The 66 Travel Accessories You Must Travel With

Our 66 travel accessories you must travel with will cover all the travel essentials like the best travel bag, but also all the little things. Through years of trial and error, we know what travel accessories work and don’t work.

Knowing what to pack can be difficult at the best of times. Luckily, we have already made the Ultimate Packing Checklist to help guide the travel accessories that you will need for a trip. But what about specific brands? What are the actual best products to travel with?

It’s all about striking the right balance. Travelling with the right travel accessories can make a trip considerably better. But you don’t want to spend all of your money before you set off!

To save you money and to avoid wrongful or poor choices, we will recommend the best valued travel accessories. We will be very honest in explaining why we may choose an expensive product for some travel accessories, but not for others. Sometimes buying a cheaper product works out to be very good value. Other times it can back fire. From experience, we know when you need to spend a bit extra to avoid any mishaps whilst travelling. We also know when you can avoid buying the most expensive, but not have to compromise on quality. Any money that you do spend will be well spent and ensures you will travel well and comfortably.

We highly recommend using Amazon or eBay to purchase your travel essentials. This way you can usually find the best price. Please note that some products or brands we use are not always available in certain countries. In that case, we’ve put similar but alternate travel accessories.

Osprey Aether AG 70 Men’s Backpacking Backpack

When thinking of the most important travel accessories, it all starts with the right travel bag! This can make or break a trip. On my first long trip, I decided to try a hybrid trolley. This product is a combined trolley suitcase with straps for a backpack. Great idea right? Sure, it worked fine as a suitcase. But, it made for an actual terrible backpack. I was hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland with this hybrid trolley and without any of the anti-gravity technology, my upper back ached the whole time and the bag cut into my lower back.

A valuable lesson was learnt. Always be specific! In regards to a travel bag, if you want a suitcase, buy a suitcase and if you want a backpacking backpack – buy a backpacking backpack! And the best backpacking travel bag is the Osprey Aether AG 70 Men’s Backpacking Backpack. On long trips (>6 weeks), we found a 50L backpack will suffice. But packing is very tight, particularly if you will be hiking and camping which involves packing extra bits. A 50L travel bag will limit how much you can take. Personally, we found 70L was just right. You should have spare space when you leave home. This is the aim. You may need the extra space on your journey.

Why this travel bag?

The anti-gravity suspension is mind blowing. A seemingly heavy backpack becomes so much lighter when you wear it. We found this travel bag super comfortable. This is of utmost importance on a long trip. Particularly if you plan to take it on hiking trips. It’s not the cheapest, but you are paying for quality. You will not regret this purchase. It’s honestly one of the BEST travel accessories we have ever made.

What about this travel bag for women?

Yes, this is a categorised as a ‘men’s’ travel bag. However, in our opinion, this backpack should really be unisex. Generally speaking, the gender category for travel bags is usually just a marketing ploy. There are subtle differences in the backpack strap measurements, but as far as we’re concerned, women can certainly use this travel bag.

Osprey Skarab 30 Hydration Pack

Another backpack! Of nearly as much importance is the day travel bag you’ll be wearing regularly during the day. We highly value the Osprey Skarab 30 Hydration Pack. This is actually Beck’s all time favourite backpack. It’s ideal for hiking or any outdoors activities where you’ll be carrying more than 1 drink bottle. Nifty side pockets allow easy access but also protection of your drink bottle.

We’ve often travelled with a smaller bag for smaller trips – Osprey Skarab 22 Hydration Pack. However, for longer trips, the 30L gives you that little extra space. Just in case it’s the only bag you’re travelling with abroad, it’s perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. The backpack has all the necessary straps to distribute weight off your upper back making it another super comfortable travel bag. It’s what Osprey are experts at. Again, this backpack can sometimes be listed as a “men’s” backpack. But it’s certainly a unisex backpack.

RFID Travel Wallet

We believe that being organised is critical for many reasons. Most importantly, it will help prevent you from losing or having important documents stolen. For instance, having an RFID Travel Wallet kept somewhere safe and secure in tour travel bag will prevent the nightmare of losing a passport or having money or a bank card stolen.

We advise people to still travel with their regular wallet for daily use. But store essential documents not needed on you during the day, in your travel wallet to be kept elsewhere. This travel wallet is inexpensive but great quality, whilst having RFID anti-theft technology.

Pacsafe RFID Passport Sleeve

You might be thinking, why do I need a Pacsafe RFID Passport Sleeve if I already have an RFID Travel Wallet? Sometimes, it may be necessary to have your passport on you for a day trip, an activity or at the airport. But this doesn’t mean you need all of the contents you have stored in the travel wallet (e.g. backup bank cards, extra money). You may want to keep the travel wallet back at your accommodation or somewhere safe and just have the passport on you.

In this instance, keep your passport inside the sleeve to help protect the outer coating. The outer layer of my first passport was almost completely warn out. Secondly, creating a habit of storing the passport somewhere, means you’re less likely to misplace or lose it. For when you don’t need your passport on you, keep it in the sleeve inside the travel wallet in your travel bag.

Zero Grid RFID Travel Pouch

Another travel wallet? Yes. A safety 101 tip for travelling is to distribute money and bank cards in the event that one of your bags is lost or stolen. We recommend travelling with an additional money pouch. In particular, the Zero Grid RFID Travel Pouch. Additionally, we recommend having a bank card in your everyday wallet, your RFID Travel Wallet and a money pouch. This should be concealed or hidden when travelling. You never know what can go missing when! Storing some emergency money here is also advised. If travelling from country to country, it also acts as a great place to store currency that’s leftover or unused.

Now, we don’t actually recommend wearing the pouch like a money belt. If anything, they can make you more of a target as they SCREAM ‘I’m a tourist’. Also, they can easily be cut and stolen. As long as you’re mindful of pickpockets and your surroundings, your usual everyday wallet of preference shall suffice.

Newdora 7 Set Travel Cubes

We need to think about how to best store the travel accessories that you will travel with, particularly the bigger items. This is usually clothing. Before we knew about these amazing Newdora 7 Set Travel Cubes, our bags used to be a mess of clothes and other accessories. Travelling with packing cubes helps you unpack and pack items more efficiently, particularly if you’re bouncing from place to place. Also, these travel compartments also help prevent you from losing things by being well organised.

Hanging Toiletry Bag

As you’ve already noticed, the top of this list is dominated by luggage/storage travel accessories because it’s important to be organised. Toiletries can be bulky at the best of times. Having a compact Hanging Toiletry Bag can help save a lot of space. Best yet, the bag is waterproof which is crucial for when it gets inevitably wet. The hanger feature is also great for avoiding those wet and often tiny accommodation sinks. Thankfully the Hanging Toiletry Bag is unisex!

Men

Women

Procase TSA Approved Clear Travel Bag

Why 2 toiletry bags? Well, for some trips you may need a clear bag instead, in order to meet airport security requirements when clearing customs. Specifically, this Procase TSA Approved Clear Travel Bag is ideal to store your liquids if it’s in your carry on luggage.

Also, having the transparent case makes it very easy to locate items. For this reason, it also makes a great medications / medical kit bag. Because when you’re after medication or first aid supplies, you generally need to find things quickly. This bag is also a good size. Other clear bags found online are generally too small for a medical kit for a longer trip.

TSA Approved Travel Combination Cable Luggage Locks (4 Pack)

Ensuring security for your luggage is obviously essential. We recommend the TSA Approved Travel Combination Cable Luggage Locks (4 Pack). For the backpacker’s travel bag, you often need 2, 3 or even 4 locks to properly secure your luggage. Whilst having spares is ideal, particularly if you will use them a lot for lockers in hostels. These are commonly forgotten and left behind. Plus, the cables are far better than then rigid steel padlocks. The cables allow flexibility which is useful for securing a backpackers travel bag. I learnt this trick from Beck!

Apple Silicone Phone Case

When travelling, your phone will inevitably get more use and abuse! We have found the Apple Silicone Phone Case to be minimal and lightweight but durable and reliable with protecting our occasionally dropped phones. We don’t mean to get off on the wrong foot with the Samsung users, but considering we both have iPhones, we have recommended an iPhone case.

SZROBOY Universal Travel Adapter

Gone are the days when you need to pack multiple power adapters. The SZROBOY Universal Travel Adapter has every power/plug adapter you would need for any country in any trip. Perfect for a multi-country long trip. Now, you will find plenty of these universal travel adapters online, but we recommend this one specially for the case. For only a little extra, you are also given a case to protect the adapter which could be easily damaged otherwise. Imagine if you couldn’t charge your electronics because of a damaged adapter?

Anker PowerCore 10000 Portable Charger

The first recurring theme of this travel accessories list was luggage, then storage and now electronics. Ensuring your electronics are charged is essential for many reasons. Particularly because now more than ever, people are using their phones for everything. The phone also serves as a camera, an e-ticket, a booking confirmation, etc. Keeping electronics charged can be challenging if you’re on the go.

The Anker PowerCore 10000 Portable Charger is the most reliable lightweight and portable device around. I love this travel accessory. It’s saved our bacon on many occasions. It has 1 USB port and the ability to recharge our iPhones around 3-4 times. Best yet, they come with the charging cable and a protective case.

If you’re looking for a portable charger with more USB sockets and increased charging capacity, Anker has a great range for all your electronic charging needs. For instance, Anker PowerCore 13000 Portable Charger is the size up with 2 USB sockets and the ability to charge an iPhone around 5 times.

3 Metre Lightning to USB Charging Cable

It’s impossible to know where the plug socket will be located in your accommodation. Particuarly for those staying in shared dorms in hostels, there are 2 reasons why a longer cable is very important. Firstly, if the plug socket is far from your bed, you wouldn’t want to have your phone charging overnight far away from you. This is a huge risk considering how vital your phone is when travelling.

Also, often your phone will act as your alarm clock. Having to run to the other side of the room to turn off your alarm to press snooze isn’t a peaceful wake up nor is it ideal for making new friends in your dorm room. The AmazonBasics 3 Metre Lightning to USB Charging Cable allows you to still charge your phone even if the plug socket is far away, but be able to keep your phone on or near you as you sleep. My twin sister told me this was one of the best travel hacks I’ve taught her!

Nikon DSLR Camera

Personally, we have found decision making around packing cameras the most difficult. There is no way that action cameras or phone cameras can produce photographs of the same quality as our beloved Nikon DSLR Camera. Beck recommends this camera as a great entry level DSLR camera. However, the camera and it’s protective DSLR Camera Bag is bulky to travel with. Admittedly, it can be a nuisance on longer trips. But we don’t understate the joy we get from photography whilst travelling. We will pack it for shorter trips. However, for longer trips (> 6 weeks) we will sadly leave at home.

SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card – C10, U3, V30, 4K UHD, SD Card

Your camera won’t go far without a SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card – C10, U3, V30, 4K UHD, SD Card. For action cameras, you’ll need the SanDisk 64GB Ultra MicroSDXC UHS-I Memory Card. These memory cards are great quality and inexpensive. The Extreme Pro version is by far the fastest memory card and worth getting over the slower ‘ultra’ version. Choose the storage size that suits you. The item is often cheaper when bought as a pack of 2 or 3. If you’ll be doing plenty of video it may be necessary.

CamKix Waterproof Telescopic Pole

We rarely take selfies. If we do, they’re usually just taken in jest or for banter. However, specifically for underwater photography, the CamKix Waterproof Telescopic Pole with the floating hand grip gives you the opportunity to feature in incredible photos with marine wildlife. That’s why we would only ever pack this for trips involving snorkelling or diving. So obviously this is one of the travel accessories that may not be a necessity for many.

Apple EarPods

Music. To help keep us sane on those long journeys on the road! At Travel Made Me Do It, we pride ourselves on travelling smarter. Sometimes packing the absolute latest, greatest and most expensive gadgets means you literally have more to lose! We’re sure you will include electronics on your travel insurance so potential losses should be covered in the worse case scenario. However, when you’re travelling (particularly long term), losing things is unfortunately inevitable. Would you prefer to lose an expensive or cheap pair of headphones?

For that reason, we travel with Apple EarPods. It’s very minimalist, cheap and produces great sound. Wireless earbuds are also an option but can be easier to lose and more fiddly to wear. There are definitely cheaper rip off versions. But they can be very poor quality so don’t waste your money on a fake pair. Moreover, for those happy to travel a bit more extravagantly, the Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling On-Ear Headphones would be a great alternative. The added benefit of noise cancelling can make longer buses or plane journeys much more bearable. Additionally, the wireless feature is great in itself.

Amazon Kindle

Without sounding contradictory on the topic of packing cheaper gadgets, we highly recommend travelling with an Amazon Kindle. Yes, a book on it’s own is cheaper. But it depends on how much you read. Books are significantly cheaper on the Kindle compared to its paperback counterpart. So a Kindle will be cheaper over the long term. Plus, the Kindle is lightweight and very compact making it perfect for travel. The cheapest model is the Amazon Kindle with front light. The Kindle Paperwhite has some more bells and whistles but we have found the basic Kindle with front light more than adequate. Beck and I often share the one Kindle.

Amazon Kindle Cover

You’ll need an Amazon Kindle Cover to go with that Amazon Kindle. To protect your Kindle, a simple flip case will suffice. Both leather and fabric covers are fine. Below are Amazon cases for the most basic model – the Amazon Kindle with front light mentioned above. Unfortunately, there is less variety of cases for the Amazon with front light model compared to the Kindle Paperwhite. Perhaps a ploy to push the more expensive model?

GoPro Hero 9

GoPro HERO 9 is the premium option when it comes to action cameras. If you’re wanting to capture your epic adventures, the GoPro will give you the best quality footage. Of course, there are cheaper versions available. But why bother when your footage quality will be far less superior.

BUBM Double Layer Electronic Accessories Organiser

We have already covered all types of bags for storage already. But, where do all the electronics go? From experience, not having a BUBM Double Layer Electronic Accessories Organiser, meant my cables and cords were getting tangled and misplaced all the time. This organiser helps to keep together all your electronics – cables, headphones, memory cards, spare batteries, spare phone, etc.

Because of the double layer, it’s also a nice place to store your Amazon Kindle. Mind you, we would still travel with the Kindle in its own Amazon Kindle Cover to protect it as you would use a phone case. Consider the size up for storing laptops – BUBM Large Double Layer Electronic Accessories Organiser.

Universal Car Phone Holder

One of the best purchases you can make for a road trip is the Universal Car Phone Holder. Having a reliable GPS to help navigate you through unfamiliar areas and roads is essential. Often your phone will be your GPS, and so with this device, you can have your phone giving you directions safely and easily. An absolute must when on a road trip!

Merrell Moab 2 Mid Goretex Hiking Boots

Finally, we are onto some hiking gear! The right footwear is important for all travellers. If you’re doing lots of exploring, you’re usually walking. So being kind to your feet with sound footwear is essential. For hiking, we swear by Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Mid Goretex Hiking Boots. For women – Merrell Women’s Moab 2 Mid Goretex Hiking Boots.

People often ask, what is the best shoe for my foot? The answer is comfort. It’s the best indicator for whether the shoe is the right fit! And oh my, these hiking boots are so comfortable! We’ve tried other hiking boots and these always feel the best. Particularly if you’re going on long walks or hikes, having sore and achey feet is the last thing you need. We recommend the slightly more expensive goretex variation for it’s superior waterproof component. If raining , there is nothing worse than wet, soggy and blistery feet halfway through a hike.

Are they the best quality hiking shoe on the market? Absolutely not. You can pay more money for better quality boots elsewhere. Honestly speaking though, their comfort alone makes them the greatest value hiking boot out there.

Men

Women

ASICS GT-2000 Running Shoes

If your trip doesn’t involve as much hiking, a sturdy and comfortable trainer is just as important. Choosing the right trainer for you is a highly personal and subjective decision. It’s based again on comfort and previous history of what trainer fits best. We can recommend the ASICS Men’s GT-2000 Running Shoes. For women – ASICS Women’s GT-2000 Running Shoes.

They won’t break the bank like other trainers, but are a great quality and very comfortable. Particularity for those with slightly wider feet, these fit great! When travelling on longer trips, we like to fit in a run when we can – making the trainer the ideal alternate shoe we travel with alongside our hiking boots.

Men

Women

The North Face Venture 2 Jacket

We cannot stress the importance of having a good waterproof jacket. Particularly for those spending a lot of time outdoors. We have used a variety of waterproof jackets. Of which, a windproof component is usually also part of the jacket. They have literally saved us on many occasions from getting sick, when we were caught hiking in torrential rain and blistering winds.

Amongst the many reliable brands, The North Face is a favourite of ours. The North Face Men’s Venture 2 Jacket is an example of an inexpensive jacket that’s also reliable and great quality. For women – The North Face Women’s Venture 2 Jacket.

Men

Women

Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket

Similar to the waterproof jacket, a quality down jacket is really a non-negotiable when it comes to travelling colder places. Having a down jacket to keep you warm may be the difference between a fantastic outdoors trip versus a miserable one. The undisputed champion of this category is the Patagonia Men’s Down Sweater Jacket. For women – Patagonia Women’s Down Sweater Jacket. For Australian women travellers, the Kathmandu Women’s Eqip Down Jacket also rates well.

Traditionally, down jackets are not that breathable. However, Patagonia’s down jackets’ breathability rates among the best. This is obviously very important for hikers. There are certainly cheaper down jackets on the market. But they can be very bulky, literally taking up half of a small travl bag! This lightweight down jacket fits down well into a small packaway bag which is included in the purchase.

Men

Women

The North Face TKA Glacier Snap Fleece Jacket

Getting your layers right on a trip to a colder destination is crucial. If you’re unprepared, you could be left cold and grumpy. The last thing you want is to get sick when travelling. But understandably all of these layers can take up a lot of space. That is why it’s imperative to get a lightweight, compact quality fleece. That’s why we recommend The North Face Men’s TKA Glacier Snap Fleece Jacket. For women – The North Face Women’s TKA Glacier Snap Fleece Jacket.

There are definitely thicker and potentially warmer jackets. But similar to a non-lightweight down jacket, they take up a lot of space. When folded, this jacket packs down into a tiny compact ball of fleece! It acts as our go to first jacket layer if it’s cold but not raining or windy. It also acts as a casual jumper to wear when you’re relaxing or just out and about. This means you don’t have to pack an additional bulky jumper.

Men

Women

Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Trousers

Personally speaking, we’ve always found choosing the right hiking trousers challenging. The main reason is protection against rain. Simply put, water repellent means able to resist penetration of water well but not entirely. Whereas, waterproof means being completely impervious to water.

Most, if not, all of the most popular hiking trousers are not actually waterproof, but water repellent. This means that in torrential, horrendous rain – these hiking pants will help a little but not a lot. Now, there are waterproof trousers out there. But they tend to be very expensive, bulky, heavy and non-breathable. Not ideal for hiking or packing efficiently.

Water repellent vs. Waterproof hiking trousers

For the reasons above, we travel with a water repellent hiking trouser instead of a waterproof one. Additionally, we have a Mountain Warehouse Pakka Men’s Waterproof Overtrouser handy in our day travel bag in case the weather turns really foul! The overtrouser can be easily put on over your hiking trousers even with your shoes still on. The Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Convertible Trousers is the best budget option available and has good reviews. For women – Columbia Women’s Silver Ridge Convertible Hiking Trousers.

The trousers are breathable, leightweight and pack compactly. No, they won’t protect you completely with torrential downpour. However, you’ll have your overtrouser to save you anyway. With the convertible function, the trousers also become shorts! This is very convenient and efficient. It saves you from packing an extra pair of shorts.

Men

Women

Waterproof Overtrouser

The Waterproof Overtrouser is what we just mentioned above. We mostly wear the water repellent hiking trousers but with these overtrousers as a backup for when rain is heavy. They are very compact, fitting down into a tiny packaway bag which is included in the purchase! They’re often sold as a unisex item.

SYOURSELF Microfiber Travel Towel

Travelling with a microfibre towel is non-negotiable. The SYOURSELF Microfiber Travel Towel is a good quality option that folds down well into it’s small packaway bag. The pack away bag designed to be flatter which will help with fitting it in your bag.

Water Bottle

For hiking, sometimes a water reservoir (hydration bladder) is a more convenient way to pack water. But a water bottle is a good place to start in case you don’t have one. It’s BPA free so it’s safe to use repeatedly (within reason) which is good for the environment. Also, it’s very cheap. If you’re very active and exercising a lot, we recommend travelling with 2 of these.

Alternatively, the Osprey Skarab 30 Hydration Pack would accommodate a hydration bladder (like a Camelbak) so that would abolish the need for 2 water bottles. Perhaps it would be a more efficient option. There’s no arguing with that point, so at the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. Although, having at least 1 water bottle is essential for when you need to drink when you’re not hiking of course!

Ray-Ban Polarised Clubmaster Sunglasses

A good quality pair of sunglasses is one of the very useful travel accessories if you’re outdoors a lot. We prefer Ray-Ban Polarised Clubmaster Sunglasses. They aren’t the cheapest sunglasses but their UV protection and anti-glare properties are second to none. These sunglasses make hiking in the sun even more pleasurable, whilst helping to protect your eyes. For when you’re not hiking, and just enjoying the sun, they make for a stylish pair! At least in our humble opinions.

Hard Sunglasses Case

Travel accessories that protect your expensive gear is essential. You wouldn’t buy a pair of sunglasses without buying a case to protect them. We recommend a Hard Sunglasses Case. The reason we haven’t recommended a brand is that they tend to be overpriced, usually double in price.

Ensuring you always put your sunnies back in their case is a good habit to get into to prevent losing them. There are cheaper sunglasses cases made of weaker materials, but whatever you do, don’t buy a soft case. Bye bye sunglasses if you do! Although these sunglasses cases are the not the smallest around, it ensure that your sunglasses will actually fit! The case won’t be any good if it can’t fit your sunglasses in there.

Plus, if you have a small pair of sunglasses like the Ray-Ban polarised Clubmaster Sunglasses, you may even be able to fit in a second pair! Sunglasses tend to be Daniel’s weakness when it comes to losing travel accessories. So he tends to travel with a cheap second pair of sunglasses in a large case, just in case!

Buff Unisex Coolnet Neck Gaiter

There is often confusion around the neck gaiter. To keep it simple, we categorise these travel accessories into a summer and winter gaiter.

The summer gaiter is often made of polyester or spandex. These light breathable fabrics make them great for hiking. We recommend the Buff Unisex Coolnet Neck Gaiter. It’s very versatile in that it can be used in so many different ways. For instance, it can be used to protect your neck from the sun, cover your mouth on dusty trails, keep your ears warm and works as a headband. The list goes on. For information on the winter gaiter, see below.

Fleece Neck Gaiter

In contrast, the winter gaiter is one of those travel accessories that’s a bit more restrictive in its use. Although it can certainly protect your neck from the sun, it’s main feature is just to keep your neck warm. The winter gaiter is a much better choice for colder places or snow sports.

For Australian travellers, the Condor Fleece Neck Gaiter is a great option also.

Osprey Ultralight Raincover

Purchasing the Osprey Aether AG 70 Men’s Backpacking Backpack or the Osprey Skarab 30 Hydration Pack should have an Osprey Ultralight Raincover included, relevant to the size of the bag. But just in case, you can buy these separately.

Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets

Having access to clean drinking water can be a matter of life and death. For any multi-day hikes, prolonged outdoor activities or countries where you will not have access to clean drinking water, always travel with a pack of Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets. They are cheap and tiny to travel with.

There are other water purification methods of course. We’ve had good feedback concerning the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter, which has also been incorporated into the LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle. Maybe one day we’ll use those products, but for now, we find the Aquatabs work well.

Bushman Plus 20% DEET Insect Repellent Aerosol Spray

Having insect repellent may be necessary for your trip. It could help keep away those pesky insects on a camping trip. Additionally, and more seriously, it could be one of your main preventative measures in protecting yourself from nasty disease-carrying mosquitoes. The Bushman Plus 20% DEET Insect Repellent Aerosol Spray is an excellent insect repellent and an Aussie classic!

We found the key ingredient of DEET, and a >20% quantity of that ingredient, to be key to a good insect repellent. However, if you’re wanting a higher DEET concentration, consider buying the Bushman Plus 40% DEET Insect Repellent Aerosol Spray.

Insects can bite through your clothes, so we actually recommend the spray for your clothes. For your skin, you could use the spray, but even better is the Bushman Plus Dry Gel Repellent with 80% DEET. But, if you do choose to use the spray for your skin, you have the added benefit of this spray having a SPF component, meaning it’s 2 for 1! Sunscreen & insect repellent spray. For more information on the gel, see below.

Bushman Plus Dry Gel Repellent with 80% DEET

The Bushman Plus Dry Gel Repellent with 80% DEET is the best way to protect yourself against insects. By applying a lotion, your skin has increased protection. By combing this with the Bushman Plus 20% DEET Insect Repellent Aerosol Spray or Bushman Plus 40% DEET Insect Repellent Aerosol Spray for your clothes, you will be well protected against insects.

Alternatively, Aeroguard is another reliable brand with a tropical strength roll-on.

Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Lotion (SPF 50+)

Growing up in Australia always meant being sun safe. In summer, if you were spending the day outdoors, you wouldn’t leave the house without applying sunscreen. We highly rate the Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Lotion (SPF 50+).

It’s clinically proven to be effective even with sweating and swimming as water resistance is a feature of the lotion’s formula. Applying sunscreen is really a no brainer. Protect your skin. Wear sunscreen if you’re outdoors for large portions of the day. Particularly in areas of the world with a higher UV index than what you’re used to.

Personally, we feel that your sunscreen should be a SPF 50+ rating, whilst lotions are more effective than sprays.

Mack’s Earplugs 5 Pairs

There is nothing worse than not getting a good night’s sleep. Sometimes when you’re camping or even in accommodation with thin walls, it’s easy to be disturbed during the night when travelling. The Mack’s Earplugs 5 Pairs helps block out noise to help you sleep better. For hygiene purposes, earplugs should be replaced every month or so. Perhaps even more regularly with significant use. So definitely pack more than 1 pair. Also, these really only works if you sleep on your back and not for side sleepers for obvious reasons.

Alaska Bear Sleep Mask

Whilst we’re on the topic of sleep, we would recommend travelling with an Alaska Bear Sleep Mask. Again, not getting enough sleep really takes the joy out of travelling the next day. It works well for sleeping on transport or even in rooms that are not quite dark enough. This is really one of the travel accessories that are a non-negotiable.

Sea To Summit Concentrated Laundry Wash

Packing a Sea To Summit Concentrated Laundry Wash is a wise choice if you’ll be needing to wash your clothes. The costs of paying for someone else to wash your clothes, or even doing your own washing but having to pay for washing detergent can quickly add up on a long trip. Because this detergent is concentrated, it will last a long time. The bottle itself is tiny as well so it’s one of those travel accessories that will easily fit into your luggage.

Sea To Summit Pocket Laundry Wash (50 Leaves)

The Sea To Summit Pocket Laundry Wash (50 Leaves) is yet another one of the great travel accessories for washing clothes. These are great for handwashing clothes or perhaps washing certain items of clothes that you would prefer not to be put in the washing machine and/or tumble dryer. Sea to Summit value the importance of efficient packing, making this product pocket size. Again, the concentrated formula means the 50 leaves will go far!

The North Face Unisex Etip Gloves

The North Face Unisex Etip Gloves are our go-to pair of gloves. They are great quality and the ‘Etip’ feature allows you to still be able to use your phone with them on. This feature always amazes us. This glove is great for everyday use in colder places. If you’re hiking or exposed to colder conditions for long periods, we use The North Face Men’s Apex + Etip Glovesor The North Face Women’s Apex + Etip Gloves.

Thermal Set

When we say thermals, we are not referring to predominantly polyester/spandex or tighter fitting baselayers made for exercise. We’re referring to predominantly cotton/wool baselayers needed for particularly cold conditions. If we’re packing thermals, we’re likely camping somewhere really cold. Otherwise, honestly, we wouldn’t need them considering the other gear we pack and the fact we’re warm sleepers. In saying that though, they literally saved our behinds when we camped at Snowdonia in Wales and along with Mount Everest Basecamp in Nepal!

The Men’s Thermal Set is an inexpensive pair with great reviews. For women – Women’s Thermal Set. We would never use them when active or hiking. We use them for when we’re still at night whilst camping. Perhaps there is no cabin or fire to keep warm (if there’s a fire ban perhaps). So these help a lot! We’ll also sleep in them if we’re camping and it’s really cold. Quite often though, our beloved sleeping bags do the trick. For a more active style of base layer in colder conditions, see below.

Men

Women

Under Armour Long Sleeve Running Top

For a long sleeved shirt, the Under Armour Men’s Long Sleeve Running Top is a quality choice. For women – the Under Armour Women’s Long Sleeve Running Top. If you’re hiking in colder conditions or doing winter sports, this layer will keep you adequately warm whilst being designed to allow freedom of movement. It’s a sound option as a layer (over a short sleeved short) for hiking when your jackets are too warm but you’re still too cold with only a short sleeved shirt on.

These could also possibly be worn as a base layer. This means they could be worn in direct contact with your skin as your first layer. This would make sense in a cold environment. Personally though, even in cold environments, if I’m working hard when hiking, I tend to overheat with a base layer. But it all comes down to preference.

For Australians, the Kathmandu Accion Men’s driMOTION Long Sleeve T-Shirt or Kathmandu Accion Women’s driMOTION Long Sleeve T-Shirt is a similar product and great quality. It doesn’t have the 1/2 zip up though. But this shouldn’t be too much of a concern. This long sleeve top could be worn as a base layer or as your second layer over a short sleeved shirt.

Men

Women

Vango Banshee Pro Tent 300

Tents come in all different shapes and sizes. Choosing the right one can be difficult. But believe us, choosing a reliable, robust and high quality tent is vital in being able to withstand the many varied possible weather conditions when camping. For us, we wanted a 2 person tent. Of next importance was a lightweight and compact tent that wouldn’t take up too much space in our travel bag when doing multi day hikes or camping trips without a car. We also didn’t want to break the bank.

We can highly recommend the Vango Banshee Pro Tent 300. From reviews we had read, apparently the 200 (2 person) version is actually too small for 2 people. So we bought the 300 (3 person) and that works well for 2 people. No it’s not the lightest tent available, but at 2.75 kg (6.06lb), it’s still considered lightweight. Unfortunately, the lighter a tent is, the more expensive it gets.

In saying that, ultra lightweight tents may not be as robust, resilient or reliable in extreme conditions. In fact, this tent has an excellent waterproof rating and can be used in all seasons. It has a great packed size of 48 x 16cm (19 x 6.3in) which actually compares similarly to the ultra lightweight tents. Best of all, for the price, you won’t get a better valued tent!

We love the Vango Banshee Pro Tent 300 because it’s an affordable lightweight tent, appropriately sized to take on multi-day hikes. However, for traditional camping, when all of your gear is packed in the car, you’ll have more freedom with choosing a tent. You won’t need to worry so much about weight or pack size. For a larger tent, we recommend the Vango Alpha 400 4 person tent. It’s very spacious, comfortable and has all the excellent features and materials synonymous with the Vango brand.

Vango Unisex Ultralite Pro 200 Sleeping Bag

When camping, keeping warm at night all comes down to the quality of the sleeping bag. Of course, similar to the tent, we needed a sleeping bag that was leightweight and compact in our rucksacks for multi day hikes and camping trips without a car. We would be camping in Senja in Norway and Landmannalaugar in Iceland, so we needed a sleeping bag made for winter.

Unfortunately, many sleeping bags developed for colder conditions are very bulky and heavy. However, like the tent, the lighter the design, the more expensive it is. We researched for hours and hours trying to find the right balance between weight, packed size and price.

On that note, we can highly recommend our beloved Vango Unisex Ultralite Pro 200 Sleeping Bag. It weighs only 1.1kg (2.42lb) and packed size is 25 x 22cm (8.66 x 9.84in). Its temperature limit is -1° – 16°. Its mummy shape is very comfortable. This 3 season sleeping bag is perfect for you if your height is under 190cm.

Sea to Summit Sleeping Bag Liner

Another good investment is the Sea to Summit Sleeping Bag Liner. Yes, there are far cheaper sleeping bag liners out there. But this sleeping bag linger has invisible built-in insect shield repellent. This may be necessary when camping in places with disease carrying mosquitoes. It could also be used when staying in more normalised accommodation in places with nasty insects. However, this wouldn’t be as good as an actual COGHLANS Mosquito Bed Net.

HIKENTURE Inflatable Sleeping Mat

Having compactly packed size travel accessories is key for when you are doing multi day treks. You can only carry so much in your travel bag, so when it comes to a sleeping mat, having an inflatable one makes sense. The HIKENTURE Inflatable Sleeping Mat is very comfortable and amazingly feels almost like a normal mattress, which allows you a proper night’s rest. Plus, it packs down into a tiny bag, so it doesn’t take up much space. Of course, there’s always the option of attaching a Wakeman Foam Sleeping Pad to the outside of the Osprey Aether AG 70 Backpacking Backpack. This frees up even more space inside the rucksack!

Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Inflatable Pillow

Trust us, the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Inflatable Pillow is worth every penny. Before using these, we tended to use random items to support our head during the night when camping as packing a regular pillow was unfeasible. The result was a very sore neck. This pocket size packed size inflatable pillow gives you a proper night’s sleep supporting the head and neck beautifully like a normal pillow would. For hygiene purposes, consider a pillow case to go with it.

trtl Neck Travel Pillow

Whilst we’re on the subject of pillows – the best neck travel pillow is hands down the trtl Neck Pillow. The unique design helps support the weight of the head whilst sleeping in a seated position without any recline. By using this travel pillow, you won’t wake up with a sore neck even with those awkward seated sleeping positions on a bus or plane.

Mini Portable Gas Stove

The Mini Portable Gas Stove still amazes us to this day. Such a tiny pocket size apparatus, that when attached to a gas canister, provides a reliable and strong flame. What a delight to be able to still enjoy hot beverages and meals when camping. Among all of the travel accessories, this one’s a real game changer!

Decathlon’s Hiker’s Camp MH 500 Stainless + Anti-stick Coating 2 People Mess Kit

Finding a camping cookware kit with the absolute essentials is near impossible. It was a nightmare to find the right set for us. We were relieved to finally find Decathlon’sHiker’s Camp MH 500 Stainless + Anti-stick Coating 2 People Mess Kit. Most other mess kits fail to include cutlery. Yes, you could buy cutlery separately, but for convenience, it would make sense for all necessary cooking equipment to be induced in the one purchase. When they do include cutlery, they only supply 1 utensil each, but they’re advertised as 2 people sets! Rant over.

This mess kit has everything you need – 2 pots/plates, 2 pans, 2 cups, 2 x spoons, 2 x forks, 2 x knives and a carry bag. Inevitably, mess kits are relatively bulky but this packs down superbly well compared to others we have used.

Merrell Hiker Socks

Although the actual hiking boot is more important, getting decent hiking socks is an additional way of taking care of your feet. It will be the Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Mid Goretex Hiking Boots that keep your Merrell Men’s 3 Pack Hiker Socks dry. For women – Merrell Women’s 3 Pack Hiker Socks. The socks will aid with waterproofing, moisture absorption and breathability. Plus, the socks should also help with cushioning and comfort for your feet. After all, it’s your feet that will get you from point A to B!

For Australians, consider the Kathmandu quickDRY 2 Pack Hiking Socks. Their moisture-wicking and drying features aid in keeping your feet comfortable and the skin healthy and hygienic.

Men

Women

Garmin Forerunner 35 Running Watch

The Garmin Forerunner 35 Running Watch is not one of the absolute necessary travel accessories. If you are a watch wearer, you could certainly wear any old watch for the obvious sole purpose of telling the time. But if you’re hiking and looking for basic statistics like distance, steps, etc., often your phone will suffice. However, the convenience of having a smart watch that does all of the above means that going for a run and monitoring variables and time is easy to do when or if you leave your phone at your accommodation.

SmarterLife LED Headlamp Flashlight

Again, a lot of time went into researching a high quality but economical headlamp. Unfortunately, rechargeable headlamps are quite expensive. So we decided to choose one that is battery powered. The obvious downside is that you’ll need to pack some spare batteries. Also, cheap battery powered headlamps are usually poor quality and don’t offer much light when you really need it. If you’re camping, you’ll certainly want a high quality headlamp.

With all considered, the SmarterLife LED Headlamp Flashlight was a great purchase. This headlamp is cheap and although battery powered, is fantastic quality. It has 4 white and 2 red LED modes of varying strength. You’ll just need to pack a spare AA battery. But rest assured, the battery life is excellent. The actual hours of battery life depends on what mode you use. But even on the strongest light setting, Smarterlife reckon you’ll get 13 hours out of it. From personal use, I think you’ll get around 9-10 hours.

For UK and Australian travellers, the PETZL Headlamp Flashlight is rated highly as a solid all round budget product with similar features and qualities.

Mini Travel Umbrella

Although you will have a good quality waterproof rain jacket, it’s also a good idea to pack a Mini Travel Umbrella. This obviously won’t be for hiking but just for general use. They’re essentially pocket size and won’t take up too much space. Best yet, for their diminutive size, they’re actually quite robust and sturdy.

Foldable Card Phone Tripod

Admittedly, the foldable card phone tripod is the only one of the travel accessories on out list which is not great quality. Unfortunately, it’s near impossible to find a foldable card phone holder/tripod that is good quality. They are all fairly flimsy and fickle to use. However, we have found the Foldable Card Phone Tripod works a treat when there is no one around to take a photo of the both of us. That’s if we’re ever after a quick photo on our phone as opposed to using the camera. Although these days, we more often than not use the camera.

If you’re against selfies, it might be exactly what you need. The fact that it literally fits in your wallet makes it one of the travel accessories that is very convenient to travel with.

Carabiner Spring Snap Hook

Not one of the absolute necessary travel accessories. But a Carabiner Spring Snap Hook can come in handy. We’ve used on a few occasions to attach our drink bottles to the outside of our bags when our day travel bags have been full. You could apply this principle to any item really, that can be securely attached. Beware there are cheaper alternatives. But the last thing you want is a cheap and nasty snap hook that breaks and unknowingly you lose whatever is attached. These are tiny, so you’ll hardly notice you’re travelling with them. We can’t vouch for a particular brand. However, we recommend having 2 in case you have 2 drink bottles.

Gear Aid Seam Sealant and Adhesive

Hopefully, you’ll never need the Gear Aid Seam Sealant and Adhesive. But you never know what travel accessories or hiking gear might need repairing on a longer trip! This works great for mending clothes or fixing holes or cuts in camping gear.

Toothbrush Head Cover

A Toothbrush Head Cover is a simple but useful travel accessories. It’s is an antibacterial case for your toothbrush head. For hygiene purposes, you should find some form of container for your toothbrush. We don’t recommend any particular brand.

Alternatively, you could consider a Travel Toothbrush Plastic Container. But we have found these are bulkier and harder to clean. Another option would be a Foldable Travel Toothbrush. From experience though, the bristles on these are generally quite poor and therefore need replacing soon after purchase.

Scrubba Portable Wash Bag

The Scrubba Portable Wash Bag is a great alternative to washing clothes in a machine if you don’t have access to one. This will often be the case on a camping trip or multi-day adventure. Plus, it’s much more hygienic and time efficient than washing items one at a time in a random sink. Using the Sea To Summit Pocket Laundry Wash (50 Leaves) as your washing detergent in this wash bag would work a treat.

There is a mini Scrubba Portable Wash Bag. This would be good for those looking to save every single inch when packing!

Nexcare Waterproof Dressing Pad (8 Pack)

Better to be safe than sorry. We’ve heard many stories of friends whose trips have been cut short or severely disrupted by a simple infection of a wound. A trip to the hospital certainly wasn’t part of their plans.

Regular waterproof bandaids are an obvious part of your first aid kit but you should also include the Nexcare Waterproof Dressing Pad (8 Pack). If you’re engaging in lots of outdoor activities, it’s inevitable that you may endure a cut or scrape. Regular bandaids can take care of little wounds, but you really need waterproof dressings for the larger ones. Also, if you have an open wound, these waterproof dressings are great if you are still planning on swimming or doing any water sports or activities. These should help keep your wound dry and clean, helping to prevent infection and keep you out of the hospital!

AeroPress Coffee Maker

Last but not least, our beloved AeroPress Coffee Maker. This is purely a camping extra. We would not have the space to pack for non-camping trips. This small apparatus makes a fantastic brewed coffee. Plus, it’s very easy to clean. The Aeropress comes with useful utensils for measuring ground coffee, a pouring spout and a stirrer. However, these are not absolutely necessary to take away with you. All you need is the filter cap, the filter paper kept in its container, the chamber and plunger. The filter paper (365 sheets) does come included with the Aeropress.

Summary

We hope that our ultimate travel accessories list has helped you figure out exactly what you’ll need for your next trip. Covering hiking, camping, electronics, storage, health and miscellaneous products should have you well prepared for your next adventure.

This list, of course, reviews the travel accessories that would be generally needed for a medium-long trip. As speed hiking and outdoor enthusiasts, we have a wealth of knowledge of best hiking and camping gear and accessories. Check out the rest of our website for more specific recommendations for the hikers and campers!

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