The Essentials to Pack for Digital Nomads

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(Newswire.net — December 1, 2021) — This article focuses on some of the most essential gear for digital nomads.

Laptop

Today, most people can make a living from their laptops since there are so many online job opportunities. A digital nomad traveler shouldn’t skimp on this gadget since a laptop is one of the most essentials for people making a living online. For example, I’m using a 2015 Apple MacBook Pro to work remotely. I use a hard case to protect the laptop and carry the unit in a padded sleeve.

Unlocked SmartPhone

An unlocked smartphone with a local SIM card can be a game-changer when you don’t have access to good WiFi when traveling regularly. In fact, you can unlock any smartphone as long as you have paid it off. Make sure to call the mobile carrier and get your phone unlocked before you travel. You can pick up a SIM card at the airport once you arrive at the destination. That way you can easily use mobile data on your smartphone as well as tether the phone to your laptop to perform your online work. 

World Travel Adapter Kit

You can’t use any digital unit unless it’s charged properly. That’s where a world travel adapter kit comes in handy. Invest in a travel adapter that lets you use the plugs in any socket. In the United States, this type of adapter allows you to use USB cables or grounded plugs anywhere. This is extremely helpful when outlets are scarce. The Electronics Travel Organizer Bag comes with some of the best digital nomad gear such as a headset, portable charger bank, a kindle, and more. 

Optional But Helpful Digital Nomad Gear

There is some digital nomad gear that is optional but not essential. This section of the article will take a look at optional digital nomad gear for the frequent traveler. In fact, you should pick and choose the required gear for your online work depending on the type of work you perform.

iPad Or Tablet 

A tablet or an iPad is great to have as a backup if your laptop gets damaged due to whatever reason. If you rely on the laptop for your job, you should definitely consider investing in a backup iPad or tablet.

Portable External Hard Drive

Audio, video, images, and documents will fill up your laptop storage space quite fast. My new MacBook Pro was filled up in under a year and over 90% of these items were images and video. My laptop started to run painfully slow since I got an alert that my storage space was full. In fact, the alert started blasting in front of my laptop screen at least 5 times a day until I ordered an external hard drive to store some of these videos and images. After storing some of the items in the external hard drive, my laptop was much happier and performed better. The best way to keep your laptop operating efficiently is to store the images and videos in an external hard drive. 

GoPro Camera

If you are engaged in a creative online project, the GoPro camera is an essential gear to have in your back pocket. The unit is extremely compact and there is no reason for you to not toss it in your bag when traveling. For example, I didn’t see the importance of such an item for a long time. But when it was time to head to a tropical destination with lots of snorkeling, I realized the value of a GoPro camera. The HERO GoPro is great for pictures and videos on land and underwater. In fact, the latest model is waterproof and doesn’t require a special casing similar to older models.

Kindle E-Reader

A good book is a great way to unwind after a hard day of work. But I don’t have enough space to carry books when traveling since the extra weight of the books can interfere with my luggage weight. That is where the Kindle e-reader comes in handy. The unit weighs almost nothing and can hold thousands of books these days. I throw my Kindle in my little day bag so that I can use it just in case I come across a hammock strung between two palm trees. In fact, the Kindle e-book reader is an essential piece of gear in your backpacking list. 

Pro Tip: Are you looking for hundreds of books for your Kindle without spending thousands of dollars to purchase them? If so, check out BookBub. The site will send you an email every day with information on free and discounted books. I got most of my Kindle books for less than $2. 

Ethernet Cable

I use a 100-foot Ethernet cord to connect the computer to a router when I am at home. 100-feet is quite long and might have been the same ethernet cable that Magellan used to connect with his family and friends back in Portugal while he was sailing the seven seas. But a 100-feet cable is quite excessive when you plan to travel. Investing in a quality ethernet cable is a great idea to connect with fast internet for your job while traveling. A shorter version is best suited to your needs when traveling regularly. 

Ethernet Adapter

The latest Mac laptops don’t have ethernet ports anymore. If you are using one of the latest Mac laptops, you will need an ethernet adapter to connect the ethernet cable. In case you own a MacBook Pro, the ethernet adapter will help plug the ethernet cord into one of the thunderbolt ports.

Blue Light-Blocking Protective Glasses

Too much screen time is hard on your eyes. You should protect your eyes from the harmful rays by investing in blue-light blocking glasses. I finally purchased a pair of blue-light blocking glasses and wear them every time I am on the computer. The glasses from Amazon are lightweight and consist of an amber tint. Even though the blue-light blocking glasses feel a bit flimsy, it isn’t an issue because I wear them only when I am sitting at the computer.

Earphones/Earbuds With Microphone

You need a good set of headphones with an attached microphone when working online. I invested in the small Apple earbuds that come with my smartphone. These earbuds are quite compact and hard to damage.

Compact Portable Power Bank

A long lasting portable charger is a must for a digital nomad. It helps give your devices some extra juice when they need it.

Selfie Ring Light 

If you need to use the camera for your job, invest in a selfie ring light. It improves video quality and clips right onto the laptop to provide lots of light even when there isn’t good lighting in the environment.

Roost Laptop Stand 

Using a laptop frequently can be painful. The Roost stand helps place the laptop at a higher level so that you have better posture and won’t get sore in the process. This stand helps improve your health and do a better job at the same time – win-win! 

Wireless Folding Keyboard 

The folding keyboard is ideal to be used with your laptop stand. It is a great investment if you write often. The keyboard connects with Bluetooth and could be used with an iPad for taking notes.

Wireless Mouse

A wireless mouse is the final piece of the posture puzzle. It helps you elevate the laptop and sit with good posture when using the laptop. It won’t hurt your back or create posture problems.

Best Digital Nomad Gear Organizer Bag

Now that you have collected everything for your digital nomad life, you should pack them up using the digital nomad gear organizer bag. This electronics travel organizer bag is ideal to fit in the smaller pieces of technology while all the cords are placed on one side nicely organized. You won’t have to deal with knotted cords hopelessly tangled in the bottom of your backpack anymore.