My birthday is coming up, and I was putting together a little wishlist for myself. I don’t want much – I’m a minimalist – but it got me thinking: what are the things I’ve actually used and loved as a digital nomad? What would I genuinely recommend if someone wanted to buy me (or someone like me) a gift?
Most gift guides are filled with stuff that sounds good in theory but makes no sense for someone who lives out of one bag. If you’ve ever struggled to find a useful gift for someone who travels light, this list will save you time and a few bad purchases. Everything here has earned its place in my backpack – some tech tools, some small comforts, all things that make life on the road a little easier.
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1. Kindle
Price: $145
I think Kindle is the best purchase ever. It’s slightly on the pricier side (so you can stop being cheap and get it for someone you love). I got mine pre-nomadic days, when I was living in Budapest and it was hard to come across English books. Since then, this Kindle has traveled to over 30 countries with me.
If you’re buying one today, go for the Kindle Paperwhite. It’s waterproof, lightweight, and backlit – perfect for reading on overnight buses, in bed, or on that one beach where you told yourself you’d finally read the book your friend recommended three years ago.
2. Tripod
Price: ~ $20
I lost my tripod in Hanoi and bought the exact same one as soon as I could – it’s reliable, compact, and just works. We were trying to visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and didn’t know tripods weren’t allowed inside. I left it outside in what I thought was a hidden spot. Guess not.
This tripod is responsible for basically every photo on this blog. I don’t own a camera. I’m not a photographer – maybe someday. But if you travel solo and want decent photos, or just want to stop balancing your phone on rocks and banana trees, this thing is a game-changer.
3. Powerbank
Price: $20-30
This is probably the most important thing I pack for hikes. A powerbank means I can still use Google Maps when I’ve got no idea where the trailhead is, or blast music while making dinner in the middle of nowhere. You don’t realize how dependent you are on your phone until you’re six hours into a hike with no battery and no idea which way is north.
If you’re doing anything even remotely off-grid – like hiking in places like Svaneti or Patagonia – it’s non-negotiable.
Get one with at least 10,000 mAh and two ports so you can charge your phone and your friend’s too (and silently judge them for not packing their own).
4. Bluetooth Speakers
Price: $80
I’ve had the JBL Clip speakers for about seven years, I only replaced them last year with the newer version, and they’re still going strong. They’ve got a built-in carabiner clip, which is weirdly essential when you’re constantly moving. I’ve clipped mine to my backpack, a tree branch, a shower hook, a scooter mirror… the list goes on.
They’re waterproof, compact, and surprisingly loud. I’ve used them in hostels, on beaches, in random guesthouse kitchens – anywhere a Bluetooth connection and some background music can make a place feel like home.
5. Swiss Army Knife
Price: $38
I’ve used my Swiss army knife for everything – from sawing off branches to make makeshift trekking poles, to cutting mangos we picked off the road in Ometepe. Mine was a gift from my brother before a trip through northern Pakistan, and it’s come with me everywhere since.
There are tons of different versions, from simple two-tool ones to the “I’m basically MacGyver now” models with 14 attachments. It’s worth taking a look at what tools matter most to you (or whoever you’re gifting it to). I use the knife, scissors, and corkscrew the most – but maybe you’re the tweezers and toothpick type. No judgment.
6. 5-Year Memory Journal
Price: $19
Okay, I cheated with this one – it’s not just for digital nomads. I think everyone should have a 5-year memory journal.
The idea is simple: you write one or two lines a day, and over time you can look back and see what you were doing on the same day each year. It’s like a low-maintenance time capsule.
I got the idea from Ryan Holiday – he’s talked a lot about the value of journaling, and this format really stuck with me. I’ve been doing it for a few years now, and flipping back through old entries always makes me pause. Some are hilarious. Some are painful. But they’re all honest, tiny windows into different versions of me.
It’s especially powerful when you’re traveling, because life changes fast. This little journal helps you notice it.
7. Garmin Smartwatch
Price: $300
Okay, this one’s a bit of a splurge – but if you’re shopping for someone who’s active, adventurous, or just into data, a Garmin smartwatch is a solid gift.
I use the Garmin Vivoactive 5, and it’s been great for tracking workouts, sleep, and hikes. The battery lasts forever (seriously, a full week), and it has built-in GPS so you don’t need to carry your phone on every run. It’s practical, durable, and doesn’t scream “tech bro” like some other watches do.
If you’re not sure which model to pick, here’s a quick breakdown:
- Forerunner – best for runners
- Instinct – built for rugged, off-grid adventures
- Venu – sleek design with all the features (good for everyday wear)
8. Insulated Water Bottle
Price: $30
I finally caved and got an Owala. It’s insulated, leak-proof, and easy to clean. The lid has a built-in straw, but you can also tilt it back and drink the regular way. Both options are great, depending on what you’re doing – sipping while working, chugging on a hike, whatever.
This is a solid gift for anyone who travels often, especially in warmer places. It keeps drinks cold for hours and doesn’t leak all over your bag. I’ve used mine on hikes, on travel days, and when working from cafes that charge you for a second coffee if you sit too long.
It’s not cheap, but it’s not overpriced either – and if you’re buying for someone who still carries around a scratched-up plastic bottle from 2018, they’ll thank you.
9. Fanny pack
Price: $12
I was using a fanny pack before it became cool. I’m too anxious to keep my passport in a backpack – I need it strapped to my chest. Even though it’s a crappy little Pakistani passport, the visas inside it are the most valuable thing I own.
It’s not about style. It’s about convenience. I like having my passport, cards, and cash right where I can reach them – especially during stressful border crossings or airport security lines. A small, crossbody fanny pack does the job without adding bulk, and it’s one of those things you don’t appreciate until you travel without it once and immediately regret it.
10. External Hard Drive
Another slightly pricey one. I don’t own an external hard drive yet, I’m just hoping someone who loves me will read this and gift it to me for my birthday.
It’s one of those boring-but-essential things for anyone who works remotely or takes a lot of photos. Cloud backups are great until you’re somewhere with 0.5 Mbps Wi-Fi and a week’s worth of content to upload. A portable SSD keeps everything safe and backed up, no internet required.
11. An Experience On Get Your Guide
I’m more for experiences than things. The best gifts I’ve ever received weren’t objects – they were memories. My friends once gifted us a wine tour in Argentina, and another time I joined a cooking class in Sri Lanka that ended with everyone drinking rice wine out of teacups.
A GetYourGuide gift card is perfect if you want to give someone something they’ll actually remember. It could be a food tour, a hike, a surf lesson, or a random workshop they stumble into while traveling. It takes up no space, doesn’t add weight to their backpack, and it lasts a lot longer than a gadget ever will.
12. Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Price: $188
A pair of Sony wireless noise-cancelling headphones might not sound like an obvious travel essential, but trust me – they are. Between crying babies on flights, espresso machines hissing in cafés, and hostel dorms that never seem to sleep, silence becomes a luxury.
I’ve used Sony’s WH-1000XM series for a while now, and they’ve held up through long-haul flights, mountain buses, and endless airport layovers. The sound quality is great, but it’s really the noise cancellation that makes them worth it. You put them on, and the world just fades out for a bit.
They’re not cheap, but if you’re buying for someone who works on the road, edits audio, or just values peace and quiet, this is the kind of gift that gets used every single day.
13. A Universal Adapter
Price: $19
If you’re traveling all over the world, a universal travel adapter is one of those unglamorous but completely necessary things. Instead of carrying a bag full of country-specific plugs or buying one at every airport, get a single adapter that works everywhere.
The good ones have built-in USB-C ports, surge protection, and a fuse – small details that make a big difference when you’re charging a laptop and phone at the same time. Not the flashiest gift, but one of the most useful.
14. Pocket Rocket
Price: $104
The Pocket Rocket stove is one of the most important things on our camping trips. It’s tiny, sturdy, and boils water in minutes. Perfect for two people, especially on longer hikes where you don’t want to carry much.
I take it on every camping trip. It packs down small, runs on a gas canister you can find almost anywhere, and makes coffee and instant noodles taste ten times better when you’re halfway up a mountain.
15. Audible Membership
Price: $15 / month
Another non-physical gift, and probably the nerdiest one on this list. Every time I go to a new country, I like to read something about that place – fiction, memoir, history, whatever helps me understand it a little better.
I was late to Audible, mostly because I thought audiobooks would take away from reading. They don’t. They just make it possible when you’re on a long bus ride, cooking dinner in a hostel, or walking around a new city. It’s a great gift for anyone who loves stories but doesn’t always have time to sit and read.
16. Camping Blanket
Price: $27
A camping blanket sounds unnecessary until you actually have one. It works for everything – a beach day, a picnic by a lake, sitting on top of a mountain, or just keeping warm when the temperature drops.
The good ones are waterproof on one side and soft on the other, so you can throw them on wet grass or sand and not care. Mine’s been to beaches, mountain trails, and countless day hikes across South America, and it’s one of those things I end up using way more than I expected to.
17. Garmin InReach
I wish I’d had a Garmin InReach on our hike in Gros Morne. We didn’t – but another group did. When thunderstorms rolled in, they knew exactly when to stop and set up camp, while we were still out there getting drenched.
It’s a satellite communicator that lets you text or call for help when you’re completely off-grid. You can also check weather forecasts, share your location, and send updates to people back home.
It’s not cheap, but for anyone who hikes or camps in remote places, it’s one of those gifts that can literally keep them safe. It’s high on my own wishlist.
I’ve gotten a lot of bad travel gifts over the years – things that sounded thoughtful but made zero sense when you’re living out of one bag.
These, though, are the ones that earn their space.
Whether you’re buying for a friend or building your own wish list, these are the things that actually make life on the road easier, lighter, and a little better.
If there’s something you swear by that deserves a spot on this list, tell me in the comments. I’m always curious what other nomads can’t travel without.
