Packing Tips
I’m not someone who likes a lot of stuff. I lived out of a suitcase for 11 years while I was nomadic, so it was imperative that I make gear choices that are light, durable, and necessary. I don’t like a lot of bells and whistles, and quite frankly, most travel stuff is crap and stuff that you don’t even need. My travel gear list tried to stick to the necessities for the traveler who wants to remain light, adventurous, and simple.
And when it comes to packing, I have all kinds of tips for maximizing your space and organization!
Whether you are shopping for a trip for yourself, or a favorite traveler in your life this gear is what you need to make any trip awesome – even a work trip! These are all products I have used for various amounts of time as I traveled around the world.
Let’s start with some packing essentials
Roll Your Clothes
Roll your clothes to get maximum room in your suitcase/backpack.
Bring a Scarf/Sarong
Scarves make you fashionable and can be used for various uses – towels, beach cover-ups, sun shade, warmth, modesty cover-ups in Islamic countries, and they can be used to add a pop of color to a drab travel color palette.
Use Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are the key to packing happiness – turn your bag into a dresser… organized! I use and love Thule packing cubes
Two (uses) is Better Than One
My favorite travel items are the pieces that has double uses. My reversible tights, a water bottle that can also be a coffee mug, or shorts that I can hike, swim, and surf in.
Travel with Natural Fibers
Good wool products (socks, underwear, tshirts, PJ’s) are GREAT for travel. They dry really fast, don’t hold odor, stay warm in the cold, and cool in the heat.
Stick to One Color Palette
Pack in one color palette so that you can stay light and everything can go together in different combinations.
Backpack vs Wheeled Bag
Use a backpack if you are doing a lot of train or bus travel – it’s much easier to maneuver through stations and store.
Bring a Reuseable Water Bottle
Bring your own collapsible/refillable water bottle and stop using plastic! In developing countries bring a water bottle with a built in filter.
Carry Your Own Weight
You must be able to carry everything on your own. If you can’t lift your bag over your head and into a railroad car or bus overhead storage, then you shouldn’t be carrying it.
Skip the Money Belts
Money Belts are a waste; I’ve never used one – plus, who in their right mind wants to add bulk to your belly area?
This doesn’t stop at 10! See more of the packing tips I’ve compiled from decades of living on the road
When you live out of a suitcase, you don’t have room for stuff that isn’t awesome.
sherry Ott
Don’t leave on a trip without a pair of compression socks
I developed Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) after a long flight from Newark to Delhi. Blood clots formed in my leg and later traveled to my lungs while I was exploring India. I was lucky to get treatment in time — but I also learned that DVT is serious, preventable, and especially dangerous for women travelers.
That’s why I partnered with Vim & Vigr to design the Go Explore merino wool
The one thing you need to pack on every trip
One thing you’ll find on all of my packing lists is a travel adapter and power bank. With all of the technology that we carry now, you don’t ever want to be caught without power or an adapter. Phones, watches, notebooks, cameras, they all require their charging, and you certainly don’t want to carry a plug for each item – it takes up way too much space. I have used a lot of different travel adapters, but I’ve finally found one that can handle it all at once! The TESSAN Aero 70 packs 70W GaN power and an active status display into an ultra-thin pocket frame. It can charge 5 items at once – including your laptop! Plus it also has worldwide plug compatibility thanks to the innovative design. It’s the one item that I pack on every trip – even in my home country – because its so versatile and compact.
You’ll also want a power bank for those moments where you are running low on power – something compact and light, but powerful. The TESSAN Portable Charger is a great choice to reduce all of that cable clutter. It has integrated charging cables along with a foldable wall plug to make it as sleek as possible!
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All you need for travel anywhere in the world! It's small, lightweight, and can charge 5 items at once without the need to bring multiple wall chargers! Carry less and simplify your tech travel gear. I'm so impressed with this adapter - it really does do it all in a compact package.
· 70W Laptop-Level Charging, Real-Time Smart Display, Intelligent Overload Protection
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Carry less! This TESSAN compact portable charger is perfect for travel. Measuring just 0.67 inches thick and weighing 7.6 oz, this slim charging battery is as compact as a phone case, making it easy to carry in your travel backpack or luggage. Despite its small size, it boasts a powerful 10000mAh capacity to keep your devices fully charged on the go.
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