We travel on a budget so that we can travel farther and for longer. But that doesn’t mean we’re okay looking like total bums or safari dorks. We also want our clothes and gear to be tough and multi-functional so it lasts and works well in different environments. We are carry-on only travelers so we like small, lightweight gear, and clothes that can be washed easily by hand and worn again and again. Here’s what works for us after years of travel. Maybe it will inspire your travel gear and clothing choices.
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Adidas Outdoor Terrex Swift Solo Approach Shoe These are my favorite multi-purpose travel shoe. In black, they look good for around town or out to dinner, but they also hike really well, are made tough, and have a low profile. Chaco Men’s Flip Ecotread Flip Flop Living in Florida, we spend like 90% of our time in flip flops. I wear these all over the world, walk miles a day, and do mild hiking with them. They last forever too! Havaianas Men’s and Havaianas Women’s Flip Flop are the gold standard among backpackers. They’re stylish, lightweight, and perfect for the beach or shared showers in hostels or guesthouses. Always travel with these! KEEN Women’s Venice H2 Sandal Thalita absolutely loves her Keen sandals. They’re comfortable for hiking long distances, protect your toes, and work great in water sports too.
Gear
My Minaal Carry-On 2.0 is the best backpack I’ve ever traveled with. It allows me to stay organized, travel carry-on only, and it’s got a slick look with a low profile. Can’t recommend this bag enough. Osprey Fairview 40 Travel Backpack Thalita loves her Osprey pack. Perfect size for carry-on and comfortable to carry long distances. The North Face Base Camp Duffel Occasionally we go on volunteer trips that require us to bring tools or medical supplies, so we have to check that in luggage. We use these awesome, all but bombproof bags for that. Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Cube Set Super lightweight and keeps your bag organized! Paracord I always travel with about 20 ft of paracord. So many uses! Eagle Creek Toiletry Bags Everybody needs one of these. Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Day Pack This awesome day pack packs down to the size of a hacky sack. Great for hikes, around town, or for the grocery store. Black Diamond Spot Headlamp A necessity when traveling, this one is great! Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Sack These lightweight bags are great for potential rain or at the beach! Eagles Nest Outfitter Hammock Our favorite hammocks, lightweight and easy to set up with these great tree friendly straps!
Electronics
GoPro HERO4 Silver Every traveler should have one of these to capture their adventures! Apple iPhone 6 Plus Unlocked A smart phone is essential travel gear in this day and age. US based travelers can pair an unlocked one with a Simple Choice plan from T-Mobile and have free 3G data roaming in over 140 countries. Or buy local SIM cards as you get to new countries. Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera This amazing camera along with Sony E 55-210mm Lens has allowed us to capture some amazing photos while being relatively compact. Anker Ultra Portable Bluetooth Speaker We couldn’t live without good tunes. This speaker puts out great sound, lasts 12 hours, and is super small. Put it in a bowl or large glass to amplify even more! Science! Anker 36W 5-Port USB Travel Charger Absolutely necessary to keep all your electronics charged. Anker 20000mAh Portable Charger This thing is a must. Stop being the person searching for an outlet at the airport. This thing will charge your phone, tablet, camera batteries, and much more.
Inspiration
Tynan was one of the first people I stumbled upon years ago when researching minimalist travel. I still love reading his blog and I always look forward to his incredibly popular yearly gear post.
Snarky Nomad is my go to for great gear reviews with a side of wonderfully sarcastic humor.
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