Tours on vouchers are losing ground. Travelers have tried free vacation and increasingly prefer to plan it on their own. Buying a ticket, booking an apartment, making a route - many people think that getting to know new places and countries is much more interesting in this way than in an organized group with a guide.
Free tourists almost always travel light: if a huge tourist bus and a comfortable five-star all inclusive number are not waiting at the destination, then it makes no sense to lug huge suitcases with them. We have compiled a list of 5 things that will definitely come in handy while traveling without taking up much space in your backpack.
1. Vacuum bags
Whoever invented them is a real genius! Freelance travelers get used to getting by with a minimum of clothes, but if they are packed in vacuum bags, then they will take up even less space. Choose a size that matches the size of your backpack or bag and keep in mind that it is more convenient to put your clothes in 2-3 small bags than in one large one. And in no case buy bags with a valve - you will need a vacuum cleaner (which you are unlikely to find on the road) to vacuum them. There are models that can be packaged by hand: after laying the clothes, you just need to twist them, squeezing out the excess air.
2. Action camera
When you travel light, the last thing you want to do is carry a bag with your photographic equipment. Therefore, many tourists prefer compact action cameras - for example, the Ezviz S5. It is much smaller than a classic "DSLR", but can shoot video in Full HD resolution and 16 megapixel photos. At the same time, the S5, unlike a conventional camera, can be operated in the most extreme conditions - in dust, in snow and even under water! To do this, the kit already has a waterproof box in which the camera is not afraid of any external influences, including falls from a height and immersion in mud. You can fix the box anywhere: on a motorcycle helmet, quadcopter, snowboard, or a car wing using special mounts. If desired, for the S5, you can buy a selfie stick or a strap that will hold the camera on your head or torso - and shoot video from the most unusual angles. It is better not to turn off the built-in stabilization system - then slight vibration (for example, from steps) will be almost invisible in the video.
The most convenient way to control the camera is from the remote control, but you can also use the buttons on the body. The battery charge is enough for 1, 5-2 hours of continuous shooting, and everything captured can be immediately viewed on the built-in screen.
3. Universal external battery
An external battery is a rather heavy thing, but you can't go without it while traveling, especially if your route runs away from hiking trails. In order not to carry the weight in vain, it is better to choose a power bank with additional functions, for example, with a built-in Wi-Fi router. You buy a SIM card from a local operator, insert it into the device - and your mobile hotspot is ready. You can distribute the Internet to several devices at once, and at the same time get a cheap voice connection through instant messengers. A great option for those whose phone only supports one SIM card.
4. Compact gas burner
If you are traveling in civilized areas, this thing is unlikely to be necessary for you, but for short-term excursions into the wild, it will certainly come in handy. The burner will eliminate the need to look for firewood, make a fire and have trouble with the police (after all, an open fire can be made far from everywhere). If you come across a burner complete with a pot, take it without hesitation. The kit folds like a nesting doll (a gas cylinder is placed in a pot), and as a result you get a full-fledged field kitchen, which takes up very little space - about a liter in volume.
5. Foldable backpack
Packed your travel bag and were glad that everything fit in? Take your time to fasten the zipper, remember that on the way back, the amount of luggage, as a rule, increases. Of course, it is not at all necessary to carry decorative souvenirs-dust collectors from the trip, but you can always grab a couple of bottles of local wine, or beautiful handmade textiles, or maybe some kind of electronics, which is cheaper abroad. For such unplanned purchases, you will need a foldable backpack: it can be removed from a small case in just a couple of seconds. And unlike bags, it does not interfere and does not pull your hands off at all!
