What we actually pack.
The bags, games, safety gear, and little extras our family brings on every adventure. We have tested all of it on real trips, in real weather, with two real kids. Tap a link to grab what we use.
Bags and Organization
What we carry it all in. Our TOBIQ bags have completely changed how we pack as a family.
- TOBIQ Bags , 15% off with code THEVENTURESEEKERS. The most thoughtful travel bag we have ever owned. Tons of pockets, holds way more than it looks, and survives the way our family travels. It comes with us on every single trip.
- Reusable Wet Bag , For wet swimsuits, muddy clothes, sandy shoes, and anything you do not want soaking the rest of your bag. We always pack two.
- Luggage Compression Bags with Cordless Vacuum , A total game changer for fitting a full family of four into carry ons. The little cordless vacuum sucks all the air out so bulky jackets, sweatshirts, and pajamas pack flat.
- Luggage Scale , Tiny, packable, and saves you from those panicked overweight bag fees at the counter. We weigh every bag before we leave the house.
- Air Tag for Luggage , Peace of mind every time a bag gets checked. We can pull up the airport map and see exactly where our luggage is, which has saved us more than once.
Road Trip Essentials
The things that keep the car days smooth, comfortable, and ready for anything.
- Travel Towel , Quick drying, packs down tiny, and lives in our car for surprise swim spots, muddy shoes, and spilled drinks.
- Flushable Wipes , A small bag, kid hands after a gas station snack, sticky steering wheels. We never road trip without these.
- Car Cabana , 20% off with code VENTURESEEKERS. Instant privacy if you need to change after a swim or rinse off mid adventure. So much easier than a beach towel dance in a parking lot.
- Travoca Portable Rigel 45L Cooler/Freezer , A game changer for long road trips. Keeps drinks cold and even freezes food, so we can pack real meals and snacks instead of stopping for gas station junk. Powers off the car and holds temp for hours after.
Flights
Our carry on lifesavers for long travel days with kids.
- Yoto Player , Screen free audio player our kids genuinely love. Stories, music, and podcasts on little cards they pick out themselves. Hours of quiet on a plane without us handing over a tablet.
- Kids Headphones , Volume limited so little ears stay safe, comfy enough for long flights, and they actually hold up to kid abuse.
- Kids Neck Pillows , Help our kids actually fall asleep on red eyes and long layovers. Small enough to clip to a backpack.
- Airplane Foot Hammock , Makes a coach seat feel a hundred times more comfortable. The kids use it as a little bed and we use it to stretch out on long flights.
- Luggage Scale , Tiny, packable, and saves you from those panicked overweight bag fees at the counter. We weigh every bag before we leave the house.
- Coloring Options on the Go , Mess free coloring that we hand the kids during takeoff, dinner waits, and long car days. Self contained, no lost crayons rolling under the seat.
- Universal Power Bank , Works anywhere in the world and charges everything. Phones, drones, Insta 360s, Yoto players, you name it. One device, no tangle of cords.
Safety and First Aid
Small kit, big peace of mind. We pack these on every trip.
- Warrior Medic Kit , A serious little first aid kit built by professionals. We hope to never open it, but if something happens out on a trail or hours from a hospital, this is the one we trust.
- First Aid Kit , Our everyday kit for the small stuff. Scraped knees, paper cuts, surprise headaches. Lives in the car and gets restocked after every trip.
- Waterproof Blister Bandaids , Trip saver. New shoes plus long walking days equals blisters, and these stay on through water, sweat, and miles of hiking.
- Tick Removal Tool , If you have ever tried to get a tick off a wiggly kid, you need this. Quick, clean, and it actually gets the whole tick out.
- Mosquito Repellent , Effective without the harsh chemical smell. Goes on easy and the kids do not fight us about it.
- Haven Hill All Natural Bug and Tick Spray , 10% off with code BRITT10. An all natural bug and tick spray that actually works. We love that we can spray it on the kids without worrying about harsh chemicals, and it holds up on buggy nights on the lake and in the woods.Code: BRITT10
- Bug Nets for Your Face , These are what we use when the mosquitoes come out in clouds at dusk. Lightweight mesh nets that drape over your hat or head and keep bugs away from your face without any spray near your eyes. The kids actually keep them on because they work.
- 365nm Long Wave UV Flashlight , The exact flashlight we use to hunt yooperlites on Lake Superior. A true 365nm long wave UV is a must, cheap novelty blacklights will not make the rocks glow the same way.
- Mosquito Itch Relief , For when the bug spray missed a spot. This stops the itch fast so bedtime does not turn into a scratch fest.
- Emergency Whistle , Each kid clips one to their pack before we hike. Loud, light, and gives us peace of mind anywhere off the beaten path.
- Headlamps , Hands free light for early morning hikes, late night campsite walks, and finding the thing the kid dropped under the car seat.
Hiking Essentials
What goes in the pack before we hit the trail.
- Reusable Water Bottles , Keeps drinks cold all day, even strapped to a dusty hiking pack in the sun. Easy to refill at the airport and tough enough that the kids cannot kill them.
- Trekking Poles , Saves the knees on steep descents and gives you so much more stability on rocky or slippery trails. Collapsible so they strap right to a pack.
- Bags for Dirty Boots , Keeps muddy hiking boots from wrecking everything else in your suitcase on the flight home. Simple and so worth it.
- Sun Hats , Wide brim, packable, and protects faces and necks on exposed trails and beach days. We have one for everyone.
Beach Must Haves
Sand, sun, salt water. These keep beach days easy.
- Eye Wash Kit , When sand or salt water hits little eyes, this saves the day fast. We pack it on every beach trip now.
- Reusable Wet Bag , For wet swimsuits, muddy clothes, sandy shoes, and anything you do not want soaking the rest of your bag. We always pack two.
- Beach Blanket , Sand shakes right off, packs down small, and gives the whole family a clean spot to land between swims.
- Sand Removing Powder , Sounds gimmicky but it actually works. Sprinkle it on, sand falls right off skin. A must with kids.
- Reef Safe Sunscreen , Protects the kids and the reef. We use this anywhere we are swimming in the ocean.
- Kids UV Swim Suit , Our go to for beach and pool days. Long sleeve sun protection so we are not reapplying sunscreen every ten minutes and little shoulders stay covered.
- Adult UV Swim Shirt , The grown up version we live in at the beach and by the pool. Lightweight, quick drying, and keeps us covered on long sunny days.
Kids Entertainment
Easy to pack, fun for everyone, no screens required.
- Magnetic Travel Game , Pieces stay put on planes, in cars, and on bumpy ferry rides. No lost game pieces under the seat.
- UNO , A classic that works at any age. Lives in every one of our travel bags.
- Left Center Right , Fast, simple, and even the youngest can play. Great for hotel rooms and rainy days.
- Spot It , Tiny tin, huge fun. Perfect for restaurant waits and airport gates.
Homeschool on the Go
Learning travels with us. These keep curiosity moving.
- Brain Quest Question Decks , Quick questions by grade level that turn car rides into learning time without it feeling like school.
- Puzzles , Great for hotel afternoons, quiet mornings, and giving little hands something focused to do.
- Tapple , A fast word game that sneaks in spelling and vocab while the kids think they are just having fun.
Snacks We Always Pack
Each person gets snacks in their own TOBIQ bag. Hungry kids on an adventure is a no.
- Beef Sticks , Real protein that holds the kids over between meals. No melt, no mess.
- Trail Mix , Easy energy for hikes, flights, and long driving days. Everyone picks their favorite handful.
- Electrolyte Mix , Long travel days, hot hikes, and time changes wipe you out fast. We mix these into our water bottles to keep the whole family hydrated and feeling good.
- That's It Bars , Two ingredients, real fruit, no junk. Perfect when we want something clean in the snack bag.
- KiZe Bars , Soft, tasty, and made with simple ingredients. A favorite for everyone in the family.
- Healthier Chips , Satisfies the crunchy craving without the junk. We grab these for road trips and flights.
- Protein Balls , Filling, sweet enough to feel like a treat, and they keep us going on big adventure days.
Technology to Capture Memories
What we use to film, photograph, and back up the adventure.
- Insta360 X5 , Our favorite camera by far. Fully waterproof, ridiculously easy to use, and captures 360 footage we can reframe however we want after the fact. We just hit record and go, whether we are snorkeling, ziplining, or hiking with the kids.
- DJI Drone , Compact enough to slide right into a carry on, no TSA stress. The aerial shots it pulls of our trips are unreal and worth every ounce of pack space.
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