What We Use

Earned Its Spot

Everything here has been through airports, hostels, and one too many overnight buses with us. Nothing made this list because a brand sent it to us. It’s here because we bought it, used it, and would buy it again.

Our actual backpacks and gear, laid out

Cheap vs. Chosen

We didn’t always spend more on gear. Here’s what changed our minds.

Replace it every trip

Our early gear was picked by price alone. It usually worked, until it didn’t, right when we needed it most. Zippers failed mid-trip, straps gave out, and we ended up buying a replacement abroad anyway, at a worse price than if we’d just bought well the first time. Our first packing cubes were exactly this: the zippers split within a few trips, and we were back to stuffing clothes in loose.

Buy it once

Everything on this page has survived multiple trips without needing to be replaced. It usually costs more upfront. It’s cost us far less over time, and a lot fewer bad moments mid-trip. The compression packing cubes we use now are a good example: real compression zippers that actually hold, and after dozens of packing sessions, still zip shut the first time.

What’s In Our Kit

Pick a category to see what we actually carry, wear and rely on.

Backpacks & Bags

What actually holds up to daily abuse on the road: hauled through airports, thrown under buses, and packed way past what it was designed for.

  • Osprey backpack comboOur 44 L main backpack, plus a 15 L extra backpack as a second bag.We travel with this combo, and it has held up well for us.

Camera & Tech

What we actually use to capture the trip and keep it backed up, from the camera itself down to the cable we’d be lost without.

Capture

  • DJI action cameraOur action camera for filming on the move.We film with it, and it has served us well.
  • iPhoneOur phones for photos, video and everything in between.We shoot and edit a lot with our phones, and they have served us well.

Work & fitness

  • MacBookOur laptops for working and editing on the road.We use them for work and editing, and they have served us well.
  • Apple WatchOur fitness trackers.We use them to track our fitness on the go.

Power & connection

  • Power banksFrom Amazon, so the phones keep going on long travel days.A must on long travel days, and ours have served us well.
  • TP-Link MiFiA mobile Wi-Fi hotspot with its own connection, managed with the tpMiFi app. Handy when you want a Wi-Fi network you control on the road.It gives us our own Wi-Fi network on the road, which matters when we work online. It has served us well.

Audio

  • AirPodsOur in-ear headphones.We use them daily on the road.
  • JBL on-ear headphonesOur on-ear pair.Our on-ear pair, and we are happy with them.

Footwear

The shoes and sandals that survive climates and cobblestones alike, and the one pair we always regret not bringing.

  • SalomonAdTrail-ready shoes and gear for hikes like Acatenango.We wear Salomon on hikes and trails, and it has served us well.
  • adidas TerrexOutdoor shoes for hiking and trails.Our outdoor shoes for hikes and trails, and we are happy with them.
  • New Balance 520Our everyday sneakers.Our everyday sneakers, and we like wearing them.

Apps We Rely On

Translation, offline maps, currency conversion, and the rest of what’s actually on our home screens while traveling.

Stay connected

  • AiraloAdLand, connect, go. An eSIM means no hunting for a SIM card at the airport. New customers save 15% on their first eSIM (up to $10 off).A popular eSIM provider with data plans for most countries. We have not used it ourselves yet, the eSIM we use is Ubigi.Code for the US and Canada: MYFIRSTAIRALO. Code for Europe: NEWTOAIRALO15.Offer terms are set by Airalo.
  • UbigiAdeSIM data plans for travelers: set it up before you fly and stay connected when you land.Our eSIM of choice. We have tested it repeatedly and been very happy with it.
  • NordVPNAdPublic Wi-Fi in hostels, cafes and airports is convenient. A VPN adds a layer of protection while you are on it.We use it on hostel and cafe Wi-Fi and it has served us well. We work online while traveling, so that extra layer matters to us.

Get around

  • Google MapsMaps and navigation, with offline maps for places where the signal is weak.We use it almost daily on the road and have found it dependable.
  • UberRide-hailing in many cities, handy when you do not know the local taxi situation.We use it where it is available and find it convenient when we arrive somewhere new.

Money

  • WiseAdHold and send money in multiple currencies, handy when your income and expenses live in different countries.We are a US-German couple, so money moves between countries and currencies for us. Wise has served us well for that.Also for: USD · GBP
  • PayPalOnline payments and transfers for paying people and services across borders.We use it for payments and transfers when it is the easiest option, and it has worked well for us.
  • TravelSpendA budget and expense tracker made for travel, so you can see where the money goes on the road.We use it to keep an eye on our travel budget, and it has worked well for us.

On the road

  • VeriFLYA free app that helps you check your travel documents before a flight, with supported airlines and destinations.We have used it for document checks before flights and found it helpful.
  • NomadtableAn app that connects travelers nearby for meetups, activities and future trips.We use it to meet other travelers, and it has worked well for us.
  • Too Good To GoBuy surplus food from restaurants and shops at a lower price, instead of it going to waste.We use it to save money and food while traveling, and we like it.

Booking Platforms

Where we actually book flights, stays, and activities, and which ones we’ve stopped using after one too many issues.

Flights

  • SkyscannerAdCompare flights and stays in one place, then book with the provider you prefer.We use it to compare flights and spot options early, and it has served us well.
  • KayakA travel search engine for flights, stays and rental cars that compares prices across many sites.We use it for comparing flights and stays, and it has worked well for us.
  • CHECK24A German comparison portal for flights, hotels, rental cars and more.We use it for comparing travel offers, and it has served us well.

Miles & points

  • United MileagePlusAdEarn miles on United flights and put them toward future trips.We collect miles with United when it fits the route, and it has served us well.
  • Southwest Rapid RewardsAdEarn points on Southwest flights and use them toward future trips.We collect points with Southwest when it fits the route.
  • Air France KLM Flying BlueAdOne program for Air France and KLM: earn miles on flights and use them on future trips. Handy when you travel to and from Europe.We use Flying Blue when we fly with Air France or KLM.

Stays & hosts

  • Booking.comA large booking platform for hotels, apartments and other stays.One of our regular stops for finding stays, and it has served us well.
  • AirbnbApartments, rooms and homes from local hosts, often handy for longer stays.We use it for apartments and homes, and it has served us well.
  • Luxury EscapesAdCurated luxury stays and trips, for the occasional splurge.We look here when we want a treat, and it has been a good experience.
  • WorldpackersA platform that matches travelers with hosts for volunteer and work-exchange stays.We use it to find hosts and work-exchange stays, and it has worked well for us.

Activities & research

  • GetYourGuideA marketplace for tours, tickets and activities around the world.We use it to book tours and activities, and it has been reliable for us.
  • TripadvisorTraveler reviews and rankings for places to stay, eat and visit.We use it to check reviews and get ideas before we decide.

Everyday Essentials

The small stuff that never gets its own spotlight but would genuinely ruin a trip if forgotten.

  • Our Amazon storefrontComing soon: our gear and everyday essentials, all in one place.

Links marked “Ad” are affiliate links. If you book or buy through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That never decides what makes this list.

Before You Ask

Does “worth the money” just mean “expensive”?

No. Some of what’s on this page is genuinely cheap and still holds up fine. The point isn’t spending more, it’s not gambling on something that fails you mid-trip. Sometimes the $15 option wins, sometimes it doesn’t.

Why isn’t everything you own listed here?

Because most of what we own is unremarkable and does its job without a story worth telling. This page is for the stuff that actually changed how we pack or travel, not a full inventory.

What happens when you find something better?

The old thing gets replaced on this page, not just quietly ignored. If we switch, we’ll tell you why, including if the thing we used to recommend let us down.

Curious what actually makes it into our bags in the first place?

See our packing lists

Know what to bring. Now know where to go.

Our guides cover the routes we’ve actually traveled, with the same honest approach as everything else here.

See our guides