packing light just got a little harder
but it's worth the trouble for peace of
mind
welcome to mojo travels and today we're
counting down our picks for the top 10
essential products for the new reality
of travel
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for this list we're looking at a variety
of products that experts are declaring
to be must-haves when traveling
even in a post-covered world whenever
that will be we'll be reminding you of
this caveat throughout the list
but make sure to opt for a reputable
brand or medical grade product whenever
relevant
furthermore we'd like to clarify that
while all of the following products are
worthy purchases
none can guarantee safety from
transmission every trip needs to be
carefully evaluated
taking into account the inherent risks
number 10 a reusable water bottle
staying hydrated is always a priority
when traveling
as you explore your destination you tend
to do a lot more walking than you would
back home
and dehydration can quickly sneak up on
you in the wake of covet 19
public water fountains are just about
the last thing you want to be putting
your face close to
and while many people are unconcerned
about store-bought goods
a plastic water bottle can carry surface
contamination
if you have to buy and wipe a bottle
every time you're thirsty you're going
to go through
a lot of disinfectant wipes but pandemic
or not
a reusable water bottle should always be
part of your arsenal of travel
essentials
based simply on the fact that it saves
you money and diminishes waste
as global travelers we should always be
mindful of the impact that we have on
the environment
number nine reusable and disposable bags
in the postcovid era our relationship to
surfaces has become more complicated
than we ever could have previously
imagined
much remains a mystery about the nature
of the novel coronavirus but as a
general rule
the less contact with heavily handled
objects the better
rather than pop into the local corner
shop or bodega whenever you need a snack
pack some easy pick-me-ups for yourself
using reusable snack bags
containers work too but they're far less
space efficient
it's also worthwhile to keep a few large
ziplock bags with you in case you need
to pick up a heavily handled object and
carry it with you
not everything can be easily sanitized
on the go but a large bag can serve as a
barrier between
said object and your other possessions
simply put it away to deal with later
sanitize or wash your hands and continue
the adventure
number eight a thermometer if you're
following safety protocols and being
mindful of your surroundings and actions
during
a trip the hope is that you can travel
without getting sick
but should you find yourself feeling a
little under the weather or simply
paranoid
it doesn't hurt to have a thermometer on
hand to put your mind at ease
a thermometer is simply a good tool to
have on hand to keep tabs on your health
of course you also need to be on the
lookout for other common symptoms of
illnesses
including shortness of breath cough sore
throat and a loss of sense of smell
if you're considered part of a more
vulnerable demographic you can also
consider a digital oximeter to keep an
eye on your oxygen levels
number seven a sling bag or fanny pack
the coronavirus has impacted numerous
industries in a major way
but few more so than airlines and
airports
they've had to radically rethink their
procedures and among the many protocols
that airlines have put in place
some have opted to eliminate carry-on
luggage it's understandable from the
standpoint of transmission
but it significantly limits what you'll
have access to in flight
thankfully pretty much every airline is
still allowing passengers to have a
small bag that they keep on their person
for the duration of their flight
a sling bag small over-the-shoulder bag
or even fanny pack are great ways to
keep all of your essentials close at
hand
including your phone wallet passport or
anything else you refuse to fly without
keeping everything that would normally
go in your pockets in your sling bag
will also save you time at security
the tsa has actually specifically asked
that such items be kept in a bag and not
placed directly in the trays
number six hard side luggage whatever
size of luggage you choose to travel
with and regardless of the airline's
policy about carry-on
hard side is the way to go yes person to
person transmission is the biggest risk
but surfaces are still of concern
and whether your baggage is checked or
stowed in the overhead compartment it's
likely to be handled
and yes breathed on in close proximity
by other people along the way
the cdc calls luggage relatively low
risk but why not make it as low as
possible
soft side luggage is made of porous
materials that can be very difficult to
clean
especially with a sanitizing wipe which
is likely to tear apart against the
uneven surface
hardside suitcases by contrast can
quickly be wiped down the moment they
come off the carousel
number five your own pens it's often the
small details that we tend to overlook
this applies equally to travel but in
the wake of a pandemic
the devil is in the details now with so
many transactions being handled online
or through our smartphones it's
increasingly rare for us to have to
physically sign for something
but if you're presented with an
old-fashioned receipt contract or
customs form to sign
the pen that comes with it is likely
going through dozens if not hundreds of
hands a day
so do yourself a favor and bring a pen
from home that's always within reach
maybe in the aforementioned sling bag
worried about it running out
bring multiple if you expect to be asked
to give a digital signature or
interact with a public touch screen you
can even pack a tiny stylus
number four phone sanitizer it's an
unpleasant comparison to make but
experts agree that the average phone if
left
uncleaned is dirtier than a public
toilet seat
it gets a ton of use in all types of
environments is placed on countless
surfaces
and depending on how clumsy you are
likely gets dropped on the ground
and that's all without other people
touching it despite all this
we're constantly pushing it up against
our faces the efficacy of uv sanitizing
devices against the coronavirus is still
very much up for debate
but using one certainly can't hurt and
there are portable units for sale at
very reasonable prices
that being said many phone companies
including apple
are recommending using isopropyl wipes
to clean your smartphone
whichever route you go it pays to
sanitize that phone regularly
that being said a quality pair of
bluetooth earbuds are a great way to
keep the phone away from your mouth
number three disinfectant wipes we know
these can often be somewhat difficult to
source and sadly that goes for all of
our top three items
thankfully demand and production seem to
be evening out and high quality
sanitizing
and or disinfectant wipes are slowly
returning to store shelves
and online marketplaces when you're
traveling almost everything that you
interact with
is not your own travel is really just
one high touch or public surface after
another
as such you should always have wipes on
hand that you can use to sanitize such
surfaces before using them
it's very important to do your research
and make sure that the wipes you use
have been approved by a reputable
government body as effective against
covid19
there's nothing worse than walking
around with a false sense of security
using an inefficient product
number two hand sanitizer protecting
yourself from potential transmission of
illness while traveling
is all about multiple layers of coverage
use the wipes when it makes sense but
you should apply hand sanitizer after
the fact
even then it's best to avoid touching
your hair or face again until you've
given your hands a thorough washing
it all might seem like overkill but a
little inconvenience and overzealousness
sure beats even a small possibility of
getting sick and perhaps even
hospitalized in a foreign country
like the wipes you should do your
homework before making a purchase to
ensure that you're getting your money's
worth in terms of protection
hand sanitizer has long been a travel
staple but you'll want to be sure to get
enough to satisfy the needs of our
modern times
thankfully the tsa has given travelers
the green light to pack hand
12-ounce hand sanitizer bottles in the
wake of the pandemic
number one cloth and disposable masks
at the top of our list is the hot global
fashion accessory of 2020 that
no one saw coming though healthcare
experts and governments were initially
divided as to the efficacy of masks the
consensus is that they are an essential
tool in fighting the pandemic
in fact they might be the single most
crucial deterrent to transmission
by wearing a mask you not only protect
yourself but perhaps more importantly
protect
other people from any bacteria or
viruses you may be transmitting
regardless of where or when you'll be
traveling masks will likely be mandatory
for the foreseeable future
so let's all just get used to them like
we've collectively done with seat belts
cloth masks are fine for everyday use
and available in quite stylish options
but you may want to pack some travel
detergent to hand wash them throughout
your travels
you should also have some disposable
masks with you for more close proximity
spaces and high risk situations
so you can simply throw them away
afterwards
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