OVERRATED Travel Gear & What I Bring Instead

I'm guilty of buying every single travel accessory that comes my way. And while some gadgets are great and I love traveling with them, there are others that I wish I had never bought and saved the money. In this video, I talk about 10 travel accessories that I think are overrated and what I pack instead - because I've found more useful alternatives for most of these gadgets.

⫷ Products I use ⫸
Includes Amazon Affiliate links - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Waterbottle

⫷ Chapters ⫸
00:00 Overrated travel gear
00:25 Number 1
01:44 Number 2
03:40 Number 3
05:05 Number 4
06:48 Number 5
08:38 Number 6
10:12 Number 7
10:59 Number 8
11:51 Number 9
14:01 Number 10

[MaggiFuchs]

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[maurac]

Yes, please share a video about clothing materials! That would be so helpful. Thanks for your hard work on these videos!

[laurilenhardt]

Finally! A video showing items that are a "waste". Soooo many other vloggers seem to just push unnecessary Amazon items because they want you to buy from their commission based store, whether the items are crap or not. Most of them are not even useful (like seriously, who needs a travel toiletry bag that has 4 folding compartments). I've stopped watching all those videos. Thank you for not reviewing a bunch of stuff just to help convince us we need to buy more stuff. I appreciate your videos sooo much. And I'm glad to see you both back to making videos. Thanks for another truthful video that has actual useful info.

[missmayflower]

I love how genuine and original you are. I’m tired of all the YouTubers all just rushing to the trends all all doing the same things.

[Kelly.]

Yes! Would love to hear more about clothing fabrics for travel!
I’ve been trying to research quality clothing that doesn’t hold smell, breathable, wicks sweat, easy to hand wash and dries quickly so that I can car camp around the US or travel for weeks with a small capsule.

[righteothenable]

It is so funny how different people travel, because I love my Hero Clips. I use them to hang my luggage on the back of doors, or clip multiple bags together when I need a hand free (like a shopping bag to my big bag). I also use them to carry multiple shopping bags with one hand from the grocery store. A carabineer and hooks would not be strong enough, or take up as little space with how I use them. I also just clip the Clip to the handle of bag, so it never is inside a pocket unless I need to check my luggage at an airport.

[bcs]

The Hero clip is something I use daily. It’s fantastic to hang my bags to a table . Sometimes my other bag hangers slip or are too small. The small Hero clip works better.

[lauracampbell]

Yes, would love to see an in depth video on sourcing clothing and what works best!!

[LaCheshireChat]

OK, the neck pillow is supposed to have the opening at the back. I know! Who knew? But try it, it keeps your chin from falling to your chest and is much more comfortable. My friend, who is a flight attendant, explained this to me. I have one which has a snap closure and is memory foam so I can compact it.
Bon voyage!

[PatNeedhamUSA]

I'm glad you highlighted that unconventional use of the s-shaped hooks for hanging something underneath a table/desk. I bought a 10-pack of them recently for non-travel purposes, but now will definitely bring some with me on my next trip!

[jackolantern]

This is such an underrated topic. Thank you for talking about it and I completely agree with your take on these products. I admit to being caught up myself in all the hype (influencing?) over gadgets, bags, pouches, and other random stuff that's supposed to make travel easier and better. IMHO, it seems like things seem to be for/by ultralight types or a type of traveller who will be in remote villages or towns etc. where personal water filtration is necessary or needing to travel really light is a must. Once I accepted that, at my age, I am just a casual traveller who enjoys primarily city travelling and whatever toiletry or item I didn't bring I am likely to find where I am going.

One exception I make to this are chargers, cables, adapters, etc. It doesn't make sense to try to buy these (possibly at a higher cost) at the destination when I could have brought them with me -they don't take up much space anyways. Also, like you, I just went with little USB-A/micro-usb adapters like the ones you showed.

Yes, please share a video about clothes sourcing and materials. That would be very interesting.

[catierandy]

You hit everything I regretted purchasing for travel. Great video, thank you.

[MaggiFuchs]

FYI: I‘m already working on my video about materials and how I pick my clothes. I will try to get it published in the beginning of May. 💪
Maybe you would want to subscribe to my channel so you don‘t miss it?! 🤔😂🤗

[eddiemaxwell]

Thank you for the information. It's useful to hear someone talking a out the cons and not just the pros.

[dodatroda]

The reason you don't find the neck pillow comfortable is that you wear it backwards. You don't bring it around your head, you stick it right on, the opening is in the back and that's where the fastener is. Now you rest your chin on the pillow, and your head isn't pushed forward to where there's no support.

[mizmercer]

Those s-hooks will leave a dent or scratch the surface of whatever you're hanging stuff on. Heroclips are the best bag hooks if you have a bag over 5 pounds (I'm a teacher and carry a lot) because they don't damage the surface and can bear larger weight purses. I've gotten cheaper Daiso alternatives and they broke. The ones you show would either start slipping off the surface with bags at the weight I carry, or would leave marks on the surface top. Once you get use the motion of deploying the hook, and tucking it in, it's not a big deal. You can try the cheap hooks, but if you found like I did that they don't work, you'll need a Hero clip.

[sockbunbunp]

The neck pillow is supposed to be worn the other way. Not behind you, the opening should be in the back.

[mariebrown]

We are all guilty of buying travel items that turn out to be not reused . My thoughts. 1. Like you I decant my liquid products only into TSA size flat pouches that can be re- used and or cleaned easily. 2 . I love the Matador refillable toothpaste tubes because I am picky about my toothpaste. 3 . I need a neck / head pillow on the flight but found one that allows you to fill with clothes and is washable. Serves two purposes. 3. I hate cold feet but find that Merino Wool socks - only keep my feet warm enough in winter travel. Worth the price, wash well and last several years. Won’t spend the money on the Merino tops. 4. Water Bottle yes which I decant into but take a sponge cleaner on a handle with water bottle cleaning tabs ( break in half) just enough for trip and don’t count as liquids- to disinfect after each day use. They really clean the bottle inside well. Also fill up at airport water stations rather than pay ridiculous amounts on bottled water after getting thru TSA lines. There are flat ones that don’t leak but the rigid ones clean well. 4. For winter or fall travel a pair of silk leggings and top to layer under clothes is invaluable and wick moisture. The ones at LLBean in the USA are excellent . Hanro undergarments in Europe are similar in top quality and worth the cost. Wool in Silk. You can sleep in them or layer them under day clothes and they wash and dry quickly in room yet add no weight in luggage and last easily several years of use for me.Part of my layering strategy if needed. They are well worth the price . 5 . Agree there are less expensive clips that serve many purposes like adding a hook over a door, dry clothes on that are less expensive options and come in packs of 5-10 . Ive left Hero hooks behind by accident. I also carry 2 foldable travel hangers that serve as hangers and for drying hand washed clothes. Invaluable.

[stalkingcrane]

Don’t blow an inflatable neck pillow up all the way, only fill it ‘till it’s comfortable. Get one whose sides are longer, wear it at the front, (or the side) so you use the sides to sleep, also it prevents the head from falling forward. Some have some sort of connection that allows for hooking the pillow onto a backpack.

[reneeblack]

Some good points but there are some items I love. Merino from Wool& is my favorite. Love my Hero Clip and I always carry a refillable water bottle. Thank you!