Minimalist Packing: Two Decades of Constant International Travel Has Whittled Me Down to These Essentials
Don’t pack very much. And make sure that the few things you do pack are excellent and will serve your needs—here’s what we suggest.
packing light
How to Travel with Lube—and Our Guide to the Best Packable Personal Lubricants
Recommendations for lubes that are packable (and won’t leak!), whether in packets or travel-friendly tubes, as well as a chart to ensure lubes that are compatible with toys and healthy bodies
How to Travel with Lube—and Our Guide to the Best Packable Personal Lubricants Read More »
Stuff we’re currently testing—the good, the bad, and the we dunno yet
Travel gear we’re testing right now: health kit, luggage, clothing, electronics and long-stay gear. What we love, what we hate, and what’s undecided.
Stuff we’re currently testing—the good, the bad, and the we dunno yet Read More »
On the Snobbish, Obtuse Evil of Travelling with Portable Coffee Gear
The best portable gear for making great coffee in foreign lands is a horror show and you are wrong for even thinking of doing such a thing.
On the Snobbish, Obtuse Evil of Travelling with Portable Coffee Gear Read More »
Experienced Travellers Inevitably Go Minimalist
The more experienced travelers get, the less they carry. Why seasoned travelers inevitably go minimalist, and what they leave behind.
Experienced Travellers Inevitably Go Minimalist Read More »
Our Reviewers’ Picks of Underrated, Useful Travel Gear
Can You Plug All Your Devices into a Single Foreign Socket?
Want enough juice for a USB-C laptop without its charging brick? Want to charge a phone and tablet too? Plus plug in any other electrical device? And use all the weirdly shaped electro-holes in any wall in the world or under a train seat? A universal charger is the answer; we've tried tons and this is our favorite. It can fast-charge phones and laptops with 3 USB-C and 2 USB-A charging ports and it comes with a spare fuse.
Do You Shake, Bump, and Jiggle Everywhere You Roam?
We use our favorite road speaker to animate small parties, indoors or outdoors, anywhere in the world. At just the size of a tall beer can, the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 sounds impressive and has solid bass, especially when placed on a hard surface in the center of the room. We have smaller, even more portable picks (though not as loud) in our review.
Shouldn't You Be Able to Squish Your Water Bottle into a Pocket-Sized Disc?
Having a water bottle that I can fold up flat makes me more motivated to actually use it everywhere I go and to stay hydrated. Hydaway makes the only durable, food-grade silicone (non-BPA, non-plastic) ones we've found.
Can You Roll Your Backpack?
Rolling luggage is great except when you hit trails, metro stairs, or cobblestone streets. Backpacks are fine but who wants to carry them for long? We currently recommend this Osprey model that's a bit pricey but extremely sturdy, full-featured, and has been at my side for years on the road.
Don't Take Up Table Space! Don't Dump Your Stuff on the Floor!
Hang a bag at any café table. Don't take up your hosts' shelf space in the bathroom. Keep your pack off of the floor in a busy hostel. If you have a Heroclip on the strap of a pack, suitcase, carry-on, or purse, you'll use it all the freaking time for all sorts of things.
A Discrete, Portable, Not-at-All-Messy Way to Have Good Lube on Hand?
Good lube can be essential for safer sex, but unfortunately most lube packaging is not road-worthy. One of our sexpert's favorite silicone-based and ultra-body-safe lubes comes in an excellent travel version. In our guide we also detail a few other travel and daily-carry water-based options, as well as how to discuss lube across cultures.
