What we actually travel with
This is not a generic “best travel gear” list. These are the SIMs, bags, shoes, charging products and everyday essentials we personally use. Where we remember the purchase price, we show what we paid at the time — not today's retail price.
Staying connected and paying on the road
Very good coverage for us in Paris, with at least 4G service where we used it.
Airalo official site →Our normal UK plan. London and Lake District needed no extra SIM; on the NC500 it was mostly 4G but dropped to E in a few places.
Our normal prepaid plan gave us 4G connectivity in both Coorg and Matheran.
Lebara is our spare UK SIM; Jio portable Wi-Fi is our India backup internet option.
Our regular card setup for international trips.
Our usual payment app when travelling within India.
Our international travel insurance provider.
Charging, navigation and entertainment
We carry this on all our trips, including our recent trips.
Bought through Amazon India.
We carry extra USB-C to USB-C and USB to USB-C cables bought through Amazon.
Our current travel phone for navigation, bookings and photos; we previously used a Galaxy S9.
Our compact camera for scenic and outdoor trips.
Part of our long-journey comfort kit.
We keep travel documents digitally on our phone and laptop.
Used for travel photos and documents rather than carrying a separate drive.
Our current smartwatches; we used a Fitbit previously.
How we carry and secure our things
Bought through Amazon and used for Coorg and Matheran.
Used for London and Paris; ours is from a three-piece set that cost ₹8,000 and was bought through Amazon.
Our compact sightseeing bag options.
We use a TSA lock for luggage security.
We carry the physical IDs in a holder while keeping bookings and insurance digitally on our phone and laptop.
Shoes, layers and outdoor essentials
Our regular shoes for long city walking days.
Our trekking footwear for trails and rougher walking routes.
Our main rain layer; we normally carry the jacket rather than an umbrella.
Our main cold-weather layering system.
We use both types depending on the trip and conditions.
Our cold-weather accessories; the gloves and beanie are handmade.
Our cap for sunny outdoor days.
A simple regular item in our travel bag.
Useful for hostels, trekking and compact packing.
For night walks, outdoor stops and emergencies.
Small things that save money or make journeys easier
The Camel flask was a gift; the Tintbox bottle cost ₹3,000.
We carry homemade snacks, Nescafé sachets, ziplock bags and dry mixes that only need hot water.
Part of our train and flight comfort kit.
We use simple cotton balls rather than dedicated travel earplugs.
Toiletries and practical extras
Our regular bag for travel-size personal care items.
Our regular sunscreen brand for travel.
Brands we commonly carry for skincare and beauty products.
Used to organise our travel medicines; this is not medical advice or a recommendation for specific medicines.
Part of our kit for destinations where insects are a concern.
Regular hygiene items in our travel bag.
What we use instead of buying dedicated travel detergent.
Bought from Lawrence & Mayo.
Why we publish this list
Our trip articles show the transport, accommodation and attraction costs. This page fills in the small practical details that often decide whether a trip feels easy or frustrating: battery life, mobile data, wet weather, footwear, payment methods and what we pack for food.
We will not pretend a product is “the best” simply because an affiliate programme exists. When we later add eligible affiliate links, the recommendation will remain based on our actual use and the link will be labelled.