Life as a digital nomad sounds exciting. Travelling the world, picking and choosing where you live as one of the growing band of remote workers is enticing. However, while it is relatively easy to put to gather a digital nomad packing list to work out what clothes to take, it can be more difficult to work out the best digital nomad gadgets to pack.
Your new “office” may not have the conveniences you are used to. No printer or scanner, you might not even have a proper desk. Adapting to your new workspace can mean you are working in a coffee shop, at your lodgings, a co-working space or in the back of a bus!
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Just what essentials do you actually need for your new digital nomad lifestyle? Apart from a trusty laptop, unlocked smartphone and a good camera, what else should be on your list of gadgets that you might need?
Exchanging your conventional office or home office for the unknown can be daunting, I know I have been there. Let this guide to the best digital nomad gadgets help you work out what travel essentials you need and want to pack.
Recommended Digital Nomad Gadgets
Laptop
Okay, so it is almost a given that you will take a laptop with you as a digital nomad. Whether you choose Apple products like the sleek design of the MacBook Pro, or prefer Windows-based laptops like the Surface Pro, it can be difficult to find lightweight laptops.
Invest in the best you can afford. Check the memory, the hard drive size, the battery power and of course, the weight!
External USB Ports
The latest laptops seem to have done away with USB ports and SD card slots. You may have to buy one to carry with you. Choose one that has multiple USB ports, slots for SD cards and maybe even an HDMI cable if you want to hook your laptop up to a TV screen.
Do make sure it is compatible with your laptop.
VPN – Virtual Private Network
Okay so this isn’t really a gadget, but I would say that having a VPN on all your devices is a must to protect yourself from hackers. You never know who is trying to get access to your laptop and devices. It will also protect your credit card details.
Read more about NordVPN
Useful extras for Travelling
Mobile Phone Stand
Keeping your mobile phone close by when you are working can give you peace of mind. Pop it on an adjustable mobile phone stand so you can keep an eye on it… and your messages.
Laptop stand
Using a laptop on a flat surface can hurt your neck and give you back pain after a while, so try a portable laptop stand. Even better, an adjustable laptop stand will let you change the angle and height. They are especially good if you spend long hours on your laptop.
Pin for changing sim cards
Depending on where you are travelling to, you may need to change the sim in your phone to a local sim card. Unless you have this done where you pick up your card, you will need a pin to pop out the card.
Phone Holder for Car
If you are driving and need to use your phone for directions to find your new location, it may be useful to carry a phone holder with you. They can be quite light and fix into one of the vents.
In-Car Charger
A small extra to carry is an in-car charger. Many modern cars have in-built USBs, but older models may not. Taking your own in-car USB charger will mean you can charge your devices on the go.
Read the gift guide you are looking for other gadgets and tech gear
Headtorch
From helping to see where you are going in the dark, to lighting up a room when the power goes off, a headtorch is a useful addition and won’t add much to your luggage. Choose one that is charged by USB instead of batteries or a plug for ease.
How I worked out what Digital Nomad Gadgets I needed to take
For a few weeks, while I was making my plans for starting my digital nomad journey, I make a note of every item I used for work during the day. I marked down what the item was and how often I used it.
This helped me to whittle down what tools and gadgets I was actually using on a daily basis and which were just occasional.
I then went through the list again and looked at the weight of them and if there were digital alternatives. I did have a few deal-breakers.
I love writing things down on A5 or A4 notepads, but realised that I actually only used a small amount of paper, and not normally the whole page. I changed to A6 or even smaller notepads and it make me more concise in what I was using and also brought the weight down. Then I found Rocketbook Everlast Notebooks and I just carry one!
Final Thoughts on Digital Nomad Gadgets
We all have different needs and wants when we are travelling as digital nomads. What you take with you will depend on the type of work you do.
You may find in the long run that you jettison some of the things you thought you might need.
Whether you are embracing the nomadic lifestyle and going for long-term travel, or just going away for a short trip, you need to pack for what is the best digital nomad gear for you.
Don’t forget to pin this article so you can come back to it later
Excellent ideas. For the headphones, make sure you get something that is comfortable. It’s easy to just look at the quality and forget the comfort – and wearing headphones that put pressure on various parts of your ears is not helpful. It’s something that is in my mind having gone through three zoom meetings this week with headphones that weren’t fitting properly.
I totally agree Annie. There is nothing worse than uncomfortable headphones