Travel Gear - Paul Passing Through

Here are my travel gear recommendations to help you on your trip. Whether you need help with packing or gear to make your trip a worry-free one, you’ll find it here.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will earn a small commission. This occurs at no added cost to you.

My first travel gear essential has to be the Hynes Eagle backpack. This has been the backpack of choice for both Michelle and me over the past few years ever since she first found it on Amazon. I quickly made the switch from what I was using to the Hynes Eagle after seeing how easy it was for her to use. It has a roomy main compartment that can be opened along its edge to make for easy packing and access of whatever you need. Within that compartment is a separate pocket to keep more essential gear packed away for quick retrieval. In addition to the main compartment, there are two separate pockets on the front: one that can be used for electronic devices and/or dirty laundry and another smaller pocket for books or your passport. If you’re in the market for a new backpack, don’t think twice about trying out the Hynes Eagle!

The Venture Pal 40L Backpack has been my go-to day and hiking pack for a few years now. It’s lightweight and comes with several different compartments, including one waterproof pocket, making it ideal for carrying around whatever I need when sightseeing or hiking. It’s also sturdy enough to use as a small carry-on when flying to haul my laptop, iPad, chargers, a hoodie, and other odds and ends I might need on the plane.

These Alameda packing cubes make packing and finding items on the go so much easier than if you just throw everything in a backpack or suitcase by keeping everything organized. These cubes also have a two-zipper system, so you can compress the bags to conserve space. You can find cubes that come in different quantities, but I think the three offered by Alameda are the perfect number for a 7-to-10-day trip.

This inflatable travel pillow is a lifesaver for getting better sleep on flights, and better yet, it folds down into a small carrying pouch so it doesn’t take up room when not in use. It is easy to inflate with just a few big breaths and stays inflated thanks to a double intake valve for you to get some Z’s on the plane!

We’ve all been there: It’s a beautiful day when you’re doing some sightseeing and all of a sudden, the sky turns black, and the clouds open up dumping rain all over you. This rain jacket from Columbia is the perfect answer to that crisis. It’s lightweight and can easily be stuffed into a daypack for quick retrieval without weighing you down throughout the day. The material deflects rain very well, too, keeping you dry as you keep on your way.

Here’s a similar Columbia jacket for women to help against rain and wind.

You’ve seen the signs about leaving destinations as you found them, but why not take it a step further and leave no waste at all while you’re out and about, even once you’re back home. These reusable, sealable baggies are a great way to take food on the go with you without creating any trash. Simply throw them in the dishwasher after they’re used and keep using them again and again.

Similar to the reusable bags above, the PackIt freezable bag allows you to store food over and over again without using single-use plastics. The difference is that this bag can be stored in the freezer similar to an ice pack to allow you to bring foods that need to be kept cold. It’s another great addition to a day of sightseeing or hiking.

After trying many different water bottles over the years, the Iron Flask takes the cake as the best. It’s been the most durable by a wide margin, which has always been my biggest pet peeve with reusable bottles. It also does an amazing job at keeping beverages cold over long periods of time even in intense heat. What’s more, you can get it in large sizes to help keep you hydrated over the course of a long day. If you’re in the market for a new water bottle, don’t hesitate on this one!

While the Iron Flask is my favorite reusable bottle, these collapsible bottles are Michelle’s. They don’t hold as much volume, but they’re incredibly handy if you aren’t carrying around a backpack to hold something the size of the Iron Flask. They fit perfectly in her handbag while also having a clip to hang from the strap when filled with water.

The LifeStraw can be an actual lifesaver if you’re out hiking or traveling and run out of water. These filters can be used for up 4,000 liters of filtration and have been shown to filter out 99.999999% of bacteria like e. coli and salmonella and 99.999% of parasites like giardia. That’s a whole lot of filtration! But why use them only for hiking? They can also be used to get clean, filtered water when you’re on the go traveling, too.

If you’re doing a lot of international travel, a universal charger adapter is an absolute must have. Throughout the world, there are many different types of plugs and sockets, and if you aren’t prepared for that, you could either be without your electronic devices or you’ll be forking out potentially more money to buy an adapter at the last second. Be sure to be prepared and pick up this adapter that covers all the major plugs across the globe!

The Anker Portable Charger is a lightweight, efficient charger for your devices when you’re on the go. It’s capable of fully charging a standard mobile phone three times and a tablet once on a single battery. Whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android, this portable charger is a great option.

The Errbbic Solar Power Portable Charger is another device worth carrying if you’ll be out on the road for a long time. Its battery can be charged with sunlight to provide your mobile device with an extra boost in case of emergency. These chargers also come with a flashlight and compass for additional layers of support if you get lost.

Taking time to journal might not be everyone’s cup of tea while traveling, but I’ve found it’s a great way to reflect on and remember my travels. Simply getting the day’s events down on paper makes things easier to recall in the future. Even if you only jot a few thoughts down, a small journal is a great addition to any trip.

I love these spray-on bottles of suntan lotion from Neutrogena. If you’re like me and you hate the grimy feeling of suntan lotion on your hands after rubbing it in, then this lotion is for you. You still need to rub it in for full protection, but it doesn’t leave nearly as much residue on your hands. I also find that it’s much quicker to apply than traditional suntan lotions.

Clear bathroom bags might not be the most exciting travel tool, but they are incredibly important to help get through security and for quickly finding things while you’re on the go. Whether you just need to quickly find your toothbrush at the airport or you get pulled aside for an extra security check, these bags will make your traveling a breeze. They’re also the perfect size for TSA-approved toiletries.

Now that you have your toiletry bag, you need to fill it with something. These TSA-approved bottles are perfect for bringing along your favorite shampoo, conditioner or whatever other liquids you might need. I also like that these bottles are color coded to make it easier to identify what you

I’m not especially a germaphobe, but I always used to think think it was a little gross that my toothbrush was touching everything else in my bathroom bag before Michelle found these little toothbrush covers. Simply clip them over your toothbrush bristles and they will keep your toothbrush separate from the rest of your bathroom things.

Especially now in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfectant wipes have become a fact of our lives. Some airlines still make them readily available but not always. So to be safe, you can bring these to-go packs along with you. They’re great for on the plane or to clean off any other questionable surfaces you may be using along the way.

A long day of travel always makes me feel grimy whether it’s on the plane or driving all day. Body wipes are an easy way to stay clean while you are waiting to get to the hotel to take a proper shower.