Every vacation I stuff my suitcase with the same things — and every time I realize I forgot something important. This year I approached packing differently: I browsed AliExpress in advance and filled all the gaps — from a charger to hot tea on the road. Here are 10 things that actually went with me on vacation and actually came in handy. I didn’t throw away a single one, didn’t regret a single one — and here’s why.
All of this fit into one backpack and never let me down over two weeks
Power Bank for iPhone That I Carry in My Shorts Pocket
The lavender one went to my wife on the second day — had to keep the white one for myself
You know what’s most valuable on vacation? Not sunset photos, but a charged phone you’ll use to take those photos. I took a compact Vention power bank — and it literally lived in my shorts pocket without getting in the way or pulling the fabric down. 5000 mAh — that’s a full iPhone charge, and 20W fast charging means the phone gets about 60% in half an hour on the beach.
The key here is not to chase capacity if what you need is portability. I’ve been using it since April, and during that time it saved me about twenty times: GPS navigation in an unfamiliar city drains the battery like crazy. iPhone charges via Lightning or USB-C without any issues. The dimensions are even smaller than a deodorant stick, and you can’t even feel the weight.
Price: 1,100 rubles
Apple Watch Band — Bought Three, No Regrets
A hundred rubles — and the watch looks brand new for every outfit
Going on vacation with one Apple Watch band is like taking one t-shirt for two weeks. I ordered silicone Apple Watch bands in three colors right away: white for the beach, black for the evening, and a bright one — just to match my mood. At 100 rubles each — it’s a no-brainer.
Silicone isn’t afraid of water, sunscreen, or sweat — after the sea I just rinsed it under the tap and moved on. Fits all Apple Watch sizes: 40, 41, 44, 45, and 49 mm. The clasp holds securely — it never came undone during the entire vacation. An original Apple band for the same money — that’s, excuse me, in the realm of fantasy.
Price: 100 rubles
Car Mug-Kettle — I Drank Hot Tea on the Highway
Plugged into the cigarette lighter — and five minutes later real tea, not cold sadness
I used to stop at gas stations for questionable-quality coffee. Now I just plug a car mug-kettle into the cigarette lighter and a few minutes later I have hot tea right on the road. Works on 12 and 24V, suitable for both cars and trucks. Volume — 500 ml, enough for two people.
The display shows the current temperature, and you can set the desired one so you don’t burn yourself. There are separate modes for tea, coffee, and just warming up. I bought it in May before a trip south — used it every day on the way there and back. The only thing — you need to screw the lid on tightly, otherwise it might splash on bumps.
Price: 1,200 rubles
Soundcore K20i — Earbuds I Took on Vacation Instead of AirPods
For 911 rubles — sound, battery life, and looks that others charge ten times more for
On vacation, earbuds are an absolute necessity, but you’re simply afraid to lose AirPods. Anything can happen. So I took the Soundcore K20i by Anker and didn’t regret it once. 36 hours of battery life — that’s not a marketing number, I actually charged the case just once. And the 13mm drivers deliver decent bass for semi-in-ear buds.
They look, frankly, suspiciously similar to AirPods — white glossy case, stems, everything as expected. They connect to iPhone via Bluetooth without issues, track switching works. Despite all the drawbacks of the semi-in-ear format (they sit more loosely in the ear than in-ear buds) — on the beach that’s actually a plus: you can hear what’s going on around you. And all of this for 1,000 rubles.
Price: 1,000 rubles
Portable Fan with Mist Sprayer — Saved Me on the Balcony
Standing on the balcony at +35°C, blowing fine water mist in my face — and life became bearable
Air conditioning in a rental apartment is a lottery. We got unlucky, and the first two days of vacation I spent searching for any kind of relief from the heat. Good thing I had tossed a portable fan with humidifier into the suitcase beforehand. The thing is the size of a mug, rechargeable
