Minimalist Travel Essentials: My Top 15 Tiny Travel Accessories
Packing light may sound straightforward, but it took a lot of practice and mistakes to refine and get to the point where I’m happy with my choices. Now I can travel the world with only a daypack – and know I have everything I need, without feeling like I’m missing out. I’ve probably spent far too many hours obsessing over weights, functionality and deciding what brings me joy when on the road, but the effort of choosing carefully has been worth it. Everything I now bring I enjoy using and is genuinely useful.
Here, I’m sharing some of those favourite things, which come with me on every trip. All tick the lightweight, aesthetically pleasing and genuinely useful boxes and have shown themselves to be durable too. As far as minimalist travel goes, making use of what you have is the golden rule, and that’s often the best way, but if you’re looking to make some intentional purchases, I hope this list will be of some use to you.
Wanting to Lighten Your Load? Here’s Some Things That Will Help
And here are some more posts on packing like a minimalist
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My favourite Mini but mighty travel accessories
✅Keep it Simple • ➖Less is More • 🎒Baggage Freedom
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1. Ultralight Power Bank
The Iniu 10,000mAh 45W power bank is one of the lightest and most compact in its class and is often sold with a choice of colours. My sunny yellow one makes me happy and is easy to locate. A change from black!
Weight: 163g including cable
- Powerful enough to charge both my phone and laptop
- 10,000mAh 45W power bank
- One of the lightest for this spec
- 2 USB-C and USB-A ports
- Digital readout to show remaining charge
- Pass through charging
- A little USB-C to USB-C cable attached by magnets, so one nice neat tidy package
👉Check out the INIU 10,000mAh 45W with USB-C Cable
2. International Power Charger
Many International travellers bring power cords and plugs and then plug them into an International travel adapter to fit the correct size socket at their destination. If you travel solely with items charged by USB-C or USB-A and not too many of them, you may be able to leave the bulky International travel adapter at home and just bring a plug with interchangeable ends for everything.
I mostly travel in Europe, so this set up fits me perfectly. These three plug ends covers most countries. I’m missing type D (used in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Namibia), type M (South Africa) and type H (used exclusively in Israel, although Type C is used there too) and type I (Australia and New Zealand). All these ends can be bought cheaply locally if needed, so I’m happy to save the space and leave an International travel adapter block at home.
Weight: 164g (the set)
- Enough capacity to charge a laptop (check individual models) as well as phones and other electronic devices if combined with a suitable fast charge USB-C to USB-C cable
- Fits flat to the wall – light, it doesn’t drag, pull or fall out of sockets
- Folding US pins (type A) fits Type A and Type B sockets
- 3 pin (type G – UK, Malta, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Malaysia parts of Asia, Caribbean and others)
- 2 pin (type C – European plug which also works in type E, F, J, K plug sockets).
👉 You can buy the Anker 65W PD Gan Wall Charger – UK/US/Europe on Amazon
3. Colour E-reader
My Kobo Clara Colour E-Reader saves bringing real books. I love the fact that it integrates with my library card (via overdrive) which means I can borrow books for free, rather than paying for them as I did with my Kindle*. While I research trips on the internet, I still like traditional guidebooks. Thanks to a switch from black and white Kindle to a colour Kobo, I can enjoy reading them on a colour screen which brings maps, photos and charts to life. It’s a very soft colouring though, a very different and more restful experience than reading on a tablet or phone.
Weight: 173g excluding case
- Lightweight, glare-free and ideal for travel
- Saves phone battery
- allows reading ‘distraction free’ from phone notifications
- Colour screen is excellent, especially when reading guidebooks and maps
- links to overdrive for borrowing books from library for free or from other providers such as Borrowbox
👉Check out the Kobo Clara Colour E-Reader
- Overdrive integration varies from country to country, so check for your home country before deciding whether Kobo or Kindle work better for you. For me, in UK, Kobo is the more straightforward option for borrowing books from the library using Overdrive.
4. Tracker – Alternative to Airtags
This is a lightweight, budget friendly tracking alternative to Apple AirTags. I’ve been using Chipolo for over a year and have kept checking for accuracy and I’ve been impressed. You can attach it to keys or anything else with the attachment hole. There are credit card shaped ones too. Reassurance, especially for the forgetful minimalist!
Weight: 8g for a pop tracker
- Chipolo pop syncs with Android (Find My Device app) and Apple (Find My app). Other chipolo products work with one or other, not both.
- locate your items with the app or by making the chipolo tracker ring from the app
- Comes in various colours, singles or packs of four
- Battery lasts about a year and is easily changed
👉 Check out Chipolo pop
5. USB-C to USB-A
A tiny USB-C to USB-A adapter is always useful. There’s plenty of USB-A charging ports about, especially in public spaces, train or bus seats and hotel rooms. This little adapter lets me take advantage of these ports with a USB-C to USB-C fast charge cable, without bringing a second cable.
Weight: 3g
I have a couple of these, including one I keep in my wallet, so it’s always with me when out an about.
6. Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
Leave lotions and potions plus hair conditioner at home and use this one luxury product for everything. I just pack the 30L size bottle of NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil . I could decant into a smaller plastic bottle, but I like keeping it in the nice glass bottle.
Weight: 90g for a nearly full 30g glass bottle
- Formulated to work on hair, face and body with scent too.
- Feels luxurious and like a treat to use.
- One little bottle replaces all face and body lotions.
- Great hair detangler and hair treatment. Much pefer it to solid conditioners and many liquid hair conditioners too.
- Very effective face moisturiser
- Scented, vegan
- A little goes a long way.
👉Check out NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
7. Soap Dry Bag
I don’t think I’d travel with sold toiletries, without a soap dry bag . Essential for storing your solid toiletries.
Weight: 10g
- Stops moisture leaching out to everything else in your toiletry bag.
- Dries out the solid toiletries inside and stops them going soggy. Particularly useful if you need to pack things up, before your solid toiletries have had a chance to dry out.
- Has a suction cup so it sticks to the shower wall.
- A dupe for the Matador Soap Bag which isn’t always easy to source for a reasonable price in Europe. The Matador one doesn’t have a clip and sucker but you may well be able to attach one.
👉Check out Travel Buddy Soap Dry Bag
8. Laundry Sheets
I’ve been a committed sink washer, when travelling, for a long time. Hotel shampoo or a bar of soap will do for a few washes, but there’s a place for proper laundry detergent too. If you’re using a washing machine at your accommodation or a public laundromat and washing detergent may not be provided, or it may be a mystery product you don’t want to risk using. Hunting for a small box of washing powder in a local supermarket becomes a sport that’s rarely fun, and leaving behind most of it unused is deeply annoying. These laundry detergent sheets are ultralight and airport security friendly. Bring as few or as many as you need. I use them at home now as well as away.
Weight: 4g per sheet
- Easier for travel than liquid detergent or powder
- Ultra-compact and mess-free
- Effective cleaning for both machine and hand washing
- Sheets can be torn in half for small washes
- Cost Effective
👉Check out Dr. Beckmann Laundry Detergent Sheets
9. Loop Quiet 2 Earplugs
Whether it’s the noise of public transport or a late-night party you didn’t sign up for, a good pair of earplugs can make all the difference. I’m not a fan of the foam ones – these Loop earplugs are a definitely an upgrade. The little loop makes them easy to remove, so you’re not left awkwardly fishing around in your ear.
Weight: 10g including case
- Powerful 24 dB noise reduction to muffle unwanted noise
- great for travel and sleep
- Comfy to wear with a range of ear tip sizes
- Reusable and easy to clean with carry case
- Other options, some with adjustable volume control, various colours
👉Check out the Loop Quiet 2 earplugs
10. Credit Card Sized Mult-Tool
Okay, I’ll admit it – this one appeals to the geek in me. But this Victorinox Swisscard multi-tool genuinely brings me joy every time I use it. It’s a compact and ultralight way to carry a surprising number of useful little things – all tucked into something the size and shape of a credit card. While it might be tiny, you’re still getting the Swiss made precision engineering, you expect from Victorinox. This is designed to last. a perfect gift too, for your minimalist travel buddy.
Weight: 26g
There are several variations of Victorinox Swisscard available with different combinations of tools, but I rate this one for its mix of practicality and travel-friendliness.
- Credit Card Sized handy multitool
- Scissors, nail file, tweezers, toothpick, magnifying glass
- Pen, screwdriver tips, ruler
- ‘Nailcare’ version has no no blade – I’ve taken it on numerous flights without issue
👉 Check out Victorinox Swisscard multi-tool
11. Ultralight 15L Daypack
At 15L this packable daypack is a perfect size to store everything you might need for your day. It’s lighter and smaller than any others I’ve found. It’s also cute and comes in a range of colours, along with a whole famly of other bags including totes and crossbody bags. Put this in your pocket and be prepared, whether it’s somewhere to store an extra layer when the weather changes, a shopping trip, picnic, laundry bag or for a day at the beach.
Weight: 30g
- Ultralight packable bag
- lightest and most compact in class
- rain resistant
- very strong
- choice of designs and styles
👉 Check out Nanobags
12. Ultralight Umbrella
Useful for sudden showers and hot sunny days. This ultralight umbrella is lighter than a raincoat and often more practical in warm climates. I know many would say an umbrella is one of the first things to ditch when you’re packing light, but I would say, it depends how heavy and bulky it is and where you typically go on holiday.
Weight: 92g
- Sturdy umbrellas tend to be heavy. While this one won’t do well in high winds, it does a pretty good job most of the time.
- Light enough to go unnoticed in your bag, which means it’s there when you need it.
👉Check out Fulton Ultralight Umbrella
13. Buff or Lightweight Scarf
I normally bring a buff with me, or a light scarf. This has many uses.
Weight: 30g
Some uses for a buff:
- Scarf for decoration or to keep your neck warm or protected from the sun
- Headband
- Head cover (e.g. for mosques and some churches)
- Twist in the middle, and tuck one half inside the other to make a beanie
- Wear as balaclava or snood, eye mask and or face mask
👉Check out Coolnet Uv Buff
14. Ultralight stainless Steel water bootle with cup
I saw these Dopper water bottles everywhere when I was working in the Netherlands, I was first attracted by the shape, something a little different from the ordinary and then I saw it wasn’t just a quirky design, it had some pretty cool and unique features too.
So here it is. It comes in lots of colours and sizes. There’s completely plastic ones and heavier insulated ones. This particular one hits the sweet spot for me, as it’s stainless steel, so take hot drinks, but it’s not insulated, so it remains ultralight, it’s just shy of half a litre, so not too big and not too small.
(Not pictured in the top flat lay photo)
Weight: 138g
- Opens in two places, at the top, like a traditional water bottle, and a little way down, so the top so you could use the top as a cup.
- Ultralight at 138g and 490ml
- Stainless steel, BPA free, with leakproof silicon stopper
- Simple screwtop, so it’s not going to accidentally ‘pop’ open
- Quality product, sustainable from Certified B
15. Crossbody Phone Lanyard
Finally, I’ve found a solution, for my phone. Helpful for theft – if you’re going to steal it, you’re going to take me with it! but more so, because I am so prone to lay it down on a surface and forget it, Also for those times when you’re trying to take a photo, leaning over a railing, or on a boat, where it would be so easy drop your phone and lose it forever.
I tend to wear it with a crossbody bag or sling, so the lanyard’s not noticeable, especially if colour matched to my bag. But the big advantage is, I can keep my phone in my pocket, not in my bag, but know it’s secure there, either from theft or accidentally falling out. Also convenient, as I don’t have to keep opening and closing my bag every time I want to use my phone and more secure too, as my bag stays securely shut. There’s no point using a secure anti-theft bag or using carabiners, if you fail to keep them done up!
(Not pictured in the top flat lay photo)
Crossbody Phone Lanyard
- high quality nylon cord, adjustable length worn any which way you want
- securely attached to your phone from a loop fed through the charging slot on your phone case
- universal attachment system, should work with most phones and your existing phone case
👉 Check out the Cocases Crossbody Phone Lanyard
I wouldn’t claim there’s a single perfect list – every journey is different – but what I’ve learned is that a few carefully chosen items make all the difference. If you’d like to see how this fits into the bigger picture, I have more. Here’s my 4 season travel capsule wardrobe which fits in a small underseat bag, a minimalist toiletries list, my ultralight tech kit and a pouch set including ‘just in case’ items should that interest you too.
Do you have any mini travel essentials you bring on every trip? Do you have any recommendations? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks for Reading!
Thank you so much for putting together this excellent page! I so appreciate the validation for traveling light. I’m packing for 90 days in New Zealand where I know I will do a lot of second hand shopping, (and donating back). I’m bringing a change of clothes plus an extra shirt and top and bottom lightweight merino layers. You are an inspiration.
Thank you so much. So glad you found the page useful. And enjoy New Zealand. It’s a long time since my trip to New Zealand, but I do remember a good range of weather! So the merino will come in handy. I also remember getting well acquainted with those merino sheep, when they were wandering along the road!