By: PJ
Disclosure: Links below are affiliate links. This means, at no additional cost to you, we will receive a commission if you click and make a purchase. Also note, we found and purchased these items by our own means.
So, what exactly were some of the essential items we packed for a year long trip around the world? Many people have asked for tips on this very subject. We’ve compiled a list of handy things we found useful during our travels.
Quality Day Bag
You will need something durable to carry all your daily “stuff” (i.e. food, snacks, rain gear or winter gear, water, portable charger). This bag needs have comfortable straps, otherwise you will suffer. We used my Novara Commuter backpack (discontinued). It was very comfortable and also had a rainfly to keep the bag waterproof during rain/snow. A bag that has zip ends that can group together and be secured with a carabiner clip also helps with security. Below is a comparable item.
Wet Wipes, Compressed Towels and Pocket Soap Leaves
I tend to stock up on the Wet Wipes because I am a germaphobe. 😉 They are nice for sanitizing airplane/train tables, armrests, and seatbelts. Plus, they are a quick way to wash your dirty/sticky hands when you don’t have soap or water.
We also used Barba-Wipes super soft compressed towels, which were AMAZING! We used them as wipes for sticky fingers, washcloths for faces, or to soak up spills/leaks. They were a godsend when we were camping in Patagonia and Ausangate Mountain when our tent was leaking during the rain/snow storms. These little guys can soak up a lot of water!
Sea to Summit Pocket Soap Leaves are another thing we kept handy either in our day bag or pants pockets. These tiny sheets of soap are a blessing when public toilets do not have soap or do not keep soap dispensers filled.
Another item we always had on hand was hand sanitizer. We carried 3-4 small 50ml (1.5oz) bottles of hand sanatizer scattered throughout our bags. These we would use regularly each day since we were constantly touching new and ‘touristy’ surfaces. We would occasionally buy a large refill bottle. It’s cheap and effective.
Microfiber Travel Towel
Seriously, this has been amazing! Can be used for showering when camping, during your hostel stay, and as a pool/beach towel. Make sure to get the XL size so it will wrap completely around you. It is worth it! These dry quickly and are easy to wash.
Buff
This is another must! Since it is a multiple use item, it helps decrease the amount you pack. It can be used as a scarf (to keep you warm or for style), as a hand towel, hair band, and face protector (from sand or wind). The Merino wool buffs keep you very warm even though they are lightweight. They can also keep you cool if you spritz them with water before putting them around your neck. Another convenient use was for drying your hands in public bathrooms that did not have paper towels or air dryers (yes, this happens a lot). The thinner fabrics are quick dry, so you are not stuck with a damp or wet buff for long.
Quick Dry Clothing
Speaking of quick dry, most of the clothes we packed were made of quick dry fabrics. They are easy to wash and they dry in no time at all! (We let them air dry overnight – cotton does not). So what did we pack exactly? We packed 2 pairs of quick dry pants (4 for the kiddo), 3 to 4 quick dry shirts (think technical T-shirts), 2 sun shirts, and all our undergarments were quick dry. The quick dry undergarments may cost a bit more, but they are durable and pack small. They can also withstand frequent washing so they are worth every penny.
Laundry/Washing Bag
Since we’re on the topic, let’s discuss washing! We invested in a Scrubba Wash Bag, and it was totally worth it. We used it while camping to wash our clothing when there were no washers in sight. In many hotels, where the prices for doing laundry were ridiculous, we could do a simple wash. (Handy Hint: To wring wet clothes more dry, lay them on a dry towel, roll the towel and wring the rolled towel – this done well leaves the towel wet and your clothes damp.)
Not only did we use the Scrubba for laundry, but we also used it as a dry bag for our electronics while camping/trekking in the rain/snow.
Compact Pillow
The Sea to Summit Aeros Premium compact pillow can fit into a coffee mug when deflated. When inflated, it is a full size pillow that is soft and comfortable (surprisingly, it doesn’t feel like a blow up pillow at all). Since it is inflatable, you can adjust the firmness of the pillow to meet your needs. I seriously love this pillow not only for camping, but also for night train/bus travel (or when the Airbnb you are staying in has horrible pillows).
Water Bottles/Water Bag
We each had a water bottle. We used Hydroflasks to keep our drinks hot/cold, however these can be heavy depending on the size. MJ used a collapsible water bag that had a small carabiner which was light and low profile, with heavy use it did eventually leak, needing replacement.
We also utilized the hydro skins to protect the water bottle.
Sun Shirts/Sun Hats
Protect yourself from the sun and heat even when you don’t have sunscreen. Sun shirts and sun hats are lightweight and airy, yet provide mega sun protection. They also dry quickly, so are easily washed). In hot dry conditions, they can also keep you cool by soaking them in water and wringing them out prior to putting on.
Multi-Utensil Tool
We used this for cooking both while camping as well as staying in hotels/hostels. These make more sense than plastic camping spork – we broke all 4 of our camping sporks before we left the US! Two of these multi-utensil tools were brought on this trip – both have been used a lot, but they can only handle eating tasks. Because of this, MJ also has a hand sized very sturdy multi tool with shifting spanner, blade, saw and pliers.
Carabiners
The most practical use for these was to clip bags together during layovers at airports/train stations. This was an added security measure ever since someone tried to steal one of our bags at a train station in Peru. Carabiners are also handy to clip water bottles onto bags, carry Airbnb keys, to clip AJ’s ukulele to his pack, and to secure zippers on our day bag to prevent theft.
Compact Synthetic Shopping Bags
We carried 4 of these for when we needed groceries. We could buy groceries for the week and could carry them in sturdy bags.
What else did we pack? Full packing list post coming soon… 😉
