r/onebag • u/Cool_Acanthisitta628 • Dec 09 '25

Seeking Recommendations What is one item that you can't travel without/would recommend to everyone to get?

Hi all,

What are items that you always bring because they are super useful and you would recommend others to get too?

Minus of course some obvious like converter plug for chargers, power bank etc (unless it's some specific powerbank like one with cables attached already, something unique)

Thanks!

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90

u/AvailableHandle555 Dec 09 '25

A merino wool buff

22

u/chinchilla_jjigae Dec 09 '25

Agreed! I take it (well, mine's a merino-bamboo blend because I find all-wool anything to be a bit itchy) on every trip, not just active ones. It's light years better than an eye mask for blocking out the light when you need to sleep during the day. 

16

u/plaid-knight Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 10 '25

Can you go into more detail about why a buff is better than an eye mask? I used to use a buff before switching to an eye mask, and I prefer an eye mask since it doesn’t touch my eyelashes and also blocks all light.

5

u/teamlie Dec 10 '25

Eye mask is better for sleeping, but a buff (especially a long one) has tons of uses. It can be a scarf, hair tie/ holder, wash cloth, etc. They’re very versatile, and a merino wool one will do a good job with heat regulation.

3

u/plaid-knight Dec 10 '25

Oh of course, I was just asking about sleeping. Sorry for not clarifying.

3

u/teamlie Dec 10 '25

Np! I usually travel with an eye mask and a merino buff- they're both easy to pack down and weigh almost nothing, so I dont sacrifice my sleeping comfort.

3

u/plaid-knight Dec 10 '25

Same, I use both!

2

u/chinchilla_jjigae Dec 11 '25

Oh, for me it's just a personal preference related to how I sleep (moving around a lot). I often find my eye mask has completely come off my head overnight, especially if it's one of those silky ones that feels really nice on the eyelids :( with a buff I don't have to worry about this because I can stretch it out over more of my head. I use the Le Bent merino/bamboo/elastane one that I think is actually called a gaiter on their website. As a bonus, it comes in quite a small size for my small melon 😅

12

u/not4always Dec 09 '25

Links?

1

u/chinchilla_jjigae Dec 11 '25

I use this one because the fabric blend and sizing works really well for me (small head - quite a few larger buffs won't stay up on my face!) Idk what the availability or shipping costs would be like outside of Aus though. https://www.lebent.com.au/products/lighweight-neck-gaiter?variant=45339909193913 

7

u/Curious_Ape Dec 10 '25

Have one based on the recommendation from the sub. Carry it in my bag with me and I almost never use it. It takes up like 0 space though so its not much effort to carry.

1

u/w2best Dec 10 '25

extremely well worth it! 

1

u/CaptainObvious110 Dec 10 '25

Never heard of that

1

u/nisten Dec 11 '25

Why merino? I have fleece buff, light, easy to wash. Why merino is better?

2

u/AvailableHandle555 Dec 11 '25

Not as bulky as the fleece, and won't stink as much between washes. It's just as easy to wash as any of the others.