Packing can be overwhelming, but the right travel essentials make all the difference. After years of exploring the world, we’ve narrowed down our must-have items—gear that keeps us organized, comfortable, and ready for any adventure!
Over the years, we’ve traveled to dozens of countries around the world. Each trip requires a slightly different packing list. That said, there are a few travel essentials we almost never leave home without.
These items have traveled with us across multiple countries, climates, and types of adventures—proving their worth time and time again.
As travel bloggers who are always on the go, we’ve tested plenty of gear, and in this article, we’re sharing the tried-and-true travel essentials we personally use and love!
1. Portable power bank
This is one of our OG travel items, and we never ever leave home without it. Truly – not even for the weekend!
We’ve had a few different power banks over the years, but this one is hands down the BEST.
We got our first one in 2015, and we have been loyal fans ever since.
This one is a bit bulkier than some power banks, but it will charge your phone seven times before it needs to be charged itself. Plus, it can charge two devices at once, which is a game changer.
We bring this on international trips, camping trips, and even just when we’re going out and about around town for the day.
2. Universal travel adapter
Unless you’re traveling within your home country, you’ll want to bring a universal travel adapter.
We’ve tried all sorts of different iterations of this type of device throughout the years, and they have seriously improved over time.
Here are two we personally own and recommend for different types of travelers:
a) Best for solo travelers
(or those with few devices)
This minimalistic travel adapter is really well designed and has 1 plug and 4 USB ports. It also has a built in system to change the configuration so you can plug into the wall throughout multiple countries.
b) Best for couples or family travelers
If you’ve got lots of devices to charge, this one’s for you!
It has 3 plugs and 4 USB ports, meaning you can charge SEVEN things at once! Now that we travel with a child, we have a lot more devices to charge (IYKYK), so we really have to maximize our charging station!
3. Electronics organizer
Speaking of charging electronics… we have so. many. dang. cords. Anyone else?
We swear by our electronics organizer for helping us keep our sanity (and our cords untangled). In addition to the “normal” electronics, we travel with a DSLR camera. We pop our SD cards in here too so they don’t get lost in the depths of our bags.
It’s one of the least sexy travel items, but also one of the most essential!
4. Refillable water bottle
We’ve had Hydroflask water bottles since 2011, and are pretty obsessed.
Not only do these insulated bottles keep your water cold for hours (or hot, if you prefer tea or coffee), but they also help reduce plastic waste—something we’re always mindful of when we travel.
Many airports, hotels, and cafes now have refill stations, making it easier than ever to stay hydrated without constantly buying bottled water.
Bonus tip: If you’re flying, bring it empty through security and fill it up before your flight to save money and avoid waste!
5. AeroPress
This one isn’t a necessity for everyone – just coffee drinkers, like ourselves!
This tiny little device brews up some of the best coffee you’ll have. Yes, really! There’s some science-y reason behind what makes the process better, but I’ll just tell you it’s good. Really good.
And it’s super portable. It can save you a bunch of money on your travels if you drink coffee daily. Plus, it’s a lifesaver in places where coffee isn’t all that accessible. We even bring this baby camping!
This is probably the exception on this list because we don’t bring this on every trip. If we know our hotels will have a coffee maker, for instance, we’ll skip it. But it’s a good one to have in your packing arsenal.
6. Toiletry organization
Digging through a messy toiletry bag is one of our least favorite travel experiences—so we’ve fine-tuned our system over the years. These items are a must for organizing our toiletries. Let’s take a peek, shall we?
- Toiletry organizer is a must to start with. We love this one because it hangs from a hook so it doesn’t take up counter space.
- These travel containers are leak-free and really high-quality. We’ve had them for years!
- I like these small zip bags for storing Q-tips, cotton pads, and other random things.
- This jewelry organizer keeps everything safe, organized, and tangle-free. (If you have anything valuable, be sure to pack it in your carryon.)
7. Collapsible backpack &/or shopping bag
This is an item that takes up virtually zero space and comes in handy in so many situations.
- collapsible backpack: great for a spontaneous hike or day trip
- stuffable shopping tote: perfect for getting groceries or picking up the perfect souvenir you weren’t expecting to find but can’t pass up (it happens!).
8. Packing cubes
I will shout their praises until the day I die. Packing cubes help you stay organized, compress your clothing, and keep your suitcase from becoming one big ol’ mess.
Instead of rummaging through a pile of clothes every time you need something, you can easily pull out a cube and find exactly what you’re looking for.
We personally use different cubes for different types of clothing (tops in one, bottoms in another, underwear in a smaller one, etc.), and it makes unpacking at our hotel or Airbnb a breeze.
Bonus: They also can help you keep dirty clothes separate from clean ones!
9. Kindle
I was actually really against the idea of e-readers when they first appeared on the market. I truly love turning the page of a book, and I think I will always prefer reading print on paper to that on a screen.
But after years of lugging around heavy books on my travels—only to finish them too quickly and struggle to find replacements—I finally gave in. And honestly? I wish I had done it sooner.
My Kindle Paperwhite has been a total game-changer. It lets me bring an entire library on every trip without adding extra weight or bulk to my bag.
Whether I’m reading on a plane, in a cozy cafe, or winding down before bed in my hotel room, I love having instant access to any book I want. Plus, the battery lasts for weeks, and the screen is easy on the eyes—even in bright sunlight.
If you love reading but hate the hassle of carrying multiple books, this is one travel essential you won’t regret packing!
Let us help you travel better…
Be sure to check out our Travel Planning Homepage for resources on everything you need to know about how to plan a trip, from packing to budgeting and more! Or you can read some of our favorite articles about planning your next trip below.
- How to Plan a Trip in 10 Simple Steps
- Expert Tips for Finding Cheap Flights
- Genius Tips for Booking the Best Airbnb
- Carry-On Packing List: What You Actually Need on a Flight
- This is the one thing we NEVER travel without!
- Tips to Fight Jet Lag (that actually work!)
- How to Get an International SIM Card
→ Traveling as a family? Don’t miss our family travel articles!
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We want to hear from you!
What items do you find yourself packing on every single trip? Do you have any travel essentials you can’t live without? Leave your comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you!