Things I continue to bring

Pens

    Very simple, you never know when you’ll need a pen. From filling in customs and immigration forms to writing out directions or figuring out a route on a paper map, pens are essential to all trips, no matter the length!

My Go Pro

    The GoPro brand has only gotten better with each release. While there are still a few issues (like the camera heating up and causing condensation when scuba diving) the quality overall is fantastic. It takes great photos and with the latest versions the viewing of photos and videos on the camera is great (if not slightly difficult due to the size) and the apps allow you to download right to your device and edit them on that device which is great for on the fly editing and quick posting on social media to keep friends, family and followers up to date with your adventures.

A Thermos

    I got my Manna Thermos at Costco in Spring of 2018, it came in a pack of 2 for somewhere around the 30CAD range, and I was in love with it from the first use. I spent an entire day with the 40oz bottle filled with ice and water, and while I had to refill the water a few times (Grand Prix weekend was hot, sunny and beautiful), the ice was still in the bottle the next day! It keeps cold drinks for up to 24hrs and hot liquids for up to 12. It’s a great solution for not only reducing plastic waste, it also works great for shakes or soup or even your morning coffee if you’re always on the go.

Fitness tracker/watch

    I never understood the allure and hype about fitness trackers. I’m not an athlete by any stretch of the word. I got a Garmin Vivofit 3 around Black Friday in 2016 for about 75$ from Amazon (it’s a more basic model only giving me information about sleeping patterns and steps, however, more expensive models have heart rate among other features available), and subsequently to New Zealand and Australia on my first backpacking trip. I was astounded how many steps I took on a day to day basis even once I was home, and I’ve found it helpful to see how many calories I used, the Garmin Connect app also connects to the MyFitnessPal app so I can tell how many calories I took in and to ensure I’m getting (vaguely) what I need nutrition wise.

iPod/Phone

    Apple makes products with great cameras. That is just a simple reality. They also have easy to use products that allow us to keep in touch via social media, keeping my loved ones, friends and even co-workers (past and present) is simple with my iPod allowing me to update my Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and even my LinkedIn within a few minutes while I eat lunch at a café or while I wait for a train or a flight. It also allows me to listen to music, podcasts or even TV from back home while in transit between destinations. I can’t see myself going anywhere without an iPod anytime soon.

My own Towel

    Yes, I know. Many hostels and hotels provide towels, I get that every time I bring this up. However, there’s something nice about having the same towel everywhere I go. They can be heavy and awkward to place, but when you get the right one (preferably one that fits in a tiny pouch) it can make a shared shower feel a little bit more like home. I would highly recommend a yoga towel or anything microfibre as they dry much more quickly, are super absorbent and tend to be much thinner than regular towels so they take up less space when packing.

Some cutlery and small dishes (when possible)

    This one is more for my fellow checked baggage travellers as knives aren’t usually allowed anywhere near an aircraft. I grew up camping for weeks at a time and I always had to carry my own utensils and dishes around, so it’s only natural I try to take at least a plate, bowl and cutlery along with me when I travel. It’s saved me quite a bit of hassle when you get up for breakfast only to notice the hostel has run out of one piece or another.

A good Torch (Flashlight)

From searching your bag in a dark room to lighting up a far too dark path after the sun has gone down, a torch is a great tool to travel with at all times, while many people have the “flashlight” option on their phones, when your battery is low, or your phone is away in a safe pocket, a torch can be a great addition to your gear. I try to carry my Bell and Howell light with me, it has different settings including a quick and slow flashing to ward off a potential attacker or to flag someone down.

A scarf

    When I say a scarf, I’m not talking about the little neck scarf or infinity scarf, I’m talking about my huge, super soft body wrap like scarf from Indigo. I travelled with this scarf for the first Time to Australia and New Zealand and won’t leave home without it again! I worked as not only a scarf but also as a shawl, a blanket, a pillow and it’s a great accessory to fancy up an outfit! It also worked as a conversation starter with people asking where it was from and if I was Scottish (it’s a red and black tartan print). I would highly recommend getting a scarf to travel with that has a pattern that goes well with many outfits

Things I no longer travel with

Bottles of liquid soaps (shampoos, Conditioner, Body wash)

    Lush has great (and slightly pricey) options for shampoo, Conditioner and body wash bars now, on top of the fact that many places (a few hostels included) give shampoo/conditioner/body wash to the people staying with them.

When travelling off the beaten path I make a point of buying from Lush as they are so super eco-friendly, the products are fresh (take for example the woman who had sports growing in her shower!)

Dry Shampoo

I take showers way more often than I ever realized and since I usually end up swimming and wearing hats basically every day in warm climates, the dry shampoo takes up space in my bag and ends up making it round trip usually only being used once, which in a 3-month trip is not worth it

Bug Spray

    Yes, bug spray, even though I am the person the bugs love to go after, I don’t really travel with bug spray anymore. Why, you ask as you start to scratch yourself, because most of the time local guides, friends or even other travellers are willing to share with you. Another reason is that most bug sprays only work regionally and don’t necessarily work the same way at Australian beaches (damn sand Mites! (don’t worry, I don’t swim with any products on!))  the same way they do in the mountains around Tremblant.

A suitcase

    Ok, hear me out on this one. As someone who moves around a lot when they travel, and who travels very minimally with a “take only what you can carry” mentality, of course, I wouldn’t travel with a suitcase. Only 3 of the hostels I’ve ever stayed in had elevators, and they were all part of the “Nomads” chain (brand? Still not clear on the way that worked) in Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown. The rest all had staircases and I cannot imagine dragging a suitcase up 7 flights of stairs and down a hallway to get to my shared room. If you’re travelling long-term or even just a few weeks, I would recommend switching your suitcase for a backpack.

What I’m on the fence with

My Tablet

    If my trip will be short (a month or less), I don’t bother taking my tablet because I know I won’t be able to fill my six 32gb SD cards. It will not happen, believe me, I have tried. I also know that if for whatever reason I REALLY need a desktop type computer, most major cities still have internet cafes to some extent

My Cannon Camera

    Depending on if I’m planning a quick spa getaway or a multi-month backpacking adventure I always debate bringing my Rebel. It takes amazing photos, but it is heavy around my neck after a while and I always worry about it getting stolen or broken, however, I usually end up caving and bringing it with me and have yet to regret it, so do what feels best to you.

Pillow

    Even the most compact pillows seem to be useless to me for some reason. They always end up at an awkward angle making them uncomfortable or I forget to use them entirely. I brought one with me to Australia and New Zealand and used it a few times but not enough to really make me want to bring it on other trips. When I go on a long camping trip I’ll still take a pillow, but for other trips, I think I’ll leave it at home.

Blanket

    As, yes. The blanket. One of my favourite pieces of gear for camping must be my Black Diamond blanket (again from Costco). It’s compact in its stuff bag but large enough to more or less wrap around me in a cocoon of warmth, but again the for the few times I really needed it, it was great to have, however, the weight and space it took up in my bag weren’t really worth the handful of times I used it (mostly on flights), so much like the travel pillow, I’ll keep it for camping trips but will do without during international travel.

A paper Journal and pen(s)

I love writing while I travel. The little details that made the trip that much more memorable don’t always stay so fresh in your memory. Having a paper journal is a staple of travelling for many, but if I’m honest, it usually doesn’t get filled in after the first few days because I get so caught up in going (and staying) out all day and all night fairly often too. I often find myself trying to jot down all the details my mind can remember as quickly as I can on a quiet “rest day” that I give myself at least one day for every month of travel. As much as I love going back and reading the entries, I won’t have anything to write if I spend all my time filling in the blank pages, so I rely on photos, videos and the few sentences I jot down on my digital journal to keep the memories as alive as the day they were made.

Purse/day bag

    I love being able to walk around a new place and feel like a local. The first time I ever experienced someone mistake me for a local was when I was in Munich, Germany. I was with my high school and a girl I had known for 5 years bumped into me while I was washing my hands and as soon as the words “I’m sorry” left her mouth the words “Oh my god, I thought you were from here for a second!” followed them. Being someone with dark brown hair and eyes to match, I’m not exactly what most people would identify as German, and considering the double takes and flat out stares I received, they have a good reason. That trip taught me that I blend in fairly well where ever I go, mostly because I dress like locals and travel, shop and even eat where they do, but I still can’t decide how I feel about bringing a purse with me. On one hand, it’s a great alternative to lugging around a backpack or camera bag all day and I usually keep my important stuff in a handbag for flight and train travel so that everything is at hand immediately, but the downside means bringing an extra bag and having to find space for it when I don’t need it