5 Ways to Ditch Plastic and Actually Enjoy Traveling More

By Val & Chip | Updated May 5, 2025

The Trail That Broke Our Hearts

We'd been hiking for three hours to reach what locals called "the secret waterfall" — tucked deep in a state park we'd found through our hidden wonders research. The trail was gorgeous: cathedral-like canopy, birdsong everywhere, dappled light on the forest floor. And then we rounded the final bend.

Plastic bottles. Snack wrappers. A deflated pool float. Someone's entire fast-food bag, just abandoned at the base of this stunning cascade. Chip stood there for a full minute, jaw tight, before pulling out a trash bag from his pack. Val joined him. We spent thirty minutes cleaning up other people's mess before we could even enjoy the waterfall.

That's when we got serious about plastic-free travel. Not in a preachy way — in a practical way. Because the places we love most are the ones most vulnerable to this kind of damage. And it turns out, ditching plastic doesn't just help the planet — it genuinely makes traveling better.

Win #1: Your Reusable Kit Is Your Secret Weapon

Every time you grab a disposable water bottle, coffee cup, or plastic fork at a roadside stop, you're creating trash that'll outlive your grandchildren. A single plastic bottle takes 450 years to decompose. Four hundred and fifty.

What we carry: A YETI Rambler each (ice stays frozen for a full day in desert heat — we've tested it on Route 66 in July). Lightweight titanium utensils from Sportsman's Warehouse. A collapsible coffee cup. Total weight added to our packs? Maybe 12 ounces. Total disposables eliminated per trip? Dozens.

Win #2: Refillable Everything (Yes, Everything)

Those tiny hotel shampoo bottles? Cute, but terrible. Those mini plastic toothpaste tubes from the airport? Convenient, but wasteful. All that single-serving nonsense adds up to mountains of plastic across the travel industry.

What we do: TSA-compliant silicone refillable bottles. Shampoo bars instead of liquid (they last twice as long anyway). Bar soap in a tin. Chip was skeptical at first — "Are we really doing this?" — but now he's the one who gets annoyed when hotels still give tiny bottles. Less packaging, less waste, and honestly? Our toiletry bag is half the size it used to be.

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Win #3: The Bag That Saves the World (Slightly Dramatic, Totally True)

You buy a quirky bumper sticker at a roadside shop. They reach for a plastic bag the size of a pillowcase. You accept it. Congratulations — you now own a bag that you'll use for 12 seconds and throw away in 12 hours, but it'll exist for 12 decades.

What we do: Val always has a packable tote stashed in her daypack. "No bag, thanks — got my own!" becomes automatic. It weighs nothing, folds to the size of a deck of cards, and we've literally never regretted having it. Bonus: it doubles as a laundry bag, a beach towel carrier, and a grocery run solution at campgrounds.

Win #4: Pack It In, Pack It Out — No Exceptions

This is the golden rule. The Leave No Trace foundation. The non-negotiable. If you brought it into a space, you bring it back out. Period.

What we do: Chip keeps a dedicated "trash pocket" in his pack. Wrappers, orange peels, used tissues — it all goes in there. It sounds gross, but it's sealed, it takes up almost no space, and it means we never leave a trace. We've carried out other people's trash too, on dozens of trails. It costs nothing but a little effort.

For those long-distance zero-waste adventures, we power our navigation and cameras with an SOS Solar Phone Charger — no disposable batteries needed, just sunlight.

Win #5: Leave Places Better Than You Found Them

This is where we flip the script. Don't just avoid making a mess — actively improve things. It's the difference between "doing no harm" and "doing good." And honestly? It's addictive.

What we do: If we see trash on a trail, we pick it up (safely). When we're near a beach, we often do a sunrise cleanup before our hike — 20 minutes of collecting debris makes the whole day feel different. Some of our best travel memories are from community cleanup events we joined spontaneously.

Exploring coastlines and trails plastic-free by e-bike is a perfect combination. Our Velowave E-Bike gets us to those hidden spots without any emissions — and the basket is perfect for carrying cleanup gear.

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The Real Win: Better Adventures, Cleaner Conscience

Cutting plastic isn't a sacrifice. It's an upgrade. Your pack is lighter, your gear is better, and every hidden waterfall, secret beach, and off-the-grid campsite stays pristine for the next explorer. That's the kind of legacy we want to leave.

Ready to plan your next zero-waste adventure? We love using Trip.com to find destinations that take sustainability seriously. And for peace of mind on the road, VisitorsCoverage Travel Insurance has our backs.

🎧 Dive deeper into sustainable travel on our Eco-Explorer's Haven Podcast!

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