I’ve been on the road a while and over time have added and thrown things out of my day bag. As you know, when you are carrying your whole world on your back while backpacking around, space and weight are of a premium! In this post I wanted to touch on what I now regularly take in my day bag in the hope that it helps you decide what to buy, pack and find a way to squish into your pack. I am also keen to hear what you guys have discovered are travelling essentials.
1. Bags in Bags!
So as well as the nearly obligatory pack-able shopper bag you need these days, I have also taken to making sure I have a waterproof dry bag in my day pack which I can put all my valuable electronic items in. This not only keeps them safe but is also a great carry case if I just want to take those with me and leave the backpack behind – brilliant on group travel tour buses when you are constantly nipping off the bus to take photos or buy snacks at the roadhouse and don’t need all your stuff, just the essentials.
2. Water Bottle
A re-useable water bottle is a must and I have attached a caribener to mine so that I can secure it to my bag.
3. Traveler’s Handy Kit
So I now regularly carry a small kit of essentials and handy items that literally get me through the day and I’d be stuck without them. In this small bag I carry: –
- Tissues
- Small pack of baby wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Lip balm
- Hand cream
- Plasters
- Pain killers
- Nail file (for the ladies!)
- Anti-allergy pills
4. Electronics
We can’t really live without them now. I always have my phone, phone charger and power bank as a staple.
On top of that I have my camera and Go Pro and SD cards, plus their power cables so I can charge up from my power bank as needed.
Plus, for the long bus journeys, I have a kindle. I also now buy my guidebooks as ebooks to save on space and weight!
5. Items to make you comfy in any climate
Being protected and comfortable in any climate is key to enjoying travel. In my pack I always have everything I need for the sun – always important in Australia – which includes sunnies, sunscreen, hat and an umbrella (good for shade as well as keeping you dry in rain). I also have bug spray and a long sleeved top in case it gets chilly or I feel myself burning and need to protect my skin from the sun.
6. Snacks
You can’t head out on the road without any snacks! As you are never quite sure when the next stop will be and what will be there, I have found having my own supply of snacks and keeping them topped up is vital. I tend to go down the road of some unhealthy sweet stuff like chocolate and some healthy energising food like almonds and fruit. Pick whatever suits you.