My Packing List

Here you will see a list of my various travel "necessities". These are the things I bring with me on all of my travels around the world. To make it easy, I linked the shopping sites of all my favorites. Of course, some of these things change depending on where I am traveling. Most will get you from the equator to the arctic circle. One day I'll separate my lists based on location. I update this frequently


My Backpack:

I love my waterproof Patagonia Black Hole 25L Backpack. It's my go-to on tropical vacations (because of rainy weather) and any vacation where I am doing a lot of active "work". It is also a great personal item on flights, as there are easy to access compartments. There's a small pocket on top, one on the side for iPads, and two water bottle holders. The loops in front are great for a carabiner to carry extra things around (like your Chacos after they have gotten mud all over them and you don't want to put them inside the bag).







My Carry-On:

My normal travel bag is the Away Carry-On. It is my favorite bag overall. Great for any vacation! Specifically, this one is great for solo travel under a week. I am able to travel for multiple weeks with this if I do laundry. Away builds with travel in mind. My favorite part is the removable rechargeable battery. One charge on that thing will get me at least four full charges on my cell phone. There are two USB ports, one for faster charging. Inside the bag you will find a removable laundry bag, that rolls up nice and small. Also, they send you a travel adapter for wall-charging. All of the world's charging ports are included in a nice zip-up pouch.


For Organizing my Clothes:

Packing cubes are an amazing and easy way to stay organized. I usually organize based on the different types of items. It's an easy way to keep track of everything when you're on the move. Highly suggested!






My Passport Wallet:

Next, I have here my Fjallraven Passport Wallet. I love this because it is a zipped wallet. It fits all of my travel papers, money, coins, credit cards, etc. It is super durable and comes pre-waterproofed using Fjallraven's Greenland Wax, which is also great for waterproofing any cloth items you may have. It's probably my favorite item overall. It also fits my cell phone, so if I wanted a small clutch, boom, I have one.



If the Fjallraven wallet is too expensive, I used to use this Herschel Passport Holder. It is a great inexpensive alternative. Unfortunately, there's no room for change and doesn't zip closed.




My Everyday Purse

Depending on where I am traveling to, I don't always want to carry around my backpack all day. So, I bring along a small packable "everyday purse". I prefer a crossbody because it can be worn under my backpack and make things easily accessible. The one I normally take with me is a small zip closer Marc by Marc Jacobs crossbody. It is completely necessary in countries with pick-pockets to have a purse that is zipped closed. Also, having a crossbody makes it harder for someone to steal your bag.





I know this is a pricey purse, so here is one that I consider a great alternative: Herschel Alder Crossbody  







My Water Bottle:

One thing I recommend all people have when traveling is a refillable water bottle. I've tried many a bottle. And the one I have found to be the best is my 24 oz Hydro Flask. I like it because it is packable. I have a 32 oz also but found that the bottle itself is too big to fit into any bottle holders on backpacks. This amazing bottle will keep your water cold for 24 hours (seriously, I've found ice in my bottle a day after I put it in there).



My Cameras:
I have two. But rarely do I bring both. I just consider the nature of my trip and choose based on that.


The first camera I use is my waterproof Olympus TG-870 Tough. This is my favorite camera to bring on beach vacations. I have used it probably 100 times underwater and have never had water leak into it. Just make sure you rinse under fresh water after using it in salt water. It takes amazing photos underwater. Here's an example of one I took in Maui (unedited):

My other camera is the Sony A6000. This is by far my favorite camera I've ever owned. It is mirrorless and the lenses can be interchanged. I have two lenses. One manual wide angle that I use at night and the standard lens it comes with. Once you master how to use this camera, it is amazing. The night photos are priceless. The camera itself, however, comes with a price tag... which is why I only take it on vacations where I'm really going for the scenery. Although, for a semi-professional camera, the price is very reasonable. Here's a photo I took of the Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway:

***Here are just some random things that I like to use while traveling:

Foot Hammock




This thing has saved my tailbone on many occasions. On long-haul flights, it has been a blessing. If you normally sleep curled up or feel the need to take some weight off your bum on long flights, this hammock will do wonders for you. I am prone to restless legs and this accessory has changed that on long flights. In combination with compression socks, RLS be gone! It hangs around the food tray. You may feel weird at first, but by the end of the flight, everyone around you will be asking where you got it.




No Jet Lag


I am a true believer in this stuff. NO-JET-LAG is 100% Homeopathic, these chewable pills will help prevent and relieve any symptoms of jet lag. You take one at take off, every 2-4 hours in the air, and one after landing. Seriously, I swear by this stuff.