7 Essential Travel Items Under $25 for Full-Time Travelers

Spending six months of the year traveling has taught me how to pack efficiently. My recent trips to Southeast Asia and

Japan from August 2024 to March 2025 have highlighted the importance of including practical items in my luggage.

Here are seven affordable items that are must-haves in my travel kit. Each one is lightweight and costs less than $25, making my trips much smoother.

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SPF Umbrella

Living in sunny climates for most of the year, a lightweight SPF umbrella is essential on my travel list. It offers significant coverage for my upper body compared to a hat and keeps me cool while walking around. I use this daily, regardless of my location, and it also serves as a regular umbrella during rain. My favorite is a lightweight one from

Daiso (the Japanese dollar store), although I also appreciate this

more robust Uniqlo umbrella that comes in various colors, which I pack for wetter destinations.

Mesh Laundry Bags

While hiking the Kumano Kodo, I lived out of a 28-liter backpack and used mesh laundry bags as packing cubes.

On my four-day trek along Japan's Kumano Kodo, I used

to organize my clothes and dirty laundry. Their transparent design is lighter and more efficient than traditional packing cubes. I initially began using them to protect my sports bras and workout clothes. I typically carry about four bags of different sizes—a larger 15-inch by 15-inch bag and a couple of smaller 8-inch by 12-inch bags. I prefer the ones from

Daiso, but you can

find these anywhere.

Plastic Rain Poncho

During a work trip to Vietnam in January, I encountered a week of chilly, rainy weather. While at the Hue Historic Citadel, I was caught in heavy rain and quickly reached for my trusty pink plastic poncho, which I've carried in my backpack for five years. I wear it over my raincoat to protect my camera and add

extra warmth in the cool 50-degree temperatures.

While raincoats are good, they can become saturated unless they're rubber. My poncho keeps my gear dry while drying much faster than a soaking wet raincoat. Once it dries, I simply fold it up and stow it away. Though people often laugh at me for it, I remain warm and dry. I opt for ponchos with sleeves and no snaps or buttons.

Dawn Dish Detergent

After washing laundry in Chiang Mai,

my home during winter, I found several of my tops with white streaks from my mineral sunscreen that the washing machine couldn't remove. This has been a recurring problem, so I started bringing a small bottle of Dawn dish detergent that effectively tackles grease and stubborn stains. I apply a bit to the affected area and handwash it. Before traveling, I refill a tiny 1.2-ounce hand sanitizer bottle with

Dawn. It's great for removing sticky residues and can even be used for washing dishes. (Walgreens has these handy 1.2-ounce Purell bottles that I love.) In my experience, Dawn works better on stains than Palmolive.

Wired Headphones

I was watching an episode of Slow Horses on my phone during a long flight when my AirPods died. While they charged, I switched to my backup wired headphones because nothing is worse than being without sound in a confined space. (Let's be honest—

it's inconsiderate to play anything out loud without headphones in public.)

This backup has proven useful at the gym as well. I keep a set of wired headphones in a cloth sunglass bag alongside my AirPods. (I also recently upgraded to the latest AirPods Pro with USB-C charging, eliminating the need for a lightning cable.)

Lightweight Carabiner

This handy little tool, the Nite Ize S-biner, is a great addition to my gear. Photo courtesy of REI.

While hiking the Kumano Kodo, the hiking poles I borrowed kept slipping out of my pack's side pouch. I attached this reliable carabiner to the zippers to secure them. A carabiner is versatile, helpful for securing hiking poles, water bottles, or keeping track of Airbnb keys. (I've also used these on my

Half Dome hike last August.) I prefer

this model, which comes in various sizes, and I specifically use

#3.

AirTags

After passing through immigration in Los Angeles, I checked my phone to see if my bags made it from Tokyo, and they did. The great thing about AirTags is that they allow you to track your luggage and

get alerts about potential issues ahead of time. I've used them for years, but they were invaluable in 2023 when my bags were lost three times. I could even pinpoint when my bags arrived at my hotel, thanks to AirTags, which use nearby Bluetooth for location tracking.

When my bags go missing, I'm alerted immediately, allowing me to head directly to the lost luggage counter to start the recovery process. I also use them on buses because I worry someone might run off with my bags. I keep one in my car too, as it often sits parked for months, ensuring it's not stolen or towed. (If you're near an AirTag on a bus or in a vehicle, you'll likely receive a safety alert.)

AirTag batteries (CR2032 lithium 3V) last about a year, and I keep spare batteries in my suitcase just in case. I had two AirTag batteries die within a month in Chiang Mai this winter, and they can be surprisingly hard to find in some areas, particularly in Vietnam! (AirTags usually retail for $29.99 but are often found for $24.99 on Amazon.)

Additionally, I always carry a wine tool for opening wine and cap bottles. The knife on this tool is also useful for cutting labels.

And I keep a—perfect for labeling items or writing my name on luggage tags.