Travel Gear

Gadgets which work

1. A universal plug stopper. Works much better than an old sock when washing out your clothes in the room.
2. A travel clothesline. Multi use as a sun shade, curtain (when combined with a sarong) also good as a clothesline! It consists of several twisted lines so no pegs involved. Lasts for years too.
3. A shoulder holster style money belt. Hangs over the shoulder and under your arm. Hangs free so not hot and sweaty like a belt around your waist. Therefore you will wear it - which makes it a lot more secure than leaving it your bag! Will show if you wear skin tight tops - but you probably are past the age of looking good in those anyway!
4. Power adaptors. Bring only the ones you need to run your electronics. If you don't have any electronics you don't need one in which case this item moves down the page!
5. Zip lock bags. The type you get from the supermarket. Excellent for storing anything that will make a mess if it escapes. Can double as a toiletry bag as well. I also use larger heavy plastic bags that many shops provide with your purchase to contain shoes and underwear and anything else that needs to be kept separate. Supermarket bags don't last the distance.
6. Shower Gel. Can be used to substitute for hand laundry (not in a washing machine though - it gets a bit bubbly!) , shampoo and even as shower gel. Doesn't get mushy like soap kept in a box. Fairly easy to replace worldwide - the cheaper brands may split though - use a zip lock bag!
7. Foldaway day pack . Made of nylon will fold into themselves into literally next to nothing. Get a decent brand and it will last surprisingly well even when overloaded with water bottles and guidebooks.
8. Alarm clock. Unless you have some other gadget with an alarm function (e.g. a watch, ipod, laptop), it can be quite for the odd 4;0am start. Small is good, but load is essential!
9. Several padlocks with number codes not keys. Set the code to something you CAN easily remember e.g. your birthday or house number! Keys just disappear automatically, especially in foreign countries - its a law of nature.

Gadgets which are a waste of money

1. Bum bags. They appear to have "steal me" written on them. They also do not flatter anyone's body shape!
2. Packing cubes. Fulfill the same function as a plastic bag but are a) not moisture proof or b) free
3. Mosquito nets. Unless you are undertaken an expedition to Amazonian villages or darkest Africa (in which case your tour company will advise you). Everywhere else in the world cheap accommodation provides mosquito nets - if it doesn't find one that does!
4. Travel soap, travel laundry powder. Here "travel" is code for its a small size but you will pay lots of money for it.
5. Pac safe. The brand name for a metal mesh which covers your pack and protects it from slashers and allows you to lock it to whatever. Unfortunately it also says in international language - "steal me - I'm worth it!". I've never met anyone who has had their packs slashed. If you need to attach a pack to something for security - a short chain (a goat chain is my guess) - is readily purchasable in the local bazaar and a padlock will work well.
6. Water purifying filters or chemicals. The world basically splits into countries where tap water is not fit to drink, in those countries drinking water is cheaply and universally available. Otherwise you can drink the tap water -buy a bottle and re-use it. Specialist water bottles fit in this category as well.
7. Specialist camera bags and laptop bags especially if they have well-known brand names on them. These again say "steal me". The more expensive your stuff - the more important it is to have it in an ordinary, grubby no-name bag.

Other stuff

1. Sleeping bags. Probably not needed unless you are going to some very cold places in the developing world (Nepal, parts of China, parts of India, northern Vietnam). Note that many hostels/ hotels in developed countries now ban sleeping bags because they spread bed bugs.
2. Camping gear - unless you are actually camping you don't need a stove or a tent.