What To Pack

Electrical Products

Things that must be plugged in (see also "What About Batteries?", below) are in conspicuously short supply on my own personal packing list; they add bulk and weight rarely compensated for by usefulness. Try hard to eliminate them: you can probably survive without your electric shaver (a small bottle of shaving oil and a razor are much more appropriate) and your hair dryer (think about towel/air drying, or even a more travel-friendly hair style).

Modern travellers, though, will need to recharge their "devices" (cellphones, e-readers, possibly medical items); just understand that electrical power sources vary significantly throughout the world.

Most countries use 220–240 volts AC (alternating current) at 50 Hertz (frequency, aka cycles per second), though several — including Canada, Japan, and the U.S.A. — use 110–120 volts at 60 Hertz. Moreover, there are more than a dozen styles of wall socket, each requiring a different type of plug.

Plug adapters and voltage converters are available for all of this, of course (check the "Destination" section of the TraveLinks page for some excellent information sites). Remember that, when using converters, you must also be concerned with power (wattage) ratings. And some devices — often those with motors — are sensitive to the AC frequency, which cannot (in any practical manner) be converted.

Multi-plug adapters can be found featuring all sorts of ingenious constructions. It might be possible to argue for their use if you're travelling to many parts of the world on a single trip (they never cover all situations, though, so proceed cautiously), but for a modest number of destinations, simple single-solution adapters will be smaller, lighter, and considerably more reliable. These are inexpensive, and can be purchased individually (especially at your destination location) or in large sets (such as that illustrated at left).

Many products (especially modern electronic devices such as computers, cameras, and cellphones) come with "universal" power supplies (typically 100–250V) or multi-voltage settings; you'll still need plug adapters, though. And remember: if you carry electrical devices that must be plugged in, you should be prepared for a shortage of available outlets (often in limited-supply/high-demand locations such as airports and hostels); consider bringing along a cube tap or the equivalent, to help both you and your fellow travellers.

If you choose to travel with a device having a 120/240V switch, get into the habit of switching it to 240V when you pack it: should you mistakenly plug it into a 240V socket when set to 120V, you will have an ex-device.

USB ABCs

The USB (Universal Serial Bus) protocol was designed primarily as a communication interface allowing computers to connect and interact with external devices. It also, however, incorporates a five-volt electrical power connection. Consequently, many modern, low-power electrical items can be operated and/or recharged from USB ports, reducing the need to carry separate (heavy, bulky) converters. If you lug a laptop, you can usually plug devices in there, but such ports also abound in many places that cater to travellers: hotel rooms, airport lounges, and such. There's likely one on the back of your TV set. Alternatively, carry a tiny USB wall charger: I particularly like Anker's excellent travel version, as pictured here, with its dual outputs (with IQ support and 2.4A in total), and a very convenient folding plug to eliminate snags when in your bag.

Each of your devices will connect to its charger with some sort of specialized cable. There are several types of USB connectors, but your charger's ports are likely to accommodate only the original USB-A and/or the more recent USB-C connectors (pictured here). Public charge ports are almost universally of the USB-A variety. The end of the cable that connects to your device will, of course, use a connector determined by the device. Newer devices tend to use the USB-C connector for this purpose, but there's a wide variety of other possibilities.

Cables are often the weakest links in the chain, so it behooves you to travel with undamaged, high-quality versions (Anker has achieved renown in recent years as a supplier of robust, inexpensive cables). Cables can also be sources of unnecessary bulk and weight, so carry only lengths sufficient to your needs: instead of a three-foot cable, you might find a six-inch version, such as that shown here, to be adequate.

You can further reduce cable proliferation with the use of inexpensive USB adapters, as seen here, which will — for example — convert your USB-C-ended cable to a USB-A-ended one (or vice versa).

If you've become wedded to a smartphone or other portable device(s), and your travels take you to places where electrical outlets are in short — or nonexistent — supply (including some long air/train/bus trips and the like), you need to consider carrying a spare battery. One well-regarded solution is the Anker® line of portable, rechargeable power packs; their mid-range (10,000mAh) model pictured here is a particularly appealing blend of storage capacity with modest weight/size, capable of charging USB-connected devices at up to a 2.4-ampere level. It's a decently compact 3.62×2.36×0.87 inches (9.19×5.99×2.2cm), and weighs a not-too-intolerable 6.4 ounces (181g). Larger and smaller models are also available

Finally, here's a convenient combination of the two previous device types (rechargeable power pack and dual-port USB charger) in a single unit optimized for travel: Anker's aptly-named PowerCore Fusion 5000, which includes a folding plug for travel ease, charging cable (to charge from a USB source if necessary), and travel pouch. This lets you charge two USB devices plus the power pack itself, all from a single electrical outlet (it will first charge any connected devices, and then charge its internal battery; status indicator lights let you know what's happening). And when there's no outlet, the power pack will give you a couple of smartphone recharges all by itself. Pretty much ideal for a day out in the world.

Of course, you can best eliminate electrical hassles by eliminating the gadgets.

Even if a hair dryer does make a great sock dryer.

So … No Electrical items?

Not necessarily; just be judicious. For example, a simple immersion heater is one appliance that many travellers (especially those on a limited budget, trying to avoid restaurant meals) consider invaluable. Place it in a cup of water, plug it in, and in almost no time you have boiling water. This not only kills all disease organisms, it also lets you make a hot cup of tea, coffee, cocoa, soup, noodles, etc. You can even cook an egg: bring the water to a boil, remove the heater, drop in the egg, and wait (ten minutes or so for hard-boiled, about half that for soft).

Small, lightweight immersion heaters — like the Franzus IH100 model pictured at left (sold under a variety of names) — are inexpensive and available in dual (120/240) voltages, though you may still need a plug adapter. Alternatively, you can buy such heaters locally in most developed countries.

You may read deprecating remarks about the reliability of such heaters, mostly from those who don't understand that they are designed to be plugged in only when the heating element is fully immersed in water. So make it a habit: immerse before plugging in, and unplug before removing. Always. Otherwise they can burn out in a flash (even the ones that claim to have built-in thermostatic shut-offs)!

What About Batteries?

Battery-operated devices are more acceptable for travel needs than those requiring mains connections, but they are not without issues of their own: you may well need to replace (or recharge) them throughout the course of your trip, and your travel planning should include considerations for same.

Batteries come in many different sizes and voltages; the most popular (1.5V) batteries for consumer products are pictured here. AA-sized batteries, like soap, are pretty much ubiquitous: you can reliably depend on being able to replace these wherever you travel. If your devices use anything other than AAs, you need to give serious thought to carrying sufficient spares.

One option, if you expect to go through a lot of batteries (such as for photography) is the use of rechargeables. Eneloop Pro batteries (made by Panasonic) are widely considered the best rechargeable AAs, with regular Eneloops running a close second; the Pro version holds a greater charge, but can be recharged fewer times than the standard version (most people, however, won't hit the 500 limit any too soon, and more power is better than more recharges, in my experience).

Such a course will require, in addition to the specialized batteries themselves, some sort of recharging device. Panasonic makes a fine, inexpensive battery charger that plugs in directly (no power cord); if you want a more sophisticated model (which will recondition older batteries as well as recharge them), go for this Tenergy charger, but it's more than twice the price, and noticeably larger & heavier, so less suited for travel needs. Both of these chargers are "smart", in the sense that they tailor the charging rate to each individual battery, and stop charging when it has reached capacity (you should choose no other type of charger), and they will both work on worldwide electrical systems; again, though, you may still need a specific plug converter (see above) for your particular destination(s).

Finally, I encourage you to consider lithium batteries, which offer significant benefits to the traveller. They are much lighter in weight than both their alkaline and rechargeable counterparts, retain their charge for many years, don't leak (like traditional alkalines can sometimes do, often destroying the device in which they are installed), and perform better in extreme temperatures (both cold and hot).

Recently, flashlight manufacturers have discovered the benefits (brighter beam, longer runtime, more compact size) that accrue from matching modern LED technology with the high energy-density 3-Volt CR123A lithium battery (pictured here in comparison with an AA), also sold under a variety of incorrect designations, such as CR123, 2/3A, 123, 17345, 16340, 6135-99-851-1379, and even just "camera battery" (their original usage). Consequently, the very best small LED lights now use this approach almost exclusively. The downside, unfortunately, is availability: it can be difficult to find CR123As out there in the world, so if you decide to use them (as I do, at least in first- and second-world countries), plan accordingly, and carry sufficient spares!

Lithium cells are often significantly overpriced when purchased in local shops, one or two at a time. When ordered in even modest bulk from large suppliers, though, both CR123A and AA versions can be very reasonable in cost (and — unlike alkaline batteries — have a shelf life exceeding 10 years).

And yes (in case you were wondering), there are rechargeable lithium batteries as well, though these require specialized chargers, such as the Tenergy model mentioned above.