Carry-on
Yes, it's expensive. But it's brilliant. I sometimes have work related travel and need to carry a suit. This bag has a built-in suit compartment for carrying your suits without creasing. Other than that, it's a high quality expandable bag. Plus has a place to add a engraved nameplate. And it's a name brand. So yeah.
But keep in mind, my backpack is also carry on sized. So if there is no formal event, my backpack goes on the trip.
LapTOP BAG
Tumi Alpha Bravo Andersen Slim
Again, expensive. I know. This bag has a 'add-a-bag' sleeve section so it slides onto my carry-on and behaves as one piece. Build quality is exceptionally high. Carries my computer, occasionally my camera, and all my cables and documents. Looks good.
TOILETRY BAG
This is the cream of the crop when it comes to toiletry bags. Definitely expensive, but TUMI products are extremely high quality. It has a hook to hang onto doorhandles or shower rods. I've had a cat scratch it during a surprise attack in Iceland. The bag doesn't even have a mark.
Watch
Suunto D6i Dive Computer and Compass
I really like this watch, dive computer and compass. I take it with me on all my trips. It's a very robust dive computer that fits on your wrist and looks like an ordinary watch. The diving algorithm is conservative and therefore, safe. It also has a built in compass with bearing lock making navigation both underwater and above water safer. It features a sapphire crystal glass ensuring that the screen won't scratch.
It also features wireless air integration. I have purchased the module but don't have my own first stage yet so have not had the opportunity to try it out. I'll write about it when I can in the future sometime.
LAPTOP
I have extensive experience using both PC and Mac. I know the haters are going to hate and I know I could get a PC with similar features for way cheaper. The screen resolution is poor. The specs are low. I know.
But the build quality is awesome, the battery life is fantastic, and the power brick doesn't look like something from the 1990's. It has an SD card slot for my camera, it has normal USB ports, it has bluetooth for my mouse and headphones, and it just works.
I have had no issues with using Lightroom on this computer. It does the trick for both work and play.
mouse
I was considering buying an Apple Mouse 2 for my Macbook Air 13.3". However, the price kept putting me off. I also own a Windows PC for editing so this mouse was a better fit.
Pros include: Very high build quality, works for both Mac and PC, has both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, excellent battery life, rechargeable, and works on ANY surface including glass
Cons include: still relatively expensive, no little slot to store the transponder like other Logitech mice (you don't need it if you have bluetooth in your machine), and no touch trackpad like the Apple Mouse
hard drive
This hard-drive I originally purchased for my Windows machine. When I got the Mac, it didn't work right away. I either had to format the drive to a Mac compatible format, or install a utility. What?
Seagate offers a free Paragon utility for Mac that makes it's hard drives read/write compatible even while NTFS formatted. Works like a charm, every time.
headphones
TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
I have two headphones I alternate my travels with. These TaoTronics are actually quite good. Much cheaper than the Bose equivalent. I used to have a pair of QC20 buds from Bose that stopped working. This pair has great noise cancellation, decent battery life, and a pass-through feature which disables the noise cancellation so you can hear announcements and traffic.
This is the ultimate is noise cancellation perfection. I had a set of QC15s that I loved for many years. I upgraded to the QC35s for two reasons.
1) The travel case for the QC15 was so large and awkwardly shaped that I found myself skipping them almost every time.
2) I wanted something bluetooth that I could wear around the airport and on the plane without having to worry about the wire every time I got up.
This set has better noise cancellation than previous generations and is extremely comfortable to wear. Highly recommended.
So when do I use which? Bose if I can fit it in my bag, TaoTronics for backpacking trips and pretty much always. The TaoTronics set doesn't ever leave my bag.
speaker
I love this portable speaker!
This speaker is great that it offers VERY good sound and is VERY loud with minimal distortion even when cranked up loud. I have used it outdoors, in the garage, camping, at the beach, near the pool (with accidental fall in), and in pretty much all my trips. Secondly, it's IP7 rated waterproof! I have dunked this speaker in a bucket and have got it sandy. You can wash it with soap and water without a worry (and it's recommended in the insert as well). It's also fall resistant for drops up to a meter.
The shape allows me to fit it into the water bottle pocket of my backpack while travelling. You can also place it in a lens slot in your camera bag. When swimming, I don't worry when handling this device with wet hands. If you tie one of those bobby things to the speaker (so that it doesn't sink if dropped in water) you can even take it in a canoe and listen to tunes. If you capsize, it'll continue playing on the surface.
Phone
This isn't a place for me to get into the entire Android vs Apple debate, but I've been fairly happy with my android phones. This is my 15th cellular device in my life and I've used everything from brick phones, flip phones, blackberries, iphones, to numerous android phones. For travel and photography, this phone is great. It takes good pictures, has a very nice display, excellent battery life, speedy performance, unlocked, and is nice to look at. I wasn't ready for the switch to USB-C as all my devices charge with micro-USB so this was a great choice for me.
I upgrade phones almost every year, and I keep my gear section updated so you may see this spot change quite often.
chargers
After recently migrating to the Apple world as far as computers go, I didn't like carrying around the Apple brick in addition to my USB wall charger. I really enjoy taking only the essentials with me and I have found that charging accessories take up a lot of space and weight in my bag. This thing is nice that it charges my computer but includes a port to charge everything else. Most things charge quickly but if I did need more ports, I plug my computer in and have two additional USB ports to charge from. PlugBug also includes all international travel adapters so you don't need to carry something separate.
There are a few countries (notably China) that limits your portable carry-on battery capacity. For this, I never recommend buying anything more than 10,000 mAh. I use the portable battery when I need more juice for my phone between flights or at the airport when it's not convenient to plug in. I have had this one for years with no issues.
I bring this bigger charger along when I know I'll be off-the-grid for an extended period of time such as during multi-day hikes. It's durable, slim, and works well. I like that you can press a button to observe the exact power remaining over the traditional 4-lights method which only tells you reserve power in increments of 25%.
wallet
Bellroy Leather Travel Wallet RFID
I travel fairly frequently and was looking for a wallet that's a) thin b) excellent quality c) has room for passport and some essential cards but not too much room (more on this later) d) very practical.
This wallet truly does it all. I have been looking at wallets from good brands such as TUMI and slim wallet companies like BASICS. Bellroy is an Australian company that focuses on minimalism with high build quality.
The leather is thin, but feels great in the hand. There is space for passport and 7-10 cards + cash which is perfect if you like to travel light. I personally travel with passport and 4 cards.
The awesome features? The built in pen! and built in SIM card holder! Customs forms are taken care of without having to find a pen and I usually change SIM cards whenever I travel so I can safely store my home SIM card with ease.
The stitching is very well done, and it's passed the test of time. If you travel frequently and enjoy travelling light, this is for you! I highly recommend!
Display adapter
Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter
Microsoft product on the same page as an Apple product? Hear me out. This adapter is actually awesome. How many times have you been to a hotel and realized that you couldn't be bothered watching the TV. The search for the right show, figuring out all the channels, finding out what's in English... So you just sit on the bed and watch something on your computer or phone when you have a 42" TV just sitting there.
Well plug this little guy in and boom, any TV becomes MirrorLink compatible. You don't need to connect to a wifi network like Chromecast. Just plug and mirror and you're set.
I always have this with me if there is a hotel stay in my itinerary.