These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Hello everyone! As the title suggests, in this post I will be detailing many of my favorite travel items and gadgets. If you know me, you know how much I value items having a purpose, being functional, and being quality. You also most likely know that I constantly shop at REI and Amazon for my gear. Without wasting any more time, let's get to it. I've put in photos of each product and linked all of them throughout.

First up is my REI Big-Haul 40 Duffel. This bag is extremely durable, as it's made from ballistic nylon. I've used it for everything from car camping to traveling (I even packed a decent amount of stuff for my study abroad in it). It's carry-on size making it ideal for flying, and with 3 different ways to carry it getting through the airport is a breeze. The bag has the handles as shown in the picture, as well as a crossbody strap and optional backpack straps which tuck into the top. At 40L the bag holds more than you probably need. Heck, I packed for an entire month of travel in it last Summer. With daisy chains on the exterior there are plenty of places to attach gear. The price may seem a little steep at first, but considering you won't need to buy another one for at least 20 years you really can't beat it.

Pairing with the duffel is the REI Shower Roll. Made from ripstop nylon its toughness pairs well with the duffel bag and it takes up very little room in your luggage. The roll contains a large mesh pocket and a smaller stash pocket to organize your toiletries. My favorite feature of this item is the removable TSA-Approved liquids compartment, making it easy to slide out when going through security. The shower roll also has a small mirror inside. The hook you can see in the photo which is used to keep the roll closed nice and tight can also be used to hang it on the back of a door or over a towel rod, allowing for easy access to all of your items. It's also ideal for those of us who like to stay in hostels and need to take our toiletries to and from the bathroom every morning!

Speaking of things I love to have while staying in hostels, I never would have thought to bring a sleeping bag liner, but it's a game-changer. A friend who studied abroad last Spring recommended this to me. It's light, packs down to be tiny, and not having to worry about bringing sheets if bedding isn't provided is ideal. The one I have is pictured to the left and I ordered it from Amazon. It's comparable to the much more expensive brands like Sea to Summit or Cocoon, and has stood the test of time through camping trips and traveling throughout Europe. Oh, and it's machine washable. This is definitely something I didn't know I needed until recent.

Up next are my favorite microfiber towels, also ordered from Amazon. I love these so much that I've given them as gifts to friends and family and have received good responses from all. These towels are soft, machine-washable, and pack down to almost nothing. They come in fun colors, which is a bonus. Two towels come in each box, one full-size, and one that's about the size of a standard hand towel. Each one has a nice ribbon attached with a snap button so they can be hung virtually anywhere to dry, which they usually do within a few hours. For $20 a set, you really can't beat the price for a set of quality towels that can be used wherever life takes you. I mainly travel with mine, but I've also used them while camping, at the gym, by the pool, and at home.

The first time I saw one of these was when a girl next to me on a flight pulled it out of her backpack and inflated it. I was intrigued because it compacted down so small, yet looked extremely comfortable and soft. Needless to say I did some research upon landing and discovered this inflatable neck pillow on Amazon. It's so soft and comfortable and the cover can be removed for washing. It also packs down small enough it can fit in the water bottle pocket of a backpack, making it ideal for walking through the airport so you no longer have to be "that person" walking around with a pillow around your neck because you don't have another place to put it.

"Hydrate or die-drate" is one of my all-time favorite sayings. I love that saying almost as much as I love coffee, which is why these two purchases have impacted my every day. The first is a narrow-mouth, 32oz Nalgene water bottle. Granted, I support the use of any reusable water bottle. However, I have found Naglene water bottles to be sturdy and lightweight and they hold enough water to last for quite some time. The second item is the REI Double-Shot Press Mug. It may look like an ordinary coffee mug, but it actually has a built-in French press in the lid, making it so all you need is some coffee grounds or loose tea and some hot water to make your favorite drinks. As many of you probably know, you can get hot water for free at most coffee shops. You can't always get coffee grounds or tea for free though. But don't worry, there's an air-tight compartment in the bottom of the mug with the purpose of holding either until you're ready to brew.

This item is just fun. I keep it in my backpack at all times in case I end up at the beach, decide to have an impromptu picnic, or just simply want to sit on the ground without risking getting anything dirty. You can't tell by the looks of the photo, but this pocket blanket unfolds to be about 5ftx4ft, the perfect size for 1-2 people. It's lightweight, and as you can see folds down to almost nothing. My dad and I used it at Merlefest last Spring when we went to a stage and didn't bring our chairs along. I've also used it since being in Europe. Once on the beach in Spain so I didn't have to worry about getting my towel all sandy, and a few times at the park when I've gone to do homework or simply sit and enjoy the sun.

Another fun item that I use frequently when traveling is my Patagonia Mini Hip Pack. It's the perfect size for my phone, extra battery charger, cards, some cash, and usually a granola bar. Traveling with this allows me to know exactly where my belongings are at all times so no need to worry about pickpockets when in big cities where they're common. It's nice to have everything all in one place and within view. It's also handy because it packs into itself so there's no need to worry about it taking up too much space or the strap getting tangled around other items in your luggage.

Last, but certainly not least, is my The North Face Surge Backpack. This pack has traveled all over with me since I got it a little over a year ago. It has plenty of pockets for organization and lots of space for carrying whatever you may need. One of the best features this bag has to offer is that the 15" laptop pocket has the ability to "butterfly", or lay completely flat, meaning that there is no longer a need to remove your laptop when going through airport security in the states. This bag easily fits under a seat or in an overhead compartment and has two water bottle pockets (something I didn't know I needed until I didn't have it on my last backpack). The straps are very comfortable and easy to adjust to fit your body as needed, and there is even a hip belt, which makes carrying a backpack around all day less grueling.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this and that you take my recommendations into consideration when preparing for your next adventure. I know that some of these items seem expensive, but most of them go on sale every few months so keep an eye out for a deal before purchasing.

The rugby game this weekend was a lot of fun, and even though I was learning the sport while watching the game I caught on pretty quickly and really enjoyed it! This coming weekend I will be traveling to Barcelona, Spain and Faro, Portugal, so I will (hopefully) be making another post next Monday or Tuesday after I return. Thanks for all of the prayers and well wishes and I'll update you all again soon!