Travel opens your eyes to the incredible beauty of our world and is an incredible opportunity for discovery and understanding of various cultures while forging life-long bonds across borders.
However, travel can be challenging and preparation is key for an unforgettable adventure. Here is everything you'll need for your next journey:
1. A Good Backpack
On a day hike or backpacking journey, having an excellent backpack can make all the difference when it comes to comfortably transporting all your gear and ensuring you have everything necessary for an enjoyable journey. A quality pack should provide ample organization and protection from elements, as well as fit snuggly enough so it's comfortable enough for extended wear times.
A quality travel backpack should feature features like a clamshell design that opens flat to provide ample storage space for clothes or packing cubes, zippered pockets for passport and other small valuables, and a water bottle pocket that accommodates wide-mouth bottles (or even hydration bladders). When traveling by plane, consider getting one that's carry-on size as this will fit more easily in overhead bins.
Although there are numerous great backpack options on the market, the Matador Nomatic Travel Backpack stands out with its thoughtful design and sturdy build. While most travel packs use polyester fabric as its base material, this backpack features sailcloth--the same material used on racing boats--making it extremely lightweight yet surprisingly tough and waterproof - perfect for hiking trips!
2. Comfortable Clothes
When choosing travel clothes, look for pieces that are lightweight yet breathable. Additionally, select pieces which can be worn multiple ways and will be easy to wash once you arrive at your destination.
Search for fabrics like cotton, silk and linen which are soft, absorb moisture quickly and don't produce odors. Additionally, neutral colors (brown, black and khaki) will coordinate well with other pieces in your wardrobe and help to make sure pieces that claim to be wrinkle-resistant last a long time.
If you're in search of versatile yet comfortable travel outfits, take a look at these highly rated loungewear sets from Spanx. Wear these pieces daytime sightseeing tours by adding sneakers and denim jackets or nighttime adventures by pairing wedge sandals and a sleeveless tops paired with wedge sandals - either way they offer versatility when dressing for adventure!
Layering clothes is an effective strategy when it comes to packing for travel, enabling you to pack light while still getting enough warmth in colder climates. Plus, this approach is much more versatile than packing just one thick coat. Huckberry offers several pieces that can be worn both on the plane and once you arrive at your destination; such as soft yoga joggers and water-repellent workwear-inspired pants that provide the flexibility necessary for layering up.
3. Trainers
Travel can be taxing, especially on a long-term basis, so cultivating healthy, empowering habits such as working out regularly can help combat that drain. Regular physical exercise not only benefits your body but is also great for both mind and spirit. Plus, with strong legs you're better suited to take on hikes you couldn't otherwise summit alone or surf new spots independently without risk.
Travel trainers provide invaluable assistance for developing skills and confidence necessary for training independently in the future. Travel trainers work one-on-one with clients on an individual basis - typically home, school or day center visits - in order to create a clear pathway toward health and fitness goals.
4. A Padlock
One of the key objectives of any traveler should be ensuring their belongings remain safe from theft while they're away from their luggage. There are a few steps you can take to help safeguard your items during travel.
One of the best investments you can make is investing in a padlock - detachable locks with pivoting or sliding shackles that lock into cases - this will protect your suitcase or backpack while it sits idle and also in case there's ever an incident at your hostel or hotel that needs your items protected.
There are various kinds of padlocks to choose from, but TSA approved ones should be your top choice. These secure containers feature an override key which only can be activated by TSA staff to avoid having to cut open your lock and risk damaging all your stuff inside it. They're great options for anyone traveling domestic or international flights!
5. A Power Bank
A power bank is a portable charger designed to power mobile devices away from a mains outlet, such as your phone, camera, tablet or laptop. Contained within its compact case are rechargeable lithium batteries that vary in their storage capacity (milliampere-hours or watt-hours; depending on size). TSA regulations dictate that any lithium battery power banks must be packed as carry-on luggage when flying.
Relying on a reliable mobile power source can make travel much less of a chore. You'll be able to navigate unfamiliar cities more efficiently, use GPS navigation systems to reach new destinations more rapidly or stay in contact with loved ones back home more seamlessly. Your GPS also ensures you have access to working devices during unexpected emergencies, such as getting lost or being caught in a dangerous situation. Furthermore, it will keep you entertained on long journeys by playing music or movies while providing respite during stops. Power banks are compact enough to easily fit in a backpack or handbag, with easy-to-read battery indicators that show how much energy remains. Some models like Anker PowerCore Slim even double as Qi wireless charging pads for added flexibility when traveling abroad.
6. A Phone
An essential piece of tech for travelers is their phone, as this versatile piece can help them scan boarding passes, navigate maps and take photos while sightseeing - all while acting as an easy communication tool. Unfortunately, smartphones contain much personal data such as passwords to online accounts and credit card numbers that could pose security threats, according to Gary Brickhouse, chief information security officer at GuidePoint Security.
Brickhouse advises travelers to activate the remote lock and wipe features available on their phones if possible, which allow users to remotely delete photos, app data and passwords that could otherwise be stolen by malicious actors. While they may not recover their device entirely this way, at least it reduces the odds that any bad actors access personal data and information through it, Brickhouse noted.
Locating and activating a phone in another country without incurring excessive costs can be challenging, but with research and assistance from local vendors it can be accomplished successfully.
Dave operates Too Many Adapters, a site dedicated to tech for travelers. Long a tech enthusiast himself, Dave began traveling full-time since 2009 - you can follow him on Instagram @toomanyadapters for his travel tips! To ensure the cheapest mobile communications abroad, it's wise to purchase a prepaid SIM card when arriving at your destination - these cards typically exist at local phone stores or airport kiosks and feature credits dedicated for calls, texts and data; when your credits run low simply buy more!
7. A SIM Card
If your phone is locked or your carrier doesn't offer international roaming plans, an international SIM card may help reduce talk, text, and data costs while traveling abroad. Available at most kiosks that sell phones or cigarettes (as well as local stores where applicable), many come equipped with sufficient data for use during your travels.
Longterm travelers or those taking trips lasting more than a week should consider purchasing the GigSky Travel SIM, available with either physical or eSIM cards. You must download the GigSky app to use this SIM, with various plans from country-specific data bundles to global options available.
KeepGo SIM is another fantastic solution that's compatible with a wide variety of phones and provides cost-effective talk, text, and data usage overseas. Depending on the plan chosen, this SIM can last for up to one year before it needs reloading - perfect for frequent travelers like digital nomads.