Digital Nomad Essentials: 12 Tools to Simplify Your Location Independent Lifestyle
If you have been dreaming of traveling the world but are having a hard time knowing exactly what to pack in your bag, you aren’t alone.
Maybe you are still just dreaming and aren’t exactly sure where you are going to be traveling yet. It is also possible that you have already chosen your destinations and are getting ready to pack up for your adventure.
Either way, having these ten essential items with you is going to help you avoid some major pitfalls and make your life a whole lot easier on the road.
If you are a digital nomad or going on a long-term backpacking trip around the world, consider taking these items with you to make your life a whole lot easier on the road.
1. A Backpack That Fits Everything You Need
If you have never traveled with a backpack before, it may seem impossible to fit all of your travel belongings in such as small space. However, using a backpack can be extremely useful, simplify your travels, and allow you much more mobility for exploring off-the-beaten-path locations.
My favorite travel backpack is the Osprey Fairview Travel Pack and it goes everywhere with me. It is ergonomically designed to support your back and is very comfortable – even when walking a fair distance.
2. Packing Cubes
When you are traveling for a long period of time, it can be almost impossible to keep your bag organized and remember which clothes are clean, which are dirty, and it can even be a struggle to find your outfit for the day.
With packing cubes, you are able to stay organized, sort your clothes so you always know what is where, and keep the dirty clothes from stinking up your clean clothes.
There are many different kinds of packing cubes depending on their use – some packing cubes are specifically for shoes, others for laundry, others for clothes, etc. They also come in different sizes which allows you to put different kinds of clothing in different packing cubes.
3. Water Bottle with a Filter
There’s nothing like being dehydrated in another country. That is why this item is so important and is something that is critical to keeping you healthy along your travels.
You may have planned on bringing just any water bottle with you, but there is one water bottle in particular that is going to save you and the environment as well.
This is a water bottle with a filter as a straw. This means you can fill up anywhere and drink safely. This is especially important while traveling since you can never be sure if the drinking water is safe or not. With this special water bottle, you will never have to worry, think twice, and you will never find yourself dehydrated abroad.
4. ATM Fee Free Debit Cards (and extra debit/credit cards too)
This item is one that so many people miss and will save you hundreds of dollars along your travels. ATM fees can add up extremely quickly. It is possible to get charged $5-$15 to pull cash out of an ATM when you are abroad, but with this hack, you will pay 0 fees, save TONS of money, be able to visit the ATM whenever you need, and not feel like you need to pull tons of cash out of the ATM each time you visit simply not to pay more fees.
Get yourself a few fee free ATM debit cards. SoFi and Revolut are two of the best, they are free, and easy to sign up for. I suggest getting more than one in case one gets lost or stolen, then you have a backup card as well.
5. Small Discreet Coin Purse/Wallet
In your home country, you may be used to wearing a cute purse or carrying your favorite fancy wallet. I highly urge you to leave your nice purse or wallet at home and get something discreet to hold your money in small enough to fit in your pocket. This will help you blend in, not look like a target, and generally stay safer along your travels.
By the way, I am not suggesting you use a money belt (this generally also screams tourist). Find something just small enough to fit some cash, your cards, and your ID, that can be easily tucked away in your pocket.
6. Locks of Different Sizes
Locks are an absolute essential to bring with you while traveling. You never know when someone is going to be tempted to reach in your bag and take your most prized possessions. Keeping a lock on your bag can easily deter someone who otherwise would have gone digging for gold.
It is great to have locks with you for other reasons as well. If you plan on staying in hostels or doing a workaway, you may be using shared spaces where there are lockers and when you already have your own lock with you, you are set to go.
Bring a few locks of different sizes for different situations. I always carry one large lock, one medium lock, and 3 small locks.
7. Portable Battery Charger
There is nothing like landing in a new country, being disoriented, and having a dead phone. Always keep a portable battery charger with you so that you can stay connected, use maps, and be able to call someone if help is needed. Having a charged phone can also come in handy to order taxis such as Ubers or contact your accommodation if you are having a hard time finding them when you first arrive.
8. Noise Cancelling Headphones
Along your travels you are going to be on a lot of planes, trains, and buses. Bring your favorite noise-canceling headphones with you so you can enjoy your favorite music and podcasts along your journey.
A great pair of headphones will also most likely come in handy for video calls back home to friends and family as well as work calls if you will be working remotely while traveling.
9. Rocketbook
This is one of my very favorite items that I have with me so I had to put it on this list and share it with you.
A Rocketbook is not just any old notebook – it is a dry-erase notebook. This especially comes in handy on the road where carrying heavy notebooks with you isn’t going to be feasible. Especially if you are going to be working remotely while traveling, having something lightweight where you can keep organized and take notes on comes in handy.
Once you are done taking notes, you can scan the QR code of the page and upload it into the app to keep track of all of your notes.
Don’t forget to get a few Frixon pens to go with your book as this book doesn’t work with regular pens.
10. Kindle
The last item on our list is a Kindle. If you are considering taking even one book with you along for your adventure, I highly recommend against it (unless you don’t mind leaving it behind for someone else along the way). Books are HEAVY and will weigh you down.
I know this can be a tough pill to swallow if you are an avid reader, especially because there’s nothing that compares to the feeling of reading a physical book. The good news is that you will encounter many interesting libraries and book stores along your journey (they just might not have the books you want to read and they might not be in English).
If you are someone who likes to read (or you think you might want to read in your downtime along your travels), I highly recommend getting a Kindle so that you can have all of the books you could ever want to read at the palm of your hand, on-demand.
That wraps it up for ten essential items to simplify your world travels. If I missed any items or you have items you’d like that you found useful along your travels, please share with us in the comments below!
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