Travel Hacks: Round 2

The Northern Wander Women are back with some Travel Hacks!

Oh how the click of the keys, the meticulous picture selection and relentless dark, sarcastic humour have missed us! Though Gen and I don't post as regularly that we'd like to, we can promise you that we have not been idle. We’ve wandered into new lifestyles, and like every great adventure, it takes some time getting used to. But with a solid foundation under us now and a distinctive path ahead, we are blazing our way back to our other love; no, not inappropriately funny British quiz shows, but rather our travel and adventure blog. 

What better way is there to get back into the travel spirit than to read about wonderful tips and tricks that make the adventure life a little easier for you. In our first edition, we talked about some products that gave us a helping hand and though we receive no compensation for this, we’re going to list a few more!

General Travel

1. Outdoors pack, from Matter company. Why? Because you matter to them and to us! This small kit includes a small tin of All Heal Salve, a small tin of their famous Heat Rub, and lastly their super effective Lip Balm. Not only does this pack include essentials for any traveller, but they are locally made in Canada, use all-natural products and are INCREDIBLY effective. Sore joints, small cuts and cracked lips are often some of the worst discomforts you may experience while travelling and this kit helps you avoid all of it. And one of the best parts? They all fit into the travel restrictions and can fit directly into your carry-on bag! https://www.mattercompany.com/

2. Diane Kroe fo sho! This is a clothing line that specializes in multipurpose clothing. If you’re afraid of missing some options, but don’t want to overpack your carry-on bag, select a few Diane Kroe options and watch your travel wardrobe grow in size! Each piece is made of a wrinkle-free material and comes in a variety of patterns so you really don’t have to compromise on style or comfort. If you’re not going to go merino, you might as well go Diane Kroe. Check out their website to see all of the fun ways you can wear singular items! https://dianekroe.com/

The two items above are known as the Everywear dress (left) and the Origami Shirt (right)

3. Loving Lush! Just like in the last edition, I am still a huge advocate for Lush. They have a wide range of products for everyday use, but a lot of them are equally amazing for travel! I’ve used their bar shampoo and conditioners, their foot deodorizer and their tooth tabs. They’ve recently released mouthwash tabs! They work much like the tooth tabs and are just as compact. Oral hygiene is SUPER important on a regular basis, but even more so if you find yourself spending day after day in a small confined space with a group of people. If you can’t necessarily respect their personal space, at least don’t go stinking up their face.

Colder Climate

4. If you’re heading somewhere with a colder climate, a down coat will work wonders for you. They are ultra-light, ultra-warm and most often come with a compressible bag that can then double as a pillow, for either travel or camping purposes (depending on what kind of adventure you’re heading off on). You can wear it as one of your layers or attach it to your carry-on, but either way, you’ll be happy to have it along with you. Another great option is to get yourself a K-Way waterproof wind-breaker. You can find modern version in stores like Winners or any kind of outdoor apparel, or get yours second-hand from a thrift store or family member (like I did). They're light-weight, weather-proof and compact just like down coats.

5. Many merino wool companies such as Ice Breaker make base layers for cold and warmer climates. What many travellers don’t often think of is to have their hands covered. Sometimes it isn’t the extreme colds that will damage your hands… sometimes it might be wind coupled with the rain. So invest into a pair of base layer gloves for those cooler and colder countries, especially if you’re planning lot’s of time outdoors, regardless of whether it's hikes or historical sites.

The buff (left) is folded to roughly a quarter of its actual size and my merino gloves (right) are lightweight and black.

6. A Buff is enough. With your hands and body covered, it’s best not to forget your face. With the variety of material, patterns and sizes available, you’ll have an amazing selection to find just the right one that fits into your capsule wardrobe. In addition to the varieties in style, it has multiple purposes which are often indicated on the packages. And we’re nothing if not practical which is why a buff is another great item to include in your travel pack

Bonus Tip

7. Terrific toque! If you haven’t had the chance to order it before the Northern Wander Women toque is still available for purchase through our website. We partnered up with a Canadian company that has a line of amazing products, and lucky for us, the NWW toque is just one of the many. Make sure you follow the instructions on the merch page of our site and get your toque today!

Let us know if you'd be interested in getting your own cap too!

As you’ve most likely gathered by now, we are firm believers of multipurpose items when it comes down to compact packing. It allows you more flexibility, and more space to pack what really matters; plus it doesn’t hurt that you’re no longer lugging your world on your shoulders. You get to focus on what matters, and if you don’t have a day pack packed, you can still manage with your entire carry-on too! We hope our second set of travel tips and tricks were just as helpful (if not more) than our first edition, and feel free to let us know of your own tricks of the travel trade. Sharing is caring, and we sure do appreciate all of the support you’ve given us so far! Stay tuned and stay connected, because the Northern Wander Women may be exploring a city near you!