It’s hard to know what to pack when you are travelling for an extended period of time and only have a limited amount of space. When I first started my digital nomad life, I didn’t end up using half the stuff in my suitcase in the 8 months I was away.
I used to be a panic packer; ‘What if I need my L.E.D Light Therapy Facial Device?!’ But over time my packing has become a lot smarter. Aside from all the usual must-have travel items like your passport, underwear, laptop, etc I am giving you my tried and tested top 8 travel essentials for a Digital Nomad, some you probably didn’t know you needed them!
I know what you are thinking; ‘why would I buy and travel with hangers?’ But hear me out on this. I was recommended to get some by another Digital Nomad and I never travel without mine AND I always use them.
Not everywhere you stay is going to have clothes hangers, and if you plan on staying in the same place for an extended period, you want to be able to empty your suitcase out and feel more at home. Hanging up your clothes keeps them crease-free and everything feels more tidy. They also come in handy for drying your bikinis after a beach day.
I purchased these foldable travel hangers from Amazon, they are nothing special but they do the job and fold up small enough to not take up much room in my luggage.
A plug adaptor seems like an obvious one to pack, but if you are working whilst travelling, it’s worth investing in a decent one that works wherever your travels take you.
The EPICKA Universal Travel Adaptor has been ideal for my digital nomad lifestyle, it is suitable to use anywhere in the world and has additional USB outlets so I can charge multiple electronics at the same time. It comes in a smart zip case to keep it safe whilst you’re not using it and fits easily into hand luggage.
Sim Card Holder & Ejector
If you plan on travelling to multiple countries and are going to be purchasing Sim cards (which you should) everywhere you go, a Sim Card holder is ideal. You can store your own country sim and keep hold of all the other ones you collect along the way. Then if you go back to a country, you already have a sim set up.
A Sim Ejector (I am unsure if that is the official name), is a must-have for sim swapping. Some phone places will do it for you, but if you need to swap back to your original sim for whatever reason, it’s worth having one on hand. You’ll thank me for this! Neither of these items take up much space so it’s worth having them.
The one I use isn’t available on Amazon anymore but there are plenty of other’s to choose from if you type in ‘Sim Card holder case’, and most of them come with the sim card
This obviously only applies to people with periods, and my recommendation comes from learning the hard way, so listen up. During my first time travelling to Mexico for 6 months, I took only a few months supply of tampons with me, assuming I could easily buy the ones I wanted out there.
Firstly, hardly anywhere in Mexico sells tampons and secondly, they weren’t my preferred brand. I even tried ordering some from America but they got stuck at customs in Mexico.
As a result, I now travel with 6 months worth of tampons at a time. Green & Grace are my favourite tampon brand, they use 100% organic cotton and are a sustainable brand.
I also travel with period pants which are great for wearing at night or days when I’m not doing much, and they are better for the environment. Modi Bodi are my go-to brand for these.
Top hack: If the tampon boxes take up too much space, empty them out into a pocket or zip lock bag to save some space.
Travelling and being exposed to new environments that aren’t always the most hygienic can have an impact on your immune system. At the start of your travels, you may find yourself picking up a few more bugs and upset stomachs (ahem Bali Belly) than usual. Just read my post; 7 Unglamorous Truths About Life As A Digital Nomad.
Supporting your body with the right vitamins is vital to helping you make the most out of your travels. Aim for a well regarded Multi Nutrient such as Thorne Basic Nutrients.
Remember to take enough with you for the duration of your travels. You can always buy supplements abroad but do your research on them. Around 95% of supplements are made from synthetics, which won’t cause you any harm but have very little use for our bodies.
Top hack: If you don’t have room to take multiple supplement bottles in your luggage, empty them out into a clean zip lock/freezer bag to save some space.
Even when I’m not travelling I carry a reusable water bottle around with me. Firstly, we all need to drink more water. Secondly, I’m not sure if you’ve heard but they are better for the environment!! You can get insulated ones that will keep your drinks hot or cold for hours and are completely plastic free.
In the places you travel it’s likely you won’t be filling up from the tap, but most accommodations provide drinking water from a dispenser or similar, so your bottle will still come in handy.
I have a Chilly’s bottle which is on the pricier side but I love. I never thought I’d say this but Chilly’s know how to make good water bottles.
A wet bag has multiple uses. It comes in handy if you are moving around a lot and don’t want to pack wet bikinis with all your dry clothes. You can also keep your period pants in there until you get a chance to wash them properly. Or if you are spending the day on a boat, kayaking or canoeing and want to keep your electronics dry you can pack them in there. After a morning of snorkelling I store my snorkel kit in there too!
I use ModiBodi’s Waterproof bag in Large. You could also get away with it as a clutch bag too, for carrying stuff around as it’s plain black and discreet. They do have multiple sizes but this is the biggest so if you think you need something bigger, do your research.
You might not feel a Fire Stick is a necessity for travelling but you will use it a lot. Your new home set up should be as comfortable as possible and having access to good tv shows and movies to watch is part of that. At home you would have Prime Video, Nextflix, Apple TV etc, so why not have the same when you are travelling?
If you think you’re going to be too busy to watch TV, that just isn’t the case. You’ll want time to switch off, relax, and you’re not always going to be out exploring. Even having trash TV to watch in the background whilst working is nice too.
Just don’t forget to unplug it from the TV when you leave your accommodation!
That rounds up my tried and tested travel essentials for my digital nomad life. If you have any suggestions on items you can’t travel without as a digital nomad, share them in the comments below!
Amber x
P.s Are you looking for a Digital Nomad destination inspiration? Check out my post; The Best Destination For A First Time Female Digital Nomad.
Pingback: How To Be A More Eco-Friendly Digital Nomad
Pingback: How To Quit Your Desk Job And Travel In Your 30s