As most travel aficionados know, fall is always a good time to take a trip. Flights are cheap, crowds are thin, and the weather is still nice and balmy.
If you’ve already planned a trip or hope to take advantage of last minute deals, here are my somewhat obscure travel essentials I recommend you take with:
It’s my saving grace for nights when I can’t sleep, but everyone else can. It’s my partner in crime for late night rendezvous and top secret foreign missions. Other than my journal and my camera, this little head lantern is my favourite travel companion. Don’t leave home without it.
I tragically forget to throw one in my pack on a recent surf/sightseeing getaway to Hawaii. On more than one occasion throughout my trip, a situation came up where an opener was needed and I cursed the stars for my packing ineptitude. Bring a good wine bottle opener along for the ride – it can make/break your night (or mid-afternoon, depending on how you like to spend your vacation).
Duct tape is a hero. For every problem – ripped pack, holey shoes, sketchy South American hostel bed with bits falling off – duct tape shows up and saves the day.
Boy Scouts have nothing on me.
Dukoral? Earplugs? What essential items always have a special place in your pack?
A good knife with serrated blade, a nail clipper …
On a recent trip, I discovered the beauty of re-rolling duct tape around a credit/debit-style card. If you use good quality tape, you don’t lose any stick, and it takes only a fraction of the space that a roll does. Use a precharged calling card for the centre, and you’ve got quite the little emergency roll!
I think this is genius, Joel! Thank you for sharing. I have a friend that also wraps duct tape around his ski/trekking poles for emergency repairs.
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it
Dry bags – little ones, big ones. Always good to have on hand in case you need to stash electronics or clothes in a hurry.
Good call Jon! Drybags are a great accessory, especially if you’re travelling with a baby and need somewhere to stash dirty diapers or soaked clothes. Super handy for keeping stuff sorted and safe from moisture whether that’s outside or from whatever is in the bag.
Anything merino makes for a much more pleasant trip.
Also, a silk sleeping bag liner. It works as sheets in the hostel, an extra layer to make your sleeping bag cozier and one star accommodations at the airport, during stopovers.
Snuggies. That’s a good one too.
Or that.
Brownies. (One must never go into the backcountry with brownies.)
Without. *sigh*
I was about to say, WITHOUT BROWNIES?!?
Treats are definitely key to a good long hike. I like the chocolate covered coffee beans, but doubt that’d be a good choice if you needed to share with kids.
Garmin eTrex GPS – helps me find my way back to the hostel/campsite. No phone service necessary.
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No matter where I go…or how lightweight I go…I always find room for a CANADA flag…I always proudly donne it on my site for all to see.
Iginla to Crosby, Crosby SCORES!!! Canada wins GOLD!
That’s the best one, Mike. Anywhere you go, Go Canada Go.