Our Ultimate Packing List: The Travel Gear We Actually Use (and What You Don’t Need)
Our bunny Ginger has great packing advice for you
We’ve packed for Arctic ferries, jungle hikes, desert road trips, and one slightly questionable swamp tour in Louisiana. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, most packing lists are basically long-winded ways of telling you to buy more stuff.
This isn’t that.
This is the gear we actually use for every trip, regardless of the destination. The stuff that’s earned a permanent spot in our suitcase after being thrown around, rained on, and occasionally stolen (RIP Lonely Planet Indonesia, and shame on you, anonymous traveler who took it in our hostel). It’s not minimalism. It’s lagom. It’s just common sense, hard-earned from years of overpacking, underpacking… and repacking on the hotel floor.
While we won’t go into specific clothing since it greatly depends on the destination, we’ll stick to the essentials you’ll want to pack for just about any trip.
We’ll drop a few Amazon links because hey, they help keep this blog afloat. But this isn’t a sales pitch. It’s the list we send our friends when they ask, “Wait, what do I actually need?”
The essentials we actually pack — Every time
Luggage & carry essentials
A good suitcase — Big or cabin-sized depending on the trip (and the airline’s latest rules). We swear by hard-shell spinners that survive rough landings — literal and figurative. Most European airlines now charge you for cabin luggage and checked-in luggage, so it’s usually cheaper to check in one big suitcase for the two of us. More travel saving tips here!
👉 Try: American Tourister Soundbox or any other spinner model
A good backpack — Day hikes, city wanders, “we bought too much cheese” moments — it earns its keep.
👉 Try: Salomon Trailblazer 20l (a brand from the French Alps, where Eli is from), or for more space and great comfort, North Face Borealis
Everyday travel gear
Microfiber foldable towel — Packs tiny, dries fast, works everywhere. Hot springs in Iceland, waterfall swims in the tropics, floting saunas, random hostel showers — this towel’s seen it all.
👉 Try: Rainleaf Microfiber TowelReusable water bottle — Lightweight, refillable, saves money, saves the planet.
👉 Try: Hydrapak Stash BottleFlip flops — Hostels, night trains, surprise beach days, sketchy showers.
👉 Try: Roxy flip flops (Eli walked almost 20 miles in one go with these, although not recommended!).Comfy sneakers + real hiking shoes — Both come on every trip for us. Our low hiking shoes are versatile (we also have high GTX boots for off-season hiking), but it’s always a good idea to have another pair for lighter days, if your feet get tired or have blisters.
👉 Try: Salomon X Ultra (GTX high hicking boots), or a low model. We also find Nike Pegasus Trail to be really comfy and versatile, but we save them for dry days, as they deliver poorly on wet surfaces.
With a good backpack and good hiking shoes, you can go to the end of the world — here in Kalsoy, Faroe Islands
Electronics & tech must-haves
Universal adapter — The multi-port ones with USBs and USB-C. Because fighting over outlets is so 2010.
👉 Try: EPICKA Universal Travel AdapterHeadphones — For tuning out crying babies and those thin hostel walls, to meditate in the air, for whatever you want. And of course, to listen to Penguin Trampoline’s awesome travel playlists you’ll find in most of our articles! Be careful with wireless earbuds, they have a tendency to fall and be eaten by airplane seats. True story.
👉 Try: JBL Tune Wireless EarbudsPower bank — Especially in cold places where your phone dies waaay faster than your will to hike uphill, and for those long nights waiting for the northern lights. You don’t want to run out of battery when they show up!
👉 Try: Anker PowerCore 10000Mini tripod — Perfect for propping up your phone for Northern Lights shots in the middle of a frozen lake, or hands-free time-lapses. Small, lightweight, and fits in your daypack.
👉 Try: Joby GorillaPod Mini Tripod
Comfort & Sleep Essentials
Eye mask — Crucial if you’re heading north in summer (hello, 2 AM sunshine). Some airlines will give you one.
Socks for the plane — Because plane floors are cold and you don’t want to keep these sweaty sneakers on for 20 hours.
A couple of instant coffee sticks + herbal tea bags — Nothing fancy, just lifesavers for the first night and morning when stores are closed and you desperately need a warm drink.
The non-negotiables
Your personal essentials — Meds, contact lenses, stuff you’re unlikely to find in a tiny pharmacy at the end of the world.
Passport — And really… almost everything else? You’ll find it on the road if you’re not too picky. Seriously. Don’t overthink it, and it will take a lot of travel stress away.
Our mascot, Mac the Penguin — You can get your own travel buddy (but hands off Mac).
👉 Support the WWF by getting one of their stuffed animals or adopt a polar bear with Polar Bears International and get an adorable stuffed bear!
What we thought was a gimmick (but that we actually like)
Packing cubes — We rolled our eyes too… until we realized they’re great for not exploding our bags every two days. This comes very handy when you change accommodation very often or camp! Avoid the cheapest one: the zipper WILL break after one use.
👉 Try: Eagle Creek Pack-It Cubes
Beat the jet lag!
Jet lag hits harder when you jump time zones without giving your body a heads-up. We’ve learned (the hard way) that small habits — like adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before you fly, staying hydrated, and skipping that second glass of wine on board — actually work. Check our best tips here!
Stuff we wouldn’t buy again
Neck pillow — Bulky, annoying, and never as comfy as they claim. Let’s be real: Unless you can afford to fly in business or 1st class, you won’t be super comfy on a plane!
Big camera gear — Unless you’re a pro, your phone camera, or a compact camera, is probably enough. Especially if you’re lugging it up mountains.
👉 Try instead: A hybrid camera like the Canon Mark II, which is relatively lightweight and compact, and still offers amazing performance. Obviously, new iPhone cameras are excellent (for a phone).
Travel jacket with a million pockets — It sounded cool. It wasn’t necessary. A good hoodie will do the trick.
Penguin Trampoline tip:
And while you’re packing smart… don’t forget to pack peace of mind. Travel insurance is one of those things you hope you never need — but you’ll be glad you have. Get 5-15% off your Travel insurance with our partner HeyMondo!
Going somewhere cold?
You’ll want a few extra layers (and tips):
Because packing for polar climates is a whole different game.
Here is one of my favorite personal travel packing list to get inspired:
We’re not here to tell you how to pack — but after a few years on the road, this is what’s stayed in our bags. Pack smart, worry less, and you’ll probably have more fun.
And honestly? We always end up finding something awesome on the road we want to bring back — souvenirs, tshirts, random local gear, definitely food. Even Jake, who hates shopping, loooves to explore local shops. So do yourself a favor… and don’t leave home with a suitcase that’s already full.
