My Remote Year Master Pack List!

This isn’t an advertisement.

These are ALL things that I actually have purchased, used, and thought worth it to travel with me over my trip on Remote Year. I’m not being paid to pitch anything to you (though, full disclosure that if you buy something from Amazon, I might make a bit of beer money out of it). These are things that I decided to purchase because of research, recommendation, or because I drunkenly bought way too much stuff when I went home ?

Your mileage may vary

Obviously these items are personal to me, so make sure you find something that works for you! The most important thing is that you travel with things you like and feel comfortable with. I’d encourage you to look at the things you use a couple of times a month and see if that’s something you could actually live without.

Key to this guide

Black text | These were items that I brought with me originally.

– Minus red text | Items that I decided at one point or another were no longer worth their space or weight.

+ Plus green text | Items that have been added to my arsenal along the way.

Numbers (0) | This was the month in which the item was added or removed from my pack list, to give you a sense of when things changed.

Technology

Gadgets

Bags

Organization

Clothing

Toiletries

Miscellaneous

Souvenirs

Favorites

Essentials

Macbook Pro 15″ | My work laptop, not a lot of choice here.

Lacdo water repellent soft laptop sleeve | To protect my laptop when carrying it, a simple soft case with a zipper pocket in the front.

HooToo USB-C Adaptor 3.1 | I have one of the fancy new macbooks, so this adaptor is necessary. Small, lightweight, & you can color coordinate.

iPad Pro | For drawing, netflix, and reading.

Apple keyboard case | For blogging on the go!

Apple Pencil | I’m an artist/illustrator, so the pressure sensitive pencil is a must.

iPhone 7S | Obviously. Make sure whatever phone you get is unlocked so you can pop new SIMs into it as needed.

Apple leather case | Essential for drop protection

+ (9) OUNNE waterproof/shockproof case | I originally purchased this for a few specific events, but changed it to be my daily case. This thing is amazing! Don’t worry about your phone getting wet ever again, and the wrist strap is good for theft & drop protection. The sound quality is pretty good as well.

Felt soft carry case | Fits the pencil, iPad, and keyboard case with room for some extras. Bought on etsy a while ago.

Apple watch series 2 | Waterproof & helpful for managing work on the go. I don’t wear it much though in LatAm since it’s a theft risk.

Milanese loop band | The daily wear loop

Sports band | For sporty things (this WILL give you weird tan lines, watchout)

2x Anker PowerCore 13000 portable battery packs | It’s been a godsend to have two of these powerful but small power packs. I use one all the way through and swap it for the other one when it needs a charging.

Headphones

Sennheiser Momentum in-ear earbuds (w/ microphone) | I use these for music & taking calls. I’ve always had a preference for in-ear buds, which is why I went with this style. Buy good quality headphones that you are comfortable with and that you can use for video calling. Headphones are daily carry essentials.

Power & Adapters

2x Anker 6ft lightning to USB braided cables | Seriously though, get braided cables, they are SO MUCH better than the Apple ones. Also, having the extra length is great for not well placed outlets, promise.

2x Apple wall plugs | Pretty self explanatory. I have two with me for various uses.

Poweradd 2 outlet international travel adapter | This one generally stays in my apartment – the multiple plugs are amazing, but it’s a little bulky for daily carry.

Compact international adapter | A gift from a friend, this little compact cube is great for daily carry.

Organization

PowerCurl from Quirky cord wrap | I?Hate?Loose?Cords? This keeps my Macbook power supply nice and organized.

Re-usable wire cable ties | ? fuck loose cables.

Camera

Nikon d5300 DSLR | This has been a solid basic DSLR.

50mm lens | I decided at the beginning of the year I was going to use a single lens, so I stuck with my trusty 50mm prime lens.

Cute & sturdy camera strap | I hate the default camera straps, so I bought a better one! Fashionable & comfortable.

Foto&Tech wireless remote control | For those selfie shots.

SD Cards | I brought all the ones I had, so I’m currently rocking with an 8, 16, 32, & 64gb cards.

Waterproof camera bag insert | I can’t tell you how many times the waterproofing has saved my butt. Fits in all of my bags & makes moving my camera around between them easy and efficient. Protects the camera on the go!

Miscellaneous

The Luminoodle (5ft) | I will be 100% honest that I purchased this entirely because of the name. But, a flexible LED light string has come in handy! I’ve used it as a bedside light (most of the apartments don’t have lamps), On the canopy of a sailboat, camping on the Inka trail, and cave exploring.

+(2) UE Roll | I debated heavily about bringing this speaker with me, but ended up originally deciding against it. Since then I’ve seen a few others with this speaker, and I knew I had to get one. Amazing sound, compact space, hangs from everything, and is waterproof.

+(3) Cooking Scale | I decided to bake cookies and didn’t want to buy a bunch of measuring cups. So I bought a small digital scale!

Chromecast | Most of the apartments I’ve stayed in have had TVs, makes movie nights and watching netflix much easier!

Checked bag | 29″ Samsonite Lite-Shock spinner

There’s a huge debate in the community about going with spinners or backpacking bags. I think mainly it comes down to preference on these.

This spinner fits the max check size regulations, and comes in at an amazing 2.5kg (5.5lbs), which makes it one of the lightest suitcases I’ve ever seen. Many other spinners clock in at around 5kg (10lbs) and when you only typically have 25kg (55lbs) of luggage allowance every single way you can cut down on weight helps.

This has now been through 10+ international & national transitions with me and shows almost no sign of wear, has never busted a zipper, and was easily recognizable that meant the one time the airline lost my luggage it was returned to me promptly! It’s also very easy to see from the baggage claim carousel so no having to double check suitcases. This bag was definitely my most spendy remote year purchase, but I know I’ll have this bag for a long time to come.

Carry on | – (9) Pacsafe 40L Weekender

I like that this has a bunch of safety features, and that it opens like a clamshell. In hindsight, I think I wish I would have gone with a hiking backpack, but it definitely works well. I decided after a while of having this bag that it was a little too big for my needs, so I left it at home.

Daily carry | Fjallraven High Coast 24

Super light, durable, and can be more fully waterproofed using their wax. It can also pack down into its own front pocket, making it a great space saver.

Daily carry | Knockoff Fjallraven Kanken (original size) | Picked this up in Vietnam while I was there for $10, has been pretty amazing since other than needing some patch jobs. Handles heavy loads really well. The link is to the full-price not-knockoff, which is better quality for sure haha.

Stretchy waterproof rain cover | Fits over all of my bags and has been a lifesaver while transitioning and while hiking.

Large laundry bag | A few places we’ve been we’ve had to go to a laundromat/the first floor of the building for doing laundry. The straps make it easy to do that, and the sturdy handle means I can hang it from a door and use it as a hamper as well.

For travelling/packing

Pro packing cubes (6pc. set) | Never not packing cubes. These are SO worth it guys.

REI 5L compression/stuff Sack | For those pesky bulky items like sweatshirts.

Ipsy bags | Good thing about this subscription was the plethora of cute little zipper bags that are great for organization & storage of essentials.

Shower organizer | Standard travel fair. I think I got this several years ago at Target.

Wind Blows travel pouch | I use this for makeup. The slightly padded sides make me feel better about my makeup surviving.

Travel jewelry organizer | Keeps everything organized, together, and protected while I’m traveling.

Travelon Wet/Dry bag set | You have NO idea how much rain & water you will come across. These are a godsend for keeping your money/tech safe from rain, storing wet clothes/swimsuits, etc.

For food

Re-usable sandwich bags (Nordic by Nature – 4 pack) | There are a ton of color options for these little bags. I use them for taking snacks to the workspace or on trips! Machine washable & very sturdy.

Kuuk collapsible silicone storage containers (4 pack) | Useful for storing leftovers! I ended up only taking two sizes with me, the small & the large.

For tech

PowerCurl from Quirky cord wrap | I?Hate?Loose?Cords? This keeps my Macbook power supply nice and organized.

Re-usable wire cable ties | ? fuck loose cables.

For life

Large monthly planner | I’m a very visual person, so I use this planner as an accurate reflection of my whole year & a way to plan ahead. These also come in smaller sizes.

Small post it notes | I like to put my to-do’s on post it notes so I can easily see what I have left to do!

Tops

10 T-shirts | A mix of athletic shirts, daily wears, and sleep shirts. I’ve swapped these in & out while travelling as I find other shirts that I like more.

2 tank tops (+3 more) | I’ve picked up more along the way. We are chasing summer all year long, so I found I needed more.

2 dresses (+3 more) | I didn’t bring enough dresses for various occasions! Some I bought, some I got from other people ditching theirs.

2 Light sweaters | For cold nights & places like Bogota.

2 Long sleeved tops | One fancier button down, one athletic

1 cardigan (-1 cardigan in mo. 4) | I ditched this after being upset about the heat/humidity in S.E.Asia, but I regret it.

1 regular sweatshirt (+1 more) | Brought one with me, got one for our program in month 7!

1 light weight sweatshirt | This has been nice for cold offices!

1 raincoat | A lot of places summer seasons are also their rainy seasons. Make sure its FULLY waterproof, not just water resistant.

Underthings | 3 regular bras, 4 sports bras, 14 pairs underwear, 6 pairs of socks (not a lot of my shoes require socks)

Bottoms

3 pairs shorts (-2 pairs) | When I went home, I realized I really only wore about 1 pair, so I ditched the rest.

2 pairs jeans | 1 regular, 1 black.

2 pairs leggings | 1 hiking pair from that I lOVE from Eddie Bauer (seriously, these fit my iPhone 7S with case in the pocket & can fully zip closed) + 1 regular pair.

+(2) Nike athletic shorts | Standard black nike affair.

1 pair sleeping shorts

Shoes

Ahnu Sugarpine Hiking Boots | These are some of the highest rate and lightest women’s hiking boots you can buy (about 1lbs for the pair), are super cute, & incredibly waterproof! Walked through streams with no problems at all – the only time they get wet is when the water goes over the top.

Running shoes | I started the year with Merrell Vapor Glove 2’s (they can also double as water shoes!) but have since switched to Nike runners.

Flip flops | easy, lightweight, cheap.

– (4) Black booties | They were cute, but I didn’t wear them much & they were heavy so I ditched them.

Black leather flats | Every day wear + a little dressier for clubs when needed. Wore my first pair out, bought a replacement pair while home.

Leather sandals | Super sturdy, had them made in Greece.

+(5) Black sandals | Bought these at the Chiang Mai night market, some black strappy sandals that are good for going out.

Misc.

-(2) One piece bathing suit | Decided it wasn’t flattering after seeing pics & ditched it.

2 Bikini tops (+1 more in mo. 6) | Bought neutral color bases so I could swap them around

1 bikini bottom (+2 more in mo. 6) | Needed more options!

Assorted jewelry | I only brought cheap costume jewelry with me – leave the good stuff at home. A mix of statement & non necklaces, bracelets, and rings.

Head

Shampoo & Conditioner | I brought travel sized bottles of both- they last me for a while.

Shower brush | Great for getting your scalp all clean like.

Vanicream cleansing bar | My skin is super sensitive, so I use this soap to wash my makeup off & it works amazingly!

Foundation/Concealer | I use Urban Decay naked CC cream & Kat Von D lock it concealer

Eyebrows | Dipbrow pomade by Anastasia Beverly Hills (this shit STAYS, even in water).

Assorted lipsticks | My favorite are Sephora brand cream lip stains – they stay on like nobodies business and are cheap!

Eyes | I travel light – Kat Von D tattoo liner in black, and the Naked 3 palette (the rose gold one)

Mascara | Urban decay perversion is my fav.

Various brushes | Face powder, contour, flat brush, eyebrow brush.

Toothbrush/Toothpaste | I love my toothbrush by Quip! (If you are interested, the link is a $5 referral link) I ordered a few extra brush heads so I could switch them out as we travelled.

Hairbrush + Hair comb | Obv.

Argan oil | For nourishing the ends of my hair after showering!

Brilliantine by Bumble and Bumble | This stuff is awesome! Great multipurpose product.

Witchhazel toner | Great for your face, body, and sunburns!

Unscented lotion | No scents are better for your skin, and I’m allergic.

Body

FAB body bar | I’m allergic to added fragrance, so I have to be careful. This soap is great!

Scrubee from Lush | Great for exfoliating, smells awesome.

Various nailpolish | I have three different colors + an top/base all in one clear polish.

Nail care set | Clippers, cuticle trimmers, & glass nail file.

Vanicream deodorant | I have a contact allergy to fragrances, so fragrance free deodorant for me!

+(2) Pumice stone | For scrubbing down dirty feet at the end of a long day…feels awesome.

Essential oils

I travel with some of these & they are great for various things!

Peppermint | I oil pull, so I mainly add peppermint for flavor. Also great for smelly things.

Oregano oil | Good for calming down any sort of skin conditions and infections.

Eucalyptus | Cleaning out your sinuses and smelly things.

Grapefruit | I add this to my water for some extra flavor.

Thieves spray | Natural way to disinfect hands, smells like christmas.

General Miscellaneous

Wanderluxe microfiber towel | The answer to life, the universe, and everything is 42, and you should ALWAYS have a towel with you.

+(4) Umbrella | Monsoon seasons in Asia & rainy seasons in LatAm are real ya’ll. Always have an umbrella.

Traveler’s sewing kit | For minor repairs.

+(3) Playing Cards | For long transition days & downtime.

Hair scissors | I like to trim split ends, and these scissors are sharp enough to also be regular purpose!

Nu-board (the re-usable whiteboard notebook) | This thing is great if you like to whiteboard, cause you can do it while travelling.

Corkscrew | Most apartments have had one, but definitely handy for parties and side trips.

Personal momentos | I carry a few good luck charms from family & friends to remind me of home

Silk pillowcase | Love having my own personal pillowcase!

Hydrapak Stash 1L water bottle | I hate carrying empty water bottles, so I love that this one collapses down to almost nothing.

Art Supplies

+ & – Assorted sketchbooks | Filled some up, left some on planes, but here is a list of my favorites.

Code & Quill | One half dot grid, one half ruled. Great for work wireframing.

Moleskine Watercolor Notebook | Pages don’t buckle, great little watercolor notebook. Copic markers still bleed through it though 😐

Moleskine dot grid | An all-purpose fav.

Crescent no bleed notebook | This thing is made of black holes. I swear to the art gods, NOTHING bleeds through this beast. Not even a thick coat of spraypaint.

Moleskine + Adobe CC | Turns sketches into surprisingly good SVGs using their app. Mostly bought it to play around but works well.

Winsor & Newton Compact watercolor kit | Cute, compact, works well. I got mine for about $20, so you might want to look for it cheaper somewhere.

Water pens | Easily use the watercolor kit without having to bring multiple brushes & find water.

Copic markers | I use their multiliners as well as a grayscale set.

Roll pen case | Cute little case keeps everything together! Got it from an amazing store in Vietnam.

Souvenirs

I’ve tried to keep these small and practical as I’ve moved from place to place! There isn’t a lot of space to be had, so I need to be more cautious than I would for regular vacation travel.

In general, I’ve picked up a piece of jewelry, and kept some currency from each location.

Croatia | Ring & anchor bracelet

Budapest | Ceramic necklace & wooden egg

Portugal | Gold bracelet & some hand painted ceramic tiles

Vietnam | Various clothing, two necklaces, handmade knife, Vietnamese coffee maker, and a ring.

Thailand | Meditation bowl, painted elephant, black strappy sandals, and various clothing.

Malaysia | Handcrafted bracelet, tea from Boh tea plantation (iced & regular), necklace set, silk scarf.

Buenos Aires | Bracelet, Argentenian crystal necklace, awesome patterned sneakers.

Peru | Hand-stitched cloth, bracelet, Andean patterned little backpack & wallet.

Medellin | Bracelet, necklace from a local jeweler, rings, various clothing.

My top 5 absolute favorite things, from various categories.

OUNNE waterproof/shockproof case | I originally purchased this for a few specific events, but changed it to be my daily case. This thing is amazing! Don’t worry about your phone getting wet ever again, and the wrist strap is good for theft & drop protection. The sound quality is pretty good as well.