BootsnAll Travel Community

- a very specific conditioner for my hair that I cant live without
- books to read
- pair of heels, cuz you never know lol

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Originally posted by Miamc:

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3. bop-it!-a little bulky, but fun to play in airports

2. Laptop. I'm not a backpacker. I can always find room for my little Sony Vaio, or preferably my 15" Mac. This is my journal -- I type much faster than I write. And it's awfully convenient for inter-trip planning when I find a wi-fi zone.

Mia

I'm with you on that one, Mia - I never go on a trip, no matter how big or small, without my battered ASUS laptop. Sadly, we're joined at the hip.
I too use it as my journal, and for generating dispatches from the road. Its just so easy to type rather than scribble - at least i think so anyway.
It also saves so much time when it comes to internet cafes, as you never have to be couped up for too long. Cheaper too, as you don't have to spend so much in internet cafes (i conveniently forget about the initial outlay for the laptop! haha)
I put a laptop as an essential now, although, deep down, I know that it isn't essential...
I'm jsut a deluded, geeky individual, and I wouldn't want it any other way!
Thanks for the replies so far, folks...I think I'll have to dedicate a post on the blog to the craziest non-essential items. Keep 'em coming!
Thanks, Nath

Burt Bees Travel Products
Lavender (makes EVERYthing smell good & helps me fall asleep) XXL Scarf to multifunction as anything i.e. head wrap, pillow case, cover, wrap, picnic blanket, etc . . .

1. Cameras- 2 of them. 1 is all-weather and I don't have to worry if I drop it in water, sand, snow etc.

2. lip balm, I'm obsessed!

3. New bag. I have this bag/purse fetish. Daypacks are ok, but I prefer something along the lines of a messanger bag. I just haven't found the perfect one yet!

I guess thats a fair call on 2 cameras, canuck girl - Although digital cameras are pretty neat (almost indispensable, I'd asy!) they can get trashed soooo easily.

My girlfriend trashed her last one when we went out in the dunes in the sahara last month. We literally just went out for an afternoon walk and mess about taking a few photos as we went and we cam eback with a bust camera.

it was the afternoon and the wind (and sand) had picked up a little and it was enough to find its way into the shutter. Doh! I wish your reply had been before we left - we may have been able to take more photos then! lol

canuck - you might like the bags by Timbuk2. I have a smaller messenger bag, and it is awesome. I can put my two cameras, a longsleeve shirt, water, journal, and $$ in it, and it all fits no prob!
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/totes/metro

1. mascara
2. heels (agree w/violet--you never know!)
3. something purse-ish, rather than the ever-present backpack, because sometimes it's good NOT to look like you just rolled out of a hammock.

...Wow. I'm not actually as girly as the above makes me seem. Pretty low-key, actually. But the questions was un-necessities (and, okay, my eyelashes are invisible, so mascara's practically a necessity for me).

1) some comfy PJ's
2) my arnica massage oil
and
3) Grumpy my care bear!!!

Trekker

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3. New bag. I have this bag/purse fetish. Daypacks are ok, but I prefer something along the lines of a messanger bag. I just haven't found the perfect one yet!

When I lived in London and traveled from there I had a fabulous brown corduroy messenger bag from the French Connection. I loved it, not too big, not too small. However it was not made to travel and after about 4 months the corduroy began to wear of the back, at the end of 6 months it was practically see through.

For my RTW i've decided to go with the Eagle Creek guide bag in black. It's got a lot of different compartments and is a great size.

1. Journal
2. Camera
3. MP3 player (I wouldn't be able to survive the plane trips without it.) It has a digital recorder which has been great to record music that I hear traveling.

re the search for the perfect bag:
I adore my Chrome bags http://www.chromebags.com/
Their messenger bags are bomb-proof but it is the messenger pack that I think is amazing. I use it for cycling, travel - just about anywhere.

ok ok, I am going to discount things like camera, journal, alarm clock, sunscreen and tissues(if travelling somewhere where they are not provided at public places) because that to me is necessary.

my list:
1) hairdryer- I don't call myself an extreme girly girl, but I easily get head colds if I go out with wet hair...
2) earplugs- great for adjusting to different sleeping conditions (loud fans, insects, or snorers in your hostel room) and jetlag
3) granola bars- I have found them to be invaluable if I am super hungry and can't go out to eat

I always have some small things to bring when traveling, the followings top the lists:-
(1)Sunglasses- the glare can be so strong up 37,000 feet in the plane when the window shades are not closed. A snowy day in the winter is another good reason for the glasses.
(2)Eye drops - for dry eyes naturally!
(3)Baseball cap/hat - a must for all seasons!
As I grow older, the lists may get longer!

journal
camera
jewelry (small and can really dress up an outfit, if need be!)

Hmm... good question! I would have to say:

- Credit-card sized calculator
- Lip balm (I can't live without it!)
- Ziplock bags

~ Jenney

1. Camera: Absolutely essential for posting trip reports. Makes sight-seeing more enjoyable IMO. Ideally small enough to be carried in a pocket, yet with manual controls (shutter / aperature priority) and video recording capability.

2. Radio: This might seem like a strange one, but either when traveling either domestically or internationally I love to be able to scan the dial and see what stations I can pick up, both on FM and AM (medium-wave). There's nothing like tuning the AM dial on a cool, quiet night in remote upper elevations of Costa Rica and checking out what you can hear.

3. Cell Phone: If in U.S. or Canada and travelling solo (or not), this is very nice. I loved being able to get in touch with home from New York at any time that pleased me, and I'm sure my mother (the first time I've been away from home solo) appreciated it as well.

Of course, U.S. cell phones are practically useless in Europe, and planning a possible trip to Spain and Morocco I don't think one would be worth the expense. Phone cards should do the trick.

Jacob, I like the idea of the radio. I travelled with a tiny radio for a while and loved it. I know what you mean about twiddling the dial and waiting to see what you can find - it truly can and another dimension to the place you are in.

1. makeup
2. mobile phone (I have an unlocked GSM phone)
3. ipod

But, then again, you can find a lot of things in my purse (nevermind my backpack!) that most people consider unnecessary! I'm that person who always has the random thing you need when you don't actually expect someone to have it... paperclips, needle/thread, tiny saline samples, utensils, compass, flashlight, tp, clothesline... you name it!

I know this will sound bizarre, but I can't imagine traveling with my beads. I'm a bead artist and derive an enormous amount of pleasure from my itty-bitty seed beads. I carry with me a small container with about 15 different kinds of beads and really, really enjoy hanging out in our tent on rainy days, or relaxing in the evenings after a hard day of cycling with my beads.

and of course - a camera and journal are essentials as well.

my three things, hmm.

1. my keyring swiss army knife. I've had it with me everywhere I've been, (including many many post 9/11 planes,) and I never leave home without it. It's the most useful thing I've ever owned.

2. Hammock. Once you start sleeping in one, you'll never go back to camping on the ground.

3. I guess my walkman phone. Even if I don't get a sim card for the country, it's still a MP3 player, camera, alarm clock, calculator, notepad, and many other little things that are very useful to just have around.

And about the sewing kits, I always have one with me as well, but I've used them countless times. you never know when a needle and thread will come in handy.

1. Mascara and eyelash curler

2. Travel clothesline

3. A little teddy bear that is about 10cm tall. I got given it as a going away present when I went off on my first solo trip overseas. It's my little mascot now and I take a photo it in every country I visit.