We've been constantly traveling around the world for the past 5 years to over 80 countries. So after constantly packing for so many different adventures, we've managed to get our Travel packing checklist down to a science.

It's not always easy to know what to pack, whether packing for a short vacation or for long-term world travel. Yet after much trial & error, we've developed the best travel packing checklist for us. And even though our travels span from rugged backpacking trips across South America to luxury cruises across the world's oceans, really our packing list doesn't change much. Travel is travel, and we've figured out the best gear to be comfortable when venturing out into the world.

We now hope you can use this Travel Packing Checklist, gear recommendations, packing tips, and travel product reviews while preparing for your next trip.

This version of our Ultimate Travel Packing Checklist was last updated February, 2019 after packing our bags to roam around Ecuador and beyond!

A critical component to packing for world travel is versatility, which you'll find is a constant theme throughout this travel packing list.

But we're also keen on functionality and value. Many of the items in this travel packing checklist have been carefully selected because of the value they bring in combination with the practicality they deliver. We almost never pick the most expensive travel gear available. If you're looking for the best gear at high prices, you won't find it here. Instead, this travel packing list suggests items that provide the best usage for the money spent. This is a travel packing list for those who appreciate great value!

This travel packing checklist contains all of the items that we are currently roaming around the world with and personally recommend. We personally own every one of these items unless it's otherwise stated that we have a similar item. Most of this travel gear can be easily purchased on Amazon, an affiliate of ours, and is where we do most of our travel gear shopping. Whenever we're back home in the US, we always stock up using the free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime.

You can use this link to get a 30-Day Free Trial to Amazon Prime, then just cancel before 30 days if you'd like. It's a nice way to get Prime (and 2-day shipping) completely for free!

We hope you find this travel pack list and packing tips helpful, whether gearing up for a trip around the world or a quick weekend jaunt!

Outdoor & Adventure Packing List

Although we're constantly adventuring around the world, we don't travel around with a huge assortment outdoor gear. We leave behind all the bulky items, as we find that you can typically rent them in most destinations.

Unless you're planning to camp for the majority of a trip, it makes more sense to rent gear such as tents, camp stoves, and climbing harnesses along the way. We've had no problems renting camping gear throughout Africa, New Zealand, South America and more. For us, it's proved to be worth the expense in order not to lug such heavy equipment around the world.

Instead, we recommend limiting your adventure travel packing list to only to the items that you will use regularly and are fairly compact. Here is the outdoor gear on our travel packing list that we regularly use.

Quick-Dry Travel Towel

We're always getting wet on adventures, so towels are key. You don't want anything heavy or bulky, so having something lightweight is a must for a travel towel. "Quick-drying" is likewise an important feature, so it's not damp when you repack it. We like this lightweight, quick-dry travel towel.

Monkey Mat

As seen on the TV show Shark Tank, these Monkey Mats always gives you a clean & dry place to sit anywhere in the world. It's waterproof, sand proof, and has weighted corners which makes it great for beaches. But we like it because it's super small and compact, so it never takes up much space.

Lifestraw

You never know what situations you may wind up in where you can't drink the water. This is great to have on hand for backcountry trekking. But it's not just for use in an emergency in some remote destination. We first used our Lifestraw when arriving to our apartment in Quito in the middle of the night, when all the stores were closed. You can't drink the tap water, but our Lifestraw allowed us to do so. Travel with a Lifestraw and nearly all water around the world then becomes drinkable!

Headlamp

We couldn't travel without a headlamp. It's not just for caving. This can serve as an everyday flashlight, allow you to read at night when your partner wants the lights out and it gives you the ability to do anything at night handsfree. This was critical for us when we had to cook in the night while touring Africa. Here's a great basic headlamp for under $10 or go for this heavier-duty version.

Waterproof Your Phone

We almost never go outside without our Phone. But it often becomes susceptible to rain, the ocean, splashes by the pool, the mist of a raging waterfall, and even water gun fights. Whenever in one of those situations, we're always armed with a waterproof case to keep it dry. This JOTO Waterproof Cell Phone case not only protects phones from splashes but you can even take it snorkeling down to 100 feet! We can personally vouch for it but if you don't want to take our word, check out the 25,000+ glowing reviews on Amazon. We saw similar products being sold out at local outdoor retailers for $35, so we're impressed that they keep the price point under $10. It's a small yet wise investment to protect a pricey smartphone.

Compact Travel Umbrella

You can't just waterproof your phone. If traveling anywhere with a chance of rain, it's best to pack a compact travel umbrella like this. It takes up little space in luggage, is lightweight (Check prices and reviews.

Powerful LED Pocket Flashlight

A small yet powerful travel flashlight is an indispensable piece of gear for any traveler to find your way back on dark streets, search for something under the bed, or to use while camping in the middle of nowhere. We think this LE Adjustable Focus Mini LED Flashlight is the best and most powerful small flashlight you can buy for under $10. We love the strong beam that ours emits.

Mask & Snorkel

We always travel with our masks. Many beaches around the world have reefs right offshore, providing for hours of a free activity ...if you have a mask. Otherwise, you'll constantly have to rent one or miss out altogether. It's not only for reefs though. There are some unique snorkeling opportunities inland too. We've used our masks in Lake Malawi in central Africa, snorkeling in crystal clear lakes in the high Andes mountains of Patagonia, and the underground cenotes found in Mexico's interior. This US Divers Mask & Snorkel is a fantastic mask, particularly so for its low price.

A Dry Bag

If you're ever traveling over water by ferries or taking day trips on a boat in which you need your camera or a towel, then you absolutely need a dry bag to keep your belongings from getting wet. Dry bags are also great to throw in your backpack if you're roaming around town on a rainy day with a camera or other electronics. A 10-liter dry bag is a perfect size for our needs. A dry bag with a strap is essential to carry it on the go. This Odyssey Waterproof Dry Bag ticks all those boxes, has a good price, and a consistent track record of positive reviews.

A Good Multitool & Pocket Knife

These are invaluable on the road. The knife, scissors, saw, corkscrew, and bottle opener always seems to come in handy. Be sure to pack this in your stowed luggage though, as it will definitely be confiscated if you carry it onto flights. The non-branded multi-tool we currently use isn't listed online but the ubiquitous Swiss Army Knife is always a trusted favorite. Yet for a less expensive alternative, try this SWITCHEDGE 14-in-1 Pocket Knife.

A Handy Way To Carry Your Water

This is a must for anyone who takes day hikes, but can also be useful even just for long days touring around a new city. For full-day or half-day hikes, we always bring at least a 1.5-liter bottle of water. That's a pain to hold in your hand for a long trek. Alternatively, you can wear a sweaty backpack. But a better solution is to pack a water bottle carrier like this. It keeps your hands free and your back sweat-free! We never trek without it.

Electronics Travel Packing Checklist

There are so many great travel gadgets out there. The following gear is what's in our packs and what we recommend. Note: because we're bloggers and work remotely, we tend to carry way more electronics than the average traveler may need, so we've appropriately split this up into a few sections.

Electronics for Everyone to Add to Their Travel Packing Checklist

These travel gadgets should prove useful for most travelers to put on their travel packing list.

Tablets Are Perfect for Travel

Tablets are great for the road to watch movies, play games, read, and stay connected. There's no need to lug around a bunch of heavy books with you. Just load them onto your tablet. Even guidebooks such as Lonely Planet now have electronic versions that can load onto tablets. iPads are nice, but expensive; hence we don't recommend carrying that liability on the road. Kindle Fires are a fraction of the price and they're more durable. The Kindle Fire HD 8 now includes Alexa, has dual cameras, lots more RAM, and a vibrant HD display.  It's absolutely incredible value to have that all in a tablet for under $100! So we just picked up a new one ourselves! Check the latest Kindle deals on Amazon.

Tablet Protective Case

If you're bringing a tablet, don't forget to protect it during those bumpy rides. This durable case not only keeps your tablet safe but also acts as a stand for your tray table.

A Flash Drive

You'd never guess how handy a flash drive has been while traveling. We've used it to swap movies in exchange for electronic guidebooks with other travelers while on a bus in Cuba. In Zimbabwe it was needed to exchange our white water rafting video for photos that other travelers had snapped. These tiny pieces don't take up much space, so just pack one like this 64 GB SanDisk Flash Drive.

Cheap Earbuds

Having earbuds can be invaluable to listen to music or watch movies during long journeys. Unless you're a real audiophile, we suggest leaving the expensive BEATS headphones at home. They'll just draw attention and become a liability. Plus they're bulky to carry around. Instead, we suggest simply packing an inexpensive but decent pair of earbuds like these Panasonic earbuds that are durable, comfortable, and produce a crisp & clear sound, yet are still only under $10.

Best Value Smartphone for Travel: OnePlus 6 w/ Google Fi

We can't imagine going back to traveling without a smartphone. It allows us to navigate a new city, translate menus, take photos, discover restaurants, call an Uber, stay connected, and be entertained. It's a must! But which mobile phone is best for travel? Over the years we've used an iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, but we now absolutely love our new OnePlus 6 for the incredible value it delivers.

The specs are quite comparable to the the latest Samsung and the iPhone, yet the OnePlus is about half the cost of the newest iPhone! The OnePlus 6 that we have includes a dual 16 mp camera that captures fantastic sharp images. In side-by-side comparisons, the OnePlus camera is nearly as good as the Pixel, yet the OnePlus boasts more features than the Pixel and still costs way less! A particularly useful travel function the OnePlus has is its dual sim card slots for those who are constantly swapping out sim cards when moving from one country to the next.

Google Fi Unlocks International Data

We use an unlocked version of the OnePlus 6 in combination with a Google Fi phone plan that works internationally in almost every country around the world. The base plan is only $20 and then we're charged monthly based on the data we use at a low rate of $10 per gig. In a month we usually use about 1.5 gigs, so our bill comes out to about $35 and we can use it just about anywhere in the world! If you'd like to give it a try yourself, you can use our referral code to receive a $20 Google Fi credit (US only). Make the switch like we just did in 2019! Check if your phone is compatible with Google Fi.

Protect Your SmartPhone

Whatever phone you have, you must protect it from drops, bumps, and dust while on the road. We swear by using an OtterBox as it's kept our phones alive after numerous drops that would have otherwise proven fatal. They're available for nearly all phone models. Also be sure to apply a screen protector to help prevent cracks.

Important Cables & Plugs Packing Checklist

These may not be the most fun items, but you'll find them prove to be very useful.

A Must for Couple Travelers: Headphone Splitter

This is a necessary cord for couples traveling together. On those long flights and bus rides, this simple little headphone splitter gives two people the ability to watch & listen to the same movie from a single laptop or tablet. Just bring two pairs of headphones to go along with this splitter. At just a few dollars a headphone splitter is such a well-worthy investment for any couple travelers.

An Extra Long 10-Foot USB Cable

It seems that electrical outlets are always in the most inconvenient places in hotels. When you turn in at night, of course you want your phone charging at the bedside, but there almost never seems to be an outlet there. This 10-Foot Long USB Cable gives you the ability to plug it in way across your room and still use your mobile phone from the comfort of your hotel bed. This was a long-overdue purchase for us and we now can't imagine not traveling with it. It's actually been one of our favorite purchases and we highly recommend! We'll never go back to only traveling with a short, standard length cable again.

Universal Adapter

There's no need to carry a different travel adapter for each country. This universal travel adapter with USB ports will cover you in over 150 countries. Those extra USB ports are important, giving us the ability to charge a phone, a camera, and a computer from the same single plug. We've found that many hotels, hostels, and even cruise ship cabins only have one single outlet per room. Yet this will give you the ability to charge three devices at once while also converting the outlet. It's an essential for any international traveler.

Extra USB Cables

USB cords charge your tablets, phones, cameras, and so many more electronics. But like socks and underware, USB cables always seem to go. Not only that, but they regularly ware down. If you're traveling longterm, we recommend bringing an entire pack of USB cables to replace those that will inevitably go missing and get worn. Obviously, the type of charging cable you personally need will depend on the devices you're traveling with. We use Micro USBs that works for our GoPro, our Kindle, our Sony camera, and most Android phones (although not our OnePlus), and more.

We like this six-pack of USB cables because they come in varying lengths and you get 6 cables for only $9 bucks!

Portable Power Bank (BackUp Battery Charger)

Phones and camera batteries drain at the most inopportune times. While traveling, you'll likely be making increased use of GPS/maps, camera, and video. Unfortunately, those are the functions that tend to consume mobile phone battery the most. That's why phone battery drain occurs much quicker on the road compared to everyday use back at home. A solution to this problem is carrying a portable power bank like this to ensure our phones and camera stays charged.

We recommend a 10,000 mAh external battery which will recharge your devices many times over. You'll also want something lightweight that fits in your pocket. This compact Anker PowerCore Backup Battery is the smallest and lightest backup battery that still has 10,000 mAh power, that we could find. So it's exactly what we use and recommend, as we've been extremely happy with ours. And it's a well-priced too! Check prices and recent reviews on Amazon.

Multi-Outlet Travel Surge Protector

There are never enough outlets. This Belkin 3-Outlet SurgePlus Charger turns one outlet into three, plus includes two additional USB ports, allowing for the potential of five items to charge at the same time. It's great. Note: this model is only for North America (and parts of South America).

Electronics to Pack for Long-Term World Travel or Digital Nomads Only

These items may only be appropriate for those who may be working while traveling.

The Decision To Bring a Laptop or Not?

Unless you absolutely need it for work while traveling, we actually advocate leaving the laptop at home. It just becomes a liability and you can now do just about everything from a smartphone or tablet. Obviously, we need our laptops. I love my lightweight and durable MacBook Air 13". It's super lightweight, hence the name "air", so it's great for travel. And for a Mac laptop around$1,000, it's pretty good value. Heather prefers PCs, so she's currently using a cheap HP that happened to be on sale during Black Friday.

Headset

I need a headset for conference calls and Skyping. This Logitech Clearchat Comfort headset is inexpensive and does the job.

Portable External Hard Drive

We travel with a bunch of external hard drives to back up important work, video, and photos that simply won't all fit onto our computers. Sure, cloud storage can be a good solution too, but we're often without a solid Internet connection. So an external hard drive becomes the best solution for backups. Be careful with these though, as they as susceptible to damage. We dropped one of ours once which rendered it useless. Now, we instead recommend this shockproof hard drive that's more durable and perfect for travel.

Travel Photography Gear Pack List

We're not the greatest photographers, so we shopped carefully for photography gear that is easy-to-use, has superior auto-functions, and is of good value. Obviously, as bloggers, we travel with a bit more photography gear than most. Camera phones are getting really good, so your phone alone may suffice, particularly for close-up shots and landscapes. But if you need to zoom, you'll want something a bit more powerful. You may also want to consider an underwater camera or perhaps even a drone. Here's what we use and recommend.

Our Camera Recommendation

When we started traveling in Dec 2013, we carefully researched and chose to travel with a Sony Nex-6 and have been quite happy with it. The current equivalent of this camera is now the Sony Alpha a6000. It's a mirrorless camera that many photographers are gravitating to over true-dSLR cameras, due to it being more compact yet offering an equivalent (arguably better) level of photo of dSLRs at similar price points. We love its auto features, as we're not experts with aperture and shutter speed. We think it's one of the best cameras for an amateur photographer who wants to up their game.

Action Cam - A Less Expensive Alternative to GoPro

If you want to document any sort of adventure activities while traveling, you need an action cam like a GoPro. These shoot great wide angle videos and are perfect for kayaking, surfing, skiing, snorkeling, Scuba diving, mountain biking, etc. We loved our GoPro Hero 3 that we used for the first three years of travel but it finally broke in South Africa. We debated getting another, but GoPros are so expensive. Instead of spending $400+ on the latest GoPro Hero, we bought an off-brand DBPOWER action cam for a fraction of the price - it's less than $60! It's 4K video quality and has 5x zoom too!

A nice perk is that it actually includes two batteries plus a bunch of accessories that are extra costs when buying a regular GoPro! We were very skeptical, given the price, but we now like it even better than the old GoPro we were using. And at these low prices, the value simply cannot be beat. If you want to get an idea of for the video quality, check out the videos found throughout our Galapagos Budget Travel Guide.

Check prices and latest reviews of the: DBPOWER 4K Action Cam with 5x Zoom

GoPro Attachments

We've learned the hard way that GoPros and action cams don't float. If you're taking your GoPro (or another action cam) in the water, you absolutely need to have a floating attachment. We use this GoPole Floating Hand Grip to ensure our action cam floats to the surface if dropped in the water. It also comes with a carabineer that I keep attached to a belt loop or harness during extreme sports. We also travel with a head strap attachment for hands-free use when we're doing activities like mountain biking and whitewater rafting, in which we need to use our hands.

A Drone: The Spark Makes for a Great Value Intro Drone for Travel

We usually travel with a drone to capture aerial shots of some of the amazing places we travel to. Of course, we were looking for quality + value and we found that in the DJI Phantom 3 Standard when we bought ours in 2016. The price of this particular model has recently dropped and most tech experts agree that this is the best drone you can now buy for under $500. This quadcopter has a range of nearly a kilometer, a battery life of 25 minutes, and the included camera takes 2.7K HD video.

One drawback to the Phantom series is its bulkiness, as the weight makes it not the most convenient drone for travel. We have to schlep around a separate piece of luggage just for it and during this trip to Ecuador, we made the decision to just leave it behind for the first time. We're planning to buy a smaller more portable drone. Thankfully, DJI now makes a more compact drone that can fit in the palm of your hand. It's the DJI Spark. So we now recommend that Spark, over the Phantom, as a great value intro drone that offers fantastic portability you need while traveling. And it's less than $400! Check DJI Spark prices.

If You're Taking Lots of Video on Your Phone - Get This High-Value Gimbal

We've taken lots of video during our travel over the years using our phone but it always comes out looking shaky and amateurish. Those days are over now that DJI has released a high-quality gimbal/stabilizer for phones that is also affordable! In the past, such gimbals were several hundred dollars. But the new DJI Osmo Mobile 2 retails for only $129. (Check current price on Amazon.) Whether walking around town, navigating stairs, in a car, or on a horse, this simple device smooths out your shots to give it that cinematic effect. It's lightweight and portable too, so it lends well for travel.

For an example of the video recorded with our phone, in combination with this gimbal, see our video from the Ruta Puuc.

A Travel Tripod