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I'm
not selling any of these products, this is only a collection of impressions
about some of the things I have traveled with, or plan to travel with.
As I use them, I will add updates. Remember that not all items are appropriate
for all travels, and the importance of packing light cannot be overstated:
when in doubt, leave it out! Where practical, I have added
links to manufacturers or retailers for anyone who wants more information.
Text
in GREEN has been added since my latest trip.
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Spray
Bottle |
A simple little spray bottle
filled with water, but oh, what a comfort it is on long flights. A spritz
of fine mist in the face combats that dry air, and is so refreshing.
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A simple
but necessary tool.
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Hairbrush |
Travel
hairbrush, it folds flat; very handy, but these brushes are prone
to breakage, so you have to be gentle with it. Yes,
this broke again, despite my gentle handling, but darn it,
I went out an bought another one, because nothing else is so compact.
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Emery Board & Orange Stick
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Keeping nails
clean and smooth is a priority (especially toenails, which are essential
to comfortable walking).
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Safety Razor |
I
try not to worry overmuch about shaving, but it's good to have where
the weather is warm and I want to feel sleek again.
I'd advise taking one to start with, and buying more when you need
them, since they're not expensive and easily available.
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Menstrual
Cup
Instead |
A less-well-known alternative
to tampons and pads, the cup is something to think about if you don't
want to carry around mounds of supplies. I like the cups because I can
wear them longer and I stay cleaner with them. But no solution is perfect,
so I am taking a selection of supplies for maximum flexibility.
These worked great, and were much less bulky than other methods. Do
try them out before you go, they take some getting used to and they
are not the best solution for everyone.
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Panty
Liners |
Aside
from their primary function, these are nice to have when you run out
of clean underwear and need to make do with what you have.
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Supplies
for "that special time," these tampons have no applicators
to add bulk and fill landfills, and they are made from organic cotton
(cotton is normally grown with pesticides, herbicides and fungicides)
and are not bleached with chlorine.
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Cotton
Swabs |
Creature
comfort or necessity, I like to have some handy in my toiletries bag,
and buy more when I run out.
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They
call this "Hi-Tech" dental floss, which makes it sound like
they've embedded little computer chips in it. Whatever, it does glide
easily between teeth, and can serve as emergency mending thread in a
pinch.
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Travel
Toothbrush |
This
toothbrush comes apart to store in its own ventilated handle. Even
with ventilation, the case got moldy over time...
eventually I just used the brush part, and stored it in the open mesh
pocket on the front of my toiletries case -- perhaps not the most
hygienic practice. Does anyone out there have a better solution?
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Rick
Steves likes to suggest that you take just a little toothpaste to
get you started and "look forward to running out of toothpaste
in Bulgaria. Then you have the perfect excuse to go into a Bulgarian
department store, shop around, and pick up something you think might
be toothpaste..."
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Tongue
Scraper |
Little plastic device given
to me by my beloved dental hygienist, it aids in the often overlooked
final step to a really clean mouth.
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Gum
Pick |
More oral hygeine...gets
in where a brush can miss, and works well as a stop-gap measure in between
brushings.
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Contact Lens Solutions
Boston
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Rinsing/soaking
solution, cleaning solution, once-a-week enzymatic cleaner, and rewetting
drops...no wonder people tend to prefer glasses to contacts on long
journeys! I'm seriously considering vision-correcting
laser surgery...
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Waterproof, sweat proof, with spf of 45. Somehow
I still managed to get burned.
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The big news with this is an advanced time-released formula
which allows for a high concentration of DEET for maximum effectiveness
paired with a less noxious wearing experience. I would really rather
not have to deal with something as poisonous as this, but it is preferable
to a bout of malaria. Not necessary for my Europe
trip, but will be important in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
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Blister
Protection/
Sunscreen
BodyGlide |
Designed for endurance
athletes, this is a lifesaver for anyone who faces trouble with skin
chaffing, be it to preventing blisters from ill-fitting shoes
or inner thighs rubbing together. On days when I wore skirts
and did lots of walking, especially in sweaty or humid conditions,
one application in the morning when dressing lasted all day long.
The version pictured here also has an SPF 25 and can double as sunscreen
as well.
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Liquid
Soap |
Easier
to deal with than a wet bar of soap, although it probably doesn't
last as long as a bar of soap, ounce for ounce. I'm taking the middle
road, and taking a little bar and a little bottle .. I'll let you
know how it works out.
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Hair
Care
Bain de Terre |
A gift from my wonderful hairdresser, these products are very nice
to my hair. The shampoo is concentrated, the conditioner is light and
non-greasy (easy to rinse with little water) and the hair repair treatment
is the best thing I've ever found for instantly turning dry, unhappy
hair into shiny healthy hair. Due to the necessity of packing light,
I'll only be able to take a small amount of each, and I know I will
miss them when they're gone.
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Bar
Shampoo
J.R.
Ligget's |
By removing the water, bar shampoo makes sense
for lighter packing. But is it practical, and does it work as well as
regular shampoo? I will try it for a week and see...
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Hand
Sanitizer |
You
can find this stuff everywhere these days, and it's very useful for
a quick hand washing when water and soap are not an option.
When I found out that backpackers from other counties used this as
a way to spot Americans, I gave it away.
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I am so grateful
for the invention of lip balm! It seems that whenever I travel, my lips
dry out instantly. This stuff has SFP of 15, and is petroleum-free.
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This is the most practical and
effective deodorant I've ever used. It works very well, one stick will
last at least a year, its natural, non-aluminum mineral salt formula
is gentle, and it's cruelty-free. This is great
stuff, but I gave it away when I was trying to lighten my pack.
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Deodorant
Nivea |
Tiny Nivea Compact Deo spray deodorant I discovered
first in Ireland, and later in other European countries, but I
have yet to see it here in the states. Too bad, since it's
so compact, light and concentrated (a container just a little longer
than a lipstick lasts for 2 months).
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LIZ'S
TOP PICKS - EQUIPMENT
- ELECTRONICS - CLOTHING
- PERSONAL CARE - HEALTH - SUPPLIES
- LEFT BEHIND
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