Not enough can be said for travelling light. One of the best decisions I ever made was free myself of all the clunky stuff that was holding me back, but that doesn’t mean get rid of “everything.” Some things, I simply cannot live without, and I’ve outlined these things for you here. From must-have-items, to items which will simply make your life much easier, I’ll list it all here, via affiliate links with a description to help you get on the road!
A proper 24 oz water bottle is a must have! Hydroflask is hands down, the best there is:
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Swimming trunks with zippered pockets are a must have, because you will probably never wear pants here again, and zippers keep your stuff nice and secure. Its not that you’re more likely to lose things here, its that losing things is much more of a problem in a foreign country. I like these because they come in 2 different lengths, and also have back pockets:
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Lets not forget our trusty passport wallet, as your passport will now be the most important document you own! I like this one because the fabric is nice against my skin, it has multiple antitheft features, its RFID, and the zippers are plastic and will not tear money:
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Also, Get yourself a good sun had, or as I like to call it, a jungle had! This one is super affordable, and comes with all the right features. It will protect you from the sun and the rain, its extremely packable, and its pretty sexy, to boot! One of my favorite things about this particular hat is the fact that the bottom brim is black, so it doesn’t reflect light into your eyes.
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Besides when you exercise, you likely will never wear shoes or socks again. That being said, get some sandals that will still protect your feet. The streets aren’t perfect in developing countries, and its nice to protect your toes whiles not suffocating your feet! These sandals are a perfect combination between sandals and shoes, and are hands down, the nicest pair of kicks I’ve ever owned:
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Next thing you should probably get, is some good, polarized sunglasses. Don’t waste your money on expensive ones from one of the designer brands, go with a company like this instead:
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Another smart grab before you go is a microfiber towel. Why? Because they pack super tightly, and I don’t think I need to explain why a towel would come in handy. This one here comes in large sizes and still backs super light and small:
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A theft proof travel backpack will make you feel much more secure on your travels, as you venture into a new world. Backpacks like this one, from pacsafe come with all the features and then some. I searched for month, and this was the greatest pack I was able to find. One of the best purchases I ever made:
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A rolling suitcase that is 22x14x9 airline approved for carry-on is also absolutely essential. Believe me when I tell you you want to avoid checking luggage at all costs when flying abroad. Locks and security are also important, and this suitcase checks all the boxes:
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Also, I’m a huge audiophile, and the plane flight is long. Travelling without a good set of headphones is a major bummer, and splurging on some good ones is definitely worth it. Also, electronics here in Cambodia are a bit hard to find, and I often find myself traveling to Thailand to purchase them. These ankers perfectly straddle the line between affordable and quality:
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Another item which will aid you on your journey, an external batter charger for your phone. For this, I strongly recommend anchor. Iphone is mostly an American phenomenon, and you’ll find that most people abroad actually use android, however this item will work for both.
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Make sure you get some extra UsbC cables as well, because losing power to your phone is *unacceptable* in 2025
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Another must have for most of us is a portable, light, and solid laptop. I looked through many different computers, but found that Lenovo Yogas were the best bang for the buck as far as computing power, toughness, and portability goes.
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Last but not least, get yourself a good Kindle! You can use https://libbyapp.com/ to check out books from US libraries on your kindle from anywhere in the world! And the coolest thing about these kindles is they use E-ink, so there’s no backlight shining into your eyes!
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