After almost a year of non-stop traveling, we've come to realize that some of the most useful things we carry are also the simplest and most affordable! Below is a list of items (all under $30, most under $5) that will help make your travels as smooth as dulce de leche... mmmmmm. Enjoy!
~Mandrew
~Mandrew
Compression Dry Sack
These things are by far the best investment we made in our travel gear. Not only do they keep everything bone dry, even in the wettest conditions (bags strapped on roof of bus in pouring rain, capsized canoe, etc.) they also let you make the most of your space by smushing the heck out of your bulky soft stuff. An added bonus, too, is that they help keep your clothes safe from bedbugs (always keep your bags closed in hostels or hotels!). Starting at about $30 for the small size, I'd highly recommend everyone get at least one of these badboys - you'll thank yourself when you've got something dry to change into after hiking in the rain for hours. I've got a small sack for my sleeping bag, mat & bug net and a medium sack for all my clothes.
Check them out on Amazon US or Canada.
Check them out on Amazon US or Canada.
Headphone Splitter
Chelsea and I are constantly listening to podcasts & audiobooks to pass the time on long bus rides, or as an alternative to watching a movie when we feel like having a quiet night in (more often than not). This little guy lets us use two sets of headphones on the same music device - so much better than wearing just one ear bud each, especially when one of you gets nasty orange ear wax all over the place. The second-best $5 I've ever spent.
Check it out on Amazon US or Canada.
Check it out on Amazon US or Canada.
Head Lamp
Every backpacker needs a head lamp. Not only for camping, but also for rummaging around your bag in the middle of the night in a hostel dorm, wandering a dark alleyway at night ... a head lamp lets you do pretty much doing anything you can do in the day, but at night. I've got the Petzl Tikkina 2, which is perfect for what I use it for - a bit of getting around and a lot of reading. It's even survived a couple of quick dunks underwater, though it doesn't claim to be waterproof. It's pretty cheap at about $25, the batteries last forever (not literally forever), though it doesn't put out enough light for something like a serious night walk through the jungle.
Check it out on Amazon US or Canada.
Check it out on Amazon US or Canada.
Multi-Tool
One of the biggest annoyances for me is not being able to travel with my usual tool kit. Things will break, and if I've got the right tools I can often fix them. A sturdy multi-tool is a good compromise; like a Swiss Army knife but instead of a toothpick you get a set of pliers. I've got the Leatherman Wingman (one of the more basic ones at about $30), but so far the only thing I've needed that it doesn't have is a corkscrew. The pliers are super sturdy and the knife is scary sharp!
Check it out on Amazon US or Canada.
Check it out on Amazon US or Canada.
Light socket plug adapter
Another handy little gadget we discovered just in time for our trip along the Rio Napo. In remote locations like this, your very basic accommodations may skimp out on electrical sockets - but even the crappiest rooms will likely have a light bulb. This little guy lets you charge a couple of your devices from the light bulb socket, and the pull chain gives you separate control of the light (so you don't need to sleep with the light on in order to charge your camera =P). The best $5 I've spent.
Check it out on Amazon US or Canada.
Check it out on Amazon US or Canada.
International Power Adapters
It's annoying as hell, but for some reason the whole world doesn't use the same electrical outlet design. I'm not saying everyone should conform to the North American style (though that would work fine for me), just choose one and stick with it! Anyways... all you'll need to survive is a simple 4 or 5 piece adapter set - don't bother wasting money on the more expensive & bulky power converter addition that's sometimes included. Most modern devices (laptops, camera battery chargers, etc.) will accept power inputs from 100-240V, 50-60Hz, making this extra converter obsolete. Some exceptions here might be hair dryers (please don't tell me you're backpacking with a hair dryer?!) or cheap electric shavers. If you're in doubt, read the fineprint on your device or its charger.
Check them out on Amazon US or Canada.
Check them out on Amazon US or Canada.
USB Wall Charger
These badboys let you charge one or more of your USB devices directly from a power outlet, saving you from situations where your laptop isn't handy or you'd rather not whip it out in public (marking yourself a prime target for robbery). Odds are, you've already got one of these that came with your Kindle or IPod, but these fancy schmancy ones have multiple USB ports on them, oohhhhh! You shouldn't have to spend more than about $10 on these.
Check these out on Amazon US or Canada.
Check these out on Amazon US or Canada.
Spare Camera Battery
At some point in your adventures, you'll find yourself away from power for a few days, after which you'll stumble on a photo op worthy of the cover of National Geographic - but, alas, your camera battery is dead! Do yourself a favour and bring along a spare or two to have ready for when this happens! If you find a good deal on a generic brand-name, you may spend as little as $5, definitely worthwhile! If you'd rather stick with the original manufacturer, you'll spend more like $20, but what price tag could you put on that incredible photo you would have caught. Make sure you match the battery code to the one that came with your camera. Our camera, for example, uses the battery depicted, with the code NP-45. You should be able to find yours by searching the battery code and/or camera model on Amazon US or Canada.
Universal Sink Plug
Paying to have your clothes washed at laundromats can add up fast. This "universal" (i.e. really big) plug will let you do laundry in just about any sink, letting you save some dough and get a good arm workout while you're at it. At about $4, it's a no-brainer. Despite how big it looks in the picture, it's actually really flat so it doesn't take up much space.
Check it out on Amazon US or Canada.
Check it out on Amazon US or Canada.
Clothes Line
Some light rope or cord will come in handy for many things, from the obvious hanging your clothes out to dry to hanging hammocks, suspending your food from trees to keep it safe from animals, playing jump rope... the list goes on. You don't need anything fancy here, and you shouldn't need more than about 10 metres of it. This basic camping clothesline on Amazon US or Canada fits the bill.
Portable Sewing Kit
I can guarantee that after wandering around the world for a few months in the same couple of outfits, this will come in handy. Why do my pants always wear out around the butt? Check this one out on Amazon US or Canada.
Cable Ties
I always travel with a handful of cable ties, since they're incredibly strong and useful for making repairs on things like backpack straps, fishing reel mounts, temporary replacements for missing bolts on your piece of crap rental bicycle, you name it! I've actually had a couple holding my favourite pair of sandals together for the past few months! Unless you want to buy way too many on Amazon, just go to your local hardware store and get a small assorted pack (or steal some from your dad's toolbox!).
Are there any other handy items you think we should add to this list? Let us know in the comments section below!
Disclosure: All of the links to the Amazon website contained above include a tag that identifies to Amazon that you were directed to their site by us, letting us earn a small commission on any purchases you make. Despite this obvious motive, however, I honestly believe that these are some of the best prices you'll find for these items. So, go spend a shit ton of money! =)
Disclosure: All of the links to the Amazon website contained above include a tag that identifies to Amazon that you were directed to their site by us, letting us earn a small commission on any purchases you make. Despite this obvious motive, however, I honestly believe that these are some of the best prices you'll find for these items. So, go spend a shit ton of money! =)
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