4 Everyday Items With Increased Road Value

Hand Sanitizer

I’m not sure this needs much explanation. Basically, hand soap is a luxury in many Asian countries and it includes the likes of Japan and South Korea. Many bathrooms, especially public ones, don’t have soap available after using the facilities, so our hand sanitizer has been invaluable. Keeping clean and not contracting any viruses is high on our list of priorities, so having plenty of sanitizer available is key. It isn’t a hot item to carry for stores either, so when you find it on the road, buy it! We paid a handsome some for a bottle in Seoul, but it was the only type and size available

Toilet Paper/Tissues/Napkins

Back to issues with restroom facilities on the road. Similar to hand soap being a luxury, toilet paper is not a regular item in many non-Western countries. The toilet we are used to in the U.S. and other Westernized places is not as common elsewhere in the world, so being prepared is helpful. Keeping an extra toilet paper roll on hand is smart and we always grab a few extra napkins when possible…just in case.

Plastic Shopping Bags

We don’t love using plastic as it is obviously an environmental concern, but when traveling these have come in handy on a number of occasions. Helping to keep our wet and damp clothes separated from our dry in our packs is a constant struggle, so these always seem to be in use. Similarly, trying to keep your dirty shoes and really dirty clothes separate also happens frequently. We have a general dirty clothes mesh sack, but mud and dirt seem to be more prevalent on a daily basis. These also double as trash bags and day bags when we don’t want to bring our actual day pack out.

Ziplock Bags

Like the plastic shopping bags, these have been great for separating items. We have used these extensively for keeping our sun screen and other liquids closed off to prevent a full on leak disaster. We have had a couple close calls with leaks, one of which could have caused some serious electronics damage. So, these are a must! We have also used them for packing peanut butter sandwiches, so it isn’t just for random uses, but traditional ones too. 🙂

I’m sure we will find out there are more than four items, once we encounter a time when something else would be REALLY helpful. I’m guessing duct tape has its place, but we haven’t needed any, yet…