Call Me Your Personal Consultant
Wet feet. Ripped zippers. Waistbands that bind. Travel is difficult enough, so there’s no room for bad gear, bad clothes, and bad attitudes. Finding the gear that works in Nomad Life can be tough. I’ve used and thrown out lots of it. While I’m not a big fan of brands, I do find there are a few products I use in Nomad Life that are worth the money.
Whereas I used to not care much about my gear choices, now I do. With only six cubic feet to carry everything I own in my Nomad Life, each choice I make must work overtime.
Buy once, use a million times, replace many years later.
The sustainability of good stuff is worth the price.
Throughout this week, I’ve been making notes of the six things Steve and I love in our Nomad Life that we’d buy again and again. We don’t buy much. We subscribe to a rule that if we buy something, it must replace something we already have. At the end of the year, we are net gain zero of stuff.
You’ll also find us using charity shops as if they were libraries; checking out a few things for our current situation (gloves, heavier coats), checking in to drop off the things we checked out when we leave. I only wish we could find real libraries like this worldwide (check out Saco, Maine’s lending library!)
Most of the items that I recommend are items I’ve also written reviews about after using them for more than a year. After all, it’s easy to write a review about a fresh new product right out of the box. But let it simmer a bit. Get muddy and rank, then, that’s when I write a review. If I have a review, I link it below; otherwise, I link directly to the product.
Products We Love in Nomad Life
This is not an exhaustive list, but it’s my top 8 of my favorite gear. See more of my favorites, here. BTW, I only recommend products I use and love.
KÜHL Renegade Pants for Men (Review). These almost ended up in the trash, but a second try turned them into favorites.
KÜHL Kontour Pants for Women (Review). When jeans just won’t do.
Bombas Socks (to die for! and they donate to those in need) (Review).
Osprey Transporter Wheeled 40 Carry-on Duffle (Review). I love it so much I want to marry it.
Skyspar 20L Daypack. After giving up on the big brands, I finally found an off-brand day pack I adore. It’s got everything I want; waist and chest straps, double water bottle holders, padded sleeve for laptop/water bladder, water resistant.
Patagonia Long-sleeved Top. Perfect for hiking in sunny conditions.
Hoka Hopara 2 Go Anywhere Shoes (Review). The Jeep of the Nomad Life shoe world.
Patagona Quandary Shorts and Pants (I really need to write a review here. I’ve had three pairs of shorts and one pair of pants that have rotated in my wardrobe on a daily basis for three years. I love these because they’re lightweight and dry quickly, among other great features.)
While my packing list is much longer, the items above get replaced when either they’re simply worn out and look awful and/or they are on sale in their new color or model. First in, last out, hopefully.
Thanks for letting me share my favorite things with you. What favoirte items are on your must-recommend list for travels?
See you next week,
Chris