Travel Gear Every Digital Nomad Needs
& The Gear I Personally Swear By
If you’re a digital nomad, full-time traveler, or an aspiring globetrotter, you know you’re going to need a few pieces of travel gear that come along with you on all your adventures. But what exactly do you need?
While every traveler out there has their own set of travel gear that they swear by, there are a few essential pieces of gear we all agree on.
Now, I’m an environmentalist and a minimalist, so I don’t focus too much on buying stuff. I’d rather spend my money trekking to the lost city, thank you.
That being said, being a minimalist, digital nomad, and adventure backpacker who trots around the globe with 65L worth of space, I tend to be very picky about the gear I do have. If it’s going to come with me, it had better earn its place.
So here’s the travel gear that has stuck with me so far and that I’d highly recommend to any new or soon-to-be backpackers or nomads.
I’m also SUPER picky about my travel clothes, which means they get a whole post to themselves – coming soon *wink*. This list also doesn’t include any photography specific gear, which gets a list to itself too- and is also coming soon. *cheeky smile *
Without further ado, travel gear everyone needs:
International Converter
Maybe it seems like I’m starting off with an obvious one, but there’s a reason overpriced tourist shops sell these. People somehow seem to forget. But take it from someone who has desperately bought the overpriced tourist version, not every travel converter is created equal.
My favorite travel converter is the international converter by Ceptics. The reason I love this bad boy so much is that it’s everything packed into one. Two outlets, a USB-A and a USB-C port all in a little rectangle.
It’s like a power strip that can fit in the palm of your hand- and won’t get fried like a regular power strip if you plug it into a higher-voltage outlet. (learned this lesson the hard way in Zambia)
Even better, the back of the converter has interchangeable pieces, making this a converter that you can use in every country in the world. (Seriously, they have like two dozen different socket types) But I went with this set, which includes type G, I & C (England, Australia, & Europe) and works in most countries (plus an American one for when I needed extra sockets back home).
The fact that it comes apart also helps with the whole ‘packing it into the smallest space possible’ thing.
Microfiber Towel
Here we go, the infamous microfiber towel.
While not the most luxurious item, a microfiber towel is a must for any nomad who doesn’t want to sacrifice precious space and weight for a regular towel. Plus, regular towels don’t dry quickly and will STINK if you shove them into your bag wet.
Microfiber towels are the bomb for traveling, especially if you’re staying in hostels where they charge for towels.
And yes, they really do dry your whole body. I tested this theory to the maximum by accident once when I packed only a 50 by 35 cm (~20”x15” for my fellow Americans) microfiber towel for two weeks backpacking in NZ.
You better believe that little sucker dried my whole body AND my 2 ft of thick, curly hair.
I do recommend packing a microfiber towel that’s big enough to wrap around your whole body, because it’s way easier- and dare I say more luxurious- to use and still takes up very little space.
I use both Packtowl and Nabaiji towels and they’re both AWESOME.
**Pro tip: if you use the link above make sure to select the body or beach size for a full-body towel. Though having one or two face towels ever hurts either.
Packing cubes
No matter how light or heavy you pack, you’re gonna want some way to organize your clothes. Because throwing them all every which way into your backpack or suitcase isn’t going to cut it.
Trust me, after a month or two of travel, you’ll really want to have *some* level of organization despite the fact that your entire wardrobe gets shoved into a backpack each week.
I LOVE my Eagle Creek Specter packing cubes- they’re sturdy and lightweight and have held up well so far in the face of being pushed to the absolute limit.
I use and recommend the:
Extra Small - perfect for underwear
Small compression (x2) – awesome for shirts, pants, etc.
Medium Compression (x1) – Perfect for Bulky items and miscellaneous
Ironically, I use the biggest packing cube for all my small stuff, like wool socks and swimsuits, though I do shove my thickest pair of pants in as well.
I use the compression type of bags because of the shape of my backpack. The regular cubes are too thick to fit- but anyone using a more square-shaped backpack or a suitcase would do well with the regular type (which are easier to use) as well.
Camp Wash
I can’t even begin to count the ways this will come in handy on your travels. Dishes, clothes in the sink, clothes in the washer, hands, body, hair – this wash does it all.
The wash is biodegradable and low-sudsing, which means it can even be used in washing machines. It’s also super-concentrated so 3 oz will last you months.
Not having your own soap is all fine and dandy until you end up in a hostel with no soap. Or really crappy soap. Or you ran out of underwear and desperately need to wash some by hand. Or in the woods. Your pick.
Trust me on this one. Bring the Outdoors wash.
There are a bunch of brands to choose from, but I swear by the Wilderness Wash from Sea to Summit.
Obviously, right? Well, it still shocks me how many travelers don’t have one or two of these hanging off their luggage.
They’re extra important if you’re living in any shared space. No matter how nice your roomies may seem, it’s never a good plan to trust people you just met with all your valuables. Lock ‘em up.
I always recommend combination locks over ones with a key because keys are easy to lose. On the beach, during a night out, to a rogue monkey, etc.
Also beware of really thick locks, as these won’t fit on most hostel lockers!
I’ve been using these locks from Wordlock for over a decade and they’ve held up to the test of time (and pretty much everything else)
Technology is a beautiful thing for travel. TVs on planes and contactless payments for your cards. But with all that tech comes more risk.
Did you know that a criminal can steal your credit card or passport information without ever touching it-or you? In an age where information is worth more than money, it’s best to keep your personal info safe by spending a few dollars upfront.
Luckily all it takes to protect your documents and cards from information thieves is a cheap, lightweight, sleeve.
I use these card protectors and this passport protector from REI which look cool and hold up pretty well to abuse (though you can see my paranoid ass has still reinforced them lol)
And if you’re worried about those cards getting snatched…
Some travelers use a hidden belt, some use a bumbag, But personally, I think the best option is the Loctote flak sack. This bag was made for travel and can fend off even the sneakiest and most determined thieves. (Just check out their website if you don’t believe me).
It’s the perfect size for a day bag and has enough pockets inside to stash all your little things. And it’ll give you peace of mind if you’re navigating busy streets or a crowded subway. No one is getting into this bag without your knowledge.
I have the more heavy-duty version, the flak sack II, but the sport version shaves off a few ounces by using a *slightly* less destruction-proof material. It’s also water-resistant.
And unlike the flimsy (and easily stolen or destroyed) compact day bags that are so popular among backpackers, the Loctote bag will actually hold its shape. And all your stuff. Safe and sound.
There you have it. My list of essential travel gear for full-time travelers and digital nomads. While not everything that needs to go into your suitcase made it onto this list, these are the items I swear by that I constantly see other travelers missing! Plus, I’ve got more lists on clothes, toiletries, and work gear coming soon!
What’s the best piece of travel gear you swear by? Comment Below!
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