Essential Adventure Travel Gear: 10 Must-Haves for Your Next Trip
Don’t forget to pack this essential adventure travel gear for your next trip!
When it comes to soft adventure travel, having the right gear can turn a good trip into a great one. But this isn’t about lugging around heavy-duty equipment. Instead, it’s about packing smart with essential adventure travel gear that keeps you comfortable, prepared, and ready for whatever the trail brings.
Over time (and plenty of trial and error), we’ve dialed in a go-to list of items we never travel without. These are the 10 essentials we reach for again and again. They’re generally lightweight, versatile, and perfect for active days that span from city streets, to coastal hikes, and ocean swims.
Here’s what we pack for soft adventure travel, and why each item helps us stay ready for the next adventure.
1. Packable Backpack
A lightweight daypack is one of the simplest game-changers for adventure days. It folds up small in your luggage but expands to carry your daily essentials – water, snacks, a towel, sunscreen, and a layer or two.
We use ours on just about every trip. They’re perfect for day trips, whether you’re headed out for a hike, swim, bike, or just some urban wandering by foot.
A bonus is that if you accumulate souvenirs or other items along the way (we’ve all been there!), you’v got an extra bag for when you head home.
We love the Matador Refraction Packable Backpack for soft adventure travel. It’s lightweight yet durable, with a 16-liter capacity, water-resistant zippers, and breathable, contoured shoulder straps for all-day comfort. Made from recycled nylon, it packs into its own pocket and includes thoughtful features like dual water bottle holders, a front stretch pocket (perfect for quick storage), and a removable sternum strap (great for longer days or heavier loads).
2. Reliable Footwear
When it comes to essential adventure travel gear, footwear is possibly the most critical piece to consider. Blisters or sore feet are a surefire way to ruin an otherwise amazing day of adventure.
That’s why shoes matter – a lot!
We recommend bringing one solid pair of all-day shoes that can handle walking, short hikes, and uneven terrain. Depending on your destination, you might also want a pair of water shoes or hiking sandals.
We’re big fans of trail runners – they provide great traction on trails, but are flexible enough that they can be worn for a day of city walking as well.
We love Altra Lone Peaks especially. They take some getting used to (they are zero-drop and feature a wide toe box) but once you adjust, it’s hard to reach for much else for a hike!
If you’re planning water adventures and are considering water shoes (essential for rocky areas, waterfalls, etc.), we highly recommend these water shoes from Amazon. They’ve got fantastic grip, which surprisingly, not all water shoes do.
3. Sun Protection
If you’re planning to be out exploring all day, sun protection is non-negotiable.
We frequently travel to sunny spots like Mexico, Malta, and Croatia, and sun protection here is key. Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and UPF-rated clothing are always part of our essential adventure travel gear.
UPF 50+ clothing in particular is great because you don’t need to worry as much about sunscreen if you’re covered. And the great thing about UPF clothing is, unlike sunscreen, you won’t sweat it off!
We love sun hoodies for active days because the hood offers extra coverage for your neck and head.
Liz’s current favorite is the Oiselle Flyout Chill Hoodie. It’s cooling and breathable in the heat, quick-drying, and built with UPF 50+ fabric. Added details like a ponytail hole, thumbholes, and a watch window make it perfect for everything from hikes to long walks.
Oiselle is a women’s clothing brand, but Steve has a number of sun shirts from the REI Sahara Shade line (all UPF 50+) that also perform well in sunny, hot conditions.
For more information on sun protection, the Skin Cancer Foundation is a great resource.
4. Quick-Dry Towel
From spontaneous swims, to paddle adventures, to sweaty hikes, a quick-dry towel always comes in handy.
Quick-dry towels are also great to have on hand for drying off if you get caught in the rain, or using as a beach blanket or picnic cloth.
We love these affordable quick-dry towels, and they’ve traveled the world with us. They’re lightweight, come with a handy carrying case, and they take up very little space in our luggage (and day pack).
5. Reusable Water Bottle
We never leave home without a good reusable bottle. Whether you’re on a trail or wandering city streets, staying hydrated keeps your energy up and headaches at bay.
When we’re traveling in places where the tap water is safe to drink, we often refill our bottles at public fountains while out exploring. In destinations where the water isn’t potable, we buy large jugs from the store – usually a gallon or more – and fill our bottles each morning before heading out for the day.
If you’re looking for a lightweight reusable water bottle to travel with, you can’t go wrong with Nalgene. The traditional 32-ounce bottle holds plenty of water for your day of adventure.
Liz also frequently travels with a small 16-ounce bottle that can be tucked into a purse or small bag for urban walks.
6. Compact First Aid Kit
Even soft adventures come with the occasional scraped knee, blister, or bug bite. A small first aid kit lets you keep going instead of cutting your day short.
We usually DIY our first aid kit with things like bandages, blister pads, medications (like ibuprofen), Neosporin, and more. If you’re traveling to a city (or any place with a pharmacy nearby), you can always buy items as you need them.
If you’re headed someplace more remote, or just don’t want to have to worry about running to a pharmacy, a more well-rounded first aid kit like this one can be helpful and convenient.
Fun story: On our last trip to Mexico, I (Liz) ducked into a pharmacy for Neosporin. The pharmacist handed it over without mentioning the price – and I walked out having paid $30 (USD) for a single 1-ounce tube. All we could do was laugh. That little tube is now a running joke in our group – the Neosporin that’ll travel the world with me! Moral of the story? Always ask the price!
7. Wet/Dry Bags
When it comes to wet/dry bags, there are two main types we use regularly.
The first is designed to go with you on the water – perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding, or boat days. These are usually roll-top style bags and should be fully waterproof, keeping your essentials safe and dry even if the bag gets splashed or briefly submerged.
The second type is more about separation than submersion. These bags are great for keeping wet and dry items apart – like storing damp swimsuits after a swim or protecting a dry change of clothes. They may have roll-top or zipper closures and are typically water-resistant rather than fully waterproof.
We’ve collected a few over the years and are always reaching for them on swimming adventures. They’re especially handy when you don’t want everything else in your backpack to end up soggy. They come in all shapes, sizes, and price points – but we love these lightweight, affordable ones from Amazon for everyday use.
8. Lightweight Rain Jacket
We pack a jacket from almost every trip we go on – it’s just a matter of what type of jacket we need for the weather where we’re headed.
In most situations, a rain jacket is on our packing list. You can layer them (with a sweater or sweatshirt underneath) if it’s cool, or throw them over short sleeves if you’re caught in the rain in warmer weather.
We always go for lightweight options that layer easily, roll up small, and work as windbreakers, too.
There’s no need to break the bank on a quality rain jacket – REI makes a great one in the Trailmade Rain Jacket. It was a MVP item on a trip to Paris last spring!
9. Multi-Purpose Buff or Neck Gaiter
Buffs are incredibly versatile. We love them for their sun protection (many offer UPF 50) – you can wear one around your neck, pull it up for added coverage, or even stretch it over your head in a pinch.
Beyond sun protection, a buff can also serve as a headband, ear warmer, face shield (great against bugs, dust, or wind), or even a quick-dry towel.
10. Portable Charger
Between maps, photos, and GPS, phones drain fast when you’re adventuring. Traveling with a portable charger means:
- No panicking about running out of battery on the trail
- You can still take photos at the top
- You don’t have to stop exploring to charge
We’ve tried a number of different portable chargers over the years for our travels, but we just purchased the Nitecore NB10000 Gen 3 Ultra-Slim Power Bank, and love its lightweight (just over 5 ounces) and slim design.
Final Thoughts: Essential Adventure Travel Gear
Soft adventure travel is all about staying nimble – ready to explore, move, and embrace whatever the day throws your way. A few thoughtfully chosen items can make all the difference: keeping you dry when the skies open up, energized on long trails, or organized as you hop from one spontaneous stop to the next.
These are the pieces we never leave behind, no matter the travel adventure. They’ve seen early mornings, unexpected detours, and unforgettable views.
Wherever you’re headed next, we hope this gear helps you travel light, travel smart, and say yes to every adventure that comes your way!