Travel Gear Worth Buying (And What to Skip)

I have spent over ten years travelling solo, and I have bought a lot of travel gear I did not need. That's always how it goes, it seems. You get all excited when planning a trip and then feel like you need every single gadget. It really is just a way to feel more prepared and get rid of anxiety… However, some gadgets are worth it! So let's talk about all the ones I've wasted my money on, so you don't need to. Plus the ones i swear by!

Travel gear that is worth it

Packing cubes: yes

Packing cubes are the best cheap thing you can buy for your bag. Just get some simple ones. They keep your clothes sorted, so you never have to empty your whole backpack or suitcase to find one T-shirt. When you move every few days, that saves a lot of small frustrations.

They also make repacking fast. You take the cube, you zip it, you are done. Buy two or three in different sizes. Oh, and a lifehack: use one for dirty laundry! I bought mine for €10 at a shop somewhere and do just fine!

Microfibre towel: yes

A microfibre towel is small, light and dries fast. Many hostels do not give you a towel, and plenty of cheap guesthouses give you a super thin one that never dries or is super scratchy and old. IYKYK... A microfibre towel solves both problems and doubles as a beach towel or a gym towel. I've got 2 and use them almost daily. I've got a medium/big size for showering/beach and a smaller one for the gym.

Tracker tag: YES

I'm not afraid to admit it. I have four of them. 3 AirTags. Now is that excessive? Probably. But I love it so much. I've got one in every bag. So my suitcase, backpack and my handbag. It gives me a lot of peace of mind that i can always check where my stuff is. Especially on long bus rides where I can only hope no one stole my bag or accidentally took the wrong one. I'd recommend anyone to get some tags before leaving on a trip.

Universal travel adapter: yes

Get one good adapter that works in many countries, rather than a bag of single ones. It is one of those items you only think about when the plug does not fit, and you're stuck with no battery. Look for one with USB/USB-C ports so you can charge your phone and laptop from a single socket. Hostel sockets fill up quickly, so it's nice to be able to charge all your electronics from one socket.

A power bank: 10000% yes

A power bank saves you on long travel days, i dare say it's savd my life multiple times. Especially since these days your phone is EVERYTHING. Your map, payment, communication, confirmation emails, tickets, even boarding passes. Personally i have 3 which might seem exessive, but they each have their purpose and i recommend you do the same:

1. A large heavy powerbank so you can charge your laptop and multiple devices during a long travel day. This one is in my backpack only on travel days. Otherwise chilling at home.

2. A medium-sized one that can charge my phone 2-3 times. It's smaller and fits easily in my backpack or even my handbag. I take it with me if I know I'll be out and about the whole day.

3. A mini one the size of my palm that i have permanently in my handbag. It's a bit old and only charges my phone about 30%, but that's all you need late at night to get home safe! And it's saved me many times!

Ow and one rule to know before you fly: spare lithium batteries and power banks go in your carry-on only, never in checked luggage! And i recommend to have all with you at your seat just in case. Most standard power banks are under the 100 Wh limit, but airlines can set stricter rules, so check this before you travel.

An eSIM: yes

Not a gadget technically i know, but it belongs on this list. An Esim is easily the best invention of the century. Being able to land in a country and immediately have internet is a luxury you need. Actually, it's not a luxury. It's a basic need at this point. Trust me on this and download one. it's super easy and doesn't have to be expensive. I covered my favourites in my guide to the best eSIMs for digital nomads.

Earplugs and an eye mask: yes

These weigh almost nothing and fix almost every bad night. ESPECIALLY, if you sleep in hostels, take night buses, but also on long flights. I have some very, very good earplugs that are also noise-cancelling. Very fancy i know. They are from QuietOn (not sponsored, they simply are amazing). I've got a simply silk black eyemask that i got for christmas some years ago. Buy both before you leave, since the good ones are hard to find at the airport, and 5x the price.

A small padlock: yes

Hostel lockers rarely come with a lock. And it always gave me peace of mind to lock away extra cash, my passport, and my camera. Pro tip: buy a small combination padlock. NOT one with a key! You do not want to loose that key somewhere and not be able to access your locker and all your valuables. It also works great on your bag zips on overnight transport. Just for some extra security. I've even locked zippers from my bag and my jacket together so i could sleep more peacefully on an overnight bus haha.

A packable daypack or tote: yes

Just a basic bag for day trips so you're not stuck carrying your backpack around all the time. I use a basic tote bag, does the trick. You'll use it for grocery runs, beach days, shopping, or when you've slightly overpacked and need to smuggle just 1 extra thing onto the plane lol guilty.

Travel gear that depends on where you go

Money belt: not really, unless you are going somewhere tricky

This one divides travellers a bit. I know some people that love them. But before my first trip i bought a money belt. If you don't know what it is, it's bascially a belt, with a small hidden compartment that you can put money in. Sometimes they are larger and can hold a passport too. I bought one and didn't use it once.

I think for most trips it just isn't that necessary. You end up standing at the counter lifting up your shirt and fumbling with your trousers to get some money out. A better way is to just simply not carry more money than you need for the day.

However, a money belt makes sense in a few situations: like long overnight buses and trains where you sleep with your bag nearby, very crowded places known for pickpockets, and countries where it's not as safe to carry around a bag/wallet. In those cases, it makes sense. For a normal week in a normal city, skip it. But of course, if it makes you feel more secure, get one.

Hanging toiletry bag: depends

I personally have one, cause it was made specifically for my large Osprey backpack, but its usefulness is meh. Occasionally it is very handy because space for skincare is often limited in hostels with a shared bathroom. So if you travel with a lot of skincare and stay in places with limited shelf space, a hanging bag is great. If you travel light and keep things in a small pouch, you do not need one i would say.

E-reader: depends

If you read a lot, definitely get one. People are raving about it for a reason. But i don't have one. I read on my phone. Especially since my motivation to read hits about once every 3 years..

Travel-size bottles: Yes, but…

Do yourself a favour and buy good, high-quality, sturdy ones. And you don't need 10x. You need about 3 or 4 for shampoo, conditioner, face cleaner and maybe body lotion. Everything else, like toothpaste, moisturiser, serums, generally comes in small enough packaging anyway.

Travel gear that is not worth it

Neck travel pillow

I feel like neck pillows have really good marketing and very, very shitty execution. They're bulky, don't fit anywhere. It's kinda cirty if you think about it. It touches a bunch of surfaces if you clip it on the outside of your bag, and then you rest your face on it for 6+ hours!??

They often don't even support your neck well, so what's the point? I bought one once just to throw it away as soon as I landed... a waste, I know. If you sleep on planes, a rolled-up jumper or a small inflatable pillow does the job with a fraction of the space, plus you can wash those better.

Compression bags and vacuum bags

Yes they shrink your clothes for about five minutes, but then you open the bag to get something and cannot get it back in. Packing cubes do the same job but are easier. You also often need a vacuum cleaner for the vacuum bags.. You won't always easily have access to one.

"Anti-theft" everything

Those anti-theft bags, anti-theft shirts, hidden pockets in trousers, etc. Some are well made, sure, but it's just marketing aimed at fear. You don't need it, trust me. A normal bag that you wear in front of you in crowds, plus some good habits, does a lot more than any fancy anti-theft tool. If your bag looks like a security product or really fancy, it also draws attention. Remember, you generally want to blend in, not stand out.

Travel iron, travel kettle and other mini appliances

I never bought these myself luckily, but let me spare you the money. You will use them twice, and then forget they exist. UNLESS, you have a camper, then it makes a lot more sense.

How to decide what to buy

Okay, so before you buy travel gear. Ask yourself these 3 things. Will I use it every week? Does it weigh only a little? Does it fix a real problem I've had before? If you say yes to all, take it. If 1 answer is a no, leave it.

My biggest advice: take less than you think you need. Then, while travelling, you will notice what you actually use and what you don't. Get rid of what you don't need or use asap. And if you notice you actually ARE missing something, buy it during your trip. Cause that is something people tend to forget too, it seems (me included). If you forget something or need something, you can just buy it on the road. So don't stress so much about having every single tool for every single hypothetical scenario, and just go travel and see what you need (:

Ready to build a life on the road?

Gear is the easy part. The harder part is the income that lets you travel full time. The Escape Plan is my step-by-step guide to making your first €1,000 online, for €17. Start here: stellasentiero.com/escape.