The Covid-19 pandemic has been rough for everyone, but it’s been especially tough on those who love to travel. However, with vaccination uptake on the rise and the world reopening to travelers across the globe, you can once again satisfy your wanderlust.
During the pandemic, travelers were barred from congregating in congested places. Trips to cities and packed venues were replaced by outdoor excursions. Experts project this area of tourism to continue to boom in Covid’s wake.
With that in mind, take a look at these 6 essential items for traveling post-Covid.
1. Waterproof Hiking Boots
Few activities saw their number of participants grow during the pandemic, but hiking exploded in popularity. More than twice as many people reported pursuing hiking as a hobby in 2020 than in 2019.
It’s easy to see why. Hiking was one of the few activities that was relatively unaffected by pandemic protocols like social distancing, and it provided a way for those stuck inside to get out and stretch their legs.
Ask any avid hiker what their most important piece of gear is and virtually all of them will say their hiking boots. Of course, they need to be waterproof.
2. Camping Water Filter
Like hiking, camping also saw an increase in participants during the pandemic. With more and more people pursuing camping, gear became a hot item to buy.
Few items are more essential than a good water filter for camping. Water is heavy to lug around and drinking water directly from streams and rivers is never advised without treating it first. In fact, untreated water may contain contaminants and bacteria that could absolutely ruin your wilderness retreat.
Bring one of these handy filters with you so you never have to worry about water quality. Many of them are small enough to easily fit in a backpack.
3. Vaccine Card Protector
While residents of some states are lucky enough to be able to track their vaccination status through an app on their phone, many others are stuck carrying around their vaccination cards.
These cards are irregularly shaped and don’t easily fit into a wallet. You also need to keep it protected in case you need to add booster shot information in the future.
That’s why these vaccine card protectors are a must for traveling in the post-Covid world. They’ll keep the card safe from water and debris, and the card easily slides out when the time comes to add more information.
4. UV Phone Sanitizer Box
By now, everyone knows that the vaccines aren’t a silver bullet when it comes to protecting yourself against Covid. You still need to take precautions to ensure you stay healthy.
Even though you may wash your hands religiously, your phone can still get dirty. Most people handle their phones constantly, and Covid can exist on the surface of your phone. You definitely don’t want to put up your face without giving a thorough cleaning once in a while.
These UV sanitizer boxes have been proven to kill the virus that causes Covid in addition to a host of other contaminants that could reside on your phone’s screen. They’re even the perfect size to slip into a suitcase.
5. Reusable Water Bottle
With many airlines restricting in-flight service, a reusable water bottle became an essential travel item. That won’t change in the post-Covid world. Just be sure you wait to fill it until after you make it through airport security.
Reusable water bottles are great for the environment since they reduce the waste from plastic water bottles. Many of them are incredibly durable as well, so you can take them with you wherever you roam.
It also pairs wonderfully with a camping water filter.
6. Portable Phone Chargers
Owning a smartphone was already a necessity in this day and age, but Covid has made them even more important. Now, you have to scan a QR code to view the menu at most restaurants, some use their phone as a form of contactless payment, and for others, it’s their vaccine passport.
All that usage is sure to drain your phone’s battery in a hurry, so grab a portable phone charger to make sure that you’re never caught with a dead phone when you need it most.
Covid has changed the way people travel, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get out and explore. Pick up these travel essentials so your trip goes smoothly, and take a journey into nature to avoid the crowds. Above all, stay safe.