THE WHAT AND THE HOW: PACKING ELECTRONICS AS A DIGITAL NOMAD
When Nate and I took off for our RTW trip we opted to keep all of our electronics with us as carry-ons. We had thousands of dollars worth of equipment and just didn’t want to risk having it thrown around with checked baggage or potentially losing it.
Regardless of if you plan to carry or check your electronics, I highly suggest getting World Nomads Travel Insurance for peace of mind.
After extensive research we decided on what bags we were each going to get. A few things to consider when choosing a bag:
- Your budget
- What actually needs to fit in the bag?
- Does it need to be waterproof?
- What different compartments do you need? (camera, laptop, pens and cords etc)
- Will you need different access points for ease? (say to access the laptop but not open the entire bag.
- Does style matter to you?
We went with Peak Design bags because they fit all of our needs. Nate went with the Everyday Messenger (15″ in Heritage Tan) and I went with the Everyday Backpack (30L in Ash Gray). We had the privilege of visiting our local photo supply shop, bringing our equipment, and trying on the bags to make our final decisions. You can always watch copious amounts of youtube videos to help you decide as well.
The bags are pictured below.
Everyday Backpack (30L in Ash Gray)
Everyday Messenger (15″ in Heritage Tan)
WHAT WENT IN THE BAGS
Here is a condensed list of our electronics for a RTW trip. This is mind you the same amount of electronics we would take on any trip abroad that had any level of adventuring.
- DJI Mavric Air Drone (and all that comes with it)
- Nikon DSLR 5300 + extra lens (and charger + battery)
- JOBY Gorilla pod
- Sony 1000xm2 noise canceling blue tooth headphones (x2)
- CalDigit Tuff USB-C 2TB Hard drive (waterproof, and highly durable + compatible with my 2017 macbook pro)
- 2017 Macbook Pro (+ chargers and cords)
- Olympus Tough digital camera
- UEBOOM 2 speaker
- Skross Pro-World & USB Travel Adaptor, White
- Another adaptor
- Anker portable charger (power bank)
- Acer Chromebook r13
- iPad
- Every cord you think of and some phone chargers in there somewhere.
THE PACKED BAGS
In addition to all of the electronics we also put things like books, journals and other miscelaneous objects inside the bags (see photos below).
Above is the top view of my Peak Design Everyday Backpack (30L in Ash Gray) but to give you the full understanding of the complexity and organizational potential of this bag see the photos below.
The ability to open it from the top and both sides to access specific items is a real luxury when you’re out and about with all this gear. And the ability to keep it all separated using the velcro dividers is a Godsend. I don’t worry about anything getting smashed or moving around. Keep in mind these dividers don’t have to be used for electronics. This pack could also hold snacks, water bottles, clothing or anything your nomadic heart desires.
If you’re on the search for a great electronics bag, I can’t speak highly enough of Peak Design. And no, I am not endorsed by them, they simply make high quality, highly functional bags.
Thus far the bags are also very comfortable. If you can try them on in person I suggest doing so (as I would with any product).
There you have it. How we packed around our electronics as digital nomads for a year.
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