When a big trip is on the horizon, I’m always doing the travel prep “dance” of ensuring I have all of the essentials while desperately trying not to overpack. Striking a balance can feel like an Olympic sport, but over time I’ve learned that some of the success is tied to securing the right tools. While this list is certainly not exhaustive because it lacks more obvious items like hand sanitizer, wipes, and international adapters among other things, it reflects some of my most important items that provide great peace of mind.
First up, the “electronics”:
Clutch Charger: The shape and size of a credit card, but slightly more thick, this charger can easily slip into your wallet, purse, or a jacket pocket without feeling weighed down. I recently had to purchase a new one because my phone was no longer compatible and first made the silly mistake of trying to buy something comparable and cheaper on Amazon, only for it to arrive and be way larger and heavier than desired. Clutch is my favorite daily travel charger that I’ve found this far, and will get you through 1 extra battery cycle. When purchasing from their site, they often offer discounts on the 2nd and 3rd items, so they’re great for holiday stocking stuffers too. The deals were so good I had to exercise constraint not to buy 5. Here’s the one for USB-C iPhone 15 & Android, and here’s the link for iPhone 14 and older.
Apple AirTags: For the trips that require a checked bag, we slip one of these into the luggage for easy tracking. Wirecutter published an article stating that Apple’s product is the best that they’ve tried. Once at your destination, if you’re exploring a city, it’s great to move the tag from your luggage to your backpack just to be safe. They come in a 4-pack or individually.
Rain Rain Sleep Sounds: This is a free sound machine app that’s perfect if you need some white noise to drown out any hotel or city sounds. I’ve seen travel articles over the years that recommend white noise machines to buy, but this one makes it so you don’t need to worry about fitting another gadget in your bag.
Next, the beauty must haves:
Cadence Capsules: I’ve written about these so many times and certainly don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Whether it’s a simple overnight or a 2-week extended trip, my toiletries are clearly organized and labeled in these genius capsules that prevent me from having a toiletry bag exploding with random travel-sized products (that also aren’t environmentally friendly). Use this link to get $20 off your first order.
Lapcos Face Masks: These are ideal post-plane for much-needed hydration. They pass the Yuka app and Acne Safe app tests with flying colors, so the ingredients are both clean and non-comedogenic. My favorite are the cica (unfortunately currently sold out), but the collagen ones are also fantastic. They have many options depending on your needs and skin type, including hyaluronic, aqua, and honey.
DS & Durga Travel Ball Perfume in Coriander: One of my all-time favorite scents, there’s something so nice about rolling this on your wrists and neck when you’re on the go, especially if you don’t have too much time to freshen up between exploring and dinner. Other pocket perfume scents I love are the Atlantic Rose and Debaser.
‘Lil treats for your feet:
Golden Goose Ballstar Sneakers: I’m clearly biased; however, in my opinion, these are the best sneakers to wear while traveling to major cities because they’re comfortable, durable, and stylish. Any other shoe I’ve tried hasn’t come close - and they’ve certainly been tested, averaging 10+ miles per day in many cases. I find these days that Farfetch has the best prices. Here’s a classic black & white pair, a beige & silver pair, and these are the pair I wore throughout Rome a few years ago.
Comrad Compression Socks: I was recently at a bachelorette party where “the best of” recommendations were being shared across the group (an incredible conversation to have by the way - so many fantastic finds). These compression socks came highly recommended. While I haven’t had a chance to give them a test spin just yet, they’re ordered and ready to wear. You can procure them directly through their site as well as Nordstrom.
Cases & cubes:
Soft Sunglass Case: While a hard sunglass case is necessary to protect your favorite pair for the airplane portion of your journey, when I’m out and about I have found that a hard case takes up too much space in my crossbody. Instead I’ll use these soft microfiber sunglass cases, which also double as a cloth for keeping them clean.
Packing Cubes: These are honestly game changing. Not only do they help with keeping your clothing compact, I find that they’re great for staying organized throughout the trip because each of my packing cubes has a theme (e.g., workout clothes, undergarments, t-shirts, etc.).
x jz
Images | 1 | @b.g.mckay | 2 | Clutch | 3 | Apple | 4 | Rain Rain | 5 | @b.g.mckay | 6 | Amazon | 7 | DS & Durga | 8 - 9 | @b.g.mckay | 10 | Comrad | 11 - 12 | Amazon
This post contains some affiliate links. Please note that all recommendations and opinions are my own.
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