Products That Changed My Life For Travel and Minimal Eco-Friendly Use
For this blog, the idea popped in my head once I started traveling more and shooting on the go. At first I wanted to just make notes to myself about what items were important to me so I could downsize my closet and drawers. Then I figured - why keep this to myself if it is useful info!
This list is current to my life right now and maybe I’ll have a different list in the future. For now, these are 30 things that have made such a difference in my life that I either donated, sold, or trashed similar products that couldn’t compare. To make it an easy read I broke it down into three categories with links to the products in each title if you’re interested in checking them out.
Everything on this list is pretty frickin’ cheap for the most part and can all fit into the first item listed. All lightweight small items that make my life easier. I organized this on a five hour bus ride in Vietnam thinking about the bag I brought with all the stuff in it, ha!
Travel
Osprey Women's Fairview 40 Backpack:Seriously. This thing right here. I don’t see myself changing bags for a very long time. There were other contenders but this just hits the nail on the head. I am a HUGE bag person, always have been. I never carried a purse or a wallet, it was always some type of bag. Now I read and watch lots of reviews. It’s clamshell opening is what I initially liked about it. All the pockets are where I want them to be. The zippers lock for security. The whistle on the chest strap is an added bonus of security. The women’s fit fits around my chest nicely and the strap have awesome comfort. There’s adjustable tabs on the hips, shoulders, and back. Plus it’s my favorite color! This really has everything I need for travel of more than a week. If it’s under a week and I am not traveling for work - I’m just bringing my day pack (last one on the travel list). I even bring the day pack with me on longer trips and attach the straps to each bag together when I need extra room in the Osprey.
Packing cubes with compression:A set of packing cubes that compress down once they are packed full is something I’ll never go without. Even if I switch out bags at any point for even a few days of travel, at least one is coming with me. I have one for shirts/pants, one for laundry (the REI one that has a DIRTY/CLEAN label on either side), and one for socks/underwear/swimsuits.
Travel bathroom pack:The Sonia Kashuk Travel kit is my favorite one I’ve had so far. It’s clear and includes the travel bottles I wanted (also clear and 2oz.). Even comes with helpful mini funnel to transfer your liquids so you don’t have to buy travel sized brands you don’t like!
Tiny Native deodorant:This is the babiest deodorant who ever lived. I love it so much. I have never found one so small and compact. Usually the ones at the store aren’t a natural brand and have a round shape. This one is small and has a mint scent.
Sunscreen:It has become clean that basically everyone should be wearing some type of daily facial sunscreen. I love my Drunk Elephant Umbra Tint SPF 30. It gives a slight tint to the skin with a glossy light finish. It looks like i’m wearing make up without having to wear any.
Biodegradable pet poop bag roll:Weird to say that I pack poop bags but they aren’t what you think they are for! The rolls you can buy are so compact and it comes with so many - plus better for the environment than a regular grocery bag. I use them for wet clothes (a swimsuit just used), to protect my phone from water, or easy access snackage.
glasses cleaner travel size:I haven’t had glasses for over a year yet but I do love this stuff. I need it to be travel size and better yet, the cloth fits inside the cap. It’s alcohol free and biodegradable.
"Just" Tampons:Okay boys, just skip through this one. These have changed my period. I haven’t been able to get over the learning curve of the discs or the cup so I needed an alternative. With no dyes, fragrances, or bleaching - I really feel like I’ve had less cramps and a shorter period. They are made with organic cotton and unlike some competitors, the box is still cardboard. However the applicator is still plastic and am still on the lookout for both biodegradable applicators and boxing.
face wipes:Face wipes are such a must have for me when traveling - especially to hot destinations. I’ve tried different kinds and the one I linked here hasn’t left my face greasy like the others. I don’t use make up wipes so I just wanted something more on the natural side that would be refreshing for my skin. These are made for sensitive skin and has no added fragrances and is dye free.
Compact travel pillow:So here’s the deal with my pillow situation. I have one pillow that is inflatable and folds down into it’s palmed size bag. It holds air very well and has a valve that doesn’t leak when you release after putting air into it. That is the one I have linked above because it is best for travel and camping. The other is a bit large and made of foam. It folds into a ball and has a bag with a zipper. However, it is a neck pillow which is only ideal for plane rides. I bring that one when I know I will have longer flights and have the room to pack it.
altoid Smalls:This is the only food item I’ll be talking about on here! It isn’t technically food because it is just a pack of baby mints. But these mints are so necessary for me. Mint helps calm my stomach or relieve my headaches. Also helps your breath after dinner! The real secret to these are in the tin. The Altoid Smalls come in a tiny tin no longer than a pinky that is perfect to hold my bobby pins.
Portable charger by Heyday:For the amount I sue my phone, I could never travel without a portable charger handy. The battery life using GPS alone drains so fast. Not to mention always taking pictures, DUH! I found this one at Target and it is so much better than the 2200mAh ones that are the same price from other brands. This one is almost double the power at 4000mAh and tells you the battery life as you use it with bright lights. I found at this price nothing beats that.
Empty water bottle with carabiner / water bag:Maybe I’m too obsessed with glow-in-the-dark things but I saw this and knew I wanted to try it out. No filter or straw but is 32oz. with wide mouth and cap strap. it is easy to attach a carabiner and have it hanging from the outside of my bag. Even though it is plastic, I purchased mine at a National Park so that some of the money went to a good cause. When packing even lighter, I just use one of those water bags that pack down into nothing when empty.
foot hammock:These are one of my favorite flight hacks besides having compression socks (not on the list because I don’t usually bring them). The foot hammock clips to dropdown tray in front of you. Lean back and put your feet up with your travel pillow. Finally some kind of comfort has been achieved.
Day pack with flashlight attached:Last but not least in the travel section Is…This…DAY PACK. I can’t stress enough how much I recommend this thing. This REI Flash comes in a bit more expensive than the earlier version but it is so worth it. I’ve used the cheaper ones and they just don’t compare. It’s perfect for a day at Disney, a day in the jungle, or a day in the city. It works for everything because it is lightweight, has great pockets/zippers, and a great level of comfort. Just like the Osprey, it also has a front whistle, chest straps, and padded back straps. Plus it folds down into nothing to put in a suitcase or laptop bag. I like to keep a carabiner and travel sized flashlight hooked inside just for peace of mind.
Gear
Lens cap string:If you’re like me, you’re always losing lens caps. One time I almost fell down a waterfall trying to catch one that fell in a river. Rookie mistake! Let ‘em go, they’re cheap. BUT they’re so annoying to have to keep buying. Lens cap strings save me so many amazon orders or trips to Best Buy for different size caps. Just attach the string to the cap then the other end to the lens and boom. You’re welcome. A leash for your lens cap.
35mm with Fuji xt20:My Canon gear is awesome but let’s face it…If you don’t have a mirrorless, there’s a lot of bulky weight there. I just can't take my full frame Canon everywhere when I’m not traveling for a shoot. My Fuji xt20 with 35mm f2 lens has my heart. The combination with the pocket size 35mm and mirrorless focus peaking, it makes it a great little travel gadget. I bring along my film camera with 50mm f1.4 for different perspective.
Fanny pack:Unlike most of the items that I am deadset on one brand for, most fanny packs are pretty much the same. Maybe down the line I’ll find one that is way better than any other. For now, I just have a few faves. I just need multiple zippers, an adjustable waist, and many pockets. They are so useful with my daypack for the small items I need handy.
Lume cube:This light is a little pricey but I will say I have found a few sale codes online. I love taking this if I am shooting Canon but works with any camera with a hotshoe. It packs flat and is lighter weight than my speed lights. Another pro is that since it stays on consistently, it’s perfect for extra controlled temperature lighting for video.
Pelican SD card holder:This is an easy purchase found at Best Buy. However, there are coupon codes if you order straight from Pelican. I’ve tried many other SD card holders but it’s my favorite for the price, safety packed padding, amount of card slots it has, and size.
Clothes/Accessories
Patagonia Quandary shorts:I saw people wearing these all the time in summer while hiking. Before moving to Colorado, I only did smaller hikes in either leggings or jean shorts. When I went camping I just brought along pajama shorts. When I went swimming I had any kind of wrap, long shirt, or jean shorts to cover my bikini bottoms. I finally took the leap and these took control over my shorts in my closet. The quandary shorts work for everything and are so comfy!
Hair band twist:Too many hairbands have snapped on my wrist or have broken while putting them in my hair. Hairbands just leave creases from ponytails so I stopped using them as much as I could. I saw these in a store and figured why not give them a try. I’m never going back! These smaller sized one fit my wrist great and don’t bother my hair.
Darn Tough Socks:I don’t want to buy any other socks other than merino wool ever again. They’re antimicrobial so they don’t smell. They’re comfy. You can buy them with thick or thin layers. They come in cute colors and can be high or low on your ankles. Darn Toughs are pricey but have a lifetime warranty so totally worth it. I don’t need many to fit my needs.
Gore-tex wind breaker:I always thought my regular rain jackets from the generic store were fine. Then I found out about Gore-tex. These jackets are not only a great layer to keep warm especially in wind - but I swear not a single drop of water gets on you in a storm.
Hair band:If any of you have bangs, you can understand the annoying maintenance. Having a headband on me eliminates the amount of times I wash my hair and hides my bangs when they look greasy. It’s also a bonus when I don’t have a hair tie on me or need to sleep and don’t have my sleep mask, ha!
Sport Leggings with pockets:We all know that leggings are there for us in our time of comfort on the couch. However, the sporty material of spandex is really where it’s at. Having these with double pockets on the side are perfect for doing anything away from the house. Plus they’re so thin that they pack down easily.
Burt's bees lip tint:Chapstick is something I pretty much always have on me. Burt’s Bees brand everything is amazing. Their lip tints are a new favorite of mine. Like the sunscreen, it gives a slight look of makeup without having to use lipstick. It’s cruelty free and gives a natural shade.
Trail Runners:I love these trail runners so much that I’ve recommended to other people and they have also bought them and recommended to others. I needed a box toe type sneaker with zero drop. Cushion comfort is also very important to me but I didn’t know I could get this level of comfort with the zero drop. I tried on every trail runner at REI and none compared to these. They can get a little pricey but ordering from Backcountry website itself gives a discount code. You can try them on at REI first!
Pop Socket wallet:Like I stated earlier, I’ve never been a purse or wallet type person. My day-to-day doesn’t include me carrying around much. I originally had a Pop Socket on my phone just for the car attachment for GPS. After having the Pop Socket, it became a guilty pleasure. Honestly, I think they’re so ugly but I use it to prop up my phone to watch movies. The GPS use and the movie watching already made me love it besides its proper use. I then got an Instagram ad for the Pop Socket wallet, it literally solved my problem of carrying my cards in my pocket, car, or leaving them at home. A problem I didn’t know that was so huge until I got this thing. Thanks Instagram advertisement.
Photo of me wearing the headband, day pack, and patagonia shortsThailand was amazing. I just want to help other people find the right travel products. I’d love to talk to anyone interested in anything on my list or if you have suggestions on better products!
