Essential Ultralight Travel Gear for the Adventure Traveler

I’m a proponent of ultralight backpacking so most of my gear is multi-purpose, like stuffing your jacket or pants into a compression pack and using it as a pillow. It also depends on where I’m going or what I’m doing as well. I’m not going to carry my snowboarding gear when out Kiteboarding on a tropical island! I suppose you could rent all this stuff at the location but I’m particular about my boards and gear – They’re all high-quality stuff that specifically fit me (Splitboard). I’m just not into rentals.

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BACKPACKING GEAR

Here’s my go-to gear for backpacking and backpacking overseas.

Osprey Atmos 65 AG Backpack

Osprey makes awesome backpacks! They’re very lightweight, very sturdy, and very comfortable to wear. I use these backpacks for backcountry excursions where I need to shave off a few pounds.

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Avalung Winter Pack

This is my winter backcountry backpack. It’s got an Avalung contraction integrated right inside the backpack. What’s an Avalung?  It allows you to breathe and take in oxygen in case you get buried in an avalanche. It might give you an extra 45 minutes of breathable air while rescuers dig you out. In the summer, I take out the Avalung contraption and use it as a regular daypack. When I travel overseas, I carry it as an extra backpack with the Eagle Creek above; I carry it in front of my chest

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Mountain Hardwear Men’s Down Jacket

I never leave home without a lightweight down jacket. I often go to places where the weather is variable. It’s warm, lightweight, compact, and stylish. Never get caught unprepared!

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Packing Cubes

Nobody likes clutter. It slows you down when you’re continually fumbling to find where things are. Packing cubes help you organize your stuff so that you can focus on the things that are more important. Like travel and adventures!

Here’s comprehensive guide: Packing Cube Reviews

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Tarptent Moment For Solo

Amazingly lightweight, sturdy travel and adventure tent!  I’ve taken highlands of Norway where it withstood torrential rain. I’ve slept in it in Patagonia where it withstood gale force winds. It can even withstand a bear mauling. OK, maybe not a bear mauling, but it’s pretty damn tough!  And I always use in the rugged Eastern Sierras of California.

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Toogh Automatic Pop Up Tent

This is my go-to tent when I go camping with my wife. It’s super easy to set up and very sturdy. It’s also a four season tent that can handle all the elements. Best of all, it’s very cheap!

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Outdoor Vitals – Down Sleeping Bag

This sleeping bag keeps you warm even in the coldest of nights!  It compresses small, so you have more room in your backpack. I use this everywhere even outside the tent. I use it when I sleep in the car or right under stars when I know it’s not going to rain.

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MSR SweetWater Microfilter

I’ve had this filter since the dawn of time. Very solid, doesn’t break, filters particulate, and gives you fresh tasting water. I usually only use this for backcountry excursions and rarely carry it overseas unless I know I’m going to be in the backcountry out there too.

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Pacsafe 55L Backpack and Bag Protector

Convenient backpack protector. Useful in shady hostels and other areas. It can add some unwanted weight to your backpack but I’d rather it be massive than very light (light because it’s not on your back and some thief is carrying it for you).

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LED Headlamp

Never leave home without one of these. They’re very bright, lasts a lifetime, compact, and you’ll use them more than you think you will. A must have an item on any adventurer’s backpack.

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Compression Bags

Convenient things. Great for backpacking purposes and also for long-term travel. You can compress your underwear, sleeping bag, down jackets, shirts, etc., So you can have more room in your backpack.

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Athletic Compression Boxers

I’m never going back to cotton underwears ever again. These things are perfect for travel, backcountry excursions, and everyday use. Moisture-wicking, quick drying and keeps odors away, so you don’t stink.

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 Moisture Wicking V-Neck T-Shirt

I’ve replaced all my cotton t-shirts with these. It’s simply more practical for travel and adventure. It’s quick drying and moisture wicking. It feels weird wearing it at first if you’ve been used to wearing cotton, but you’ll eventually get used to it.

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HYGIENE

Without the comfort of your home, you have to maximize what you can carry while still maintaining a high level of hygienic standards. I’m sometimes caught out in the wilderness for days without a shower, but damn if you’d catch me with bad breath!  When you’re traveling long term, a lot of things will get neglected like. You’re not going to be visiting the dentist every three months. That’s just not realistic. So you want to make sure you don’t have insane tartar buildup that leads to gum diseases and so forth.

Oral-B Battery Toothbrush

It’s more effective than manual brushing and it’s very cheap. Battery power means you can use it anywhere in the world. OK, you might think this is weird but I brush my teeth in the shower to save time. This brush has a 2-minute ticker and lets you know that you’ve cleaned your pearly whites enough. It gets wet in the shower but it chugs along. I’ve had the same one for over 2 years now. The bristles are replaceable.

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Rechargeable Oral Irrigator

Not as compact as dental floss but I’ve been using oral irrigators now for over 2 years. There’s some debate whether flossing is more effective vs. using a water flosser but based on personal experience, the water flosser is more effective. You can even add mouthwash to your liquid solution for more bacteria killing power.

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Dental Hygiene Kit

Obviously, it’s better to see your dentist but he/she is not always available to follow you all around the world. In case, your dentist isn’t around and you need to do some cleaning, this toolkit is it. Make sure you sanitize the tips when clearing our tartar. I know it seems like such a stretch to do it yourself, but it’s really not hard. There’re some parts of your teeth you won’t be able to see. That’s OK your dentist don’t mind because he or she will still have a job.

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KITEBOARDING GEAR

This the gear I go with when I go on Kiteboarding trips. I plan to take these all over the world where there are great consistent winds: The Dominican Republic, La Ventana in Mexico, Tarifa in Spain, Boracay in the Philippines and much much more!  I can usually get away with carrying the gear on makeshift golf bag so I don’t get charged an extra checked-in luggage fee. If you don’t know what Kiteboarding is, look it up!  It’s a fun sport to get into and very easy to master once you get the hang of it.

O’Neill Wetsuits

A relatively cheap wetsuit that’s effective in the Northern California ocean. There are better ones out there but this great for semi-cool waters.

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Kiteboard

You can pretty use anything for a kiteboard. But a decent one helps when you’re just starting out. Bi-directional is ideal. Great for learning upwind riding.

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Liquid Force Envy Kite

I own several kite sizes but the Liquid ForceEnvyy is my favorite. It’s very maneuverable, and it’s got a decent pop for jumps.

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Slingshot  Compstick Kite Bar

Very expensive bar but the features are well worth it. You can probably get previous year’s models for a fraction of the price.

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Kiteboard Travel Golf Bag

An excellent bag for carrying your kiteboarding gear!  It fools the airline companies into thinking it’s just a regular old golf bag so you don’t get charged an extra checked-in luggage fee.

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Mystic Waist Harness

I’ve read pretty good reviews of this harness and that’s why I went with it. It’s great so far. You can probably find it used somewhere.

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SNOWBOARDING GEAR

Snowboarding is one of my favorite past time. I’ve gone from a black diamond groomer rider to a cliff jumping demon. It’s an exhilarating sport that is worthy of obsessing over. I’ve taken my riding through the U.S. in California and Utah, Japan, Canada, and soon Europe and Iran. I do some backcountry riding where the terrain is variable and some spots maybe avalanche prone. My gear reflects some items that you may never use (like an Avalanche beacon) .

Libtech Travis Rice Snowboard

I love this snowboard. Hybrid camber profile means it’s less catchy on the groomers. It’s great at slashing steeps and slaying deep powder!

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Jones Hovercraft Splitboard

This board is a backcountry slayer. It’s nimble, squat shape provides the float of a board much longer but the short running length makes it lighter on your legs skinning up. The blunt nose and directional rocker of the Hovercraft keep you surfin’ on top of the soft stuff, while the stiff tail and Mellow Magne-Traction keep you stable through any unexpected crust.

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Spark R&D Splitboard Bindings

Great bindings for a splitboard!  With ample cut-outs on the base and more flexible strapping& highback, the Spark R&D Magneto Splitboard Binding is the perfect binding for mileage-loving splitboarders. The added flexibility makes freestyle moves more attainable while dependable hardware makes the binding all-mountain worthy. Revolutionary Tesla hinge system is simple to operate and extremely efficient.

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Avalanche Beacon + Avalanche Probe

The world’s 1st digital multi-antenna transceiver. The beacon that began a digital innovation. And still going strong. With a prolonged track record for value, toughness, and dependability, the Tracker DTS has been an industry tool since 1997. A real-time, digital screen shows both course and distance with bright red LEDs. The distance is displayed in meters and indicator lights show the direction of transmitting beacons.

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Rescue Shovel

The T-handle converts into a hoe for digging in tight locations. Be prepared for the worst to the shovel can be constructed into an emergency sled for transporting people with the included hardware located in the shaft. Can create a snow anchor by using the blade to set up a deadman anchor.

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Northwave Snowboard Boots

It’s accommodating and responsive enough to deal with high speeds, through a layer of webbing across the ankle holding your heel secure at all times. If you loosen up the speed-lacing system a little, that will ease off too, so that you get a fully customizable fit.

If you’re utilizing this properly, you may find yourself trimming a knuckle – which is never fun. However, the EVA sole will reduce impacts, having you lapping the proline for longer.

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Dakine High Roller Snowboard

Wheeled Padded Snowboard and Boots Travel Bag, allows for carrying two snowboards with boots and bindings.

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ACCESSORIES

Essential accessories for adventure travel.

Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight & Watertight

Pray you’ll never need this but never get caught without one in case you do!  It’s light and very portable. It’s a must-have kit for adventure.

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BackCountry Navigator TOPO GPS

This turns your smartphone into a full-blown GPS unit!  For less than $24 you can have the power of a handheld Garmin unit at the palm of your hands. You can download TOPO maps from various sources around the world. You can use it without a phone signal and as long as you have clear satellite view you’re good to go. But it’s always smart to have a backup compass and a real map in case you have technical difficulties with this one.

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Microfiber Travel Towels

Some hostels will charge you a fee for a towel, so this will save you money in the long run. Very lightweight and compact.

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SOS Survive Tool Pack

Look for a high-quality box with plastic material, waterproof, shock resistant, resistance to fall. Flint, should not be directly ignited, need to dip some water, then wipe and dry ignition immediately.

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If you’re looking for a quick jaunt and just need a carry-on, check out The Best Carry-On Luggage.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ADVENTURE GEAR?