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The most frustrating part about buying travel gear (besides the cost factor) is the fact that it is generally only used while on an actual trip.
Wouldn’t it be great if those same items were things you could use at home around the house?
Just like our favorite travel clothing is clothing you can wear in your daily life, our favorite travel gear is gear you can use when you’re not on the road. More purpose means more value, right?
To help you get the maximum value out of your travel purchases, and help you lead a more minimalist home life, we put together a list of the travel gear you can use around the house. Here’s our list!
Turkish Towels
My love for Turkish towels runs deep.
While I have classified them as travel gear because I truly see the benefit in that regard (and rarely recommend a standard pack towel these days), these towels originated as bath towels. What that means is their usefulness at home when not traveling ranks high on the list.
At home, Turkish towels can be used as:
- Bath towels
- Light throw blankets
- Towels that go on top of your yoga mat
In the summer, they’re so nice to use after a shower when a bulky towel would otherwise feel heavy and hot. I also love that they come in varied patterns and colors. They look so fun when several are rolled up into a basket in the bathroom!
In addition to using them at home, I usually take mine to the gym, to the beach, and I love that they can be worn in a pinch if the weather calls for it.
Many girls with curly hair have said the Turkish cotton is great for their hair because it doesn’t break the curl.
Grab a Turkish towel from The Bali Market for 20% off.
Use code HPL20 at checkout.
Laundry Line
Those braided laundry lines are brilliant at home for your delicates that require hand-washing. Since they can be tied up easily, and fit in awkward spaces, they’re perfect for drying items that would normally be taking up extra space in your bathroom or laundry room.
- Shop for a travel laundry line on Amazon.
Packing Cubes
Packing cubes store and organize clothing in your luggage, so why wouldn’t you use them to do something similar at home?
Packing cubes work well for clothing that doesn’t get worn all that often or that is seasonal in nature. For example, you can pack up all your beachwear and swim gear into a big packing cube and store it in the back of your closet during winter.
An instagram follower (@piabrinkschulte) said she uses packing cubes “to keep all of my hats, mittens, and scarves organized in my wardrobe.”
- See our favorite compression packing cubes.
Luggage Tags
I have acquired a large collection of luggage tags over the years that have been gifted or included with other purchases. I got the idea to use these luggage tags to identify and label things that I have stored away into plastic crates or suitcases in the closet.
If you have a lot of them stacked or lined up, this can look quite cute!
If you have some especially nice ones, you can even work them into your home decor! Hang some off the handles of different side table drawers or use them to label baskets in a shelf.
- Get some adorable luggage tags off Etsy!
Wacaco Minipresso
The best travel espresso makers work just as well at home or on the go. The Wacaco Minipresso was recommended by a follower on Instagram, and I am SO in love with this – it’s going on my birthday wishlist!
The best part of this minipresso would be the fact it requires no electricity to produce the same pressure of commercial machines. Use it at home, but take it with you on your next camping trip.
- Shop for a Wacaco Minipresso on Amazon.
Travel Tea Kettle
One of my friends once lived in the tiniest studio apartment with the tiniest little kitchen. She was so tight on space that she avoided investing in an electric kettle even though she wanted to be able to make tea every day.
So I bought her a travel kettle, and it was the best thing for her! It fit in a drawer folded up, and it got her enough boiling water for her morning tea without needing to put a pot of water on the stove.
Even if you don’t live in a tiny apartment, a travel kettle can serve as a second kettle in a room that’s not near the kitchen. Maybe it’s your personal tea kettle in your home office or in your bedroom.
- Shop for travel tea kettles on Amazon.
Tom Bihn Travel Tray
The Tom Bihn Travel Tray helps you keep your small bits in one place. The tray works wonders on your hotel side table, providing a home for your keys, wallet, change, lip balm, and other small items.
Use it for the same at home! Or, put it on your coffee table in the family room to hold your remotes and coasters.
A lot of knitting travelers are especially fond of the travel tray to store yarn while on the move.
- Grab a Travel Tray from the official website.
GoToobs Toiletry Bottles
When it comes to travel, my favorite toiletry bottles are the tiny Nalgene bottles, but I do often supplement them with a squeezy GoToobs bottle, too. Both of these brands serve me well, and I can recommend them without hesitation.
However, when it comes to travel gear you can use around the house, the GoToobs bottles top the list! Did you know you can use these guys in the kitchen? If you made a new cashew cheese sauce or a homemade jam, these squeeze bottles are the perfect vessel.
And when you go camping, they’re great for holding the ketchup and barbecue sauce.
- Buy your own GoToobs toiletry bottles from REI.
Compression Sacks
If you aren’t using your compression sacks at home, you’re missing out. Whether you want to store things under your bed, in drawers or in closets, compression sacks take the bulk out and make it easier.
Consider things like big comforters, blankets, pillows, giant winter coats… the list goes on.
- Shop for compression sacks on REI.
Scrubba Wash Bag
The Scrubba Wash Bag is your portable washing machine when you travel, but it doesn’t have to get stored away when you come back home.
You can use the little wash bag when you want to wash a couple of small things quickly – saving you both electricity and water (and probably time, too). It’s better for the environment and easy on your clothing that requires hand-washing gentle care.
- Get your own Scrubba Wash Bag on Amazon.
Noise-canceling Headphones
Great for flights, but even better for when you need to block out excess noise from housemates. A good pair of noise-canceling headphones proves its worth time and time again whether being used for watching movies or listening to music, so making the investment isn’t a difficult decision.
The problem is choosing which pair to buy!
- To help with the process, you may want to check out our post on the best headphones for travel.
Travel Eye Masks & Earplugs
If the best sleep-aids can help you get sleep in the most uncomfortable place (you know, on a plane!), then imagine what they can do for your sleep at home.
A good travel eye mask and the best earplugs are godsends on nights when you find yourself tossing and turning, or when your neighbors decide to have a party.
Did we miss something? Have travel gear that you regularly use around the house? Share in the comments below!
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I have a travel pillow that I use at home all the time. It has its own small pillow cases that match the rest of the covers. My only problem is that now that I want to travel even lighter than before, it’s getting too big for me to bring along, as it’s at least 1.5 litres in size and doesn’t compress. Sigh!
Ah yes! The dilemma. Packing light definitely comes with a little sacrifice.
I love my Tom Bihn travel tray! My ear plugs, eye mask, and daily medications live there, on my bedside table, whether I’m at home or away. It makes it that much easier to pack and go.
Nice! We love being able to pack easier and quicker 🙂
I’m going to check out the travel tray. It will work well when I’m relaxing on my deck.
I love Turkish towels for all of you reasons and then some. I recently turned one into a beach cover-up by following directions on Pinterest for making a kimono out of a large scarf. Super easy, fashionable and functional!
Yes! Turkish towels are amazing 🙂
Thank you for writing such a thoughtful article! I have roommates, and they can get noisy sometimes. Thankfully, I have earplugs on my nightstand for when I need quiet.
I also use my travel kettle every day. Instead of going to the kitchen, I can make a nice cup of tea in my bedroom. Along with my kettle, I use a travel mug, so I don’t have to worry about my tea getting cold anytime soon. Recently, I found one with a sturdy lid and a handle. It’s incredibly comforting on the road, in my office, and in my room.
Yay exactly the reason I was thinking about for the travel kettle!