Travel Gear

This is one of Osprey's only Sideloader Backpacks - my preferred choice of design and my favourite pack to date. Wider than it is tall, I opted for the 70-liter for more space (including a lower compartment) over the 50-litre lite option. Core features include an adjustable, ventilated backpanel, a larger and more easily accessible pocket, and an extra slim front sleeve pocket for those little, instant access extras. With sustainability in mind, it's also made from bluesign® approved 420D recycled nylon, that's PFC/PFAS-free. The extra bonus is the included AirCover - a zippable cover bag ideal for baggage check-in, that doubles as a sturdy raincover.

Osprey is my mainstay backpack brand. The AntiGravity back system and rugged but mouldable fit from the IsoForm hip belt are ideal when distributing the weight. All backpacks come in male/female fit variations to ensure a perfect fit that doesn't bust your back. This Toploader Backpack has multiple compartments in the lid, holding a waterproof cover and giving extra space for packing, and a complimenting bottom pocket, where you can access the main hold. Read more about choosing the best Osprey Backpack for travel.

Pacsafe's day packs are full of anti-thieving design and technology. There are slash-proof lockable zippers, a turn and lock hook to attach and lock your bag around a table leg or post, and RFIDsafe 'blocking pockets' to protect your passport and credit cards from identity theft.

With two main compartments, including a padded 15" MacBook compatible sleeve and side pockets for water and other items, it's altogether a perfect day pack and carry on bag.

During any multi-day, strenuous trek, it's vital not to carry too much in your daypack but still have enough space and weight capacity for water.

The optimal trek backpack should be a 30-35L Day Bag with a Camel hydration pack, and the Osprey Mira 32 litre was my choice during my Kilimanjaro trek.

Practical, lightweight, and stylish, my LEVEL8 carry-on bag is my option for business trips and short stays. I got the Carry-On 20'' in Navy (with the yellow logo on the wheels, it matches the Borders of Adventure brand colours), and the solid shell textured surface is harder-wearing and anti-scratch - ideal for a bag that's flung in and out of compartments and security trays. The aluminum handle is an instant assemble, and the 360° spinner wheels are beautifully gliding, which means no angled pulling of the bag behind you (except on rough surfaces). The fully lined dual interior compartments - complimented by the four-piece travel cube set - are completed with zipper pockets for extra storage of smaller and instant access items.

I’m a huge fan of shoulder sling bags for evening use or when you want to head out without carrying too much equipment.

This is an anti-theft, slash-proof bag with innovative zipper technology and many pockets and zipper closures.

Sling bags are the latest style item and perfect for travelling if you are heading out and only want to carry the essentials instead of a larger day pack.

PacSafe has compact anti-theft sling bags with RFID protection, cut-resistant materials, and enough space for your wallet, phone, passport, and keys.

I’m a roller rather than a folder when it comes to packing my clothes for travel. Rolling your clothes and putting them in packing cubes is an even better space-saving solution.

I’m a packing cubes convert, using different sizes for compartmentalising items, and will never go back to throwing everything into a bag! I especially like the extensive Eagle Creek range.

A set of four packing cubes in various sizes ( including one that fits shoes, and another with dividers) that fit neatly and stylishly in the 20" cabin bag series. What I particularly like is that they are made from thick fabric, keeping their shape and strength while also being anti-mildew and water-repellent – I often use one in my day back to protect my camera. These only come in one shade - grey - which can be limiting for those who organise by colour, but the detachable icon rubber patches for each cube make up for it.

I make it a habit to keep all my toiletries in a single, durable wash bag – it prevents me from purchasing items I don’t need and keeps the weight down to a minimum.

Choose a strong and waterproof material for a long-lasting, high-quality travel wash bag – it’s one thing that gets used to the extreme. 

If you have to pack for two or more seasons, compression sacks are the ultimate space saver when carrying extra gear. I use mine to store my down jacket and thermals since it packs them down into the smallest space possible.

Alongside packing cubes, compression sacks are my staple organised packing solutions.

I always pack a dry bag for travels that involve river trips and water excursions, beach days or treks in tropical territories.

Get a dry bag with a sling handle, so you can use it as a stand-alone bag when walking or swimming. Detach the sling and use it as a protective packing sack in your main luggage.

Mirrorless cameras tend to be more compact and less bulky than standard DSLR cameras. I’ve had my Fuji XT for over seven years – the XT-4 as it has superb 4K filming quality.

The retro design with external dials for a quick change of settings is something I also love about the Fuji XT range.

My iPhone acts as my second camera more than anything, and it is vital for news, social media updates and quick contact when on the road.

Get an unlocked smartphone, and you’ll find SIM cards worldwide easier to come by than you think, saving you hefty roaming charges.

Small, compact, high quality, and easy to use, it seems everyone has a GoPro – and for a good reason! The HERO9 Black shots 5K video, delivers 20MP photos, has HyperSmooth 3.0 stabilisation and is ultra-durable and waterproof for all adventure scenarios.

Even if you are not making movies, your video clips will serve as good memories, and you can even capture stills of your adventures in the editing tools that come with it.

Pocket gimbals are an ideal piece of equipment for creating beautiful videos - think better stabilisation for fast motion, panorama sweeps and vlogging on the go.

While the DJI OM and 3-Axis are popular options, I've found the FeiyuTech VLOG Pocket TO BE the budget option that still delivers excellent results. Plus, it folds down to a hand-size bundle, saving on the bulk of other gimbals.

Anker is my go-to brand for portable chargers that are lightweight and slim while holding a lot of juice. A saving grace for when your battery runs low while you are out, you’ll get approximately 2.5 total phone charges from one of these power banks.

I use Dropbox or iCloud as my backup cloud storage hubs, but I also carry a WD Passport as my portable backup, mainly for all my photos, work articles and essential documents.

A portable hard drive might seem pricey, but it does take a while to fill up the storage capacity and saves you from losing precious memories. You can choose from 1TB, 2TB, 4TB or 5TB.

One of my best and most used items for travel, the Pacsafe portable safe – in 3, 5 and 12 lire options – is big enough to hold your laptop and stash away your essential items.

The material is woven with 360-degree stainless steel wire mesh and can be locked to fixtures in your room, such as furniture and the sink pipes, to prevent theft. A combination padlock is included.

For years I painstakingly hand-washed clothes and underwear in a hostel or hotel sink until the Scrubba bag came along and saved me from the agony. It’s a portable washing machine with a quick load, an inner ‘washboard’ and easy to follow six-step instructions.

It contributes to a positive environmental impact – it uses less water and doesn’t require electricity. Whether outdoors, trekking and camping, or inside your accommodation, you can use the Scrubba anywhere. 

Use the code BECKI10, via the link, for 10% off any purchase. 

I carry this with me every day, and I no longer buy bottled water where possible. With a unique filtration system that removes up to 99.9999% of contaminants, I can fill this Water-to-Go travel water bottle up from any water source (except seawater) and have drinkable water instantly.

Want to find out more? Read my full Water-to-Go review.

Use the code BECKI20 at checkout for a 20% discount.

As an avid trekker, this head torch is brilliant for those early morning climbs, night walks, camping jaunts and as a general hand torch when needed.

Personally, I opt for at least 400 lumens for optimal brightness in a variety of situations. My current headtorch is the Explore RC from Silva.

A travel essential, get yourself an all-in-one travel plug adaptor that you can use in over 200 countries worldwide. Most now come with extra USB charger hubs, a bonus for charging more than one device simultaneously. Invest in a decent travel adapter, like these ones from Skross, and it will retain its durability over the years, especially as the sliders get some wear.

They may not be as comforting and luxurious as a fresh, flurry towel, but a quick-dry travel towel comes in handy for so many
on-the-road situations. A microfibre towel takes up less space when packing too.

This Lifeventure SoftFibre travel towel absorbs nine times its weight in water and dries eight times faster than a conventional towel. It's also a sustainable product made from recycled water bottles.

Ideal for camping, hiking, or if you can’t trust the cleanliness of the bed you are sleeping on, a silk sleeping bag liner is one of my must-have travel items.

The silk options are more of an up-front investment, but they are more breathable, lightweight to carry and provide extra warmth.

I’m useless at keeping keys to locks, so I purchased a bunch of combination locks, set them all to the same number and now never have to worry about getting into my bags. Once again, I’m all for Pacsafe’s range of goods – my locks are still going strong ten years on.

This combination lock is also airport security approved – it allows TSA, CATSA and other authorised security agencies to open, inspect and relock your luggage without damaging your bag.

A step up from a standard combination lock, this one comes with a wire so that you can attach your backpack or daypack to anything from poles, racks and any other item that keeps your belongings secure.

I’ve even used mine to lock my backpack to a bathroom sink when my room wasn’t the most secure.

There’s no harm in carrying a mini first aid kit – it takes up little space, and you never know when you might need it.

I’m particularly keen on carrying sterile needles and syringes for any scenarios where you might find yourself in a place where hygiene is not to a high standard. I’ve always used the compact Lifesystems brand.