Are you thinking about becoming a digital nomad? It’s an excellent idea and one that so many people love, but there are quite a few digital nomad must-haves that I’d suggest you invest in before jetting off abroad.
I’ve lived and worked abroad all over the world, so I’ve compiled a pretty decent list of essential digital nomad gear over the years, and because I’m so good to you, I’m going to share my favorite digital nomad equipment and accessories!
So, let’s dive in and find out my top 15 digital nomad products and tech gear to keep you going when you’re out on the road.
The Top 15 Digital Nomad Gear and Accessories You Need To Have
1. Reliable Backpack
If you’re going to be living and working out of a backpack, it better be a good one! My go-to rucksacks are always Osprey ones, specifically the 60L Osprey Ariel Plus Backpack and the 50L Osprey Aura Backpack.
They’re designed specifically for women, so they fit the contours of your back and hips, and they’re easily adjustable to help disperse the weight.
There are also a ton of different pockets and compartments to keep all your stuff organized and easy to find, which is absolutely essential if you’re traveling around as a digital nomad!
2. Packing Cubes
One of the biggest downsides of having a backpack is trying to find things in the giant main compartment. Suitcases might be bulky, but at least you can open them up and see everything!
That’s where these awesome packing cubes come in really handy.
With eight different sizes and shapes, you can really make the most out of your space, and as they’re partially made out of mesh, your clothes don’t get that dreaded stale smell that sometimes sinks in when you’re using a backpack.
3. Electronics Organizing Bags
If you’re anything like me when I’m working abroad, you’ll have 101 different cables floating around in your backpack, getting all tangled up, and eventually getting broken along the way. It’s not ideal.
To stop the mess and clutter, I’d definitely recommend investing in an electronics organizer bag like this one.
It opens up like a travel wallet and has different size loops and pockets for different styles of cables. When you’re a digital nomad, organization is one of the most important things to stay successful and sane – this bag goes a little way to achieving that goal!
4. First Aid Kit
Although you never want an injury when you’re abroad, it’s always best to be prepared. You also don’t want to be carrying round the whole of Walgreens so this first aid kit that’s specifically designed for travelers is a great option.
Yes, most places do have pharmacies, but it can be difficult to find the right way to ask for what you need – we’ve all seen that German-language pharmacy scene from Bridget Jones 2… Best to carry some bandages and plasters at all times so you’re prepared.
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5. Hiking Shoes
Even if you’re in the heart of a bustling metropolitan city like Paris or Lisbon, you’re going to need decent hiking or walking shoes. You never know where a digital nomad journey is going to take you. One day you might be racking up the miles walking around historic cities, and you might be chasing waterfalls in nature the next.
Personally, I love these Columbia women’s hiking shoes because they’re not super bulky and you can get them in a few different colors, which I am always happy about!
6. Reusable Water Bottle
Hydration is key everyone! When you’re out and about on the road you need to keep on drinking water. I know, when the wine is like two euros a glass, it’s hard to order water.
So, get yourself a cute and durable Hydroflask, and then you have hydration on hand, and a beautiful accessory all in one!
Make sure to check how safe the drinking water is in each place – sometimes you might need to invest in a water filter and purifier for your bottle or opt for shop-bought bottled water.
7. Sleep Kit
Whether you’re on overnight flights, trying to get your beauty rest during a long bus ride, or staying in a hostel dorm with seemingly nocturnal travelers, getting some shut-eye is crucial for being productive while you’re abroad.
Block out the noise and guarantee a decent night’s sleep wherever you are with this handy sleep mask & ear plugs travel set. It might seem a bit opulent for a digital nomad minimalist lifestyle, but you’ll thank me when you’re in the world’s noisiest Airbnb or the midnight sun is streaming through your curtains!
8. Travel Adaptor
This should be a no-brainer but you’d be so surprised how many people don’t bring the right travel adaptors. Unless it’s a super new building or hotel, you’re not going to find USB sockets to charge your stuff.
An old-school travel adaptor is 100% necessary.
I’d recommend getting a multi-country one. If you don’t know where you’re going to call home next, having an all-in-one solution is a great way to keep costs and your backpack weight down!
Not all of Europe operates on the same plug system, so you’ve been warned!
9. Microfiber Towels
One of the most annoying things to try and pack is a towel. They take up so much space and normally they’re the first thing we take out of our backpacks if there isn’t enough room.
However, it’s the one thing that’s so hit and miss whether an Airbnb or hotel is going to have them.
If you’re bouncing around from place to place and need a reliably light and quick-drying towel, I can definitely recommend this microfiber towel.
The quick-drying aspect is huge. You don’t want to have your damp towel hanging up in your room making the whole place smell musty and gross, and you definitely don’t want to pack it away when it’s still wet!
10. Portable Charger
Digital nomad life is sometimes about being online in the weirdest and most wonderful places. That does come with the professional hazard of your battery dying when you’re far away from the nearest plug.
Working on overnight trains and at the beach definitely has its drawbacks!
So, I basically don’t go anywhere without my Anker phone battery charger. Realistically, when I’m working abroad, my phone is my map, my reservation keeper, my wallet, my work laptop, and my translator, all rolled into one.
The battery takes a battering so having a reliable portable charger is essential for any digital nomad.
11. Travel Debit Card
If there is one thing I really hate about traveling abroad it’s getting charged to use my hard-earned money abroad. Why are you trying to charge me to use my money?! Well, that’s not a thing with Revolut for which I am eternally grateful.
You can use the app to keep track of your spending and see different conversion rates in a pinch, and it’ll pay out in the local currency, regardless of where you’re coming from. You also get a physical card which is great that you can use at ATMs and for chip and pin.
Withdrawals can have a tiny fee attached but it’s still way less than so many other cash cards and international credit and debit cards.
12. Extra Digital Storage
Working abroad in whatever way, shape, or form that takes for you specifically normally means a lot of online work. So, you’re going to need a lot of storage.
Whether you want to carry around external hard drives and SD cards (I’d definitely recommend this if you’re a photography or content creator), or you just need to upgrade your cloud storage before you travel, extra digital storage space is a luxury that all digital nomads need sooner or later.
13. Door Locks
So, I’ve stayed in my fair share of sketchy Airbnbs and hostels over the years, and as a woman who solo travels a lot, safety is super important to me.
Packing an extra lock for your door or investing in one of these handy and lightweight door jams is a good way to get peace of mind when you’re chilling out in your room.
Traveling alone can be scary sometimes, so I definitely recommend getting safety measures where you can. No one wants this to be necessary but it’s sometimes the sad reality of traveling to different places.
14. Digital Nomad Insurance
I cannot stress this enough. Specialist digital nomad insurance kind of bridges the gap between travel insurance and freelancers’ insurance to protect you and all your digital nomad tech gear while you’re abroad.
After all, if something gets lost, damaged, or stolen, you won’t be able to work and might end up in breach of your visa requirements with there being a minimum monthly income. That’s super scary.
It’ll protect all your tech from laptops to cameras to drones and beyond – far more than a normal travel insurance policy will cover. Realistically, the cover level is more similar to contents insurance for your home than any travel insurance that I’ve seen.
Definitely invest in this as it could just save your job and your digital nomad lifestyle in the long run!
15. Apple Airtags
Keeping an eye on your gear is critical when you’re a digital nomad and often traveling with all your earthly possessions. Nowadays, I pretty much have Apple Airtags on everything I own.
I’d recommend getting these Airtags set when you travel and adding them to all your valuables.
It’s not even just about stuff getting stolen, it also stops you having to rummage around five different bags and compartments to find one particular bit of kit. I’d also recommend making sure that one of your Airtags is in your hold luggage when you fly or travel with baggage in the underside of a bus.
Bags have a funny way of disappearing or getting sent to the wrong location. This way you can circumvent all the airline and airport politics and red tape and know exactly where your gear is. It’s a game-changer that I hope I never have to use!
Are you a digital nomad or thinking about working abroad? What are the digital nomad essentials that you can’t survive without? Let me know in the comments below!
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Vanessa Wachtmeister is a travel tech professional and the creator of the wealth & wanderlust platform, Wander Onwards. Vanessa is originally from Los Angeles, California, she is a proud Chicana, and she has been living abroad for the last 9 years. Today, she helps people pursue financial and location independence through her ‘Move Abroad’ Master Class, financial literacy digital products, and career workshops.