Travel Hacks

Having travelled far and wide, there are some small yet useful things that I’ve learned along the way, that I’ve decided to share with you. Granted, most of these I discovered when it was a little too late already, but it’s usually in the worst of situations that we become the most creative (or at least get the best ideas). So listen carefully and try out the items that could work for you, regardless if you’re a pro traveler, a beginner, a local adventurer, or a international explorer. These can be practical wherever you decide to go!

**Disclaimer: It should be noted that Gen and I (Kyla) receive no compensation (by means of goods or money) from companies that are hereafter mentioned. The items or brands mentioned in the post reflect the opinions and preferences of the authors.**

1. Prepare and prevent! It’s essential to have a first aid kit while traveling, but it’s quite important to have additional band aids. If you’re planning a long hike, it can help to put them on tender areas on your feet that might be prone to blisters if you’re hiking, or even walking a lot during the day. What’s even more practical is having blister band aids. These are waterproof, stay in place and can double up as tape in dire situations. No need to keep them in the box (since you can save up your limited space), but keep them handy.

2. Limit your liquids. If you’re flying anywhere, you know that you have a very limited amount of liquids you are allowed to bring with you in your carry on. Now, we’ve showed you how to effectively pack it, but what you might not know is that a lot of your items that you’re used to packing have solid and dry substitute. Certain products like shampoo, conditioner and even toothpaste can come in tablets and bars. LUSH, a company that makes natural products, has a large line of options to choose from! Pick your shampoo; pick your conditioner (should you want one) and keep it in your bag. It activates when you use it with water. Same thing with the toothpaste. Pick your flavour, pack your toothbrush, and just add water. With that, you’ve just gained half of your liquid allowance back!

3. Keep it fresh; learning from experience, you won’t always have ideal weather while traveling. Also, you won’t always have ideal weather when hiking. Despite wearing your waterproof boots, there might be a mishap where water might get in. This can be extremely uncomfortable (sometimes causing blisters - view tip #1), and can often take some time to dry off. You can acquire a deodorizing foot powder at LUSH (yes, this very store once more), that keeps your feet dry, clean and smelling like daisies (or whatever scent you choose). Put a little in your boots at night before going to bed and start your morning hike feeling refreshed!

 

4. Don’t hate, hydrate! Hot or cold climate, drinking water is essential. Whether you’re on the go or staying at home, it is important to drink lots of water. However, while traveling with a carry on, I think we’ve all learned how important space is, so the thought of lugging around a bulky water bottle isn’t exactly thrilling. But do not fret, there are water bottles that look like plastic bags and can be flattened down to basically nothing for travel purposes, and can hold lots of water when you leave for your activities. They comes in various sizes, and water filters can also be purchased and attached to them depending on the type of trip or location you are heading to. This can be picked up at outdoor sporting good stores, or locations like Canadian Tire.

5. Tote and Towel; it’s practical to have a small bag that you can put on your back. Whether it’s a kind of purse, back pack, or string bag, find yourself one that can work on the town, or in the middle of nowhere. It’s also practical to have yourself a small (yet large), comfortable (yet quick drying) towel for quick use. Often you can opt for a microfibre towel that often dries overnight (depending on the climate), or you can try out TaLii Towel https://taliitowels.com/.  I managed to get mine at a Outdoors and Cottage show in Ottawa, but you can order them online too. Quick and clean, it’s been the best option for me while traveling ever since acquiring it. And the best part? It folds up to a small rectangle that’s roughly the size of the space between your fingers if you make an L with your index and thumb in each hand (and then join your thumbs together - I apologize in advance for my lack of accurate mathematical measurements… that’s Gen’s department).

6. Whatcha gonna wear? Well your capsule wardrobe of course! You want to make it even more practical? Select items that are made with merino wool to maximize your comfort, style and travel savviness (see Merino Wool and Capsule Wardrobe articles). But the last item that can be included in your pack is a blanket scarf (or equivalent item). Not only are they fashionable, they are soft, and can also be used as an added layer, a pillow or an actual blanket. They can be folded to serve as a cushion should you want to take a break on the side of the trail and sit down, or as a cover up if you spent some time at the beach. Just know that if you bring it along, you will most definitely use it, and find more than one use for it too!

Little by little, we learn what works best for us, and with these few travel tips and tricks, my hope is that your travels are a little easier. It doesn’t take much to figure it out, but it does make a world of difference. So please, comment your own travel hacks that have worked for you, or let us know which trick you’ve used! We love to hear from you to know what works, and stay tuned in for future travel hacks

Kyla