If you scroll through many of my packing list posts, you’ll likely spot one accessory over and over again: a bandana.
And on the trips where I haven’t packed one, I’ve broken down and purchased a bandana in the middle of a trip.
Bandanas and their fancy cousins, sumptuous silk square scarves (the only SSSS you want when you travel), are easy tools you can employ to add a little pop of color to your travel outfit, and they don’t take up much room in your luggage. Seriously – you can roll those puppies up and stuff them just about anywhere. Or open them and lay them flat. Or just tie it around your neck, or shove it in your pocket.
And not only are they beautiful, but they’re also incredibly useful to have on hand.
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Today I wanted to spend some time highlighting the many uses for the humble bandana when traveling because these little squares of fabric have the potential to make or break a trip. Or at least, has the potential to solve a number of problems we might end up encountering while away from home.
HERE ARE TEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS TRAVEL WITH A BANDANA:
1. It looks cute
Starting with the obvious, here! You can wear a bandana in so many stylish ways: a neckerchief, hair covering, pocket square, tied on a purse handle, worn as a bracelet, wrapped around a bun or ponytail, headband, etc. (you can even wear it as a top, à la Y2K fashion). It’s a great way to zhuzh up an outfit that feels bland – and when you’re traveling light, a little goes a long way!
2. It can act as an emergency napkin/hankie
Spill something? Suddenly sneezy? If nothing else is available, your trusty bandana can help! Just please be sure to wash it before the next use to keep germs at bay. I like to keep one of these wash bars (update: I no longer use this brand following the 2022 recall), well, handy for unexpected hand laundering in the middle of a trip. Hang it to dry on a bathroom towel bar or clip it up on the balcony and it should be dry by morning.
3. You can wrap it around your drink like a koozie
Sweaty beer no more! Fold your bandana and wrap it around your cold beverage – it may not do much to keep it cool, but it will help absorb condensation (whether or not you choose to thwart open container laws is up to you).
4. You can use it as sun protection
Keep the sun off your neck by tucking a bandana into the back of your baseball cap or sun hat – or tie it over the top of your head to keep the sun off of your scalp.
5. You can block out the light
Forgot your trusty silk eye mask for the overnight flight? You can use your bandana instead, blindfold-style! Just fold it in half on the diagonal, and then begin folding from the point inward in 2-inch turns. Tie it around your head and rest easy. Yes, you may look like a hostage, but hey – it’s not like you can see yourself.
6. You can carry things in it
In a pinch, your bandana can act as a pouch for small items like snacks. You can easily tie opposite corners together in a little sling, or you can follow this quick furoshiki-style tutorial for a more intentional look.
7. It can separate your clean clothes from your dirty ones
Need to travel from one destination to the next? You can use your bandana to separate your clean clothes from the ones that need washing (this is particularly helpful if you haven’t adopted packing cubes). If you only have a few dirty garments, you can roll them up inside your bandana. Otherwise, you can use your bandana as a divider by laying it over or between your clean/dirty clothes.
8. It’s an attention-grabber
Meeting someone new in a busy place? Say, an Airbnb host, a private tour guide, or a hot date? Help them locate you by wearing your bandana, and letting them know that you’re the person in the red bandana. In a really crowded place? You can take it off and wave it in the air. That’ll get their attention for sure.
9. You can easily ID your bag
I nearly always travel with my carry-on (with the exception of returning from longer trips, when I may check a bag on the inbound leg to bring home souvenirs), but every so often I’m forced to gate-check my bag if there is no space in the overhead bin. Sometimes these bags are returned to passengers at the gate right after landing, but sometimes they are rerouted to baggage claim. In this case, wrapping a bandana around the handle of the bag can be helpful to distinguish it from similar-looking bags on the carousel.
10. It can keep you safe
There’s the obvious snake bite/tourniquet reference here (I sincerely hope you never need to use it!), but there are other ways you can use it in an emergency. And, of course, when combined with two hair ties you can turn it into a face mask (this type of mask isn’t as effective, but it’s likely better than nothing).
BANDANA-LESS? HERE ARE NINE FUN ONES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP:
FINAL THOUGHTS ON TRAVELING WITH A BANDANA
My go-to source for bandanas is Madewell because the brand carries a number of stylish options in lightweight cotton and the price is always right (they also run really great sales, too – this three-pack is just $7.99 with code FLASH at the time of publication). But there are plenty of elevated options, too, if your style leans that way. These silk bandanas from Cuyana include integrated earloops to transform into a face mask. And these cashmere bandanas from Everlane would be perfect for winter travel (though I wouldn’t recommend using them as napkins or bag-markers, for fear of loss or damage). Truly, we are spoiled for choice in this department!
*this item is no longer available from the manufacturer, and I've linked a comparable product
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Will you bring a bandana along on your next journey?
Thank you for your travel information. I just found you. Your information is practical and needed.