10 essentials for safe travel

1. Reliable eSIM

Essential for: Staying connected
Price: Varies (example: $20.90 for 5 days of unlimited data in Europe or USA)

An eSIM is essential for safe travel, especially when travelling solo. A reliable internet connection will help you find your way if you get lost, verify information from a sketchy source, or contact the authorities in an emergency. 

Over the course of my 15-day trip to China, most of my fellow travellers had problems connecting. They were often unable to pay by credit card (via AliPay or WeChat) or navigate using Google Maps. Meanwhile, my connection proved stable and consistent across a large swathe of the country.

We at Atlas & Boots have used Holafly eSIM in several countries including Mexico, Panama, China and much of Europe, and have found it consistently reliable. It comes highly rated on Trustpilot and covers 170 destinations worldwide with unlimited data available in 122 countries. Atlas & Boots can offer our readers 5% off all Holafly purchases. Simply use the code ATLASANDBOOTS at checkout.

2. Worldwide travel adaptor

Essential for: Staying connected
Price: $59.99

An eSIM is of little use if you can’t charge your phone. The Ceptics World Travel Adapter Kit is the perfect solution to the problem of packing seemingly boundless numbers of cables and adaptors.

The kit works in over 200 countries and territories and can charge up to five devices using only one outlet. It is surge-protected and includes two US plugs, two USB ports, a fixed USB cable and six country-specific connectors.

The kit also features a smart LED voltage indicator which shows whether a 110V or 220V is present. This ensures you know which devices are compatible and can be safely connected.

3. Power bank + solar charger

Essential for: Remote travel, camping, hiking
Price: $79.95; $129.95

Peter carries a fair amount of electronics on treks and climbs including two cameras and a smartphone. All of these need juice, so a reliable power bank and solar charger make life easier. He uses the BioLite Charge 80 PD Power Bank and a Goal Zero Nomad 20 Solar Panel.

Solar panels can be hit-and-miss in terms of efficacy, but it’s worth packing one on longer treks where power sources are likely to be few and far between.

4. Travelsafe portable safe

Essential for: Securing your gear
Price: $109.95

I’ll admit that we’ve often been complacent on the road. On occasion, we’ve left our belongings unattended by a pool or on a beach. Thankfully, we’ve never been robbed but we know friends and family who have.

To be on the safe side, consider a Travelsafe portable safe. This lockable pouch from Pacsafe allows you to secure your passports, a (smallish) camera, extra cash, credit cards, phone and/or tablet. It comes with a ‘high-tensile stainless exomesh’ between the inner and outer fabric meaning that it can’t just be cut open.

An integrated locking device provides a strong and durable closure while the drawstring cable allows you to lock the safe to a stationary object. The only downside is that it’s quite bulky so may weigh down the ultra-light traveller. We’ll likely leave it at home for short European jaunts but take it with us on longer trips through countries we know less well.

5. SteriPEN water purifier

Essential for: Staying healthy
Price: $129.95

The SteriPEN Ultra is one of our favourite gadgets for safe travel. It eliminates over 99.9% of bacteria in up to a litre of water in just 90 seconds, can be used up to 8,000 times and is easily rechargeable via a computer, mains supply or portable solar charger.

With one charge it can treat up to 50 litres of water and has done exactly that for us during our travels through the South Pacific and South America. Get it from REI, Amazon or steripen.com.

6. Chaperone personal alarm

Essential for: Personal safety
Price: $15

Here’s another of those products you don’t think you’ll ever need – until you do. The Chaperone personal alarm can be attached to a keyring, looped through a jacket zip, or attached to your backpack. When activated, it emits a strobe light and 140-decibel siren, audible up to 800m (2,600ft) away.

It is reportedly the only personal attack alarm approved by the Ministry of Defence and has been supplied to military personnel in areas of conflict. It’s supplied with a battery that provides in excess of two hours’ continuous running – though naturally, it’s worth testing a few times a year.

7. Spot X

Essential for: Remote travel, sailing, hiking and extreme sports
Price: $199.89 plus a data plan on top

I’m not a worrier but once in a while, I’ve wished that Peter had hobbies more prosaic than mountain climbing – like when I read about deaths on Denali while he was climbing that same peak.

If, like him, you have ambitions to climb the seven summits, consider packing a SPOT X with Bluetooth. This pocket-sized gizmo tracks you in real-time and allows 2-way satellite communication in areas without mobile coverage.

Connect SPOT X to your phone via Bluetooth to access your contacts and communicate easily with family, friends or directly with Search & Rescue services.

SPOT’s tech has been credited with thousands of rescues globally – including when Peter was airlifted in Greenland. At a basic price of $199.89 with a range of reasonably-priced data plans, it’s a must-have gadget for all adventurers. Get it from REI, Amazon or findmespot.com.

8. TRAVEL INSURANCE

Essential for: Personal safety
Price: from $47

We have used a number of travel insurance providers over the years and are now covered by SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance, which covers travel delays, lost checked luggage, emergency response, natural disasters and personal liability as well as medical assistance up to $250,000 USD. It can be purchased while already abroad, covers home trip visits and operates like a monthly subscription.

For more adventurous treks, you will likely need specialist insurance. For this, we recommend TrueTraveller.

9. First aid kit

Essential for: Personal safety, staying healthy, remote travel, camping, hiking
Price: $15-25

A physical first aid kit is also one of our essentials for safe travel. We use Lifesystems Pocket, which includes all but the starred items below. We manually add painkillers (and a thermal blanket when needed).

Alternatively, you can opt for the Lifesystems Adventurer for your hiking first aid kit. This version of the kit includes all of the below except antiseptic cream and a thermal blanket, which you can add manually.

General
Tweezers
Scissors
Safety pins
Disposable gloves*
Thermometer*
Thermal blanket*^†

Medication
Painkillers*
Antihistamines*^†
Loperamide (e.g. Imodium)*^†

Bandages
Open woven bandage
Crepe bandage
Triangular bandages*

Preparation and tapes
Antiseptic cream^†
Gauze swabs
Tape
Hygienic cleansing wipes

Dressings
Assorted plasters
Blister plasters (such as Compeed)
Low adherent dressing
Steristrips (butterfly stitches)*^†

* Not included in Lifesystems Pocket
^† Not included in Lifesystems Adventurer

10. FIRST AID app BY RED CROSS

Essential for: Personal safety
Price: Free

The official Red Cross First Aid app is available on iOS and Android worldwide and is tailored to the user’s location (i.e. American, British, Australian Red Cross organisations). The app provides pre-loaded content offering instant access to safety information and expert advice for everyday emergencies.

The app features videos, diagrams, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice to help users deal with and prepare for a range of emergencies. It also works when offline, so no internet connection is required, making it an invaluable life-saving tool.