Travel Gear

If there’s one thing you take away from this page, it’s to use what you already have. Don’t waste your money on gear you don’t need. Save it to travel.

In saying that, if you feel like shopping, do it here! This page contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may help me earn a small commission. These products and reviews are not sponsored (I don’t work with sponsors) and are items I have personally purchased and recommend.

Here’s a simple packing list of things I typically travel with, it varies depending on how remote I’m going (if I have electricity or am camping etc). Further down the page I’ve posted all the technology I travel with.

Pursuit of Paradise Packing List

Vital Necessities:

  • Passport

  • Visa

  • Credit and Debit card

Technology: (remember, there’s not always electricity in paradise)

  • Mobile Phone + Charger + Adapter + Surge Protector

  • VPN

Clothing:

Bathers

  • 2 Swimmers (if you’re getting off the beaten path go for a style with more coverage… If you’re snorkelling heaps take a rash vest and leggings to protect your skin from the sun and sea lice/stingers)

  • Sarong (it’s a towel, a beach cover up, a sheet, hijab, and a scarf, brilliant)

Tops (max 5)

  • A few t-shirts (good to cover up from the sun and suitable to wear in a number of different occasions)

  • 1 shirt (oversize style is useful as you can also wear it over swimmers to help protect you from the sun)

Bottoms (max 5)

  • A few sports shorts (you need to be able to walk in these without chaffing, remember not too short if you’re travelling to remote, culturally sensitive locations, be conservative and respectful)

  • 1 long leggings or hiking pants (ONLY if you’re going hiking, exercise or struggle with chaffing wearing shorts)

  • 1 dress (midi length is the most versatile, black shows the crinkles less and is easier to dress up for a night out)

  • 1 maxi skirt or loose trousers/ flowy loose pants (perfect for temples and travel days).

Under Garments

  • 10 undies

  • 2 bras (one sport one relaxed)

  • A few pairs of socks

Shoes:

  • Rubber burks

  • Runners

Toiletries:

  • Essential medication

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste

  • Deodorant

  • Sunscreen (zinc + reef safe)

  • Soap and/or cleanser

  • Period cup

  • Shampoo and conditioner bar

  • Razor

  • Aloe vera (I typically use this rather than moisturiser, also great for sunburn)

  • Deet/Repellent (for the mosquitos and sandflies)

  • 1 Lipstick

Bags:

  • 60L backpack

  • Small crossbody handbag

  • A day bag (backpacks are the most versatile)

  • Undergarmet bag (can put dirty clothes in this and take to the laundry)

  • 1 plastic bin bag (wrap your passport/ tech in this when you’re on a boat)

Considerations:

  • Travel insurance

  • Water Bottle (Stainless Steele Yeti helps to keep water cold)

  • Hat

  • Mask and snorkle

  • Hammock

  • Rechargeable fan

  • Contraception

  • Mosquito net

  • Head torch

  • Medical kit (I travel with pain relief, emergency antibiotics, a prescription ointment for bites
    that get infected, anti-fungal cream, tweezers, needle, bandaids, antiseptic, eye flush and
    aqua ear when I’m going to a remote destination).

  • Additional tech (see below)

My 2025 new bag, the Osprey Women’s Fairview Trek 60L Travel Pack

Technology

I keep my tech in my Kathmandu Cortina 25L black backpack (my carry on bag).

iPhone 11 - I would recommend buying a newer one, that will be my next big purchase. The newest model is never necessary.

MacBook Pro - 14 inch. Apple M2 Pro. Memory 16 GB. I’m extremely pleased with mine and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in running a website or editing video footage.

Squarespace - Makes CMS easy, I’ve used it for this website.

Adobe Premier Pro - I have a subscription to Premier Pro because I’ve used it previously and felt comfortable jumping back in. I wouldn’t say I recommend it though. It’s expensive, complicated and there’s lots of other options out there.

Epidemic Sound - WOW royalty free music is expensive and all round pretty average. I like the music genre of atmospheric and surf chill for Pursuit of Paradise YouTube videos and luckily Epidemic Sound has that, so far so good.

Canva - I love Canva, I’ve been using it on and off for 12 years and can’t recommend it enough. I will say, consider subscribing for a month or two, do what you need and unsubscribe. It’s a steep price point if you’re not using it continuously. My one criticism is my security information was leaked in a cyber attack. This highlights the important of a password manager. To my next point…

BitWarden - Don’t loose your master password.

Headphones - I recommend using wire headphones for long distance island travel. The battery doesn’t die like wireless headphones so they don’t need charging and they’re cheap to replace if you loose them on the road! I’m not afraid to wear them on boat to drain out the engine noise even if that means they get covered in sea spray.

GoPro 11 Black - I like it. Sometimes the batteries don’t charge if they are completely drained. The camera is terrible in low light but I don’t shoot at night. I also use the underwater housing but it’s not perfect. I would say if you’re diving just use a regular wrist strap, not the floaty one.

DJI Mini 3 - Love it! Two thoughts. Firstly, check local drone rules and respect people by not buzzing it around them. Secondly, watch out for outdoor bathrooms in Asia, an afternoon flight can easily be an invasion of privacy.

Kindle - Highly recommend.

INIU 22.5W Power Bank - This worked brilliantly initially but didn’t last very long. I need a new one. I’ll keep you posted.

Jackson Surge Protected Board - 4X Power Socket, 2X USB-A Outlets. I use this to protect my gear from power surges while I charge my devices.

JB HiFi Adapter - The ones close to the counter in all the stores are cheaper than the stand dedicated to travel. I also have a 7/11 one from Bangkok and it’s great.