My Gear
This is a list of the gear that I use regularly. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you are shopping on Amazon anyway, buying from my links gives me a small commission. Other products available outside Amazon are provided simply because they're awesome.
Camera and Photo Gear
Wildlife camera and lens
Walking-around camera for general use
The Sony RX100VIII is a pocketable camera stuffed with a 1" sensor and a 24-200mm zoom lens. The detail is awesome, and the reach is terrific for such a small camera.New Travel Camera for all-around use
Sony finally dropped the RX10V in August 2026, and I jumped on it after many happy years with the RX10IV. It is a bridge camera with a 24mm-600mm Zeiss zoom lens and a 1" stacked CMOS sensor. It is the best combination travel camera ever.Camera Accessories
The RX100VII is so small that it is difficult to hold. To work around that, I added a supplemental stick-on front grip that significantly improves grip on the camera and improves stability.I use extra batteries and a charger from SmallRig for the RX10V.I protect the RX10V lens with this UV filter from K&F Concept. It's thin and unobtrusive.It is so much easier to pop out the cards to transfer photos from my camera and drones that an accessory reader is a necessity. This one from UGREEN is tiny and capable.Sometimes, you need a little support. This is a terrific, lightweight monopod that holds either of the cameras easily.
Camera carrier
Carrying a heavy camera is a pain. The Cotton Carrier Skout G2 makes it easy. The secure attachment means you can't drop the camera and nobody can swipe it. The safety strap brings a secondary drop and theft protection system to the sling. The weight is nicely distributed, and it makes walking around easy.Home photo storage
I take thousands of photos. Where do you keep them? Plus, how do you access them? My solution is a network-attached storage (NAS) device, specifically a UGREEN DH4300 NAS with high-performance disks and uninterruptible power.Photo Display
What do you do with all the photos? These two digital frames from Aura are amazing. They have bright, sharp displays, are 100% cloud-based, and offer unlimited photo storage for display.Power
Powering things when traveling internationally can be a challenge. This charger from ChargeASAP comes with international adapters and can charge everything from phones to cameras to laptops.Sometimes, you need to charge things on the go. This portable power bank from ChargeASAP packs big power in an airline-safe package.I have been using the OM-1 Mark II Micro Four Thirds camera body from OM Systems. It is an incredible camera with a mind-numbing list of settings to learn, but if you do, you'll be rewarded with stellar images. It has amazing autofocus capabilities, especially for animals and birds. I have it paired with the excellent M.Zuiko 100-400mm zoom lens. With an effective zoom of 200-800mm 35mm equivalent, the reach of this lens brings distant animals up close and personal.
I use third-party multi-slot battery chargers. They are cost-effective and simply work. Here are the two I have for the OM-1 and RX100VII.
Random travel gear
We enjoy snorkeling. Full-face snorkel masks are a game-changer. There have been warnings posted about the possibility of rebreathing CO2 because of backpressure in these masks. This new design all but eliminates that worry with its improved free-flow design. My new favorite snorkel mask.
Keeping track of luggage can be daunting. These little trackers from Samsung work in my Android world, letting me track my luggage.
Having the right cable is a pain. These multi-end cables solve that packing problem.
Trekking poles can be a great asset for rugged adventures. These lightweight and collapsible poles pack easily and are nice and sturdy.
Protecting your head from the brutal sun is essential. This Tilley LTM6 Airflo hat is comfy and offers terrific sun protection.
Sometimes you need tunes. These S2 earbuds from OpenRock sound great, are comfortable, and pack easily.
These duffels saved our bacon on our Africa trip, as we were limited to soft bags and 33 pounds of luggage. These foldable 55L duffels from Orbitkey fold up to nearly nothing and can also serve as an emergency bag. Toss one in your regular luggage, and unfold it to be able to pack an additional 55L of travel purchases.
When we went to Africa, insects were a concern. This repellent spray from Sawyer makes your clothes insect-repelling. You spray the outside of your clean clothing. The insect-repellent properties last through several machine washings.
Personal Care
I hate flossing. This water flosser works and travels well. I use it every day.
Plain and simple, the Oral-B iO10 is the best toothbrush I've ever used. My dental hygienist agrees.
Looking good takes tools. This hair trimmer trims all the tricky areas like ears, nose, and eyebrows, is USB-C chargeable, and packs small.
Luggage/Packs
I use the Veria Savvy Sleek backpack. I have both the 35L and 20L sizes. The 20L is my go-to, and the 35L can handle everything for a weekend trip. The Sleek model comes with a Velcro divider system that lets me carry my camera gear safely.
My luggage is from Monos. I have the three-piece set with the Check-In Large, Check-In Medium, and Carry-On Pro. The beauty of them is that they nest, meaning I only need room to store the large case once we unpack. That's huge for space management on a cruise.
Home Gear
I use lots of gear at home too, so I figured I'd include those here as well.
Power
I have tons of things to charge. This desktop charger from UGREEN has the juice for everything.
Our busy lives mean that cleaning cuts into fun time. Floor maintenance no longer takes up that fun time, thanks to the best robot/vac I have ever tested, the ECOVACS DEEBOT X11 OmniCyclone Robot Vacuum and Mop.
No comments:
Post a Comment