I've taken solo trips to 22 different countries — here are the 9 things I never travel without

I prefer to bring a 55-liter backpack as my main piece of luggage on almost every trip.

It makes my life so much easier when I'm traveling to multiple locations since walking to a bus stop, heading to an airport, or strolling through a city is far more manageable with a backpack than it is with a suitcase.

A 55-liter backpack is also great for air travel. It fits many airlines' requirements for carry-on bags, which can save me a lot of money.

However, policies vary by airline, and travelers might have to check backpacks or pay extra to bring them on planes if they're flying on a budget airline.

I keep my valuables and essentials inside a collapsible daypack that I can fold to fit inside my full-size backpack. It's great to carry when I'm exploring cities and going on daytime hikes.

Whenever I fly, I remove the daypack from the backpack and put it underneath the seat in front of me.

It's also nice having this daypack with me on crowded trains or buses because I can keep my important items close to me while my backpack might be stored in another area.

For the most part, I prioritize function over fashion when I pack clothing for trips. However, that doesn't mean I never make space for nice outfits.

I find it important to bring versatile clothes and shoes that serve numerous purposes and work with multiple outfits.

My bag always has a couple of T-shirts or tank tops, a sweater or fleece, a puffy jacket, and a rain jacket. I leave the puffy jacket out if I travel to a tropical climate.

These layers are essential if I'm traveling through various climates. Temperatures can also vary throughout the day, so I make sure to have plenty of garments that will keep me warm. 

As for shoes, I limit myself to bringing a maximum of three pairs and prioritize comfort. I pack a pair of flip-flops or hiking sandals, tennis shoes or trail runners, and comfortable boots that can double as more dressy shoes.

I can roll my compact microfiber towel into a cylinder the size of a water bottle.

I bring it on every trip, whether I'm vacationing at the beach, hiking to a lake, or picnicking in a city.

These towels are lightweight and dry in less time than normal bath towels. It's nice to have one when I camp or stay somewhere that doesn't provide complimentary towels.

Because of its convenient size, it's easy to throw it in my daypack ahead of an adventure.

A first-aid kit is a must-have travel item. Though I always hope I won't need to use it, it's convenient to have with me and comes in handy for simple things.

I carry ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and Benadryl in the kit. Although these over-the-counter medications are easy to get at many pharmacies, it's much easier to have them in my backpack. Plus, it saves me from having to run out and find them when I'm traveling.

Bandages, Neosporin, alcohol wipes, gauze, and medical tape are also great supplies to have at my disposal. My kit also has a small pair of medical scissors, fingernail clippers, tweezers, and duct tape — supplies I use on every single one of my trips.

My Garmin inReach Mini is a small satellite device that allows me to text and communicate without cellphone service. 

Thanks to this device, I can contact friends and family who are back home, sending them safety updates and tagging my exact coordinates. 

The device also has a feature that sends alerts to emergency-response coordination centers, which is one of the quickest ways to receive help when I can't use my phone.

As a woman who often travels alone, this device has been a game changer on hikes, road trips, and international adventures.

When I started traveling internationally, I was disturbed by the number of plastic water bottles I saw tourists use.

I've always done my best to carry a reusable water bottle, and when I was in a place where I couldn't drink the tap water, I'd buy gallons of fresh water to keep it filled.

A few years ago, I bought SteriPEN's UV water filter, and it's been a lifesaver.

The rechargeable device is supposed to help "filter" bacteria and viruses out of drinking water, making it a great addition to my travel bag. I use it to purify tap water and water from rivers that I want to drink during hikes.

It's a bit pricey (about $130) and may not be for everyone, but I've found it to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than repeatedly buying bottled water.

I like to hold books and flip through their pages, so it took me a while to buy an e-reader.

The more trips I took with physical books in tow, the more I realized how heavy they were. And the faster I read my books, the more I had to buy.

After purchasing a Kindle, I wasn't disappointed. I can buy a new book whenever I want, and the device weighs significantly less than the multiple books I used to carry.

Whether I'm riding a bus for a long time, sitting around an airport without the proper power adapter, or spending a day outside taking pictures on my phone, it's nice to have a reliable power source.

I used to carry around a small battery pack that could charge my phone a couple of times. Now, I have a more powerful one that weighs about a pound.

It can refill my phone's battery around 10 times before dying, and the device also charges my Kindle, water filter, and camera battery.

This story was originally published on March 13, 2023, and most recently updated on October 21, 2024.