After 12 months of travel one of the questions we’re asked most is, “what do you pack?” When we boarded the first flight of our trip to Rio our bags will PACKED! We had way too much stuff packed for our trip. I can remember walking into LAX with 40+ lbs on my back, thinking, “there’s no way I’ll be able to carry this for 12 months through countless airports, train rides, and boats.”  We had way too much travel gear.

During the first month, both of us left all sorts of clothes and unnecessary travel gear behind. While we’ve purchased a few items while traveling, most of our items were with us from the beginning. If you’re looking to take a year long journey or even a week long trip. Here’s our travel gear guide.

Packing Tips

You don’t need everything you’re packing. Unless you’ve scrupulously planned out every day of your trip, there’s a very good chance that you are packing too much.
Pack similar colors and stay away from patterns. All of my clothes match my khakis, that means all my shirts are blue, salmon, pink, etc. I don’t have any black clothes as that would require different belt and shoes.

Happy Socks - Buy unique socks for colorful men and women

Synthetics.

Synthetic clothes are your friends.  Everything I wear is synthetic!  Besides being some of the most comfortable clothes, synthetics make it much easier to wash your clothes.  There’s nothing worse than waking up for a flight to find out all your underwear is still wet from washing it in your sink the night before.  My best recommendation for guys is to buy several pairs of synthetic boxer briefs.  I’ve linked my favorite here and below.  Synthetics also keep you dry in humid weather.  Whether hiking Corcovado in the killer Brazilian heat or walking the streets if Florence in Italy, synthetic polo’s or t-shirts are a life saver in the humidity.  The last benefit of synthetic shirts is they don’t wrinkle.  If you’re moving from place to place, there’s nothing more embarrassing than walking into dinner or meeting a new group of friends with a unkempt, wrinkly outfit.  Do yourself a favor and buy a few synthetic polos or dress shirts for your trip.

Travel Gear

This travel gear list doesn’t include every single item in my bag but, it includes all the essential travel gear accessories I can’t live without.

55L Backpack

Camera Backpack

Travel Jacket

Long Sleeve Synthetic Shirt

Travel Laundry Soap

Bug Spray Wipes

Power Adapter

Travel Extension Cord

Travel Clothing

Most people find it difficult to limit the amount of clothes they pack for traveling.  Once you do, you’ll find it difficult to pack any extra clothes.

Tennis Shoes

5 Pairs of Socks

5 pair of boxers

2 pair of shorts

Hiking Shoes

Soft Loafers

2 Polos

1 Short sleeve dress shirt

Men's Premium Activewear - Rhone

Travel Pants

Khaki Pants (stretchy)

Northface Hat

Journal

O’Neill

Travel Photography Gear

Most photographers travel with much more photography equipment.  I tend to travel with very little camera equipment for my travel photography. Originally I had a Nikon but recently I switched to a Sony Mirrorless A7II, which I absolutely love! It’s spectacular for photography and video.

Apple Macbook Pro 13″

Sony A7II Mirrorless Camera

Sony FE 24-70 2.8 Lens

Wide Angle 14mm lens

GoPro underwater Camera

Manfrotto Travel Tripod

Wireless Lapel Mic

iPhone 6s Plus