Top 10 Essential Gear Items For Travel
This blog post lists my top 10 essential travel gear items. These are not in any particular order. These are the items I cannot live without when I am traveling. With my job, I need items different from your average backpacker, photographer, or adrenalin junkie. Still, since my lifestyle combines all these things, I need the best gear to get me through my adventures. When choosing gear or apparel, I must ensure it has multiple uses. This is especially true for clothes. I also will spend money on good quality because, in my professional experience, those items tend to last much longer than the knockoff brands. Here are my top ten essential gear items for what I do.
1. Headlamp and Torches.
Headlamps or head torches, whatever you call them, should be in everyone’s travel bag or luggage. This is especially true if you are the type of person who stays in hostels. Many headlamps have a red-light feature, which is great to use when you check into your hostel late at night or need to leave super early in the morning. The red light is dim, so you do not wake up or blind people sleeping in the hostel. I use mine for that, but if you are like me and enjoy looking for wildlife at night, a headlamp is amazing since it allows both your hands to be free. Since the light is closer to your eyes, you are more likely to pick up eyeshine from animals. This is especially true with animals like cats and crocodiles, which always give off eye shine when you point the beam at them.
The Fenix HP 25R 2.0. My primary headlamp is a high-performance rechargeable headlamp that is shock and freeze-proof and has water-resistant qualities. The light also features many different modes and, on the medium setting, lasts me about 4-5 hours on the brighter settings because I am actively looking for wildlife. Its low floodlight setting lasts 300 hours, which is impressive. Another great quality of this light is the double lock turn-on function that helps protect the activation button so it does not turn on when tucked away in your bag.
2. Leatherman Wave+ multi-tool
I use the Leatherman Wave+ multi-tool for lots of different things. Anything from tightening or loosening my camera gear, cutting rope, starting a fire, and just about everything you could need to be done by a multi-tool. This is only ideal for some backpackers, as you cannot carry this item on the airplane with you. If I check a bag, this tool will be coming with me. The model I currently have has lasted me a solid two years, and when I was working in the aviation industry, I used it every day, at least ten times daily. One thing I love about the new tools from Leatherman is that the knife opens out from the outside instead of having to open up the pliers to get the knife out. The blades are also interchangeable, so if they rust, chip, or break, you can unlatch them and purchase a new blade without buying a whole new multi-tool.
3. Goal Zero battery pack
I love this company’s gear, especially their battery packs. I have used the Venture 30 battery pack for the last six years. This past April, my old one finally quit on me, but that was after being used every day for six straight years. I just purchased the Venture 75 because I love them that much. When the pack is full, I can charge my phone a solid three times or my GoPro about six times. The company’s gear is made in the USA and is worth the price for what you get. I have also used their solar panels with my battery pack. In Madagascar, my main form of power was from the sun for charging my power bank during the day. I cannot stress enough how much I love this company’s products. If you are a traveler like me, go for the battery packs. If you are more into Overlanding or van life, I highly suggest checking out their generators, as I have heard nothing but good things.
4. The North Face Tour Tri-climate Jacket
I have used this jacket for the last five years, and it has been my main jacket as it is a rain jacket, thermal, and winter jacket in one. That means more space in your luggage, which is essential for someone like me who has a lot of gear and needs to make the best use of the limited space I have when traveling. I have used this jacket across every biome you can imagine, from jungle trekking in the Amazon rainforests to snowboarding black diamonds in Vail to even trekking in the desert in the UAE. This jacket is seriously made for outdoor enthusiasts. With just a shirt underneath, the coldest weather I have been able to handle was around 10F or -12C, without layering. If one is layered, I am certain you could handle colder temperatures. The rain jacket holds its own in the torrential deluges in the Amazon.
5. Travel Pillow and Blanket
This is a two-part deal with me as I love them equally. I noticed when I started to travel that there are never good pillows in hotels and hostels. This makes for sore necks and sleep that does not get you the rest you need. So, I went to REI and purchased a HEST camping pillow, and I have never used another pillow for traveling since. First, it packs away very small, making it ideal for saving space, unlike a regular pillow.
I use a Wobbie blanket as it’s a military-style backpacking blanket, and sometimes, hostels can be very cold, so it is nice to have that bit of extra warmth. I've used this blanket camping in the Amazon, Middle Eastern deserts, and all across Asia.
6. FE Active 30L Waterproof backpack
Before I went to Guyana, I decided to get my first waterproof backpack. Well, this one impressed me and is now my go-to bag for water-based adventures. When hiking in the Amazon rainforests, this bag kept all my camera gear dry when those deluges came through. I use it to store my stuff on a dive boat. I have also used it for hikes that involve water trekking. Honestly, if you care that your stuff does not get wet and want a good bag that is not crazy expensive like most big brand names, this is the backpack for you.
7. Good clothes (there is a specific clothing blog coming soon)
This is more general, but I am very particular and want to focus on two companies with products I use daily.
Exofficio Men’s Give N Go 2.0 Sport Mesh 9” boxer briefs. This product is awesome for everything I wear in daily life. They are moisture-wicking, anti-bacterial, quick to dry, and extremely comfortable. I use hybrid shorts as my swimsuit and have this underneath, so the quick-dry function is one of my favorites. They also have underwear with the same qualities for all the adventure women out there.
Darn Toughs Men’s Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock. I have used these socks in many different countries, and they last. After six years of continued use, I finally noticed some wear on the bottom of a couple of pairs, but the best thing about this company is their socks have a lifetime warranty. It is extremely easy to send your socks back and get new pairs. Recently, I have started using their running socks and love them.
8. Towel
Having a travel towel is great because, at some hostels, you need to pay a fee for a towel, and if it gets stolen by someone, you owe the hostel an even bigger fee. Travel towels are made with anti-bacterial and quick-dry materials and are lightweight.
Nomadix is the current towel I am using, and I love it. One of my favorite things about this company and towel is that it is made from recycled plastic bottles. The towel has multiple purposes as well and can be a yoga mat or a beach towel.
9. Cameras
Because of what I do, I love capturing those moments and showcasing them for you. With technology improving every year, the camera industry is becoming more user-friendly. I’ll talk about what I use to capture my moments.
My SLR camera is my main camera when photographing wildlife. I use the Sony A7 4 with a Sigma 150-600mm, a Sony 90 macro, and a Sony 24-240mm lens. This is the most camera gear I can have because more than that means more weight and my back is starting to ask me why I keep doing this to it. With this camera and those three lenses, I get the flexibility to take beautiful up-close shots of wildlife, get pictures of animals that are farther away, like birds and mammals, and take stunning travel photos. My favorite lens, though, is the 24-240 due to its flexibility. I can zoom in for great portrait photos or get star photos with it all the way zoomed out.
The GoPro action camera is a must for what I do, as it allows me to take photos in places where I cannot bring my camera. Its small, compact size is also amazing, and combining it with the selfie stick has given me some of my favorite travel photos. GoPro cameras also have a wide function that allows you to catch the whole area you are trying to photograph. This means I can rely on my GoPro for situations my camera cannot capture when it comes to getting everything in the shot. I currently use the GoPro 11. I have been having issues with my last three Go Pros, so I may switch to the Osmo Action 4.
I use the iPhone 12 Pro due to its camera features. Sometimes, I am out and about and see a great photo opportunity when I don’t have my SLR, so I take those photos with my phone. The quality of the cameras on the iPhones keeps getting better. What I have been doing is getting a new one every two years. That way, I am not draining my funds on phones.
The DJI Mavic Mini # is one of my favorite creative tools. Using it gives me a new perspective on areas I've already been to and great scenery shots. I use drones for research now, but also using them to spot wildlife has become something I love. The best feature about the mini 3 is that it weighs 249g, just 1g lighter than the weight limit that one would need to register the drone in most countries, allowing you more freedom with using the drone. However, you are still held accountable for the standard drone operating rules. I see people everywhere abusing that, which is unfortunate because that only makes governments put more restrictions on flying. That said, drones are amazing and a super fun way to see the world, but please follow the rules.
Shooting with a SLR or DSLR may not be for everyone, but you can get creative with photos, as the manual settings are far superior to anything the GoPro or iPhone will ever have. My best advice is to use what you have and continue to get better with that. Then, see what you like or are not happy about; that way, you will have experience and can apply that experience when purchasing new gear.
10. Reusable water bottle
It is 2023 people! Everyone should have a reusable water bottle of some sort. Airports are now starting to put water bottle-filling stations, and many hostels have water bottle-filling stations. I use the Nalgene 1.5-liter water bottle because it is slightly larger and holds more water, which is great for my long adventures where every drop counts. As someone who has seen firsthand the damage that single-use plastics do to our world and where they end up, it is nice to do something individually and reduce my carbon footprint. Yes, there are times when I am in hostels or airports without water bottle filling stations, so I am guilty of purchasing water bottles when that is the only option. However, having this Nalgene helps reduce that amount significantly.
I recently purchased the GRAYL purification water bottle and liked it. This water bottle allows you to fill up in streams and sinks worldwide. It is better in more mountainous hiking areas because the water in the rivers is cleaner in other parts of the world. It's nice to have the option, though, to get clean water when you can instead of having to carry 3-5 liters on a long trip.
