It’s finally here, the product list that absolutely nobody has been asking for! I humbly present to you the official Off Seasoner 2022 Holiday Gift Guide for the special someone and traveler in your life.
I created this list because I wanted to share some of my favorite items that I have acquired over the course of this year. I feel like this really doesn’t need to be said, but just in case you were wondering none of this is even close to being within the realm of sponsored, I just happened to travel a lot this year unexpectedly and really like some of the products that I acquired along the way. Also please don’t judge me for using Amazon so much the pandemic has been hard on all of us.
Laundry bag
This was such a simple and cheap purchase that has improved the quality of my life most dramatically while traveling. I’ve been hauling dirty clothes around in plastic grocery store bags inside my luggage like a peasant for decades. I can’t believe I didn’t buy one earlier. It keeps my dirty cloths separated inside my bag and comes with a built in pocket you can stuff the bag itself into for easy storage. It is also very convenient for doing laundry on the go yourself or dropping it off to be cleaned. Again, I no longer need to feel embarrassed for dragging in my ripped up overstuffed grocery bag. Do your laundry with confidence and style!
Flip flops
Havaianas are the best! They are a Brazilian brand that are cheap and well made and come in lots of different colors and patterns. I love them because they are compact and lightweight, and wearing sandals is the easiest way to get through airport security. Don’t worry, I wear socks with them. I’m not waking through airport security barefoot. I am just chronically dorky, not gross.
Eye mask
I had an Alaska Bear mask for many years which was very comfortable, lightweight, and cheap. It came off while I was asleep on a flight earlier this year and even though I searched everywhere I was never able to find it. After a brief mourning period that definitely included anger and denial while disembarking from that flight, I decided to switch it up and replace it with MZOO, which I also like a lot. It completely blocks out light and has a more secure fit without putting any pressure on the eyes.
Travel towel
A travel towel is not useful for every trip, but if you are staying in a hostel I think it is worth it to bring your own. They’re also great for any water based activities while traveling. It’s convenient to always have one on you if you are going to be hiking, biking, or otherwise getting sweaty, or if you decide to hop into that lake, river, or ocean while out exploring. I brought mine with me for my recent trip to Iceland and used it at every hot spring to avoid renting a towel.
Travel towels are different from regular towels because they are made from synthetic materials that make them more compact, quicker to dry, and more absorbent than regular towels. They also come in different sizes. I chose the Nomadix Mini because I liked the pattern and the size packs small but is still big enough that I can wrap it around my waist.
Jewelry bag
I love to accessorize, especially if I am traveling for work. I wonder how many hours of my life total I have spent untangling necklaces I have thrown together in a bag only to untangle them again once I got home. This travel jewelry bag is a little bulky but keeps everything organized and untangled. I always take it for longer trips and work trips. If I could do it again, I would buy this smaller version.
Compression bag
Compression bags are something that I only started using recently and have apparently become a thing since I moved to Mexico and stopped backpacking. There are many different brands and they are helpful when traveling on the trail and off. This is perfect for the overpacker or the person who refuses to check a bag, of which I am both. I mean, who has the time to actually check a bag anyway?
The sacks come in different sizes, Sea to Summit offers 6L up to 20L. The idea is that you stuff in as much clothing as you can, preferably bulky items and things you don’t mind getting wrinkled. You then struggle to pull down the straps on all four sides and, voila! Several sweaty moments later 10 liters worth of clothing has been compacted into 4. I was skeptical that this would actually work, but I can attest that the bag I purchased from Sea to Summit did and has made my life easier.
Travel pillow
This travel pillow will only work for you if your head falls to the right or left when you are nodding off, not forward. Although it looks strange it is extremely comfortable and I love it because it packs flat within its own bag to keep it clean. The carry bag can easily be fastened to the outside of my travel bag, which is the only reason I haven’t lost it immediately like all of my former, bulky travel pillows.
Travel bag
The Osprey Fairview Travel Pack 55L is a real life glitch in the matrix y’all. I absolutely love this travel backpack. It is actually two bags, a larger backpack and an easily detachable daypack that can be zipped on and off. The main bag is flat enough to fit in any overhead bin and unzips from three sides, so you don’t need to unpack your entire bag every time you arrive to a new destinations and need to get to something. I can fit so much stuff in this bag and it always counts as a carry on. I have flown Ryanair, Spirit, and Frontier among other budget airlines and never been stopped. If you do decide to check it, the back zips up so that the straps are not exposed. Osprey bags are very high quality, and come with a lifetime warranty. Do yourself a favor a buy this bag already.
Travel toothbrush
An electric travel toothbrush may have been the most extravagant purchase I made this year, but if you travel a lot or for long periods it is worth it. I became a diehard fan of electric toothbrushes just within the last few years, but my teeth have never felt cleaner and I always get compliments from the dentist when I go in for regular cleanings which never happened to me before I switched. Did you know that dental hygiene is directly related to heart health among other systemic diseases? And that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States? And again, just to reiterate, I am not being backed by the dental industry, I am just unordinarily passionate about dental hygiene
The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean comes with a USB charging case and holds the charge for about two weeks in my experience. It has 3 speeds and will alert you when you need to change the toothbrush head. It also comes with a cup you can use to charge it instead of the travel case if you want to use it at home as well.
Travel Scarf
This is not a specific product but more of a general recommendation. I was gifted a scarf from mother for Christmas last year and have taken it and worn it on every single trip I have been on this year. From the Amazon jungle to the Sahara desert to the Arctic circle, it is in my pack every day I am traveling and I don’t know how I ever managed without it. It functions to keep me warmer in cold weather and in cold airplanes. In more temperate weather I can use it as a middle layer without needing to carry an extra jacket around with me all day. It also functions as a lightweight protection from the sun when I wear it as a shawl so that I can keep cool and not need to apply a ton of sunscreen on my pale pale body when exposed to the elements for long stretches. Traveling can be challenging, and this connection reminds me that I am never really alone, even on the other side of the world and in extreme conditions. That there are people who love me and are waiting to see me again soon.
I hope that you find this guide useful and can check off an item or two from your gift list, if not for yourself. Safe travels and best of luck out there this holiday season.
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