Travel Essentials: 4 Items Every World Traveller Should Be Packing
4 Essential Items for World Travel, based on 30 years experience through 105 countries.
1. LifeSystems Mosquito Net
LifeSystems mosquito net in use in Sudan and Guatemala:
I couldn't imagine travelling without a mosquito net. So this is number 1 on my list of essential travel items that every world traveller should be packing.
I am using a LifeSystems Solo BoxNet. I favour this over the wedge-shaped net where the net will always be touching your feet and the net which hangs from a single point.
I am using a LifeSystems Solo BoxNet. I favour this over the wedge-shaped net where the net will always be touching your feet and the net which hangs from a single point.
2. SnugPak Sleeping bag
My go-to sleeping bag is a SnugPak 'Softie 3'. It weighs just 900g, packs down fairly small and has a paratex light inner. So much more comfortable than nylon.
I have used this particular bag since 2005. Before that, I had a slightly heavier bag also made by SnugPak.
Hostels these days provide sheets, back in the day they didn't always (old habits die hard and cheap hotels do not always change the bedding after each guest. Or just provide blankets and no clean top sheet. And it gets chilly in a lot of hot places at night.
So having a sleeping bag with me at all times is a must!
You can buy the Snugpak Sleeping Bag from Military Kit in the UK.
I have used this particular bag since 2005. Before that, I had a slightly heavier bag also made by SnugPak.
Hostels these days provide sheets, back in the day they didn't always (old habits die hard and cheap hotels do not always change the bedding after each guest. Or just provide blankets and no clean top sheet. And it gets chilly in a lot of hot places at night.
So having a sleeping bag with me at all times is a must!
You can buy the Snugpak Sleeping Bag from Military Kit in the UK.
3. EarPlugs
We all need a good nights sleep and with earplugs, you can cancel out (most of) the noise of snorers, couples making out, dogs, chickens and drunk backpackers. The real issue here is sourcing good quality ones. Those foam/rubber ones are particularly useless. I am using 3M earplugs but they become less effective quicker than they used to.
4. Betadine
Betadine® Solution is a topical aqueous solution of 10% povidone-iodine.
I always buy mine in Malaysia. 2 drops will purify 1 litre of water.
In places where tap water is unfit to drink and purified water in large quantities is not available like it is in Mexico, Guatemala or Cambodia, buying small bottles of water every day sure adds to the cost and not to mention adding to the out of control plastic waste.
I tried to get some in the UK once:
The pharmacist asked me what for.
"To purify water",
"You can use Puritabs"
"Puritabs do not kill Giardia!"
Iodine can also be put on cuts and grazes where there is a risk of infection.
I always buy mine in Malaysia. 2 drops will purify 1 litre of water.
In places where tap water is unfit to drink and purified water in large quantities is not available like it is in Mexico, Guatemala or Cambodia, buying small bottles of water every day sure adds to the cost and not to mention adding to the out of control plastic waste.
I tried to get some in the UK once:
The pharmacist asked me what for.
"To purify water",
"You can use Puritabs"
"Puritabs do not kill Giardia!"
Iodine can also be put on cuts and grazes where there is a risk of infection.
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