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Essential Travel Gear
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items Travel can be both fun and grueling. After visiting 54 countries, I've honed in on this essential gear, which makes travel easier and more enjoyable.
Sections
5
Luggage
Personal Carry Gear
Clothing
Hiking
Tech
Luggage
No matter where we go and no matter how long, we take only a bag that fits in the overhead and a backpack. These are our choices.
I've been using this rugged bag for many years. It has a large compartment with top or bottom access, a panel can be unzipped to combine the soft upper compartment and the rigid lower, and many pockets. It holds 2 weeks of clothes.
Pathfinder Gear 22in Rolling Drop Bottom Duffel
I love that this rugged backpack opens from the front, like a suitcase, not the top. It's expandable, with lots of compartments and stash pockets, including one for shoes, a lockable laptop sleeve, and RFID pocket.
Blast Pro 38L Travel Backpack
Personal Carry Gear
Essential gear I carry with me on every trip.
My water bottle needs to be clear (so I can see how much is left), large spout (so I can chug), 32 oz., carry handle, rugged, and must fit in a car's cup holder. This bottle has it all.
OLDLEY Water Bottle, 32oz Sports Water Bottle
This rugged carrier with shoulder and hand straps lets me carry my water bottle hands-free. Its zipper pocket can hold an engagement ring box, as my brother learned on a trip to propose.
NUOVOWARE: Water Bottle Carrier
These economical bi-focal sunglasses can be lost without regret, and they come in cool colors.
EYEGUARD 3 Pack Bifocal Reading Sunglasses
Because many of my trips have lots of sun or high altitude, or both, I like the travel size of this dry-touch SPF 70, which can be used on my face or body.
Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Oxybenzone-Free Sunscreen Lotion
Clothing
Be ready for any travel situation with these basics.
Once I was pick-pocketed on the Paris subway. Since then I wear these rugged pants, which have pockets within pockets, zippers, buttons, and flaps that will foil any Artful Dodger.
Pick-Pocket Proof® Adventure Travel Collection - Clothing Arts
Sometimes you need a coat when you didn't think you would. This one is weather resistant and doubles as a neck support on the plane.
Weatherproof Men's Lightweight Wind-Resistant Puffer Jacket
These ¼ zip shirts are great for travel: lightweight, tightly rollable, sun protection, machine or hand washable, many colors
G Gradual Men's Long Sleeve Running Shirt
Hiking
This equipment serves me well hiking paved sidewalks, cobblestone streets, or mountain trails.
I wear high-top hiking boots wherever I'll be doing a lot of walking, which is every trip. Merrills are lightweight, comfortable, rugged, and provide good support.
Merrell Hiking Boots
These poles are collapsible, lightweight, strong, and have different tips. Perfect for off-roading with your feet.
Covacure Hiking Poles
Tech
These pieces of tech will enhance your trip.
My favorite piece of travel gear, this compact, tangle-eliminating waterproof case organizes my charger cubes and cords, travel mouse, earphones, etc.
Electronics Accessories Organizer Pouch
Sitting in an airline lounge, I said to my friend “flying is so much better with my Bose noise cancelling headphones.” A guy overheard and exclaimed “me too.” A nearby woman said “I don't fly without them.” It would have been a great TV commercial.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
I carried these compact and lightweight binoculars on trips to Peru and Africa. They're waterproof, clear, bright, and powerful for their size.
Nikon TRAVELITE EX Binoculars