The 20 Travel Essentials We Never Leave Home Without
Whether we're road tripping through the Canadian Rockies, exploring Switzerland by train, or heading out for a weekend camping adventure with the kids, we've learned that travelling light doesn't mean sacrificing comfort.
After years of travelling as a family of four, we've narrowed our packing list down to gear we genuinely use every single trip. These are the products that earn a permanent spot in our backpacks because they make travelling easier, more comfortable, and far less stressful.
If you're looking to simplify your packing list this season, here are the 20 travel essentials we never leave home without.
Clothing & Footwear
1. Travel Shorts (His & Hers)
KÜHL KALYPSO™ 7" Short (Cassie)
KÜHL Shift Amphibia Short (Matt)
The first thing we pack for any warm-weather trip is a pair of versatile travel shorts.
For me, that's the KÜHL KALYPSO™ 7" Short. They're lightweight, incredibly comfortable on long travel days, technical enough for hiking, and stylish enough that I don't feel underdressed wandering a mountain town or grabbing dinner afterwards. I love finding clothing that can seamlessly transition from trail to town because it means packing less without sacrificing versatility.
Matt practically lives in the KÜHL Shift Amphibia Short. They're built for the way we travel—one minute we're hiking, the next we're jumping into an alpine lake or paddling with the kids. Their quick-drying fabric makes them ideal for active adventures where you never quite know what the day will bring.
Why we love them:
Comfortable for long travel days
Lightweight and breathable
Quick drying
Perfect for hiking, sightseeing and everyday wear
Easy to pack thanks to their versatility
2. Our Favourite Travel Shoes
If there's one shoe every member of our family owns, it's the Native Jefferson.
They're lightweight, waterproof, incredibly easy to clean, and comfortable enough for all-day adventures. Whether we're exploring European cities, visiting splash parks, wandering beaches, camping, or simply heading out for coffee, they always make the packing list.
The kids practically live in theirs all summer, and we love that they dry almost instantly after getting wet.
3. My Go-To Rain Jacket
Mountain weather changes fast.
Instead of packing bulky rain gear, I always bring my Cotopaxi Cielo Rain Jacket. It's lightweight enough to live in my backpack but dependable enough to keep me comfortable when afternoon storms roll in.
Whether we're hiking in the Rockies or exploring Switzerland, it's one layer I never regret bringing.
4. The Sun Shirts Matt & I Wear All Summer Long
Outdoor Research Echo Sun Hoodie
Sun protection is one thing we never compromise on.
The Outdoor Research Echo Sun Hoodie has become one of our favourite hiking layers because it's incredibly lightweight, breathable and comfortable, even during hot summer adventures.
Rather than constantly reapplying sunscreen to our arms, we simply throw on our Echo hoodies and keep exploring.
5. Sun Protection for the Kids
Jan & Jul Sun-Protective Clothing
When you're travelling with young kids, sun protection is everything. We love Jan & Jul's lightweight UPF clothing because it keeps Aspen and River protected without needing to constantly stop and reapply sunscreen. Their hats, rash guards and lightweight clothing have become summer staples for every trip.
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6. Socks Worth Packing
Never underestimate the importance of great socks.
Whether we're hiking 20 kilometres in the mountains or walking 25,000 steps through a European city, Smartwool socks help regulate temperature, reduce moisture and keep our feet comfortable all day long.
They're one of those investments that make every adventure more enjoyable.
7. Comfortable Underwear for Long Travel Days
When you're travelling for weeks at a time, comfort becomes everything.
Huha underwear has become one of my favourite travel staples because it's breathable, incredibly comfortable and holds up beautifully during long travel days, hikes and everyday adventures.
Sometimes it's the smallest pieces of gear that make the biggest difference.
8. The Hat (or Toque) That's Always With Us
No matter the season, someone in our family is wearing an Ambler hat. They're comfortable, pack easily, and are perfect for everything from alpine hikes to coffee stops in mountain towns. Plus, we love supporting a Canadian company that shares our love of the outdoors.
Spencer Watson Photography (https://www.spencerwatson.ca/)
9. Cabin Comfort
This might sound like a luxury, but lightweight slippers are one of my favourite things to pack. Whether we're staying in hotels, mountain huts, Airbnbs or cabins, it's so nice to kick off hiking shoes at the end of the day and still have something comfortable to wear around indoors.
Bags & Organization
10. The Backpack I Take Everywhere
A good daypack might be one of the most important pieces of travel gear we own.
The Cotopaxi Batac 24L has become my everyday travel backpack because it's large enough to carry extra layers, snacks, camera gear, water bottles and plenty of kid essentials without feeling bulky.
One of my favourite features is that every Batac is made using repurposed fabric, meaning no two backpacks are exactly alike.
11. Packing Cubes That Keep Us Organized
Eagle Creek Pack-It® Essentials Set
Packing cubes have completely changed the way we travel.
Instead of digging through a messy suitcase every morning, everything has its place. Each member of our family gets their own cubes, making it easy to stay organized whether we're moving hotels every few nights or living out of a suitcase for two weeks.
Once you start travelling with packing cubes, it's hard to imagine going back.
12. Keeping Passports & Valuables Safe
Eagle Creek Undercover RFID Neck Wallet
When we're travelling internationally, keeping passports, cash and important documents secure is a priority.
The Undercover RFID Neck Wallet sits discreetly beneath your clothing, protecting your valuables while navigating busy airports, train stations and popular tourist destinations.
It's one of those small items that provides huge peace of mind.
Health & Sun Protection
13. Sunglasses We Never Leave Home Without
Whether I'm photographing mountain landscapes or hiking above the tree line, quality sunglasses are essential.
I love my Smith Bobcat sunglasses for their comfort, excellent eye protection and incredible lens clarity. The ChromaPop lenses make mountain scenery even more vibrant while reducing glare from snow, water and alpine terrain. Matt loves the Smith Lowdowns.
14. Sunscreen We Actually Enjoy Wearing
Supergoop! Sunscreen
If we're outside, we're wearing sunscreen.
Supergoop! has become our favourite because it feels lightweight, absorbs quickly and layers well under makeup without leaving a greasy residue.
It's one of the first things packed before every adventure.
15. Moodylips SPF Lip Balm
High elevations, dry climates and long days outside can quickly leave lips dry and sunburned.
A quality SPF lip balm lives in every backpack, jacket pocket and travel bag we own because it's one of those little essentials that's easy to forget—but impossible to replace when you need it.
16. Face Wipes for Long Travel Days
Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes
These are one of my favourite little travel luxuries.
Whether it's after a long-haul flight, a sweaty hike, a camping trip or an overnight train, there's something incredibly refreshing about being able to quickly clean your face before relaxing for the evening.
They're biodegradable, gentle on sensitive skin and don't leave behind a sticky residue.
17. Blume SuperBelly
One thing I've learned while travelling is that my gut definitely notices changes in routine. Between eating out more often, long travel days and different foods, I don't always feel my best.
Lately I've been packing Blume SuperBelly to help keep my gut happy while we're away. It's become one of those little wellness habits that's easy to stick with and helps me feel better throughout our trips.
Photography & Technology
18. Fujifilm Cameras
Fujifilm X100VI
Fujifilm X-H2
Photography is a huge part of our travels, so I never leave home without my cameras.
The Fujifilm X100VI is my favourite everyday travel camera. It's compact enough to carry everywhere while producing incredible images that make documenting our adventures effortless.
For hiking, wildlife, landscapes and content creation, I reach for my Fujifilm X-H2, which gives me the flexibility and image quality I need for both photography and video.
Together they're the perfect travel combination.
19. COROS Watches
Whether we're navigating a new hiking trail, tracking an all-day adventure or monitoring recovery between trips, our COROS watches come everywhere with us.
The battery life alone makes them ideal for travel, especially on multi-day hiking trips where charging opportunities are limited.
20. Portable Power
Our phones do everything while we travel.
They're our cameras, GPS, train tickets, translation devices and trip planners, which means they're constantly running.
A compact TORRAS Power Bank ensures we never have to worry about running out of battery halfway through an adventure.
It's one of those items we use every single day while travelling.
After years of travelling as a family, we've realized that the best packing list isn't necessarily the biggest one—it's the one filled with products you know you'll actually use.
Every item on this list has earned a permanent place in our bags because it solves a problem, makes travelling easier or simply helps us enjoy our adventures a little more.
Whether we're exploring the Canadian Rockies, hopping between mountain villages in Switzerland, or heading out on a weekend road trip closer to home, these are the 20 travel essentials we never leave home without.
What's one travel essential you refuse to leave home without? Let us know in the comments below—we're always looking for new favourites to test on our next adventure!
