The gear and tools I actually use.
Nothing here is on the list because someone paid for it. If a link is affiliate, I'll always say so.
Bags & packing
Osprey Fairview 40L
Three years, four continents, zero complaints. Carry-on legal on every airline I've tried.
Packing cubes (any brand)
I resisted these for years out of pure principle. I was wrong. They actually do change everything.
Money & cards
Wise multi-currency card
Honest exchange rates and no surprise fees. The card that quietly saved me hundreds last year.
Revolut (as a backup)
I keep this as my backup card from a different bank. Saved me once outside Marrakech. Worth the five minutes to set up.
Connectivity & safety
Airalo eSIM
Data the moment you land. No SIM-swap dance at the airport. Works basically everywhere I've been.
SafetyWing insurance
Used it once in Vietnam, got reimbursed without a fight. That's the only review that matters.
Apps & tools
Maps.me (offline maps)
Free, offline, and weirdly better than Google Maps in places with patchy signal. My desert camp lifesaver.
A real, paper notebook
Yes, really. Customs forms, hostel WiFi codes, and the one cafe you'll never find on Instagram.
Some links above are affiliate links. They cost you nothing extra and help keep this site ad-free-ish. I only ever recommend things I've actually used and would tell a friend about over coffee.
One email a month. No filler.
One new route, one tip I learned the hard way, one thing I'm bookmarking. That's it.