10 Useful Travel Items

When traveling, you often have to prioritize what you carry with you and leave some of your favorite items behind. Because of space limitations, it is important to take only the items that you need or are most useful to you. Here is a list of items that are not only great to have when traveling, but are small and lightweight for the most part as well.

1. Flashlight

A flashlight is a must-have travel accessory, providing light and safety along your travels. An LED Headlamp is the best choice here. It provides bright light in a small package with great battery life. Best of all, it offers hands free illumination if you need it.

2. Headphones

A good pair of headphones can be a great comfort on your travels. Not only can they pump your favorite tunes into your ears, if you buy noise canceling headphones, they can also double as ear plugs, shutting out the clamor of the world around you.

3. Quick Dry Towel

Don’t forget to bring a towel. Of course if you opt for a standard towel, not only will it take up a bunch of space in your bag, it can take hours to dry. It can also leave a musty smell if you pack it away before it fully dries. For this reason, you should go with a quick drying towel that is also compact and light weight.

4. Multi-Tool

A multi-tool is like having a tool box in your pocket. These handy travel items feature pliers, scissors, a range of screwdrivers, can openers, knives, and much more. Don’t cheap out here and at least go middle of the road when buying a multi-tool, as the quality you will get is worth it. Guard it well, though, as this item is a good candidate for theft if you are not careful.

5. Rope

It is always good to have some good quality rope around. You never know when you will need to string up a clothes line, tie down a broken backpack, or a hundred other scenarios where rope is useful. Paracord is a good option here. It is light and strong, and takes up very little space. You can even get it woven into a bracelet that you can wear to keep it handy and out of the way.

6. Games

You are likely to have some down time when traveling and your phone may not always be charged. When this happens, it is always good to have some old fashioned playing cards and dice handy to pass the time.

7. Pen and Paper

You can’t always rely on your cell phone for writing down notes and memos. In fact, there are some places that you will not want to flash an expensive phone around. A quality notebook and some pens are a tried and true alternative.

8. First Aid Kit

Safety first. You can get a good portable first aid kit that only weighs a few ounces and will mend your minor travel injuries.

9. Lock

A good padlock or cable lock is essential for securing your belongings while traveling. Keep it close and use it always.

10. Gifts

Small trinkets, candy, and things from your home town or state are a great travel item. You can use them to give to people who give you a lift, to give to local children, or to simply spread good will.

Pack these items when you travel and you won’t be sorry. These ten items should make your travel more efficient, safer, and more enjoyable.