Essential accessories for your travels

During your travels, you may have encountered problems, large or small, caused by unsuitable equipment:

In transit:

a travel bag dirtied, damaged or sometimes stuck in the baggage system because a strap caught in a conveyor belt, perhaps followed by a long wait to recover the missing luggage.
a backpack turned upside down at the airport during a painstaking inspection, with “non-compliant” items confiscated, such as an oversized shampoo bottle.

Once there:

Minor problems: unappealing washrooms with nowhere to put your belongings; bites from mosquitoes, midges, bedbugs or ticks; tedious packing and unpacking every morning and evening; a flat phone battery…
And major setbacks: stolen documents or money, questionable or unsafe water…

Whether on public transport, in the street, out in nature or at your accommodation, the right travel accessories help you stay comfortable and avoid problems.

Drawing on good and bad experiences, Rayon Rando reveals essentials to make travelling easier.

Practical yet compact, clever and reassuring: here are travel accessories for peace of mind.

1) Accessories for transporting and organising luggage

A rucksack transit cover, a compact, multipurpose accessory:

To avoid losing your rucksack in airport baggage systems. Straps can easily snag and pull it out of the sorting system.
To protect your rucksack from snags, dirt, weather and theft (by adding a padlock).
To spot it more easily (orange certainly stands out!).

Luggage scales

Whether checking weight before boarding or setting off on a Nepal trek, this small device tells you exactly how much your rucksack weighs so you can adjust its contents accordingly.

Packing organisers

These ultralight pouches separate your belongings easily (by category, for example: toiletries, safety, electronics, clothing, etc.). They help prevent leaving items behind wherever you stay. They also save time morning and evening when you change accommodation frequently.

A transparent pouch for liquids

Anyone who has flown knows the sometimes lengthy, tiresome baggage screening process. Security staff check liquids in particular for explosive risks. This pouch is designed to keep contents together and make inspection easier.

Travel bottles

Rigid or soft, these bottles are designed specifically for air travel. They hold no more than 100 ml (current regulations). Their compact size also prevents taking too much shampoo, shower gel, sunscreen or oil on hikes where every gram counts!

Eye mask, pillow and earplugs: a winning trio for good sleep

On long journeys or in noisy surroundings, blocking out light and sound makes for a more restful nap.

2) Travel accessories for everyday use

A daypack

Exploring with a small, easily unpacked daypack is more convenient than carrying your large travel rucksack, which can stay at your accommodation. A 15 to 25 L pack weighing no more than 300 g: why go without?

A power bank

You cannot always access suitable sockets, or even electricity. Carrying a power bank as backup is sensible, at least for your mobile phone. Sunslice offers around 1.5 charges from 5,000 mAh and 3 charges from 10,000 mAh. Learn more about batteries and solar power in this article.

A universal travel adaptor

In English-speaking countries, a universal travel adaptor lets you plug devices into wall sockets.

First aid kit

A compact kit with enough equipment to provide first aid for yourself or others. Remember your usual medicines, which may be unavailable locally.

Discreet travel money belt and neck pouch

Essential accessories for keeping money and documents close, secure and unobtrusive. Some use breathable or Coolmax fabrics for greater comfort.

A collapsible water bottle

Space is limited when travelling or hiking. Even drinking water has compact solutions, such as this Liquitainer 2 L bottle. Once empty, this very light bottle fits into a flat pocket.

3) Compact, practical hygiene accessories

A hanging wash bag

Lightweight, strong and above all practical: several pockets suited to toiletries, all accessible without dropping everything. A hanging hook avoids placing it on dirty or wet surfaces.

A folding toothbrush and hairbrush

Accessories like these save space, allowing a smaller wash bag that fits into a corner of your rucksack or suitcase.

Solid toothpaste or a mini tube

Take only the quantity you actually need.

Multipurpose soap and solid shampoo

Concentrated liquid soap is convenient when you have a hot shower. Multipurpose solid soap and solid shampoo rinse easily even in cold water or with little water.

A travel wash mitt

Like a microfibre towel, it wrings out and dries quickly without developing odours.

A pre-moistened wash mitt (for arid areas)

If your travels include a short desert trek, this type of mitt provides basic hygiene without a drop of water.

A microfibre towel

Conventional bath towels take up space, dry slowly and smell unpleasant if packed damp. To save space, choose an ultralight, compact, quick-drying towel that resists odours. A 120 x 60 cm towel weighing 72 g? It is possible!

A sleeping bag liner for uncertain accommodation

You cannot always know how fresh or good the bedding will be. Sturdy, comfortable cotton or silk liners pack into your hand without adding much bulk.

Bedbug spray

When you have no choice but to sleep in a suspicious-looking bed, this spray can spare you considerable discomfort.

4) Specific accessories for tropical travel

Mosquito repellent sprays

An essential for tropical travel. Compact and effective against mosquitoes, with DEET in the strongest formulations recommended for the tropics, or natural ingredients, particularly for children.

Fabric mosquito repellents are also available to treat clothing, sheets or mosquito nets.

A treated bed mosquito net

More than a simple mesh, a treated net keeps mosquitoes away. It particularly prevents bites through the mesh when your body touches it. Essential for peaceful nights in tropical countries.

A head mosquito net

A head net provides a physical barrier, avoiding the need to spray repellent on your face. You can even breathe! Particularly useful against Scottish midges or when insects swarm in tropical countries.

Water filtration in high-risk areas

In some countries, access to safe drinking water is difficult or uncertain. Viruses may be far more prevalent than in France. At RayonRando, we offer 3 effective solutions against viruses, bacteria and protozoa:

Micropur Forte tablets. One tablet for 1 litre, effective in 30 minutes.
UV water treatment. Eliminates viruses in clear water without affecting taste. Rechargeable, for many years of use.
The many filters from MSR, Katadyn, LifeStraw, Water-to-Go, etc. treat bacteria and protozoa. Combine with Micropur for complete effectiveness.
The MSR Guardian filter. Bulkier, but very effective for treating large water volumes. Its filter treats up to 10,000 litres and is also effective against viruses. Ideal for long treks.

5) A few clever accessories

Folding or inflatable coat hangers

An everyday item at home, but not necessarily found in accommodation everywhere. If you have an evening dress or suit to keep in good condition, add one to your suitcase.

A suction hook:

Hang towels or clothes in bathrooms that are not always clean, or where there is nowhere to put them.

Manual compression bags

You probably know vacuum bags for compressing clothes. Since packing a vacuum cleaner or finding one at every accommodation is unlikely, manual compression bags do the same job: compressing clothes to save suitcase space.

A cash-stash keyring and money belt

When travelling, spreading money between different hiding places is sensible. This keyring goes unnoticed. The hidden-cash belt is also difficult to steal without you noticing…

Conclusion:

Packing your travel bag involves limited space and weight, both for comfortable travel and, where applicable, airline limits. These travel essentials are therefore practical, compact and lightweight.

When closing an overfilled suitcase, ask yourself these 3 questions: do I need this equipment to:

Protect my health, safety and luggage security?

Make daily travel life easier and simpler?

Reduce the risk of problems and hassle?

This helps you remove the unnecessary while keeping what matters.