Throughout years of reading countless travel blogs, I’ve seen countless articles on what people can’t travel without. What’s up with that? Where the representation here ladies and gentlemen?!

It’s time someone made this right, and published a list on what they can travel without. I am that someone. I am he. I am that guy. I am: The Saviour of the Unwanted Whatchamicallits.

My GoPro

Yes, my GoPro has served me well over these last two years, and yes, I have some great footage that I wouldn’t have without it but… I really didn’t get to use it nearly as much as I expected to. Over nine months of travelling, I had a grand total of nine opportunities to use the GoPro. Four of those were snorkelling, two I could have used my phone just as easily (and with far less hassle to get the videos after), and two activities were tours. On both tours the guides had their own action cameras which ended up producing far better content because they knew exactly where to get the best shots. There were a couple other times I could have made use of the GoPro, but it would have meant taking along an entire brace, batteries, and case, just for a single shot.

So I’m not saying it isn’t worth bringing a GoPro, I’m saying it’s not worth buying unless you plan on making certain videos and know you’ll put it to good use. My one exception is if you plan on diving a lot, in which case I absolutely think you should bring a GoPro!

Book of Hangman Pages

Rucksack Cover

I saw this recommended everywhere, and I’m honestly not sure why. Yes, my bag got a bit dusty, but I was backpacking, it’s not like I was expecting it to come out sparkling clean. Actually, my bag is sparkling clean, so… yeah, make of that what you will.

Rain could be an issue, but as I wasn’t travelling in the rainy season, I had no issues. It probably rained around 30 days through my nine months travelling (15 or so of those days being in South Thailand in early May), and not once did that give me any issues. Think about it, you only have your full backpack on travel days, so unless you travel extremely fast paced, you’re barely ever carrying it around. Add to that, how much time are you really in the open while on a travel day?! I barely was, and that’s coming from someone who took local transport over tourist buses whenever possible.

Again, rucksack covers are small, light, and cheap, so if you have one you might as well bring it along (like I did), but you may end up with it still in it’s package (as mine is).

Unfortunately, I have discovered through trial and error, I’m the only backpacker up for a game of hangman. : /

A Plan

Calm down guys, I know, I plan my trips more than anyone you know. Hell, I plan trips I’m never going to take! The thing is, I enjoy the planning aspect, so itineraries full to the brim with anything one might need to know while on the road… then I ignore them. I never follow my plan, because I never intend on them being followed. So I create’em, than scrap’em.

The one exception is that when there’s a festival or event I want to attend, I keep it in mind when going from place to place, and, if it’s a very popular event, I make sure I have accommodation booked ahead of time.

Guide Books

Why bring along a guide book when you can just subscribe to Sitch Travels?!

In all seriousness though, I actually love guidebooks I just find them too cumbersome to carry around. Instead, I save my favourite bloggers posts.

Hint hint 👀

Filtered Water Bottle

Here’s one that you should bring with you, it just doesn’t work for me personally.

Why?

Ask the three filtered water bottles I managed to lose in the last two trips.

Somewhere out there, there’s a bottle of Yosef’s lost cemeteries.

Ugh I really need to get some sleep.

My Keyboard

It doesn’t fit in my backpack.

Also, I can barely play.

A Grand Piano

It goes without saying doesn’t it?

Googly Eyes Luggage Tag

Hey, this is a list of things I can travel without, not what I will travel without. Google Eyes, don’t worry, I’m with you all the way.

A Wash Line

Yeah well this was a waste. 100% of the time I used a laundromat or a laundry service, there was a dryer to use. For the clothing I couldn’t put in the dryer, I found better places to hang them up than using them as a partition in the hostel dorm.

Seriously, hang it above the beds or something guys, I can’t duck under your dripping clothes every time I want to charge my phone or cry into my pillow.

“Someone” from the comment section

Someone is just a lot to handle and I just don’t have the time for his antics while I’m trying to enjoy my life. He should be happy I’ve taken him to exalted throne that is this blog.

Shoes…?

Yeah…. this one’s normally not accurate. I’ll be taking shoes wherever I go. Will I wear them? Now that’s a better question.

Retroactively, I’d tell my past self not to bother with bringing proper shoes to South East Asia, but that’s only because I like to dress super casual, timed my route to never be anywhere when it was cold, and I didn’t go hiking in Malaysia/Indonesia. If you’re going to be doing the same, a pair of crocs/flip-flops/beach sandals and some sturdy hiking sandals will serve you just fine.

Thus, my rant concludes. What’s something you thought was an absolute must to have while travelling only to find it about as useful as “smart” water.

Yeah.

I said that.

Come at me.

Oh also; You know what’s super unnecessary? Saying “No offence” after obviously trying to offend someone.

Me personally, I just say “not a lot of offence”.

If you say “No offence” when making fun of people… you’re a bit of a tool. Lot’s of offence.