obscure items that came in handy

Wow, you're so well-prepared! When I travel, I also bring some items that are not commonly used but come in handy at critical moments. I always take a small packet of needles and threads with me. Once, when I was out, a piece of my clothing was accidentally torn, and I was able to sew it up with them. Otherwise, it would have been so embarrassing to wear that torn clothing.

I pack very light, so I hardly bring any extra stuff. But, I do bring a small tube of athletes foot cream which we occasionally were happy to have if some toes needed it in the evening.

Oh, and i bring some medical paper tube wrapped around a golf pencil in case I needed the tape during my last trip…and could use the pencil, too!

My first aid kit has, among other supplies, moleskin for foot blisters, bandaids and polysporin antibiotic ointment. I don’t need to hunt them down when the need arises. and I use them all on almost every trip!

Moleskin for blisters, Neosporin, dental floss, Slice paper cutter, flip flops, a couple of wash cloths and Zip lock bags.

A tiny ziploc bag of table salt to gargle with, to stave off sore throats.
I’ve used it twice now.

I joke that I pack all the mishaps of vacations past.... cold meds for that time in Panama that I was miserable overnight until I could get to a pharmacy in the morning; a tiny sewing kit for that time I ate too much in Turkey and popped a button; an extra shoelace for the trip to Prague when I snapped one. This last trip, it was a knee sprain.... will I carry the Spanish knee brace? More likely, a starter supply of the vacation saving Voltadol gel.

I haven't lost a filling or a crown. Am I overdue? Maybe I'd better start bringing dental fixit kits, just in case! And some ibuprofen, because my shoulders are going to kill me from the weight of my backpack!!

As someone who has bad teeth, I do carry the dental stuff. There’s a lot of crowns and fillings in this mouth and there are a couple of them that I know if they came off I’d be having to find a dentist if I couldn’t put it back on myself so like janodavo I’m carrying poly grip and a filling kit. Knock on wood I’ve never had to use them, but better safe than sorry my theory

I have some basic over-the-counter meds too, but one suggestion for women is one of those over-the-counter UTI pills. That has actually saved a vacation for me.

And this is going to sound strange, but I pack a tiny container of diaper rash cream. If you rub a spot on your body on your feet, your legs, your clothes rub something on you. You will not believe how much better this makes everything feel. I put it on any hotspot on my foot before it becomes a blister. It really seems to stop it from being a problem and reduces the blister risk. It comes in a huge tube so I just transfer a little to a small tub.

I always carry diaper rash cream after a problem years ago on a summer trip to Berlin. It has saved me and my husband on many a trip. I found a box of them in individual packets in a drug store once but never again. Still have a few left.
Some great ideas here, will rethink my kit for our next trip.

This has been a very useful thread. I thought I was well-prepared, but am adding the dental stuff and diaper rash cream. If you have a crown come off and don't put it back on with polygrip, you will likely have to pay for a whole new crown because the shape of the tooth will change before you get to the dentist, and those temporary crowns are very prone to come off.

Travel size duct tape

Salt & Pepper packets picked up from fast food restaurants (for in room or outdoor picnicing.)

Small fan from Muji

We always have duct tape as we keep it wrapped around a water bottle that we take with us. We pack very light, so have never taken a first aid kit, etc unless we are backpacking in the mountains. The dental kit is intriguing. My dentist did give me amoxicillin in case I had any tooth pain for traveling overseas. I have not needed it yet, but won't leave that behind. Every once in a while I will pack a little sewing kit, the kind that hotels used to offer more often. I just toss that in my toiletry bag as it takes up so little room. One thing that I have for just in case is an emergency charger for the phone. I got it in my Christmas stocking a year or so ago, and they are a one time use. I think they came from The Container Store? Anyway, for trips that we will be out hiking etc, that is nice to have just in case and again it is tiny as it is about half the size of the packages of earphones the airlines give you.

Wow. I did not know there was such a thing as an over the counter UTI medication or a temporary filling kit. Good info.

A roll of athletic tape (not first aid bandage tape) has been with me on every trip. It sticks to sweaty skin, and works for blisters, as bandaids, sore spots, nerdy eyeglass repair, and can work as in taping other things together as well. Yes it is painful to pull off, unlike moleskin, but manageable.

Luckily most things that save the day are very small and lightweight. It is easy to pack and carry them. The things listed above are so easy to bring with you they do not even warrant much circumspection if wanting to pack them.

Please share the name of the OTC UTI medication.
I’ve never heard of such a thing, so perhaps not available in Canada.

A couple of years ago I started packing suction cup hooks. It seems like every apartment and every hotel has a glass door or shiny tile, and never enough hooks for our washcloths. I use these and they work great. I have no idea why the description says "glue hooks." They are definitely suction cups, not glue. https://a.co/d/eS5LwmS
Having to take a washcloth is not news, but I like the Ikea ones - they're cheap, thin, and have a loop on them to hang from my hook. I usually take colored ones, but last trip I took a white one as a face cloth and, of course, the final stop we stayed at a hotel and it went out with housekeeping. Oh, well.

** I have read long, passionate debates about pros and cons of washcloth use. It's not my intention to stir that up again! But if you fall on the pro-washcloth side, you might need a hook! **

SJ, AZO has a number of products including test strips for urinary infections. These are the ones that I always have in my carry-on:

AZO Urinary Pain Relief, Maximum Strength Tablets, 12 CT

AZO Urinary Tract Defense Antibacterial Plus Urinary Pain Relief Tablets

We can buy AZO products at any pharmacy [CVS, Walgreens, etc.] in the US. They are also available on Amazon. I hope you can find them.

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-77838/azo-oral/details

Thanks Lindy.

Better to actually get some prescribed antibiotics, I think.

Because of this Forum, I pack an Ace Bandage, to ward off evil spirits that can cause sprained joints. Folks here reported that Ace Bandages are very difficult to find in Europe.
I also carry an rx of antibiotics and pain killers, (in addition to denture glue,) to ward off evil spirits that cause dental infections.
I firmly believe that if one is prepared, one will never have to use the intervention! Good luck to us all!

I guess medically related. A nightlight so I am not awakened with a bright light at 3 am when spouse uses the bathroom.

SJ, just to clarify, AZO is pyridium which used to be obtained by prescription, only, to treat the pain from UTI. Pyridium is now sold over the counter. It is used in conjunction with antibiotics to treat the UTI. I've had very painful UTIs and have blessed having AZO until I could get to my doctor for the antibiotics.

An empty business sized envelope carried in my purse to hold receipts collected along the way. I learned this after having to clear up a CC over-charge after returning home. (I knew that receipt was somewhere......)

Also very handy to have all the extra hotel and meal receipts readily available in one place to upload to SAS Airlines for reimbursement per EU Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 when my plane was canceled.

So many good ideas here! Adding Dental temp filling kit, yikes that would be unpleasant.

I always carry kinesio tape, like the athletes wear, LOL. I pre-cut it for achilles tendon pain, about 8" strips. I run it from under heal up to the back of my knees & lasts 4-5 days before it needs changing. (If you actually want details, because there are specific ways to get it to stick longer & you have to stretch it along the way, & how to keep ends from coming off, just reply below.) After years of trying different brands, this is what I use - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037J0U4C/ref=syn_sd_onsite_desktop_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aref=WzquBv4kF3

It's been said before, but there are a few items unavailable in Europe without a prescription - Pepto bismal (chews) & Thera-flu come to mind. My first aid kit weighs almost nothing, so it's worth it for the peace of mind.

What great information! I will definitely be adding to my first aid kit. Fortunately most of these items are small and of little weight. Thank you!

A batch of small change and coins of the local currency, especially during my visit to China. Their electronic payment is very popular, but there are always times when small amounts of cash are needed.