Travel gear we love

Packing is part art, part science. As such, it takes skill and practice.  We are forever in search of light,  packable gear that makes traveling easier. In general, though, bring only what you need on a trip.  Keep in mind that exotic locations may not give easy access to "essentials"  like sunscreen or over-the-counter medications. Brandon usually does a better job than me at paring it down. I will not travel without a first aid kit, an inflatable neck pillow, headphones (Bose noise cancellation over-the-ear for long flights, ear buds for short flights), a book, a collapsible water bottle and my passport (even on domestic trips, a habit I picked up when my wallet was stolen in San Francisco in 2001 and I could have used a back-up form of ID).   

Our favorite travel find to date is SCOTTeVEST. This online company had quality jackets and outerwear with numerous secure pockets. We own much of their catalog! We will each bring one or two SCOTTeVEST products with us per trip, depending on the expected climate. This is a routine part of making sure our belongings are secure.  

Good footwear can make or break a vacation. When flying, you can't bring all the shoes you might need, but a good walking shoe is important for most locations. Our favorite travel footwear is the Merrell Moab.  We each own this in several colors and bring a pair on most trips.  I do recommend at least 2 pairs of comfortable shoes for each trip. Your feet will thank you for switching shoes out!

We both like to use Pro Packing Cubes to organize our luggage, and we bring a separate laundry bag for dirty clothes. Though it can be hard to reliably find places to do laundry overseas, I do bring Purex 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets, which have detergent, fabric softener and anti-static treatments all in one sheet that can go from washer to dryer.  I don't usually like to slow down to do laundry while on vacation, but you can make it a little more enjoyable by bringing a little picnic with you, or by using the time to write post cards or plan out a few more elements for the remainder of your trip.  In Florence, we did laundry across the street from a restaurant, so we ate Florentine beefsteak for dinner while we kept an eye on our clothes!  That was the most fun I've had doing laundry ever!

Lastly, never ever travel without Febreze.  Ever.