Everyone has preferred packing methods, given the way they travel and the way they like to pack.

Some people roll everything they put in their bag, some people use packing cubes, and some people—like me—do both.

Some people try to pack as minimalistically as possible (also me—hello, mix-and-match everything, also known as the “capsule wardrobe”) and some people don’t care if they need to pay extra for overweight and additional luggage to take everything they can possibly imagine wanting and needing, including multiple changes of clothing per day. (I won’t name names, but I’ve traveled with some of you. You know who you are.)

However, for most everyone, I can think of a few pieces that every suitcase, duffel, or travel backpack—because hey, we all have our receptacle preferences, too—should include that many people never consider adding to their packing mixes. These items go for every person and for every season.

And they don’t take much room in your bag, either.

A Washable Foulard or Scarf

I’ve had people tell me that they don’t wear scarves. I know people who believe that they don’t need a scarf unless they think their destination will be cold. I know people who, when they think “scarf,” think of either a heavy, woolen thing worn in the depths of winter or an expensive silk number elegantly tied or draped for exclusively dressy occasions.

No, no, no.

(Well, yes, yes, yes—but I’m not referencing these scarves here.)

A simple scarf in a color that matches the clothing you’ve set aside to pack has multipurpose value for every suitcase and every trip (and outfit).

I have two foulards in washable cotton that I use for travel, packing whichever of the two seems best suited for that trip and the clothes I’ve planned. (A foulard is a very large scarf that typically takes the form of a square or wide rectangle, rather than a thin strip.)

I can fold, tie, and drape my travel foulard into several different shapes for different purposes, from a nice meal to protecting my skin from the sun to staying warm. Further, I can pull it out of my day bag to drape over my shoulders if I’ve got a short-sleeved (or no-sleeved) shirt on and we’ve planned a visit to a religious site or another location that requires modest attire. (In some religious places, you need to cover your head—and a large-enough foulard will cover your shoulders and your head at the same time.)

Also, adding a scarf to any outfit you’ve worn a few times already will make it seem fresh and new again—always nice after several days of back-to-back travel in the same arrangement of clothes.

A large scarf (not just a neckerchief) would work as well for many of these purposes, if a more strip-like shape feels more manageable for you when it comes to tying and draping. (If you need guidance on a few of the many ways to finesse a foulard, this video from the French edition of Cosmopolitan can help.)

Pick cotton, as I’ve done, or go with linen for your foulard. Just ensure you can easily wash it in a sink or in a load with the rest of your laundry and that you can easily iron or hand-smooth it after wearing or cleaning.

A Sarong or Large Light-Fabric Wrap

Though you could use your travel foulard for almost the same purposes as you’d use a sarong or wrap in a light fabric, such as cotton or linen, you should at least consider adding this easily portable additional piece to your bag.

You can easily roll or fold a sarong into your suitcase to bring along on day excursions where you could need to sit on grass, ground, or something else that could affect your clothes. You can use it to wrap up after a shower or for when getting out of bed in a chilly room, in place of a light robe, and you can use it as a towel at the beach and elsewhere, when needed. (How often have all of us needed towels, especially on travel, and didn’t have one to hand?)

Further, you can use your sarong as a mat in your hotel room or rental space to stretch on the floor or even do some yoga. I adore a little yoga or stretch session, especially after several days of walking and moving and sightseeing—and I do not adore sitting or lying on random carpets and floors.

A Light Jacket

So many people think that if they plan to travel somewhere warm, they don’t need a jacket. About as many people believe that, if they have a cold destination in mind, they need only a heavy coat.

Think again! If you pick a versatile light jacket, you can mix and match it to create several different outfits—a necessity if you don’t want a suitcase beyond the weight limit and you have trip longer than three days on the schedule. Further, a light jacket saves you from too-cold air conditioning in hot climates and too-warm heating in cold locales.

Besides, as with the foulard, a light jacket can spiff up every outfit, giving you something easy to pull on to go to a restaurant for a meal or a bar for drinks.

In choosing the right light jacket for your trip, pick something easily foldable, rollable, and stuffable without wrinkling—and that still has enough thickness and shape to give your outfits some structure (and you some warmth). Try to avoid designs and fabrics that can get easily mussed, marked, or stained, too.

My go-to light jacket for travel is a stylish jean jacket, but I’ve gone with a zip-up structured hoodie as well.

A Squishy-Enough Hat

Sure, you may plan to never leave the hotel uncoiffed. Or maybe you don’t like hats, typically. Or perhaps you’ve shaved your head to go fashionably hairless.

Yet you still need a hat on travel, I say.

Hairdos get blown and rained away. Sometimes you need to dash out of your hotel or rental place and don’t want to mess with your head. Sometimes the sun or the cold or the wind will throw off your body temperature and overall comfort—and that doesn’t consider overly air-conditioned interiors.

A hat will keep you warm and help save you from looking like a lobster from sunburn or a ruffled bird from wind and rain.

Find a light, easily foldable, malleable hat to pack in every suitcase. Look for something you can stuff in a nook or corner and easily tuck into your day bag, ready to whip out whenever you need it.

I have knit hats and canvas hats that I can wear in several seasons for traveling purposes.

Of course, if you have a beach vacation planned, you may want to take additional space in your bag for a proper—and properly structured—wide-brimmed sun hat. (However, in this case, I’d still recommend something more day-portable for your off-the-beach moments.)

You Need These in Your Travel Bag

You’ll find countless packing-guidance articles to tell you about what chargers and adapters to bring, how to reduce the footprint of your toiletry kit in your travel bag, how to pack as minimalistically as possible, and so on. I’ve read those—and they’ve helped me.

And trust me, I have my own personal musts for every travel bag I pack, including certain toiletries, writing materials, and yoga supplies. However, not everyone needs them.

These often-overlooked things, though, everyone needs.

P.S.—Interested in a few travel-planning trips from what I’ve learned over the years? Click here for helpful ideas based on how I plan my travel.