6 Things You Need To Live Nomadically
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Most of you know by now that I gave up my apartment and most of my possessions to travel the world and live nomadically. I've created a checklist for other nomadic writers who may just be starting their adventure and don't know where or what to bring.
Everything I've listed is something I'm currently using and has made my life easier. Hopefully, it does the same for you.
Six Things You Need To Live Nomadically
1. A Sturdy Travel Bag
If you're a nomadic writer, having a reliable backpack is important. Traveling can be rough on your belongings, so your bag must be durable and long-lasting in order to keep your possessions safe. I use this travel bag by a company called Nomatic.
Trust me; it's worth the investment. It's the only luggage I use while traveling. Everything I need fits in this single backpack, and it comes in a couple of sizes, so you can choose one to suit your personal needs.
Mine is 40L. It's the perfect carry-on size for airplanes, so you never need to check your bag. It has a built-in laptop and tablet sleeve and pockets for absolutely everything. My clothes, shoes, chargers, and books have their place.
With these accessible compartments, I can easily pull out electronics during that TSA line without any issues. The material is also water-resistant, a vital feature to look out for when shopping for luggage.
I also use Nomatic's Daily Planner because I'm a gal who likes to take notes everywhere I go and make lists of "to-do's" that I can check off. Having a journal around to create better habits has significantly changed how I organize my life.
2. A Day Bag
Aside from your main backpack, be sure to bring a smaller bag for day trips. I purchased this Foldable Kipling Backpack in Colombia, and I use it everywhere.
I take it to the gym to hold my water bottle, I pack extra snacks, food, or clothes when I hike along mountain trails, and I use it to store my laptop whenever I want to write at a coffee shop. It also came in handy as an extra carry-on when I purchased presents to ship back to my family.
The best thing about this Kipling bag is that it's lightweight, water-repellent, and folds into a tiny pocket, so it fits into my Nomadic backpack without taking up much space.
3. Universal Travel Adaptor
Many countries have different shaped electrical outlets, so you'll need a universal adaptor to bring on your trip. There are so many brands to choose from, but the one I use is Epicka.
This adaptor is compatible with all USB devices. It has four USB ports, one USB TYPE C, and one AC Socket to charge six devices simultaneously at high speed.
4. LifeStraw
LifeStraw Go Water Bottle Filter removes 99.999% of tap water contaminants. It's reusable, durable, and will save your guts. The LifeStraw Go Water Bottle personal water filter has been updated with 2-stage filtration to improve the taste of filtered water and provide even better protection from contamination. In addition to the award-winning LifeStraw hollow fiber membrane filter, the next-generation Go Bottle incorporates a carbon capsule that reduces bad taste, odor, chlorine, and organic chemical matter.
The convenient, reusable LifeStraw Go personal water filter bottle is ideal for hiking, camping, or traveling to areas with poor water quality. It's easy to fill by scooping water from any pond, stream, river, or tap because the filtration happens while drinking through the mouthpiece.
When the filter has reached capacity (1,000 liters / 264 gallons), it will stop taking in water. The activated carbon capsule is effective for up to 100 liters (26 gallons), the equivalent of 3 months of continuous use. Replacement filters are available for sale separately.
5. A Valid Passport
Did you know that for US citizens, many countries require your passport to be valid for six months beyond your intended return date? I sure didn't, and let me tell you, that was not a fun lesson to learn.
The night before my trip to Colombia, I attempted to check in when I kept getting an alert that my passport wasn't valid. I panicked. The airlines never mentioned the six-month requirement when I purchased my ticket, and while my passport wasn't technically expired, this secret rule ruined my plans, and I missed my flight.
I had to pay hundreds of dollars to expedite a new passport to continue my trip, not to mention all the money I had to spend on last-minute accommodations and rebooking flights. This process stressed me out financially, so please, don't make the same mistake I did. Renew your passport months ahead of schedule, and verify the expiration dates before purchasing your flights.
6. Nomadic Travel Medical Insurance
Travel insurance will cover you when something travel-related goes wrong, such as medical emergencies, canceled flights, lost luggage, or delayed trips.
There are plenty of insurance companies to choose from, so I highly recommend that you research and find a plan that works best for you.
I'm currently using a Nomadic Travel Medical Insurance company called SafetyWing.
SafetyWing is building the first global safety net for remote companies, remote workers, and nomads worldwide. They've also created new job opportunities for people to work remotely, so if you plan to travel nomadically, be sure to add them to the list!
BONUS TIP!
Order yourself some Apple AirTags, and put one in all of your bags. If the airport ever loses your luggage or you have something stolen on your trip, you'll always be able to track the location of your things if you have one of these Apple AirTags inside them.
You can also hide one in your pocket if you're worried about the location you're traveling to. Just make sure someone you trust is connected to that AirTag, so they have the ability to locate you anytime.