My Vibrator Went to India and Made Some Friends.

I was traveling through India when TSA decided that my carry-on needed a full public autopsy.

They unpacked everything. One item at a time. Down to my contact lenses. It was like watching my dignity be peeled off in layers.

And then they found... it.

Not your standard-issue vibrator mimicking the anatomy of absolutely nothing actually found in nature — just a little silicone UFO engineered to suck air in ways that would make a Victorian faint.

The agent picked it up, turned it over, pressed a button. It made a noise. Another agent came over. Then another. It was passed around like a rare artifact.

They looked at me. I looked at them.
And with all the confidence of a woman who has absolutely lost control of this situation, I said: “It’s a facial suction device. For unclogging pores.”

And there I was — standing in the middle of a tiny airport in India — my vibrator pressed to my cheek, demonstrating how it “cleanses the skin.”

Did they believe me? No idea.
But they gave it back. And I walked away. Glowing.

And honestly? That’s not even the weirdest thing we’ve packed.

We asked you, our community, “What’s the most over extra thing you’ve ever packed and did you use it?” The answers did not disappoint.

From silk sleeping bags to collapsible kettles, LED light masks to bath bombs and battery-operated candles (yes, that’s a vibe), our travelers redefine what it means to “travel light.” Honestly, it’s like REI meets Sephora meets Pinterest survivalist.

Let’s not forget the woman who brought 28 pairs of underwear for a 14-day trip. Just in case. Of what, we’re not sure — but we support the planning.

Got something even more outrageous? Hit reply. We’re always accepting new entries into the Hall of Extra.

Packing Tips That Don’t Suck (According to me anyway)

🧳 Packing cubes. Not just for organizing — they give you the illusion that your life is together, even when your flight's delayed and your shampoo exploded.

💨Tide pen + travel-size Febreze. Congrats, that shirt just earned another day in public.

🩲Bring a separate bag for your dirty underwear. Unless you want them mingling with your going-out clothes like it's a weird house party.

🩸Always pack period products, even if it’s to make new hostel friends. Don’t rely on foreign pharmacies when you're hunched over Googling “how to say tampons in Czech.”

🧸Something cozy you’d never pack if you were being “practical.” Soft pajamas, your good pillowcase, fuzzy socks — travel is chaos. Comfort is rebellion.

Where The Real Packing List Lives

Let’s be real: you can pack the perfect vibrator pouch, a disco light, and 28 pairs of underwear… but if you don’t have people to share the chaos with, it’s just stuff in a suitcase.

That’s why we created The Solo Female Traveler Network Membership — a space for women who travel solo, but never want to feel alone.

If you’ve ever wished you had travel besties who got it — who know how empowering and overwhelming this lifestyle can be — this is it.

Because you can pack a vibrator, but it’s better to have a friend share your embarrassment through TSA.

🤍Still recovering from that airport search,
Amanda
Founder of The Solo Female Traveler Network