Xero C.Tim O’Brien wrote, in his book “The Things They Carried, “What they carried varied by mission… If a mission seemed especially hazardous, or if it involved a place they knew to be bad, they carried everything they could.” I used to feel that way when I was packing for a trip. It felt like I needed to pack my bag with everything I could possibly need. The end result was it seemed like I had to carry my whole house with me to feel secure and prepared. However, over my years of travel — both on brief and protracted trips, be they for business or pleasure — I have narrowed down my list of travel items to the absolute essentials. If you are looking to lean down your list of must-pack items, then this list may be for you.
Hand Sanitizer
Wherever you’re going, you are going to want clean hands when you get there. Let’s say you are going on a flight, or on a camping trip. Think of all the dirty things you are going to come into contact with that you really rather wouldn’t have. The door handle of the stall at the airport restroom; the muddy log you had to move when setting up your tent; the hand of an overeager taxi driver or concierge. That is where a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer comes in handy. When your hands are feeling dirty and a sink is out of reach, you will be glad you have it.
Dry Food
What are we without our snacks? Hungry, grumpy, and unpleasant, that’s what. Moreover, we are unprepared to survive if the worst were to happen. Imagine you get lost, or your car breaks down, in the middle of nowhere. You think best and have the most energy when your body is fueled with food. Or, in a less severe example, imagine you are someplace where the food is truly awful, and your only recourse is to bite the bullet on a neglected gas station hot dog or eat some of the dry rations you have brought with you. The point is, you are going to want to have a day’s supply of dry food with you no matter what. If you can’t take it with you on your trip (be it an overseas voyage where food imports are controlled), then you will want to acquire some when you get there.
Pepper or Bear Spray
I am going to begin this section with a caveat. If you are traveling within urban areas, then yes, pepper spray makes the most sense as a portable, easily accessible means of self-defense. You can pull it out in a pinch and use it to break free from someone wishing to do you harm. However, if you are in the woods, camping in some remote area, and are potentially subject to attacks by wildlife, you are going to want some bear spray. For reference, bear spray contains 2% capsaicin, whereas the strongest pepper spray only has about 1.3%. The difference in power is palpable, and you are going to want every bit of power you can get if you are needing to ward off large predators like bears and mountain lions.
Nail Clippers
No one likes to have long, unmanaged nails. Few people want to look like a scraggly old wizard who casts spells on unsuspecting victims. However, apart from keeping your nails short and tidy, nail clippers are also super handy for cutting loose threads and opening bags and containers.
Phone Battery Pack
Whether you are sporting an iPhone or an Android, you are going to want to be packing an extra battery pack. The last thing you want is your main lifeline — your phone, flashlight, emergency tracking device, and entertainment doomscrolling device — to be without power when you most need it. An extra battery pack lets you get the most juice out of your technology, and will help you find help or respite in a pinch.
Conclusion
You don’t have to consolidate the contents of your house into your travel bag. As fun and magical as that sounds, it is completely impractical and will just weigh you down. Instead, try to bring only the essentials. What is most important for you might be different, but for me, I don’t leave the house without hand sanitizer, dry food, pepper or bear spray, nail clippers, and a spare phone battery pack. For more helpful tips and musings, check out our other blogs!
