There are many great resources that help a traveller decide on the the right gear for their big travel adventure. Packing lists help ensure that the most important little items are not forgotten in those chaotic pre-departure days (a good list was recently featured on the RTW Flights blog). But what about those things that we never question; the items that are either the first in pack for all of us, or that for some of us are precious home comforts that we wouldn't want to venture far without? 

Here are just a few of those items most commonly found in the many packing lists of travellers. You may nod your head knowingly at some and scoff at others. Yet for many of us a journey to foreign places begins by making sure that we have a set of possessions with us that will make us feel in some way connected to our homes. Travelling without our must-have items would indeed feel as if we were travelling naked. 

Rolf Potts took part in a well-publicised Round the World with No Luggage challenge last year. But even in his minimalist state he still managed to fit many of the so-called essentials into his sponsored fancy jacket. 

Every traveller would provide a different list of their essential packing items - the things they can't do without. Here are just a few of what are some of the most inclusions on those lists:

1. Camera

2. Laptop or other internet accessing device

3. i-pod or other music bearing device

4. Chocolate/sweets from home

5. Personal toiletries (including our favourite brand of toilet roll) 

6. Guide book

7. Book (other than guide book)

8. Waterproof clothing

9. Extra warm weather fleece or jacket, just in case

10. Spare footwear (beyond what you wear to the airport)

Which items could you not think of travelling without - could you venture to another country without your trusted iPod or your camera? Or is it in the area of hygiene that you don't want to experiment when stuck in a strange hotel? (Some of those cheap rolls of toilet roll can test the best of travellers). Or are you someone who can't spend a night away from home without your favourite cuddly toy?