While no two trips are alike, there are a few, stalwart items that I can’t live without on the road. Some are expected (noise canceling headphones), but some, like the one I’ll share today, are not. Today, that item is: carabiners.

I’ve been a fan of carabiners since middle school, when it was “cool” to clip all your keys to the belt loop on your jeans with a carabiner. Though I no longer wear my keys as an accessory (was that ever really cool?), my affinity for carabiners has only deepened.

My carabiner collection grew exponentially when I took on indoor rock climbing as a hobby. That had the added effect of helping me feeling less like a poser for owning so many. Shortly thereafter, I would learn the true value of carabiners as a travel accessory.

Here are five ways I’ve used carabiners while traveling:

1. Keeping my headphones accessible
2. Making my keys easy to find inside my bag
3. Securing hats that I don’t want to crush in my suitcase
4. Keeping my camera gear secure in the water

I typically have 1-2 small carabiners and at least two big ones (sometimes more) clipped to my bags when I travel. And the one time I mysteriously forgot them? I needed them more than ever.