Since we talked about top spots for spring travel last week, it’s probably a good time to talk about all the best things to take on those in-the-works vacations—some things for style and some for savviness.
I’m typically always on about travel products and packing tips, but I’m also typically always getting it wrong on my own travels (My mom has threatened to send me my own articles to reread as a reminder more than once). So when I had a friend visiting the other day and he opened his suitcase to reveal perfectly packed individual packing cubes (which I’ve considered in the past but always thought too complicated), I realized he was living a much less stressful travel life than me when I’m digging through my suitcase exasperated trying to find the one thing I’m looking for, which is obviously at the bottom.
It’s a scene that should never add stress to trips designed for the very purpose of not being stressed.
So here are my newfound travel must haves, things that will add easy organization to your lives and others that are just going to be fun to have on these hopefully upcoming spring and summer trips.
Packing cubes
First and foremost, I think we all need these. You can have one for tops, one for bottoms, one for dresses, dirty clothes, undergarments/socks/other unmentionables. It means you’ll only have to look one place for each thing, and when you open the cube, the item will be nicely folded considering it hasn’t been rolling around who knows where in your bag. With these Calpak ones, you can even label them so you don’t have to open them all to remember which one is which. For a less fem version, try these. calpak.com, $48 for five-pack
A sun hat
I may be particularly partial to these, having dragged my Ms. Travelbug version all over the world (including places with no sun, or beach), but they really do serve a very functional purpose other than a good photo prop: when it’s hot like a pre-war Brooklyn brownstone on the top floor with no AC, these sun hats have a beautiful way of keeping you cool enough to stay sane. Just found these fun ones and I’m into the lemons, but there’s something for everyone. carenlola.com, $105
Compression socks
These may not be first to mind when you’re busy buying fresh travel swag, but compression socks are where it’s at. Too much sitting, like in a tiny airplane seat unless you’re ballin’ enough to be flying first class (I am not), means restricted blood flow, which also means fatigue, stiffness, aching feet, maybe even blood clots if things get really bad. But the right sock can help you avoid all of that. Sure, grannies use them for varicose veins, but professional athletes also use them to boost performance. Think of yourself either way you like, but Comrad has the socks and they’re pretty cute (don’t mind the descriptor, there are options for girls and guys in varying degrees of cute). comradsocks, $18
A travel shoe
Once in a while, for those travel occasions that don’t call for bare feet on a beach, you’ll need a closed-toe shoe that’s comfortable but not necessarily a sneaker. That’s where Hobe comes in. The shoe is simple, minimal, goes with a whole lot of things, but most importantly for travel—it’s light and can fold flat. Bonus: They’re handmade using Italian shoe-making techniques. hobes.co, from $139
Travel adapter
If there’s a single greatest item I ever travel with, its my universal travel adapter from Flight001 (my favorite travel goodies store, btw). I toss this in my bag anytime I’m doing overseas travel where I’m not sure what the electric outlet situation is going to be. This. Works. For. Every. Country. And it’s handy because it packs into one nice neat puzzle cube thing. It’s also color-coded to tell you which plug to use for which country. What makes the newest version of the adapter better than the previous version I have, is the USB port. It means you won’t have to decide whether it’s more important to charge your phone or your computer or your camera. You’ll be able to do at least two of these at once. flight001.com, $35