What Is the Best Kit for Domestic Travel?

This month, I’ve either worked or played in eight different cities and three different times zones. That adds up to a lot of travel. Which is why I’ve carefully curated a personal travel kit that includes the perfect pieces for an on-the-go lifestyle. In addition to these eight items, my biggest piece of advice is to pack everything in a single bag. Whether you’re flying first class or using Craigslist rideshares to get across the country, having a single bag makes you way more versatile.

Topo Designs Mountain Pack  

Yes, $189 seems like a hefty price tag for a daypack, but the Mountain Pack’s 500-denier exterior, waterproof zippers, and heavy-duty strap loops give this 21.5-liter bag the durability to last decades of travel. The down-the-front zippers kept all my gear easily accessible even with the top cinched down, but I most appreciated how the lid can expand to create a few more liters of storage when I return home with more goods than I left with.

Super.Natural Men’s Base Boxer 175

These boxers ($40) are made from a stretchy blend of merino wool, polyester, and elastane, meaning they’re extra comfortable for all-day sitting if your domestic travel looks more like work and less like adventure. Even though they’re only 48 percent odor-fighting merino, I have worn them for a full week on a single wash—an essential component to keep in mind when you have limited space and have to limit how much underwear you pack.  

Kitsbow Power Wool Base Layer 

I’ve tested a variety of Polartec’s Power Wool—a bicomponent wool and synthetic blend—and give the material high marks in moisture wicking as well as supple next-to-skin feel. The athletic fit of this base layer ($115) works well under a ski jacket during a morning skin, and the Henley collar gives it just enough style to wear to dinner.

Arc’Teryx Index Dopp Kit

My Index Dopp Kit ($29) has remained locked and loaded with all of my toiletries for more than a year now, and I think it may be my favorite piece of travel gear. Here’s why: It’s the perfect size to fit everything from a razor to a stick of deodorant, there’s a mesh compartment for my toothbrush so nothing else gets covered in toothpaste residue, and it has a clear plastic front so I don’t have to take liquids out while passing through airport security. I treat it like a first-aid kit and replenish it after each adventure. Knowing I can grab it on a moment’s notice seriously cuts back on travel-prep stress. 

Lululemon ABC Pant 

It’s simple: The four-way stretch on these pants ($128) makes them plenty comfortable for summit bids and airplane seats, but their slim fit and muted tones make them a respectable work pant as well. 

Salewa Mountain Trainer L Shoes 

The Mountain Trainer L ($199) has become my go-to walking shoe. I have yet to get a blister while wearing them, and the predominantly leather and muted black rubber upper make them look relatively dressy under slacks. Plus, the super-grippy Vibram soles saved my ass while scrambling on snowy granite when a storm chased me out of the Sierra a few weeks ago.

Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes

I take pride in how well I can clean up in a rest-stop bathroom. I’ve gone for weeks without a proper shower and still maintained a pretty high level of personal hygiene. While hand soap, deodorant, and a toothbrush can do wonders for stink mitigation, I never feel fully clean unless my face is. Ursa Major’s Essential Face Wipes (20-pack for $24) are compact, and the natural ingredients make my face feel refreshed and totally clean in a single use. 

Yurbuds Inspire 400

While I prefer cordless Bluetooth earphones when exercising at home, I tend to forget to charge them on the road, which just means one more thing to worry about. While the Inspire 400 ($50) may not be cordless, the silicon buds did sit snugly in my ears while running and never felt uncomfortable, even when I wore them for an entire ten-hour road trip when my stereo system bugged out.