My 2017 Gear List

This notebook is unreasonably expensive (otherwise it would get 5 stars). BUT! It's still the only notebook I'll buy for my daily journaling (one of the best habits I've ever created for myself).

I use it to track where I am, what I’m eating, how much I’m spending and highlights from the day. I also use it to keep track of travel recommendations, flight information, directions, etc.

Most say you can use your phone for this. However, I like the feeling of the physical pages, but more importantly, I don’t like to take out my phone in sketchy places to look for directions, which could signal to a potential thief I have something to steal

As you travel you’re going to need to write something down.

Directions, restaurants, adventures or customs forms (don't be that person filling out your form to the side of the line while it grows longer and longer).

It’s a pain to always be looking for a writing instrument.

I keep a daily journal, so I write every day. I like precision and writing small, which is why the ultra-fine (0.38mm) has been my go to. I go through about 6 pens per year so I buy them by the box.

You can use any wallet for this.

The idea here is to carry something that looks real, but if you get robbed or pick-pocketed, you don’t lose much.

Fill the wallet with old hotel keycards, business cards, etc. and then put 10 one dollar bills and no more than $50 dollars worth of the local currency.

This gives you easy access to daily cash, so you don’t have to get it from a hidden money-belt and is a great decoy in case you are robbed you have something to give your assailants. 

Note: You can make your own or buy one from Decoy Wallet. You can read this guest post by Chris, the founder of the company, on how he used kickstarter to start this business to fund his travels.

I use the Fitbit to track my steps throughout the day to help me better track my diet.

It’s also great for tracking sleep and it’s fun to see how far you walk while exploring during a trip.

I take a lot of high resolution photos so having an external HDD is essential to keep all of them.

This one is slim enough that I can fit it in my money belt if I’m in a sketchy area and worried about keeping all of my photo memories safe.

I also have a backup in the cloud using Backblaze, which is unlimited cloud backup for $5/month.

It’s very important for me to have a way to connect to the internet. It allows me to do research on a new area before showing up, stay in contact with friends/family back home (and new friends I meet on the road) and book places to stay. I also use it for my alarm, flashlight and as a going-out/quick camera when I don’t want to bring out my nice camera.

Whether you have a smartphone, tablet or laptop, it doesn’t matter, but I think you should have at least one while you’re traveling for extended periods.

The unlocked version allows me to get a new SIM card in any country so I can use the phone without WI-FI. I HIGHLY recommend this option if you’re a frequent traveler.

This tripod is nice to have if you’re traveling solo. You can set it up by wrapping it around trees, poles or just setting it on the ground and it’s much smaller than a traditional tripod.

However, I'll probably be getting rid of it pretty soon as it doesn't work with the bag setup I have above, which means if I want to use the tripod I have to do a lot of screwing and unscrewing to get the new plates in.

These are my go-to pants if I'm having one of those days where I don't feel like leaving the apartment or if I'm going on an outdoor adventure. 

They are longer than normal shorts and the back pocket comes with a zipper, which is key in big cities. ​

Having at least one nice shirt with a collar comes in handy from time to time and I've been really digging the ones by Mizzen + Main.

This thing NEVER gets wrinkled so it never needs to be ironed or taken to the dry cleaners. It's made from a lightweight athletic style material so it dries quickly and doesn't get all sweaty.

Don't know how they do it, but this is an awesome dress shirt for traveling.  ​

After how much I enjoyed the dress shirt I decided to try some more of Mizzen and Main's stuff. Their henleys are stylish and I like the way they fit. However, they are made out of different material so they don't dry as quickly as the dress shirts. 

Even though it's different material, they also NEVER get wrinkled and are still super breathable. 

I have two of them and will likely get a third soon. 

This is my second pair of these as the first pair got a hole in them rather quickly. Too quickly.

However, I sent Mizzen and Main a picture of the hole and they sent me a replacement pair for free.

Besides that, these pants are great. They have the best fit and are quick drying and breathable. They also don’t need to be ironed or dry cleaned—a travelers dream!

Also, these pants require professional hemming, so keep that in mind. It means you get a pair of pants that fit perfectly, but require extra time to get them that way.

Right now I'm still traveling with the Icebreaker Men's Rover Long Sleeve Hoodie. However, Icebreaker has discontinued this model and updated it to the "Quantum" hoodie.

This hoodie is all I carry for cold weather gear. It’s perfect for those early morning or late night outings when it gets chilly. It’s made from Merino Wool, so I’ll even wear it when it’s hot outside instead of putting on sunscreen, which is nice when you’re in a country where sunscreen is hard to find (and ultra-expensive).

The hood makes it great for sleeping in public. I’ll put it on backwards and pull the hood up over my face. Since it’s ultra-breathable I never feel like I’m suffocating.

Fitness has become a priority for me so it's important for me to have a pair of workout/running shorts.

There's nothing too special about these and any running shorts will do if you're looking for something to workout in while you're traveling.​

A hat is right on the brink of needed and not. 

But, if you do a lot of hiking and outdoor activities it’s a must. This my friends is the dad hat of dad's hats.

The back unrolls for full ear and neck protection, which is huge if you are fair-skinned like I am and don’t want to deal with sunscreen all the time.

It also dries quickly and can fold up without damaging the brim.

Brown and black belt in one. Not the highest quality of belt but it does the trick for what’s needed.

I still haven't found the perfect combination of dress shoe and active shoe. So for now I travel with two pairs of shoes. 

I have grey dress pants, which is why I picked these. However, most of the time I wear these with the Nike pants above or when I'm working out. ​

​You don't really need dress shoes if you're doing more backpack style traveling, but as I work while traveling I find myself in more situations where I want something nicer than sneakers. 

Unfortunately for you I had these custom made for me while I was in Mexico by Goodbye Folk so you won't be able to buy a pair if you want the same ones.

You'll just have to take a trip to Mexico City or pick a different pair from their website if you like their style.

This Lulu Lemon bag is 26L, and has some features I like: a rain cover, top and back access to main compartment, and a separate bottom pocket for better organization.

What I don't like about it is that it doesn't have a hidden water bottle holder and the straps on the back are made to hold a yoga mat and are poorly designed to hold anything else. 

​Note: Lululemon has discontinued production for this bag. You can still find them on Amazon though. However, I wouldn't highly recommend this bag (I've only given it a 3 star rating. I'd recommend the Tom Bihn Smart Alec (previous bag) and also the Minnal Daily Bag, which is what I'll probably be getting next. 

I've had this since the beginning and it's a great and durable pouch.

I use it to store my external HDD.

I've had these since the beginning and they are great for organization.

The small holds: Kikkerland travel adapter, Sony battery charger, iPhone charging cable, USB Drive and Fitbit charger.

The medium pouch holds: copy of passport, driver’s license, extra pens and other travel documents.