Travel Essentials

After years of traveling for fun, for work, and for my website, here’s a list of my go-to travel essentials I can’t live without! These are great for both plane and road trips. These are the exact products I have that I bought myself – I seriously bring this stuff everywhere!

Most can easily be found on Amazon, but I’ve included some of my favorites from local Minnesota companies and other small businesses as well. I appreciate you shopping through my links!

Travel Essentials

Use the corresponding number next to each item to find the link associated with it below. Along with a description of why it’s one of my travel essentials!

1. Compression socks: My feet and ankles get so swollen on flights longer than 2 hours. I wear these on every flight to keep the circulation going!
2. Sony Camera: My favorite travel camera. Takes quality photos, wifi enabled, and it’s nice and small so it easily fits into a purse or backpack.
3. Camera lens covers: I’m terrible at losing my lens covers. These come with a string to attach it to the camera so you don’t lose it!
4. Camera strap: Must have a cute camera strap to sling on your back when you’re not using it. I get compliments on this all the time!
5. Apple Airpods: My work travel necessity. Great for taking calls on the go and not having to deal with messy wires.
6. Pela Airpods case: I’ve dropped my airpods on the plane more times than I can count. This case makes them easy to find, non-slippery, and attaches to your bag. Plus, it’s biodegradable and compostable!
7. Pela iPhone case: The best biodegradable and compostable iPhone case! I have the iPhone 11 Pro and it’s the favorite case I’ve ever owned.
8. Travel steamer: My work clothes always gets wrinkled when traveling and is often times fabric that can’t be ironed. This steamer takes up little space, gets hot really fast, and I love it more than my full-sized one at home!
9. Packing cubes: Get on the packing cube trend if you aren’t already. Keeps you organized when traveling and allows you to pack more. Plus this set comes with clear re-usable bags for your liquids.
10. Sony noise-cancelling wireless headphones: I will never board a plane or train again without noise-cancelling headphones. Makes for a much quieter and more enjoyable flight, especially when sitting in economy.
11. Stasher reusable storage bags: These silicone bags always come in handy. Whether it’s for snacks on the road, a hike, or in the car.
12. Heat-resistant case: I feel like I’m always sticking my hot curling iron in my bag, so instead of wrapping it in a towel, this case keeps it much safer.
13. Travel backpack: I searched high and low for a travel backpack that has everything I needed. A hidden pouch, laptop slot, multiple compartments to stay organized, a built in USB charger, and much more.
14. Camelbak: We do a lot of outdoor activities on our trips, so this backpack is our favorite. It holds water for easy access, has other pockets for wallets, etc. and this version is especially made for skiing, meaning the water hose doesn’t freeze when you’re on the slopes!
15. Hydration backpack: We use this backpack for shorter hikes or when it’s really hot and we each want our own water pack. It has less storage and is lighter than the Camelbak.
16. JBL Flip portable bluetooth speaker: We love having music play back at our lodging after a long day exploring. This speaker is small, waterproof, and has great sound.
17. Urban Undercover accessory bag: Urban Undercover is a local Minnesota company and has the cutest travel gear. These little bags are the best for keeping things organized in your carry on – I use one for chords and chargers, and one for medicine and band aids.
18. Luggage Tag: This makes the list because it’s cute and my fav. “I’m outta here” always gets compliments and a smile from fellow travelers!
19. Jewelry case: I used to put my jewelry in little bags but everything would always get lost and tangled. This case is the best to keep things in place.
20. Inflatable neck pillow: This is the exact neck pillow I use. After trying tons of different kinds, this one is my ultimate favorite. It inflates to the right size for you, the outer shell is washable, it folds up super small, and the clasp on the front keeps it in place on your neck.
21. Inflatable neck pillow: Being the neck pillow I use isn’t on Amazon, here’s one that I recently ordered but haven’t tried yet! It has all the benefits of the one I have and love.
22. Phone chargers: You never know where your closest plug in will be when staying somewhere new. We love having long phone chords for this reason!
23. Airplane mode hat: I always have a hat in my carry on bag in case of a bad hair day and this one is so fun!
24. International power adapters: This set has all the international adapters you’ll need, and gives you multiple plug ins and USBs to make sure all your gear is charged and ready to go.
25. External charger: I always carry this with me just in case my phone or camera needs some extra juice. It’s small and carries 4 phone charges!
26. Foot hammock: Put this foot hammock over your tray table on the plane for added comfort while traveling. I bought this for long flights but use it for short ones now too!
27. North Face rain coat: ALWAYS pack a rain coat while traveling. I love this long coat that works equally well if I’m in the city or in the mountains.
28. Travel water bottle: I try reduce our use of single use plastic whenever possible, so instead of buying a waterbottle at the airport, I use this to fill up. Then when I’m done it converts into a smaller version to take up less space in my bag.
29. Travel tripod: This tripod folds up really small and is lightweight. Perfect for travel or short hikes.
30. Travel umbrella: We always bring an umbrella and this one collapses really small. It fits right in the front of my suitcase which is perfect!

Happy traveling!