Travel writer's 10 items of essential kit

What does a Sunday Times travel writer pack in his luggage? Here are the 10 essential items of travel kit I won’t leave home without.

1. Ear plugs. For planes, trains, bus journeys, noisy hotel rooms and airport terminals. Great inflight conversation stoppers.

2. Patagonia Capilene zip-neck thermal. An incredibly comfortable, very lightweight baselayer ideal for skiing, hiking, winter running and sleeping.

3. Salomon XA Pro 3D XCR. The most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned. Designed for trail running, they are lightweight and waterproof but also look good anywhere.

4. Noisebuster Noise Cancelling Headphones. If you want to watch a movie at 35,000ft and hear the dialogue without destroying your eardrums, you need a pair of these. Just $69.

5. Red Oxx Air Boss. The best carry-on bag I’ve found to date.

6. Vaseline. For chapped lips. Duh!

7. Dental floss. As strong as string, dental floss can be used to repair clothes, sew on buttons and to make a washing line. Also handy for teeth cleaning.

8. Melatonin. The jet-lag treatment that actually works, by resetting your body clock. You can buy it anywhere in the US. Don’t take it to Dubai, unless you fancy a three-year jail stretch.

9. iPod classic. I’ve owned five iPods. I like this one best.

10. Canon EOS 350D. I ditched the kit lens and now travel with a couple of fast fixed lenses: a Canon 28mm and a Canon 50mm.

Got any clever suggestions of your own? Add them below. (No adverts or PR stunts, please).