Traveling through Johannesburg they removed my fork from my carry on luggage. They said it was dangerous to have one at the airport. Once i passed the security screening i headed to one of the airline lounges, only to find a bucket of metal forks inside. Needless to say, the airline was kind enough to offer me one of their forks, they just don't know it.
I disagree about completely ditching paper documents. My recent trip to Paris, I had my phone snatched and if it weren't for the printed boarding pass, pre-booked bus ticket and other things I've pre-booked. I would have been completely stuck. Having paper backup is a good thing, but I do recommend having everything printed in a booklet so it takes up less paper & space
I have to strongly disagree with many of these points. Digital documents are great and all, but you absolutely should have paper ones as a backup. Not only may your battery die, but you might not have Internet connection, and digital devices are prime targets for theft. And the same with cash. Also, with money, ATM charges can be atrocious. DON'T get cash out with a credit card. Use a debit card, but make sure it's one of the *few* that has low foreign ATM *and* currency conversion fees.
Definitely, I had issues in China because the laptop that was storing that information chose to install an update when I needed the information and I lost access to it. I would have had a printout if I had had access to a printer.
I strongly agree with these points, having packups of the essentials like money and flight documents is essential, I haven’t had issues with documents personally, and mostly they never ask for them anyway, but my mother has run into a problem where her flight didn’t register on their computer, and I had to access it through my emails, luckily I had internet connection. It’s better to be safe than sorry. And having a backup wallet, with money and an extra debit card is helpful if your main wallet gets stolen.
Agree. I remember, my bank closed my card after buying snacks in the supermarket abroad, because this looked suspicious to security department. Arguing on the phone not helped and it was required to visit bank branch at home to get a new card. Luckily, I had some cash and a credit card of another bank as a backup.
I taught the same, I was like do you even travel bro, try getting into a 3rd world country and try to pay with cards or be worried about carrying that much tech, this only applies if you are doing a short trip inside a first world country
Two is one, one is none is the expression that springs to mind. Paper document don’t exactly take up much space and storing cards and cash in different places is just common sense.
I take Paper and Digital , If something happens with the phone it is always there as a backup , also there is then always paper availaible on the reverse side if i need to take notes
Paper is much quicker if you need Covid information and e-tickets and travel destination documents at check in when flying to places which need them all.
I would second this. We learned to keep a paper record of important phone numbers, addresses, etc. I'll just say we had a very "interesting" experience when a phone died. Having phone numbers on paper would've removed the "interesting" part of the experience. In the end we got where we needed to go, but was disconcerting for a while.
I pack a pen or two and a small notepad. When I was stationed overseas, I had flash cards made up with common phrases that I would refer to in case my bad attempt at the local language was met with weird stares. Instead of a fork and knife, I take a spork.
Keep a pouch to store phones, cable, earphones , other in your airplane seat pocket to keep stuff when not in use. You won’t leave anything behind! Bose qc20 earbuds with 14 hr battery is best kept secret for long flight noise cancellation. Oldie but Goldie. Always wear a light hoodie on long flights. Keep you and head warm.
I always wear Scottevest Travel Vest and Action Adventure pants. Lots of zippered, secure, and hidden pockets. The last thing you want to do when arriving at the Louvre in Paris is pat your rear pocket when you see the beware of Pickpockets sign.
The synchronized wave at 8:42 is both awesome and creepy lol. Couple of comments: Belts - I find that in most American airports (especially with TSA Precheck/Global Entry) you don't have to remove your belt regardless of material. In Europe and in Central America, belts are removed, no exceptions. Camera - I traded my DSLR for a mirrorless six years ago, and it has been nothing but smooth-sailing ever since. With a pancake lens, the mirrorless becomes as compact as a point-and-shoot but I still get to be fiddly with settings and such. Cards/Cash - I think it still makes sense to have the equivalent of $50 in local currency when traveling. I haven't traveled to Japan or South Korea post-Covid-19 so the cash-is-king sensibility there might have shifted to contactless. Digital/Print - I'm on the fence about this one. While digital is the way to go, sometimes it requires a lot of forethought-you have to download an app in order to get the QR code/ticket saved in your Wallet (or whatever equivalent in Android), you have to move things to a separate folder in your email so that you can find it easily (or mark screenshots as favorites), or worse, you will need an internet connection to retrieve your ticket. When you print something, you just pull it out of a pocket in your bag, and then throw it away when you're done.
If you are relying on cards, especially in Europe, make sure they have Chips, mag stripes and contactless options. Also for places like India the ATMs can vary a lot, so some will need Mag stripes and others Chips. We never travel without cards from at least 3 providers so we have different ones to fall back on.
There there are local IC cards like Japan's SUICA/PASMO/ICOCA that you can use for travel fares and purchases. You can top it up with cash/credit at train stations. Purchases can be made at the huge train station malls, some restaurants, cafes and vending machines. Some luggage locker systems and rental cars take SUICA too! The card's initial cost can be refunded, but each card is valid 10 years if you are planning on returning. Since cash is still king in Japan, you have to carry it. Change in coins is definitely not designed for a slimline wallet. You can receive change literally in handfuls if you are unlucky.
About credit cards: Of course they are a must. Some include even travel insurances, health insurance, are required for booking a rental car etc. But for getting cash they are often not really a good option. E.g. the main problem in India is that most ATMs (especially those in smaller towns or away from international tourist hot spots) just don't accept international credit cards at all. It doesn't matter from which foreign provider they are they are simply not accepted. Even in huge cities it is very common that out of 10 ATMs only one or two accept foreign cards. And if an ATM finally accepts your foreign card, the maximum withdrawal amount is limited on 10.000 Rs per transaction and most ATMs ask 500 Rs (=5%) processing fee which comes additional to what you pay to your card provider at home for exchange and using an ATM abroad. So you end up easily loosing something like 10% on the official exchange rate for picking up your money at the ATM. Some ATMs even try to convince you to book the money in your currency what easily adds another couple of %. (That local exchange trick on foreign cards is also commonly tried in hotels or restaurants, where the card machine shows you the amount in Euros or Dollars or at least asks you whether you want to exchange. Never accept that since exchange is always already included in your credit card fees and you will have to pay that always, but if you accept exchange at the local point of sale you have to pay their bank fees of 3-5% additionally to all the rest.) Besides that, there are many rural places where you won't find any ATM at all. Similarly to most ATMs, also many Indian petrol stations, supermarkets or other common shopping places a little bit aside to the main tourist spots simply cannot process international cards, they are limited on acceptance of domestic cards only. A very common habit is using your credit card or exchanging some cash directly at the airport after arrival. For India it is even kind of a must for most of the tourists since foreigners are not allowed to bring Indian currency into the country (and even for Indians or residents it is restricted to a small amount only). But I can only suggest to never change more than absolutely required for a taxi and maybe your first payment at a restaurant or some tipps at your hotel, since the exchange rates at the airports are generally simply ridiculous. About paper vs. digital documents: digital is simply a must nowadays but very often paper is still required. Especially since corona they want to have most of the documents printed so they can make stamps or remarks on it during departure or arrival procedures at the airports. Some even collect and keep the paper documents (for whatever reasons). At some airports they don't even allow you to enter if you don't show up with paper. About digital documents: everybody scans the passport but never forget to make an actual scan of your passport also after immigration with the immigration stamp on it. If your passport is lost or stolen it is very helpful to have such an actual proof ...
Thanks for the detailed and thoughtful response! We love learning more about different countries to continue to make suitable recommendations. Again, thank you! -Eric
Hi, thanks a lot for the video and the great tips. Just a thing regarding the digital documents. One should always adapt to the country you're travelling to, and a printed "official look & feel" paper will always receive more trust than a 5 inch phone screen.
“If you’re a travel photographer then this probably isn’t the solution for you.” Haha you said it! My pack will always be the camera and lenses, then everything else packs around that, going as minimal as possible so that I can fit more camera gear!
A cheap ballpoint black ink pen for travel documents, Breath Right nose strips (lessens jet lag), small AAA flashlight for bathroom or whatever and a small three pronged/three outlet travel extension cord with universal plug adapter if I go over seas.
Great content once again! So here's my take: The Arcade belts are all I wear any more over the last few years. In over a dozen times through TSA I have never needed or been asked to take it off... and they are comfy! As for power cables the Nomads are my go to. They can be a little fidgety if the adapter isn't seated properly on the other end, however its just become part of my workflow to check them. They are a little stiff, but high quality and durable. Lately, I've been using the InCharge Mini on my day to day excursions and they are wonderful. For utensils I always keep a set of titanium Toaks cutlery set and a pair of break down chopsticks and they never have let me down. I keep them in a wool Light My Fire cutlery sleeve, and it's just perfect. I keep one in my EDC bag (Bellroy Apex) and one in my hiking kit. But I find its the little things that I use when I travel. Having a card wrapped with some thin cool paracord has come in handy many times when my son breaks his shoe laces out and about. And there hasn't been a trip to Mexico (literally like 20 times) that someone hasn't needed a safety pin. Long ago I took Bo's advice to wrap some gaffers tape on a card which always comes in handy for bright clocks and lights at hotels. Thin aluminum cards are available on Amazon and work great for these types of things.
Wow, Brandon, you just hit us with some fantastic advice! We have heard of some of the products you mentioned but will have to look into a few of them. Thank you for all your insight and thoughtful comment. We appreciate your support! -Eric
Its nice to have couple of coins. Sometimes, coffee vending machines in airport do not accept my card, but accept coins. Some musiems ask me to put my backback in a locker which also require coins to lock.
Backpacks are fine for people who can carry all that they would have in a luggage. I'm old enough to remember before luggage had wheels. There's a REASON that happened. Weight. Unless, of course, you're a reasonably strong guy.....
Hand luggage suitcase is really not a nuisance. You can even put your back pack on it. On the other hand having 10 kilos (backpack) on your back is a major pain in the ass (and worse in the back),
I agree. I once did a four week UK trip with just a carryon backpack and day bag, and almost every day I wished I could get it off my back and wheel it beside me instead. It isn't fun to arrive at your destination jet lagged on a warm summer day and walk around with 20+ pounds on your back. The ONLY time we were glad we had backpacks and not rolling bags was the day we had to make an epic rushed journey from Salisbury to London to catch the Eurostar to Brussels once we realized that the Eurostar was departing an hour earlier than what we thought. Having backpacks enabled us to navigate the London underground in rush hour where if we had had regular luggage we would have missed our Eurostar connection. We made it ten minutes before the train left, so it was a very close call, what with having to go through security before boarding. But the experience was memorable. I remember leaping onto a tube train after my partner, and the doors closing behind me. On my pack! I had a moment of panic until some quick thinking person on the platform gave the pack a shove so the doors could slide closed all the way. I now travel with a smallish roller bag and day pack, but can still appreciate the appeal of backpack style travel bags. Mind you , a convertible bag (with both wheels and backpack straps) might be a great alternative.
Over the last 12 years we have encountered no/weak WiFi and weak/no cell coverage at a lot of airports. It is imperative to have a copy of travel documents that doesn't depend on a connection. We have found pdf or jpg copies on our phones/tablet have been accepted everywhere. This goes for concert tickets too. I was at a major concert at SoFi and so many people were accessing the WiFi that there were many who could not pull up their tickets stored in Google wallet/Google Pay and other digital options.
Last time I traveled I used a Revolut card. Works brilliantly! Currency exchanges are done on the fly and against interbank tariff. Having said that, I will typically have a small amount of cash, just in case it’s the only way to pay somewhere. Plus, a moneybelt with some emergency cash may be a life saver in case you lose everything else.
The other advantage, with revolute cards is they are full contactless and you only need to load them with a small amount of money in case they are stolen or to are forced to take money from an ATM.
In my opinion, the first thing I want to do when I get off the plane at my destination REALLY TRULY is go to my chosen accommodation. Then I want to unpack, and take a short nap. I don't want to go sight seeing immediately after getting off the plane.
By any chance, does anyone know what the backpack to the left of Tom under the GORUCK bag is? I'm a sucker for top loader style bags (I have a Herschel Little America) and am hunting for a more featured similar style bag. Edit: You can see it in the intro shot on the wall behind him. Any recommendations would be appreciated as well!
A point and shoot camera isn't the best recommendation over a mirrorless or DSLR camera. If you're going for portability, then just stick with the smartphone's camera. In most cases, it's as good, if not better, than the point and shoot's sensor, and probably better at low light. And that last bit is a huge one, since a lot of travel photography takes place at night. Overall, though, I'd still recommend a camera with a bigger sensor, unless you're content looking back at grainy photos.
I don't think you guys have ever mentioned it, but the flight flap and more specifically the flight flap xl is a great addition for tablet users. I use it to watch videos when there is no entertainment console on my flight, and as a stand for both my tablet and phone once I get to my hotel.
About the belt, I have been to so many TSAs, they just ask you to remove it even if it does not set off the metal detector. I got scold at for not removing that.
One of the things I chose to do was get only devices that can be charged by USB C so I don't have to be fumbling for any cables all of the cables I've brought all match. The only exception being my Kindle which I prefer over reading on a tablet so I need that one USB to micro-usb cord for that. The problem with taking one of those universal cords is you only have one cord so now if you have to charge your tablet and your cell phone at the same time you are screwed. Also I will say that some of your advice works great when you're 22 but the closer you get to 40 it quickly stops working. I no longer can roll a jack it up and use it as a pillow in lieu of a neck pillow on a flight at 35 years old and those barefoot shoes do not cut it anymore.
I watched this several times this afternoon and I couldn’t see the code. I watched it again this evening and saw the code. Is it still valid? BTW, love the videos. I’ve learned so much.
I solved the secret to sleep on long international economy flights. Use tray table place 3 pillows (keep 1 inflatable with you). Place a deep (so your nose does not squeeze)firm neck pillow like from chiropractor , stack ‘‘em all and put your head down. You will be collapse position so sleep is natural. You cannot sleep easy sitting down as you are not collapsed like lying down. Bose qc 20 will give 14 hr noise cancellation and put a blanket over your head to make it dark.
the anker 3 in 1 cable has a lot of different adapters but it is a SLOW cable because of this. You will more than likely NOT be able to charge your phone or other devices as fast or send data as fast as a dedicated cable. Also, if you are traveling then you are also probably using a battery bank to charge on the go which is even slower to charge your phone.
Great tips on gear. However, the idea of using a gaiter as an eye mask after sweating in the gaiter all day seems a bit gross. Granted I’m a night shower-er, so I guess if you shower in the morning, sleeping in your sweat from your gaiter isn’t that bad? Although if you have acne prone skin, sleeping in your gaiter after you’ve sweat in it probably isn’t a good idea. Also, Toaks makes great lightweight titanium cutlery that’s easy to clean. The cold4ged compact cutlery is neat but has lots of nooks and crannies which don’t seem easy to clean.
Thanks, Brandon! We would also hesitate to use the gaiter as an eye mask if we'd been using it for high-output activities earlier that day. However, if we're casually strolling around town, we don't mind letting the gaiter pull double duty, but YMMV. - Austin
Are you making the argument that you need a separate eye cover? Then pack 2 gaiters. They are lightweight and very small, and still more versatile than an eye cover.
The Netherlands is very hit and miss on cards. Restaurants are fine with cards, but grocery stores never worked. Fast food was hit an miss. Parking meters used a EU debit format that didn’t work with US debit or credit cards.
They’re both designed to meet TSA standards, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the security agent at the airport you’re flying at. If you’re flying internationally, check out that country’s information! -Eric
A a photo ethusiast, I don't agree on the Camera part. I brought a Canon G7x for my trip to Asia back in 2016, but I was really disappointed. It didnt deliver, white balance was off, bad low light properties and alot of flairy and foggy photos. Usually I use Canon DSLRs and yes, they are much heavier, but so much more accurate, clear and quick. You can really rely on them for good pictures worth posting. So if photos aren't your highest priority I would be satisfied with the smartphone cameras instead of the compact. But for me who has spent hundreds of dollars on my DSLR photo equipment, when if not on travels, should I bring by big camera? The extra weight is definately worth it for me.
8:19 I've buyed a magnectic cable for my girl. She has an iPhone(Lightning), an Android (micro USB) and galaxy buds (USB C). This unique cable solved the connection/charging problem.
@@PackHacker Lululemon ABC, Outlier Slim Dungarees, Cuts Joggers, Duer Live Free Adventure Pant (or plain jeans), Triple Aught Design Aspect RS Pants, and the old 2010 First Ascent Hiking pants that refuse to die and make me feel guilty buying new hiking pants (LOL). Just some of my all time favorites.
Wow, thank you for the in-depth answer, Alec! We’re aware of a few of those, but we will pass the rest on to our managing editor. I don’t think we will be able to find that 2010 pair, though 😉 -Eric
Hi folks, love this series, but have to quibble. No way a compact camera is as good as a larger dslr or mirrorless camera. Larger cameras may not be worth the weight and bulk to many, but the image quality is superior. In fact, I’d say that a compact camera (and I owned and ditched that Sony you highlighted), is not worth the added hassle compared to a late model iPhone.
I love your channel Tom. My issue is I'm retiring early and leaving for Europe 12/26 for full time travel. I currently have a Monos check in medium 70L and a Osprey farpoint 40 to travel with. I want to be comfortable and have nice things with me.I have too many of each category.. briefs,socks,tees,pants... that I would hate to leave behind. I have lots of merino wool and tech fabrics. no cotton. How can I convince myself I'd be better with 1 bag carry on and a small personal day pack.I recently ordered a Tortuga Setout 45L to see if that would be enough to travel with. Please change my mind about the spinner and backpack travel.I would hate to be in Europe and realize I have too much and then have to ditch them.If I could sell some of my good stuff now I won't feel as bad as taking it all with me.Sorry of the long post but you are an expert . Thanks. I learned a lot thru your channel.
Having a small day pack in addition the main pack in the way to go. Only gentle pointer I’d offer, is that Europe isn’t remote - if you find you’re missing something, you can buy it there, which gives you some room to risk taking less. If you do find you accumulate too much, you can also ship a box back to your home address.
@@alejandrostrus4252 Thanks Alejandro.I just got a Tortuga setout 45L yesterday and I'm trying to only pack this with a small personal bag. I just have too much quality items I've bought to not take with me . I'll try to stick with the minimum I need and like you said I could buy extra stuff on the road.Maybe I could just sell my excess items.
It depends a little bit on where you want to sleep - I wanted to do backpacking in New Zealand and bought a pack with 60l. But I also would have brought a sleeping bag... So for staying in hostels a 45l is small but doable if you're minimalistic. Ditch some comfort things, only bring small toiletry things and buy as needed. Pack multifunctional clothes - with merino wool I would look for wash sheets so you have some back up. And to pack as light as possible makes really sense - your back will thank you at the end of the day. There are collapsible daypacks - from Osprey for 30€ - that are worth their money and are perfect for city shopping and double as a dirty laundry bag. I hope you traveling in the summer in winter it will be more challenging to pack everything.
That’s the Icebreaker Shifter Long Sleeve Zip Hoodie! Here’s more information: packhacker.com/travel-gear/icebreaker/shifter-long-sleeve-zip-hoodie/ -Eric
Thoughts on travel cameras: If its a once in a lifetime vacation, take your DSLR. If you are in an interesting place, but not life changing, just use a modern smartphone. Seriously, the S22 Ultra and the 13 Pro Max can nearly outshoot my X100v Fuji. I really only bring the x100v it as a backup when traveling with my DSLR. One camera goes in my wife's bag, the big honker into my bag.
Thanks for the insight, Alec! We live in a golden era where powerful cameras are at our fingertips at all times. To you, what trip classifies as a once-in-a-lifetime vacation worthy of a DSLR? -Eric
@@PackHacker For me personally, it would be something special to my interests. Like incredible roman architecture, places halfway around the globe. Really anything that would also take a much more technical camera too, like night time street photography in Japan. For the less special trips, say a roadtrip to Iowa, or Las Vegas, or that all inclusive in Mexico. Those really only need a good phone camera. All my opinion though. Some people find so much more beauty in the everyday and love to have a DSLR or Mirrorless with to capture that magic.
All those trips sound fantastic to us, but you’re right, different kinds of cameras suit each of them better. Thanks for all the input today, Alec! -Eric
@@PackHacker I think the goal and location of the trip, determine the camera (quality) needed. When cityhopping to Rome or New york f.e., you may not need more than a compact camera or current phone. But you would definitely miss out on some amazing details in your photo's when you use those same cameras, when travelling to a beautiful country like Iceland.
Hi Folks Just FYI if you come to Argentina BRING CASH!! If you have an American-Bank credit card you will be charged 45%, you read that correctly 45% if you put purchases on US Bank CCs. Every flight from the USA to ARG is a flying bank, everybody is loaded up with US dollars. It felt weird to me in years past but now it is mandatory.
As a passionate semi professional photographer I really struggle sometimes when it comes to taking a camera. I catch my self regularly packing a „full photo job“ setup for a short weekend trip. With basically everything bar the kitchen sink. Bodies, lenses, batteries, the works. Which I have to consciously decide not to do. A compact camera is something that I am on the fence for but I am just unable to decide. So recently I decided to not take at all if I am not actively planning on doing „serious photography“, and just use my phone. And then I kick myself for not taking a proper camera when I miss a shot that would have been 100% in the bag. But I also realize this is very much a 1st world problem I should not be agonizing over that much.
Hi there PH Community, I am new to this one bag packing. I would like to save some $ by not checking my luggage. I am having trouble choosing a suitable backpack. The ones you recommend are great but out of my price range. I recently saw a US$45 Travel backpack from LOVEVOOK. It looks great but there are no reviews on it. Can you take a look at it and do a review? I'm travelling in November to Puerto Rico and need to start one bag travelling. Thanks.
I took the Arcade plastic belt through JFK security a few weeks back and the TSA agents told me it must be taken off in order to go through the 3D scanner. Plus as it was elasticated it took several seconds longer to remove. In airports with the knife arch style scanners rather than the 3D scanners you may have a better time of it.
It’s definitely an individual luxury but I carry a dual voltage travel hairdryer with me. Being able to blow dry my hair and feel super put together even when I’ve been wearing the same clothes for months (not without washing of course!) I used to feel that guilty because so many people would tell me it was a waste of space but honestly it improves my traveling life a lot!
Mostly seems like good ideas but i think you dropped the ball on the camera recommendation. Point and shoot cameras were a great option in 2005 but there's a reason why they've essentially died out. If you really want to cut down on weight then a Pixel or iPhone camera will beat the pants off anything but the most expensive point and shoot. I also would not forego hard copies of my travel documents. A few pieces of paper is not going to add any bulk and you're far more likely to run out of battery or not have access to Internet than you are to lose those papers.
I just took my Nikon camera for the last time on a recent trip to France. Except for getting pictures of crazy figures on cathedrals, my Samsung A52 worked just fine. And the weight savings is substantial.
I still use the old version of Google Pay, cuz i saw that the new version has some bad reviews. Anyone here uses the new version of Google pay? If i download it, would the new version replace the old version or would I have both?
Our website has purchase options, so you can see where to purchase one! Google Translate: Nuestro sitio web tiene opciones de compra, ¡así que puede ver dónde comprar uno! packhacker.com/travel-gear/patagonia/nano-puff/ -Eric
Watch out for huge ATM fees. Watch out for excessive currency conversion fees. Don't expect every country to be as digitally oriented as the U S. Sometimes the technology has not migrated to that locale yet.
Love PackHacker! But I don't think anyone these days is packing a camera not realizing their phone is really good now. You either want even better photos when you're in a cool new place or you don't. Anyways, I know what y'all be sayin' just feels like a tip more relevant to a few years ago before people realized phone cameras are pretty good/good enough for lots of peoples daily needs. I don't think the ability to make full page or poster sized prints has much to do with it either. I guess if all you care about is sharing photos on Instagram etc then yeah ok sure :D
By digital documents, we mean having your flight, hotel, and other information available on your phone! Many airlines and hotels have apps that make it easy to keep track of all your information on your phone. -Eric
"Every trip you take is a chance to pack a little bit better" - No, you're wrong. I'm buying so much stuff now that it should be a hell of a lot better! ;) But actually I think that doesn't work, because you don't always know up front what works and what doesn't.
I have a Lenovo Yoga laptop which is both nearly as compact as an iPad Pro 12.9" and as light after factoring the keyboard case, an essential if you want to use it as a laptop backup. It has a good 2 in 1 screen, making it pretty easy to use to watch movies, read, etc, and wasn't that expensive (less money than an iPad Air with 256 GB of storage). I love traveling with it, especially since charges with USB C
Always ALWAYS call the customer service department of your chosen credit card BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE DATE. Tell them that you will be using the card overseas so the fraud department does not get worried.
How can you be so sure that Apple Pay or Google Pay will be installed in machines at your destination city???!!?? Not every city outside the U S has started using this new, ultra modern technology.
Save even more weight and just ditch the compact camera altogether. Top cell phones have cameras that are on par or even better than the old compact point a shoot.
Hit REI or any outdoor shop, or any camping video, and you'll find TONS of titanium eating utensils with TONS of reviews - many with little carry cases or bags. As a backpacker, I own at least 10 sporks and variations thereof... 😀
It looks like it’s currently available in the United States! Depending on your location, it may be out of stock currently. You can use the links in the review to see buying options: packhacker.com/travel-gear/cold4ged/forkanife-travel-set/ -Eric
Traveling through Johannesburg they removed my fork from my carry on luggage. They said it was dangerous to have one at the airport. Once i passed the security screening i headed to one of the airline lounges, only to find a bucket of metal forks inside. Needless to say, the airline was kind enough to offer me one of their forks, they just don't know it.
We will avenge all the forks whom were taken from us
😂 the same thing happened to me with a butter knife at the Boston Airport last summer.
I disagree about completely ditching paper documents. My recent trip to Paris, I had my phone snatched and if it weren't for the printed boarding pass, pre-booked bus ticket and other things I've pre-booked. I would have been completely stuck. Having paper backup is a good thing, but I do recommend having everything printed in a booklet so it takes up less paper & space
Thank you for sharing 😃 It sounds like a bad situation, but you were prepared!
-Eric
I have to strongly disagree with many of these points.
Digital documents are great and all, but you absolutely should have paper ones as a backup. Not only may your battery die, but you might not have Internet connection, and digital devices are prime targets for theft. And the same with cash. Also, with money, ATM charges can be atrocious. DON'T get cash out with a credit card. Use a debit card, but make sure it's one of the *few* that has low foreign ATM *and* currency conversion fees.
Definitely, I had issues in China because the laptop that was storing that information chose to install an update when I needed the information and I lost access to it. I would have had a printout if I had had access to a printer.
I strongly agree with these points, having packups of the essentials like money and flight documents is essential, I haven’t had issues with documents personally, and mostly they never ask for them anyway, but my mother has run into a problem where her flight didn’t register on their computer, and I had to access it through my emails, luckily I had internet connection. It’s better to be safe than sorry. And having a backup wallet, with money and an extra debit card is helpful if your main wallet gets stolen.
Agree. I remember, my bank closed my card after buying snacks in the supermarket abroad, because this looked suspicious to security department. Arguing on the phone not helped and it was required to visit bank branch at home to get a new card. Luckily, I had some cash and a credit card of another bank as a backup.
I taught the same, I was like do you even travel bro, try getting into a 3rd world country and try to pay with cards or be worried about carrying that much tech, this only applies if you are doing a short trip inside a first world country
Two is one, one is none is the expression that springs to mind.
Paper document don’t exactly take up much space and storing cards and cash in different places is just common sense.
I take Paper and Digital , If something happens with the phone it is always there as a backup , also there is then always paper availaible on the reverse side if i need to take notes
Paper is much quicker if you need Covid information and e-tickets and travel destination documents at check in when flying to places which need them all.
That’s a great idea, Gareth! Thanks for the comment.
-Eric
Two is one, one is none. :)
I would second this. We learned to keep a paper record of important phone numbers, addresses, etc. I'll just say we had a very "interesting" experience when a phone died. Having phone numbers on paper would've removed the "interesting" part of the experience. In the end we got where we needed to go, but was disconcerting for a while.
I pack a pen or two and a small notepad. When I was stationed overseas, I had flash cards made up with common phrases that I would refer to in case my bad attempt at the local language was met with weird stares. Instead of a fork and knife, I take a spork.
Thanks for sharing, Tony!
- Austin
Keep a pouch to store phones, cable, earphones , other in your airplane seat pocket to keep stuff when not in use. You won’t leave anything behind! Bose qc20 earbuds with 14 hr battery is best kept secret for long flight noise cancellation. Oldie but Goldie. Always wear a light hoodie on long flights. Keep you and head warm.
I always wear Scottevest Travel Vest and Action Adventure pants. Lots of zippered, secure, and hidden pockets. The last thing you want to do when arriving at the Louvre in Paris is pat your rear pocket when you see the beware of Pickpockets sign.
The synchronized wave at 8:42 is both awesome and creepy lol.
Couple of comments:
Belts - I find that in most American airports (especially with TSA Precheck/Global Entry) you don't have to remove your belt regardless of material. In Europe and in Central America, belts are removed, no exceptions.
Camera - I traded my DSLR for a mirrorless six years ago, and it has been nothing but smooth-sailing ever since. With a pancake lens, the mirrorless becomes as compact as a point-and-shoot but I still get to be fiddly with settings and such.
Cards/Cash - I think it still makes sense to have the equivalent of $50 in local currency when traveling. I haven't traveled to Japan or South Korea post-Covid-19 so the cash-is-king sensibility there might have shifted to contactless.
Digital/Print - I'm on the fence about this one. While digital is the way to go, sometimes it requires a lot of forethought-you have to download an app in order to get the QR code/ticket saved in your Wallet (or whatever equivalent in Android), you have to move things to a separate folder in your email so that you can find it easily (or mark screenshots as favorites), or worse, you will need an internet connection to retrieve your ticket. When you print something, you just pull it out of a pocket in your bag, and then throw it away when you're done.
If you are relying on cards, especially in Europe, make sure they have Chips, mag stripes and contactless options. Also for places like India the ATMs can vary a lot, so some will need Mag stripes and others Chips. We never travel without cards from at least 3 providers so we have different ones to fall back on.
Thank you for the insight, Jane! It’s always good to be prepared before you head somewhere new.
-Eric
As of now all ATMs in India have switched to chips. Cards with mag strips only no longer work in any of the ATMs.
There there are local IC cards like Japan's SUICA/PASMO/ICOCA that you can use for travel fares and purchases. You can top it up with cash/credit at train stations. Purchases can be made at the huge train station malls, some restaurants, cafes and vending machines. Some luggage locker systems and rental cars take SUICA too! The card's initial cost can be refunded, but each card is valid 10 years if you are planning on returning.
Since cash is still king in Japan, you have to carry it. Change in coins is definitely not designed for a slimline wallet. You can receive change literally in handfuls if you are unlucky.
About credit cards: Of course they are a must. Some include even travel insurances, health insurance, are required for booking a rental car etc. But for getting cash they are often not really a good option.
E.g. the main problem in India is that most ATMs (especially those in smaller towns or away from international tourist hot spots) just don't accept international credit cards at all. It doesn't matter from which foreign provider they are they are simply not accepted. Even in huge cities it is very common that out of 10 ATMs only one or two accept foreign cards. And if an ATM finally accepts your foreign card, the maximum withdrawal amount is limited on 10.000 Rs per transaction and most ATMs ask 500 Rs (=5%) processing fee which comes additional to what you pay to your card provider at home for exchange and using an ATM abroad. So you end up easily loosing something like 10% on the official exchange rate for picking up your money at the ATM. Some ATMs even try to convince you to book the money in your currency what easily adds another couple of %. (That local exchange trick on foreign cards is also commonly tried in hotels or restaurants, where the card machine shows you the amount in Euros or Dollars or at least asks you whether you want to exchange. Never accept that since exchange is always already included in your credit card fees and you will have to pay that always, but if you accept exchange at the local point of sale you have to pay their bank fees of 3-5% additionally to all the rest.)
Besides that, there are many rural places where you won't find any ATM at all.
Similarly to most ATMs, also many Indian petrol stations, supermarkets or other common shopping places a little bit aside to the main tourist spots simply cannot process international cards, they are limited on acceptance of domestic cards only.
A very common habit is using your credit card or exchanging some cash directly at the airport after arrival. For India it is even kind of a must for most of the tourists since foreigners are not allowed to bring Indian currency into the country (and even for Indians or residents it is restricted to a small amount only). But I can only suggest to never change more than absolutely required for a taxi and maybe your first payment at a restaurant or some tipps at your hotel, since the exchange rates at the airports are generally simply ridiculous.
About paper vs. digital documents: digital is simply a must nowadays but very often paper is still required. Especially since corona they want to have most of the documents printed so they can make stamps or remarks on it during departure or arrival procedures at the airports. Some even collect and keep the paper documents (for whatever reasons). At some airports they don't even allow you to enter if you don't show up with paper.
About digital documents: everybody scans the passport but never forget to make an actual scan of your passport also after immigration with the immigration stamp on it. If your passport is lost or stolen it is very helpful to have such an actual proof ...
Thanks for the detailed and thoughtful response! We love learning more about different countries to continue to make suitable recommendations. Again, thank you!
-Eric
Hi, thanks a lot for the video and the great tips.
Just a thing regarding the digital documents. One should always adapt to the country you're travelling to, and a printed "official look & feel" paper will always receive more trust than a 5 inch phone screen.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, kadscar!
- Austin
“If you’re a travel photographer then this probably isn’t the solution for you.”
Haha you said it!
My pack will always be the camera and lenses, then everything else packs around that, going as minimal as possible so that I can fit more camera gear!
Thanks for the insights, Tommy! 😃 Happy shooting!
-Eric
A cheap ballpoint black ink pen for travel documents, Breath Right nose strips (lessens jet lag), small AAA flashlight for bathroom or whatever and a small three pronged/three outlet travel extension cord with universal plug adapter if I go over seas.
Great content once again! So here's my take: The Arcade belts are all I wear any more over the last few years. In over a dozen times through TSA I have never needed or been asked to take it off... and they are comfy! As for power cables the Nomads are my go to. They can be a little fidgety if the adapter isn't seated properly on the other end, however its just become part of my workflow to check them. They are a little stiff, but high quality and durable. Lately, I've been using the InCharge Mini on my day to day excursions and they are wonderful. For utensils I always keep a set of titanium Toaks cutlery set and a pair of break down chopsticks and they never have let me down. I keep them in a wool Light My Fire cutlery sleeve, and it's just perfect. I keep one in my EDC bag (Bellroy Apex) and one in my hiking kit. But I find its the little things that I use when I travel. Having a card wrapped with some thin cool paracord has come in handy many times when my son breaks his shoe laces out and about. And there hasn't been a trip to Mexico (literally like 20 times) that someone hasn't needed a safety pin. Long ago I took Bo's advice to wrap some gaffers tape on a card which always comes in handy for bright clocks and lights at hotels. Thin aluminum cards are available on Amazon and work great for these types of things.
Wow, Brandon, you just hit us with some fantastic advice! We have heard of some of the products you mentioned but will have to look into a few of them. Thank you for all your insight and thoughtful comment. We appreciate your support!
-Eric
I got the Anker 3 in 1 charging cable and I love it so far. I've been using it at work for my phone but it will work great for other things too.
Rolling cabin bag is best for long flights. I carried a backpack international and it was cumbersome checking in, transit an customs line.
Ditto. I gave up my backpack a couple of years ago for a rolling bag.
Its nice to have couple of coins.
Sometimes, coffee vending machines in airport do not accept my card, but accept coins.
Some musiems ask me to put my backback in a locker which also require coins to lock.
Thanks for the insight! We agree that having a little cash on you is always a good idea.
-Eric
Yep, and public restrooms sometimes require coins or such small sums that a card would be silly - if it were even usable.
It’s good to keep a few on hand 😊
-Eric
Backpacks are fine for people who can carry all that they would have in a luggage. I'm old enough to remember before luggage had wheels. There's a REASON that happened. Weight. Unless, of course, you're a reasonably strong guy.....
Thanks for the insight, Laure! Packs can get heavy 💪
-Eric
Hand luggage suitcase is really not a nuisance. You can even put your back pack on it. On the other hand having 10 kilos (backpack) on your back is a major pain in the ass (and worse in the back),
There are pros and cons to each! Depending on the trip, one might make more sense than the other. Thanks for the insight!
-Eric
I agree. I once did a four week UK trip with just a carryon backpack and day bag, and almost every day I wished I could get it off my back and wheel it beside me instead. It isn't fun to arrive at your destination jet lagged on a warm summer day and walk around with 20+ pounds on your back. The ONLY time we were glad we had backpacks and not rolling bags was the day we had to make an epic rushed journey from Salisbury to London to catch the Eurostar to Brussels once we realized that the Eurostar was departing an hour earlier than what we thought. Having backpacks enabled us to navigate the London underground in rush hour where if we had had regular luggage we would have missed our Eurostar connection. We made it ten minutes before the train left, so it was a very close call, what with having to go through security before boarding. But the experience was memorable. I remember leaping onto a tube train after my partner, and the doors closing behind me. On my pack! I had a moment of panic until some quick thinking person on the platform gave the pack a shove so the doors could slide closed all the way.
I now travel with a smallish roller bag and day pack, but can still appreciate the appeal of backpack style travel bags. Mind you , a convertible bag (with both wheels and backpack straps) might be a great alternative.
Thanks for sharing that story! Backpacks definitely enable you to move quicker in an environment you aren’t entirely familiar with.
-Eric
It’s a great feeling, isn’t it? Thanks for the comment.
-Eric
As always I enjoy the video and the tips
Always happy to help. 😉 Thanks for watching Jp!
Oh my... that quick glance through heavens gate was... marvelous. Really envious of your backpack collection :D
There are a few perks to the trade 😉 Thanks for watching!
-Eric
Yeah - so much packs you probably don't know what to do with them. If you run out of space you can always give them away 😉
Over the last 12 years we have encountered no/weak WiFi and weak/no cell coverage at a lot of airports. It is imperative to have a copy of travel documents that doesn't depend on a connection. We have found pdf or jpg copies on our phones/tablet have been accepted everywhere. This goes for concert tickets too. I was at a major concert at SoFi and so many people were accessing the WiFi that there were many who could not pull up their tickets stored in Google wallet/Google Pay and other digital options.
Thanks for sharing your insights 😃
-Eric
Last time I traveled I used a Revolut card. Works brilliantly! Currency exchanges are done on the fly and against interbank tariff. Having said that, I will typically have a small amount of cash, just in case it’s the only way to pay somewhere. Plus, a moneybelt with some emergency cash may be a life saver in case you lose everything else.
Thanks for the suggestion, Peter! Avoiding fees is always nice if you can swing it!
-Eric
The other advantage, with revolute cards is they are full contactless and you only need to load them with a small amount of money in case they are stolen or to are forced to take money from an ATM.
In my opinion, the first thing I want to do when I get off the plane at my destination REALLY TRULY is go to my chosen accommodation. Then I want to unpack, and take a short nap.
I don't want to go sight seeing immediately after getting off the plane.
I see you keep recommending that arcade belt. The Grip 6 belt with carbon fibre buckle is so much better. Looks so much better and very minimalist.
By any chance, does anyone know what the backpack to the left of Tom under the GORUCK bag is? I'm a sucker for top loader style bags (I have a Herschel Little America) and am hunting for a more featured similar style bag.
Edit: You can see it in the intro shot on the wall behind him. Any recommendations would be appreciated as well!
That’s the Mission Workshop Fitzroy VX! Here’s some more information: packhacker.com/travel-gear/mission-workshop/fitzroy-vx/
-Eric
@@PackHacker Thank you very much for that!
Some good ideas, if they are your thing. Some of us can't be carrying all that weight or volume on our backs
A point and shoot camera isn't the best recommendation over a mirrorless or DSLR camera. If you're going for portability, then just stick with the smartphone's camera. In most cases, it's as good, if not better, than the point and shoot's sensor, and probably better at low light. And that last bit is a huge one, since a lot of travel photography takes place at night. Overall, though, I'd still recommend a camera with a bigger sensor, unless you're content looking back at grainy photos.
it depends on the camera. the sony rx 100 is very good
I don't think you guys have ever mentioned it, but the flight flap and more specifically the flight flap xl is a great addition for tablet users. I use it to watch videos when there is no entertainment console on my flight, and as a stand for both my tablet and phone once I get to my hotel.
Thanks for the recommendation, Albel! I will pass it on to our managing editor.
-Eric
Last tip is the best! :)
Thanks for watching!
-Eric
About the belt, I have been to so many TSAs, they just ask you to remove it even if it does not set off the metal detector. I got scold at for not removing that.
If you are TSA approved you don't have to take it off (allegedly).
Yeah, my last trip from Oregon I had specifically gotten a plastic belt while there to avoid that.
Still had to remove it.
What brand is that bag with the blue band behind you?
One of the things I chose to do was get only devices that can be charged by USB C so I don't have to be fumbling for any cables all of the cables I've brought all match. The only exception being my Kindle which I prefer over reading on a tablet so I need that one USB to micro-usb cord for that. The problem with taking one of those universal cords is you only have one cord so now if you have to charge your tablet and your cell phone at the same time you are screwed.
Also I will say that some of your advice works great when you're 22 but the closer you get to 40 it quickly stops working. I no longer can roll a jack it up and use it as a pillow in lieu of a neck pillow on a flight at 35 years old and those barefoot shoes do not cut it anymore.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, LynnB!
- Austin
I watched this several times this afternoon and I couldn’t see the code. I watched it again this evening and saw the code. Is it still valid?
BTW, love the videos. I’ve learned so much.
The codes went pretty quick this time! Be sure to keep an eye out in future videos 😃 Thanks for watching, Charlotte!
-Eric
Woohoo! I snagged a membership from the code. Very clever hiding spot.
Glad you were able to get your hands on it! Welcome to Pro 😃
-Eric
Any hints on where in the video it is????
@@safebeauty9162 Afraid not! Don't want to give it away. 😀
I solved the secret to sleep on long international economy flights. Use tray table place 3 pillows (keep 1 inflatable with you). Place a deep (so your nose does not squeeze)firm neck pillow like from chiropractor , stack ‘‘em all and put your head down. You will be collapse position so sleep is natural. You cannot sleep easy sitting down as you are not collapsed like lying down. Bose qc 20 will give 14 hr noise cancellation and put a blanket over your head to make it dark.
Great hack for sleeping on a flight! Thanks for watching.
-Eric
My little hack is to bring a mini back pack and put snacks and only the most necessary stuff for easy access if you bring a suitcases
🙌
I carry art supplies so I can urban sketch when I travel. I use travel brushes a very small palette and light weight sketchbooks.
What brand do you recommend?
the anker 3 in 1 cable has a lot of different adapters but it is a SLOW cable because of this. You will more than likely NOT be able to charge your phone or other devices as fast or send data as fast as a dedicated cable. Also, if you are traveling then you are also probably using a battery bank to charge on the go which is even slower to charge your phone.
Thanks for the insight, Chris! See you in the next one 👊
-Eric
Great tips on gear. However, the idea of using a gaiter as an eye mask after sweating in the gaiter all day seems a bit gross. Granted I’m a night shower-er, so I guess if you shower in the morning, sleeping in your sweat from your gaiter isn’t that bad? Although if you have acne prone skin, sleeping in your gaiter after you’ve sweat in it probably isn’t a good idea. Also, Toaks makes great lightweight titanium cutlery that’s easy to clean. The cold4ged compact cutlery is neat but has lots of nooks and crannies which don’t seem easy to clean.
Thanks, Brandon! We would also hesitate to use the gaiter as an eye mask if we'd been using it for high-output activities earlier that day. However, if we're casually strolling around town, we don't mind letting the gaiter pull double duty, but YMMV.
- Austin
Are you making the argument that you need a separate eye cover? Then pack 2 gaiters. They are lightweight and very small, and still more versatile than an eye cover.
The Netherlands is very hit and miss on cards. Restaurants are fine with cards, but grocery stores never worked. Fast food was hit an miss. Parking meters used a EU debit format that didn’t work with US debit or credit cards.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Howard!
- Austin
Is spork and chopsticks are passed in tsa?
They’re both designed to meet TSA standards, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the security agent at the airport you’re flying at. If you’re flying internationally, check out that country’s information!
-Eric
A a photo ethusiast, I don't agree on the Camera part. I brought a Canon G7x for my trip to Asia back in 2016, but I was really disappointed. It didnt deliver, white balance was off, bad low light properties and alot of flairy and foggy photos.
Usually I use Canon DSLRs and yes, they are much heavier, but so much more accurate, clear and quick. You can really rely on them for good pictures worth posting. So if photos aren't your highest priority I would be satisfied with the smartphone cameras instead of the compact. But for me who has spent hundreds of dollars on my DSLR photo equipment, when if not on travels, should I bring by big camera? The extra weight is definately worth it for me.
8:19 I've buyed a magnectic cable for my girl. She has an iPhone(Lightning), an Android (micro USB) and galaxy buds (USB C).
This unique cable solved the connection/charging problem.
That sounds like a good solution 😃 Thanks for watching!
-Eric
what bag is that at @7:45 please?
Oh man, great idea on this video! I had to watch it twice to catch the promo code.
I hope you were able to find it, Joe! 😃 Thanks for watching, as always!
-Eric
Love that group shot at 8:42.
As for the versatile shoes part, same goes for pants. Travel pants is an awesome invention.
Thanks for the tip, Per-Ola! Do you have any pant recommendations?
-Eric
@@PackHacker Lululemon ABC, Outlier Slim Dungarees, Cuts Joggers, Duer Live Free Adventure Pant (or plain jeans), Triple Aught Design Aspect RS Pants, and the old 2010 First Ascent Hiking pants that refuse to die and make me feel guilty buying new hiking pants (LOL). Just some of my all time favorites.
Wow, thank you for the in-depth answer, Alec! We’re aware of a few of those, but we will pass the rest on to our managing editor. I don’t think we will be able to find that 2010 pair, though 😉
-Eric
Hi folks, love this series, but have to quibble. No way a compact camera is as good as a larger dslr or mirrorless camera. Larger cameras may not be worth the weight and bulk to many, but the image quality is superior. In fact, I’d say that a compact camera (and I owned and ditched that Sony you highlighted), is not worth the added hassle compared to a late model iPhone.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Malik. Glad you enjoyed the video!
- Austin
You're almost right , but 1 thing presented I don't agree on; not Netflix to watch your favourite episodes but hboMax 🙂
I love your channel Tom. My issue is I'm retiring early and leaving for Europe 12/26 for full time travel. I currently have a Monos check in medium 70L and a Osprey farpoint 40 to travel with. I want to be comfortable and have nice things with me.I have too many of each category.. briefs,socks,tees,pants... that I would hate to leave behind. I have lots of merino wool and tech fabrics. no cotton. How can I convince myself I'd be better with 1 bag carry on and a small personal day pack.I recently ordered a Tortuga Setout 45L to see if that would be enough to travel with. Please change my mind about the spinner and backpack travel.I would hate to be in Europe and realize I have too much and then have to ditch them.If I could sell some of my good stuff now I won't feel as bad as taking it all with me.Sorry of the long post but you are an expert . Thanks. I learned a lot thru your channel.
Having a small day pack in addition the main pack in the way to go. Only gentle pointer I’d offer, is that Europe isn’t remote - if you find you’re missing something, you can buy it there, which gives you some room to risk taking less. If you do find you accumulate too much, you can also ship a box back to your home address.
@@alejandrostrus4252 Thanks Alejandro.I just got a Tortuga setout 45L yesterday and I'm trying to only pack this with a small personal bag. I just have too much quality items I've bought to not take with me . I'll try to stick with the minimum I need and like you said I could buy extra stuff on the road.Maybe I could just sell my excess items.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Alejandro!
- Austin
It depends a little bit on where you want to sleep - I wanted to do backpacking in New Zealand and bought a pack with 60l. But I also would have brought a sleeping bag...
So for staying in hostels a 45l is small but doable if you're minimalistic. Ditch some comfort things, only bring small toiletry things and buy as needed. Pack multifunctional clothes - with merino wool I would look for wash sheets so you have some back up.
And to pack as light as possible makes really sense - your back will thank you at the end of the day. There are collapsible daypacks - from Osprey for 30€ - that are worth their money and are perfect for city shopping and double as a dirty laundry bag.
I hope you traveling in the summer in winter it will be more challenging to pack everything.
No suggestions for a compact camera? I like the list. And how do you clean the water bottle?
Everyone wants something different from their camera 📸😃 To clean the bottle, we use a mini kitchen brush. The mouth is pretty small!
-Eric
My favorite is the nostalgic Fuji X100V perfect for my needs.
before I watch one more second I have to ask: What is that zipper hoodie and where do I get it.
That’s the Icebreaker Shifter Long Sleeve Zip Hoodie! Here’s more information: packhacker.com/travel-gear/icebreaker/shifter-long-sleeve-zip-hoodie/
-Eric
What gloves are you wearing at 2:53?
Here ya go:
packhacker.com/travel-gear/arcteryx/alpha-sl-glove/
- Austin
@@PackHacker Merci
With Summer coming up I’d love to see a “Gear for hot weather” type of video :)
ruclips.net/video/69RpxlMKLXY/видео.html 👀 👀 👀
Thanks for the suggestion! 😊
-Eric
0:14 what is that thing on MacBook?
Hey Bartek! That's the Rolling Square EDGE Full Kit.
Here's the link: packhacker.com/travel-gear/rolling-square/edge-full-kit/
- Austin
The redhead has amazing hair!
Wow! I learned a lot from this video. Thank you!🙂
Thanks for the support, Jon!
-Eric
Thoughts on travel cameras:
If its a once in a lifetime vacation, take your DSLR.
If you are in an interesting place, but not life changing, just use a modern smartphone. Seriously, the S22 Ultra and the 13 Pro Max can nearly outshoot my X100v Fuji. I really only bring the x100v it as a backup when traveling with my DSLR. One camera goes in my wife's bag, the big honker into my bag.
Thanks for the insight, Alec! We live in a golden era where powerful cameras are at our fingertips at all times. To you, what trip classifies as a once-in-a-lifetime vacation worthy of a DSLR?
-Eric
@@PackHacker For me personally, it would be something special to my interests. Like incredible roman architecture, places halfway around the globe. Really anything that would also take a much more technical camera too, like night time street photography in Japan. For the less special trips, say a roadtrip to Iowa, or Las Vegas, or that all inclusive in Mexico. Those really only need a good phone camera. All my opinion though. Some people find so much more beauty in the everyday and love to have a DSLR or Mirrorless with to capture that magic.
All those trips sound fantastic to us, but you’re right, different kinds of cameras suit each of them better. Thanks for all the input today, Alec!
-Eric
@@PackHacker I think the goal and location of the trip, determine the camera (quality) needed. When cityhopping to Rome or New york f.e., you may not need more than a compact camera or current phone. But you would definitely miss out on some amazing details in your photo's when you use those same cameras, when travelling to a beautiful country like Iceland.
Absolutely, Mark! If you have your camera with you, you can let your phone handle the pronunciation of places, not photos 😊
-Eric
I really wanted that pack hacker pro promo code and I found it but they’re already gone 😭
Hi Folks Just FYI if you come to Argentina BRING CASH!! If you have an American-Bank credit card you will be charged 45%, you read that correctly 45% if you put purchases on US Bank CCs. Every flight from the USA to ARG is a flying bank, everybody is loaded up with US dollars. It felt weird to me in years past but now it is mandatory.
As a passionate semi professional photographer I really struggle sometimes when it comes to taking a camera. I catch my self regularly packing a „full photo job“ setup for a short weekend trip. With basically everything bar the kitchen sink. Bodies, lenses, batteries, the works. Which I have to consciously decide not to do.
A compact camera is something that I am on the fence for but I am just unable to decide. So recently I decided to not take at all if I am not actively planning on doing „serious photography“, and just use my phone. And then I kick myself for not taking a proper camera when I miss a shot that would have been 100% in the bag. But I also realize this is very much a 1st world problem I should not be agonizing over that much.
We know how you feel. Thanks for watching!
- Austin
Hi there PH Community, I am new to this one bag packing. I would like to save some $ by not checking my luggage. I am having trouble choosing a suitable backpack. The ones you recommend are great but out of my price range. I recently saw a US$45 Travel backpack from LOVEVOOK. It looks great but there are no reviews on it. Can you take a look at it and do a review? I'm travelling in November to Puerto Rico and need to start one bag travelling. Thanks.
Thanks for the suggestion Haydn; I will pass it along 😃
-Eric
I took the Arcade plastic belt through JFK security a few weeks back and the TSA agents told me it must be taken off in order to go through the 3D scanner. Plus as it was elasticated it took several seconds longer to remove.
In airports with the knife arch style scanners rather than the 3D scanners you may have a better time of it.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Daniel! It’s always up to their jurisdiction, but we have had good luck not having to take it off.
-Eric
What can’t you live without while traveling? 🎒😢 NOTE: All Pack Hacker Pro codes have been redeemed! Stay tuned for future chances to win.
A good watch. You never know when you'll need to time something and you might not have direct access to your phone
Field notes, a few pencils or frixion pens, and a sometype of ANC headphones
It’s definitely an individual luxury but I carry a dual voltage travel hairdryer with me. Being able to blow dry my hair and feel super put together even when I’ve been wearing the same clothes for months (not without washing of course!) I used to feel that guilty because so many people would tell me it was a waste of space but honestly it improves my traveling life a lot!
Earplugs... the one item I always end up missing if I forget it.
That’s an excellent recommendation! Do you have a watch you like to travel with?
-Eric
شكراً للمعلومات
Mostly seems like good ideas but i think you dropped the ball on the camera recommendation. Point and shoot cameras were a great option in 2005 but there's a reason why they've essentially died out. If you really want to cut down on weight then a Pixel or iPhone camera will beat the pants off anything but the most expensive point and shoot.
I also would not forego hard copies of my travel documents. A few pieces of paper is not going to add any bulk and you're far more likely to run out of battery or not have access to Internet than you are to lose those papers.
I just took my Nikon camera for the last time on a recent trip to France. Except for getting pictures of crazy figures on cathedrals, my Samsung A52 worked just fine. And the weight savings is substantial.
I bet you guys could do raffles/resell bags you didn't like for a quick buck.
Cash is nice for tipping though.
We like to keep a little cash on hand for such instances 😃
-Eric
I still use the old version of Google Pay, cuz i saw that the new version has some bad reviews. Anyone here uses the new version of Google pay? If i download it, would the new version replace the old version or would I have both?
2:49 Donde puedo comprar el ñanopuff?
Our website has purchase options, so you can see where to purchase one!
Google Translate:
Nuestro sitio web tiene opciones de compra, ¡así que puede ver dónde comprar uno!
packhacker.com/travel-gear/patagonia/nano-puff/
-Eric
Great video!! Thank you for the tips!
Thanks for watching, Jessica! You’re welcome 😃
-Eric
I always have space for my Sea to Summit X BREW (a Brazilian very picky with her coffee)
I love packing vids. Looks like I missed out on the promo code or else it isn’t valid in The UK.
You should be able to use it now, William! Sorry about the mix-up 😃
-Eric
Where is the code?
@@felipethepro467 Are you in the money?
The code will work anywhere in the world! 🌍🛩
-Eric
Could not use it from a couple of hours ago too from Switzerland. I thought it was used up.
Great Video👍🏽
I have been asked to remove my belt even though its completely plastic. I find it easier to just travel with sweat pants.
Thanks for the insight! You’re always at the mercy of the security officer, so best to be prepared 😃
-Eric
“or chugging your milkshake. WHO DOES THAT?” BEST QUOTE FROM THIS VIDEO
Thanks for watching, Kevin! But really…who does that?
-Eric
Watch out for huge ATM fees. Watch out for excessive currency conversion fees.
Don't expect every country to be as digitally oriented as the U S. Sometimes the technology has not migrated to that locale yet.
Love PackHacker! But I don't think anyone these days is packing a camera not realizing their phone is really good now. You either want even better photos when you're in a cool new place or you don't. Anyways, I know what y'all be sayin' just feels like a tip more relevant to a few years ago before people realized phone cameras are pretty good/good enough for lots of peoples daily needs. I don't think the ability to make full page or poster sized prints has much to do with it either. I guess if all you care about is sharing photos on Instagram etc then yeah ok sure :D
You mentioned digital documents. Is that an app or something else??
By digital documents, we mean having your flight, hotel, and other information available on your phone! Many airlines and hotels have apps that make it easy to keep track of all your information on your phone.
-Eric
@@PackHacker oh wow.. thank you so much for the quick response.
I couldn’t agree more.
"Every trip you take is a chance to pack a little bit better" - No, you're wrong. I'm buying so much stuff now that it should be a hell of a lot better! ;) But actually I think that doesn't work, because you don't always know up front what works and what doesn't.
Thanks for the comment, Peter! As you gain experience, you better anticipate your needs for future trips and adapt to different situations.
- Austin
5:35 🤣 Who does that? :D
I prefer hard copy documents, they are much quicker and easier to pull out and show to an immigration officer
Why everyone pretends to be a photographer? Just take some pictures with the phone.
I have a Lenovo Yoga laptop which is both nearly as compact as an iPad Pro 12.9" and as light after factoring the keyboard case, an essential if you want to use it as a laptop backup. It has a good 2 in 1 screen, making it pretty easy to use to watch movies, read, etc, and wasn't that expensive (less money than an iPad Air with 256 GB of storage). I love traveling with it, especially since charges with USB C
Thanks for that insight! Saving money on useful products is always a plus 😃
-Eric
What’s the screen size and weight of yours please?
@@LowkeyLukeDnB according to the website it weighs 1.32 kg / 2.91lbs, with a 13.3" screen size.
@@whenhen that’s cool. Same weight and size as my MacBook Air.
Water bottle nice idea
🙌
Always ALWAYS call the customer service department of your chosen credit card BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE DATE. Tell them that you will be using the card overseas so the fraud department does not get worried.
TBH about the camera issue... Leave the camera at home altogether. Most smartphones have good enough cameras for those vacay shots...
Minimalist travel pack - just your wallet 🙂.
That’s one way to save weight 😃
-Eric
Is the code over?
The codes went super quick today! Keep an eye out for more codes in the future 😀
-Eric
Cash is king.
How can you be so sure that Apple Pay or Google Pay will be installed in machines at your destination city???!!??
Not every city outside the U S has started using this new, ultra modern technology.
Tip :
Always get an old iPhone for backup with you
Save even more weight and just ditch the compact camera altogether. Top cell phones have cameras that are on par or even better than the old compact point a shoot.
This video is just regurgitating the same thing from previous videos - nothing new here
I mean what did you expect from a channel that covers packing for travel. There's only so much you can bring with you
You should recommend things that are easy to buy. That ForkAKnife is out of stock
Hit REI or any outdoor shop, or any camping video, and you'll find TONS of titanium eating utensils with TONS of reviews - many with little carry cases or bags. As a backpacker, I own at least 10 sporks and variations thereof... 😀
Do you have a favorite? 👀
-Eric
It looks like it’s currently available in the United States! Depending on your location, it may be out of stock currently. You can use the links in the review to see buying options: packhacker.com/travel-gear/cold4ged/forkanife-travel-set/
-Eric
@@PackHacker that ForkAKnife indeed
Great tip, Zebra Last!
- Austin
i would prefer to skip the whole concept of belts altogether and just wear a piece of clothing with a totally elastic waistband.
i've traveled with many backpacks and now I'm ready to drop 1k on some Rimowa shit
Im Germany cash is king.
So what travel accessories SHOULD I leave behind?
That's a Taiwanese bill on the thunbnail.
Nice catch, Kevin! We try to show different currencies when we can 😊
-Eric
How about traveling with your dog? 😏 Video's coming soon, okay? 😁😂
Now that would be a dream come true 🐕 Thanks for the suggestion!
-Eric