Apple AirPods Pro - Small, lightweight, and it has noise cancellation. Absolutely clutch when wanting to cut out the cabin noise on the airplane and the occasional snorer in the hostel. The longest battery life is only about 4-5 hours, but it’s enough to get you back into your slumber. I used these every single day. Sleeping, working, commuting, everything. I’m so glad I brought these with me and I will never travel without them.
Toothpaste Tablets - Discovered these at a craft fair in Bangkok when shopping for Christmas gifts for my family. I thought it may have been gimmicky, but after trying it once, I absolutely loved it. It’s so much easier than toothpaste. Just pop one in your mouth, chew it a couple times until it foams up and then just brush your teeth like normal.
Hanging Toiletry Bag - This was a huge upgrade from the crappy little mesh bag I’ve been using for the past 6 years that didn’t even have separate compartments. I got this after my friend recommended it as the best toiletry bag he’s ever used and I couldn’t agree more. It’s designed with so many separate compartments which makes organization a breeze. The built-in hook is super convenient, and it also comes in many different colors to fit your style.
Anker PowerPort Cube - You usually encounter two problems when traveling. Not enough outlets, or for some reason, there isn’t enough space to plug your device in properly. This powerport gives you 4 outlets and 3 USB plugs. It’s designed so that if you have an awkwardly shaped device (like those giant apple mags), there will still be enough space to plug in. Comes with a velcro strap to keep the cable tidy and is a lifesaver when I have to charge multiple things at once.
Lacie 4 TB Hard Drive - Not the smallest but easy to use, fast, and impact resistant. You probably don’t need two 4TB hard drives like me, but I shoot a lot of video, and having an extra backup lets me sleep better at night. I also like that they’re bright orange so they’re easy to find.
Black Diamond Spot Head Lamp - I’ve always used these when traveling. They come in most handy when you need to dig through your luggage in the dark in your hostel dorm and you don’t want to wake everyone up. It has also come in handy when I’m riding a bicycle at night, or doing any sort of hiking activity that involves going into darker areas like a cave. Also, sometimes hostel beds won’t have an individual light, so the headlamp can be used as a lamp as well. This one also has the option of adjusting the brightness which is nice.
Patagonia Nano-Air Jacket - It’s soft, lightweight, has a hoodie in case you get caught in the rain, and the pockets have zippers so you never have to worry about your personal items falling out. It makes going throuhg airport security a breeze because I can just dump everything in the pockets, zip them up, and throw the entire jacket through the scanner. It can also be packed anywhere + turn into a pillow. It’s not cheap, but a very worthwhile investment.
Daily Contact Lenses - I wear contact lenses, I used to use monthly ones where I’d have to carry around a contact lens case and solution. That was troublesome because it not only takes up more space, but sometimes it’s hard to find contact solution! With dailies, you never have that problem. Daily contact lenses can also be easily found and purchased in many places in Asia which is also a plus.
Tarp Bag for Dirty Laundry - It’s just easier to have a separate compartment for your dirty laundry. This one is very compact, and has a draw string to keep everything in place. It makes doing my laundry super easy and also keeps my luggage nice and organized. Otherwise, i might accidentally wear the same dirty clothes twice, which i’ve done before. Gross, I know.
Apple iPhone - I brought my laptop and barely used it. My iPhone was absolutely necessary to easily finding all the places I wanted to go. Make sure it’s unlocked and you will have no problem buying a SIM card and getting internet service wherever you are in the world.
by Jason Lam