A battery pack. Compression socks. An eye mask. There are some items no intrepid traveller leaves home without.
But for your next getaway, you might want to consider packing a rather unexpected item into your hand luggage: a pair of rubber gloves.
No, not so you can help out your hotel’s kitchen staff and wash up some dishes — but this everyday essential can actually solve some classic problems many of us come up against while we’re away.
And, they won’t take up much space in your bag, either.
A user on Reddit asked travellers for the most ‘random’ object they take on holiday with them.
‘I always bring a pair of rubber gloves,’ wrote one Redditor. ‘If I stay in an Airbnb with a kitchen I use them when I’m cleaning, and sometimes for hand-washing items.’
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The suggestion was met with agreement from others, too, with one saying they use gloves to check ‘the seams of the mattress and upholstered chairs for bed bugs.’
Another traveller offered up an alternative use: ‘Rubber gloves also double as a lint roller.’
Metro asked travel expert and content creator, Liv Brown, for her thoughts, and she agreed that a pair of rubber gloves are an often overlooked travelling hack.
In particular, Liv explained that they’re a good place to store wet, leaking or dirty items.
‘They can cover dirty shoes it you need to pack them and have no time for cleaning, or for somewhere to put your wet bikinis,’ says Liv, 33.
‘I often find myself needing solutions for leaking toiletries, as that happens a lot with altitude changes, so you can use rubber gloves for that too.’
Liv, who has been travelling full-time since 2022, also suggests a list of other uses for the humble rubber glove.
‘They can be used as a make shift ice pack to fill up and freeze if you hurt yourself, or to cool yourself down when it’s hot outside.
‘You could use them as temporary food storage, or to wrap fruit and vegetables ends in that aren’t finished yet, or even for rain cover and water protection for your electronics (you can cut a hole in a finger for a charging cable too if needed).’
Luckily, this travel essential won’t eat into your travelling budget either, witha pair of Marigolds from Sainsbury’s costing just £3.10.
This isn’t the first slightly left-field piece of travel advice we’ve seen recently.
Registered osteopath and qualified sleep therapist Tracy Hannigan, recently told Metro that she recommends packing a tennis ball, as it can help in avoiding stiffness or aches while on a flight.
She said: ‘A great tip is to find a hand towel, put the ball in the middle of it and roll it like a sausage. When you then apply pressure using the ball, it’s easier to position and will prevent it from skidding out of position, which can be painful.
‘‘A tennis ball is small and light and can help you to apply soothing pressure to points you might otherwise not be able to reach.’
Experts have also recommended that a full-sized feather pillow is worth taking in your hand luggage.
'Random' items to take on your next trip away
Liv gives Metro the low-down on other items that could be a lifesaver on far flung adventures.
- A thin bed sheet. This has a few uses, such as tucking it into the top of a bunk bed when staying in a hostel so you can have a make shift curtain for privacy, or if you’re staying somewhere and you aren’t so sure on the hygiene you can throw the bed sheet over a hotel or Airbnb bed, for peace of mind.
- A pillow case. Again, for cleanliness and also to hold dirty laundry or shoes. I’ve started using silk pillow cases for reducing hair breakage and as it’s more gentle on skin, it can reduce breakouts
- A thin sarong or pretty silk scarf. Used for a beach wrap over a bikini, for a beach throw to lie on the sand, to use as an emergency tote bag a picnic blanket, an extra blanket when cold, for a cute top over denim shorts — the list goes on! You can even use this like you would the bed sheet too if you’re short on space.
- A thin snood. Great for a sleep mask if in bright lighting, a headband when taking off your make up, or for when riding on motorbikes to protect from pollution fumes or sunlight.
- Different sized carabiner clips. They are amazing to clip things onto bags such as caps, water bottles, shoes and hand sanitisers. You can also use them to hang wet clothes or towels for drying in the sunshine.
- Zip top freezer bags. Great for storing food on the go, as well as somewhere to put wet clothes and swimwear. They can also be used as make shift waterproof phone cases if you’re on a boat ride.
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