Be Comfortable and Functional

There’s a plethora of travel must-have lists online, however, what you’ll find here is truly practical and functional recommendations. Despite all the wonderful characteristics travelling can also be an uncomfortable experience. Sometimes that uncomfortable experience is part of the allure: the culture shock, the widening of horizons, new cultural practices, foreign languages, and exotic food.  My advice cannot prevent one feeling awkward in a new environment, nor would I necessarily want to. However, I can recommend items I know will allow you to focus on the destination and not your unnecessarily wet feet. Here’s a list of my favourite travel must-haves for the most comfortable and practical travel experience.

1. Practical Footwear

If there’s one piece of advice you take away from this post let it be this: there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. And in my opinion this starts with footwear. First and foremost one needs a comfortable shoe that can be worn all day. Look for shoes with good foot beds. I have no problem spending a bit more on quality shoes and taking them to a cobbler when they need to be repaired. If you would never contemplate paying to repair your shoes maybe consider where they come from and whose making them. Not to mention your poor feet. Walking all day on cobblestone can be done, just not in flats from Ardene’s.

Next consider the climate of your destination. Does it rain a lot? Investing in a 100% waterproof shoe, like the stylish sneakers made by Vessi, may be worth it. Is it a cold destination? Sorel is a Canadian footwear brand that knows cold. And the snow boots I own from them are chic enough that I reach for them regularly in the winter even when it’s not snowing. If you’re going to a beach destination make sure to have one pair of sandals that are slip on so as to easily get in and out of them. On the other hand, if your destination is merely hot, make sure to have sandals that strap you in. Having footwear that your feet slip and slide out of is not fun.

Pack Shoes Logically

How many shoes you take on your destination is completely up to you and your luggage size. I typically pack three pairs and wear the bulkiest on the plane or travel portion so as not to take up room in my bag. After spending your hard earned cash and vacation hours, who wants to be distracted by sore, wet, cold, or blistered feet instead of enjoying the destination?

2. Travel Clothes Line

One of my most used travel accessories has to be the travel clothes line we were gifted one Christmas. The item itself is super small and so will take up virtually no room in your luggage. Whether you’re travelling for a mere weekend camp trip or a month long adventure you’ll find use in this item. Ours is the Sea to Summit Lite Line but there are many models out there. A hook on either end of a long looped cord means you can hang this up almost anywhere.

I’ve never been on a trip where I didn’t do laundry. Whether that was a whole load or hand washing one soiled item. Having somewhere to hang it up other than the back of a chair is ideal. Both for the furniture (wood finishes can be damaged from prolonged exposure to wetness) and for the drying time. Drying something hanging in the air is significantly faster than drying it on another surface. Our was so well loved that when we exactly left it hung up between two trees while camping we bought a replacement. I hope whoever scored the campsite after us enjoys their new pre-loved travel clothes line.

3. Silicone Travel Bottle Set

This tip will not come as a revelation to most but is worth mentioning in case you’re still using any other travel toiletry set. These silicone toiletry bottles hit the market a few years back. And the reason why you’ve seen them pop-up everywhere is because they’re superior to other plastic travel sets. The squeezable silicone body allows you to get almost every drop out of whatever it is that you’ve packed. And I’ve yet to have a leak with one of these bottles. They come in many sizes to accommodate anything you need to bring. I’ve even used these squeeze bottles to pack small amounts of condiments and cook oil for camping trips.

My only warning would be to avoid ones found at the dollar store. After purchasing my first Eagle Creek set I was looking for a few more size variations but wanted to save a bit on the cost. The seal on one of my dollar store tubes broke off during one cleaning and well, you get what you pay for. The London Drugs brand silicone travel tubes are much higher quality and cheaper than Eagle Creek so it is possible to find these travel-must haves on a budget.

4. Practical Day Bag

In my opinion, the traveler needs a bag specifically intended for day use that fits more needs then the typical purse or backpack they might use at home. You may be a seasoned commuter who can easily convert your day bag for travel use but I think most people will need to seek out a bag for the intended use.

There are so many day bags out there that no matter your style or needs you should be able to find what you need.  This day bag could be a purse, a sling, or a backpack however, you should have some hard rules when choosing. Here are a couple of things to look for on your search:

• Room for a water bottle or dedicated water bottle holder.
• Multiple compartments and zippers inside the bag to keep money, cards, electronics, and other items separated. You don’t want to pull out your phone and drop your credit card on the ground.

• A protected zipper or pocket that is preferably only accessible by the wearer or on the side of the bag against the wearer’s body.  This should be used to keep ultra-valuables safe like your passport or cash.
• A complete closure. Bags that don’t fully zip-up and close are a no-go. You don’t want to make it any easier for pick-pockets by wearing a bag they can easily slip their hand into.
• A neutral colour means you can wear this day bag with any clothing choices. However, feel free to break this rule if you’re the type of person who likes loud.

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5. Comfortable Underwear

I’m not just talking about comfortable underwear I’m talking about underwear that provide a service. And why shouldn’t your unmentionables leave you better than they found you? If you’re like me and have had many an ill-timed UTI or yeast infection you’ll agree that the right underwear is invaluable. For women, I can think of few things worse than sitting on a pleather seat for more than 5 hrs straight in unbreathable Lycra tights. Or, having your moon time catch you unawares on some guided tour in a foreign city. As for men, I can’t speak from experience but I can recommend some stellar underwear that my package-carrying friends have boasted about.

Antimicrobial Huha Women’s Underwear

Huha is a brand that creates underwear I’m a big fan of. The fabric is cellulose derived and infused with anti-microbial zinc oxide for healthy parts. Common underwear fabrics like nylon and polyester don’t breath and trap moisture which lead to bacteria growth. Huha fabric is more breathable than even cotton.  According to the founders, “unlike other antimicrobial finishing treatments, our fibers are permanently embedded with very high purity pharmaceutical Zinc Oxide during the spinning stage.” Even after 100 washes the zinc oxide is still found in the fabric. Just make sure to air dry to ensure longevity. I swear by these underwear and reach for them first in my underwear drawer.

Leak-proof Knix Women’s Underwear

Knix is a company that creates leak proof underwear designed with your comfort in mind. Their fabric is completely different than Huha but I wear them for period-proof protection. They have a quick-dry, anti-odor gusset and can absorb up to 3 tsp of liquid. Perfect for extra protection on heavy days, on their own for light days, or overnight. They also have underwear designed to be used alone on your heaviest days. Most of their leak-proof underwear comes in a variety of styles so you’re not limited to full-bottom. Because of these undies I have no need to buy another pad in my life.  And fucking hooray for that!  And even after many uses and washes, the fabric is still unstained and looks almost new.

Both companies are ones I’m proud to share and recommend. Canadian and female-founded, both have an eye for sustainability which is important to me. But I haven’t forgotten about those of you who don’t need to worry about PH balances.

Saxx Men’s Underwear

Fittingly, the founder of Saxx began their search for the most comfortable undie on a fishing trip. They knew there had to be a better way than enduring the effects of chafing, moistness, and friction down south. Saxx underwear have a patented BallPark Pouch that keeps everything in place. There is no exposed stitching in the pouch and it’s made of breathable mesh material. This way, people with male anatomy know their underwear wasn’t an afterthought.

I may sound crazy for spending so much time talking about underwear. However, according to Saxx founder, underwear is “the foundation of a comfortable and distraction-free day” and I couldn’t agree more. Don’t let ill-made, odor-inducing undies ruin your trip. I promise you one of these products will make you a believer that comfortable underwear is a travel must-have for any traveler.

6. Immune System Boost

Traveling to a new place means new to your immune system too. In addition to unmet viruses and bacteria in your host country, there is the dreaded but inevitable sick passenger on your arrival flight. Several hours locked in a cabin with recycled air means the game of roulette is not on your side. How can you arm yourself to come out unscathed? Well, I can’t guarantee you won’t catch whatever is circulating the plane, but you can give your immune system a fighting chance. I take Nuun immunity tablets before a flight. This tablet that dissolves in water contains a myriad of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, C, D, E, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, elderberry extract, ginger, and turmeric.

Nuun is not the only brand that creates a product like this but it is the one I prefer. In my opinion it tastes better than Emergen C and is readily available at my local grocery stores. If we carry one habit forward from Covid-19 times, I hope it is the culture of wearing masks when appropriate. Specifically, when one is sick they should be wearing a mask to protect those around them and I hope this continues specifically on plane travel. I don’t expect anyone to cancel a flight for a cold they’ll endure for a few days, but I think we’d all appreciate if they attempted to protect others from their illness.

7. Packing Cubes

I had actually finished writing this list when I realized I had forgotten one of my most used items: packing cubes! For my partner and I, these are a level-up when it comes to packing. Packing cubes are rectangle, zippered, 3-D bags designed to help you optimally organize your luggage. They are also made of a slippery tent-like material so they slip in and out of your bag easily. Ideally, you would have packing cubes in different colours and organize your clothing by type, packing all your bottoms in one, tops in another, etc.. This way when you’re looking for a specific item you can easily and quickly retrieve it from your luggage. Continually, they’re great for keeping your dirty clothes separated from the clean.

My Osprey travel backpack fits four large MEC packing cubs perfectly. They can also help you limit what to bring. If I cannot fit all my bottoms in my ‘bottoms cube’ then I have to make some cuts. As with the silicone travel bottles, you get what you pay for. I picked up a pack at a dollar store and not only is the material not as slippery but the zippers regularly get caught. My sets from MEC are of great quality and the zipper never catches.

And there you have it!

My list of must-have travel items that any traveler needs for comfortable travel. None of the brands mentioned in this article have sponsored this post in any way. Every brand or product I endorsed in this entry was purchased with my own money and recommended after my own use.

What are your travel-must haves that you cannot live with-out? What is your number one most underrated travel must-have you think everyone should know about? Drop your recommendations in the comments.

All my relations,

– Shauna