Travel Gear List – What You Need to Explore the World

You’ve heard the call to adventure. You’ve plotted a course and purchased the tickets. Excitement and trepidation overtake you. Only a few days until you embark.

But before you leave, you need the right equipment.

This is an essential list of gear for serious adventures.

Must Have

Heavy Duty Backpack

Your base of operations. Internal frame, weather-resistant, preferably with lockable zippers.

Weatherproof Jacket

Lightweight, breathable, and actually waterproof (not just “water resistant”).

Don’t skimp on this. And don’t bring a $300 puffer jacket. You’re not aura farming. The goal is to keep any form of weather away from your body. It should also be warm, but not so warm that you can only wear it in cold weather. After all, hot and rainy is standard in the tropics.

There are many great options for this, but I personally recommend North Face or Super Dry.

Find a way to attach it to your backpack to save extra space.

Battery Pack

Minimum 20,000 mAh, fast charging is nice but optional. Don’t rely on finding outlets.

Canteen

Double-walled stainless steel is ideal. Not only will it keep liquids at the right temperature, but it also doubles as a blunt force weapon if anyone tried to mug you. If you would prefer to save space, collapsible water bottles are also an option, but they are far less resilient and you may be introducing microplastics to your diet. YMMV.

I recommend Hydro Flask, They are on the pricier side, but you get what you pay for.

Like the jacket, you should find a way to attach it to the exterior of your backpack.

Smart Phone with International Data

This is your lifeline. It will be your communication tool, your wallet, your travel agent, and your map.

Speaking of which: Offline maps and translation apps are mandatory. You do not know when your data will fail you. And it will eventually.

In addition, I highly recommend downloading a dictionary and phrasebooks for any language you know you will come across. In many countries, saying a few basic words will earn you a bit of respect and trust, even it it is just “Hello”, “Do you speak English?”, or “Too Expensive”.

Multitool

Knife, screwdriver, wine bottle opener, nail file – you’ll use it more than you think. Practical, compact, and infinitely more useful than a hunting knife (see below).

Universal Travel Adapter

A lot of people forget this until they’re staring at a dead device in a new country. I highly recommend bringing at least two. And I want to emphasize this:

DO NOT BUY THEM AT THE AIRPORT

I paid $40 for a single universal travel adapter at an airport kiosk once. The second time I used it, the fuse blew out and it became an expensive brick. Meaning I was stuck in a foreign nation with a dying phone and no way to charge it. Find a decently rated adapter and buy two of them.

Passport + Digital + Physical Copies

Can’t emphasize this enough. Keep backups on the cloud and hidden physically.

Nice To Have

Laptop

If you want to get some work done while you are away, this is a necessity. It will also be of use for casual browsing or watching movies and TV. I recommend downloading some of your favorite content before you embark. Or waiting until you’re in a country that has a soft spot for digital piracy.

I’m not an Apple fanboy, but the MacBook Pro is surprisingly sturdy. Plus there are Apple Stores all over the world that can service your laptop if something goes wrong. It’s a decent travel companion. The biggest downside is that it iit costs 4 times the price of a different brand with similar specs.

Instead, I got myself an MSI Pulse gaming laptop, which has been an absolute joy. With a nice graphics card and an affordable price point, it offers the best of both worlds.

Analog Compass

I used to use AllTrails religiously on hikes. But after a few key failures, I no longer rely solely on it. It once showed that my location was in the ocean off the coast of Africa. Problem is, I was actually in the Lake District of England. It tends to behave erratically when you are outside the range of cell signals.

For most outdoor trips, a compass is perfectly sufficient. And it is stupidly simple to use. Are you lost? Were you heading south? Then you came from the north. Go back that way and you’ll end up where you started. Easy.

First Aid Kit

I have never used one of these in my life, but Murphy’s Law is cruel. I saw plenty of other travelers get minor injuries that could become serious without treatment. Like spraining an ankle or stepping on a rusty nail. When you’re outside the western world, you may be able to buy antibiotics or the good painkillers to throw in there as well. Start with the basics — band-aids, antiseptic, ibuprofen, compression tape. And if you like to eat street food in third world countries, do not skip the diarrhea meds. Those would have made my stay in Istanbul much better.

Kindle

Light, long battery life, no distractions. Download your books before you embark.

Make sure to stock it with both easy and challenging content.

Bonus points for stocking it with some audio books as well.

Earplugs + Eye Mask

Unless you’re one of those people that immediately goes comatose when they hit the bed, you will get woken up occasionally.

Alternative: White Noise Machine This is what I had instead. On the downside, it does take up more space, along with an outlet and travel adapter. But it’s worth it to fall asleep to whale sounds and rain instead of noise pollution.

Lacrosse Ball

After a long day of carrying a heavy backpack, you will be sore. You’ll need a massage. And it’s often difficult to find a spa in the middle of nowhere.

Luckily, a lacrosse ball is the perfect tool for a quick self massage. Loved by athletes for its simplicity, these balls are hard enough to roll out the tightest knots you have, but soft enough that they won’t hurt. Throw one in your bag and thank me later.

It’s pretty intuitive to figure out, but here’s a healthline article on the topic.

Alternative: Massage Gun

If you have extra space, then I highly recommend adding a massage gun to your bag. These devices are made for athletes to give a high quality massage with little effort.

There are many different brands, varying significantly in quality. If you’re willing to splurge, I suggest trying the Theragun. It is high enough quality to be of use to physical therapists. A solid alternative is Hypervolt, which caters more towards athletes and weight lifters.

Lightweight Towel

Dries fast, doesn’t take up space, can double as a blanket or curtain.

Douglas Adams was seriously into his towels. He basically wrote an entire book about how necessary towels are for a long journey. I’ll be honest, I didn’t take one with me. But I probably would have been better off if I had one. Occasionally, you will get wet. And when that happens, finding a way to dry off will be your highest priority.

You Don’t Need It

Shoes

Okay, obviously you need shoes, but I’ve seen too many travelers go overboard here.
Aside from the pair you’re wearing, you just need one backup. I recommend two pairs of minimalist trail running shoes. This was sufficient for a year of traveling and they are still going strong. I got some for ~$30/pair on Amazon.

Chances are, you don’t need dress shoes, hiking boots, slippers, crocs, or any other niche footwear.

And unless you’re constantly outdoors in sub-25°F weather, you don’t need cold weather shoes. Wool socks will keep you warm.

Sandals are optional for hot climates. I never use them, but many other travelers I met swear by them.

Tons of Cash

It’s worth having a little bit of local currency. Although cards and mobile payments work almost everywhere, you can often get deals or barter if you have paper money. But it’s also a liability. Many regions of the world have significantly higher crime rates than western countries, and westerners are easy targets. Carrying too much cash is risky and unnecessary

Toiletries (Too Many)

You need a toothbrush, toothpaste, and some deodorant. If you’ll be staying at hostels, you may need shampoo and soap, but they can be bought almost anywhere in the world. You don’t need sunscreen, face wash, moisturizer, retinol cream, make up, or anything of the sort. I met someone who packed half a backpack full such things. I don’t think they ended up using any of it. But they kept complaining their bag was too heavy and tried to get me to carry it for them. Please don’t do that.

DSLR Camera

We’ve all met someone who enjoys LARPing as a photographer, and more power to them. But DSLR cameras are expensive, high maintenance, and they take up a lot of space. Phone cameras are extremely good nowadays, to the point an amateur can take professional photos with ease. Just get yourself an iPhone, Galaxy, or Pixel and you’ll be extremely happy with your photography.

Travel Guides

I’m sure they were great in 2005. Now they’re outdated the moment they’re printed. You have Google Maps, Reddit, and ChatGPT. Save the space and look less like someone who’s about to get scammed.

Neck Pillows

Controversial take, but most travel neck pillows are more trouble than they’re worth. They waste space, rarely feel supportive, and are impossible to pack efficiently.

Unless you swear by yours, skip it. Use your jacket or hoodie instead.

Packing Cubes

People love these things. And yes, they make your bag look neat. But once you’ve pulled out the third one to find a T-shirt, your backpack becomes a garage sale in motion.

Unless you’re organizing for a specific purpose (like separating dirty laundry), they’re just fabric Tetris. Roll your clothes. Save the space.

Hunting Knife

I brought along a small Damascus steel hunting knife (holster included), and it’s by far the dumbest thing I packed. What the hell am I supposed to do with this? Skin a gazelle? I had this vague idea that I’d eventually need a blade for something, and I was right, but any practical application of a hunting knife could also be done by a multitool with 40 other gadgets included. Absolutely ridiculous. On the positive side though, some other travelers I met thought it was cool, so at least it started a conversation.

Unless you are literally on a safari, you are not on a safari. Stick with a multitool.

This goes for most other survivalist gear as well, including paracord, flint striker, survival rations, flares, etc. These all have their uses, but unless you’re planning on soloing the Alps, they will go unused.

Bonus Suggestions to Consider

• International Driver’s Permit - You can get away with renting a car or motorcycle without one in many countries. I know I did. But what happens if you’re in a collision? Are you willing to risk legal trouble because you’re not legally allowed to drive? In most areas it’s not a big deal, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Headlamp or Small Flashlight – Easier than a phone flashlight, and perfect for a late night hike or cave exploration.
• Dry Bag - As stated previously: you will get wet. I don’t know when. I don’t know why. But it will happen. Most electronics nowadays like phones or smartwatches will be fine in a downpour. Especially if they are in your waterproof jacket. But when your clothes get wet, you will want an isolated container to stick them in so they don’t soak your precious cargo. Consider keeping a spare change of clothes in this bag, and swapping them out in the event you get soaked.
• Sunglasses - I brought a pair of Oakleys with me, and they’ve been invaluable. However, in general, I’d advise against bringing designer lenses. Not only do they make you stand out more, but they’re incredibly easy to lose. I’m surprised I haven’t lost mine yet. It’s much smarter to bring a low budget pair you can afford to lose or break.