Affordable Travel Gear
Hello Friends! This week we’re gonna be talking about travel gear- more specifically how to get the good quality gear you need to make your life on the road easy peasy without spending an arm and a leg, and a few unnecessary things you should maybe skip if you're trying to save some dollars. Each one of these is a product I’ve personally used and I’ve added links to each so you can save time scouring the internet for the best deals 🙂
Luggage
First up is going to be a bit contradictory to the whole idea of saving money, but HEAR ME OUT… The one thing I will always say you should not cheap out on is your luggage. You can find an inexpensive option for pretty well almost everything else you need, but it will absolutely help you in the long run to invest in good luggage. This isn't to say you can't travel unless you have a super expensive pack or suitcase, I’ve literally seen people walking around the airport with their clothes stuffed in a clear garbage bag, BUT I am of the opinion that it’s way better to have a more expensive reliable bag that’ll keep your stuff safe than to get a cheap one that isn't going to be good quality. This especially applies if you’re going to be checking your luggage. So so much happens behind the scenes and bags do break in transit all the time, and there's nothing worse than arriving in an airport halfway across the world with half your stuff missing…I started out my travels with a suitcase, then added a pack to my gear last year. I have found that the backpack option is better for me because I prefer to travel carry-on only, and usually never stay in one spot very long. It is much easier to throw your bag on your back and go than to haul a suitcase around, and you can fit more in a carry-on size backpack than a carry-on suitcase so you can dodge the baggage fees! If you’re more of a pick one place and stay there kind of person, or tend to pack heavy, a suitcase might be a better option. It really depends on the person, but either way, it really does not matter which you have, it holds your stuff, and that's objectively all that matters. Another note: please ignore all the “you're not a real backpacker if you use a suitcase” noise, it's not true, just do you boo.
My suitcase is just a simple hardshell from Air Canada. The biggest thing with suitcases is to look for a reputable brand, and I would recommend hard shells just because I find they can take a lot more damage than a softshell (mine literally looks like it has been dragged through hell and back and is still super sturdy) My pack is the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack. Yes- It's expensive but it's worth it. It holds a TON, is super sturdy, and is ergonomically friendly. Also, if you're going to be spending the money on luggage anyway, I really recommend Cotopaxi because they have ethical and sustainable business practices and support people impacted by poverty. They even have a cool “del dia” line with one-of-a-kind gear made from recycled extra materials from fabricating other bags 🙂
Alrighty, now let's get into what you came for: affordable travel gear!
Packing Gear
My first recommendation is that you pick up two things to use while you're at your destination: a crossbody bag and a small backpack. It does not matter what kind, it does not matter where you get them, it does not matter if they're super fancy or if they’re from the thrift store, but these are the two single most useful bags that you can have with you (trust me) I personally have a plain black crossbody bag that can be dressed up or down that I use as a purse while I’m on trips. It keeps everything close to my person to avoid someone grabbing it, I don't have to carry anything, I love it dearly. I’ve got a couple of small backpacks I've used on different trips, my fav so far has been my Kanken bag (I hear you, and I know it’s not affordable, but I got mine secondhand so HA) Essentially you want to look at your itinerary and see what you might need to bring with you on your excursions. You just want this bag to be big enough to hold what you need for your most gear-heavy day, but small enough that you can comfortably carry it around all day without it hurting your back.
These are my favorite packing cubes! I've had this set for a couple of years and they're still in amazing condition. They are super helpful for keeping all your items organized whether you are using a suitcase or a pack. I cannot recommend them enough, especially if you're a little bit of an organization freak like me when it comes to your bag 👍
This toiletry bag is a godsend in hostels since it has a hook and multiple compartments. It makes it super easy to grab one thing and go instead of having separate bags for makeup, shower stuff, and other toiletries. Everything is in one place and you can hang it anywhere and not have to worry about counter space (or lack thereof)
We’re going to pause here for a moment and acknowledge that this is the end of the “packing gear” section. Quite short wasn't it? That's because that is realistically all you need for packing gear. You do not need a million little cases for your jewelry, perfumes, or whatever else popped up in a targeted ad after you googled some travel stuff. We save our money, and we just get what we need. 15$ for a little case that keeps all your cords organized, could be 15$ towards a delicious dinner on your amazing vacation instead. Just shove em in your bag that’s where they'll probably end up anyway.
Electronics
Depending on where you're headed, a travel converter is an absolute must. I got this one for my second trip to Europe, and I highly recommend it if you're headed there! It has multiple plug-ins and USB and USB-C ports. I have yet to need any other converter, but if you're in the market for one that isn't specific to Europe, I would definitely try to get one like this with many ports because it came in super handy.
If you're planning on traveling on your own, or even if you're going with people and want to be able to snap some amazing photos, I cannot recommend enough that you invest in a tripod. I got this one, which is a super affordable option with bendable legs so it can wrap around things or be propped up regularly, and it attaches both to a camera or smartphone. Trying to get photos of yourself on solo trips is hard y'all! And this is way better than relying on asking strangers to take your photo or trying to awkwardly prop your camera up on something.
Lastly, we have airtags. I like to keep an airtag in my luggage so that if my luggage ever gets lost by my airline (knocking on wood so hard right now) I can at least see what airport it was sent to and attempt to get it back. So far, I’ve been lucky and haven't needed this, but it's reassuring to know that it's there if I do! If you don't want to splash out on airtags (they're not like… super pricey? But still expensive for what they are) I recommend these tracker tags on Amazon. They do literally the exact same thing and are half of the price.
My Essentials
These are some of my absolute musts, no matter where I’m headed you will always find these items in my bag!
First up, my ride or die, my Shayla, if you know me you know I have not once shut up about this since getting it: my Lifestraw water bottle. It looks like a regular water bottle, but it filters out 99.9% of waterborne bacteria and protozoa. YOU GUYS. The number one thing no one thinks about is drinking water where they're traveling. Even if you're headed somewhere with good water infrastructure, foreign water can literally hang you out to dry because they're processed very differently than what you’re used to! I know so many people who have gotten sick from drinking water even in major European cities. I personally picked this up before I headed to Peru, where it is not at all safe to drink tap water, and it paid for itself in that one trip alone. Instead of having to buy bottled water (which is often marked way up in touristy areas) I could fill this up wherever I happened to be, I even filled it from a glacial river and did not get sick. Disclaimer, do not try that last one: glacial runoff is incredibly dangerous and contains really harmful bacteria that can kill you, it was an objectively very dumb way to prove that this is a very good filtered water bottle. I tested it so you don't have to, don't do what I do.
My travel towel is another piece of gear I absolutely adore. This is the one I have, it's from Dock&Bay They make super cute towels of all sizes that are super absorbent, dry fast, and fold up teeny tiny to make them more space-saving. Even if I'm not headed to a beachy destination I always bring this because some hostels charge a fee if you want to use their towels. I have also totally used this as a blanket for an airport nap, no further questions.
If you're a big hiker like me, you 100% need to have good footwear. The first time I went hiking abroad was in Hawaii, I said “I don't need to wear boots, it's hot and this trail looks pretty tame” and then promptly slipped and slid down the side of the mountain. Get your boots, wear em, thank me later. These are the ones I have, They're pretty affordable but still super good quality, and they're waterproof!
Bug cream and sunscreen are absolute musts wherever you’re going. This is my favorite sunscreen. It is waterproof and reef-safe so if you go swimming with it on you’re set, and if you're just staying on land it doesn't leave you oily. My favorite bug cream is this one from Great Outdoors. It’s travel-sized and contains (an FDA approved approved amount of) DEET. I know some people aren't fans of using DEET bug repellants, but it does the job and if you’re headed to an area with a risk for insect-borne diseases, it is absolutely a must.
Items you should skip
These are the items that I bought when I first started backpacking that I thought were absolute essentials, only to purchase them and realize that I never use them and they just take up space in my bag. I am here to pass this knowledge on to you so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not you want them. If you see some of these and think “Wow, I actually really would use that” that's totally fine! This is just my experience.
Travel cutlery sets: This honestly wasn't the worst use of money, I have used it once or twice, and if you're the kind of person who prefers to cook in hostels as opposed to eating out this would totally be a good purchase for you, I just didn't find them all that useful because I generally either eat out or just use disposable cutlery if I do have takeout or something.
Shower shoes: These were always recommended to me when I looked up “what do I need to stay in a hostel” (totally not foreshadowing for a future post) but I honestly don't think I've ever used them for this purpose. I just bought a pair of flip-flops so it wasn't a waste of money per se, I just haven't used them for this purpose. If the showers in your hostel are nasty-looking enough that you need shower shoes, you need to be doing better research before you book a hostel😂I’ve not once seen a hostel shower that was gross enough to need shower shoes. Plus, the people who do wear shower shoes usually end up tracking water all over the floor of the bathroom and hostel room because they dry their feet but not the bottoms of the shoes, and then the floor is soaked which is super annoying.
Travel water bottles: UGH. I remember seeing so many people recommending these when I first started backpacking. They're silicone collapsible water bottles so they can fold up and fit in your bag easier. No, no, and no. I have never once in my life been so inconvenienced by a water bottle. They spill, they leak, they literally do not serve the purpose for which they were made. I will never understand the point of these.
That is all my friends! If you’ve made it this far, thanks so much for reading and supporting my blog! I hope that this helps you all save some money and get what you need to start making your travel dreams come true! If you found this post helpful stay tuned for more exciting things coming soon, and if you haven’t already check out my Instagram page where I post all of my adventures and updates about new posts here. Happy travels!
