain or when you are at the beach / out on the water as it seals out water and dirt / sand. If your clothes get wet, you can also use these dry bags to to store them to prevent getting your other items wet as well. I actually have three of these bags to help organize and protect my gear and have used them for years without any water ever getting in!
- VELCRO STRAPS - When travelling I always bring an extra pair of shoes with me in case my main pair get wet. I use a velcro strap to "squeeze" my shoes together to make them extra compact to pack and fit them in my suitcase. These are also useful for all sorts of other applications when you are travelling as well to help you keep things organized.
COMFORT, TOILETRIES & OTHER ACCESSORIES
INFLATABLE NECK PILLOW
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DUAL STRAP EYE MASK
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PILL CASES
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PERSONAL FAN
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- INFLATABLE NECK PILLOW - When I first started travelling I used to have trouble sleeping on planes. I had purchased some more traditional foam or cloth neck pillows but always found that those took up too much space and were a hassle to travel with. Everything changed when I discovered this inflatable neck pillow from Cabeau! First and foremost, this travel pillow can be compressed down to the size of a smaller soda can which means it is easy to bring with you on flights or even day long bus tours. The pillow is also very comfortable and has a nice, soft cover; it is inflatable so you can adjust how hard or soft the pillow is (be warned that as you rise in an airplane the cabin pressure will drop so the pillow will inflate more!) The best feature of this pillow is actually the draw string with the locking mechanism because this will help the pillow "hug" your neck and head to keep it stable; it also helps prevent your head from falling out. All in all, this pillow is compact, comfortable and secures your head to prevent you from head banging in your sleep.
- DUAL STRAP SILK EYE MASK - In airplanes, hostels, bus rides and Iceland in the summer (where the sun pretty much never sets) you'll want to have a comfortable eye mask to block out unwanted light. Nothing is more frustrating than when someone comes back into a hostel room late at night and then turns on all of the bright lights in the room and wakes you up! I love this silk eye mask because it is comfortable on the eyes AND because it has two straps instead of the typical one. Having two straps makes the eye mask significantly more comfortable because it distributes the pressure needed to secure the mask into two locations and it does not rub against your ears like one strap would.
- PILL CASES - When travelling you will want to have quick access to medicines if you are not feeling good. These small metal pill cases easily fit into your back pack and allow you to keep a couple of pills at the ready if you need. When I travel I usually fill mine with some Advil (Ibuprofen), some Imodium and some Melatonin. I find that on long red eye flights it helps to take some Advil to proactively prevent your bum from getting sore and to help you feel more comfortable. I also keep some Afrin nose spray, some Pepto Bismol Tabs with me on the ready just in case! Having been food poisoned on my travels before, trust me when I can say you will want some medicine for your stomach readily available; I'll spare you the details but trust me when I say this important.
- PERSONAL FAN - When you travel in Europe, you'll quickly learn that that they do not have the same affinity for air conditioning as Americans do. When you are stuck in a hostel with no AC during a heat wave, you may feel a sense of helplessness. In these situations I wear a wet shirt and have a small personal travel fan to blow air on me; this helps provide some evaporative cooling which has saved me from some sleepless nights. I don't have this exact model, but I have one that is small and can stand on its own.
PHILLIPS ONE BLADE
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TRAVEL SHAMPOO TUBES
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TRAVEL TOWEL
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- ELECTRIC RAZOR - PHILLIPS ONE BLADE - Unless you are into growing a travel beard, you will need a way to shave while abroad! The Phillips One Blade is an excellent tool that provides a close and comfortable shave even when dry; this means you do not need any shaving cream or water source, so you can save space and make it easier to shave even when you are camping.
- TRAVEL SHAMPOO TUBES - Rather than spending money on those little travel size shampoos every time you travel, I highly recommend that you purchase some travel tubes and fill them up with your own products. This way you can save money and use the products that you are most familiar with.
- TRAVEL TOWEL - When you are going to a destination with beaches or you are going camping, you are going to need a towel. Sometimes you can use the towel from the hotel or the hostel, but this is not always the case. I bring along this compact microfiber towel whenever I travel to a place with a beach, as it is easy to pack and super absorbant.
DOVE BAR SOAP
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TRAVEL LOOFAH
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TRAVEL BALL DEODERANT
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- DOVE MEN+ SOAP - When I am at home I use gel body wash, but when I travel I use bars of soap! A bar of soap is a bit easier to pack (I store mine in a small plastic bag) and will last for many more washes than gel body wash will. I like the Dove Men+ Care bar soap because it smells nice, has moisturizers built in and leaves a nice clean feeling on body and face.
- TRAVEL LOOFAH WASH CLOTH - When I shower at home I use a standard bathroom poof to suds up the soap. However, when I am travelling it is not practical to bring my typical loofah because it takes up quite a bit of space; these travel loofah washcloths provide tons of suds to help stretch your soap supply, a small amount of exfoliation and are compact for packing / quick drying.
- TRAVEL SIZE BALL DEODERANT - Regular travel size stick deodorant is way too small, barely lasts anytime at all and is way too pricey! These liquid filled travel sized deodorants have an applicator ball; this allows for easy application and a significantly greater supply of deodorant for your travels.
ENTERTAINMENT & ELECTRONICS
iPAD MINI
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WIRED NOISE CANCELLING EARBUDS
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When travelling you will likely have a lot of time on planes, trains and buses so it's great to have a way to entertain yourself and help pass the time on these trips. These are my go to items:
- IPAD MINI - The iPad Mini is in my opinion, the perfect travel companion because it is small, compact and powerful. You can use the Libby app to download magazines and library books for free to read on your iPad as though it were a Kindle; you can also purchase Kindle books as well. The iPad also allows you to download many streaming apps which give you the ability to download and watch shows offline (Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, etc.) Some airlines, like American Airlines, also give you the ability to connect to WiFi on the plane and watch shows on your own device; the iPad's screen is larger than your phone which in my opinion enhances the viewing experience. The iPad can also act like a small computer that can help you take care of some tasks that would be a bit more difficult to do on your phone. Overall the iPad mini is essentially a Kindle, a tablet, and a small computer all in one! (I probably sound old saying that)
- BANG & OLUFSEN NOISE CANCELLING WIRED HEADPHONES - In a world of wireless Bluetooth headphones, I am still an advocate for these wired headphones from Bang and Olufsen that have built in noise cancelling. The reason I prefer headphones with a wire is because on many airplanes with built in entertainment screens, you just don't have the option to connect with Bluetooth. The noise cancelling is an important feature in my opinion because it will block out all the background noise in the airplane and allow you the the ability to listen at a lower volume, thus protecting your ears. These earbuds are also very compact and portable so they won't take up much room in your bag.
ANKER 2-IN-1 CHARGER AND POWER BANK
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PORTABLE WIFI
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TILE TRACKER
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- ANKER 2-IN-1 CHARGER AND POWER BANK - When you travel with a lot of electronics and gear like I do, you will need a powerful charger that can deliver fast charging to several devices at a time. This combination 2-in-1 charger and power bank ticks all of the boxes! It has a power capacity of 65 W, so it is powerful enough to charge most small laptops and any other electronic device you need to charge. It also has a built in power bank which allows you to charge your devices on the go or when you have difficulty finding a working outlet close by. You'd be surprised how hard it is to find an outlet in an airport sometimes.... I have had a number of Anker products over the years and they are always reliable, well built and rugged.
- SOLIS PORTABLE WI-FI - When you travel to far away lands across the world you are likely going to want to have access to the internet to look up directions, translate languages and connect with fellow travelers. In the past I used to get a local SIM card for my "unlocked" phone when I travelled but when you are hopping from country to country this is not always easy or time efficient to do. To save time and make things easier I have recently been using the personal WiFi hotspot from Solis. You can purchase a set amount of data (I purchased 20 GB of data on Black Friday for an excellent deal) that you can use on your phone or iPad as you travel to nearly every country on earth. Essentially, when you land in a new country you simply power up the portable WiFi module and wait a few minutes for it to connect to local cell towers; once it is connected it will transmit a WiFi signal that you can connect to with your phone, iPad or computer. I have never had any issues with it connecting and for the most part the WiFi is always strong and fast. The module has a built in battery that in my experience usually lasts almost the whole day. The only downside of using this device vs. a traditional SIM card is that it is a bit larger and requires you to carry one more piece of tech with you when you are out and about.
- TILE TRACKER - As I have said before, I have been lucky enough to never have an airline "lose" my bag completely BUT I have seen this happen to some friends. To give me some peace of mind I place a tile tracker in my suitcase and my backpack to that I can track it down should it ever become misplaced. I once barely made a connecting flight to Argentina and was sure that my checked bag did not make the journey. When I landed though I was able to log in to the Tile App and see that my bag did somehow miraculously arrive in Argentina! This immediately reduced any stress I had and saved me the hassle of having to wait at the luggage carousel biting my nails to see if it was going to come out. These are definitely a great way to provide you some insurance.
OFFLINE GOOGLE MAPS |
GOOGLE TRANSLATE |
- OFFLINE GOOGLE MAPS - When you travel you may not always have the best access to maps and directions, which can make you feel uncomfortable. The good news is that you can actually use Google Maps to download an "offline" version of maps for any area you may be travelling to. GPS will work without a phone signal, and coupled with your downloaded version of an offline map will make your navigation through unknown surroundings way easier.
- OFFLINE GOOGLE TRANSLATE - Just like above, you can also download a foreign language translator to use offline. While Google Translate will not always be correct, it is a huge help to be able to have some level of translation to talk with taxi drivers or to ask locals for directions if you do not speak the local language.
SECURITY
COMBINATION LOCK
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SUITCASE LOCK
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SUITCASE SECURITY CABLE
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When you travel and visit hostels, in particular group rooms, you will need a way to secure your luggage to give you peace of mind.
- COMBINATION LOCK - A beefier metal combination lock is great for lockers and for using with the suitcase security cable. I recommend that you get a lock that is programmable, that way you cannot forget the combo!
- SUITCASE LOCK - It is also beneficial to have a flexible suitcase lock that you can use to lock the zippers of your bag together. This is nice to use when you are at an airport or at hostels where there may not be a locker, so you can at least prevent easy access to the inside of your bag. This lock here is also a combination lock that is programmable so you can set your own combination.
- SUITCASE SECURITY CABLE - In the event that your hostel does not have a locker, or you put your things in a luggage storage room, you can use this suitcase security cable similar to how you would lock up your bike. You loop the cable through some of the more rigid handles of your bags and attach / lock it to a larger structure. This way if someone tries to take your bag, they would have to either cut through the steel cable or bring along the whole shelf / bunk bed with them.
FINANCE
CHASE SAPPPHIRE PREFERRED
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CAPITAL ONE SAVOR CARD
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BANK OF AMERICA
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TOPCASHBACK WEBSITE |
If you have never left the country before, you will want to have a credit card without any foreign transaction fees. If you don't have one of these, you may end up paying 2 - 5% extra every time you use your credit card abroad, which will certainly add up. When travelling you will also want to have a VISA or MASTERCARD credit card as these are accepted globally (I found out the hard way that Discover is not accepted everywhere abroad). Here are my recommendations on cards that have no foreign transaction fee and have great rewards.
Using the above combination of travel cards and the Topcashback website, I usually earn several $100 worth of cashback and rewards. This certainly helps make travelling more affordable and there's nothing better than free money :)
- CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED - This travel card is one of the gold standards in travel. When I signed up for this card I was able to secure the $1,5000 sign up bonus thanks to the fact that my parents had just moved and were buying new furniture for their house, thanks parents! While the card does have a $100 per year fee, you'll find that the card quickly pays for itself. The card has 5% cash back on travel that you book through the Chase travel portal, which is pretty much the same as booking things through Priceline. The card also provides 3% rewards on dining, has no foreign transaction fees and provides comprehensive travel insurance while you are abroad for things like lost luggage, rental car insurance, travel interruption, etc. When my Dad broke his leg hiking on the glacier in Iceland, we had to change our travel plans and cancel a lot of things that we had already booked. Luckily the insurance that comes with this card helped to reimburse us for over 70% of all the costs we incurred due to this medical injury, which ended up being over $2,500.
- CAPITAL ONE SAVOR CARD - This is another great card that has no foreign transaction fees and has 3% on dining and activities and has no yearly fees. While this card is not a prototypical travel card, I have found it to be a great companion card while I am traveling and the rewards are very quick and easy to take advantage of.
- BANK OF AMERICA CASHBACK CARD - This was actually the first ever "travel card" that I got. The card has no foreign transaction fees and no yearly operating fee and provides 1.5% cashback on all transactions. All in all the card has been very reliable and is the card I use for most of my everyday purchases as the 1.5% cashback rate is higher than the typical 1% that most other cards provide for everyday transactions.
- TOPCASHBCAK - USE A CASHBACK APP! What's even better then earning rewards points when you travel? Earning double the rewards points! Topcashback is one of my favorite websites and is amazing, reliable and safe. Essentially they are a massive referral website that earns a commission when they send traffic to a website; they share a portion of that commission with you in the form of cashback when you go to a website through their referral link. Not only do I use this for all of my online shopping (Bonobos, GAP, Old Navy, etc.) but I also use this on Priceline and Hostelworld when I travel. Every flight I book through Priceline earns me $4.00 and with Hostelworld I earn 52.5% cashback on my deposits for private rooms (Essentially 10% back on hostels). Usually a few months after your transaction you can direct deposit your cashback straight into your bank, with no minimum cash out amount required. Since
Using the above combination of travel cards and the Topcashback website, I usually earn several $100 worth of cashback and rewards. This certainly helps make travelling more affordable and there's nothing better than free money :)