Nerdy but practical: Six unusual things we always pack
We’ve all seen the standard travel packing lists: sunscreen, socks, maybe a travel pillow if they’re feeling spicy. But after 25+ cities and 12 countries, we’ve discovered a few unsung heroes of the carry-on—nerdy but practical items that we always pack. All are easy to pick up anywhere and don’t take up too much precious packing space. Here are our top six.
This is that decorative tape made from rice paper that is often used for crafting. But hear me out, I’ve started packing it every time and it really comes in handy. For all those times that you need to put some tape over an annoying little light in your room or to quickly fix something on the road. The nice thing about washi tape is that you don’t need scissors to cut it and it doesn’t leave any residue.
Washcloth (and ziplock bag) - When you travel around Europe and parts of Asia you may find that hotels do not provide a washcloth so we tend to bring our own. And just in case it doesn’t dry in time to pack, we always bring a suitable resealable plastic bag to carry it. Pro tip: it’s better to bring brighly coloured one as it will likely not match the white ones provided by the hotel and won’t get accidentally scooped up by the busy cleaning staff.
A wet/dry bag is a type of flexible container which seals in a watertight way that are often used in sports to carry around sweaty or wet gear so you don’t get the rest of your items wet. Sounds handy right? But why not just bring a plastic bag you ask? This waterproof bag can also double as something to wash your clothes in the sink. I’ve been in hotels where the sink doesn’t seal properly and it made it impossible to wash up. The wet/dry bag really saved the day. They don’t have to be expensive, I have one from IKEA that does the trick.
Laundry wash sheets - Speaking of washing, we ALWAYS bring along laundry washing sheets (or detergent leaves) to wash clothes on the road. You can either buy the small ones that are precut or cut up larger ones to take along. The key part is that they need to be stored in a container that is sealable and waterproof. These dissove to nothing in water and don’t tend to leave a residue on cloth like handsoap sometimes can.
I use these both at home and on the road. Sleep headphones are like a headband that have little speakers right at your ears for your meditation app or white noise. They are nicer than using ear buds because they don’t go into your ear canal or pop out in the middle of the night. The Bluetooth ones can just connect to your phone. And from all reports, if you sleep next to someone, they cannot hear what you have playing.
Foldable hand fan - These are GOLD when you’re stuck on the tarmac waiting for takeoff. I do tend to run a little on the warm side, but I always have one of these in my bag at home or on the road. I tend to get the less expensive but not cheap ones. The cheap ones fall apart, but it is always my luck that I will lose the really nice ones if I spend a lot on them.
Things everyone else talks about what we like too
Toilet spray - This has become more common for travelers, but if you haven’t used this before it will change your life. This spray traps bad odours in the bowl and releases a light fragrance that leaves the bathroom smelling better than before you used it. If you are sharing a bathroom in a small hotel room or cruise ship cabin, this can help things to be a bit more, um, pleasant for everyone.
Packing cubes - We are 100% packing cube converts. It is like having a drawer. Plus it makes it easy if you want to separate out the clothes that need washing from the clean stuff.
Cable and small lock- when traveling by train, they give me piece of mind so I can either get a nap in or snap some photos of the countryside without having to worry if someone is going to grab my bag at the next station. I know people people always say that trains are safe and you don’t need to worry about your bag getting nicked, but why invite it?
A collapsible food container - I picked up a set of these at Aldi a couple of years ago and now bring one or two with us wherever we go. From cruise ships to the German countryside, being able to either bring back left overs or pack a picnic lunch helps save food wastage, time, and money. The collapsible kind take up much less space too.
A deck of cards - You never know when you’re going to run out of batteries or get stuck waiting somewhere without any Wifi. We’ve learned a couple of two player games that don’t take up too much space on those small tables you find on European trains. If all else fails, a round of War is always an easy way to spend some time.
Travel is unpredictable, but a few smart additions to your bag can make all the difference. These aren’t just things we pack—they’re little sanity savers that help every trip run a little smoother.
Got your own nerdy-but-practical essential? Tag us on Instagram (@travelwhilenerdy)—we’re always looking for new ideas!
