What are the most important travel essentials for an adventure trip? Depending on the weather, destination, type of travel, and length of trip, a complete packing list could fill a small novel
But our editors believe there are four things that transcend every journey. I’ll only mention brands I’ve used extensively.
By Shannon Stowell
Reliable, functional bags.
Every time I see a piece of luggage with a missing wheel, a broken handle, or a split seam — and I’ll admit this freely — I feel a small, private delight that my gear doesn’t do that. Spending a bit more on quality travel bags can feel like a luxury until you’re huffing through an airport looking for duct tape or a replacement bag. Think of it as insurance.
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My personal favorite for adventurous travelers, and has been for more than a decade, is Eagle Creek. One underrated feature of their larger bags: they don’t fall over and whack your neighbor with the upright handle. You know that person at baggage claim — the one whose bag keeps toppling and claiming victims while they stare at the ceiling? Don’t be that person. The thoughtful pocket design and rugged construction mean your bag simply stays off your mind, which is exactly where it belongs. Fair warning: once you go down this road, you may develop an insufferable amount of travel-gear-arrogance. Other excellent options: The North Face and Osprey.
An easy-to-use water filter/purifier.
I don’t care if I’m heading to New York City, Tokyo, Mexico City, or Mumbai — this one is non-negotiable. In major developed cities, I use it to cut chlorine. Everywhere else, it’s about not dying of dysentery on the Oregon Trail.
My filter of choice is the GRAYL. I’ve used it to drink from the Amazon, the Ganges, the Panama Canal, streams in Colorado and Japan, and — don’t judge — a swimming pool at a hotel in India. Never got sick once. If you’re not a GRAYL convert yet, Lifestraw is a solid alternative.
A multi-tool.
If you skipped item number one, this becomes even more critical as you attempt to screw your failing luggage back together mid-trip (true story) or cut off the tattered, hanging fringe that used to be a zipper pull. Or start that survival fire. But jokes aside — a multi-tool will quietly earn its place on almost every trip, handling the myriad things that need to be pried, cut, removed, fixed, or smoothed. Leatherman is my hands-down favorite. Victorinox makes excellent pieces as well. Important note: do not forget to check this piece in your luggage unless you’re into donating knives.
The wildcard- A headlamp.
Years ago, I was invited to hear a former CIA agent speak about travel safety at my local travel attorney’s office. It was a wild evening full of stories most of us will thankfully never face firsthand. But beyond the “keep your head on a swivel” refrains about situational awareness, the one piece of gear the agent said he always had on him was a headlamp. Lights go out in hotels, on planes, on ships, in restaurants. If you have light, you have eyes. And if you’re walking to the eco-lodge bathroom at night, let’s make sure we don’t step on a snake or sit on a cockroach. I carry a Black Diamond lamp in my pack everywhere I go. Petzl makes fantastic options as well.
There’s plenty more that matters on any serious adventure trip — layers, waterproof-breathable jackets, good footwear, sun protection — but never forget the Big Four. At some point on some trip, one or more of them will quietly save the day.
For more travel tips and ideas for groups, be sure to Download the June edition of Leisure Group Travel and Subscribe for FREE
