I am one of those people who believe in being prepared for as many situations as possible and this slight obsession escalates when I travel. To that end, here are the top 5 items I always toss in my carry-on tote.
Let's break it down, we have (clockwise from left) mini rolls of duct tape, gallon zip top freezer bags, wooden clothes pins, a spork, and 4 mini bungee cords. Each one of these is multi-purpose and takes up very little room in a carry-on or small suitcase. All the uses below have been tested personally, except where noted.
Duct tape can be used to:
- repair bags
- tack a hem
- brace a twisted ankle
- secure your bag (after security) by taping down zipper pulls
- mend a ripped tent
- bandage a wound (after its clean, but always have cloth or gauze between the wound and tape and seek medical help Immediately)
- secure valuables to your body (it helps to tape the bag of valuables to a hairless area to avoid the prior use of duct tape 😁)
- remove lint
- baby proof a hotel room (haven't personally tried this)
Gallon zip top bags are useful to:
- store wet bathing suits
- keep passports, maps, and papers dry
- segment socks/underwear
- contain smaller items so they aren't rolling loose around a bag
- use as an air sickness/motion sickness bag (thankfully, I haven't had to test this but my traveling companion did when our catamaran decided to bounce across the water instead of float)
- cushion souvenirs (blow some air into one bag as you're sealing it and then, place that in another bag)
- separate jewelry (use smaller bags, suck the air out to avoid necklaces tangling, put in the larger size)
- act as a tiny washing machine for your underwear (fill it up a little less than halfway, add soap and garment, close it tightly and shake)
- protect your camera from mist or rain
Wooden hinge-style clothes pins are great to:
- close pesky hotel curtains that always seem to have a gap
- corral a mosquito net when not in use
- secure electronic cords
- raise a toothbrush off the sink
- weigh down the edge of a shower curtain
- seal up non-resealable bags (chips/crisps, loose tea leaves, etc)
- hang clothes up to dry (obviously 😉)
While not as multi-purpose as the other tools on this list, a Spork can be used to:
- eat anything for which you'd need a spoon or fork
- stir beverages or soups
- comb/fluff your hair
- cut soft fruit
-retrieve small items from a pail of water of indeterminate quality (just be sure to sanitize the spork afterward)
Mini bungee cords are handy to:
- serve as an emergency belt
- stretch across a doorway as clothesline
- keep an auto-closing sliding door open
- add extra layer of security to a bag/backpack in crowded areas
- bundle things in a towel (sunblock, cover-up, book, etc go in a beach towel then, fold it up and secure it with a bungee cord)
- secure your door from the inside (sort of like a sliding chain lock)
There you have it, the 5 most useful travel items I take with me. I hope this list helps you prepare for your trip. I'd love to hear some other uses for these items or what items you find essential, so leave a comment below.
Peace, love, and travel!
