10 Best ‘Non-Clothing’ Items for a Minimalist Traveler

When most people start planning a minimalist trip, they obsess over one thing: clothing. How many shirts? Can I get by with one pair of shoes? Should I roll or fold? We spend hours on this, and for good reason—clothes are the bulkiest items in our bags.

But here’s the thing: after you’ve perfected your three-shirt, two-pants combo, your 40L backpack is still only half full. The real test of a minimalist traveler is what you do with the rest of that space. This is where I see most people (and where I used to) make mistakes, filling their bags with “just in case” gadgets and heavy items that never get used.

This is a problem I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. My name is Raji Deneshan Kumar, and I run the Travel with dp site. For almost five years, I’ve been focused on refining how to travel with less. My goal isn’t to be a lifestyle figure; it’s to figure out what is practical, reliable, and easy to repeat. I’ve spent a lot of my own time and money testing gear to see what actually makes a trip simpler and what just adds weight.

This list is the result of that trial and error. It’s my personal, battle-tested list of the 10 best non-clothing items. These aren’t just things I like; they are items I rely on, trip after trip, to make “one-bag” travel not just possible, but comfortable.

Why Your ‘Non-Clothing’ Gear Defines Your Trip

Once you have your clothes sorted, everything else you pack falls into one of two categories:

1. Tools that solve a problem.
2. Dead weight.

The goal is to only pack items from the first category. A minimalist trip is all about maximizing freedom and experience. It’s not about suffering. The right gear helps you do that. It keeps you charged, organized, healthy, and hydrated. The wrong gear just gives you a sore back and a sense of regret.

This list isn’t about the latest high-tech, expensive gadgets. It’s about utility. Every item on this list has earned its place in my 40L bag by solving a specific, recurring travel problem.

My Top 10 Battle-Tested Travel Items (That Aren’t Clothes)

Here are the 10 items that I’ve found provide the most value for the space and weight they take up.

1. A High-Quality, Compact Power Bank (with PD)

I used to think any power bank would do. I’d grab a cheap, tiny “lipstick” charger and hope for the best. I learned my lesson on a 12-hour bus ride in Southeast Asia when my phone died, taking my maps, my ticket, and my hostel reservation with it.

Now, I never travel without a 10,000mAh power bank.

Here’s why this specific size works:

• It’s the sweet spot: A 10,000mAh bank can charge a modern smartphone about 2-3 times, which is more than enough to get you through a long travel day or a night without a convenient outlet.
• It’s not too heavy: Larger 20,000mAh banks are often too heavy for a minimalist bag, violating the “freedom” principle. A good 10,000mAh bank weighs around 200-250 grams.
• Look for “PD” (Power Delivery): This is crucial. PD-enabled banks can charge your phone (and sometimes even a small laptop or tablet) significantly faster. When you only have 30 minutes at a coffee shop, this matters.

This item isn’t just for you. It’s for the person you meet at the hostel whose phone is dead. It’s for when your wireless earbuds die right before a long flight. It is the single most valuable utility item in my tech kit.

2. A ‘One-and-Done’ Universal Travel Adapter

I’ve seen travelers with a whole plastic bag full of different adapters for different countries. It’s a mess. I’ve also seen people buy those flimsy, all-in-one slider adapters where the prongs wobble and break after two trips.

My solution is a single, cube-shaped universal adapter. The cube design is generally much more robust than the slide-out models. The best ones also include multiple USB-A and, most importantly, USB-C ports.

This allows you to:

• Charge your laptop (using the main AC socket).
• Charge your phone (using the USB-C port).
• Charge your power bank or earbuds (using the USB-A ports).

You can charge 3-4 devices at once from a single wall outlet. In hostels or older guesthouses where you might only have one available plug, this is a lifesaver. It’s the one item I check is in my bag before I even check for my passport.

3. Solid Toiletries (The No-Liquid Champions)

This is my single biggest “hack” for minimalist travel. The biggest bottleneck in one-bag travel is the airport security liquid limit. We’ve all dealt with the tiny, messy 100ml bottles and the clear plastic TSA’s 3-1-1 liquids rule bag.

Solid toiletries let you bypass that entire problem.

Here’s my entire “liquids” kit:

• Solid Shampoo Bar: Works just as well as bottled shampoo and lasts for months.
• Solid Soap Bar: I use a simple, unscented bar for body, face, and sometimes even shaving.
• Solid Toothpaste Tabs: These are amazing. They are small, dry tablets you chew into a paste before brushing. No tubes, no mess.
• Solid Deodorant Stick: This one is easy, as most are already solid.

With this setup, my “liquids bag” is completely empty. I don’t have to pull anything out at security. I never worry about a bottle exploding in my bag. It’s one of the biggest “freedom” items on this list.

4. A Packable Daypack (The ‘Second Bag’)

This is essential. You’ve arrived at your destination with your 40L backpack. You check into your hostel or hotel. You are not going to lug that big bag around with you to see the city or go on a day hike.

You need a “second bag.” A packable daypack is a very small, lightweight backpack that folds or stuffs down into its own tiny pouch (often the size of an apple).

I use this constantly:

• As a day bag for walking around a new city.
• To carry a water bottle and jacket on a short hike.
• As a grocery bag to pick up snacks or food.
• As an “overflow” bag at the airport if my main bag is slightly overweight.

Look for one from a reputable brand that is water-resistant and has decent zippers. A cheap, flimsy one will rip, but a good one will last for years.

5. A Portable Digital Luggage Scale

This little $10-15 item has saved me hundreds of dollars. The entire point of one-bag travel is to avoid checked bag fees. But many budget airlines (especially in Europe and Asia) are now extremely strict about carry-on weight, not just size.

I’ve watched in horror as a traveler next to me at the gate was forced to pay a $100 fee because their “carry-on” was 2kg over the 7kg limit.

I never have this anxiety. Before I leave for the airport, I use my digital scale to weigh my bag. If it’s over, I can move things around, wear my heaviest items, or decide to check it in advance for a much lower fee. It gives you control and removes all the guesswork and stress from the boarding process.

6. A Good Pair of Noise-Canceling Earbuds

Travel is noisy. Planes, trains, buses, snoring hostel roommates, and crowded city streets. A good pair of noise-canceling earbuds isn’t a luxury; it’s a critical tool for sanity.

I prefer a small pair of wireless earbuds with a charging case. They are tiny, the case holds multiple charges, and the active noise-cancellation (ANC) can instantly create a bubble of silence.

I use them:

• On every flight to block out engine drone.
• On long bus rides to listen to podcasts or just have quiet.
• In a noisy hostel dorm to get to sleep.

They take up almost zero space and dramatically improve the quality of your travel experience.

7. An External SSD (Solid State Drive)

This might not be for everyone, but as someone who takes a lot of photos on my phone and camera, it’s non-negotiable. What happens if your phone is lost or stolen? What if your laptop breaks?

An external SSD (Solid State Drive) is different from an old “spinning” hard drive.

• It’s tiny: Many are the size of a credit card.
• It’s light: Often under 100 grams.
• It’s durable: No moving parts, so it can handle being bounced around in a bag.

Every few days, I back up my photos from my phone or camera SD card to this drive. I keep the drive separate from my laptop and camera. It’s a cheap, fast, and easy insurance policy for my memories.

8. A Collapsible Water Bottle

Staying hydrated is key, but standard reusable bottles (like a Hydro Flask or Nalgene) are bulky and heavy. When they’re empty, they are just a big, rigid cylinder of wasted space in your bag.

A collapsible bottle is the solution. When it’s full, it’s a water bottle. When it’s empty, you roll it up or flatten it to the size of a wallet. This means you can easily toss it in your packable daypack, and it takes up no space when going through airport security. It saves you money (no more $5 airport water) and it’s good for the planet.

9. A Simple, Reliable Pen

This sounds almost too simple, but I promise you, it’s one of the most-used items in my bag. I’m always the person on the plane with a pen.

On almost every international flight, you will be handed a paper landing card or customs form. You must fill this out before you get to the immigration counter. The flight attendants never have enough pens, and you’ll waste 20 minutes on the other side trying to find one, while everyone else from your flight gets in line ahead of you.

I keep a simple, reliable clicky-pen in the exact same pocket of my bag at all times. It has saved me so much hassle.

10. A Titanium Spork (or Utensil Set)

This is my “food freedom” tool. I love eating street food, grabbing yogurt from a corner store, or buying fresh fruit from a market. The problem? You’re often left without any way to eat it.

A single, lightweight titanium spork (spoon-fork combo) in your bag solves this.

• Why titanium? It’s incredibly light, extremely strong, and doesn’t leave a metallic taste.
• Why not plastic? Reusable, and you won’t snap it in half.
• Why not a full set? A single spork handles 90% of food situations.

I’ve used it in hostel kitchens that had no clean cutlery, on a park bench with a tub of yogurt, and for takeaway food that didn’t include utensils. It’s a small item that makes you much more self-sufficient.

How to Decide What You Should Pack

This is my list, refined over almost five years. It’s a template, not a rulebook. The real key to minimalist packing is to be honest about your own needs.

• Don’t need an SSD? If you don’t take many photos, leave it.
• Hate sporks? Fine, leave it.
• Need a small first-aid kit? That might be more valuable to you than one of these items.

The process is what matters. Before you pack any non-clothing item, ask yourself:

1. What problem does this solve?
2. Will I use it more than once on this trip?
3. Is there a lighter or smaller version?
4. What is the worst-case scenario if I don’t pack this?

If you can’t answer those questions, the item probably doesn’t deserve a place in your bag.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most important item on this list?

If I could only pick one, it would be the power bank. A dead phone in a new country is a serious problem. But the item that has saved me the most money and stress is the digital luggage scale.

Do I really need a packable daypack?

In my opinion, yes. It’s the key to the “two-bag” system (one for travel, one for exploring). Without it, you’re stuck either carrying your big 40L bag everywhere or using a flimsy plastic bag.

Are solid toiletries hard to find?

Not anymore. Many major brands make shampoo and conditioner bars, and you can find them online or in health food stores. Toothpaste tabs are also becoming much more common.

Why not just use a regular travel adapter?

The all-in-one adapters with USB ports are game-changers because they multiply a single outlet. A simple, old-fashioned adapter just changes the plug shape. It doesn’t let you charge four devices at once.

Final Thoughts: It’s About Utility, Not Just Stuff

Your minimalist bag shouldn’t be empty. It should be full of carefully chosen, high-utility items that make your trip easier, not harder.

The goal of minimalist travel, as I see it, isn’t deprivation. It’s not a competition to see who can travel with the least. The goal is freedom. Freedom from checked bag fees, freedom from waiting at the luggage carousel, and the freedom to be mobile and flexible.

These 10 items are my keys to that freedom. They are the tools that solve the small, annoying problems of travel, so I can focus on the experience itself.