I’ve traveled solo for years. My travel essentials include a holy-grail combo for sleeping anywhere and a $5 organizer.

I’ve been traveling solo for years, and I pack a few essentials on every trip that I wish I’d known about sooner.

In 2016, I packed my bags for my first solo trip — and nine years later, I’ve traveled alone to six countries with no idea how much I’d learn along the way.

Since then, I have settled into my travel style and become confident in the gadgets and essentials that have earned a permanent spot on my packing list.

These items often make my trips easier, and I’d recommend them whether you’re a first-time traveler or a seasoned backpacker.

Here are a few of my travel essentials I wish I’d bought sooner.

Traveling with a backpack makes life much easier.

My backpack makes it easier for me to travel. 

I avoid checking luggage, instead bringing just my backpack.

Shortly after my first solo trip, I went to my local outdoor shop and got fitted for a backpack. I purchased a 40-liter pack with padded shoulder and waist straps and a clamshell zipper, making it easy to pack like a suitcase.

The best part is a backpack this size meets most airline carry-on size limits, so I can keep my belongings with me at all times.

Plus, carrying my stuff on my back is way easier than wheeling a suitcase through uneven cobblestone streets and steep staircases.

My holy-grail combo is my earplugs and eye mask that help me sleep anywhere, anytime.

You won’t find me traveling without my dynamic duo: my earplugs and sleep mask. 

I don’t travel without my earplugs and sleep mask. Recently, I even upgraded to silicone noise-reducing earplugs.

A sleep mask helps block out late-night hostel lights, early morning sun, and bright airplane cabins. I like that my mask has eye indents to reduce lid pressure.

In 2023, I slept like a baby the entire 2-½ -hour trip on the Eurostar from Paris to London with this duo.

My $10 microfiber towel takes up almost no space and dries in 15 minutes.

I love my quick-dry microfiber towel that takes up almost no space in my bag.

I love my quick-dry microfiber towel that takes up almost no space in my bag. Alison Van Glad
Five years ago, I switched from a regular towel to a microfiber one to cut down on bulk in my bag.

The microfiber material makes it quick-dry, so I can use it for showering in the morning, and it’s dry by the time I need to pack in the afternoon.

The one I have from Arnuwa also rolls up to about the size of a water bottle, which makes it a great option for travelers.

Plus, the towel has proved its worth in other ways. During a two-week trek in 2024, I used it to provide extra padding on my hips between my backpack and lower back.

Packing cubes are the best way to maximize space and stay organized while traveling.

I stay organized with packing cubes.

Packing cubes have transformed my packing game by keeping me organized. Plus, some cubes can help maximize packing space by compressing air and reducing bulk.

I use mine to separate daily clothing, delicates, and tech items. I even keep an empty cube to separate my dirty laundry from clean clothes.

With these, there’s no need to dig through my bag at midnight to find my toothbrush — everything has its place.

I love my travel pill organizer so much that I use it in my day-to-day life.

My travel pill organizer helps keep my medications and vitamins neatly stored and easy to access. 

My travel pill organizer is one of my most-used travel items under $5.

I cannot recommend this case enough to keep medications and vitamins neatly organized, easy to access, and secure.

I stock mine with allergy medication, Pepto Bismol, ibuprofen, assorted supplements, and other common medications I may need.

To keep it extra sorted, I cut out dosage info and labels from the original bottles and tape them to the corresponding compartments.

I love physical books, but an e-reader makes reading on the go way easier.

I switched to an e-reader for travel, and I will never go back to physical books.

I love to read while I travel, but physical books add weight to my bag and take up space. Three years ago, I purchased my Kindle, and I haven’t looked back.

The e-reader fits into most small bags and doesn’t take up much space. Before a trip I download multiple e-books from my local library so that I have plenty of options later.

The best part is its battery life can last for weeks at a time, making it one less thing to charge at night.

A compact umbrella could save my day and my outfit.

I never get caught in the rain without my travel-sized umbrella Alison Van Glad

I’ve never regretted packing my umbrella, even if I didn’t end up using it. I can’t tell you how many times I didn’t pack one and ended up overpaying for a flimsy street umbrella that inevitably failed me.

Now, I always carry my compact umbrella because I never know when I’ll need it.

My umbrella folds down to 6 inches, so I slip it into the side pocket of my backpack or tuck it into a small day bag.