18 Things I Can’t Travel Without in 2022 // Gear
2022 will be one of my busiest travel years on record, with visits to 13 different countries between Jan 1 and Dec 31. Traveling to so many different places with various climates, cultures, and technology, I’ve realized that my “Cannot Travel Without” list (see 2021’s list here) needs an update. If you’re looking to travel in the coming year, I hope this helps you! And maybe this will become annual, who knows?
Gear
1. All the tech
Working in tech and needing to process photos and videos everywhere I go, I never leave home without my gear, including my phone (obviously), my Macbook (usually for work and photo editing), and my iPad Pro (for watching movies and also work). I mentioned this in 2021’s blog post, but we my iPad to download Netflix/Amazon Prime shows we want to watch offline, then connect 2 Airpods to the iPad simultaneously, which is possible with iOS 14+. We also use this trick to listen to podcasts or music together on our iPhones.
M just got the new iPhone 14 because his battery was giving out, and the camera quality is definitely superior to my 12 mini, so we use his phone for more of the videos we take when we don’t have our camera with us.
2. Airpods Pro
This one is so special it has to be called out from the tech section. I cannot leave home (let alone travel) without these things. I use these for blocking out baby noises on the airplane, listening to books or podcasts on the road, and for meetings throughout my work day.
I have the first generation, but M just got the 2nd generation, which has better noise cancelation and audio quality, and they have Find My tech that tracks them like AirTags. For M, this is a game changer. He was (and still is) constantly losing his Airpods (frequently because they blend in with our white sheets), so he upgraded over Black Friday and has used Find My twice in the three days he’s owned them. No regrets. They’re currently cheaper on Amazon than on Apple.
3. Multi-Unit Charger
This 200W USB C 6-port charger is a gamechanger. It is powerful enough for us to charge 2 Macbooks, a camera, an iPad, and 2 iPhones, all at the same time, and using only 1 outlet. Especially when traveling internationally, needing many outlets for your different charging needs means carrying or buying multiple adapters, and this eliminates the need for 5 of them. It is also a very fast charger, and if you only have an iPhone plugged in, it charges it in half the time of a regular iPhone brick.
4. Universal Adapter with USB ports
When you’re traveling to one region or country, it’s usually ok to bring a simple adapter. But if you’re transiting, or only have one-way tickets booked, or traveling in uncertain times like Covid, it can be good to carry a Universal Adapter to give you flexibility, even though it’s slightly bulkier than a region/country-specific one.
On our honeymoon, we visited 3 different regions (Hungary, Maldives, and Philippines), that each had potentially unique outlets, making a universal adapter by far the best way to go.
We also like to travel as light as possible, and the adapter with USB ports makes charging both phones much easier than needing additional adapters for each brick.
5. SSD Hard Drive
We upgraded our SSD hard drive this year, and it has made a shockingly large difference in my editing life. We have a NAS at home, and many many hard drives, but the only one we bring traveling is this SSD. It weighs less, it writes stupidly fast, and it stores more. It’s just a better solution. Its cable is also USB-C on both ends, which I really appreciate.
We used to travel with 2 SSD drives to have a backup, and would recommend that system if you’re paranoid. Now, we just carry one and back it up to our NAS when we get home.
6. AirTags
With all the craziness at airports this year, having an AirTag in each of our luggages and backpacks has given us such peace of mind. My dad got them for us for Christmas last year, and wow, he was ahead of his time. They are so easy to use and the battery lasts for about a year. We’ve even used them at home when we couldn’t find a backpack once (it was hidden under a large storage unit we have).
Health
7. Green Superfood Powder Supplements
Every day we’re at home we drink Athletic Greens, and honestly, they should sponsor us. We’ve been drinking it for over a year, and it has made a huge difference in our gut and overall health. Neither of us love the flavor and think anyone who says they do is lying to you, but it’s healthy, and when drank cold is tolerable.
Unfortunately, the Athletic Greens travel packets were not designed to be used on the road. They come in square packets, about 3in x 3in, and the powder already gets everywhere when you scoop it — it’s even worse when sprinkling from these packets. So when we travel, we use Organifi, which is slightly cheaper and has packets that are 1.5in x 3in or so. Organifi does have matcha in it (I try to avoid caffeine in my green drinks), but the caffeine content is quite small, so M promises me.
8. Electrolytes (LMNT)
We don’t drink very often when we’re at home, but when we travel, we like to try local wines and cocktails. But this often leaves us dehydrated and asking for a hangover the next day, even if we only have a cocktail each for dinner. In these cases, after dinner we’ll make an LMNT, which saves us from wasting the next day. Honestly, probably the biggest game changer from this list this year.
The variety pack is very interesting, and now includes flavors it didn’t previously (like Raspberry salt), which I would love to try. The classic Citrus salt is my favorite. We also only use half a packet for 12oz of water because it is very, very salty, then save the other half for another day.
An alternative to this is Liquid IV, but Illuminate Labs recommends LMNT because it has a better formulation.
9. Medical kit
This is pretty standard, but I always bring a super basic medical kit when I travel. A few Vitamin C packs, a few bandaids (mostly in case of blisters), and Ibuprofen. M also brings “Zyrtec” and sleeping pills. We also bring a Tide To Go Pen, which is medical adjacent — emergency.
10. Water bottle
I hate running out of water when traveling. Whether it’s a road trip or a flight, I will always try to refill my bottle every chance I get. Of course, everywhere I go I check that tap water can be drank (I’ve been food poisoned before), but it’s so much better for the earth (and economical) than buying a plastic water bottle everywhere. I also tend to leave a little bit of water even when I’m almost out, just in case I am choking or having a coughing fit.
I recently lost my favorite water bottle, and none of the many free swag water bottles in our house are cutting it. I have friends who swear by Klean Kanteen, Italic, and Owala, but I’ve never tried them.
Clothing
11. Great Walking shoes
For a full review of great walking sandals, read my 2021 Travel List. The summary of that is that I ultimately decided on the Cole Haan Mandy Thong Sandals, and did not for a moment regret my decision. I didn’t get a single blister wearing them (aka no break-in time), and I could have kept walking, despite the many miles every day. I have since tripped in them, digging a hole in them, and will be re-purchasing them. That’s how much I love them.
I basically swear by Naturalizer for dress shoes and Cole Haan for everything else, although I do think that Cole Haan’s quality has been a bit hit or miss recently. M also only wears Cole Haan’s.
A year and a half after owning my curling iron, including having to replace the barrel after the cord was accidentally burned by a cleaning lady in Costa Rica, I can definitely say I love this thing. I prefer clamps to wands, and this curling iron makes my hair hold for days, even without product. I’m a big fan. I also like that it splits so I can pack it in a more rectangular shape vs a full rod, which would probably snap in my suitcase…
13. Sunglasses
Ask M — I can’t go anywhere bright without sunglasses. Since I was little, my mom has drilled into me that it’s important to protect your eyes, especially when driving, so whenever I drive during the day, I wear sunglasses. My pair are from a really cute store in Lisbon called Ale-Hop, and they were only 10€. I’m a huge fan of these and these, though!
14. Eye Mask
I am usually able to sleep ok on flights, but adding an eye mask has helped a lot, particularly for red eyes where they randomly turn lights on and off for food, or various other cabin-related happenings. I use one I got a business flight, but this and this are options I’d look into if I needed a new one. In particular, I like ones that have a slight bulge for your eye, so that if you’re wearing makeup it doesn’t get all smudged under the mask, so while this one is pretty, it doesn’t fit that criteria.
15. Scarf
If my trip is long enough for a suitcase, I pack a scarf. A thin one for beach vacations (almost like a sarong), and a thicker one for trips in the spring or autumn, and a blanket scarf if the weather forecast is 60°F or below.
Misc
16. Travel Credit Cards and a Debit Card
We travel with primarily 2 credit cards: the Amex Platinum, and the Chase Reserve.
We decided against getting a personal Amex Platinum for years because the annual fee is so high (now $695/year), and because we felt the Reserve did a great job for us. But the benefits of booking through amextravel.com with the Platinum more than paid for itself last year. At the two hotels we booked using this card, we got upgraded from rooms to suites, and had breakfast covered for free (~30€ each person), plus 85€ in credits to use at each hotel. And of course the card includes Amex lounges at select airports around the world, including JFK, one of our home airports. This year, with longer trips and more expensive hotel rates (last year was seriously amazing for traveling), we haven’t used it as much, so we’ll see if we keep it next year.
We also carry a debit card to take out cash as necessary, and definitely recommend this, especially if you’re traveling to a country that doesn’t really use credit cards. Pro tip: only use ATM’s from banks. Independent ATM’s set their fees, which can be absurdly high, and they’re less secure than ATM’s at a bank.
17. Passport & Documents Carrier
Passports are so easy to lose amidst all the shuffling in airports and planes, so I always keep both our passports in my travel wallet. I’ve owned my Vera Bradley travel wallet for years (similar here and here), but am considering getting a leather one like this or this.
18. Digital copies of our passports & other important documents
More a travel tip than anything, but I keep digital copies of all important (travel and life) documents because you never know what might happen on the road. These documents include passports, driver’s license, any necessary visas, Covid tests, and anything else needed to get into the country. We have had to check into a hotel with only a digital copy of a passport before (read more about it in last year’s packing list)!
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For everything else we travel with, visit my Gear page, where I list all of the gear we carry to shoot and edit.