Holiday Gift Guide for the Traveler

GIFT GUIDE DISCLAIMER: The gifts you are about to see are items we personally own and use daily…
Not only do we just own them, we put TONS of research into every purchase over the past year. We bought, tested and returned items that were not up to par. These were the essentials that survived!

It’s that time of the year again! And if you’ve got that wanderlust gene, like we do, your holiday wish list is full of items to enhance your 2016 adventures.

Well lucky for you, we feel the same way. And that’s why we’ve created our Holiday Gift Guide for the Traveler in YOU! The prices quoted are the prices when this list was created. (So please excuse any discrepancies if prices have changed!)

Travel Electronics

Anker Astro E7 26800mAh Ultra-High Capacity 3-Port 4A Compact Portable Charger External Battery Power Bank with PowerIQ Technology

Extra battery power is a MUST. With all the electronics we have these days, something is bound to lose power, and that’s the last thing you’ll need. This ULTRA battery has never emptied on us since we’ve owned it. We use it for our USB fans, USB light, and to charge our camera batteries, phones, and the list goes on! It is an awesome investment.

Buy Now! $61.99

ARCTIC Breeze Mobile, USB-Powered 92mm Portable Fan

This little fan has saved for us more times than I would have ever imagined, especially in the hot summer. Non-air conditioned train, bus, or plane? Stuffy hostel or hotel room? No problem at all! Just plug this fan into one of the batteries above and you are set. And it has more wind power than most traditional fans this size.

Buy Now! $8.93

Yubi Power Foldable Universal Quad-Port USB Travel & Wall Charging Station

We bring this literally everywhere, and they have a different outlet for any where in the world you’d need. It’s small, the plug folds down (as shown in this picture), and according to the gadget-master, Erin “It has 1 2.4amp out and 3 1 amp outs, so you can charge your USB devices without the issue of any surges.”

Buy Now! $15.99

WD 2TB My Passport Ultra Portable External Hard Drive

One thing we’ve learned while traveling is you can never have enough backup! And (knock on wood), we’ve never had any problems with Western Digital products, so this hard drive gets our vote! But if you’re more of a solid state kinda person, we have this in our bag at all times as well – Samsung 850 PRO 512GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD

Buy Now! $89.99

Garmin Fenix 2 Performance Bundle

This watch keeps us up to date with temperature, weather conditions, and of course, makes sure we never get lost. Not only will it get you out of a bind by setting checkpoints, you can also schedule your trips’ routes on the watch.

Buy Now! $197.94

BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter 220V to 110V

This is the only power converter we’ve have purchased that hasn’t fried on us! It has 4 USB ports, an on/off switch and it comes with every plug type you’ll need on the road. It’s 3-pronged plugs are also super helpful for charging your computers.

Buy Now! $42.99

Backpack Essentials

Bosvision Ultra-Secure 4-digit Combination Lock with 3 Feet Retractable Cable

This is great to have with you at all times. In case you want to lock something down or if you sleep in the airport or train station, like so many of us do! Lock your bag up to a chair, rest your head and no need worry about your bag getting stolen.

Buy Now! $12.99

Gonex Ultra Lightweight Packable Backpack

This bag has saved us SO many times. It was the best $12 purchase we’ve ever made. From lightening our carry-on bag at the airport, to unplanned grocery shopping, and European markets. We never leave home without an extra one in our backpacks. Best part about this bag is that folds into a tiny pocket, so it can literally fit in everything. It’s also surprisingly comfy and sturdy too!

Buy Now! $11.98

CamelBak Groove .6L Water Bottle

This CamelBak has a filtering straw that will filter any water you put in your bottle as you drink it. Whether it’s much-needed water from the springs while your hiking or water from the sink that’d you’re not sure about. And it can attach to your backpack, so you don’t have to worry about holding it.

Buy Now! $39.99

Gorilla Tape To-Go

What if your bag rips? What if your rain jacket tears? What if you need to just tape something?? Either way, this Gorilla tape is one of those emergency items that has a million uses. Spend the $3 and keep this with you at all times.

Buy Now! $2.49

Camera Equipment

Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 55-210mm and 16-50mm Power Zoom Lenses

Yes, there are thousands of cameras to research. And plenty of SLR cameras will confuse you and pull money out of your wallet. So stop researching now! This is the best selling camera in Sony history for a reason. It’s consumer friendly and 100% professional. If you like our pictures (which of course you do), then you’d love this camera!

Buy Now! $698.00

MeFOTO A1350Q1T Aluminium Roadtrip Travel Tripod/Monopod Kit

Are you looking for a Tripod that folds into nearly nothing, yet is sturdy enough to take amazing photos? After testing over 6 tripods and returning them, we kept this one. Best part about this Tripod is that is a Monopod as well. And nothing is better than having a monopod at a live event!

Buy Now! $185.00

Smatree® Ajustable Jaws Flex Clamp Mount With 13.4“ Gooseneck Extension

This has been a great life saver, especially when we want pictures of both of us! The clip is abnormally strong and stays sturdy attached to anything and everything. Use your remote to take a non-selfie ‘selfie’, and never again rely on asking a nice stranger to snap a photo for you.

Buy Now! $13.99

SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I/U3 64GB Memory Card Up To 90MB/s Read

This is a super fast card at a super cheap price! And it’s big enough. When you have SD cards larger than 64GB, you’ll forget whats on it. Perfect price for this speed at 90 MB per second and class 3.

Buy Now! $34.67

Sony RMTDSLR2 Wireless Remote for Alpha & NEX

The best and most helpful device to have on hand. Tired of asking every passerby for a picture, knowing that you’re interrupting their vacation? Set your camera up on a ledge or clip it onto whatever you can find. Then take a picture or video using this remote!

Buy Now! $27.74

Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Charger for Sony NP-FW50

Because there is no such thing as having too many batteries. Backup is a requirement, especially when you’ve already invested the money into traveling. These are cheap and if charged right, don’t explode as some comments have said. You should always be cautious to not overcharge your batteries anyways. It keeps their life.

Buy Now! $22.99

OAproda® Patent NP-FW50 Portable Ultra Slim MICRO USB Camera Charger

This charger has kept us going and powered though a long day of shooting. It’s slim and charges with the same charger as our phones (micro USB). It also has a low profile, so you can store it in a small bag. Erin always keeps one in his F-Stop Navin 100% of the time.

Buy Now! $7.99

Men’s Apparel

Merrell Men’s Pulsate Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot

Having wide feet, Erin usually has a hard time shopping for hiking shoes. These were perfect! They are also 100% waterproof and mid (so they don’t bother his ankle). They have been the most reliable and comfortable shoes. And trust me, he’s literally tried on and returned over 12 SHOES! He adds in Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel Insoles inside his shoes and it’s like walking on clouds!

Buy Now! $69.99 – $140.00

ExOfficio Men’s Give-N-Go Boxer Brief

When packing for a long trip and you’re limited to a backpack, you should always pack at least 3 pairs of these. They are easily washed and dried and very comfortable, even after a long day of walking. They also have an odor eating material for those same long days of walking…

Buy Now! $13.50

Outdoor Research Men’s Stormbound Jacket

Waterproof. Hood with flex brim. RECC equipped. Breathable Pertex® Shield+ outer. Thermore® synthetic insulation. Zippered pit zips. Enough said! If you are going to buy something right, buy this jacket. We were on a VERY tight budget, but this was one of the best and most justified purchases that we made.

Buy Now! $297.56 – $495.00

Surviving Europe: Men’s Logo Shirt

Because how much trendier can you get than this Surviving Europe shirt?!

Buy Now! $14.99

Women’s Apparel

KEEN Women’s Targhee II Waterproof Hiking Boot

These shoes are everything. They are comfortable, incredibly sturdy and sit at the perfect place on my ankle. I am one klutzy lady, so having this extra support has saved me numerous amounts of times. I can stand on a jagged rock and feel nothing. Plus, they do have black and brown, so the matching possibilities are endless!

Buy Now! $107.92 – $144.93

ExOfficio Women’s Give-N-Go Bikini Briefs

Finding the perfect underwear for female travelers is hard! These are abnormally comfortable, and can be washed and dried easily. I only need to bring 4 with me during our travels, which makes packing a lot easier.

Buy Now! $9.87 – $24.95

Outdoor Research Women’s Stormbound Jacket

This jacked is the BEST for all of the same reasons as the Men’s Stormbound Jacket! Plus, they come in fun colors, which makes me smile every time I reach for it. Other than that, the warmth is ridiculous. We could be driving on our scooter in 30 degree (F) weather, and I am still warm. It also squishes up really small, which helps from a packing perspective.

Buy Now! $322.67 – $495.00

Surviving Europe: Women’s Logo Shirt

Had to throw this awesome tee in here, of course! Perfect for your next Eurotrip! We even have shirts themed to each country that we travel to, so check out our store.

Buy Now! $14.99

Books

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

The book teaches you how to think without thinking. “Blink reveals that great decision makers aren’t those that process the most.” It helps you learn how to acknowledge your thoughts and have better control over your emotions. Basically, you should get it!

Buy Now! $8.78

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

The 4-Hour Workweek was a huge inspiration to us before our move abroad. It teaches you to think outside of the box. To make yourself irreplaceable, so you have more time to travel and work abroad. Tim Fehriss explains the importance of outsourcing time-consuming tasks and focusing on what makes a difference. And of course living for NOW – enjoying mini retirements along the way.

To see our full list of gear, check out our Gear Page AND of course our stylin’ Surviving Europe Apparel!

Happy shopping, fellow nomads!

May your adventures in 2016 lead you to amazing and wondrous things.

GIFT GUIDE DISCLAIMER: The gifts you are about to see are items we personally own and use daily…

Not only do we just own them, we put TONS of research into every purchase over the past year. We bought, tested and returned items that were not up to par. These were the essentials that survived!