You might be drawn to adventure travel for the exciting experiences and the adrenaline, but going on an adventure travel also requires proper planning and a packing list with a few extra items. In this article, I will discuss the must-have items for your adventure travel packing list, including a snorkel mask for marine excursions and rain pants for weathering unexpected conditions. I have learned through my adventures that these 9 upgrades are worth the luggage space!
These adventure travel upgrades will ensure that you have a comfortable and safe time while exploring the great outdoors.
The 9 Best Upgrades for your Adventure Travel Packing List
1. Microfiber Towel
A microfiber towel such as the REI Multi Towel Lite in size large or extra-large is a must on any adventure travel packing list. These are truly a godsend and a space-saver for absolutely any type of adventure travel. They even come with a little mesh bag to store them in and keep your pack organized!
These work great for:
- Wrapping up your swimsuit to absorb water and keep other things in your bag less wet
- Drying off your face
- Quick drying after a jump in a watering hole. They aren’t going to cover your whole body, dry your clothes, or keep you warm, but they’re excellent at wicking moisture away from your skin and keeping you from dripping.
- Wrapping your hair after regular old showers – for us wavy and curly-haired folks especially
- A pillow, in a pinch
2. Snorkel Mask (and Snorkel)
True story, I swore I hated snorkeling after a family trip to Hawai’i as a child where I was terrified of sea urchins and also was getting a face full of water every thirty seconds. As it turns out, deeper water fixes the first issue, and having my own snorkel mask solves the second.
Having your own snorkel mask and snorkel feels like a big step up for what is a relatively inexpensive price and worthy luggage-space trade-off. First of all, you won’t have to worry about germs and whether the gear rental place’s cleaning practices are up to your standards. Secondly, a well-fitting snorkel won’t leak as often (if at all), and you can spend less time fiddling around with your mask and more time taking in gorgeous coral and marine life!
I originally purchased this Cressi Frameless F1 Snorkel Mask and snorkel for a 10-week field study program in Hawai’i, but I have since taken it with me on other beach vacations and it is well worth the suitcase space. I went into a scuba shop to get fitted for a mask, and I learned that there are all different shapes of masks to fit different face shapes and sizes. No wonder a generic mask wasn’t creating a seal on my face!
As for snorkel tubes, I have the Aqualung Impulse 3 Snorkel, and I would also recommend the Oceanic Ultra SD Snorkel. Both are a semi-dry style, which basically means you can dive under without the whole thing filling up with water, but you do have to blow out when you surface to clear it (unlike dry styles that have a mechanism to block air/water when it senses you going under).
I do recommend leaving fins at home; they’re generally available where you’re traveling or may not even be needed depending on the water conditions and type of activities you’re doing.
3. Waterproof Shoes
I purchased these Quick Drying Slip On Water Shoes before my trip to Cancun, and I was super happy with how they performed. They’re now my go-to tennis shoe alternative for trips where I know I’ll be in or near the water and I don’t have space in my luggage for extra pairs of sporty sandals.
These are perfect for multi-part excursions where you a) might be getting wet and b) are required to wear closed toed shoes. These give you the protection to be able to hop on a 4-wheeler, zip-line, and jump off a rope swing into a cenote – all without ever taking off your shoes.
The porous design of the soles means water drains right out of them and they dry pretty quickly in the sun. I do recommend wearing these without socks in order to really get the benefits of the quick-dry abilities.
If you’re more into sandals as water shoes, I recommend the Teva Tirra Sandals. I have worn these for an entire summer working as a boat dock attendant and as my only pair of sandals on a 10-week trip to Hawai’i, and they’re still going strong.
4. Swim Leggings
Swim leggings are a great choice to help avoid sunburn, chafing, and scrapes during all water adventures, and they work for yoga, too. After getting matching half moon scars on my knees from a rough beach exit while snorkeling in Hawai’i, I decided that leggings sounded like a good idea.
Swim leggings are specifically made of swimsuit-like materials that are moisture wicking, quick drying, and breathable. Waterlust’s swim leggings have tons of cool designs, they’re made from recycled plastic bottles, and sales contribute to coral reef education and advocacy efforts!
5. GoPro
The GoPro has long been a staple of adventure travel packing lists. This is one I don’t have yet, but after two trips where I did some epic snorkeling and my first ever dive and relied on others to share footage from their GoPros (spoiler: never got any from the dive), I’m ready to buy my own to guarantee I get those shots! This is one piece of equipment I think I’ll really appreciate having for future trips, and it will pay for itself within just a few excursions where I can avoid paying a photographer fee.
6. Dry Bag
A dry bag comes in handy for any situation where there’s even the slightest risk of getting wet – whitewater rafting trip, day trip where you’ll be out all day no matter the weather, or a cold-weather trip where wet clothes would really ruin things. I suggest getting one that fits your smallest day pack size, so that you can use it as a bag liner when you’re carrying just the essentials, or you can use it just for your keep-dry items inside of a larger pack. I always stash my phone, notebooks, books, journals writing utensils, medications, and/or tarot cards inside of mine.
This 8L Sea to Summit dry sack and it has served me really well, lasting 6+ years and taking me from rainforests in Hawai’i to camping in upstate New York and everything in between.
7. Rain Pants
I also purchased my rain pants before a 10-week long field program in Hawai’i, and at the time, I didn’t think I’d get that much use out of them in other situations. Boy was I wrong! As someone who hates being cold (honestly probably my #1 cause of bailing on an otherwise fun adventure), rain pants have become one of my adventure travel must-haves. Rolled up, they take up less space than a water bottle, and I keep them inside a mesh bag that I can easily toss into my day pack, backpack, or carry on.
I have a pair of North Face rain pants similar to these, and would recommend making sure they have a nice long zip at the ankle so you can get them on and off without having to remove your shoes. Extra zippers can also be used for ventilation, which is a plus in my book as long as the seams are sealed properly. Rain pants are not only good for keeping out moisture, but they’re a good windbreaker too, which means I can count them as an extra layer when I’m in cold and windy conditions.
8. Darn Tough Socks
Not glamorous, but bad socks can make a trip miserable. If you have the best socks, you won’t even think about them.
I own multiple varieties of Darn Tough socks to suit pretty much any adventure travel activity or destination. The micro-crew cut Darn Tough socks are the perfect length for wearing with my Blundstones and ankle hiking boots. I personally wear knee-high ski socks for snow sports and layering for cold weather, micro-crew cut cushioned socks for hiking, and micro-crew ultra-lightweight socks for hiking and other activities in warmer destinations.
9. Immodium
Even less glamorous, but even more necessary if, like me, you take “adventure travel” to mean eating any and all the local food, even though your poor stomach hasn’t had time to adjust. Luckily I haven’t gotten horribly sick often, but when I have, Immodium in conjunction with hydration, hydration, and more hydration has really saved my ass. Literally.
Prepared for Adventure!
I hope that these adventure travel packing list upgrades have given you some inspiration for your packing list for your next trip. Have fun out there, and let me know in the comments what item will always be on your adventure travel packing list!
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