In today’s podcast episode, we’re sharing our favorite travel gear (like Nick’s Japanese nail clippers), and we’ll explain why a UK power adapter is especially useful, and why we carry backpacks in our backpacks.
Watch the full episode below, or listen on your favorite podcast platform. You can click the timestamps below to navigate directly to a specific part of the episode within YouTube. For a transcript of this episode, click “Watch on Youtube” on the video below, then click the “…more” link in the video description. This will expand full video details. Scrolling down past the timestamps and chapters, you’ll see a “Show Transcript” button. If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, you can touch and hold a podcast episode to reveal an option to view a transcript.
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Giant Mailbag
(01:18) – One reader writes in about their first big redemption
(03:14) – Preferred Hotels & Resorts safari lodges, bookable with iPrefer points, hiccups and all
Zip off pants similar to Nick’s (his are from L.L. Bean, but same idea. Of key importance, these have a number of zip pockets, which Nick prefers for money/wallet/etc: https://amzn.to/46fJ8fQ
Nick’s large carabiner clip used to attach water bottles to backpack: https://amzn.to/3Kid4R2
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Tortuga Travel Backpack Lite 40L is my preferred large carry-on after trying quite a few others, when I want a backpack carry-on (for extended walking in Europe and Asia, climbing up and down train station stairs) instead of a spinner carry-on (for USA renting cars and taking Ubers).
Jimmy
4 hours ago
Great podcast. I love gear ideas and will have to check out some of the products you guys carry!
Here are a few items I have found useful. For travel adapter I am a fan of the relatively new Anker Nano Travel Adapter. It is much smaller and less blocky than other multi-country adapters. The USB ports are only 20W but if you pack it and one of the Anker 47W USB chargers you can plug the charger into the adapter and have a total of 6 USB ports in a super small package.
If you want to go cheaper than something like Tumi check out folks who make backpacking gear. Not trendy but comparatively cheap and usually indestructible. I have an embarrassing number of Osprey packs and love them. And if I was someone who was going to steal a bag and saw a Tumi and and Osprey I can tell you which one I grab.
Rain gear is another item where backpackers know their stuff because when backpacking you are in the rain many hours or days at a time and every gram of weight matters. Read reviews on outdoor gear sites (e.g., REI, Backcountry, etc.) to shop for lightweight rain gear.
To cut down size on toiletries I pack toothpaste tablets and a single fragrance-free shampoo bar I use for shower, hair, and shaving. Add disposable razor, antiperspirant, and toothbrush and my toiletry bag is a quart zip top bag.
Some great ideas here! On the subject of carabiners and outdoor gear: my sunglasses case has a small carabiner on it, and i sometimes hang it off the strap of my small “city handbag” might already be full of other stuff. (A side note: my sunglasses are wrap-around from Columbia, bought for $25 at REI years ago, which i love because they protect my eyes from reflected glare from underneath and the sides, in addition to the useful carabiner on the case. I realize this might not be an option for folks who need prescription sunglasses).
I used to carry a small towel and a small umbrella, but stopped doing that years ago. My thinking is: if it’s raining a bit, i’ll be fine; if it’s raining really hard, my small umbrella won’t protect me.
Finally, for a scarf in case of unexpected cold, i’ve used a solid-color merino wool t-shirt tied around my neck. Obviously you wouldn’t go anywhere “formal” like that, but it works fine for walking around.
Lee
7 hours ago
And, Greg will tell you that you always, always, always keep your primary and backup wallets on your person. And, Greg will tell you to never, never, never put your backpack in the trunk of the taxi.
PS – The 19″ Briggs & Riley Baseline Spinner will actually fit under the seat. So, if carry-on space disappears, you’re not looking to check a bag that you really don’t want to check.
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Tortuga Travel Backpack Lite 40L is my preferred large carry-on after trying quite a few others, when I want a backpack carry-on (for extended walking in Europe and Asia, climbing up and down train station stairs) instead of a spinner carry-on (for USA renting cars and taking Ubers).
Great podcast. I love gear ideas and will have to check out some of the products you guys carry!
Here are a few items I have found useful. For travel adapter I am a fan of the relatively new Anker Nano Travel Adapter. It is much smaller and less blocky than other multi-country adapters. The USB ports are only 20W but if you pack it and one of the Anker 47W USB chargers you can plug the charger into the adapter and have a total of 6 USB ports in a super small package.
If you want to go cheaper than something like Tumi check out folks who make backpacking gear. Not trendy but comparatively cheap and usually indestructible. I have an embarrassing number of Osprey packs and love them. And if I was someone who was going to steal a bag and saw a Tumi and and Osprey I can tell you which one I grab.
Rain gear is another item where backpackers know their stuff because when backpacking you are in the rain many hours or days at a time and every gram of weight matters. Read reviews on outdoor gear sites (e.g., REI, Backcountry, etc.) to shop for lightweight rain gear.
To cut down size on toiletries I pack toothpaste tablets and a single fragrance-free shampoo bar I use for shower, hair, and shaving. Add disposable razor, antiperspirant, and toothbrush and my toiletry bag is a quart zip top bag.
Some great ideas here! On the subject of carabiners and outdoor gear: my sunglasses case has a small carabiner on it, and i sometimes hang it off the strap of my small “city handbag” might already be full of other stuff. (A side note: my sunglasses are wrap-around from Columbia, bought for $25 at REI years ago, which i love because they protect my eyes from reflected glare from underneath and the sides, in addition to the useful carabiner on the case. I realize this might not be an option for folks who need prescription sunglasses).
I used to carry a small towel and a small umbrella, but stopped doing that years ago. My thinking is: if it’s raining a bit, i’ll be fine; if it’s raining really hard, my small umbrella won’t protect me.
Finally, for a scarf in case of unexpected cold, i’ve used a solid-color merino wool t-shirt tied around my neck. Obviously you wouldn’t go anywhere “formal” like that, but it works fine for walking around.
And, Greg will tell you that you always, always, always keep your primary and backup wallets on your person. And, Greg will tell you to never, never, never put your backpack in the trunk of the taxi.
PS – The 19″ Briggs & Riley Baseline Spinner will actually fit under the seat. So, if carry-on space disappears, you’re not looking to check a bag that you really don’t want to check.