5 Tiny Travel Essentials

There's a lot to learn through the trial and errors of packing for backpacking. While each adventure you take will require a specialized approach to packing, there are a few essentials that make it in my bag no matter what the destination. They'll help you deal with any inconvenience on the road and keep you sight seeing instead of seeing red.

#1 Pocket Knife

Every scout and adventurer knows to always be prepared and in my mind, there's nothing better for a multitude of scenarios than a great pocket knife with a multitude of functions. I can't count the number of times someone has asked for scissors or tweezers or a blade and I have been able to helpfully (and smugly) whip out my favourite Swiss Army knife and save the day/moment.

I recommend the Swiss Army Sports Evo Grip available at Amazon.ca. It is lightweight, rust proof, has grip pads and a blade lock safety feature. The attachments include a Phillips screw driver, flat head screw driver, knife blade, saw blade, bottle opener, nail file/cleaner, toothpick, tweezers, scissors, and a can opener.

The only thing missing is a corkscrew. If that's essential to you, check out the Swiss Army Sports Huntsman on Amazon.ca.

Of course, be aware that pocket knives are not allowed in your carry on luggage and in many countries, it will have to be declared. There are museums and attractions that forbid pocket knives as well, so know when to have it on you and when it's best left back at the hotel.

#2 Toilet Paper

Don't get caught with your pants down! If you're venturing off the resort or into the wilderness, you'll want to have a supply of toilet tissue nearby. More often than not, bathrooms around the world are lacking in the TP department, keeping in mind there are many cultures that don't use it to begin with.
Have your roll handy or you could be sh*t out of luck.

I always have a roll or two of Tissue on the Go with me. The roll out dispenser is very convenient. You can find it at MEC here in Alberta or you can usually find similar products in the travel section of drug stores or superstores, but that's a bit of a crap shoot. Camping or outdoor retailers are a safe bet.

#3 First Aid Kit

As a former lifesaving instructor, I encouraged all my students to have a small first aid kit at home, in the car and on the go. It's an inexpensive way to help yourself and others in case of injury. Of course, I also highly recommend everyone take a first aid and CPR course - what greater skill can you have than the ability to assist a family member or friend in case of an injury or provide life-sustaining measures in an emergency? Some basic training could be the difference between life and death.

A first aid kit doesn't have to be big or cumbersome to be useful. Include a few key items in a small bag or pouch to tackle every day ouches - adhesive bandages, medical tape, gauze, blister/burn dressing, after bite wipe, and antibacterial wipes. The Adventure Medical Ultralight First Aid Kit from MEC has all of these in a watertight bag.

Usually, these kits do not include a critical item - medical gloves. If you plan on helping with a bleeding injury or any bodily fluid, you should plan on wearing nitrile or latex gloves. The first rule of first aid is keep yourself safe.

To be prepared for bigger injuries, include a compression bandage, non-adhesive sterile dressing (a sanitary napkin/pad will do in a pinch), and wound closure strips in your first aid kit.

You should only administer what first aid you know and are comfortable with. Do not exceed your knowledge or experience and keep in mind not all countries have Good Samaritan laws that legally protect you for providing first aid.

Depending on your first aid knowledge and inherent risk in your activities, consider adding a a pocket mask or shield for CPR to your first aid kit to prevent communicable diseases during rescue breathing.

#4 Headlamp

Much more convenient than a handheld flashlight/torch, a headlamp lights the way while enabling you to keep both hands free. I've used mine for everything from camping in the Indian desert, to barbecuing on the beach in Maui, to reading under the covers trying not to annoy my sister when we share a room on the road.

I learned the hard and stupid way to get a headlamp with easy access to the battery. It's no good to you if your battery dies and you can't change it in the dark. Especially if you're trekking the uneven steps of the Inca Trail pre-dawn...

Make sure it takes a common battery and you have extras. I recommend a model with variable brightness and a strobe mode in case of emergencies - bonus points if it is waterproof like the Lightom Waterproof Headlamp from Amazon.ca.

#5 A Strong Adhesive (Duct tape and superglue)

Okay so I kind of cheated and lumped these two together, but they're in the same family so they'll be lumped together the same way my siblings and I were. Except these aren't lumped in the troublemakers category - quite the opposite.

Duct tape is the lazy handyman's best friend and so it is for the traveller too. I've used my trusty tape to cover a rip in my backpack, repair a pair of flip flops, stop a blister in its tracks, secure plugs in outlets, seal up leaky shampoo bottles, and even fix a tent pole. It is ridiculously handy. But who wants to schlep a full roll of it around? Not me. So here's a small solution: wrap a length of duct tape around a pencil, pen or mini permanent marker. Now you have an on-the-go tape roll that pulls double duty as a writing implement.

Of course, there are mini rolls of duct tape and the like available at some hardware stores or online through places like Amazon.ca

As for our friend superglue, it performs the same repair magic but on a smaller or more delicate scale. I've used it to stick the sole of a shoe back down, fix a broken fingernail, tack a button back to its thread, and fix a crack in a canteen.

Be sure to get a nonflammable glue if you plan on taking it on the plane. Most come in mini tube multipacks and are available at any superstore or hardware store.

That's all the tiny travel hacks for today, folks! Have a travel essential you don't leave home without? Share it in the comments below.