Honestly, once you've had something stolen (or nearly lost a bag at an airport), your packing list changes forever. For me, the non-negotiables now are a Bluetooth item tracker clipped to my daypack, an RFID-blocking wallet for crowded metro/tourist areas, and a slim phone case with anti-snatch features since my phone is basically my whole life abroad.

What really changed my solo trips, though, was leaning into smart gadgets built specifically for travel safety rather than just generic tech. A GPS luggage tracker means I'm never panicking at baggage claim, and a smart safety keychain with one-tap SOS has genuinely made late-night walks in unfamiliar cities feel less nerve-wracking. Small, cheap, and unobtrusive, but they cover the exact moments where things usually go wrong.