Before I went to college, I spent hours poring over must-have college packing lists on the internet. Unfortunately, I discovered the hard way that some of those lists are outdated, or have forgotten some basic necessities.

That’s why we’re covering all the bases with our guide to clothes for college, and this week is all about accessories. Not just any accessories, though. We’re talking about useful, practical things that you’ll use all the time.

{RELATED POST: Fashion Accessories List: The 5 Pieces Every Woman Needs in Her Closet}

Read on to learn about the 10 accessories you absolutely need to bring with you to college.

Table of Contents

1. Water Bottle

As I always like to say, hydrate or die-drate! While you won’t actually be dying of dehydration on a college campus, it’s important to drink water as you’re running to classes, running errands, and actually running as you workout. It’s also an excellent way to save time and money; you won’t be tempted to buy drinks at the library cafe if you become thirsty, and you won’t have to go searching for the nearest (sanitary) water fountain.

You don’t have to use one solely for water, either. Like every stereotypical college student, I am a caffeine addict, so I brought an additional tumbler cup to carry the cold brew I buy ready-made at grocery stores.

This is the water bottle I have and it’s a great dupe for a S’well; it keeps liquids cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. I also find that the shape of the bottle makes it a lot easier to fill up and clean my water bottle. At $25, this 24 ounce bottle is definitely worth it.

We all know plastic bottles and straws are dreadful for the environment; help the Earth and you’ll be helping yourself too!