Discover 10 practical items to take on your Southeast Asia train journey; from travel locks and power banks to sleep essentials and snacks for long journeys.
Train travel in Southeast Asia is affordable, scenic and often surprisingly comfortable; from intercity services in Malaysia and Thailand to the high-speed route in Indonesia. Journeys can also be hot, cold, noisy, crowded or unexpectedly long, and onboard facilities vary widely between countries and routes. These train travel essentials reflect what experienced travellers actually carry on Southeast Asia trains; lightweight, practical items that improve comfort, sleep and self-sufficiency without overpacking.
For more advice on riding the rails in the region, see our Top 10 Tips for Southeast Asia Train Travel guide.
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1. Travel lock for your backpack or suitcase
Luggage storage on trains is often shared, open and unsupervised. A small travel lock won’t stop determined theft, but it acts as a simple deterrent and provides peace of mind, particularly on overnight trains or when your bag is out of sight. We like these cable padlocks as they’re smalls, lightweight and strong.
- 【Steel Wire Code Lock Set】You will receive 2 steel wire combination padlocks, one is red and one…
- 【Robust and Durable】The luggage lock is made of high-quality zinc alloy, which is strong and…
- 【Sliding Number Wheel】The steel wire wardrobe lock has a compact design, is saw-proof and offers…
- 【Lightweight and Portable】The suitcase padlocks combination are lightweight, portable and easy…
- 【Widely Use】When you are finished riding your bike or electric scooter, you can use our travel…
2. Kindle or e-reader
Long stretches between stations are ideal for reading, and an e-reader is far more practical than lugging around heavy books. A Kindle holds hundreds of titles, works well in low light and lasts for weeks on a single charge.
- The lightest and most compact Kindle – Now with a brighter front light at max setting, higher…
- Effortless reading in any light – Read comfortably with a 6″ glare-free display, adjustable front…
- Escape into your books – Tune out messages, e-mails and social media with a distraction-free…
- Read for a while – Get up to 6 weeks of battery life on a single charge.
- Take your library with you – 16 GB storage holds thousands of books, magazines and comics.
3. Power bank
Power sockets are inconsistent across Southeast Asia’s rail networks and can’t be relied upon, especially on older or regional services. A compact power bank ensures your phone and e-reader stay charged for tickets, navigation and entertainment.
- FAST CHARGING POWER BANK: With a massive 26800mAh capacity, this portable charger is designed…
- CHARGE UP TO 4 DEVICES SIMULTANEOUSLY: The fast charging power bank features 1 Type-C input/output…
- ADVANCED SAFETY & UNIVERSAL COMPATIBILITY: Engineered with a multi-protection system…
- INTELLIGENT AND SLEEK DESIGN: Designed for both style and function, this power bank battery pack…
- COMPACT AND PORTABLE: Designed for life on the move, this portable power bank combines substantial…
4. Lightweight scarf or travel blanket
Air-conditioning on Southeast Asia trains can be unexpectedly cold, particularly overnight. A scarf or compact travel blanket provides warmth, works as a pillow or eye shield, and takes up very little space in a daypack. Alternatively, a sarong is a very lightweight option.
- Soft & Warm: Our compact blanket for travel is made using only soft fleece fabric to keep your warm…
- Portable & Easy To Carry: This travel blanket sheet is easy to fold and compact yet large enough to…
- Breathable & Cozy: Thanks to Humidity Management, our packable travel blanket keeps your dry by…
- Quality That Matters: When it comes to quality, we make no exceptions. Our lightweight blanket for…
- For All Your Travels: Each warm and breathable fleece travel blanket is accompanied by a stuff sack…
5. Noise-reducing ear plugs
Train carriages can be noisy, with announcements, conversations and passengers coming and going. Earplugs make the journey more restful, especially on night trains. We love the Loop Ear Quiet earplugs; they’re comfortable for sleeping and reduce noise without blocking important announcements.
- POWERFUL NOISE REDUCTION – Packing up to 24 dB (SNR) of noise reduction into a flexible silicone…
- ULTRA-COMFY FIT – Made from lightweight, flexible silicone, these reusable earplugs offer dreamy…
- GREAT FOR SLEEP, FOCUS AND MORE – Quiet 2 earplugs offer instant noise reduction and protection…
- EASY TO USE – Quiet 2 earplugs are easy to insert and come with adjustable ear tip sizes for…
- IN THE BOX – 1 set of Loop Quiet 2 earplugs, 4 sets of Quiet 2 ear tips (sizes XS, S, M, L – M…
6. Sleep mask
Bright carriage lights and constant movement can make sleep difficult on overnight trains. A simple sleep mask can greatly improve rest, even on shorter night journeys. For extra comfort, choose one that sits slightly away from the eyes and has padded cushioning on the face, like this one.
- All-Round Light Blocking: The unique one-piece nose bridge design fits the contour of the face…
- 3D Stereo Design: Adopting advanced integrated 3D stereo eye socket design, it fits the eye curve…
- Soft & Breathable Material: Made of high-quality breathable fabric, it is soft and delicate…
- Comfortable & Adjustable: Equipped with an adjustable slide buckle elastic headband, the head…
- Upgraded Sleep Aid Set: Gritin sleep mask is a travel essential accessory and a perfect gift. Two…
7. Microfibre travel towel or cooling towel
A small microfibre towel or cooling towel is useful for managing heat and humidity; wiping sweat, drying hands in basic toilets or adding a clean layer to headrests and seats. It dries quickly and weighs very little.
- 【INSTANT COOLING, REUSABLE 】 – No chemicals are used in the making of the cooling towels…
- 【Hot Flush Saviours 】- Drape round your shoulders, neck wherever and they keep you cool. It’s…
- 【A Life Saver During the Horrible Hot Weather】 – Everyone should have these cooling towels…
- 【Carrying Pouch with Carabiner Clip】 – The clip makes it convenient to attach the cooling towel…
- 【MULTI PURPOSE】- It’s perfect for hot flashes, outdoor activities, indoor exercise, vacations to…
8. Collapsible silicone cup
Hot drinks, instant noodles and refilled water are common on longer journeys and at stations. A collapsible silicone cup takes up almost no space and avoids disposable cups, making it a practical low-waste option. For extra convenience, choose one with a lid to prevent spills and an insulated band to protect your hands from hot drinks.
- AN EVERYDAY FOLDING MUG: From the kitchen to the office, Stojo has got your daily brew needs covered…
- COLLAPSE, STOW, & GO: Enjoy your favourite drink where ever life takes you with a collapsing travel…
- MAGIC IN THE MATERIALS: A foldable and lightweight mug that can handle both hot and cold drinks…
- HASSLE-FREE CLEANING: A great coffee cup shouldn’t just be simple to use, but easy to wash and…
- BUILD A BETTER WORLD: Nobody’s perfect but we can try to be better. Reduce your eco footprint and…
9. Spork
Food bought at stations or from vendors isn’t always provided with cutlery, or comes with single-use plastic. A compact spork is easy to carry and surprisingly useful on longer journeys. This is something we take with us all over the world!
- 【Lightweight And Portable】2-in-1 Spork Size is 6.5*1.5″. Only 18g/0.63oz each. With…
- 【Durable Titanium Material】Made from 99.9% food grade ultralight titanium. It will stainless or…
- 【Easy to clean】Cleaning options are limited on the go. You can wipe them and / or rinse them…
- 【Eco-friendly And Safe】Rustproof that is wear-resistant, firm and durable, high temperature…
- 【Use occasion】You can put it in your pocket or packbag, spork is Ideal for camping, backpacking…
10. Biodegradable bamboo tissues
Facilities and cleanliness vary widely across the region’s rail networks. Biodegradable bamboo tissues are useful for toilets, wiping tables or freshening up, without the environmental impact of conventional wet wipes.
- Travel Tissues – Each pack of 10 bamboo tissues will fit almost anywhere, whether its your work…
- Super Soft – Bamboo is a wonderful material, not only is it kinder to the planet, but also to your…
- Pocket Tissues Multipack – This multipack of travel tissues contains 8 packs of 10 tissues each…
- Hypoallergenic – Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic. When growing, bamboo protects itself with a…
- The Sustainable Choice – At The Cheeky Panda, we strive to create amazing products and to give…
Useful reads before you go:
Top 10 tips for Southeast Asia train travel
7 reasons why you should travel by train around Southeast Asia
5 AMAZING train journeys in Southeast Asia
10 essentials experienced travellers always take on trains in Southeast Asia
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