The air companies constantly decrease the allowed size and the weight of the luggage, as to the size of the allowed hand-luggage; they try to reduce it to the size of a wallet. However, it does not stop the travelers. If we reconsider our settled views on usual things, it will turn out that we take with us a lot of items with dubbing each other functions, which means that half the unnecessary for the vacation goods and chattels can easily be thrown out of the luggage, and the suit-case can be packed without any problem, according to the requirements of the most fault-finding air companies.
Shampoo
Despite the fact that the majority of hotels leave a bar of soap, shampoo and shower gel in the bathroom for their customers, travelers prefer to act according to the principle “All my belongings I take with me”. Of course, this point of view has the right to exist, but try to judge yourselves, why to take all the washing sources with you if just one bottle of shampoo can excellently solve the functions of washing head, body and even shorts and socks. The latter, by the way will smell much more pleasant. And at the end of the trip, throwing out the empty bottle, you will vacate a place for souvenirs in your suit-case.
Dental floss
Besides its straight function – to clean the inter-dental space, the floss will serve a good service as an instrument to cut products. Of course, it will hardly handle with the smoked sausage, yet, the cheese and bread will be cut perfectly. But do not buy the floss with mint flavor! Not everyone will like such taste in food. Besides that, double –folded floss is strong enough to hold such light items washed with shampoo as shorts and socks.
Sarong
Even in case you are not a follower of ethnic style in clothes, having this kind of thing in the luggage is not superfluous. Besides its main function- protection from wind and sun- this item may also be used for other purposes. First, as a towel, because the fabric it is made of absorbs humidity very well and at the same time it dries quickly. Secondly, sarong can be used as a mat for a picnic or a sheet if you have to stay in a cheap hostel. Thirdly, hanged on the same dental floss in the room it can be an excellent way to screen off the people. And at last if to tie the corners of sarong it will become a wonderful bowl for shopping in the supermarket, for example.
Raincoat
One more irreplaceable thing to take with you for a trip is a raincoat. To use it to hide from rain is more convenient than to use an umbrella, since hands remain free and not only can you hide under it but also your precious camera and rucksack. In addition you can perfectly lie on it even on the wet grass, or it can be stretched under a sleeping bag, if you, sometimes, like to sleep under the starry sky. The bag in which the raincoats are usually sold is also made of waterproof material which can sometimes be useful not only for the raincoat to be put inside, but also to pack a wet bathing costume or towel.
English pin
Take care to have this necessary thing or several of them in you luggage, together with the usual needle and thread. First, of all the pin can perfectly be used as a clothes-peg (taking comparatively smaller place!), if you decide to hang your clothes in the wind. Secondly, it will be a good replacement for the button which suddenly cut of. Thirdly, fastening with it the flap of rucksack or a pocket with money inside, you will complicate the problem for pickpockets, who like to “gather tribute” in crowded tourist places. Fourthly, a rather big pin can be used as an awl, if necessary.
Swiss army knife
The only shortcoming of this item may be the necessity to register it in luggage. In the rest- the knife consists of advantages only. The main function that the instrument has to perform should be just the presence of knife, opener, corkscrew, scissors, screwdriver (with different nozzles), an awl and tweezers. The other additional capacity like a flashlight, compass or thermometer can be looked at as pleasant but not obligatory bonus.
Instrument in the form of credit card
One more small but extremely functional item made of stainless steel can excellently be placed in any wallet at the place of credit card. Its sharpened side will perfectly function as a not big knife. With its corner in the form of screwdriver can be drawn not very tightly turned screws, and with its slit – screws and bolts of four most often used sizes. The openers can open not only bottles but also cans. The saw will help to saw off small branches for a fire.
In any case, when going on a vocation or hiking, have a new look at your luggage and refuse the idea of taking a separate item for each purpose. This is the way you can spare some place in your luggage and your energy and time which otherwise will be spent to pack unnecessary goods and chattels and also the thought “haven’t I forgotten anything”.