Whenever I head out the door on a new adventure I tuck my "Go Bag" in to the corner of one of my bags. Through the years I've added to and subtracted from this bag until I've reached the balance between being prepared for every situation (not gonna happen) and being able to come up with a solution to a whole lot of situations.
I'm the kind of gal who can drive for hours without turning on the radio because I entertain myself with different "what if" scenarios. It's a game that goes like this: "What if I was traveling in the amazon jungle and my pecky peck (boat) sprung a leak, my paddle broke (as in up a creek without a paddle) and I was about to become lunch for a hungry animal." With my "go bag" near at hand I could grab the inflatable pillow, duck tape it around my waist as a flotation device in case the following steps fail. 1) Slap a ziplock bag over the hole in the boat securing it with duck tape and keeping it weighted down by my foot (this is because duck tape doesn't hold all that well when wet but I had to use it because it is used for everything), 2) grab the flashlight, position it across the break in the paddle as reinforcement and duck tape them together, and 3) scream like a lunatic while trying to look inedible - sorry, even duck tape won't keep hungry animals away.
The essential 'go' bag and a few of their uses
- ziplock bags - snacks, leftovers, slit the edge and make a rain hat, put wet or dirty clothing in it
- duck tape - repair broken luggage, shoes, and just about everything
- sharpie - label things, write your name on your arm in disasters, graffiti
- scissors - trim your bangs, open things
- safety pins - repair clothing, hold just about anything together, connect things
- clamps - clamp your silk bag (below) to something to make a changing station, put up a clothesline
- Travel clothes line or cord - hanging laundry or tying things together
- carabiner - hook things on a belt loop, hang your water bottle/bag on a bus/plane seat hook
- filtered water bottle - in emergency situations you can purify water for hydration
- sarong/scarf - cover up at religious sites, warmth on chilly days, throw to sit and relax on the ground
- wind up flashlight - no need to depend on batteries, just crank this flashlight for power
- inflatable pillow - you never know when you need to catch a few zzz's
- travel blancket - plane, bus, blanket, picnic throw, use inside questionable bedding. Other options are bulkier fleece travel blankets.
There is not room to list all the ways I have used these things, but with the right "go bag" and a little imagination you will be amazed what these little items can accomplish.
Here are some samples of the items mentioned above which I own and use:
Love it! It is small, lightweight and never needs batteries. The crank keeps it charged up and ready to use.
Travelrest Inflatible Pillow
I just received this travel pillow for Christmas and I am really looking forward to trying it out! I am a side sleeper so this should allow me to roll to the side a bit and get the support I need without a big roll behind my neck.
Cocoon CoolMax Blanket
- 100% Polyester
- Imported
- Measures 55"x70"
- Ultra compact and lightweight Travel Blanket
- The CoolMax Travel Blanket is the perfect companion on planes, trains, in your car and at home.
- It is small and lightweight enough to be carried along wherever you go.
- The blanket's special midweight CoolMax knit is warm, breathes well, wicks moisture away effectively and feels great on your skin.
Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you
I'm sticking with you -- you've got it all covered! And, I do want to hear some of those stories...
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