Travel Transformers

Okay so these items are not exactly in disguise, but for the traveller on an extended trip, items that can transform to take up as little space as possible will allow him/her to collect more trinkets throughout the journey.

Here, GuideGecko will show you 3 things that you can roll, collapse or fold to create more room in the backpack.

1) Foldable water bottle

Humans need water. Period. You know the drill, when visiting hot and humid countries or in very dry winters, we need to rehydrate often.

Lugging around a solid water bottle takes up a lot of space in our backpack; it feels especially bulky when it’s not filled. On the other hand, buying countless plastic bottles are a waste and bad for the environment.

Enter the foldable water bottles. These are basically plastic “tubes” with a gusseted bottom so it can stand when filled. Companies that created these added the extra features like a loop for karabiners, made the plastic BPA free and strong enough to freeze or boil. Most of them are also dishwasher safe, however, to really clean them well you probably have to use a bottle brush once in a while.

These foldable bottles have a capacity of 40ml to 2litre that are great for packing on your travels.  If the need ever arises, e-outdoor.co.uk even has a 4litre foldable tumbler that comes with a leak-proof dispenser.

2) Foldable/Rollable shoes

When you’re on an extended trip, you know that hiking and lots of walking is in order but so is a nice night out in the town.  Unless you own a pair of Vibran’s Fivefinger footwear, chances are the space that your sports shoes take up is not a negotiation. Though most of you will wear them to the airport anyway. To save even more space from your flats and smart shoes for the men, some companies have come up with a variety of designs for the backpacker who still wants to look good.

Foldable footwear at Redfoot are on the higher end and cost 44.99 euros and up. If you’re in the roll-it-don’t-fold-it camp when it comes to packing, then Delicate Soles (USD$19.99) and Footzyrolls Luxe (from USD$19.99) would be a better fit.

Redfoot has better quality soles and hence the higher price. Given the durability, flexibility and an option for looking suitably stylish for an occasion, a pair of these foldable shoes are certainly an investment for extended travelling. However, if your trip consists of more sports-shoe-required activities then the latter brands will suffice.

3) Foldable Toiletries

We all know that many times, it’s that full bottle of shampoo that’s weighing the bag down and taking up lots of space. When I travel, I know it’s my toiletries that are the bulkiest and heaviest items. What? I need my hair to be silky smooth and my face to remain flawless.

Items such as foldable travel hairdryers, foldable toothbrush and foldable combs all help to take the length out of the item, so you’re free to pile more things in as you continue your travels.

Here are a list of toiletries that have a foldable version you can purchase on the internet.

• Toothbrush
• Comb
• Hairdryer
• Hair Straightener/Curling Tong
• Shaver (for facial hair or eyebrows)
• Tweezers

If you know about more, add it to the list!