The process of travel is literally a PROCESS. Getting the right things to travel can be utterly confusing. It seems that no matter how much you buy, there are still things that just don’t quite work. Sometimes, you under-pack, sometimes you overpack. I have been the backpack traveler, and I have been the luxury traveler, and I firmly believe I have a method for both. However, when it comes to technology and travel, that method tends to evolve, so truthfully, this blog post will probably be corrected in a couple of years. Until then, I want to share an in-between trailer suggestion guide on what to get. Most of these companies are sustainable products, and I think they will improve your travel experience when needed.
I will do a separate blog post on how to backpack travel because that is a world on its own. However, when it comes to traveling with style and ease, here are some suggestions.
Bags
When it comes to bags, the fewer bags you have to carry, the easier it is for you to travel. But what does that entail? What sort of bags would be helpful for your travel needs? If you don’t want to lug suitcases around, I would aim for a small suitcase and rely more on your carry-on bag (usually a backpack). A medium-sized backpack offers more leisure in your travel experience than a duffle bag or an oversized purse. While those are cute, a duffle bag (or a weekender bag) can be on your shoulder and cause you to slow down a bit when traveling. An oversized purse is cute, but it doesn’t offer a lot of room for things you might need. While generally, I would advocate thrift, these companies would benefit your travel experience because of their practicality and sustainability.
If you really want to be adventurous, skip the small suitcase entirely.
SOLGAARD
Shorte-Tex Backpack Light and The Circular Backpack
If you want to buy something that lasts long and is made of plastic waste, I think Solgaard’s backpacks would greatly help. Their backpacks are made from ocean plastic and debris, making your new purchase sustainable and beneficial for the environment. Their two bags, the Circular Backpack and the Shorte-tex Backpack Light, are perfect for travel. The Circular Backpack is perfect for the experienced traveler, offering a space for a laptop or an iPad and having enough room for a spare outfit in case your main luggage gets lost. Shorte-Tex Backpack Light offers all of that same ability plus extra space. Also, the basic design of both backpacks makes them better and more accessible for travel because they don’t look designer, which doesn’t make you a mark for any pickpocketing. Ranging in sizes, Solgaard’s backpacks cater to both experienced and beginner travelers. My only stipulation is that they are both expensive (Circular Backpack being $165 and Shorte-tex being $145); however, since they look long-lasting, your money might be spent well.
Carry-on Closet
The Carry-On Closet is a cool-looking suitcase. It is also made from six pounds of ocean waste, with a lining made out of 100% ocean waste. The Carry-on Closet has a hard shell and is compact for fast traveling from place to place. Coming in two sizes (medium and large), the luggage makes it easy to travel from place to place without feeling the stress of lugging things around. The Carry-On Closet has a unique feature where it can open up to five shelves. If you are traveling in tight corners, this suitcase would offer a more straightforward solution for your clothes. It might be pricey, but the extra compartment storage feature is unique and helpful in situations where you might not have a lot of room.
DAY OWL
Backpack
Day Owl has a backpack that is perfect for travel as well. The bag is simple, missing any label (excellent protection against pickpocketing), and comes in various colors. It is small and compact, perfect for traveling fast and easily. There is enough room for a spare outfit, which is very modern (offers laptop protection). The backpack is eco-friendly, made from twenty-five recycled post-consumer plastic bottles, plus 100% recycled polyester lining and trim. It uses an algae-based foam, water-repellant neoprene, and conflict-free metal YKK zippers. They come in two sizes, perfect for beginner and advanced travelers. They look great and are easy to clean, making it feel like your dollar would be well spent. The only stipulation is that these are expensive, with the large backpack being $155 and the slim being $135. If you can find a coupon, go for that.
Crossbody
The Crossbody is perfect for a small purse to have for your flights. Since it is so small, it can easily fit into any backpack without taking up much room. It is a small fanny pack crossbody bag that can hold only the essentials. If you carry your passport and wallet, you have a bag to keep all your essentials. It is made out of conflict-free metals, and the material is a waxed canvas made from 100% ethically recycled post-consumer plastic bottles. The item looks simple, saving you from being a pickpocketing target. The only stipulation is that the thing is also a bit expensive, being $55.
Day Owl does offer set deals, which makes the prices seem more reasonable. If you want to get the crossbody and the backpack, they are selling them for $178
UNITED BY BLUE
(R)evolution™ 15L Commuter Backpack
Perfect for the more advanced traveler, the 15L Commuter Backpack is hassle-free and straightforward, giving enough room for a spare outfit and the essentials needed for the flight. Made with a 100% recycled polyester exterior with DWR finish, 100% recycled polyester lining, 100% recycled nylon webbing straps, 60% recycled nylon, and 40% recycled polyester air mesh padding, the backpack is a sustainable product making your purchase positive for the environment. It offers excellent options in several colors, but the simple design saves you from pickpocketing. The backpack is vegan, water resistant, and has a padded laptop compartment. Compared to the other backpacks, this one is great for the price it offers, charging a whopping $98. Also, this backpack provides a lifetime guarantee, which makes it even cheaper. This one would be a great contender if you wanted a more sustainable, more affordable item.
(R)evolution™ 25L Convertible Carryall
However, what if you want everything but want it to be stylish? The Convertible Carryall offers all of that with great colors and style. The backpack can be converted into a tote with a 15” padded interior laptop sleeve, side water bottle pockets, and removable padded shoulder straps. The backpack is made from plastic bottles, making it entirely sustainable and eco-friendly. These have the same highlights as the commuter backpack but are very wide, offering space for extra things. This backpack is slightly more expensive than the commuter, costing a whopping $118. However, it is closed entirely with zippers, which I love, offering protection from pickpocketing and giving you the security you need.
PARAVEL
Aviator Carry On
For you high-end shoppers, Aviator Carry on is perfect. It is attractive, classy, and high-end looking. It is a hard-shelled luggage with two brown strips that feel like 1960s Cape Cod. The Kennedys would do everything possible to find out where you got it. They label themselves as “the world’s first carbon-neutral carry-on” using fully recycled items. The Aviator has a 10-year warranty and is a perfect carry-on travel companion. The only stipulation is that it is costly. They cost $395, which is pretty pricey, but looks terrific. Sustainability can be beautiful, too.
Technology accessories
While I generally don’t need a lot of technology when it comes to traveling, I like to use my phone. Taking photos, listening to music, and searching for where I have to go becomes much easier when I have the technology to make it happen. The main things I would need for travel are my phone, headphones, and sometimes a laptop. Compared to bags, I don’t have many suggestions to benefit your trip, but I do have a couple of suggestions.
NIMBLE
CHAMP Portable Charger
Sometimes, when you travel, your equipment might get drained and die, leaving you either at a loss to capture or enjoy the moment or literally lost, unable to call or locate where you are. My phone has often died, and I was utterly bored or lost in the area I was in. The Champ Portable Charger is made from 72.5% post-consumer plastic to reduce its footprint. The packaging of the item comes in biodegradable recycled paper. It can charge two items up to 80% in 30 minutes, and it is super compact (smaller than a deck of cards), making it easy to fit in your backpack. The Champ Portable Charger comes with a 2-year warranty, giving it legitimacy. They come in a couple of cute colors, allowing you to have some control over what you buy.
MUSICOZY OR ANY SLEEP HEADBAND
I have a hard time sleeping. For my whole life, I was sleeping with a sound machine, but surprisingly, after giving a sleep mask to my husband, I found it helpful to sleep with a sleep mask as well. However, when it comes to travel, especially on a plane, having some sort of white noise sense deprivation really allows you to fully rest. Any sleep headband with speakers would make you rest entirely in the most uncomfortable moment ever. I don’t stay at hostels anymore, but if I knew about this, I would have bought this in a heartbeat for all my hostel stays. Even though the item isn’t sustainable, this should be a must for travel.
SPOTIFY
Spotify is an excellent app for those traveling because you can download the white noise podcast, any interesting podcast, and some music. Even though traveling is about experiencing the moment, having something to listen to sometimes heightens your moment. Also, downloading some of the items you want to listen to helps when you don’t have Wi-Fi. While I absolutely HATE spending money on an app, I have to admit Spotify is worth it.
CHARGERS OR CHARGER CABLES
I can’t fully specify which charger cables you should bring, mostly because I have no idea what technology you have, but wherever you go, just get another cable. Having a cable break or losing a cable just puts you at a disadvantage wherever you travel. Just bring one.
HEADPHONES
To listen to your Spotify, bring some headphones. If you are in an area where you have to put your phone on airplane mode, get some wired headphones, but if you can travel with your Bluetooth headphones, utilize that. Headphones help you be in your own zone, they help you keep people that you don’t want to talk to away, they’re a massive asset. Headphones are comfortable to have when you travel. They are great to have wherever you go to. Headphones are just helpful.
Accessories
As well as technology, you need little extra add-ons for your trip. Even though condensing is critical for travel, these items are needed to improve your journey.
Travel Mug
Because of the rising costs of everything, bringing a travel mug with you is valuable and helpful. A travel mug can be used in any hostel, and it is beneficial to have for long walks exploring the area that you’re in. Travel mugs might take up room, but they help with other factors that would be costly for your travels.
UNITED BY BLUE
Insulated Steel Bottle 18 Oz
Doing my research on United by Blue, I became a good fan. This plaid bottle is 100% recyclable and produces zero toxic run-off. Having this bottle as part of your carry-on allows you to get free water from the water fountain at the airport (which can be costly) and water wherever you go. If you’re in a hostel, you’ll want a water bottle. This also helps stop single-use plastic. It’s also affordable! It’s $14.
OCEAN BOTTLE
Like the United By Blue Insulated steel bottle, the Ocean Bottle is made of 100% recycled ocean waste and steel. It creates a dishwasher-safe insulated item. Every ocean bottle fund the collection of 1000 plastic bottles, pays those who collect them a fair wage, and intercepts the bottles before they enter our oceans. The item is a bit pricey, costing a whopping $54, but because of their strong attempt to use ocean waste and pair a fair wage, I would have suggested this item. It’s cute, too.
TOILETRY BAG
This isn’t sustainable, but it is practical. If you need a toiletry bag, get one that hangs. I have gone through many types of toiletry bags, and the one I stand behind firmly is one that hangs. It has a hook that latches on to anything, making it easy to place anywhere. You would need to get one that is TSA-approved since dealing with the inconvenience of leaving it in a check-in bag would be annoying. A hanging toiletry bag also forces you to pick the essentials of what you need. Honestly, this is the best thing in your arsenal for travel.
Traveling is a gift; having the right equipment to enjoy it takes away unnecessary stress. However, buying in an economy that isn’t sustainable can be really daunting, so I thoroughly believe these items can take away any worry you would face. While other great sustainable options exist, I wanted to focus on price and practicality for my suggestions. I like to pack light and love to not be uncomfortable, so I think all of these items would satisfy that. I want to note that these items are not the only sustainable items; they are my favorite and the ones I would buy.
