What is a travel gear hack? Often overused, the term ‘hacking’ has been described, in part, as ‘an appropriate application of ingenuity.’ To me, most hacks are about using everyday items in creative ways. Travel gear hacks use things in ways that are different from their intended purpose. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some of my favourite travel gear hacks.

1. Currency separators

Make currency sleeves for banknotes by cutting the desired size from one of the corners of a plastic page protector. Organize them by country. Notes remain dry when they’re close to the body in a security pouch or hidden pocket. Keep coins, by currency, separated in small craft zip-top bags. While in transit, these will help you stay organized. If you’re likely to visit that country again, save leftover currency to kickstart your needs on the next trip.

2. Inside luggage tag

An inside luggage tag is not visible to passersby. Therefore, it could include information such as your home address and telephone number. It could also list the contact information and dates of all your accommodation bookings. Slip it into a plastic page protector and put it on top of what’s packed in the main compartment of your bag. Post a copy on the fridge or bulletin board for stay-at-home family members or friends.

3. Earbud manager

Say goodbye to the tangled cords of wired in-ear headphones.

Use a credit-card-sized hotel key or depleted gift card. Cut a groove in each end to create a wrapping channel. Make a small slit at one end of the wrapping channel to receive the jack. Take some fine sandpaper to smooth any rough edges. Place the jack in the slit and start wrapping. Secure the wrapped cord with a sturdy hair elastic. This works perfectly for my Bose SoundTrue Ultra in-ear headphones.

4. Emergency cash stash

By stashing emergency cash in a few different places, chances are you’ll have access to at least one of them in an emergency. For each place, choose a single undamaged note in a currency and denomination that will be easy to change. Protect notes with a zip-top craft bag or cling wrap if they’re likely to come in contact with tape, perspiration, moisture, or residue from the original product of a repurposed container.

Create hiding places such as under the insole of a shoe, or in secret pockets in clothing. If you’re fastening a stash to the inside of a bag with duct tape, use tape that’s the same colour as your bag. Or, hide cash in plain view in unlikely containers. Look for possibilities on dollar store shelves, or among your discarded containers. Dental floss? BAND-AID® dispenser? Lip balm? Stick deodorant? There are lots of possibilities.

5. Duct or gaffer’s tape fob or card

Leave the bulky roll of tape at home. Take a small amount. Make a key fob by rolling a section of tape around a cylinder-shaped object such as a short piece of pencil or plastic tubing. Attach a curved piece of sturdy wire from a coat hanger or paper clip and start wrapping.

Or, make a flat version using a plastic card such as a hotel room key or depleted gift card as the core. Punch a hole in the card for attaching to a daypack with a carabiner or lightweight cable. You might be interested in Travelling with duct tape for a description of the many uses of duct tape when travelling.

Here’s a description of how to make a fob, compliments of Strobist. Of course, you could always wrap shorter lengths of different widths and different colours around other items in your bag. Water bottle? Hiking poles? Containers used for toiletries or first aid supplies?

6. No more dangling straps or webbing

Are you faced with dangling straps after tightening shoulder, sternum, and waist straps? A short-term hack is to roll up the offending portions and secure them with duct tape, gaffer tape, or a durable hair elastic or elastic band.

However, a better long-term solution is to use the brilliant little plastic clips called Web Dominators. Take a look at Tame dangling straps with Web Dominators for more information.

7. Cord minders

Twist ties do the trick but they wear out and involve too much twisting for my liking.

Dollar store hair clips do a decent job. Or better still, clips that fasten orchid stems to plant stakes are stronger and less likely to break than the cheaper dollar-store variety. A simple pinch provides access. Leave the clip attached to the cord while in use and it’ll never go astray. Placing a different colour on each cord makes it easier to grab the right one at a glance. They weigh next to nothing, so toss a couple of spares into your gadget bag.

Fast forward several years and I’ve succumbed to a commercial product that’s versatile enough to perform many functions, including cord-minder capabilities. While I still use hair and orchid clips, they’re not as robust as Nite Ize Gear Ties in various colours and lengths. 

8. Sanitize with denture cleanser tablets

To remain healthy, a refillable water bottle needs be cleaned often, and sanitized on a regular basis. At a minimum, once a week should do it. However, if you’re in the habit of using electrolyte-enhanced drink tabs or filling your bottle with something other than water, it should be sanitized more frequently. Bacteria love dark, moist areas. An unrefrigerated water bottle is an ideal environment for them to thrive. Washing daily with dish soap and warm water, and leaving it overnight to dry isn’t always a practical option for travellers. Never fear, denture cleanser tablets are a viable alternative. Each effervescent tablet comes in an individually wrapped foil-sealed packet. Drop one in a water bottle filled with water, and leave it for the amount of time according to the directions that come with the product. If possible, follow up by cleaning with a bottlebrush.

9. Earring minder

Travelling with earrings? Keep each pair together with a button. Slip each earring post into one of the holes in the button.

10. Hat leash

Without an adjustable chin strap or drawcord and toggle to tighten the crown of a hat, chances are it won’t do its job in windy conditions. One strategy is to clip the hat to clothing to at least prevent the hat from blowing away. I’ve used a section of worn-out wired in-ear headphones with the original plastic clip attached. The clip attaches to clothing, and the plastic-coated wires in decent shape can pass for an acceptable lightweight leash to fasten to an adjustable toggle strap.

11. Emergency toilet paper

My search for the best way to carry emergency toilet paper started with travel packs of three-ply tissues. They’re lightweight, compact, and serviceable, and remain protected in their cellophane packets. Carry one in your day bag, with a back up in your main bag.

12. Packing organizers

For cheaper packing organizers, cruise dollar store aisles for cloth pencil cases, filing materials, and bags designed for cosmetics and laundry. Repurpose packaging (e.g., zippered sheet or pillow case packet, plastic envelope) or look for other alternatives around the home or in the workplace. Ziploc® and other zip-top bags are really handy as packing organizers, but they’re prone to rip when subjected to the rigours of travel. Plus they’re hard on the environment when discarded. Try reinforcing them with duct tape. The lifespan of a swimsuit bag was extended using this approach. Seventy hours after a morning swim and a flight home from Singapore, my damp swimsuit was in perfect condition in its airtight bag.

13. Empty storage containers

A contact lens case is great for products where a little goes a long way, or to store rings or small earrings. Cut the case into two separate containers and they’ll squeeze nicely into a corner of your 3-1-1 bag or comfort pack. Tic Tac® containers have a small opening so they’re useful for contents such as spices or soap powder. A tinted prescription bottle filters out the UV light that degrades most medication. Therefore, one with a wide mouth is useful as a very small first-aid kit. When hiking or camping, keep matches and a section of striking pad in an empty watertight container. For a solid striking surface, attach the striking pad to the inside of the lid.

14. Secure zippers on bags

I’m not sure what is the intended use of lightweight aluminum cables, but I find they’re perfect for securing zippers on my daypack to make it as difficult as possible for pickpockets who usually rely on a quick grab and run. Alternatives to locks include safety pins, twist ties, and S-biner clips … whatever works to anchor zippers or bundle two or more zipper toggles together to delay or discourage a thief.

15. Socks

Use a spare sock as a safe. Stuff money or a financial card into the sock and secure it to the inside of clothing with a safety pin. Use a sock, or pair of socks, as a shoe bag, or in a pinch, mittens.

For other ideas, see MacGyver kit for travellers. You might also be interested in Cruise dollar store aisles for travel products. Many of my favourite travel gear hacks use products from dollar store shelves.

What are your favourite travel gear hacks?

 

Care to share the Pinspiration?

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