13 BEST Things to Pack to Make Your Life EASIER!

Packing can be so stressful, especially with airlines charging big bucks to check a bag! The good news is, there are so many handy items available to make your life easier – some of which you probably already own!

Here are 13 things you can pack to make your travels easier!

1. the right bag
2. carabiners
3. your phone (which is also a camera, ticket, documents, etc.)
4. the proper documentation (ex. passport, Covid-19 Records, etc.)
5. hand sanitizer & wet wipes
6. a small first aid/medicine kit
7. a collapsable bag
8. a daypack
9. an empty water bottle (maybe collapsable!)
10. a quick-dry towel
11. a jacket with LOTS of pockets!
12. a sweater or scarf
13. headphones or earbuds

13) Headphones or Earbuds

Having a way to peacefully enjoy the content of your choice will make your travel so much more enjoyable! Whether it’s listening to music on your phone, hooking into the seat back screens to watch a movie on a long haul flight, or just finding it a little easier to sell asleep with white noise playing, these are one thing you don’t want t forget at home!

Over ear headphones are nice to have, though they can take up extra room (unless you choose to wear them the entire time!), and there are plently of varieties of earbuds that are far more compact on the market.

12) A Sweater or Scarf

This is a great thing to shove in your bag or throw on as you head out the door no matter what climate you are heading too! Scarves have so many versatile uses.

If you are going to a warmer location, a lighter scarf could be handy to mark a bag you unexpectedly have to check, as a cover for those questionable airplane pillows, as a head covering if you go to a country where that is expected, a sort of mask in harsher environments, or just something to change up an outfit because you’re wearing the same small, basic wardrobe that fit in your bag!

As for a heavier scarf, they make wonderful pillows on long flights or train rides!

11) A Jacket (with LOTS of pockets!)

Jackets with pockets are probably the most useful tool for days in the airport or for backpackers in general. In the airport or on public transport it is so handy to have everything you need just in your pockets so you can store the rest of your luggage somewhere else (which means extra legroom!)

And for any backpacker wandering a city or small town, it is always handy to have lots of pockets to keep currency, transport tickets, phone, headphones and any other important things perfectly in reach. This can also be great for safety, as even if you loose your bag, you can still have pockets full of money, important documents, identification and personal devices.

10) A QuickDry Towel

Quick Dry towels are a backpacker’s dream, especially when you are staying in airbnb’s or hostels where sometimes towels are hard to come by. Quick Dry towels are normally made of a microfiber which is super compact and fast drying so you can save space and keep from packing a heavy, damp towel. I personally use a set with both a facecloth and a towel which can be found here! They are so handy to have on a trip, I definitely recommend snagging one!

9) An Empty Water Bottle (maybe even collapsable!)

This is especially handy when you are going to be in an airport. Even though in most countries you can’t bring a full bottle of water with you through security, you can pack an empty bottle! After you get through security you can just fill up at a water fountain or ask a waiter or barista to fill it for you. I personally use Tal water bottles because they can keep ice for so long, but there are so many varieties of bottle you can pick up.

Collapsable bottles are especially handy for travel, especially if you are traveling carry on only!

8) A Daypack

A daypack is a super important item to pack, especially on longer trips with larger luggage! Having a purse, small backpack or daypack you can transfer the items you need for the day is super handy, and allows you to leave your big and bulky luggage at the hotel!

Some travel bags even come with daypacks like the Osprey farpoint 55. I use the Osprey Ozone Duplex 60 because of this feature! The daypack is huge, and the entire pack separates into your personal item and carry on!

7) A Collapsable Bag

I always throw a foldable backpack in my bag, and it has come in handy many times! With picking up groceries to buying too many souvineers, a collapsable bag can get you out of trouble in many situations!

6) A Small First Aid Kit (and some misc. medicine!)

Something that none of us want to think about is getting sick or injured while we are on vacation. It doesn’t happen often, but for the times that it dies it is super handy to have a small arsenal of medicine and other first aid items with you.

You can pick up a small first aid kit that is already put together (like this one), but it’s really easy to throw one together yourself. In my toiletries bag I just always keep a few bandaids, ibuprofen, cold & flu tablets, cough tablets, Dramamine pills and Imodium pills. Hopefully you will never have to use any of these, but they are there just incase!

5) Hand Sanitizer & Wet Wipes

Even in non pandemic times hand sanitizer and wet wipes are handy. Travel can get dirty, and hand sanitizer can never hurt! and as for wet wipes…those airplane trays are not always the cleanest, so it’s best to just give them a quick wipe down before you use them!

4) The Proper Documentation

Having the proper documentation is really easy in the 21st century, because you can easily take pictures of many important documents! the address of your airbnb, the directions to get there from the airport, etc. That being said, making sure you have your passport, drivers license, visa, tickets or whatever else you might need to show on you is very important. This is definitely something you want to triple check on before you leave for your trip!

There are all sorts of passport organizers available that can help keep your important documents together!

3) Your Phone (the BEST travel tool!)

It’s true – travel has become so easy with cellphone around. You can download maps ahead of a trip, take photos, get directions, get to your email, book transport tickets, hold your plane tickets, check into flights and so much more right from your finger tips!

2) Carabiners

It might seem like a silly thing to mention so high up on the list, but having a few carabiners dangling from your bag at all times is a must! It is so easy to dangle a pair of sneakers, a water bottle, a collapsable bag, or even a camera bag off of your pack! This not only leaves some things easier to get to, but can help save space inside of your bag!

A big pack of these won’t run you much on amazon, like this pack of 20 I grabbed for less than 10 bucks. And even better you can find lockable carabiners too, like these. Either way, these are one of the most handy tools to have on hand for any traveler!

1) The Right Bag

The right bag can make or break a trip! Having not only the right bag for the trip, but also the right bag for you! Is a wheeled suitcase right for you, or would a backpack be easier? How long do you need to pack for? are you going to a city or to the middle of nowhere? Questions like these can help you find what style of bag you should use for your trip.

If you have no idea where to start, Osprey offers a Packfinder on their site which could help you to discover styles that are right for you! From there, you can scour the internet for your ideal pack! Amazon has a lot of good options for travel packs, and you can catch some good deals on Osprey bags from the Clarence section on Osprey.com or by searching Osprey on Amazon!

The Roundup

Traveling will always be a little hectic, but with some experience and the right tools for you, it can be like clockwork!

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