Essential “Forever” Travel Tech
My life-tested tech for living nomadically full-time
I’ve been living nomadically for the better part of almost two years now and my ideas around what is essential and what is just dead weight has really been put to the test. What remains is the technology, both essential and non-essential that I wouldn’t want to travel without.
TLDR;
For those of your that aren’t interested in the details here is the list of larger tech that I won’t travel longterm without (in order of importance) …
- Smartphone — This is without question the MOST important tech I travel with. I’m currently rocking an iPhone 14 Pro.
- Small Tablet — This is my main source of entertainment at “home” and while on a plane. I like to use the Apple iPad Mini for its size and features.
- Laptop Computer — I like to code so I still can’t live without a full computer. I carry a Macbook Pro 14" with an M1 Max and 64Gb of memory.
- AppleTV — Once I arrive at my new “home” I prefer to plugin my AppleTV instead of having to rely on it having a SmartTV.
- Large Tablet — This is used mainly as a second monitor, but I also have it for taking notes and sketching.
- Electric Tea Kettle — This is not depicted above but I like to have this versatile tech in my travel kit to make coffee, tea and even make some ramen noodles in a pinch.
For more details on why I chose these items, how I pack it all, and what additional tech I carry in support of all this, please read on!
It all starts with my “Tech Essentials”
At the heart of my travel gear is my “tech essentials”. This is a minimal pouch that I can access quickly when I arrive or if I need to use it on the plane or airport lounge. When fully packed, it is light weight and small enough to fit easily in the front pocket of my carry on.
Pictured below you will find the pouch I use, fully packed, as well as all the contents laid out.
Here is a break down of what I have in the bag:
- Wireless charge pad — This charges my iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all using a single USB-C cable. Its much more useful than the wireless charge pad made by Apple.
- USB-C Data Cables (2x) — I have two USB-C to USB-C cables from Anker that can also transmit data. These are really premium cables that are braided and 3ft long each. One of these is used to connect the wireless charge pad, the other is used to connect my iPad to my Macbook as a second monitor (using Continuity).
- MagSafe Power Cord — This is a dedicated power cord for my Macbook. Its a very high-quality cable that came with the Macbook. Its also a little longer which is nice to have when sitting at a desk.
- USB-A to Lightning cable — This is a cable that I carry but don’t use everywhere I go. Its primary function is to use it with Apple CarPlay compatible rental cars that require me to plug in the iPhone to use it. Its also useful if I need to charge the iPhone on a plane and I don’t want to (or can’t) use my Anker Charger.
- Multi-Purpose In-Charge cable — This is not a cable I use often because it can only be used to provide power (not data) and is fairly short. That said it can transform into all of the different combinations of USB-C, USB-A, Lightning, and USB-Mini (common for cameras).
- Anker Power Adapter — This is a very compact power adapter that will put out up to 100W, has two USB-C ports, and is all I need to power my Macbook and Wireless Charge Pad.
- AirPods Pro — These are kind of obvious, but they are essential tech while traveling on a plane and I prefer them over larger headsets for their compact size. I also carry a corded set of headphone but I’ve never needed to use them and will likely get rid of them in the future.
My “comfortable” nomadic work experience
I’ve considered trying to travel without a laptop often, but I give up on it each time because there are just too many things I like to use my laptop for, like coding and video editing, that can’t be done as effectively on an iPad alone.
Above is a picture of my preferred setup. You’ll quickly notice the use of the iPad Pro as my second monitor and the use of a Mouse. These are very much “extra” but I wouldn’t want to do any real work without them both.
I used to travel with a wireless keyboard and laptop stand, but I didn’t really use them enough to make the extra hassle worth it.
I like to carry the iPad Pro as it doubles not only as a second monitor but also as a sketching and design tool. I also like to use it as a test platform for some of the apps I’m working on.
AppleTV Travel Kit
This is likely one piece of kit that many of you will question. There are much smaller options when it comes to “smart tv” platforms (e.g. Roku, Goolge, Fire Stick) … but I honestly prefer the AppleTV because of its integration with my iPhone and Macbook.
Pictured above is a special kit that I put together just for my AppleTV. It includes a very thin HDMI cable and a very short half foot power cord. Also included is a unique slim power strip by Anker that I use to power the AppleTV and also to charge my cameras or essential tech.
My AppleTV kit is not packed in my carry on, so the additional weight and bulk isn’t really an issue.
Many AirBnBs today have SmartTVs, but I prefer not to have to go through the hassle of signing into each of the various streaming services I use and then have to remember to wipe the settings when I leave. My AppleTV is already setup with all the services I use and can be setup in minutes.
Extra “Discretionary” Tech
Finally we come down to the tech that I could live without but don’t want to. Most of these items are packed in my checked bag, with the exception of my battery bank.
Battery Bank — This is one item that I keep telling myself to get rid of (and I still am thinking about it). It is very heavy and isn’t allowed to be in my checked bag. I’ve used it maybe once or twice, but not enough that its worth the weight. That said, it wasn’t cheap to buy and I can’t bring myself to get rid of it yet. It can power a laptop forever and recharge other tech multiple times over.
Electric “Tea” Kettle — This is an item that I’ve recently picked up that I will never travel without again. So many hotels don’t have a coffee machine. This baby heats up water fast and I can not only make a cup of instant coffee in the morning but I can also heat up some ramen or soup of an evening.
International Powerstrip — This is a unique little bit of tech I picked up while in Australia. It will work with both 110v and 220v and can accommodate any kind of plug. This still has a US style plug that will need to be adapter for the country you are in, but if you have limited plugs at your hotel or AirBnB, this can be a great way to share an outlet and still power everything you need. Its very compact and weighs almost nothing. This also goes into my checked bag.
