Ultimate Digital Nomad Packing List

From Summer 2018 I will be embarking on a not-so-little adventure around the world as a digital nomad.

I will be taking my work and life on the road with just one 45L carry-on bag crammed full of the stuff. Hitting the warm climates, sun scorched tropical island beaches, far away from cloudy, rainy London. That’s the plan anyway.

It’s something that I have been planning for the last 18 months but finally, it’s getting close, with just 6 months to go until I pack up my life and try the nomad way of life for a little while.

This article will be updated while I am on the road, but for now, here is my pre-digital nomad packing list.

My Digital Nomad Packing List

The Bag

The bag is probably the single most important part of a digital nomad packing list. Get the bag wrong and you could have too little space, or be carrying around huge amounts of stuff that you probably don’t really need.

In my opinion, get a bag that fits most airline carry-on standards. This way you can save a few quid not paying for checked baggage, plus there is less stuff you need to carry around.

My bag of choice is a Lowe Alpine AT Carry-On 45L bag which I have used before on trips including Stavanger and Tenerife, where I had plenty of room (and weight) left over.

As of yet, I have no complaints. It’s compact and does the job.

Documents

1. Passport
2. Driving Licence (Card)
3. Driving Licence (Paper)
4. Driving Licence Report – For hiring a car
5. Driving Licence Report – For hiring a car
6. 2 Bank Statements
7. 2 Utility Bills
8. Spare Passport Photos
9. Insurance
10. EHIC Card
11. Flight Tickets & Info
12. Cash
13. Credit Card
14. Debit Card

Toiletries

1. Bodywash
2. Toothpaste
3. Toothbrush
4. Tweezers
5. Razor
6. Shaving Gel
7. Deodorant
8. Hand sanitiser
9. Plasters
10. Painkillers
11. Washing powder
12. Insect Repellent

Dietary

1. Buscopan
2. Huel Bars
3. Vitamin Tablets

Clothing

1. T Shirt
2. Shirt
3. Trousers
4. Shorts
5. Swimshorts
6. Boxers
7. Socks
8. Plimsoles
9. Sandals
10. Boots

Work and Tech

1. Laptop
2. Laptop Charger
3. Laptop Case
4. iPhone
5. iPhone Battery Case
6. Long USB for iPhone
7. iPhone Charger
8. Plug In Headphones (Not Wireless)
9. Plug Adapter

Misc

1. Small packable backpack
2. Ankle Supports – Always twisting my ankles hiking
3. Sunglasses
4. Towel

Other things I’m definitely not bringing

I am a techie and I love my gadgets but there are quite a few things that will just weigh me down. So, here is a list of the stuff that I am definitely not bringing and, more importantly, why.

1. Apple Watch – I did love my Apple Watch, and I still do, but the battery does not last. It’s another expensive gadget that could get lost, stolen, or broken. Plus, it requires another charger. Not really practical.

2. Wireless Headphones – Again just another thing you have to charge, lose, or get stolen. Not worth the hassle.

Not going to bother doing this either

I was thinking about how I can make my life easier and carry less stuff, so I thought about how I could upgrade or buy replacement gear that would make my life easier. Here’s what I thought about and decided against.

1. New MacBook Pro – Again, it would be great to upgrade from a late 2013 15-inch MacBook Pro to a brand new one. But there’s very little weight savings or performance increases. So deciding against that is an easy way to save £2000. I will just look after my MBP and see how it goes. If your laptop needs a little kick up the butt, then you can try upgrading it yourself. Try Crucial, who have a handy upgrade tool that will help you identify what you can do to squeeze extra life out of your brick.

What’s in your digital nomad packing list?

Ok, so that’s whats in my digital nomad packing list, but what’s in yours? Let me know below. Yup, I am a newbie so still super keen to learn a few tricks before I start my adventure.