Backpacking and traveling across the world can fill a person up with a great sense of joy. It broadens your mind and exposes you to different cultures and lifestyles around the world. However, if you do it wrong, it can be a lot less pleasant of an experience.

An experienced backpacker will be quick to point out the importance of carrying not just any travel gear but the right travel gear.

Having a backpack full of unnecessary things will bog you down and can leave you unprepared for that mosquito that just landed on your leg or that backpack you should have had which contained the helmet you needed to legally operate a motorized bicycle on the streets of Bangkok, Thailand. 

Having just the right things tucked away inside your backpack, makes the adventure so much more enjoyable and gives you the ability to focus on more important things, such as thoroughly enjoying or vacation or holiday! Right?

As someone who absolutely loves to travel, allow me to help you find some really great items that will help you on your journey to self-discovery, your road-trip, your honeymoon, or whatever else has caused you to go on an adventure.

Why Should You Carry Travel Gear?

Some of the greatest joys of traveling are, to some extent, the unpredictability of it all. Although the feelings can be exciting and exhilarating, they can also be scary, right? Sometimes, in cases where you’re not prepared for a ‘surprise’, it can really cost you.

Nothing beats being properly prepared. Having the correct travel gear will allow you to do just that. When you’ve got all the right stuff, you’re now much better prepared for the journey and adventures ahead. When stuck in a pinch, the right gear will come in handy. 

Picture this, you’re on a remote backpacking trip without instant access to a power outlet and you see your camera battery’s charge is running low. If you’re unprepared for such a thing to happen, and it very well can, it could really ruin the moment.

You could have taken the perfect picture. The sunset was amazing. The trees seemed to all line up beautifully as if they were posing for the portrait that your dead battery never allowed you to take. I can be like, here, click this link right here, and this will take you to a very well-structured and in-depth review of the best portable power bank.

Carrying proper travel gear for a trip is vital.

Don’t go into “panic mode” or anything and pack everything under the sun. Carry only what you’ll need for the trip. Just ensure that you’ve got all of it.

12 Essential Travel Gear Items for Smart Backpacking and / or General Travel

Here are some of the essential travel items you should be carrying with you for most of your trips.

Please note that all of these items may not be applicable for all of your travels.

Here, at HolidayNomad.com, we aim to support all travelers’ needs, whether you’re off to an exciting holiday retreat in Brazil or wish to see some of the cool species of penguins in Antarctica.

This is more or less a general list of 12 common items to consider taking with you for your next vacation or even work assignment.

1. Backpack

This one pretty much goes without saying, assuming you’re a backpacker.

You need a backpack if you are going to be backpacking. Plain and simple. Get one with lots of storage space and some water/weather resistance.

You don’t necessarily need to go all out and get an overly bulky one. In most cases, that may be a bit counter-intuitive. Ideally, you’d want something you wouldn’t mind carrying around. 

2. Organizer

Like it or not, countries have borders. You need to carry proper documentation with you at all times to make sure you have a proof for the visit and just any reason that could require you to show documentation.

What proper way is three to neatly organize it all other than a document organizer?

3. International Travel Adapters

These are just so helpful! The countries you are traveling to might have different adapter standards that you forgot to check.

With an international travel adapter, you’d not need to worry about such things. Keep your gadgets charged and ready to go no matter where you are. 

4. Battery Bank

There is no guarantee you will have access to a power source at all times when traveling. The smart thing to do would be to carry a battery bank so in the case you are out of power on your devices you can still get some juice.

5. Sanitizers 

This one is especially important. Carry hand sanitizers to keep yourself bacteria and germ-free. Just because your hands look ‘clean’ does not always mean they are!

6. Travel Pillows

The last thing you want is to arrive at your destination with little to no sleep and no energy because you couldn’t sleep on the flight.

Travel pillows are a great solution to this. Plus they aren’t that bulky either, your neck will thank you for this.

7. TSA Approved Locks

A TSA approved lock or a padlock is especially important if you are traveling within or to the United States.

If needed customs can unlock the lock with a master key without having to break it open. Besides it just adds that extra bit of security.

8. A Portable Laptop

We aren’t completely against carrying electronics. They do make the travel more fun sometimes. But if you are going to be carrying gadgets, carry portable light devices.

9. Digital Cameras or A GoPro

If you don’t want to be lugging around a bulky camera, a GoPro can do the job just fine. Plus, they are small enough to be carried easily as well.

10. LifeStraw or Water Purifier Bottles

When we first came to know about LifeStraw water filters, we instantly thought of many times where we could’ve used this exact thing in our past trips.

Depending on your destination you might be short of clean drinking water. At times like these, you would wish you had packed a water purifier. 

11. Mosquito Repellent

A mosquito repellent is by every sense of the word and investment. This is even more true if you’re visiting tropical countries. Ideally, you would want to get one with a high DEET content.

12. Travel Soaps

Packing travel soaps or portable soaps are always a good idea. We think being clean at all times is a good idea. There are also laundry soap sheets that you can use to keep your clothes tidy. All you need to do it add water.

Where to Buy?

You can easily find most of these on e-commerce stores. If you prefer a brick and mortar experience and want to get hands-on before you make a purchase, you can visit a travel accessory store.

We have extensive in-depth reviews of travel gears that do deep into the features, pros, and cons of the gears. There are also elaborate buying guides that you can read to know exactly what to look for when making a purchase.

A quality travel gear is meant to last you a while. But for that to happen to you need to invest in quality gear. Check out our reviews so you do not have to go in blind. 

Conclusion

When carrying any sort of travel gear, evaluate the value it will bring to your trip. Start with the mindset to pack light.

Move up from there taking only things you need. It’s a balancing game. Whatever your destination is, these gears should come in handy in many different escapades.