New Zealand / Australia / Southeast Asia
Gear & Packing Lists

Deciding on gear and a packing plan for two vastly different climates provided an interesting challenge 

Backpacks & Pack Organization

Traveling for four months requires a level of versatility that we're still wrapping our heads around. A lot of "How will fit all that in there?", while also maintaining comfort and ease of access as we slip in and out of many locations and terrains.

Backpacks

We settled on Osprey's Farpoint line due to their smaller footprint, side-loading vs. top-loading advantage, and fantastic weight distribution while we carry our entire existence on our backs.

Emily
fdasdfasfsafd

Osprey Farpoint 40 Liter Travel Backpack (Small) - Emily

The 40L backpack fits small frames well, while offering plenty of space and pockets for packing cubes and toiletries.

Osprey Farpoint 55 Liter Travel Backpack (Medium/Large) - Josh

This 55L backpack is actually 40L pack and a 15L daypack, which zip/snap together

test

Daypacks

Osprey Daylite - Emily

Men's Sling Bag (any)

The bag linked above isn't one we purchased, but gives you a good idea of what to look for, making sure it's as water resistant/proof as possible in anticipation of those unexpected downpours. Josh picked up a random Puma sling bag halfway through our trip, and wished he'd purchased one at the beginning of the trip. It packs flat, and sits at the bottom of his main backpack.

Pack Organization

Travelwise Packing Cube System

We hadn't heard of packing cubes before planning our trip, and it's hard to imagine traveling without them now. The ability to slide a cube in and out of a bag, rather than rifling through layers of clothing and miscellany, is both a time and a sanity-saver. This system comes in small (2) - medium (2) - large (1) cubes and extra cubes can be used for camera equipment in day-packs. We both picked up a set, and it's made us packing champions.

AmazonBasics Universal Travel Case for Small Electronics and Accessories

There's bound to be a lot of electronic miscellany floating around the packs, given how connected we wanted to stay on the trip. We did our best to keep items related to specific devices into related packing solutions, i.e Camera cords, batteries, etc. in the camera case. For all else, this Universal Travel Case is perfect for keeping backup charging cables, earbuds, a tiny mouse and more in one semi-hardshell case. It's roomy, and packs well.

ButterFox Universal Electronics Accessories Travel Organizer / Carry Case

This mesh-ish bag-thing was a "meh, let's try it out" purchase, but has been very handy in helping us keep all of our power adapters surge protector and laptop charger in one sweet spot.

Waterproofing

SealLine See Vinyl Dry Bag & Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack

We anticipated being around quite a bit of water, whether on the water kayaking, hopping on/off boats or braving heavy showers in SE Asia. Although we haven't had to use them often, knowing our precious electronics and communication lifelines are safe from a watery death is worth the cost of admission. We decided to try two dry bags, one being a more sturdy vinyl bag which sees the bulk of the action around larger bodies of water and a lighter, more pliable sack for days where we think there may be a spot of rain.

FRiEQ Universal Waterproof Case

When Josh isn't busy cracking his iPhone screen by dropping it in a New Zealand grocery store parking lot when he should have just left it in the car or bought a phone case in the first place, he likes to take care good care of his phone. The FRiEQ waterproof case seals up phones, passports and other items of that size for easy carrying around the ol' neck. If anything, it's a double-backup should our dry-bags decide to not be themselves.

Dry-Packs 3gm Cotton Silica Gel Packet, Pack of 20

Although this isn't exactly "waterproofing", it is humid-proofing and these silica packets are crucial to helping keep our devices safe as we move from air conditioning out into the increasingly insane humidity of Southeast Asia. We throw a few in a Ziplock bag and create an "airlock" when moving between indoors/outdoors, mostly because Josh likes sci-fi and making the *shhhhhhhh-hissssss* noise when he closes it.

Ziploc Gallon Slider Bags & Ziploc Quart Slider Bags

In addition to keeping things separate, dry and visible like the TSA demands, these things are just a necessity and they loose-pack very well if you take them out of the box (dummy). We found ourselves purchasing more along the way because they're so damn handy. We prefer sliders over traditional zippys, but honestly the sliders can break and the zippys can be inconsistent. When they work they, they work, just be prepared to be smarter than the bags.

Camera & Video

Camera

Sony DSC-RX100M3 Digital Camera

Perhaps researched a bit too obsessively, our digital camera purchase was one of most important decisions we made. Thankfully, we're thrilled with the RX100-M3! 

We were looking for a device that would get us as close to a DSLR experience, in addition to shooting high quality video at various frame-rates, without a large footprint. We shoot exclusively in RAW format and use Sony's XAVC video codec, which both give us greater flexibility for beautiful post-processing. Almost every facet of the Sony is customizable, and it offers great mobile push and editing options through its WiFi connectivity and iOS apps. Its portability and quick power-on response has been key to capturing shots that would have otherwise been too slow to frame with a cumbersome DSLR. Can't say enough (although we may in a future blog post), we love this thing!

Camera Memory & Batteries

Transcend 64 GB High Speed 10 UHS-3 Memory Card

To take full advantage of the RX100M3's speed and file quality, we needed a card that could keep up. In fact, the Sony will only allow use of the XAVC codec with cards rated UHS-3. This sounds like a lot of jargon, but what it boils down to is speed to write data between the device and the memory card, avoiding a potential bottleneck in that exchange.

However, with great speed typically comes great cost, and many people shell out the extra bucks for a more recognizable brand name (Sandisk, Kingston, etc.). After scouring reviews and doing some research on speed benchmarks, we purchased a couple of Transcend cards that have been champions thus far on the trip. Not a single hiccup, missed shot or corruption.

Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Charger

How we lived with single-battery solutions before, we don't know, but there's no turning back. The RX100M3 uses NP-BX1 rechargeable batteries, and in our opinion the Wasabis outperform Sony's stock battery for a quarter of the cost. This two-pack with included charger is a no-brainer, and the bonus car-charger made extra sure we were never without power. When we get back to the states, we'll purchase two more pairs. We're that impressed.

Camera Accessories

Sony AGR2 Attachment Grip

This front-side grip accessory is an absolute MUST for the RX100-M3, and we're not sure why isn't included in the kit to begin with. It's super-easy to install, and if you've got butterfingers (Josh...), it'll keep your sobbing to a minimum. 

Sony PCKLM15 LCD Protector

Again, another must-buy for the RX100-M3. We try to keep the camera in-hand or in-case as much as possible, but we can see that despite our babying it's already protected the stock LCD from many little scratches. Best part is how inexpensive it is, which makes it easily replaceable after heavy use or a long trip. No added bulk, and another easy install.

Olympus Adjustable Wrist Strap

We needed an inexpensive, yet comfortable wrist strap to add another layer of protection to our investment. It just works, and has saved ol' butterfingers numerous times.

Sony LCSCSJ Soft Carrying Case

The temptation to go all-out to protect our camera-baby was a bit crazy. We looked at expensive straps, cases, you name it... at the end of the day, space and cost became priority. Sony's soft-case fits: the RX-100M3, two batteries, two memory cards and screen cloths with room for a bit more. No-brainer purchase.

Joby GP1-A1EN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod

Since we were going to visit New Zealand's dark-sky preserve, we needed something light and portable, which could latch onto anything , holding reallllllly still while we shot the stars. Mission accomplished. Additionally, we've used it for GoPro time-lapses in some unique places.

Video

GoPro HERO4 Silver (or excellent starter bundle option)

We'll admit, at first we didn't really know what to do with the GoPro. You see all these cool action-sports videos of back-flipping snowboards and think "hell yeah, that's me." Except when it's not you. Turns out, the GoPro is an ultra-versatile creative tool, not just an action-sports camera. Its only limit is your imagination.

Since we didn't need the latest 4k bells and whistles, we thought we'd just "settle" for the Hero4 Silver. If this is settling, consider us entrenched. There isn't one setting/mode/option we haven't explored and it shoots beautiful footage, stills and time-lapses. We've taken it underwater in the ocean and through windy, sandblasted mountain valleys. It comes standard with a waterproof housing and three "doors" that are tailored to shooting scenarios. Two of the doors trade ability to shoot at varying depth with a bit more sound, one adding touch-screen sensitivity, and the remaining door exposes the touch-screen and records a fuller ambient audio. The only downside to the GoPro is that we're shooting with it at such a furious pace, we haven't made much time to sit down and edit/post.

The accessories that follow help make this tiny thing magic...

GoPro Accessories 

GoPro Smart Remote

This last-minute decision ended up being one of the smartest. When you're using a GoPro head-mount, and say... on the ocean in a kayak, the last thing you want to do is reach up or dismount it to start/stop video every time you want to capture something. The remote comes with a wrist-strap, charges via USB and is waterproof in shallower depths. However, be aware that it doesn't transmit wirelessly when the GoPro itself is underwater. No big deal there, as it picks up the wireless signal as soon as the camera is above the surface again.

Luxebell Selfie Stick Adjustable Telescoping Monopod Pole (12" - 37.2")

The idea of buying into the self-stick craze was something we thought laughable, but this monopod creates many more unique filming opportunities than if you were to just hand-hold the GoPro.  It provides a variety of lengths due with its telescoping capabilities, and is comfortable to hold and includes a backup wrist-strap. It's not only great for GoPro, but also includes a camera mount adapter which we use to add some stability when shooting video with the RX1o0M3. The GoPro rarely leaves the monopod at this point, and we've really enjoyed having it with us!

GoPro Headstrap Mount + Quick Clip

Since Josh looks like a dork most of the time, why not add to the fun! We're kidding (sort of), but when considering how to get some hands-free action shots, this duo of mounts made sense. Although we haven't used the Headstrap Mount itself yet, we've used the Quick Clip a ton. Josh usually attaches it to a baseball cap (GO CARDINALS!), which also fits under a helmet if needed. We've shot from the kayak, go-karts, while trekking... we love the first-person POV.

GoPro Tripod Mounts

In order to use the Hero4 with our Gorillapod, we had to pick up this inexpensive set of tripod mounting options. It's been great to combine those forces for some stunning time-lapses. Totally necessary if you're wanting some versatility with a minimal amount of gear.

CamKix Re-usable Anti-Fog Inserts

We're impressed how truly waterproof the GoPro housing is, but since we're overly cautious about the humid environments we use the camera in, we wanted to make sure we're keeping it nice and dry. These very simple paper inserts look like large tabs of blotter acid (not that we'd know) and we place a couple in the housing, one on the bottom, one on the non-button side.

Smatree SmaCase G75- Small Case for GoPro

This case provides amazing value for the money. Seriously, buy one for every friend with a GoPro and reap the snowboard backflipping rewards when they make you their new best friend. Inside we fit: the Hero4, housing, three doors, two batteries, extra micro-SD's, micro-SD to SD adapter, micro-SD USB 3.0 adapter, Smart Remote and all its accessories, cleaning cloths, a few mounts... keep going, you say? Alright... Boba Fett keychain, tarantula sweaters, tuna sandwich, d20, vial of water bears that ride seamonkeys, and a chipped-off piece of a porcelain kitchen sink.

GoPro Memory & Batteries

SanDisk Extreme 64GB MicroSDXC UHS-I / U3 Card with Adapter

Like the memory card for the RX100-M3, the Hero4 takes full advantage of speedier cards depending on the shooting scenario. Not wanting to deal with bottlenecks in file writing, it just made sense to go big with this UHS I (ultra high speed) / U3 64 gig tiny-monster. To quote Genie in Disney's Aladdin, "Phenomenal cosmic powers... itty-bitty living space!" As an added bonus, the card comes with a micro-SD to SD converter.

Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Dual Charger for GoPro HERO4

We won't go into much more depth about the importance of multiple batteries. If you missed some of that depth, check the Camera section above. Wasabi kicks ass, and we're especially happy being able to charge two at once via USB.

Other Electronics

Laptop we were going to bring

Acer Chromebook, 11.6-Inch, CB3-111-C670 (Intel Celeron, 2GB, 16GB SSD, White)

When we originally planned on the making the trip, we wanted to maximize weight and prevent expensive losses should something less-than satisfactory happen. We started looking into Chromebooks as an alternative to a recently purchased Macbook Pro, and decided to pull the trigger on the well-reviewed Acer 11.6".

We received the Chromebook a month before our departure, and Josh was using it every day while Emily did some heavy-lifting for the trip on the MBP. It's a surprisingly fun and versatile little machine! If you're going for the basics a trip usually necessitates (i.e. Google Maps, Gmail/webmail, run-of-the-mill web browsing), the Acer 11.6" can pretty much handle what you throw at it. Also, there are a number of "apps" that you can install to expand the basic experience, including photo editing web-apps, Evernote and more. Since we like to hack around a bit, Josh even installed Linux on it using Crouton, which adds even more features if you can handle the technical aspects of learning an Linux environment.

Alas, there were some deal-breakers that made us eventually choose the more powerful option, thus the...

Laptop we actually brought

Macbook Pro 13.3" Retina (Spring 2015, 2.7 GHz Dual Core Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 128GB HD)

MBP for life, yo. 

The difference here is that, aside from being a beast with a small footprint, we needed something that could handle multiple tasks at once without much slowdown. Since we decided to invest in the creative side of our brand, we wanted a machine that allows us to work in familiar environments. Being able to utilize Adobe's Lightroom and Photoshop, iMovie, Dropbox for photo/video backup and other more robust apps is what solidified bringing it along. Zero regret.

Portable & Flash Drives

WD My Passport Ultra 2 TB Portable External Hard Drive

Lots of space in a hard drive that fits in your hand. Well, Josh's hand, but you get the point... We use the 2TB, USB 3.0 drive as our main storage solution. It's a spinning disk drive as opposed to a solid-state, which is a bit cost prohibitive, but we take very good care not to jostle it. You may now give us bonus points to saying "jostle".

Note: There are two versions of these WD My Passport drives. One is a Windows formatted (NFTS) drive, the other an Mac OS X formatted (HFS+) drive. It doesn't matter which one you purchase, you can always format it to match the file system your OS prefers. In fact, we had no issue formatting it for use on the Chromebook, which uses yet another file system.

WD My Passport Ultra 1 TB Portable External Hard Drive

Backup drive! Every couple of days we manually backup one hard drive to the other, which is probably an wholly inefficient system, but we're too lazy to do it the sweet way. Point is, we're very careful to have as much file redundancy as possible and keep the drives in separate bags, should one decide to stay behind at a port of its choosing. You'll love Kuala Lumpur little hard drive, go be you!

AmazonBasics Hard Carrying Case for My Passport Essential

If you're the WD My Passport route, grab two of these. Inexpensive and tough enough to slide around your bags. An elastic mesh pocket keeps the WD USB cords in place, and could fit some other odds and ends if necessary.

SanDisk Cruzer CZ36 128GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive

Flash drives are cheap, why not grab one for whatever crazy reason you may need one. So far, we've only used it to print some documents at local print shops, but that alone saves us some headaches.

If you're purchasing a Chromebook, be sure to buy a separate 4GB + flash drive to create a recovery media. Sometimes the ChromeOS can be a jerk, and the last thing you want is to be stranded without a machine to cure the boredom.

Adapters & Power

Belkin SurgePlus 3-Outlet Mini Travel Swivel Charger Surge Protector with Dual USB Ports (2.1 AMP / 10 Watt)

A week before we were about to depart, Josh happened to read an article about Myanmar's... interesting power infrastructure. Some areas, outlets, etc. are prone to surges, and the last thing we need is a fried device. The Belkin SurgePlus has been fantastic piece of gear, and gives us plenty of options to charge, including two onboard USB ports. We were worried it would be larger than expected, but it's surprisingly small and packs well. Can't live without it at this point.

Power Socket Adapters - full list

Miscellaneous Electronics

Logitech Wireless Mini Mouse

It's mini alright, and does mouse stuff like pointing, clicking and scrolling. If anything, we just got it to make fun of how little it looks in Josh's hand. All kidding aside, Logitech just makes reliable peripherals for just about every scenario, which in this case is the smallest mouse possible should the trackpad become annoying.

AmazonBasics Apple Certified Lightning to USB Cable

Two Lightning-based devices, two extra Lightning cables. Inexpensive compared to the real deal.

Panasonic RPHJE120K In-Ear Headphone

It was hard to leave behind the bulky noise-cancelling over-ear headphones we'd grown accustomed to on our shorter travels. Since space was of the essence, we chose some extra pairs of Josh's go-to earphones, which he buys at least once a quarter. Great sound and tone-range for next to nothing.

Ipad

ipod -- full of podcasts

2 x kindles

Security

Zero Grid Money Belt w/RFID Blocking 2 in 1 Travel Wallet & Passport Holder

This money belt is for when we feel we're in some sketchy or unsafe areas, or need to carry along our passports and don't plan on having people getting nosy in our shorts-regions. So far we haven't felt unsafe, or the need to look like uber-tourists/magicians by pulling money-rabbits from our undergarments.

Zero Grid Neck Pouch w/RFID Blocking 2 in 1 Passport Holder & Travel Wallet

Same as above, except it goes around your neck. Your choice, buddy.

Pacsafe Luggage Slingsafe 100 Gii Anti-Theft Shoulder Bag

The Batmobile of travel purses. If you're a purse-cutter or pickpocket, this purse is your sworn enemy. It has an "exomesh" that prevents slashing of both the body and strap, is water resistant during those Malaysian downpours and is actually quite fashionable. You'd never know this purse could kill you in your sleep.

Note: I wonder who wrote this one... Emily says the bag is "pretty dope."

Tarriss TSA Lock - TSA Luggage Locks for Travel - 2 Pack

We're not going to pretend TSA locks are anything but mild annoyances for those who actually want to get into our packs, but we like to think they do make those jerks think twice about messing with our stuff. Peace of mind for us, which is worth the easy price tag.

Medical & Health Supplies

Band-Aid Variety Pack & Blister Cushions

Cuts, scrapes and blisters are bound to happen, especially when you're rockin' the outdoors like we did in New Zealand. We even had to cover some sand fly bites because they were so damn itchy. A few large blisters that formed as our city feet morphed into Hobbit feet were lovingly covered by the cushions, and made for comfortable next-day hikes.

Claritin Non-Drowsy 24 hour Allergy Relief or Zyrtec Allergy Relief

Allergy medication is a matter of personal preference, but we're both plagued by all-season allergies and bringing these along has made a world of difference as we adjust to local flora.

Iodine or Neosporin First-Aid Antibiotic Ointment

Iodine was recommended to us by our travel doctor for wound disinfectant, but we brought both it and Neosporin just in case.

Ultra-soft Earplugs

Doesn't matter where you get them or which brand you choose, but earplugs are worth bringing as there's always a chance it gets rowdy outside... or next door *nudge nudge*.

Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief

Sh*t happens. Because we're food-venturous, street stalls filled with delicious unknowns can pose potential problems. Better safe than sorry!

Gatorade Thirst Quencher Powder

Due to the aforementioned happenings, it's important to restore those electrolytes. We bought in bulk and packed 8 or so, which means we get to come home to more delicious Gatorade.

Hand Sanitizer

Again, it doesn't really matter what brand you choose as long as its travel-sized, and ready at hand.

Systane Lubricant Eye Drops or Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops

This one we will be brand-specific about. Systane and Refresh brands were recommended by Josh's ophthalmologist after his Lasik surgery a few years ago, as they're closer to natural tears than your average drop. We've been in some seasonally dry environments, and drops morning and night have kept the ol' sockets nice and healthy.

Nail clippers

Lip balm with sunscreen

Laundry detergent

Face lotion with sunscreen

Mini hair brush

Tweezers

Supply of contact lenses an eye glasses

Clothes line

Hair ties, headband, bobbypins

Platypus waterbottles

Tampons

Notebooks + pens

Afrin nasal spray + mucinex (decongestants)

Towels

Probiotics

Vitamin tablets

Things people probably need but we bought abroad:

Shoe insoles, ziploc bags, umbrellas, more sunscreen, shampoo / conditioner, lots of napkins / tissues, sun hat

Things we brought and haven't used?

Bug Protection

Sawyer Permethrin Insect Repellent Aerosol Spray for Clothing

Permethrin was recommended to us by our travel doctor as a first line of defense against nasty, bite-y insects. Spray this non-scented spray on your clothing and it lasts through quite a few washes. Even though it's an aerosol, we put it in our checked bags without issue as it's non-flammable.

3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent Lotion

Another travel doctor recommend. Initially developed for the US Military, what sets Ultrathon apart is its formula to extend protection over many hours with less DEET and less evaporation. Normally we'd be completely opposed to slathering ourselves with anything DEET-related, but it's wholly unwise to ignore the risks mosquito-borne diseases present in this part of the world.

Repel Sportsmen 30-Percent Deet Mosquito Repellent Wipes

These repellent wipes were a personal choice for quicker application and portability. Throw a few in a quart bag and go.

Clothing

Clothing is all personal preference, but there are some items or brands we feel made a big difference in the comfort of our experience.

Josh's Clothing

Shirts

2 x cotton t-shirts
1 x moisture wicking t-shirt
1 x tank top
1 x cotton polo shirt
1 x light cotton oxford
1 x light cotton long-sleeve henley
1 x light cotton long-sleeve button up
1 x sweatshirt (no hood)

Pants & Shorts

2 x cotton chinos
1 x shorts
1 x active shorts
1 x board shorts

Undergarments & Socks

4 x ExOfficio Give-N-Go boxer-briefs
2 x Darn Tough Merino Wool No-Show Socks
1 x Darn Tough Merino Wool Micro Crew Sock
1 x Darn Tough Crew Light Cushion Hiking Socks

Outerwear

Patagonia R1 Fleece Jacket
Marmot Precip Jacket
Thinsulate Thermal Lined Gloves
Knit Beanie

Footwear

Merrell Men's Moab Ventilator Hiking Shoe
Teva Men's Mush II Flip Flop
Teva Men's Hurricane XLT Sandal
TOMS Men's Classic Canvas Slip-On

Accessories

Sunglasses
Belt