I take about 15 solo trips a year. Here are 7 must-have products that make traveling alone easier.

• I swear by a few items to help make my solo trips more convenient.

• My portable tripod allows me to capture photos of myself without relying on help from strangers.

• My other must-haves include a lotion applicator for my back, a first-aid kit, and a portable charger.

As a travel writer, I'm often taking off by myself — as often as 15 times a year.

Because I typically travel without a partner, I make sure to pack a few essential items to make my trips easier, safer, and more enjoyable.

Here are seven things I don't leave for a solo trip without.

Having a tripod means I don't have to rely on strangers to take pictures for me.

I like to take pictures of myself traveling, whether to post on social media or send to my boyfriend. I'm not into selfie sticks, and unfortunately, I can't always rely on strangers to take photos for me. So, having a cellphone tripod is a good compromise.

I love my Toneof universal cellphone tripod because it easily slips into my carry-on luggage and expands when I need to snap a picture. It also includes a rechargeable remote control for the shutter.

My portable speaker doubles as a white-noise machine.

When I'm traveling by myself, I always carry my LectroFan Bluetooth speaker with me. The sound is incredible considering its tiny size, and it has several white-noise settings to drown out noisy neighbors or street sounds.

When I'm feeling lonely, I also like to use it to have a solo dance party in my room.

This lotion applicator helps me avoid getting sunburn in the areas I can't reach.

Since I often travel to tropical places, I prefer to pack bottles of sunscreen lotion since the coverage is heavier than spray. But it's tricky to apply the lotion to my own back and shoulders.

Foam-brush applicators are clunky to pack, but luckily, I found a cloth applicator from Steugo that folds up and doesn't take up much room in my suitcase.

I pour some lotion onto the fabric and then use the handles to rub it onto my back as if I'm drying myself with a towel. I rinse or hand-wash it between uses and throw it in the washing machine once I return home.

A first-aid kit is a must-have when traveling alone.

When I get injured or start to come down with something while traveling alone, there's no one to run out to the drugstore to get medicine or first-aid supplies for me.

Sometimes, I'm not even in an area with a nearby drugstore, so I make sure to bring along any items I may need.

My first-aid kit is stocked with bandages, cleaning wipes, gauze, tick removers, nosebleed plugs, sting relief, burn ointment, and a thermometer.

I also pack some over-the-counter medicine for pain, gastrointestinal issues, motion sickness, and congestion.

A portable charger is always good to have on hand.

One of my biggest concerns when traveling alone is my cellphone battery running low.

After all, I need my phone to navigate cities, book Uber rides, make restaurant reservations, and research tourist attractions. That's why I always carry a USB portable charger with me.

Slip-on shoes are a must for airport travel.

When TSA PreCheck isn't available, I often have to remove my shoes and coat and take my laptop and liquids out of my bag when I go through security.

Without a travel partner to double-check I grabbed everything, I like to make sure the process is as quick and easy as possible. That's why I always wear my favorite slip-on sneakers from Kizik.

They're also incredibly comfortable even after a long day of exploring.

Having a portable wash bag allows me to do my laundry.

I never check my luggage, and being a single traveler means I can bring only one carry-on with me. Even though I can fit a lot in my bag, I sometimes need to re-wear and freshen up my clothes.

Because hotel laundry service is often expensive, I bring my own Scrubba portable wash bag with me.

To use it, I fill the packable bag with socks, underwear, and T-shirts and then add water and a laundry sheet. Then, I deflate the bag and rub my clothes along the inner washboard before rinsing, wringing, and hanging my garments to dry.

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