Nice-to-have's when traveling light

Okay, so I have been offline for a good 3 years. I have been learning about travel, I went to Central America for 5 months with CGE at Augsburg College. I Lived in Northern Cali in the woods for a while, and then I went to Europe for a month this winter with an 11 Kg (25lbs). So, I am not fresh to the travel game, I brought a military duffel to Central America and that, was absolutely horrible.

Okay this post is about materials I am looking for to prep for the trip I am about to take, thats why it is called amazon wish list.

Lets start with my baby,

The insanely exciting Osprey (yes I said Osprey I am taking about grown up real bags) Farpoint 55.
Outside of the Marmot little red backpack I took around Europe, this is the coolest backpack I have ever seen, and I have been spending days during my classes looking at traveling backpacks, watching videos and reading specs.
What I wanted in a backpack-
opens like a suitcase
is the size of a carryon
detachable daypack (I did not even know this existed, this is amazing)
good straps and suppor


This backpack had everything I wanted and I went for the blue, though it is sold in red and black. I got it from REI and not Amazon and I ended up paying 152 total for it with a coupon for being an REI member (my dad is actually the member)

Life Straw- Okay, to be in Israel, I do not need this water bottle. In Israel you can drink water from the tap, but because of my travels post-Israel, I am getting this water bottle in hopes of avoiding having to use tablets or other separate filtering systems.

A friend my mine introduced this water bottle to me, while we were in Central America, shout out to Alexa, my bunk buddy. She is super prepared and super healthy and that is probably why she showed me this water bottle that in reality could save so many lives if everyone around the world had one.

Next, I have been on so many planes, so.. so many planes with my head tilted back and my mouth open, probably partially drooling, sleeping. This is the most uncomfortable time of my life.

I cannot justify space wise, bringing a travel pillow, but I can justify bringing an inflatable travel pillow! Yay, so I found the cheapest one, on Amazon, because I do not know if I will actually like it so I figured I shouldn't spend to much money on it.

Hopefully this flights from Chicago to Tev Aviv will be a but more bearable than my previous flights across the Atlantic.

Next, I will have three weeks of traveling around the Middle East, so though Israel is totally nose ring friendly, other places might not be, so my next item is a part of being culturally aware.

It is very important, to be sensitive to other cultures, it is the best way to create a space where you can have mutual learning about your culture and about their culture, who ever they may be.


Collapsible Solar Powered Lantern
This, is a must have, maybe not for Israel but where ever you go. To have this at the hostel to charge your phone, light your way to the bathroom or just as a reading light. I am excited to put this to use, the more clean energy I can participate in the better.



Microfiber Towel- Last one! While traveling in Central America, the struggle of wanting to have a towel , and not wanting to carry one was constantly coming up when packing for weekend excursions. This towel, came with all of the tricks a hidden zipper for cash you want to bring along, a suction cup laundry line which I am excited to try out. Before heading to Europe I bought one of these, to find out when I got it in the mail that it was only 2ft x 2ft, I have moved up to a towel that will actually fit around my body! Yay!

Well, I will be posting again tonight, today I laid all of my cloths out with my Mom, to insure that I was brining reasonable cloths. Even with everything I packed including 3 pairs of shoes, I have plenty of room  for bringing fun gifts home. I cannot wait to fly out tonight!

- Jliv. M