What I Never Leave Home Without: My 6 Packing Essentials

Packing is my worst nemesis. I either overpack or under pack and spend hours before any trip agonizing over whether I’ve forgotten something important. There are a few things, though, that always make it inside my backpack. These six items make my life easier, help me save money, and assuage some of my environmental related guilt about flying too much.

Dry shampoo

I really hate washing my hair. It’s long and thick and coarse and wavy and it takes forever to dry and then another eternity to straighten into something somewhat smooth and not puffy. To prolong time between washes I use tons of dry shampoo to soak up the oil at my roots without having to restyle.. It’s also handy if you’re on a multi-day trek or train journey and don’t have access to a shower shower.

Sarong

I’ve traveled with the same rainbow tie dye sarong, something I bought for about $10 in Mexico, since 2009. It’s literally been everywhere with me and served just about every purpose imaginable from beach towel to makeshift curtain. It’s come in handy on really cold buses and in guesthouses where I wanted my skin as far away from the sheets as possible. I also used it once to shield my face from spiders while sleeping on a mattress on the floor in Bali.

Sarong as a picnic blanket in the Philippines.

Sarong as a picnic blanket in the Philippines.

Cleansing wipes

I use a cleansing wipe every night to take off my makeup, whether I’m at home or on the road. They are also good if you need to freshen up after a long flight or, once again, if you’re on a multi-day journey of some sort. I brought two 40 packs with me to Southeast Asia and had no regrets about the space they took in my bag.

Packing cubes

If you’re not already traveling with packing cubes you’re doing it wrong. I’ve become a sort of packing cube evangelist over the past two years and have converted many to my ways. I have three medium sized cubes and one small double sided one. I use the medium cubes for clothes- one for tops, one for bottoms, and one for dresses- and the small one for underwear, socks, and bathing suits. I originally bought them because I have a top loading backpack that can be a pain to dig through, but now I use them in a suitcase or duffel bag too. They are that great.

That backpack is filled with packing cubes. Otherwise this tiny train room would be a disaster.

That backpack is filled with packing cubes. Otherwise this tiny train room would be a disaster.

Water bottle

So I kind of failed at using a reusable water bottle in Southeast Asia because I was too lazy to purify every liter of water I wanted to drink, but in places like Europe and the US I never travel without one. Plastic water bottles are bad for the environment and buying a liter or two each day starts to add up so I just bring one along and fill it up at the hostel. Or in bathrooms because I’m gross. If you’re looking for a new bottle, I recently bought a Sigg aluminum bottle and I didn’t know it was possible to be this in love with a drinking vessel.

Say no to disposable plastic water bottles like the 2 I'm sitting next to in Mandalay.

Say no to disposable plastic water bottles like the 2 I’m sitting next to in Mandalay.

Menstrual cup

If you are a woman of menstruating age, buy a menstrual cup now. Right now. My Diva Cup was even more life changing then the packing cubes and that’s saying something. It’s perfect for traveling as you don’t have to carry around 4 freezer sized Ziplock bags of your favorite tampons (not that I’ve ever done that or anything) or end up stuck with only pads available in a tiny Philippine beach town because you didn’t plan ahead. They are also great for long bus rides because you can wear it for up to 12 hours, they are environmentally friendly, and you’ll end up saving money. Have I convinced you yet? Because I could go on.

Yes, you will get very familiar with your body and there can be a steep learning curve, but forget any hesitations you have and buy a menstrual cup before your next trip. Or now.

(No, I am not being paid by any menstrual cup manufacturer to say this. Once you start using one you’ll realize how awesome they are and want to tell everyone you know about them.)

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something using one of the links I’ll receive a small commission at no extra charge too you.

What are your packing essentials?
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  1. February 10, 2015
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