As an avid world traveler, I’ve been in the position time and time again where I’ve been stuck without something I really needed. Thankfully, that means I’ve made the mistakes and I have the knowledge to share with you to prepare for your next trip! While some of these travel products may seem like common sense, I’m a firm believer in being over-prepared. Plus, I love having some coveted creature comforts when I’m traveling to an unfamiliar place. Whether you’re planning a long haul or a weekend getaway, I have compiled a foolproof list of my top 5 travel products to bring on every trip.
A Travel Towel
One of my go-to travel products is a towel. I can’t say enough how nice it is to have your own towel while traveling. For me, this is especially true when I’m in a tropical place. Often times guesthouses or hotels will have the essential bathroom towels, which must stay in the room, and a pool towel for a fee. That’s when your own quick-drying microfibre towel comes in handy. Not to mention, they’re easily compacted for light travel.
I’ve got nothing but great things to say about the Youphoria Microfibre Towel. This all-purpose travel towel comes in three sizes: 20 x 40, 28 x 56, and 32 x 72. It’s perfect for quick drying off the skin after swimming, workouts, backpacking, or even just a shower. Headed to the beach? No problem. These towels also wick sand and debris easily.
Each travel towel comes with a convenient carry bag for traveling and a quick-snap hang loop for easy hanging on a towel rack, branch at a campsite, or even on your beach umbrella. Easy peasy.
Collapsible Water Bottle
We all know it’s important to stay hydrated while traveling, and in general, but all of those plastic water bottles are horrible for the environment. Airports are one of the biggest sources of single-use plastic items. When you travel it can be convenient to use disposable plasticware, straws, and water bottles – but at what cost? That is why my second must-have travel product is the Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle.
When it comes to the environment, silicone is highly durable, non-toxic to aquatic or soil organisms, non-hazardous waste, and can be recycled after a lifetime of use. Once recycled, silicone is converted back into inorganic, harmless ingredients: amorphous silica, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.
Nomader eco-friendly water bottles are of 100% food-grade materials that are free of BPA, BPS, lead, PVC, phthalates, and other harmful leaching chemicals.
Silicone Travel Product Bottles
I know most people love to use the toiletries supplied by their accommodation, but I’m the kind of guy who likes to bring his own products. The Dot&Dot leak-proof silicone travel-sized bottles come in a clear carry case which is perfect when going through the airport. I’m also forever grateful for the little pre-printed, easy-to-read label. A simple label like these can make a big difference in telling your moisturizing lotion from hair conditioner #beenthere
Travel Laundry Detergent
Okay, this one might seem weird to some of you, but while traveling in developing countries, you often have to take your clothing to a laundromat. In a pinch, it’s nice to be able to wash some of your easier-to-clean items on your own! That’s why I always travel with single-load packs of laundry detergent. I’m a Tide guy, but many brands have this as a travel product for consumers.
Keepsake Travel Journal
When I first started traveling, I enjoyed every whirlwind moment and didn’t consider that I would be creating so many memories over the years. I now know better, and have invested in a beautiful travel journal. A fellow travel/vagabond once told me that they had tried multiple times to keep travel notes and that it didn’t stick until they bit the bullet and invested in a beautiful book. Consider this keepsake travel journal as something you can refer back to for years to come.
Pro-tip: keep notes in your phone of places you stayed and what you liked about the area or place you were in. When you’re back at your hotel, or wherever you’re staying, spend some quiet time writing in your journal with these notes to jog your memory. I like to do this over a morning coffee, or during a happy hour cocktail in the sun!
