BEST TRAVEL PRODUCTS FOR SOLO TRAVEL
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This post is all about the best travel products for solo travel
Whether you are going away for a week or planning a trip for a year, choosing the right travel products is essential for the enjoyment of your trip..
After many many years of travel I now consider myself somewhat of an expert in packing and the essential items you should take with you on your solo travel adventure.
These items are all tried and tested by myself over the years you they will help you pack lighter and make your trip easier. You will honestly wonder how you ever managed without them.
Here are my top picks of the best travel products that have been tried and tested during my solo trips around the globe. They are listed under different categories and you can click the contents title to take you straight to each section.
Planning your trip? Use my favourite resources!
🏨 Accommodation : I recommend Booking.com
✈️ Flights : for the cheapest flights, I use Skyscanner
🚗 Rental Car : I recommend Rental Cars
🛡️ Travel Insurance : for the best deals I rely on HeyMondo
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This post is all about the best travel products for solo female travellers including a free printable packing list.
Luggage
Before you think about what you’re going to pack in your bag you need to figure out which bag you want to take. There are a couple of options depending on your own preference.
Osprey Fairview Wheels 65 Women's Wheeled Travel Pack
If you like a wheeled backpack this 65l offering from Osprey is a great choice.
The Osprey Fairview 65l Wheeled Backpack is great as it offers the flexibility of backpack straps as well as wheels for when you don’t want to carry your bag on your back.
Osprey Farpoint 40l Backpack
If you’re not bothered about having a wheeled bag I’d definitely opt for the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack. This bag has stood the test of time and has been all over the world with me. Due to the size it forces me to pack a little light which I like as then I’m not having to lug around a load of stuff in a bigger bag.
You’ll want to take a rain cover for your backpack to make sure you keep your belongings try especially if you’re travelling in the rainy season. The rainy season varies depending on which countries you are vsisiting so make sure you check before you travel. These LAMA rain covers come in a variety of colours with a reflective strip on them. They fold down really small so when you’re not using it you can just store it in a little pocket on your backpack.
Travelon: Anti-Theft Small Crossbody Bag
I love a cross body style bag and if you do too this anti theft small bag from Travelon is a great choice. It’s pretty small so only big enough for a few things such as your phone, money and passport. I often wear it underneath my top or jacket so it’s extra hidden.
Some people love them and some people hate them. I’m definitely a packing cube fan. I like the organisation it gives me so I‘m not having to search through all of my bag for something, I just have to search through a smaller packing cube.
I like this set as they come in a few different sizes so I can do underwear in a smaller one, pants in a bigger one etc.
Other packing cubes I recommend
If you’d rather go for compression packing cubes these come in a variety of colours and sizes and are really affordable.
These large packing cubes come in a set of 4 and are good if you want the same size packing cubes. You can get them in small medium, large and slim.
TSA Approved Luggage Locks with Flexible Cable
Luggage locks are inexpensive and worth having to keep anything going missing from your checked-in luggage while in transit. If you’re going in and out of the USA, you’ll need TSA-approved luggage locks. If you’re using hostels at all during your travels it’s always a good idea to travel with a spare padlock for lockers. The locks above are the ones I’ve used for years and they’ve lasted the test of time.
MYCARBON Hidden Money Belt / Travel Wallet
I always travel with a hidden money belt/travel wallet. They can be hidden underneath your clothes and will keep your most valuable items like your phone, passport and money hidden from view and on your person. The one has a water resistant zipper, a cam lock metal slider and an adjustable strap.
Other hidden money belts I recommend
This travel clip pouch is perfect if you’re after something a little smaller. It’s a tiny pouch that clips on the inside of your waist band that just about fits your cash card and some money in. I’ve used this travelling through various different countries and loved it.
This bra wallet is a really handy piece of kit that’s perfect for ladies. It secures around the middle of your bra or anywhere else on your person that you can clip something on for a discreet place to keep your valuables.
Clothes
The clothes you pack for your trip depend on so many factors - the weather, the activities you’re taking part in, how long you’re going for.
When packing for your trip it is important to firstly understand the weather conditions. Look at the average temperatures for the time of year you’re travelling plus any factors like rainy season or hurricane season. (Hopefully you will have already taken this into account when you were planning and booking your trip.)
If you’re travelling to a hot destination you need to make sure you’ve got clothes that are lightweight and good in those hot conditions, these include long, loose fitting clothes, preferably made from natural fibres.
If you’re travelling to a cold destination you’ll want to pack lots of layers.
There are so many different activities that you might be planning on doing on your trip such as surfing, lounging on the beach, yoga, hiking so make sure you pack according to the activities you will be doing.
Is the place you’re going a dress up kinda place or does it have more of a relaxed vibe. As a general rule Europe and bigger cities tend to be more dressy whilst more developing countries like Thailand or beach locations tend to have a more relaxed vibe.
Below I recommend some of my favourite items that I usually pack for hot weather locations.
Earth Runner Sandals
Earth Runners are my favourite lightweight sandals to take away with me. The idea behind them is to ‘free your feet.’ They use minimalistic Vibram® outsoles and a copper & stainless steel earting system to ground you to the earth.
They’re really comfortable with adjustable laces. You can hike in them, use them round the pool or beach, walk around the city. They’re the perfect sandal whatever your location.
Crocs Sliders
If you’re around the pool or beach you’re likely to be putting shoes on and off constantly so I recommend a good pair of sliders. These Crocs sliders are my favourite as they’re so comfy and lightweight.
Clothes
Loose fitting vest tops
When putting together your outfits try to go for natural fibre t-shirts such as cotton. A loose flowing fabric will feel better in the heat than figure hugging. These loose, vest tops are perfect.
Linen throwover
Carrying a lightweight linen or cotton overshirt can be really handy for multiple occasions. It’s good to throw on if you want to cover your shoulders and forearms from the sun or if you’re riding a scooter. It can also be used when you’re going into temples to be respectful. This one is really good and doesn’t make you too hot.
Quick drying clothing
These quick drying, breathable t-shirts from Under Armour are some of my favourite for taking on a trip. They are perfect whatever activity you may be doing. I do alot of hand washing of my clothes and hanging over the balcony when I’m travelling so it’s great to have stuff that dries really quickly.
Sarong
Hiking Clothes
If you’re planning on doing any hiking whilst you’re travelling you really need to take some extras.
Hiking shoes
The most important thing about you’re hiking footwear of choice is that they are enclosed. These shoes from VIVOBAREFOOT are perfect as they don’t take up too much room in your luggage and are really comfy for any long hikes you may do.
Regatta Womens Pack It Waterproof Hooded Packable Jacket
A lightweight, breathable raincoat is a must if you’re travelling anywhere during rainy season. This raincoat from Regatta is breathable and packable so when you’re not using it you can pack it away. It comes in a range of different colours so you are sure to find one to your taste.
Toiletries
Washbags with hooks are great for use in hostels, as you can hang up your wash bag when you’re in the shower and not leave it on the floor to get wet and dirty. They’re also great in hotels! A light and thin wash bag is also essential for keeping the weight in your backpack down. If you are someone who travels with a lot of toiletries I recommend this wash bag as it’s on the large size.
If, like me, you’re a more lightweight traveller you could get away with this smaller washbag and save some space in your bag for something else.
Mini Silicone Bottles
If you are going hand luggage only and want to take smaller bottles of your moisturiser/toner or any other toiletry these mini silicone bottles are perfect. As they are 100ml you are allowed to go through airport security with them. Decanting your bigger bottles in to these at home before you leave can be a great way to save some money as minitures can often be quite expensive.
Transparent Liquids Bag
If you’re taking liquids in your hand luggage you’re going to need a transparent bag to go through security. This set of three is perfect and will allow you to travel with any liquids you have. They are doing away with having to put liquids through security separately but as I write this it’s still in full force so you will need some of these bags.
Shampoo and Conditioner bars
I always go for shampoo and conditioner bars when I’m travelling to cut down on the plastic I’m using and to try and save some space. It took me a while to get used to using bars and I feel they’ve progressed so much in quality over the last few years. I’ve tried many over the years and the Ethique ones are my favourite. They are a little pricey but they last for ages. If you try the Ethique and you don’t like them I’d encourage you to try a different brand as they’re all slightly different and some work really well on my hair and others I just don’t like and you might be the same.
Some other brands that may work for you
Faith in Nature : their shampoo bars are pretty good and come in a range of smells.
Eco Warrior : I just love the smell of their orange and ginger shampoo bar.
WILD refillable deodrant
I love my WILD deodrant! I got it for my birthday years ago and I’ve used nothing else since. When I’m travelling I love that I can take little refillables if I need to although I hardly ever have to as they last for so long. They do so many different fragrance too. They definitely stop me smelling wwhen I’m travelling!
Blue Lizard Sensitive Suncream SPF 30+
If you’re travelling to a hot place or even if it’s not that hot it’s important to protect your skin. So protecting your skin on a daily basis whilst you’re out enjoying yourself is vital. This Blue Lizard sunscreen is great for sensitive skin, it’s natural and also comes in SPF50. It does take a little while to rub in but you’re travelling, you’ve got time!
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera gel is a must when you’re travelling. It’s so versatile and can be used as a moisturiser, soother and after sun. If you’re lucky enough to have a fridge I recommend storing it in there which will take it to the next level when you use it. If you have a little sunburn rubbing some cold aloe vera in to the area stright from the fridge feels amazing!
It’s very important to keep your lips healthy and using a good SPF lipbalm like the Neutrogena Lipcare is perfect.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil is one of those ‘fits all situations’ products. It’s a powerful antiseptic for minor cuts and scrapes, anti-mould and anti-fungal treatment. It’s great to throw in with your washing and ideal for freshening up smelly bags.
Razor
If you like to remove body hair I’d recommend this handy travel razor from Gilette. It’s nice and compact and is able to travel through in your hand luggage.
First Aid Items
Hopefully when you’re travelling you won’t need any medical items but it’s always best to be safe rather than sorry. I always travel with a mini first aid kit and several other items that come in useful.
Travel first aid kit
You can, of course, curate your own first aid kit but if you don’t want to go to that trouble this mini first aid kit has all the essentials. Before you leave, take a good look through it so you know what you have, take out anything you don’t think you’ll need and add any extras you want to take more of such as extra plasters or medication.
Tiger balm is another must when travelling for me and I recommend you add it in to your travel bag. It’s an ideal remedy for headaches, sore muscles and insect bites. It’s super versatile and a must on my packing list.
Insect repellent with DEET
If you’re prone to bug bites like I am then you absolutely want to take a heavy duty bug spray with you when you travel. I suggest something with 20-40% DEET. I prefer a spray like Jungle Formula as it’s much easier to apply and you won’t get your hands dirty. I always pack this is a zip-lock bag in case of any leaks.
Handy things to pack
I always pack a wash bag like this one to put my dirty washing in when I’m travelling. It just makes it so much easier in keeping my dirty and clean clothes separate. When you’re not using them for washing, you can use them for packing.
Travel clothes line
I don’t take this on all my trips, it’s generally the longer trips that I’ve found having this handy travel clothes line useful for drying my clothes after I’ve hand washed them. It’s not very big and doesn’t fit all my clothes on but it’s helpful for a day or twos worth of clothes and no pegs are neeed which is fantastic.
Travel wash
If you are going to hand wash you’re clothes when you’re travelling you’ll going to need to take some travel wash with you. This Dr Backmann travel wash is the best one out there and will do the job of keeping your clothes clean. I generally only take stuff for cleaning my clothes if I’m going somewhere for more than a week.
I find these over the door hooks can be really handy for various different things when travelling and I always keep one in the bottom of my bag. The most common thing I use them for is if there’s no hook to hang my towel I can easily create my own. They’re lightweight and hardly take up any room.
You’ll probably want to take a towel with you if you’re going on a beach type of holiday. If you staying in a hostel whatever type of holiday you’re on, I recommend taking a towel as many don’t provide towels. I love these from Dock & Bay. They fold up to be pretty small and are 3x faster at drying than normal towels which is always handy when you’re on the road.
Travel cutlery
I use my travel cutlery all the time when I’m travelling. I like that I don’t have to use single use plastic anywhere and I find having a set just really handy. Maybe it’s something you wouldn’t use every day like myself but as they’re so lightweight I think they’re a worthwhile item to pack in your bag.
There’s so many different cutlery sets on the market to choose from and I’ve probably tried them all over the years! If you don’t like the look of the one above some other great options include:
this nifty device that combines a spoon on one side, fork and knife on the other.
this CrocTool device is similar to the WildPeak one but made of metal with the added benefit of having a peeler and a bottle opener on. It’s slightly more expensive buy worth it if you’d use the other tools on it.
HeroClip Carabiner
Carabiners are a must for any backpacking trip! These HEROCLIP ones come in 4 different sizes with the medium ones being able to carry 60lbs so they’re pretty strong. I always just have a few clipped to the outside of my backpack and at some point during a trip they come in useful for something or other.
Waterproof dry bag
I love having a dry bag with me. You can use it to carry wet swimmers or put your stuff in whilst you’re kayaking. This set from Earth-pak also comes with a waterproof phone case that you can throw your phone in whilst you’re in the sea.
Personal safety alarms are a really good idea to travel with, particularly if you’re a solo traveller. This one is compact and easily fits in my day bag. It also has a bright flashing LED light and a very loud alarm when activated.
Lifestraw Go Water Bottle
Depending on where you’re travelling to you may not be able to drink the tap water. If this is the case I recommend taking a Lifestraw Water Bottle that filters the tap water and makes it drinkable. You don’t want to be constantly having to buy bottles of water, for the benefit of both the environment and for your wallet. It comes with a handy clip so you can attach it to your day bag too.
Bag sealer clips and silicone bags
Having bag sealer clips and silicone bags are a really handy thing to have when your travelling, particularly if you’re on a longer trip. The bag sealer clips are useful for any items you’ve bought that you want to take to your next location. Sealing the item up with a clip helps to keep it fresher for longer and stops and spillage. Silicone bags are also handy for keep food fresh and storing any snacks.
Digital luggage scale
Travelling with a digital luggage scale is a really good idea especially if you’re taking hand luggage with weight limitations. You can avoid paying unexpected baggage fees by using an accurate luggage scale to ensure you keep within the weight allowance.
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Planning a trip? Here are some of the resources and tools I personally use to organise my travel plans.
FLIGHTS : Find the best deals on flights using Skyscanner.
VISAS : Use iVisa to check if you need a tourist visa for wherever you’re travelling and apply for an expedited visa online. Use OneWayFly to obtain proof of onward travel/hotel reservation for your visa application if needed.
TRAVEL INSURANCE : Insure your trip with my preferred insurance for single trip and annual cover HeyMondo
AIRPORT TRANSFER : Pre-book your hotel transfer from the airport.
ACCOMMODATION : Find the best hotel deals on Booking.com or use HostelWorld for great deals on hostels.
BUS TICKETS : If you’d like to book bus tickets at your destination in advance you can buy your bus tickets online through Bookaway
DAY TRIPS : Find the best city tours and day excursions around the world on Viator or Get Your Guide.
Videos from South East Asia
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