Reading While Traveling

The traveler’s reading problem

Travel offers long stretches of waiting and sitting, which seem made for reading. It also limits what you can carry, how you can sit and how much attention you have left after navigating airports, stations and unfamiliar streets. Good travel reading is mostly a matter of packing wisely: enough to last, little enough to carry, and a type that suits the conditions.

This article focuses on choosing and carrying reading for trips. Setting goals for time off is a different question, and the same goes for daily commuting. Here the concern is the practical business of getting the right material to the right seat.

Decide what the trip will demand

Start by thinking about what kind of travel it is.

A long flight or train ride gives hours of fairly steady time, though often with noise, interruptions and cramped seats.
A road trip may offer reading for passengers, but not for drivers, and some people feel queasy reading in a car.
A backpacking trip puts a premium on weight and space.
A trip with family may leave little quiet time, so reading comes in short gaps.
A business trip may involve a lot of waiting, with evenings in a hotel.

Your answers will point toward the right format and quantity. A weekend city break may need only a single book, while a month abroad might call for a device or a plan to swap.

Compare the formats

Print

Paper books need no battery, are not affected by device restrictions during takeoff and landing, and are pleasant to hold. They are also heavy and bulky, can be damaged by water, and offer no adjustable type. A paperback is a sensible choice for one or two titles. Choose a size that fits your bag, and remember that airline weight limits apply to books too.

E-readers and tablets

A device can carry hundreds of titles in the space of a single paperback and lets you adjust the text size. Battery life varies, and many people consider dedicated e-readers more durable in this regard than phones or tablets. Bring a charger and any adapter you need, and consider downloading everything before you leave, since connections can be poor. Think about your habits as well: e-reader habits that suit home may need tweaking on the road, such as lowering brightness at night so you do not disturb others.

Audio

Listening is useful when your hands or eyes are busy, when the light is poor or when you feel queasy. A long drive, a hike or a night flight with headphones may suit it. Audiobook listening also makes dull waits more pleasant. Download files in advance, keep headphones charged and carry a spare cable if you can.

A mixture

Many travelers take one physical book and one device, so that a single failure does not leave them with nothing. If you like a paper book as a keepsake, take just one.

Pack with weight in mind

A few habits keep the load down:

Pick lighter editions. Paperbacks are lighter than hardbacks. Large, heavy volumes are better left at home.
Take only what you can read. A stack of unread books is mostly extra weight. A realistic estimate is better than hope.
Leave finished books. Many hostels, hotels and cafés have shelves where you can swap. This depends on where you go, so do not rely on it exclusively, but second-hand books and book swaps can be an enjoyable part of a journey.
Keep your current read handy. Put it in the bag you take into the cabin or carriage, not in checked luggage.

Choose material to suit the journey

What you read matters as much as how you carry it.

Engrossing but not too heavy. A story you will want to continue is a good companion for long hours. Very dense material can be hard in noisy or tiring conditions.
Short pieces for interrupted travel. Magazines, essays and short stories are useful when you are frequently moved or called.
Something connected to the destination. Some people like fiction or history linked to the place they are going. This is optional, and you should never feel obliged to read about where you are.
A mix of moods. Packing one serious and one light book gives you choices on tired days.

Choosing books is easier when you start from what you already enjoy; a good rule is to bring books you are genuinely curious about, not ones you feel you ought to read.

Protect your reading

Water. Use a zip bag or dry bag for books and devices around beaches, boats and rain.
Pressure and temperature. Devices do not enjoy heat. Avoid leaving them in a hot car or in direct sun.
Loss and theft. Keep valuables close. If you read on a device, back up your library and bookmarks where possible, and be careful about what you leave on a table.
Borrowed books. Library books may not be suitable for travel, since replacement costs and return dates can cause stress. Digital lending can avoid this, although some services have rules about use abroad.

Plan for the unexpected

Delays and long waits are common. A phone full of apps and a book you have already finished do not help. Before leaving:

Charge devices fully.
Download books and audio.
Pack a backup title in case your main book is finished or unreadable.
Save a few short items for the times you only have a moment.

If you find yourself with an unexpected gap, it can be a gift, and reading during it is one way of using waiting time you would otherwise lose.

Travel reading and comfort

Cramped seating is tiring. A neck pillow, a rolled jacket under your elbow, and short breaks to stretch can help. Motion sickness affects many people while reading in vehicles. If you are prone to it, try looking out of the window, sitting in a more stable seat, or listening instead. If problems persist, ask a health professional.

Enjoy the lightness

The best travel reading plan is the one that lets you enjoy the journey rather than carry a burden. If you finish nothing, you have still had a trip. If you finish three books, that is also fine. Bring what you want, travel light, and let the destination decide the rest.